Digital "I" Designs

So, what else is there to know about the "I" behind Digital "I", my non-cyber self? Digital Graphics may be the main reason I set up this site, but there's more to real life than pushing pixels! Read on to discover what else makes me tick...
(N.B. Updates to previous information are shown in Green)

Music/Theatre! I'm devoted to my vocal group 'Oasis Vocal Jazz', based here in Toronto
Books As you can guess from my illustrations, I'm a big fan of speculative fiction, whether it be Science Fiction or Fantasy, with some historical fiction thrown in for good measure!
Media In line with the above, I'm a sucker for both movie and TV special effects extravaganzas! However, I recognize that F/X alone do not a good show make...
Fitness or, as the YMCA philosophy calls it 'Wellness' - sitting in front of a computer monitor at work and then at home does not contribute to the healthiest of lifestyles! Here's what I do about it...
Other Again, the miscellaneous 'stuff' that doesn't fit any of the above categories

Click on a link to jump to the appropriate part of the page...

Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember - whether it be lessons on a 'half-size' violin at my English primary school, singing lessons as a boy soprano here in Canada, saxophone in my high school band, or performing on stage in various musical productions, in University or beyond. Funny - I never studied either piano or guitar, though, so have very little training in 'music theory'.

Nonetheless, I can't imagine a life without some sort of musical outlet. Even in the depths of the Saudi desert, I managed to hook up with a sort of 'underground community' of theatre-lovers, who, under the most adverse societal conditions, still managed to put on full seasons of theatre, both musical and drama, for the expatriate community.

Since I moved back to Toronto, I have belonged to an amateur close-harmony vocal jazz group known as 'Oasis' (before you accuse us, we've been using the name for over 10 years now, longer than those 'upstart' Gallagher boys!). Still, we've acknowledged that discretion is the better part of valour, so have recently changed our official name to "Oasis Vocal Jazz"

Few things in life give me more sense of accomplishment and belonging than mastering a difficult passage of a musical number, my voice adding to the complete, complex chord in a vital way, yet focussing on the blended sound, rather than letting any individual voice stand out as the star.

Check out Oasis Vocal Jazz here...

As is quite obvious by the subject matter of my graphics, I'm a big fan of speculative fiction, both Science Fiction and Fantasy. Because I spend so much time on the PC, I haven't read as much lately as I usually do, but here are a few examples of books I've recently enjoyed:

Title Author Comments

Rare Earth
Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe Peter D. Ward and
Donald Brownlee I bought this book soon after its publication, but was too depressed to read it until recently! A recent conversation over lunch with a visiting astrophysicist friend prompted me to pull it out. The authors argue, with depressing thoroughness, that while 'life' in the form of microbes is probably almost ubiquitous in the universe (yay!), complex life (i.e. advanced bacteria and multi-cellular forms) is probably scarce in the extreme (bummer!). The number of astronomical and geological coincidences which have served to nurture life on Earth (things like the presence of an unusually large moon; the presence of a large gas giant - Jupiter - in a stable orbit; a tectonically active Earth; even the position of the sun within the Milky Way) are probably uncommon in the same combination elsewhere. Coupled with the evidence that celestial collisions of much greater force than that which wiped out the dinosaurs are fairly common events, even on a 'coddled' world like Earth, it becomes statistically unlikely that there are more than a handful of planets harbouring any animal-level life in the galaxy at any given time, let alone planets with intelligent life!
All of which makes the current human-caused mass extinction of fellow life-forms a sin not just against one 'average' planet among many, but a threat to diversity on a galactic scale!

Ventus Karl Schroeder I picked up this book based on a positive review in Locus (a magazine about Science Fiction and Fantasy books and publishing), then discovered to my pleasure that the author is a fellow Torontonian!
This is a far-future SF novel about the aftermath of a war against massive AIs (Artificial Intelligences). On one world, terraformed by pre-programmed nanotechnology, the nanotech has mysteriously refused to cede control to the arriving colonists, who now find themselves fighting real battles against 'spirits of nature' just to survive. The agent of an insane evil AI finds himself incarnated on this world, and sets out on his mission...
What sets this book apart from the rest is the course of that entity's growth, and the interactions between the insterstellar agents sent to apprehend him, and the local inhabitants. A couple of plot developments just didn't ring true to me (e.g. the ease with which a few of the locals, who no longer know they came from somewhere else, absorb the reality of their place in the world and the universe), but overall, the book was well-written and had some truly interesting perspectives.

A Storm of Swords George R. R. Martin This third volume in A Song of Ice and Fire picks up concurrently with the climax of its predecessor, A Clash of Kings. The series is stunning in Martin's ability to draw real, gritty characters, even in this fantasy setting. As you get inside these people's heads, Martin masterfully makes you start questioning assumptions made in the earlier books. Yes, the book is about the battle between good and evil, but in a world of all-too-human motivations and responses, how do you know which is which? Magic is kept to a minimum, although the reader starts to realize that magic is creeping back into the world after a long absence. And AT LAST, after an unremittingly bleak set of events, a few - just a few - 'good' things happen to just a few of the characters at the end of this one - just enough to keep the reader eager to see what happens next in the second half of this series of six books!

Deepdrive Alexander Jablokov A novel in which the solar system has been colonized by various alien races, living in various degrees of interaction with the human race. A race of giant sandworms has terraformed Venus, insectoids on Mercury keep firing unknown packages into the sun, and Earth is now home to a species whose eggs and placentas communicate with humans. Humanity's obsession is to discover the secret to the interstellar 'deepdrive', which would confer instant 'respect' to our fledgling species - the novel follows the adventures of a group of misfits thrown together in this quest. I had some issues with the book, but overall I really enjoyed the fascinating glimpses of some truly alien aliens. Elements reminiscent of David Brin, Bruce Sterling's Shaper/Mech stories, Rebecca Ore, and Michael Coney made this an enjoyable, sometimes gripping read

The Quartered Sea Tanya Huff A new novel in the Quarters series, I picked this up more as a duty from my friendship with the author rather than any expectations - this is NOT my favourite of Tanya's worlds! BUT, I gladly eat those words! Tanya took the story through a major transition a few chapters in, and the resultant plot developments were very interesting, a fascinating exploration of new aspects of what had become (to me, anyway) a not-very-interesting fantasy world

The Granite Shield Fiona Patton Fiona's work just keeps getting better and better! My reservations after reading her first Branion novel, The Stone Prince, were pretty much swept aside by her second, The Painter Knight, and this one is the best yet! Far from riding on Tanya's coat-tails, Fe has quickly become a significant fantasist in her own right!

In the Garden of Iden Kage Baker A well-written, amusing take on the tropes of time-travel and immortality, it asks "If you invent a method to impart immortality, how can you test it?" The answer, of course(!), is to ALSO invent time travel, so you can beta-test it on people in the past... Once they're immortal, you may as well give them something useful to DO with their time...

A Second Chance at Eden Peter F. Hamilton Several short stories and a novella set in Hamilton's Adamist/Edenist universe, the setting of the 'Reality Dysfunction' and 'Neutronium Alchemist' works. Hamilton has some great ideas on the future prospects and consequences of biotechnology ("bitek") and the changes it wreaks on human society in the future.

The Three Questions Bob Rae Written by the former Premier of Ontario, whose socialist 'always-a-bridesmaid' New Democratic Party suddenly found itself running the government of Ontario in the early '90s (A protest vote which came as a complete surprise to all concerned, especially the NDP themselves!). The pragmatic Rae soon realized that the harsh realities of running Canada's largest economy required some concessions, views not shared by some of his more idealistic Cabinet members. In the move to a more 'centrist' platform, the party lost the support of its natural constituents in the labour movement, and was summarily relieved of its duties in the following election (only to be replaced by a rabid bunch of heartless right-wing neo-cons in yet another pendulum shift, but that's another story). Rae looks back on this period a wiser, more philosophical man

Well, as you've probably already guessed, the fantastical or speculative makes up a large part of my media entertainment, as well - liberally dosed with dollops of science, nature, and historical shows, of the type most commonly found on the Discovery Channel. Again, here are a few current and recent favourites (or not, as the case may be):

Title	Author	Comments
Rare Earth Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe	Peter D. Ward and Donald Brownlee	I bought this book soon after its publication, but was too depressed to read it until recently! A recent conversation over lunch with a visiting astrophysicist friend prompted me to pull it out. The authors argue, with depressing thoroughness, that while 'life' in the form of microbes is probably almost ubiquitous in the universe (yay!), complex life (i.e. advanced bacteria and multi-cellular forms) is probably scarce in the extreme (bummer!). The number of astronomical and geological coincidences which have served to nurture life on Earth (things like the presence of an unusually large moon; the presence of a large gas giant - Jupiter - in a stable orbit; a tectonically active Earth; even the position of the sun within the Milky Way) are probably uncommon in the same combination elsewhere. Coupled with the evidence that celestial collisions of much greater force than that which wiped out the dinosaurs are fairly common events, even on a 'coddled' world like Earth, it becomes statistically unlikely that there are more than a handful of planets harbouring any animal-level life in the galaxy at any given time, let alone planets with intelligent life! All of which makes the current human-caused mass extinction of fellow life-forms a sin not just against one 'average' planet among many, but a threat to diversity on a galactic scale!
Ventus	Karl Schroeder	I picked up this book based on a positive review in Locus (a magazine about Science Fiction and Fantasy books and publishing), then discovered to my pleasure that the author is a fellow Torontonian! This is a far-future SF novel about the aftermath of a war against massive AIs (Artificial Intelligences). On one world, terraformed by pre-programmed nanotechnology, the nanotech has mysteriously refused to cede control to the arriving colonists, who now find themselves fighting real battles against 'spirits of nature' just to survive. The agent of an insane evil AI finds himself incarnated on this world, and sets out on his mission... What sets this book apart from the rest is the course of that entity's growth, and the interactions between the insterstellar agents sent to apprehend him, and the local inhabitants. A couple of plot developments just didn't ring true to me (e.g. the ease with which a few of the locals, who no longer know they came from somewhere else, absorb the reality of their place in the world and the universe), but overall, the book was well-written and had some truly interesting perspectives.
A Storm of Swords	George R. R. Martin	This third volume in A Song of Ice and Fire picks up concurrently with the climax of its predecessor, A Clash of Kings. The series is stunning in Martin's ability to draw real, gritty characters, even in this fantasy setting. As you get inside these people's heads, Martin masterfully makes you start questioning assumptions made in the earlier books. Yes, the book is about the battle between good and evil, but in a world of all-too-human motivations and responses, how do you know which is which? Magic is kept to a minimum, although the reader starts to realize that magic is creeping back into the world after a long absence. And AT LAST, after an unremittingly bleak set of events, a few - just a few - 'good' things happen to just a few of the characters at the end of this one - just enough to keep the reader eager to see what happens next in the second half of this series of six books!
Deepdrive	Alexander Jablokov	A novel in which the solar system has been colonized by various alien races, living in various degrees of interaction with the human race. A race of giant sandworms has terraformed Venus, insectoids on Mercury keep firing unknown packages into the sun, and Earth is now home to a species whose eggs and placentas communicate with humans. Humanity's obsession is to discover the secret to the interstellar 'deepdrive', which would confer instant 'respect' to our fledgling species - the novel follows the adventures of a group of misfits thrown together in this quest. I had some issues with the book, but overall I really enjoyed the fascinating glimpses of some truly alien aliens. Elements reminiscent of David Brin, Bruce Sterling's Shaper/Mech stories, Rebecca Ore, and Michael Coney made this an enjoyable, sometimes gripping read
The Quartered Sea	Tanya Huff	A new novel in the Quarters series, I picked this up more as a duty from my friendship with the author rather than any expectations - this is NOT my favourite of Tanya's worlds! BUT, I gladly eat those words! Tanya took the story through a major transition a few chapters in, and the resultant plot developments were very interesting, a fascinating exploration of new aspects of what had become (to me, anyway) a not-very-interesting fantasy world
The Granite Shield	Fiona Patton	Fiona's work just keeps getting better and better! My reservations after reading her first Branion novel, The Stone Prince, were pretty much swept aside by her second, The Painter Knight, and this one is the best yet! Far from riding on Tanya's coat-tails, Fe has quickly become a significant fantasist in her own right!
In the Garden of Iden	Kage Baker	A well-written, amusing take on the tropes of time-travel and immortality, it asks "If you invent a method to impart immortality, how can you test it?" The answer, of course(!), is to ALSO invent time travel, so you can beta-test it on people in the past... Once they're immortal, you may as well give them something useful to DO with their time...
A Second Chance at Eden	Peter F. Hamilton	Several short stories and a novella set in Hamilton's Adamist/Edenist universe, the setting of the 'Reality Dysfunction' and 'Neutronium Alchemist' works. Hamilton has some great ideas on the future prospects and consequences of biotechnology ("bitek") and the changes it wreaks on human society in the future.
The Three Questions	Bob Rae	Written by the former Premier of Ontario, whose socialist 'always-a-bridesmaid' New Democratic Party suddenly found itself running the government of Ontario in the early '90s (A protest vote which came as a complete surprise to all concerned, especially the NDP themselves!). The pragmatic Rae soon realized that the harsh realities of running Canada's largest economy required some concessions, views not shared by some of his more idealistic Cabinet members. In the move to a more 'centrist' platform, the party lost the support of its natural constituents in the labour movement, and was summarily relieved of its duties in the following election (only to be replaced by a rabid bunch of heartless right-wing neo-cons in yet another pendulum shift, but that's another story). Rae looks back on this period a wiser, more philosophical man

Title Medium Comments

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Movie To my mind, this movie, hailed by critics around the world as "the best film of 2000" was - a pretty good Xena episode! I'm sorry, but to read these pompous critics falling all over themselves, expounding on its 'marvellous symbolism', its 'sly homages' to other martial arts films, its 'wonderfully corny special effects', all from the same mouths who wouldn't be caught DEAD watching an episode of the 'Warrior Princess' - well, it just shows how self-important, elitist, and just plain out-of-touch these oafs really are! Yes, the film was truly beautiful to behold, and Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh played their characters marvellously - I enjoyed the film, but it was NOT as deep as these morons made it out to be! Face it, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar! And, just for the record, I'm not even a Xena fan!

Mission to Mars Movie Empty Calories! This movie looked stunning, so with production values like that, there's absolutely no excuse for turning out a movie so absolutely bereft of original ideas! From the lame plot (a warmed-over blend of Apollo 13 and 2001: A Space Odyssey), to the actors (fine performers such as Tim Robbins and Gary Sinise, none of whom ever gave the impression of the slightest belief in the lines they were speaking), I remained so completely UNengaged that I remember stopping a few times to think about how atrociously 'Over-The-Top' the musical score was!

Mystery Men Movie A real gem for those who grew up reading superhero comics! The concept of a 'class' system among superheros, with those with the 'glamourous' superpowers getting all the glory (and the corporate sponsorships), while the 'lesser' superheroes toil in relative obscurity, was an interesting premise for a film. Production values were terrific, with 'Champion City' looking like a hybrid of Tim Burton's Gotham City (from Batman) and Ridley Scott's L.A. (from Blade Runner), and fine performances from a cast of reliable actors. Clever dialog and some amusing metaphorical statements rounded out a great 'sleeper' film... I suspect this will do really well in the video/DVD market, once people have had a chance to reflect on it...

Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace Movie Perhaps some of you have heard of this 'little' film? OK, OK, it's not so little; but, as a devotee of the series since its first showing way back in 1977, I was both thrilled and underwhelmed at the same time by Lucas' latest oeuvre. Thrilled, because of the overall look of the film - and the concepts so in keeping with the classic original trilogy, updated by the enhanced F/X possible with today's technology... The CG creatures, including the incredibly annoying Jar Jar Binks, were stunning to behold! Underwhelmed, because the opening few scenes indicated that Lucas, for a director, is a pretty good 'concept man'. I mean, how can anyone have a scene featuring Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor, two of the finest actors of our time, and have that scene fall so flat? The dialog was stilted and awful! Similarly, to have an award-winning actor like Pernilla August seem so flat and unengaged, despite the imminent loss of her son - that takes a peculiar disdain for the importance of human emotion.

The Matrix Movie This one rocked! Hometown boy Keanu has never been a favourite of mine, but I think he was perfectly cast in this movie - always a little out of his depth, pushed around by events he barely understands... Fishburne looked amazing, the whole visual impact was breathtakingly powerful - I liked it! Can't wait for the DVD!

The Fifth Element Movie It seems that, with its release on VHS/LD/DVD, this movie has overcome critical and commercial rejection, to become a bit of a cult classic. Personally, I adored every campy, over-the-top minute of this romp! Again, the visual design was simply stunning, and sooo internally consistent - all the references to beloved SF themes and conventions, and Bruce Willis, Chris Tucker, and Gary Oldman playing perfectly to type! It just worked for me - I bought the DVD the day it came out!

Out of Sight Movie What can I say - Elmore Leonard is a god!

Stargate TV With the completion of Babylon 5, this becomes the sole contender for my favourite SF show. I really liked the original movie, but feared what 'they' would do with it in a weekly format. I've been very pleasantly surprised at all of the varied plots, twists and variations that have flashed across my screen weekly since then!

Crusade TV I'm waiting with bated breath for this one - coming real soon, I guess... Will it make it beyond the 13 episodes already in the can? Will it deserve to? Stay tuned for my opinion...
...and that opinion is - frustration! Frustration due to the fact that, while the show seems to have as much promise as the original Babylon 5 did in its first uneven season, (factoring out TNT's insistence on more 'sex and violence' in Crusade,) the results are not mind-blowing enough to generate the groundswell of fan support needed to resurrect the show. Too bad, JMS - "it coulda been a contender!"

@discovery.ca TV The Canadian Discovery Channel's daily science magazine - after the news, it's the one daily show I always try to catch
I've just been informed that this is the only daily science digest on TV anywhere - can anyone disprove this?
The show also started airing on the Discovery Channel in the US in 2000, where it's known as Science Daily

Star Trek: Voyager TV OK, I guess I had to mention the Trek universe here. For the record: This is not one of my favourite shows... When it's good, it can be - moderately interesting; when it's bad, it's downright embarrassing. No question, the series has developed new life since the arrival of Seven of Nine; but it still flounders far, far too often!
And of course, now it's over too - after 7 years of mediocrity, the 2-hour finale was - pretty good, in spite of plot loopholes large enough to pilot a starship through!

Sitting in front of a PC most of the day in my small cubicle (In a demonstration of true Canadian equality at work, the same size as the cubicle of the managers and the clerical staff who report to me!), then coming home and sitting down in front of my own PCs to push pixels for a few hours, does not add up to an especially healthy lifestyle! Yet, in spite of being the proverbial 'last boy picked' for sports activities in school, I realized in university that fitness had to be pursued.

Title	Medium	Comments
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon	Movie	To my mind, this movie, hailed by critics around the world as "the best film of 2000" was - a pretty good Xena episode! I'm sorry, but to read these pompous critics falling all over themselves, expounding on its 'marvellous symbolism', its 'sly homages' to other martial arts films, its 'wonderfully corny special effects', all from the same mouths who wouldn't be caught DEAD watching an episode of the 'Warrior Princess' - well, it just shows how self-important, elitist, and just plain out-of-touch these oafs really are! Yes, the film was truly beautiful to behold, and Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh played their characters marvellously - I enjoyed the film, but it was NOT as deep as these morons made it out to be! Face it, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar! And, just for the record, I'm not even a Xena fan!
Mission to Mars	Movie	Empty Calories! This movie looked stunning, so with production values like that, there's absolutely no excuse for turning out a movie so absolutely bereft of original ideas! From the lame plot (a warmed-over blend of Apollo 13 and 2001: A Space Odyssey), to the actors (fine performers such as Tim Robbins and Gary Sinise, none of whom ever gave the impression of the slightest belief in the lines they were speaking), I remained so completely UNengaged that I remember stopping a few times to think about how atrociously 'Over-The-Top' the musical score was!
Mystery Men	Movie	A real gem for those who grew up reading superhero comics! The concept of a 'class' system among superheros, with those with the 'glamourous' superpowers getting all the glory (and the corporate sponsorships), while the 'lesser' superheroes toil in relative obscurity, was an interesting premise for a film. Production values were terrific, with 'Champion City' looking like a hybrid of Tim Burton's Gotham City (from Batman) and Ridley Scott's L.A. (from Blade Runner), and fine performances from a cast of reliable actors. Clever dialog and some amusing metaphorical statements rounded out a great 'sleeper' film... I suspect this will do really well in the video/DVD market, once people have had a chance to reflect on it...
Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace	Movie	Perhaps some of you have heard of this 'little' film? OK, OK, it's not so little; but, as a devotee of the series since its first showing way back in 1977, I was both thrilled and underwhelmed at the same time by Lucas' latest oeuvre. Thrilled, because of the overall look of the film - and the concepts so in keeping with the classic original trilogy, updated by the enhanced F/X possible with today's technology... The CG creatures, including the incredibly annoying Jar Jar Binks, were stunning to behold! Underwhelmed, because the opening few scenes indicated that Lucas, for a director, is a pretty good 'concept man'. I mean, how can anyone have a scene featuring Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor, two of the finest actors of our time, and have that scene fall so flat? The dialog was stilted and awful! Similarly, to have an award-winning actor like Pernilla August seem so flat and unengaged, despite the imminent loss of her son - that takes a peculiar disdain for the importance of human emotion.
The Matrix	Movie	This one rocked! Hometown boy Keanu has never been a favourite of mine, but I think he was perfectly cast in this movie - always a little out of his depth, pushed around by events he barely understands... Fishburne looked amazing, the whole visual impact was breathtakingly powerful - I liked it! Can't wait for the DVD!
The Fifth Element	Movie	It seems that, with its release on VHS/LD/DVD, this movie has overcome critical and commercial rejection, to become a bit of a cult classic. Personally, I adored every campy, over-the-top minute of this romp! Again, the visual design was simply stunning, and sooo internally consistent - all the references to beloved SF themes and conventions, and Bruce Willis, Chris Tucker, and Gary Oldman playing perfectly to type! It just worked for me - I bought the DVD the day it came out!
Out of Sight	Movie	What can I say - Elmore Leonard is a god!
Stargate	TV	With the completion of Babylon 5, this becomes the sole contender for my favourite SF show. I really liked the original movie, but feared what 'they' would do with it in a weekly format. I've been very pleasantly surprised at all of the varied plots, twists and variations that have flashed across my screen weekly since then!
Crusade	TV	I'm waiting with bated breath for this one - coming real soon, I guess... Will it make it beyond the 13 episodes already in the can? Will it deserve to? Stay tuned for my opinion... ...and that opinion is - frustration! Frustration due to the fact that, while the show seems to have as much promise as the original Babylon 5 did in its first uneven season, (factoring out TNT's insistence on more 'sex and violence' in Crusade,) the results are not mind-blowing enough to generate the groundswell of fan support needed to resurrect the show. Too bad, JMS - "it coulda been a contender!"
@discovery.ca	TV	The Canadian Discovery Channel's daily science magazine - after the news, it's the one daily show I always try to catch I've just been informed that this is the only daily science digest on TV anywhere - can anyone disprove this? The show also started airing on the Discovery Channel in the US in 2000, where it's known as Science Daily
Star Trek: Voyager	TV	OK, I guess I had to mention the Trek universe here. For the record: This is not one of my favourite shows... When it's good, it can be - moderately interesting; when it's bad, it's downright embarrassing. No question, the series has developed new life since the arrival of Seven of Nine; but it still flounders far, far too often! And of course, now it's over too - after 7 years of mediocrity, the 2-hour finale was - pretty good, in spite of plot loopholes large enough to pilot a starship through!

So, I started working out with weights and getting some aerobic exercise, a habit that has stuck with me ever since. Not that I'm a fanatic, mind you; in fact, I go through phases when I'm not nearly as devoted as I should be. Yet, overall, I still believe that everyone should get some exercise to maintain mental, as well as physical, health.

For the last 10 years, ever since I moved back to Toronto, I've belonged to the Metro Central YMCA, within walking distance of my office. Also, for most of that time, I've been leading a class on a regular basis; 'Stretch and Strength', a yoga-like concentration on "flexibility and muscular strength throughout the range of motion," as I recite at lunchtime every Tuesday! I also try to get to at least one full aerobics class a week (although that's usually the first thing to fall by the wayside when things get busy at work...)

Also, living close to downtown as I do, I'm fortunate in that I can ride my bicycle to work for most of the year - only stopping when there's snow or ice in the bike lanes. It only takes about 10-15 minutes at the beginning and end of the day - but it's a bit of an aerobic workout, and it helps clear my mind en route.

Let's check out these hobbies; over time, I may devote a separate section to some or all of them, but for now, here's just a simple list:

Photography - My trusty old Canon AE-1 has accompanied me to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the heart of the Australian Outback, the top of Uluru (Ayers Rock), mysterious Mada'in Sala'ah in the heart of the Saudi desert, the floating market on the Chao Phya near Bangkok, the bottom of Ngorongoro crater; 'most everywhere I've been on this planet...
Dinosaurs - one of my main interests in studying zoology at university;
Building plastic model kits - for many years; although now I spend more time creating virtual models, the solid representations are often a good guide to work from;
Building my DVD collection! - since I'm already a sucker for SF and F/X-laden media, it should be no surprise that I'm interested in collecting them in the most faithful format currently available...
Computer Gaming - again, given my predilections for both SF and Computer graphics, it'll be no surprise that I like to play games on my PC as well - my favourites are mostly first-person perspective games - Jedi Knight, Unreal, Descent, Quake, yes, even Rogue Squadron!

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