Ok, that's a valid question. Who am I?

There are the traditional answers. You know, about so tall (perhaps not quite enough), so wide (definitely too much), education, etc, etc. The picture on the right shows me holding what may be the dumbest cat in the world. Since I'm usually the one taking the pictures, that's all I've got available ... For some details about myself, I ought to just include a copy of my resume. A quick summary would say that I'm an Advisory Engineer in the Engineering Design Automation Laboratory (EDA), with an office at the Burlington, Vermont IBM facility (it's actually located in Williston and Essex Junction, just outside Burlington). This week we're part of IBM's Microelectronics Division. We were recently part of the Server Group. Before that we were in Microelectronics. Before that, I think we were part of the mainframe development organization (a predecessor of the Server Group).

The resume's a little dry, so I'll give you some idea of what I do. I'm primarily responsible for a gridless, transistor-level, layout program. That's a fancy way of saying a piece of software that places wires on chips at a very low level of design. If you're familiar with IC layout, then that'll make sense to you, otherwise you're going to have trouble relating. I guess you'd call me the founder of the BTV Linux User's group, since I'm the one who calls the meetings. Other than maintaining a web site and gathering information, calling meetings is about all I do for the BTV LUG at this point. And it's probably about all I've got time for. I'd like to think that I'm something of a gatekeeper in my group. If someone's looking for something or how to solve a problem, there's a pretty good chance they'll end up wandering into my office.

I'm also a PhD student at the University of Florida. My research is in the area of Layout Algorithms for Phase Shift Mask layout. It dovetails nicely with my work and my experience. It might be useful to describe exactly what I'm doing being an IBM'er in Vermont and a PhD student in Florida. Schizophrenia comes to mind, but actually the story is more involved than that.

I was working on an MS in Computer Science through NTU (my second MS), when I decided that it was finally time to pursue a PhD. I attempted to apply for IBM's Resident Work Study program, but found that the program was unfunded and unavailable. At the time my advisor at NTU was Prof Doug Dankel in the UF Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering (CISE) department. Doug suggested that UF was in a position to have remote students pursue a PhD. All of the core courses and most of the optional required courses are offered through the Florida Engineering Education Delivery System (FEEDS). I.E., the courses are taught in studios on campus and made available via videotape. I found an advisor, Prof Sartaj Sahni who had interests which were close to mine, found a committee of open-minded Professors, and now I'm a PhD student part of the week.

From my family's perspective, this program has several big advantages over full-time PhD work. First, it doesn't mean moving away from Vermont (staying wasn't much of an option since the University of Vermont's Graduate Engineering program is ranked dead last in the country in one of the recent Gorman Reports). Second, I still get paid. Third, UF is located in Gainesville, which means that the most convenient way to fly down is to fly through Orlando. That, of course, means that the kids expect to get to visit Disney once in a while, with me making a pilgrimage up to Gainesville sometime during the stay.

I do have a family, who I mention last, but who come first (before all of the other things listed on this page). My wife, Judy, is an Advisory Engineer in the ASIC organization here at IBM Burlington. She works on layout extraction software. We have two wonderfully energetic children, Shannon (age 6) and Sean (age 3). We've got two cats, both of whom are candidates for the stupidest mammal award.

I've got a zillion hobbies, none of which I'm particularly good at. I picked up the guitar again after a 18 year layoff, and it's clear that there were good reasons why I gave it up in the first place. When I went out and bought an electric guitar, Judy pointed out to me that it's a much cheaper way to face turning 40 than buying a Ferrari. I've been concentrating on learning all the music I loved to listen to when I was in High School and College (don't ask, I'm not telling ... and if you listen carefully you won't be able to tell either). I've got my no-code Technician Ham license (N1JFB). I plan to study a little and try to pass the new 5 word-per-minute Morse Code test and see if I can test up to Extra so I have an excuse to buy a shortwave transmitter (no-codes are limited to VHF). I love meteorology, and seem to have missed my calling by getting into computers. On my home page you'll find some links to the places where you can read the Weather Service long-range forecast discussions. I play a little volleyball, a little basketball, and read just about everything I can get my hands on.