TuxRunner

Greetings!  So you want to know more (that is why you clicked the “About” link, isn’t it?)

I’m currently employed as a Unix Systems Engineer for Quicken Loans, the #1 online mortgage lender in the US.  My 16 years of technical background is quite a colorful one with professional experience in Windows, Novell Netware, OS/400, Linux, VMware ESX, and a dash of Solaris and AIX.  I’ve held certifications in RedHat/Linux, Novell Netware, and most recently VMware ESX.  While I’ve mostly been known as a Windows engineer over the years, I’ve always had a eye on Unix and Linux.  When the opportunity to cross over to the “dark side” came up, I jumped at it.

My first experience with the Internet was through a Digital Electronic DECstation running Ultrix at Oakland University in 1992.   Over the years I was a big fan of Slackware Linux.  Not exactly one of the easiest distros to use, but definitely causes you to learn.  I regularly run a copy of Ubuntu or Linux Mint on machines I use daily.  And yes, I do use a MacBook Pro at work with OSX on it, but that’s mainly because Linux isn’t an approved desktop OS at work…and I’d rather have BSD under the hood than have to still run Windows.

I didn’t think it would ever happen, but now being surrounded by Linux so much, I’m slowly becoming more anti-Microsoft.  It’s not outright hate for the company or their products (yet, haha).  Windows 7 does look spiffy of course.  But, at least in my personal life I really don’t see the point to using Windows anymore when Linux can do everything that I need it to do.  Sometimes even surpasses Windows and MacOSX in functionality (mmm… Compiz is fantastic!).

I’m highly interested in the tech scene…gadgets, social networking, podcasts, netbooks, embedded devices, tech news.. can’t get enough of the stuff.  There’s just not enough time in the day to consume all the news and information that I’d like to put in my brain.  I’ve started recently to try to learn C++ programming as well, although that looks like it’ll be a steep climb.  I have a lot to learn.

So welcome to my site.  And yes, this site is powered by GNU/Linux!