Geek

A random sampling of some of my gear & gadgets. More info below.
My technology-focused interests vary pretty cyclically. I have a wide breadth experience with a number of different subject areas, each of which with I have a degree of knowledge that ranges from “aware of” to “can teach someone about.”
Computer Hardware
Through experience alone, I’ve become pretty darn savvy with most aspects of computer hardware: internal components (motherboards, CPUs, RAM, hard drives, optical drives, video cards, network cards); peripherals (monitors, keyboards, mice, game controllers, audio, printers [but let’s be honest – does anyone even really like printers??]); and networking elements (routers and cabling and modems, oh my).
Power User
Power User
I can get networks up and running, and (usually) effectively troubleshoot ones that are giving trouble. I know I have room for growth on security & scaling.
Business & Desktop software
- Self-taught (with the help of Google, of course) MS Office guru
- Word: crazy mail merges, adaptive formatting, and above all: making it look good are all areas in which I take pleasure.
- Excel: three-or-four deep formulas (hello VLOOKUP and MATCH) & conditional formatting don’t scare me.
- PowerPoint: Less is more. But effective & attractive ‘less’ is even better than regular ‘less.’
- Access: I’ll be honest; I’m not as good at Access as I want to be, mostly because I haven’t had the opportunity to get my hands dirty with a real-life “this matters” project. But I’m always on the lookout for one.
- Windows: I know a half dozen hotkeys that you probably haven’t even heard of.
- Google: Heavy user of Drive, GMail/Inbox, YouTube, Calendar, Keep etc for personal & work use.
- Android: I get pumped for every new release (even Lollipop, can flash roms without batting an eye (though I do read all the documentation first… two or three times… just in case…)
- Apple: Not a hater. My main rigs are Windows based, but I can navigate in this ecosystem without flinching.
- Linux: Another instance of “I know the idea behind it but I’ve never experimented in depth.” Happy to change that if given the chance.
Power User
Power User
Power user. Also my secret weapon. Well, ‘secret.’
Power User
I just wish I knew more hotkey combos…
I can definitely hold my own in a command line interface no problem; I just need to learn which commands to put in those lines…
Graphic Design
- Several years’ experience designing posters & logos for student organizations at SUNY Potsdam
- Two years as photo & layout editor of school newspaper at SUNY Potsdam
- Great basic photo editing; darn good image manipulator (creator of ‘photoshops’)
Experienced User
Experienced User
Several Projects under my belt, but from a while ago
I can fake my way through it if I need to
Web Design
- 10+ years dabbling in HTML, CSS
- CMS (WordPress, Drupal) experience for personal & business projects
- Helped manage websites & content for Foo Fighters, Kings of Leon, Kesha, Whitney Houston, others during Sony Music internship
- Some MySQL & PHP work for hobby projects
- Webmaster of scratch-made websites for college groups
Power User
Experienced User
I’m aware of what they are & how they can be used, but don’t have as much hands-on experience with them as I’d like. Yet.
Programming
AP Computer science & enough hobby-related exploration to have a very solid grasp on core concepts, and the drive & determination to learn (or re-learn) whatever language the task at hand calls for.
No fancy graphics for this one, just a list of some of the languages I have experience with:
- Java
- JavaScript
- C++
- PHP
- Python
- ActionScript
Music composition, engraving, & DAWs
Through my experiences as a musician, I’ve gotten to know several pieces of music software quite intimately:
Power User
Experienced User
Experienced user & former teacher
Several projects under my belt
Every few months or so I get an itch to make some remixes. I usually program a dozen loops and spend an afternoon messing around with my LaunchPad, and it ends there. But hey, one of these times it may lead somewhere…
Learning Management Software
Through my work with the NEF, I’ve become familiar with the ins and outs of the Moodle content management system.
Several iterations of courses developed in Moodle 1.9 & 2.x, with advanced features like achievements/badges & responsive directives based on past student performance.
My Gear
Phone & Tablets
Nexus 5
Nexus 7
Nexus 10
Computers
HP zBook for work
This Guy for fun
Input Devices
Steelseries Sensei mouse
Blackwidow Razer Ultimate keyboard
SixAxis for Android gaming
XBox 360 controller for PC gaming
Sound
M-Audio – Studiophile AV Speakers
LG HBS700 bluetooth headset (for phone)
Audio Technical ATH-M40 FS headphones (for movies & music)
Sentey Vibros Gs-4540sp headset (for PC gaming)
Music
Schecter Stiletto Custom 5 Bass
Fender Rumble 350 Amp
Gadgets
Pebble