About Me
I’m an 18 year old computer science major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a computer hacker (hacker as in programmer as in one who tinkers with computers, not hacker as in cracker as in one who illegally breaks into computer systems). I’m also a Boy Scout, a journalist for my school newspaper, a pianist/guitarist/songwriter, and an independent thinker (or at least, I consider myself one).
I first realized I was interested in computers around the age of two years old. My family had a DOS based system with WordPerfect on it, and I realized that by hitting the keyboard I could write books (I learned to read at three, and was quite obviously disappointed by my “masterpieces,” the first of which was probably entitled something like “erkhygorabnbkj;”). Apparently I changed the default font to Wingdings or some similar font, or maybe opened a binary file, around the same age, because my parents always tell the story (or used to tell the story) of how I made the computer show “hieroglyphics.” Of course, the idea that I could do this when I was two fascinated me until I figured out possible ways to repeat it around the age of five. I used to love reading manuals too, because I wanted to learn more, but I quickly realized that the best way to discover anything is by doing it.
Currently, I am experienced with Python (still using 2.x but familiar with 3), Java, a little bit of C, a bunch of web development languages, bash, server configuration, Linux, UNIX, etc. I find it better not to list what I’m good at but to write and think about what I want to be good at, because in my opinion it is our dreams and aspirations that ultimately define our character and behavior.
Hacker Hideout
Hacker Hideout is exactly what the title describes, and so much more. This blog is targeted at the young and young at heart, interested in technology with a bunch of other interests floating about, and who wants to learn, teach, and most importantly, explore themselves. What I write is relevant to me, and I won’t pretend that it’s obviously going to be relevant to everyone else reading the blog. However, I’m trying to generalize, express my feelings on life and bring them back to what matters to everyone. If you aren’t interested at all in tech, find nature boring, hate music, don’t like writing, and think philosophy should fall of the face of the planet, you won’t like this blog. My target audience isn’t everyone. I’m pouring my mind and soul out onto the (digital) paper, if you don’t find it interesting, move on.
Eric Erikson, a psychologist, stated that during teenage years (13-20), people undergo an identity crisis. Essentially, we want to define who and what we are before we move on to what that means for everyone else in our life (the next stage being intimacy). This blog is about identity, about who I am, who you are, and who we as a culture are. I hope you find it interesting.
I also intend to teach what I can with this blog, and share what I find interesting, in hopes that I’ll inspire or impart some valuable lesson. I don’t pretend to know anything more about life then my readers, rather, I’m chronicling my journey through it and hoping that I can help others and give them something interesting to read, at a minimum. “A wise man learns from other’s mistakes,” a famous proverb goes. May you (perhaps) learn from mine.
So welcome, and enjoy your stay.
Rules
I do not censor comments which are critical of me, my purpose, or any individual point I raise. I do recommend attacking individual points over me, though, as this generally makes for a better argument.
Spam will be deleted without any warning. Spam includes pointless posts, offensive language (with no real content), and posting links to inappropriate/irrelevant sites. If a comment is double/triple posted, the additional posts will be deleted. I won’t assume good faith if it’s posted a dozen or so times though, and all copies of the comment will be deleted.
Offensive and inappropriate language is discouraged. Overuse of it may result in (most likely) me editing the comment to censor it, or possibly deletion of the comment altogether.
If you link to me or quote me on a non-Wordpress blog (where I won’t be auto-notified), I’d appreciate it if you let me know.
Above all, enjoy the blog and don’t worry about the rules. Use common sense when posting and you’ll be fine. Dissent is encouraged and appreciated, offensive and personal attacks are not.
Media
Unless I give credit to someone else, it’s safe to assume all images, audio, video, and other media has been created by me. The header image is a fractal, I used Fraqtive and GIMP to make it. Most images I post will be pictures taken with a digital camera or diagrams and the like created with GIMP and other relevant programs.
