I have a long resume working in computers, as both a Unix sysadmin and programmer. I currently work as a software engineer for Google, in the Open Source Programs Office — see code.google.com to learn more. You can also learn about the specifics of my team.

I'm one of the original designers and developers of Subversion, a free version control system designed to replace CVS. I've co-authored a free, online book about Subversion, also available in hardcopy from O'Reilly & Associates.

I use a Dvorak keyboard layout. It's not really faster than a QWERTY layout, but it's definitely easier and more relaxing on the wrists. Very important, considering I basically type for a living.

I've been playing the piano since age six, and for many years I was into various forms of improv jazz. More recently, I've taken interest in bluegrass music and have taken up playing the guitar and banjo, studying now and then at the Old Town School of Folk Music. I also have a long history of singing in different choirs, though my absolute most favorite choral activity is singing in a barbershop quartet. These days, I'me playing bluegrass banjo in a local jam group.

I have a long-standing partnership with Andre Pluess; we've been compositonal collaborators for over 10 years and have been working as Sound Designers and Musical Theater composers in the Chicago theater community since 1995. Andre and I have a separate website detailing our music and theater career, though the joint resume is usually out-of-date For me, the highlights of our career together have been a number of opporunities to write full-length musicals. Our most recent musical project was an adaptation of Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg Ohio, which, after four years of workshops, culminated in a full production at Steppenwolf Theater (June 2004), performed in a theater showcase in New York (October 2004), and then played at a large theater in Philadelphia (October 2005). It received major awards in both Chicago and Philadelphia.

I partake in many other creative activities when I find time, though admittedly I have much less free time now that I'm a dad.

• I am at peace with my "inner nerd", so to speak, and tend to hang out with other nerds.

• Photography: I do a bunch of amateur photography with my digital SLR. I use a Canon 30D with several different lenses, and Adobe Lightroom to process them. You can see some of my favorite photos in my portfolio.

• Text adventures: I like to play and write interactive fiction games on the computer. (You know, like Zork?) Using the amazing Inform programming language, I've even written a game you can try. (I'm also writing a Z-machine emulator in python.)

• Role-playing games: nothing beats interacting with other folks both online and around a gaming table; I enjoy playing in the NASCRAG tournament in the summer and playing Rileycon in winter.

• Geocaching: Like all geeks with GPS receivers, I've gotten into Geocaching. It's a great hide-and-seek sport, and a good excuse for hiking, camping, or just exploring urban neighborhoods.

Ever wonder what the receipt looks like after legally changing your name? It's not a joke. Here's the story of where that receipt came from.

Here are some very old, essentially abandoned essays I've started.