I’m a part-time math and computer science tutor with Success Lab in Park Ridge, Illinois, and for my primary job I’m a Programmer/Analyst for Ameritech. I have a liberal arts B.A. (math, English, Spanish, philosophy) from Ball State University, 1979; a B.S. (math/computer science) from the University of Illinois at Chicago, 1985; and an M.S. (mathematics) from the University of Illinois at Chicago, 1987. Starting in 1994 I studied at Concordia University in River Forest for certification in secondary education, and I received my Illinois teaching certificate in the spring of 1999.
I like math and logic puzzles, abstract games, ballroom dancing (but I don’t have a regular partner), Indian food, classical music, literature (especially fantasy), National Review, science fiction movies, geometric designs (such as tartans, as you can see: check out my gifs of tartans and other geometric wallpapers).
When I find an author whose books I like a lot I sometimes try to collect all of them. My favorite authors have been Rex Stout, C. S. Lewis, G. K. Chesterton, J. R. R. Tolkien, P. G. Wodehouse, and of course Martin Gardner.
Another of my favorites is Lord Dunsany, but most of his books are strangely hard to obtain, except in expensive first editions. I have long felt that as Dunsany’s works become public domain they should be published online; I was delighted to find that James D. MacDonald’s site, the Library, has posted one of them, along with many other works of fantasy.
I live in an apartment on the northwest edge of Chicago with my three cats, Dagny, Galt, and Ignatius, my library of more than 1200 books, and my collection of more than ninety board games. The last Saturday of each month I go to the Chicago Mensa meeting, where I organize the game room. My title is Master of the Games, or Games Warden, though I have also suggested Director of Boards, or Chancellor of the Checkers.
