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| Personal background |
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Hi!
My name is George, and I live and work in the greater Boston area.
I design computer software for a prominant medical information systems company in New England. I am the lucky godfather to two of the most wonderful nieces a guy ever had!
I have many interests ranging from reading (avid Science Fiction reader) to
volleyball (although I have not done much of that of late..).. I find that colorful artwork
such as blown glass, animation cells, etc are of interest as well..
One hobby that has dominated over the past 25 years has been my fascination with radios. I became interested in electronics as a kid, and worked as a color TV repair person for the last two years of high school. I had a pretty good understanding and ability for repairing radios and B/W televisions back then (mid 60's).. I had the good fortune to meet a local service man who took me under his wing and let me work there part time. He apprenticed me through the repair of Color TV.. Color Television was still not very common, and they were quite expensive. This gentleman, Alma Siddell, has
long since passed on, but certainly not forgotten. I will always be grateful to him for the kindness and friendship he bestowed on me.. I was so happy to be working in a field I loved!
I got interested in computers about that time, and went to school at
Worcester Polytechnic Institute. There I got a degree in Electrical Engineering, and eventually a masters in Computer Science.. This turned out to be a great combination at the time since I knew how computers worked from both angles!
I was quite fortunate to be in the right place at the right time, since computers were in their infancy.. I took to them quite easily, and thoroughly enjoyed my time at WPI. I worked part time at the computer center (see article about these times at WPI) and have fond memories of all that I learned there.
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| Thoughts about SETI and SETI@home |
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I feel that the SETI@home project is a wonderful opportunity for individuals to help advance the search for life in the universe.. There is rarely an opportunity where the average person can contribute in a meaningful way to a large vision. My hat is off to the folks at Berkley who designed the concept and the software.. I am proud to contribute what I can..
I loved the movie Contact.. and the book is at least as good as the movie.. I have also sat and looked at the stars, wondering how things started, and if indeed there are others in the universe.
The one thing I wish before I pass on is to have an answer to that question..
As a kid, I loved the show Star Trek, and still find myself watching an episode now and again.. I love Science Fiction books, and invariably, these all revolve around us not being alone int he universe.. I often wonder if there will be generations that take that fact for granted, never imagining us not knowing.. sort of the way current generations can't imagine a life without Television or computers..
I think that as a species, discovering other life will come as a big shock.. mainly to our egos and our religions.. but I think it is going to make us a better species, and help us gain perspective on our role inthe universe.. As you can see, I am slightly biased on how the results of this study will eventually turn out..
I base this on my firm belief that in all the galaxy, we can not be the most sophisticated being that has evolved. God may have created the universe, but I don't think it was just for us! ;-)) (Are we egotistical or what?)
I do not think we should transmit a beacon for others to find.. Call it paranoia, but we do not know what contact would be like, and I personally would like it to occur on neutral territory.. We should not make any assumptions.. alien means alien.. our ethics about right and wrong may not apply.. Remember the Twilight Zone episode "To Serve Man".. one can not discount it as a possibility.. so let's not be stupid.. |
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