About me

Standing over a hot pit, one technogypsy...

I'm a chemist by training, holding a Ph.D. from one of those liberal North Eastern universities, a material scientist by trade, teaching and directing graduate research in that field part time at a University in Texas and working full time in tech support for a large instrument company.  I've got about 125 publications in my field, including a monograph on one technique. A Yankee, born and bred, I fell in love with Texas and set down roots here about 25 years ago.  I'm married to a tolerant goddess with a pair of small boys. I've got too many woodworking and forging tools for my own good, a bunch of students  that keep me honest, a mandolin I can't really play, and a web of contacts across the world from both the job and the martial arts. I'm an Orthodox Christian, an NRA and TSRA member, mostly Republican, a hunter, and fisherman. I don't exercise or  practice enough and I drink too much bourbon. Basically, I am all those bad red state things you heard about: except I chose most of them voluntarily after working overseas for several years. It's amazing how fast any belief in modern liberalism or multiculturalism dies when you get to work in Europe, Pacific Rim, or the Middle East.

Ben, Kevin and Noah after hunting in Kerrville, Texas