My blogs

ArtfulOpinions

About me

Gender	Male
Industry	Consulting
Occupation	Database Architect/Programmer/Author
Location	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Introduction	After 25+ years in programming, most specifically databases, I am now devoted now to working on my next screenplay and co-writing our next revision of Getting It Done With MySQL (co-written with Peter Brawley, my best friend and business partner, also a regular contributor to this blog). I read 3-4 books a week, on diverse subjects. Current reads include "Advanced C#", "The Shallows -- How the Internet is Changing the Way We Think", and the autobiography of Russell Peters, far and away the funniest comedian ever to have come out of Canada, and "The Philosophy of the Coen Brothers." Most recent additions include "Year of the Dragon", by Robert Daley, who also wrote "Prince of the City", later made into one of my favorite movies of all time. The first scene of this film is a lesson
Interests	Philosophy in general, and more specifically, Philosophy of Science. Lately, C# programming, but more long-term, Chess (most specifically, the games of Bobby Fischer); Backgammon (played in several world championships, won none, but made my living playing this game for a couple of years); more currently, Artificial Intelligence and Genetic Algorithms; Math in general; Music (Western and Indian classical, punk, and world-beat in general).
Favorite movies	1. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. 2. Miller's Crossing. 3. Godfather II (although it needs to be seen immediately after Godfather I). 4. After that it gets dodgy... things that come to mind include Fargo, Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead, Prince of the City, Blow-Up, Nicholas Roeg's magnificent Don't Look Now and also his Bad Timing, a movie that changed my life.
Favorite music	This could go on forever, so I'll confine it to 5: Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, conducted by Igor, on the Columbia label. Beethoven Cello Sonata Op. 68 #3, played by Jacqueline du Pre and Stephen Bishop. Mapa, by the Brazilian trio Uakti. Remain in Light, by Talking Heads. London Calling, by the Clash.
Favorite books	V. (Thomas Pynchon), Snowcrash and Cryptonomicon (Neal Stephenson), JR (William Gaddis), Gravity's Rainbow (Thomas Pynchon), Neuromancer (William Gibson), A Frolic of His Own (William Gaddis).