Who am I:

Retired US Navy Electronics Tech - Nuclear Field.
- Certified Nuclear Reactor Operator (x4 Platforms)
- Certified Reactor Control Systems Electronics Tech (x4 Platforms)
- Certified Quality Assurance Inspector (Trident Submarine Repair, Refit, Overhaul)
- 2 years as Facilities Manager (industrial/ship repair facility) SIMA, San Francisco.
(At SIMA I had a collateral duty of assisting the Regional Officer In Charge of Construction, San Francisco - I did inspections of new construction buildings to verify compliance with the Blue Prints and the Government Contract.)
I have worked on the systems for and operated 14 different NUC Reactors.
Inspected some aspect of every Trident Sub based on the West Coast. (At that time.)
(The QA Inspector job was mechanical engineering related, not electrical. I inspected/monitored mechanical assembly (including those done inside a clean room for O2 equipment), electroplating, welding, machinists work, and heat treating jobs both in the repair shops an on board the subs.)
I have been to the Persian Gulf 7 times, done counter drug operations off the coasts of Mexico and South America 3 times, and there were these two cruises that didn't officially happen. (Cold War things.)

Post military job: Senior Millwright.
(For a mill owned by Jeld-Wen that pumps out ~10,000+ doors daily.)
A Millwright basically does maintenance and repair of factory production equipment only the factory is one that makes things out of wood.
I quit because my Supervisor disabled a failed safety system and had no intentions of repairing it.
A short time after I submitted my resignation (but was still there, I allowed them time to train a replacement before I left) the lack of that safety feature caused an explosion that destroyed an out building, demolished a tractor trailer rig, damaged a ~20 ft high x ~60 ft long section of the main building, and nearly killed 3 people.
- Can you say, "I TOLD YOU SO."?

I became interested in Computers in 1995.
I've worked with PC's semi-professionally since 1998 as temp jobs or home-based businesses.
I do or have done:
Owned an on-line PC Parts Store. (1999-2001)
Owner/webmaster of an on-line PC help Forum. (1998-2002)
(Mentioned on NBC at one point.)
One-off short-term contract work for various things. (2000-2004)
- - For example upgrading all of a small business's computers.  
(Accountant's, Doctor's, Lawyer's office type things. Never more than a dozen machines.)
Occasionally build custom systems. (I don't advertise, they seem to find me.) (1998-2008)
Refurbishing laptops. (For resale.) (2000-2006)
Component level repairs. (1998-2008)
(As in with a soldering iron. Yes even motherboards.)

For several years I donated a PC a month to some charity or another (or local underprivileged families) created out of surplus parts removed from upgrades to customers PC's. I'm not keeping up with 1 a month anymore because I'm doing much less work for other people and so there are too few parts to build things from.

Non-PC hardware related hobbies:
I've built hot-rods since the late 70's.
I like to garden and fiddle with landscaping. (Anything outdoors.)
LOVE to fish!
Woodwork (Especially furniture).
Web Design.

Short term non-PC related jobs I've taken on the side.
Electrician (everything up to 4160 volts).
Mason (Block walls and pouring concrete slabs).
Painting cars, Body work, Brake jobs, Front-ends/suspension.
Engine/Transmission overhaul/replacements.
Roofs, Fences, Carpentry, Cabinet Maker, Sheetrock, Stucco.

Friends were calling me "The Tool Man" before that show ever existed.

WARNING:
I can be opinionated, blunt, straight to the point, and down right ornery.
If your feelings are bent easily I'll probably bend them at some point.
- It's not malice!
Many of my jobs have been such that people can die over a miscommunication, missing a detail, or if things simply aren't done correctly. If I see something important getting missed I get LOUD. I can't help it that's just me.
[I'm not always right but you'll damned well know my opinion.]
- To counter that, I don't hold grudges. Grudges are not 'professional' and detract from working out the next problem that comes along. - I might argue no end with you in one question and be you greatest supporter in the next.
[ Maybe it's age. I can't remember who I supposed to be mad at. ]
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- It's all good as long as in the end someone got help.
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