know your webmaster
Warning: include() [function.include]: URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration in /home/3684/domains/commentedout.com/html/me.php on line 49
Warning: include(http://www.commentedout.com/includes/interests.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home/3684/domains/commentedout.com/html/me.php on line 49
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://www.commentedout.com/includes/interests.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/php-5.2.6-1/share/pear') in /home/3684/domains/commentedout.com/html/me.php on line 49
Random Facts
- Notable people who share my birthday: Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant, H.P. Lovecraft, id Software's John Carmack, Benjamin Harrison (23rd president), Isaac Hayes
Life As I See It
August 20, 1981 marked my entry into this world. Since then I've always pushed forward, seeking the answers to life's cliche questions: Who am I? What will I become? What do I do when I get there? How long does an unopened Twinkie really last? As far back as I can remember I've been driven by curiosity, fueling my need to see how things work and drawing me into political studies and social sciences. I believe that the more I know and understand about the world around me, the more prepared I'll be for whatever comes my way. In the end, I'll only know if I embrace what I don't understand, as experience is the ultimate teacher.
I love figuring out how things work, so you might imagine my delight when I first got my hands on a computer. It was an old IBM 8088, but it was fascinating technology, particularly to a little kid. This is back when the 5.25" floppy disk was hot stuff, and a neighbor had noticed my interest and handed me a ton of them with all sorts of programs, including some basic games. I was hooked. After learning how the software aspect worked, I didn't hesitate to take it apart and reassemble it, following which I got a book to learn about the parts I had just worked with and what they do. Meanwhile, I had the chance to work with somewhat better machines in school which had better games than the ASCII-based ones I had, and my interest in computer gaming was piqued. The 8088 was later replaced by a 386SX20, which had much more power. Shortly thereafter, Wolfenstein came to my attention, followed by Doom. A Pentium 133 replaced the 386 and it's been upgrade after upgrade since then. Continuing the trend of puzzling things out, I began studying rendering technology and working with map editors as they were released, experimenting a little with Doom at first. My first completed projects came from a game called Blood and since then I've tried any editor I could get ahold of.
The internet as an accessible household commodity opened up a whole new world of tinkering. AOL alloted a little bit of web space for its users (yeah, yeah, I know AOL sux0rz, but I haven't used it since version three so quiet you), and I had been hanging around on a writers' chat/message board on a web-based network called WBS for a while and decided I needed a web page. WBS provided a little bit of web space on its own, but not as much as AOL. They did, however, offer a little primer on HTML basics. Thus began my forays into web development. My skills peaked during my Sophmore year of high school when I took on JavaScript and set to work with full-blown Java, looking ahead to CGI applications with Perl script. School eventually took its toll on my time, and I dropped out of the web scene for several years, focusing on keeping up with my hardware and gaming work. I returned to web development mid 2001 and found a new trend called the Blog, along with some buzz around "web standards" and "CSS" stirring up. I set to work on honing my skills, frequenting newsgroups and forums for advice from professionals to learn what I needed. This brings us to the present day, and this site which you are now staring at.
Books and music also play a large, and rather necessary, part of my life. If there is anything I love, it's a good book, and no matter what I do there's usually music playing to supplement the mood. To relax, I'll read, play a game, or continue my endeavors in swordsmanship, particularly Japanese. I have a fondness for melee weaponry in general, and began with an interest in axes, which is fitting as my name (Sweeney) descends from the Scottish Clan of the Battle-Axe. I've since taken a keen interest in Japanese swordsmanship, the katana being my favorite sword out of any classification. The idea of one weapon being designed for offense and defense, making a shield unnecessary, is fantastic.
So, this is me in a nutshell. You can always feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions or anything to say in general. I'll keep this updated as I remember anything I might have missed.
Current Goals In Life
- Since rediscovering web development a couple years ago, I've come to realize just how much I enjoy this field of work, and I'm pretty determined to open up my own design studio one of these days. I'd start it out with site design and maybe branch out into graphic design and web hosting as side assets.
- I wouldn't mind writing a book or two. Maybe once I get myself firmly planted in the field of web development, I'll work on a book about it.
- I'd like to retire early and travel the country. Rather than hit all the major tourist spots, I'd rather visit everyday locales. I love hearing stories about the experiences of others, so during this trip I'd like to take the time to get at least one story from every place I visit. Spending a couple years on this endeavor and compiling a collection of stories on this site seems like a pretty enticing idea.
Life Lessons
- I know it sounds horribly cliche, but I've realized that a person really can accomplish anything they're willing to invest time and hard work in. There are plenty of things I know now that I never thought I'd be able to do. Even learning the code to create this site seemed impossible at first, and now here it is.
- There's no such thing as a wasted endeavor. If you involve yourself in something and it turns sour sometime down the road, don't look back on it with bitterness and regret. If you enjoyed it for the duration and got some good out of it, then it was still a worthwhile experience. Hold on to the brighter side of it and continue on with life as a richer person for the experience.