i3Detroit-forums

Hi.  My name is Dave Alvarez, and (like Melissa) I too am brand new.  My alias will be DaveA, and I will be working on building guitars, electric and acoustic if all plans succeed.  Still trying to 'tool up' for it, starting off by building a thickness sander, which should profit the entire shop.

Greetings, everyone!  I'm new around here, already pretty settled on joining i3 here.  I just moved out to Ferndale, which makes this place super convenient.  It would be hard to pinpoint exactly what I do, so instead I'll just list some of my hobbies and we can go from there:

EE  <~ I love every aspect I can wrap my head around, from schematic design, PCB layout, troubleshooting, just messing around...  never said I was great at it, I just have a lot of enthusiasm.

Radio <~ This is an upcoming fascination of mine... at the moment, I'm almost entirely a digital guy, but I'd love to dive into the magic of analog circuits.

Computers <~  I prefer linux flavors, but I've been dabbling in AVR and PIC, too.  Not enough to program, my goal is only to be able to communicate with computers.

Automation <~ I do a lot of side work, and for some reason a lot ends up being environmental regulation.  Go figure.

Tinkering!!!  <~ Even after an all out cleaning out of my spare parts pile, I think it still contains a couple 360s, a half dozen xboxs and literally 50 pounds of spare parts.

More or less I'm just a student of life, learning as I go.  Looking forward to meeting you guys!

Mullet

I've been lurking in the public mailing list and here on the forums since Penguicon, and finally made the time to visit in person.  Now, having seen the space twice - the first time at tabletop gaming a couple of weeks ago, and again last Wednesday with my wife - I have (as of this afternoon) paid my membership dues!  I'm not yet quite a member (still need that orientation!), but I figure I'm close enough.

By trade, I am a "Lead Software Architect" (titled by my employer), currently on a large DoD contract.  I primarily work in Visual Studio, on .NET apps (2.0 through 4.0), although I have also worked in the Eclipse and Dreamweaver IDEs, writing Java, PHP, and JSP/Struts apps (web- and non-).  I am also a small business owner, "connecting people with manufacturers, online, using social media."  In addition to these, I am the Race Director for the Fifth Third Bank 42nd Annual Belle Isle New Year's Eve Family Fun Run/Walk.  (This is my first time as RD, taking over from my mother after 41 years, so December will be rather ...hectic.)

My interests include:
Netduino development - I recently purchased a NetduinoPlus, but haven't had time/space to play with it
Computers - all of mine are frankenputers, and I'm working on one for my nephew with a custom "Transformers" case
Woodworking - my tools have been sequestered in the back of our non-powered garage since we moved in 5 years ago, but I *want* to build!
Electronics - in addition to the new Netduino, I love taking stuff apart and putting stuff together (not necessarily the same as it was... we make stuff *better*)
Metalwork - I haven't done much of this since high school (lacking certain high-amp tools), but really enjoyed the design and creation.
Gaming - I don't do much online, but love tabletop miniatures, board, card, and classic RPGs


Hopefully I'll be able to get several projects going again (and finish them!), which will make my wife VERY happy indeed.  (Not to mention the stress relief I'll get from working on *stuff* again.)


-- Jerry B

Damn double post.