some moments are more lively than others...

I've avoided writing this section of the site because the whole exercise just seems so pretentious. There's nothing worse than flipping to the back cover of a book and reading all about the author and his shining accomplishments, knowing all the while that the whole love fest was written by the author himself. And, of course, to throw us all off the scent, it's always written in third person (like we don't know). "Jackson has been universally heralded as the brightest of his generation... he takes a completely new approach to the creative process, which is nothing short of genius..." Blah blah blah. Who cares really? It seems as if everything we come in contact with in our day-to-day lives has been marketed to us in some way. Do we really need to add self-promotion to the mix? Probably not.

On the other hand, I am a firm believer in the idea that if this whole "online" idea is going to work, and actually fulfill some of it's promises to bring people together, there has to be a human element to it. Smiley faces and and cute chat acronyms may have sufficed when internet technology was in it's infancy, but the time has come to communicate like real people, and not hide behind cryptic handles and emotionless keystrokes. So many of us get caught up in using technology for technology's sake. Technology is not an end, it's the means. It's in this deception that technology can be so insidious; it seduces us into believing that the pursuit of information and data will help us "usher in a new age of enlightenment". Don't you fall for it. If anything, that idea holds us back from realizing our potential. Our potential doesn't lie in our ability to process information, it lies in our ability to dream, create, and imagine. Data and information are fine tools, but they're exactly that, just tools. It's how we use those tools to communicate our humanity and to grow as people that will ultimately unlock the true power of technology.

OK, essay mode off! My point in all that rambling? Simply that this page is my way of trying to humanize the online experience. It's my way of showing who's on the other side of the smiley. Unfortunately, since you've probably fallen asleep by this point, the rest of the page may never be seen. ;)

Name	Blake
Residence	Northern Illinois (outside of Chicago)
Occupation	Manager of Information Systems for a staffing firm / teaching various credit classes at our local college (when time permits)
Birthday	July 13, 1975
Height	5'10"
Weight	195
Hobbies	Music: I think it's safe to say I enjoy music quite a bit. Though I tend to gravitate towards synthpop bands from the 80's, I also enjoy nearly any female vocalist that has a unique voice (Alison Moyet, Nina Simone, Claudia Brucken, etc.) Photography: I've started to become more and more interested in photography over the past few months. I am currently shooting mainly digital, using a Minolta Dimage7. I'd consider myself at the "beginner" level for the most part, but I'm learning! German Cars: I've always owned German cars, from my 1981 Volkswagen Rabbit to my current vehicle (a 2001 Audi S4). I'm telling you, no Japanese/American/Italian car even comes close to the driving experience of a German car. I'd rather have a 5 year old VW, then a brand new Mitsubishi. But, that's just me ;) I'll post some pics of "Claudia" (yes, I named my car) when I get the chance. She's had a few things done under the hood (chip, exhaust, upgraded bypass valves, K&N filter, etc.) that give her a little more "zip" (from 250hp stock to 331hp with mods). My favorite car so far! Stereo/Home Theater Equipment: I suppose this goes along side my obsession with music. It didn't help that my brother sold high-end audio equipment for 10 years (and like a drug pusher, hooked me young). My current stereo setup can be viewed here, and my current home theater setup can be viewed here.
Favorite Movies	Pi, The Killer, Office Space, Ghost World, Chasing Amy, Sliding Doors, Memento
Favorite TV Shows	The Awful Truth, The Prisoner, Sopranos, OZ
Favorite Food	Lobster Bisque
Favorite Magazines	Time, Bust, Playboy, Interview, Bizarre, European Car, ID, 2600
Favorite Color	Purple
Favorite Subject In School	English Lit
Top 10 Albums	I get this asked of me all the time, and it's a tough call. My picks are pretty transient, but here's my current list (in no particular order): A Secret Wish by Propaganda Behaviour by Pet Shop Boys Vertigo by Boxcar Morning Dove White by One Dove Crush by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark Skyscraping by ABC Code by Cabaret Voltaire Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos Cupid & Psyche '85 by Scritti Politti Chorus by Erasure
Favorite Authors	William Blake, Michael Moore, Piers Anthony, Dan Millman, Richard Bach
Favorite Artists	Robert Longo, Jock Sturges, Frank Lloyd Wright, Cindy Sherman, Rene Magritte, Andy Warhol
Past Jobs	Digging house foundations, dishwasher at a nursing home, teaching tennis & swimming, inventory control, network administration at a Chamber of Commerce, designing web sites, snack bar food server, student assistant in a computer lab
Books I Recommend	Stupid White Men By Michael Moore Moore, in his usual satirical style, points out all that's wrong with big business and politics (is that redundant?) in the US. Sometimes funny, other times scary, this book is a very interesting read. An Underground Education By Richard Zachs Everything your history professor didn't want you to know about what bizarre events we've uncovered about our culture's history. Sex Work: Writings By Women In The Sex Industry Edited by Frederique Delacoste & Priscilla Alexander Very interesting book that gives a voice to women who participate in various aspects of adult entertainment. Adcult USA By James B. Twitchell Fantastic book describing how American culture no longer finds a distinction between high art and advertising. A must read! The Cult Of Information: A Neo-Luddite Treatise On High-Tech, Artificial Intelligence, And The True Art Of Thinking By Theodore Roszak Points out the problem with people who worship the "information age" and everything associated with it. Warns us that technology and the idea of "information as a commodity" could very well be a huge step back from where we are now; that we are surrendering the capacity to think with ideas in exchange for thinking with pure information. Anyone who loves the internet and believes it will "revolutionize" our culture needs to read this book! Frankie Say By Danny Jackson Fun book written right after Frankie Goes To Hollywood's first album. Lots of pictures :p A History Of Secret Societies By Arkon Daraul A historical perspective on societies and orders that thrived on secret knowledge & worship. Covers groups like The Kinghts Templar, The Sufi, The Illuminated Ones, The Mithra, etc. The Joy Of Pi By David Blatner Ever wonder if the secrets to our universe are contained in the mysterious calculation we know as Pi? That strange ratio of a circle's circumference to it's radius... From our DNA to our Milky Way, the spiral reigns supreme! Reviving Ophelia; Saving The Selves Of Adolescent Girls By Dr. Mary Pipher Everyone should read this book! Dr. Pipher takes the reader on a fascinating journey though the eyes of adolescent girls growing up in a "girl-poisoning" culture. Makes both sexes realize how difficult it is for a young girl to escape adoloscence unscathed. Transcendental Self: A Comparative Study of Thoreau and the Psycho-Philosphy of Hinduism And Buddhism By A.K.B. Pillai Extremely interesting comparisons between Thoreau's philosophy (focused mainly on Walden) and the basics founded thousads of years beforehand during the development of two great religions. Just goes to show, all the great ones have all said the same thing all along :) Cosmic Consciousness By Richard Maurice Bucke, M.D. All I can say is read this book. It will change the way you live. Dr. Bucke leads us through what he believes is the next evolutionary trait of man; cosmic consiousness. He traces this attribute throughout time spending entire chapters on those whom he considers to have acquired this trait: Gautama the Buddha, Jesus the Christ, Mohammed, Dante, Blake, Balzak, Whitman, etc. We ARE destined for better things. Wow!