Geoff Prewett's Home Page

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A photo of me on a recent trip to Hawaii.
Welcome!  These pages are my face to the world, as it were.  Some are original content, some are pieces of information that I found useful and thought that others might, too, and some are mostly for friends and family.  I hope you find something of interest or utility here!

Who Am I?

I am currently working as a computer programmer for a fluid-flow simulation company called adapco.  (We create software to simulate wind tunnels and water tunnels).  I am also studying for a Master's Degree in Computer Engineering at the University of Texas.  I spend much of my free time fiddling with computers or reading books.  And I am also a Christian.

At heart, I think I like to make things.  As a kid I loved building with blocks and I would try to figure out how to build the tallest possible tower (which turned out to be about 3 ft.).  Ever since I discovered computers I have been fascinated by this tool that can let you do pretty much anything.  I fiddle and program because I like seeing if I can build tall towers.  Yet, too a lesser extent, I also enjoy making art.  I usually like the primary purpose of something to be strongly utilitarian, but once it has achieved that, it should be beautiful.

Another, equally important area is my love of learning.  A day without learning is a wasted day.  I like learning because almost everything is interesting (although for some things you have to look pretty thoroughly).  It may be, though, that I like to learn because I know that sooner or later I can harnass that knowledge.  As a result, I like to read, and now that I am taking classes again, I like going to class (homework, on the other hand, is less fun).

My friends would describe me as relentlessly analytical.  They might also say that I am an introvert, although so much less so in groups where I know people that newcomers have been surprised to find that I was not an extrovert.  I am a precisionist with mild leanings toward perfectionism.  However, a few recent tactless remarks (and a history of countless others) have made me think that perhaps a certain blurriness is more well-received.

Best Books of the 20th Century
The Lord of the Rings (Tolkien)
Watership Down (Richard Adams)
Dune (Frank Herbert)

Best Visual Stories
Babylon 5
Shawshank Redemption

Casablanca
Cowboy BeBop
Spirited Away
   (Sen to Chihiro ni Kamikakushi)
Usual Suspects
 In some ways I would describe myself as ambitious.  I have certain, rather lofty, goals, and a long-range plan to achieve them.  I would like to become independently wealthy, because I am one of those people who spontaneously generates things to do and I never have enough time to do them.  Since I doubt that I will be making any six figure salaries soon, I hope to achieve this through wise investing.  Unfortunately for that plan, money is about third or fourth on my list of priorities, so it may take me a while to learn how to do it well.  Likewise, I have always enjoyed writing, and I hope to begin writing an Tolkienesque epic and compelling sci-fi (maybe combined with fantasy) novel by 2022.  Currently I do not have the skills or experiences necessary for a compelling novel, so until then I plan on doing research:  reading the classical books, some philosphy, some psychology, and authors who are adept at telling interesting stories.  (These are being recorded in the book reviews section, because I have a tendency to forget what I read.)

So here is a collection of things I think are interesting, information that might be useful, and pieces of progress towards various goals.


Copyright © 2004 by Geoffrey Prewett