would prefer to characterize myself as a Writer, but not in the literary sense; or maybe better, as a Thinker, yet not in the philosophical sense. I write software, mostly. To me it is the activity that most purely embodies the exercise of Applied Thought. Generally speaking, I think too much. At some point early in my life, I managed to appear to be smart, and most of my adult life has been a bumbling attempt to do something (anything!) IM-PORT-ANT. That's what I have thought Smart People do. I went off to college with great promise... I'm unsure who made the promises... but I discovered too late that being smart is not the same as being a good student. By then I was attempting to go to school during the days, and sort mail at the Post Office during the nights, but mostly I missed classes during the days, and fell asleep at the Post Office during the nights. After five years, I escaped from working for the Postal Service, slipped away to a bigger city, and managed to open a computer store, before computers were such a commodity that even shoe stores are probably selling them now... For several years I built up a business supporting hobbyists and engineers... I learned a lot of things and helped a lot of people... but I discovered too late that being smart is not the same as being a good businessman. My next notion was to leave the city for some rural retreat, where I would be left alone to write some Truly Remarkable and Marketable Software. I was in the woods for five years... I learned a lot of things and had a nice neighbor... but I never managed to fatten up any software and get it ready for market. I have since surrendered and given up believing I am smart enough to be a successful self-employed person, and taken a job, writing software, mostly...To me it is the activity that most purely embodies the exercise of Applied Thought. Generally speaking, I think too much.