Vital Statistics

Background

Derek is a founding member of GweepCo, which sounds impressive, but when you get right down to it, isn't really. As a member of GweepCo, however, he was one of the moving forces behind the formation of GweepNet, the GweepCo Cooperative Network. This is, in his opinion, a much more impressive credential, as he views GweepNet as something worthwhile, whereas GweepCo is mostly just a joke.

Childhood

Derek also played the trombone for a brief period during his childhood. He started in the 3rd grade, and dropped it in the 6th grade, because he felt he was doing too much at once. Since the musical instrument was the least important to him, he dropped that--a decision he regrets to this day.

Maine

Pi-Cone Math Team

Pretty much your standard geek fair. Competitors gather together once a month to do math problems on a time limit, the highest scoring team wins. The problems were often on topics not covered in "normal" math classes, and usually involved looking at the problem in a unique way, or knowing "short cuts" through standard math formula. (formulae, formulas, what's the plural there? -GT.) Bonny Eagle's team scored respectably, but were never serious contenders for top prizes. This was mostly due to their rather small team, requiring that everyone do a little of everything, rather than having specialists in different topics of mathematics.

Junior Achievement

The Junior Achievement program pairs high school students with a willingness to learn about business, with local businessmen with a willingness to teach. Students form companies and go through the whole process of forming a company, from selling stock, coming up with a product, manufacturing and selling that product, and releasing dividends. Derek was involved with Junior Achievement for three years, and every year that he was involved, his company was extremely profitable. He gave up when the bureaucratic politics at the higher levels of the JA organization in his area became unbearable.

Varsity Track Team

For three years, Derek was a member of the "weight team" of his high school track team. This meant that he participated in the "weight" events (shot put and discus). He wasn't very good. In fact, he really only joined because he'd read that MIT liked well-rounded applicants, and since that was where he wanted to go, he went out for track.

Drama

One of the reasons many of Derek's activities stopped after three years was that his senior year he had a role (well, three roles actually) in the spring play. The play: The Apple Tree. Three plays in one. In the first play, "The Diary of Adam and Eve" Derek played the voice of God. In the second, "The Lady or the Tiger" he played the role of King Arik, and in the third, "Passionella" he was the voice of the Television set (as well as one of several extras in the crowd scenes).

Current Projects

Campaign Ought-Eight

In the year 2008, Derek will be 37 years old. However, if things continue to progress the way they have for him so far, he will still have the heart and soul of a 20-year old. There are some things that make 2008 special. Yes, it's a leap year. Yes, it's also an election year. However, most importantly, it is the first election year that Derek will be eligible to win the Presidential Election. Derek intends to win this election, but why bring it up now? Derek won't be joining any other party, no sir! Derek is starting his own political party, and knowing how difficult it can be to get a grass-roots campaign going, he's starting now. Follow the link to see his platform.

Internet Beginner's Guide

This is a guide to how to use many of the more commonly used PC applications for connecting to the Internet through a PPP connection. He is producing this document primarily for the use of his ISP - Ultranet, but you're welcome to get whatever use out of it you can.