a.k.a. "Alexander" or "Wolf"
What I do:

Photo ©2007 Brad Reynolds. Taken in Aerolito de Paraiso in Isla de Cozumel, Mexico. Click to see another photo from Aerolito.

How to contact me:

Vital Statistics:

Career:

Hardware/Firmware Engineer
I've been doing hardware design and firmware programming since high school and it was my major study in college. The board at the right is a design from several years ago - a FLASH-based low power data recording board. It's shown here with a ROM emulation lead attached. I specialise in analog data acquisition, low power applications, digital signal processing. I often do the following for clients: circuit design, schematic capture, circuit board layout, component identification and procurement, firmware design, prototype testing, and post-production support.

Web designer
This is one of those career fields that I keep being in the right place at the right time. I got caught up with World Wide Web fever soon after it got popular. I've gradually expanded my abilities to include website design, e-commerce strategy, data security, and LAMP (Linux/Apache/MySQL/Perl) programming.

Professional Musician
Want a traditional Irish musician at your gig? Let me know!

Hobbies:(the important ones)

  • Traditional Irish Flute

    The fabulous Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare, Ireland
    One of my oldest and greatest desires has been to play flute. I gained a genuine love for traditional Irish and Scottish ballads, airs, and tunes early on. I lived in Galway City, Ireland for a few years with a mission of searching for the best sessions (musical gatherings at pubs and gatherings). I've been influenced by Altan, Silly Wizard, Bothy Band, Clishmaclaver, Planxty, Solas, Dervish, Flook and others.

    I own a modest collection of simple-system wooden flutes and penny whistles. The keyed flutes I play are made by Eamonn Cotter and Patrick Olwell. My repertoire is mostly Irish airs, jigs, and reels with the occasional hornpipe thrown in. Some of my latest favourites are "Imelda Rowland's" (reel), "Sandymount" or "Sandpiper" (reel), "The Sunset" (slow reel) and "Little Stack of Wheat" (hornpipe).

    My musical interests have stretched to other Celtic cultures, especially Breton music. Some of my favourite Breton recordings were by John Skelton (of the House Band), Alan Stivell, Tammles (now defunct), and the Chieftains (for "Celtic Wedding"). One of the principal instruments used in Breton music is the double-reed bombarde which looks and sounds like a shawm. Standard (no keys) versions of the bombarde are limited to 1-1/4 octaves; thus traditional Breton music tends to have limited note range. However, the music can be difficult to play because of its syncopation, phrasing and changing time signatures.

  • Burning Man
    In 2009, exactly 11 days before Burning Man opened its gates, I decided to go see what it was about. It was a life-changing experience! This is a place where amazingly talented people bring their best artistic creations and share them with everyone in a huge (50,000+) community out in the Nevada desert, for a whole week. At the end of that week they BURN things, including the iconic Man structure. I have gone each year since 2009 and it keeps getting better. I am also involved in the local DC Burner tribe where I teach classes on EL-Wire and LEDs for costumery, and how to make hexayurts. I have attended Playa del Fuego (regional event in Delaware) and someday hope to see other regionals such as Transformus. Although I started learning to spin fire poi at Pennsic War, I still consider Burning Man to have been the primary influence on getting me in to this performance art.

    Burning Man is not for everyone. The event is held in a harsh environment which requires significant advance planning. The atmosphere is extremely high energy, 24 hours a day. Finding time to sleep can be a challenge! Finding a way to get a shower is sometimes more challenging. Finding an appetite and preparing food in the extreme heat is yet another major challenge.

  • Contradance
    No, this isn't a form of fundraising for Nicaraguan Rebels. Think of it as modern aerobic folk dancing! Contradance has its roots in English, French, and Scottish country dancing ("contra" is a French(?) variant of "country") where male-female couples dance in long lines, usually in a sequence of figures where two couples dance with each other and then "progress" in opposite directions. The same sequence is repeated with new couples down the line. Contra dancing can be one of the best social mixers in a community.

  • Ultralight Aircraft
    I began flying in a Drifter DR277 which I purchased as a kit from Maxair when they were in Glen Rock, PA. This old single seater was a lot of fun, especially in thermals. I have since purchased a Drifter MU582 two-seater. I have a private pilot's license which I acquired while attending college in Blacksburg, so the "new regulations" on ultralights probably won't affect me. Lately I've been without a field to base my airplane, so my flying pursuits are on hold. (My budget for flying also got eaten up by my scuba habit!)

  • World Travel
    I got the travel bug early in my life and have had the wonderful experience of living long-term in two foreign countries. My career gives me a lot of flexibility -- as long as I have internet, I can get my work done. Thus, I've been able to do some truly spectacular travel abroad. Countries that I've visited include: Ireland, Scotland, England, Turkey, Mexico, Australia, Canada, France, Greece, Italy. Still on my "must go someday" list are: Egypt, Spain, Thailand, Japan, New Zealand, Bolivia, India.

  • Cave Diving
    This is a highly specialized area of scuba diving that very few divers (estimated at less than 0.5% certified divers) ever do. I'll be honest: I find deliberately sunken wrecks to be boring. Other forms of technical diving don't seem to interest me. But underwater caves absolutely fascinate me! I first got the bug by taking a guided cavern tour at Dos Ojos ("The Two Eyes") in the Riviera Maya region of Mexico. Now that I have Full Cave certification I get to go places requiring complex nagivation and advanced dive planning. I know that this is frequently cited as one of the most dangerous sports in the world, but I do it for the natural beauty and the technical aspects, not for thrill seeking. I love the caves!!

  • Hammered Dulcimers
    This wonderfully aethereal instrument has been a major part of my life, ever since I bought my first one after seeing them at a Renaissance festival. Some years ago I made one from scratch, and soon had a serious workshop turning out ten different models under the label of Griffin Music.

  • Swiss Chip Carving
    (picture pending) also known as "Kerbschnitzen." I learned this art while attending a folk workshop several years ago. This is a very relaxing way to whittle away the hours while making pretty things. I haven't had as much time to spend on it as I'd like the past few years, but someday I hope to expand the talent into relief carving.

  • Historical Recreation
    I used to participate in the activities of several recreationist groups, including Markland, The Society for Creative Anachronisms (SCA), and the occasional Renaissance festival. Here, as in the rest of my life, my interests are in the arts including: music, dance, crafts, and history. I sometimes attend Pennsic War in Slippery Rock, PA. Take a look at these web pages for a description of this annual spectacle.

  • Beekeeping
    This hobby taught me a lot about staying calm under pressure, especially with 10,000 stinging things flying around your head. Unfortunately, the recent infestation of varroa and tracheal mites (the scourge of the industry) combined with Colony Collapse Disorder has kept me from getting back into beekeeping.

  • Metalworking/Machining
    As far back as I can remember, I have had a fascination with engines and locomotives in particular. In my teen years, I gained a fascination in early 20th century farm engines such as steam traction engines and hit-and-miss engines. Metalworking seemed a wizard-like craft until I bought a lathe and milling machine and started learning how it was all accomplished. I now have several model engine kits I am (slowly) working on, and the metalworking tools have proven invaluable for both my professional work and for making parts to use on my car(s) and around the house. Someday when budget and time allows, I will expand into CNC and 3-D extrusion printing.
    • Last Updated 10-April-2013