Working With Rails

James started with computers when he built his first one from a kit over 30 years ago, and has been learning and growing ever since. Having mastered many the forgotten programming language, he is enjoying observing all languages slowly evolving to ‘innovate’ features LISP had in 1960.

James entered the military out of high school and served for just under 8 years, mainly working as a medic in Central America. His normal day at the office included jumping out of airplanes and carrying 200 pound infantrymen through triple-canopy jungle. After leaving the military, he continued to work in the medical profession for several more years while attending college before graduating with honors from California State University, Chico with a degree in Computer Science (Systems Option).

Currently, he is Co-Founder, VP of Engineering and Chief Computer Scientist at Total Tech Shop where he is desperately trying to do something more interesting than coding websites. His current areas of interest are Ruby on Rails, collective intelligence, and information assurance. His areas of avoidance are most MicroSoft products, organizations with more managers than engineers, and people that can’t make decisions.

When he isn’t geeking, James enjoys tuning his body, mind, and spirit by doing damn near anything that involves moving his body in the great outdoors, especially if it involves adrenaline, peril, and glory.

James is a board member of the San Luis Obispo Society for Technical Communications and a proud member of the Upsilon Pi Epsilon International Computer Science Honor Society.