Looking at my resume doesn't really explain who I am, or about what my talents really are. My online resume is always in a state of disarray, and never up to date. And it never seems like I have enough time to work on my own stuff. Eventually, my stuff gets spread out all over the internet, and the links never stay the same. I don't think I have had time to update, or work on my website at: http://www.cybertechwizards.com in years. And it is a mess.
        When I first got into computers, it was to take my art to a higher level, but I soon found that I had a natural talent for programming. I consider myself a programmer first, and a web designer second, but above all, I am an artist.
        I have been working with computers, and trained in all aspects of programming, web design, graphic arts, animation, and 3D modeling, for the past 10 years.
        I am an expert in all Macromedia, and Adobe products, and am very proficient in several programming languages, including Java, C++, Javascript, XML, Perl, PHP, SQL, CGI, Lingo, and ActionScript. My specialty is programming with Macromedia Flash actionScript.
        I work on both Macintoshes, and PCs. I have no qualms, I really like both, and own both. Because I still think of myself as an artist, and because I think they are better machines, I prefer Macintoshes. But, at times, I find that PCs do have the advantage over Macs. But, I am equally proficient on both.
        Most of the programming that I do is pretty advanced, and a little tricky. I'm not one to brag, but I'm pretty damn good. I have gotten to the point where, anytime any one of my colleagues, professors, or other programmers, need help, they call for me. And I'm getting to the point that when I need help, there is no one for me to call.
        At present, I am into a little bit of everything on the computer. But, I originally got into computers, because I considered myself an artist. I had experimented, artistically, with every form of medium on the face of the earth that was possible, including some, that no one knew were possible.
        I was an airbrush artist for some time, got bored, and started tattooing. I worked in two tattoo shops, and even started my own out of my apartment, and car. I tattooed for many years, until I just got burned out.
        I am 39 years old, and have always liked computers, since before they had monitors, and needed punch cards to enter data. I first got into computers when I was 12 years old. I had taken a few Basic and Pascal courses in junior high, and high school. I bought my first computer in 1987, an Apple II GS that came with 3/4 MB of ram. I upgraded it to 1.75 MB's. And that was high tech back then. Computers just couldn't do what I wanted them to do. They were to primitive. I had to wait several years for them to catch up to my ideas.
        In 1996, I heard that computers were now up to my speed, and I decided to get into computer graphics, and animation. I started taking Adobe Photoshop, and Illustrator classes, along with Macromedia Director, and Hypercard. I liked programming in Hypercard, and Directors Lingo language. Well, what I found, was that I was a natural at programming!
        My projects were always the top of the classes, including the graphics. My airbrush and other art skills really came in handy on the computer. This led me into 3D modeling, and web design. Cinema 4D, Maya, MetaCreations Poser, HTML, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, and Flash. Not to mention, starving-student-hacking-101.
        At the time, almost no one knew how to program in Macromedia Flash. It was only used for animation. ActionScript wasn't even a program language, it was just a scripting language. I was making it do the impossible, and people couldn't believe it, including my instructors. The school ended up asking me to re-teach my instructors. I couldn't believe it, me? I'm a total social reject who looks like he took a wrong turn on the way to the liquor store. I look more like a big bad biker, than a teacher! And here I am, re-teaching my own mentors.
        Eventually, I began taking courses in C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Perl, CGI, SQL, PHP, XML, and building store fronts. As usual, my projects were the best in the class, and during demos, the whole class would be chanting my name. I was still stunned. Most of my life, people have treated me as if they were afraid to get to close to me, for fear that bugs might jumped from me to them and turn their bodies into condominiums. Or call the cops on me, for fear that I might eat their children. Or start a methamphetamine lab on their front lawn.
I don't do drugs, I take showers regularly, and I don't eat children!
        Anyways, all this programming was just honing my actionScript abilities. And I loved experimenting with crossing all the languages over, or using them together, passing variables from one language to another. Early on, I figured out how to pass info from Flash to Director, and back. This really blew peoples minds. Now, I am using Flash and SQL/PHP together. Now, Flash actionScript has really changed into a full blown language. Most anything that I want to figure out on the computer, I figure out pretty quickly, and easily.
        I have been asked to teach Dreamweaver, Fireworks, and advanced Flash actionScript at the local community colleges. I have been a guest speaker for several web design and programming courses.
        I have worked as a sub-contractor for a few web design and CDROM production companies. And I have been freelancing as a web designer, and programmer for the last few years.
        If you are interested in contacting me for work, feel free to email me at rusty@cybertechwizards.com
-Rusty-