About

I work in Tokyo as a writer and editor for Penn-Olson.com, a blog dedicated to technology news in Asia. I also contribute columns to The Japan Times and CNNgo. In the past I've written for for Gizmag.com, TUAW, the FIVB, Journalism 2.0, and various other publications. Feel free to read some samples of my work. 

I also try to experiment in web development and programming in an effort to learn more about how online publishing and content distribution are changing as technology improves. Over on Penn Olson I've been promoting the use of tools such as Markdown, TextMate, and Google Docs.
 

Education/Training

I have an Honors Degree in English Literature from Memorial University back in Canada but I studied some film as well, particularly early German cinema. I also studied a couple of semesters of Chinese at Memorial, plus a full year of intermediate level Chinese at Northeastern University of Finance & Economics in Dalian, China. For a brief time I studied Japanese in China (which was slightly confusing, as the language of instruction was Chinese).

Note: Some people incorrectly assume my background is tech. For the record most of my technical knowledge is self taught, though I did have some training in computer hardware and software during a few years working for Hewlett Packard.
 

Assorted Skillz

  • Mandarin Chinese: Daily Conversation + an unusual amount of computer-related vocab
  • Japanese: Modestly Intermediate, but I’m working on it.
  • Creative Writing: Capable in all fields of interest, but currently focused on Asian tech.
  • Copy Writing: Also capable of “shoveling cultural snow” when the need arises.
  • Extensive knowledge of computer hardware (particularly desktop), software, and web applications.
  • Extensive knowledge of Windows XP, Vista, 7, Mac OSX operating systems.
  • Web Production: WordPress, Moodle, Drupal front end development.
  • Web Promotion: Using new internet services to both promote and monitor a brand.
  • Art & Design: Worked as a mural painter for 3 years during university. Currently digitizing my skills.

Interests

To learn more about my interests, I encourage you to check out my reading list. In an nutshell, the topics I read most about are 1) Digital Journalism, 2) Japan, and 3) China. 

Others: computer hardware, internet censorship in China, Twitter, e-learning, video production and programming (I want to learn more of both), mural painting, chess and Garry Kasparov, Haruki Murakami, pre-90s Bon Jovi, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Oscar Wilde, Luc Besson, German Expressionist cinema (particularly Sunrise by F.W. Murnau), Japanese language study, Chinese language study, Bjork, ketchup, slow-pitch softball, basketball, ping pong, ice hockey, nachos, pasta, and my dog Pepe.