Rick Martin (Email)
A Canadian in Tokyo Japan, via a brief stop in China.
I like writing, collaborating, and screwin’ around on the net. Feel free to email me if you do too.
My work:
I work primarily as a freelance writer and editor, and occasionally I do web consulting. While I don’t consider myself a traditional journalist, I occasionally commit ‘random acts of journalism’ for CNet, The Japan Times, and a various other websites too. I try to experiment in web development and programming as well in an effort to understand how online publishing and content distribution are changing as technology improves. I am available for hire if you think I can help you out in some way.
Education/Training
I have an Honors Degree from Memorial University back in Canada, English Major, History Minor. I also studied a couple of semesters of Chinese there, 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 my time working for HP.
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, Drupal, Moodle Content Management Systems.
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
Here’s my list, but not in any specific order: Information aggregation, RSS mashing, computer hardware, good customer service in the tech field (how did it get so bad?!!), 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, 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.
