I'm called "The Bruke", or sometimes just "Bruke". It's not my real name, of course, but friends have been using that nickname for over twenty years so I've gotten quite comfortable with it. If you see someone online that's called "Bruke", there's a fair chance that it's me as I use that nick for every site that I join.

I was born in the summer of 1972 and married my wife in April of 2009 after a lengthy engagement. We live a modest but happy life in western Michigan with our cat, Mao. Our dream is to buy a house in the country with a good bit of land. Someday we hope to become successful enough to travel abroad and see the world, particularly Asia. We're in no hurry for children but we might get another cat soon.

I'm an eclectic geek, with interests that range over just about every area imaginable. I am as comfortable discussing unified field theory as I am with utilitarianism. I spend my time reading webcomics, making websites, playing games (both computer and traditional), and watching fantasy and sci-fi movies.

Some of my favorite authors include C.J. Cherryh, Stephen Donaldson, Tolkien (of course), Robert E. Howard, Robert Silverberg, Orson Scot Card, David Brin, Douglas Adams, Philip K. Dick, Harlan Ellison, Philip Jose Farmer, Alan Dean Foster, William Gibson, Frank Herbert, Ursula K. Le Guin, Larry Niven, Dan Simmons, Harry Turtledove, Gene Wolfe, Robert Heinlein, and Roger Zelazny. I've probably forgotten a few, but those are the greats that spring to my mind.

It's harder to list favorite movies, as I tend to have very diverse tastes. I enjoyed "Ghandi" very much, which came as a surprise to everyone (including me). Generally any good movie with strong characterization is good for me. Having said that, I can say with certainty that "Bladerunner" is in any top ten list that comes to my mind. I enjoyed the recent "Avatar" but honestly "Moon" had a better story.

As for music, my tastes generally depend on my mood. I like Metallica, Anthrax and Tool when I'm active and classical music when I'm relaxing. I even enjoy opera on occasion, and music from other countries. I had a fascination with '70's music when I was younger and I'm still fond of Pink Floyd, Queen, Black Sabbath, and Led Zeppelin. Among more recent bands, I've developed a fondness for Korn, Godsmack, Mudvayne and other heavier bands, plus Cake, Weezer and Sponge when I'm coding.

I own my own small web design and development company, called Brukenet Web Development. I usually wake up around 8 or 9 am each day and work in my home office until around lunch time. I meet clients in the afternoon, if necessary, and usually wrap up my work day between 4 to 7 pm each night. After hours I relax with my wife until she goes to bed (usually around 11 pm) and then I putter around on my own projects until 2 or 3 am. It's a comfortable life and I am happy.

I place great stock in good manners and courtesy, but only to those that show the same in return. I think first of what is right and proper, moreso than of what is legal or illegal. I try to be fair and generous to the limits of my ability, to as many as possible. I believe in equality of opportunity, not equality of outcome. I believe in the right to be free from things, not the right to have things. I dislike the government but don't actively oppose it because I don't have a better idea of my own to replace it with. I am a nihilist, but I believe in trying anyway because I'm stubborn like that.