Brief History
Although I was born in Scarborough, Ontario, I moved with my family to a house my parents built 15km outside of Port Hope after Grade 1. I guess it should have been a big shock, changing scenery from subdivisions to grazing cows, but when you're 7 years old it just seems like a big adventure. I attended Port Hope High School before leaving for Waterloo to attend university. I've lived in downtown Toronto since 2004 and I don't see myself moving anytime soon!

Sports
In sports, my main interest is cycling. I ride a Giant OCR 2 on the road, and an older (read: beaten up) Specialized Rockhopper offroad. I used to race the provincial "Ontario Cup" circuit on and off road, but now I can't find the time to train properly. Cycling aside, I play badminton with friends regularly and I play on a recreational soccer team called "The Good News" (nothing to do with the good news bible).

I also enjoy hiking, camping, canoeing and every possible combination of the three. Nothing relaxes your mind and reminds you what it means to be human like a back country camping trip in Algonquin.

Reading
In literature, I read a wide variety of material. From non-fiction about technology to classic literature, I have favorites in most categories. A random selection of some of my favorites are:

Snow Crash & Zodiac, by Neal Stephenson
Rendezvous with Rama, by Arthur C. Clarke
A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving
Ender's Game and the subsequent series, by Orson Scott Card
Guns, Germs and Steel, by Jared Diamon
Blink & The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell

I'm a firm believer in the book karma cycle - receive a book, read the book, give the book to someone you think might like it. No one seems to have enough time to read these days, myself included. I ask anyone reading this to recommend their favorite book to me, so that what little time I do make for reading is not wasted.

Music
Music keeps me going. I listen all the time. I can find something I love in any genre, though some are naturally easier than others. A quick, absolutely non-exclusive list of some faves is:

Alt/Ska: The Mad Caddies, The Planet Smashers, Reel Big Fish, Big D and the Kids Table, Sublime
Classic Rock: Van Morrison, The Doobie Brothers, The Beatles, The Guess Who (and BTO)
Alternative Rock: Modest Mouse, Weezer, All American Rejects, Green Day
Hard Rock/Metal: Pantera, Slayer, Disturbed, Rage Against The Machine, System of a Down
Rap/Hip-Hop: Dr. Dre, Common, Fort Minor, Notorious BIG, Freeway, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Gym Class Heroes
Techno: Crystal Method, Daft Punk, Fatboy Slim, Skinny Puppy

I have played drums for over a decade, and while I played in a few "bands" in high school, my career as a filthy rich rock star has never materialized. Recently I started playing guitar and bass as well. I enjoy experimenting with recording on my computer and find composing music an effective creative outlet, as well as a way to increase my appreciation of the music I listen to. Perhaps I'll post some songs soon!

Traveling
I also enjoy traveling and while I have been quite a few cool places, the list of places I want to visit only seems to get longer. Check out photos for some cool pics of places I've been, or writing about some of my trips.