I have a primarily unix/Web/perl application development background as well as nearly half my professional career spent as a unix system administrator (Solaris & Linux, mostly). I have had my own server online since 1996 (more details on this at paulm.com/hosting).

My interests technically are wide ranging: in this last year I have written Java servers, Mac OS X GUI development, BSD networking code, Oracle/mail server integration, and even a C# and .NET project (I haven't quite been written a check for that last one, but it's close). I'm heavily involved in a variety of open source projects, non-profits & commit a fair chunk of time to those communities in the form of mailing list discussions, developer assistance and organizing and participating in social events. I have a healthy list of references from people in a variety of roles and positions.

During my eight years of professional employment as a software developer and system administrator I have had the good fortune to hold senior technical positions, both permanent and freelance in the gamut of corporate cultures from three-person start-ups to a global company with a 60,000 employee base. My time has been spread approximately 60:40 between the United Kingdom and United States. My employment in the US has been spent equally between Texas and California. Even within those states I have enjoyed variety of people and work styles from Houston & Austin to Monterey & San Francisco.

I take particular satisfaction and pleasure in combining and bringing to the workplace what I consider the positive aspects of these sometimes disparate values: the intensely curious creative high-pressure environment of deadline-centric small companies to the rigorous detail and near-obsession & attention to accuracy, and integration of skills & teamwork demanded in larger corporations.

Above all though, I aim to thoroughly enjoy myself while helping people use computers.