I started hacking, while a child, on a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDP-8">DEC PDP-8</a>. My first hack was a directory listing program that was more efficient than the one provided with the system. I then spent a lot of time trying to make music with the 128 character "line-printer" and spinning the big mag-tape drives with the hope that they would fly off. At the same time, I played with solid fuel rockets and gas-engine planes. Having somehow survived that and building and flying a bamboo and plastic hang-glider (with no metal parts), then called a "<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Richard_Miller.jpeg">Bat-Glider</a>" when I was 12, I went on to live through many things. One day I learned <a href="http://www.gnu.org/fun/jokes/eternal-flame.ogg">LISP</a> and nothing was ever the same. For those who understand Lisp, no explanation is needed; for those who don't, no amount of explanation would be enough. Then GNU and Open Source came along and life got really interesting & fun, especially for those of us living on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_tail">long tail</a>. I guess Internet helped, too. Now I mainly spend my time helping <a href="http://www.seashepherdglobal.org/">Sea Shepherd</a>, hacking, off-piste skiing and trying to play the guitar without much success. Marcel Pagnol summarized my approach to life: “Il n'est pas besoin d'espérer pour entreprendre ni de réussir pour persévérer.” (see <a href="http://www.giyf.com/">giyf.com</a> for help with the French). Please don't take any of this too seriously.