I think this is something more for the Overextracted forum, but you can't "blog" there unless you're a moderator. I was just wondering what some of the forum contributors on HB do for a living. A lot of testing, conjecture and theory-flinging goes on around here, most of which makes me think there are a lot of engineers and scientists, but I could be wrong. I know the profiles have information on some, but what about everyone else? What about Andy S. with his tricked-out Silvia? Dan? Do you have a day job? Maybe we should have a poll - how many HB members are mechanical engineers or into some other physical science?

I'll go first: I don't have a degree (yet) and I work for a life insurance company as a Policy Administration Rep. Woo-hoo! Let the fun begin . . .

Justin

jgriff wrote:I was just wondering what some of the forum contributors on HB do for a living. A lot of testing, conjecture and theory-flinging goes on around here, most of which makes me think there are a lot of engineers and scientists, but I could be wrong. I know the profiles have information on some, but what about everyone else? What about Andy S. with his tricked-out Silvia? Dan? Do you have a day job? Maybe we should have a poll - how many HB members are mechanical engineers or into some other physical science?

Right on target for at least one member. My day job is university professor, teaching computer science at SDSM&T. I've published articles in a number of disparate areas, including protein biochemistry, neuroanatomy, robotics, biomedical imaging, and satellite remote sensing. My current research interests focus on image processing, computer vision, pattern recognition, penetrating radar applications, and (of course) espresso.

Prior to the Titan Grinder Project, I did very little testing and theory-flinging when it came to espresso. I guess you can take the scientist out of the lab, but...

I am retired from teaching- elementary and middle school (well, got tired of it and quit after about 20 years, actually). I have been doing virtually all my own wrenching on cars, trucks, and motorcycles since 1968. You know how folks say "find a guy who works on cars down the street to help with that..."? I was that guy. Still am to some extent (new front brakes and rotors on the Volvo this weekend, as a matter of fact!). Was also a bicycle mechanic.

Got into the coffee thing and sort of fell in with the Prince/Schecter/Scace/Jerrett et.al. crowd (not comparing my knowledge with theirs in any way, mind you- just was sort of a hanger-on). After working on cars it is a joy to deal with something so simple (and clean and light in weight) as an espresso machine.

Put my teaching ability together with my enthusiasm for all the coffee/espresso/home roasting stuff, mixed in my bachelors degree in art, added a good helping of my experience of running the community newspaper for a decade (thanks to Spell Check), and began my website. Was originally motivated by Mark's CoffeeKid back when (before CG) and by Bogie's website, and started my own. That was back in early 2000.

Now... I am/working have/worked for three or four coffee-related companies (manufacturers and resellers) doing graphics, writing, and pagination of various things and web work as well.

But enough about me........

jgriff wrote:Dan? Do you have a day job?

Yes, I have a day job at IBM (and HB is my night/weekend/vacation job). Some of my work involves writing web articles on Eclipse & Java programming. If you Google my name, it won't take long to find my latest "About the Author" blurb:

Dan Kehn is a Senior Software Engineer at IBM in Research Triangle Park, NC. He has a broad range of software experience, having worked on development tools, such as Rational Application Developer, and on operating system performance, memory analysis, and user interface design. He is also co-author of the award-winning book, The Java Developer's Guide to Eclipse. Currently, he is a Technical Enablement Specialist helping business partners integrate their products into IBM Lotus Sametime Connect.

BTW, you can read about the origins of home-barista.com in the site's well-hidden About page.

I am a software developer turned IT Manager in business intelligence.

Kind of the worst of both worlds.

Hmmm, I wonder how many software people are on the board.
My day job is chief software architect in a small software company.

I do concrete work, more specifically stamped concrete and other forms of decorative concrete such as acid staining, overlays, etc...
It can be fun

visual communications.

BFA graphic design/art history

11 years free lance graphic/web design. mac user.

jon

First and foremost, I'm a student.
I'm also part time at a guitar shop,
and I teach a couple guitar lessons a week.

I'm an at-home mom of three currently spending the majority of my free time car pooling my middle child to dance 6 days a week. Ever heard that saying, "My kids drive me crazy. I drive them everywhere else?" That's me! Before relocating to the PNW 8 years ago, I spent 10 years in Annapolis working for the General Assembly (State Legislature).

I am presently working my way through a Nursing degree as a barista (just one more semester and I will be taking my boards). Did the same as I worked towards my BA in English Literature. Can you tell I love to learn new things? Worked many different jobs, but the ones relating to coffee were the ones I always enjoy the most. I think of my time posting on this and other forums about coffee as a different university, one I hope to never graduate from!

Senior Principal Software Engineer at Oracle Corporation (oh man, another software person!)

For those who it might mean something to I work on Oracle's JDeveloper product, mainly on visualisation (read: diagramming) framework and UML tools

And I'm a full-time home-worker

Jon

Currently, I'm an Information Security Architect for a large, multi-national company. I've worked in Development Engineering (both hardware and software), Field Service (worked on automated material handling equipment AND diagnostic X-Ray equipment). Been an auto mechanic, disc jockey, fork truck operator, etc... I first discovered espresso in '67 @ Expo '67 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (small open-air coffee shop outside the Italian Pavilion) and spent years trying to find out just WHAT I'd gotten there!

I work as a clinical pharmacist in an ICU in a teaching hospital (lots of medical and pharmacy residents/students) and precept residents during their post-graduate training year(s). I started my Folgers coffee habit while in college (like I'm sure most of you did), and later on discovered that fresh roasted coffee can have some interesting flavors once you get past the need to use it as a study aid. I'm always on the lookout for literature about the effects of coffee- both good and bad, and am pleasantly surprised by the abundance of the former and relative lack of the latter.. thankfully!

Ray

Network Engineer contractor for the Army at the Pentagon. Yes, I was here on 9/11 and, yes, it was scary!

I am a chemical engineer by degree only these days.

In school, I participated in a co-operative learning program and worked for 5 semesters (full-time) for a pharmaceutical company in an organic chemistry research lab, and also an additional 3 semesters (part-time) for a professor in a biochemistry lab where we grew high temperature microbes (although I was mostly chief bottle washer and grunt in that environment).

After school, I worked a brief stint in environmental emissions stack testing; then for two years as an "engineer" (glorified shift supervisor or foreman) for a large Fortune 100 in a production environment where we compounded and re-extruded nylon and polyester with various additives for the injection molding industry; two years as an environmental engineer in air quality compliance and permitting for a state agency; and now for 8 years in IT for the same agency where I am the network and telecommunications administrator and provide (nearly) all network and computer support for a regional office of about 115 people.

A software consultant (SAP mainly). And, Dan, I was at that IBM facility doing a SAP prototype back in 2001. And, of course, I'm very familiar with Eclipse.

Retired after 40+ years of new product development from both sides of the drawing board ( dates me don't it. ) Shake and bake, Computers, medical products( with patents.) plumbing fixtures, weapons, machines, and much so forth. Machinist, Design model maker, Model shop supervisor. I'm a returning, after 40 years, student in Art Metals and work part time for the University fixing equipment and help supervise the student use shops/studios..
Now I have a tiny home machine/wood shop, gadget factory, and espresso machine rebuild area for my own use.
Collected pretty coffee makers and then Timmo got me interested in the LaPeppina and I've been a coffee crank since. I began simple bean roasting starting a couple months ago.
Thats an overview.
I really am enjoying this thread!
Thanks
richard / espressme