Yours Truly … Paul

Welcome to “fourpaws” site, I am your intrepid host and web master. In this site you will find the growing collection of pictures that I like to showcase; plus some random musing that I feel moved to write from time to time.

As a left-brained analytical type by day, I wanted to used this site as a venue to exercise the other half of the brain once in a while. Well, at least the design aspects ... the web site is my geeky self coming true. I can't help it, it is in my blood ;-o

Something About Me

• Digital photography: Ever since I got my digital camera, my interest for photography has come back to me. I think this is mostly due to the fact that I get better results from a digital camera. With a digital camera, I get better feedback on the effects of different camera settings. And not to mention the magic of Photoshop.
• Wine: My interest in wine is purely health related (ha!). Seriously, I got started when I had an opportunity to taste some well-aged wine and discovered I really liked it. With a modestly well stocked cellar, I find it a pleasure to be able to go and pick up a wine to match dinner without a lot of pre-planning or running out to the local liquor store.
• Apple iMac: I have been a long-standing Apple user for years (since the Mac first came out). With the switch to Unix based OS X, there are so many things I can use it for (including hosting this web site). It is a great multi-media platform for digital photography, music and video. Not to mention the brand new (in late 2009) iMac with that hugh 27 inch screen.
• Programming: Along with the iMac comes a complete programming environment: XCode + Objective-C or Java. So currently I am building a bridge game program using Java + native Mac UI widgets. This is turing out to be a great way for me to learn bridge as well. And of course, with the introduction of the iPad, I may have to venture into programming with the iPhone SDK.
• Cycling: I can't say I am a good cyclist ... but I do enjoy sight-seeing via a bike. The pace is slow enough to take in the scenery. And yet you have the ability to cover a fair bit of ground in a day. And then there is the health benefits. So much so that I have started to get some cycling in after work during the summer months.
• Mountain Biking: I've also tried to do some mountain biking. But my track record had been two injuries in my first two outings: First time I went into the Don Trail and hurt my ankle. Second time I attempted a mountain biking trip in Bryce and Zion … which resulted in a trip to the hospital, stitches and a micro fracture in my forearm (sic!) And yet, I still find mountain biking attractive. It is a different experience from road biking … requiring both physical and mental concentration. And I guess that's why I am attracted to that experience.