Well, my name is Russ. I'm 30 years old and I was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I spent most of my early life playing with computers and learning various things about them - such as how to put them back together before my dad got home. :)  I also played a lot of video games, and didn't hang outside much or socialize with the 'normal' kids.  I was a bit of a nerd in school, until around my sophomore year in high school - incidentally, I went to Washburn High School in Minneapolis - around that time, I started suffering from depression, which was a changing event in my life.  I was miserable, but I learned a lot about life, and grew a lot as a person.  I won't go so far as to say it 'made' me, but it had a hand in it.  I barely graduated, and when I did I didn't really know what I would do - I didn't get around to applying to many colleges.  In my senior year, I was working at the Mall of America at EBX selling software and video games.  The manager of the R&D Dept. from a local company was impressed with my knowledge of computers and offered me a job testing software.

Starting a career in software testing was kinda rough, but I liked doing it and learned quickly.  I also learned (with a bit of cynicism) about the whole corporate world and all the red tape associated with it.  I learned a bit of Visual Basic and HTML at the same time, which has been a hobby ever since.  I eventually was laid off (ha!) but not before I had accepted a position at Interim Technology, a local consulting firm.  I was a Software Quality Management consultant, and worked on three different projects in a year and a half.  I even got certified as a Certified Software Test Engineer.  Not bad for a guy that barely made it out of high school! :)

Eventually I tired of the consulting life, and wanted to join some of my previous co-workers at a company called BigCharts - So I started as a software tester for a big web site.  That tied in with my interests in the financial industry and my interest in the internet.  BigCharts has now turned into  CBS MarketWatch, and they're both really cool sites if you're a personal investor.  Now I'm working on learning ASP and pursuing my interests in computers, graphics, and the internet. I'm what you could call a computer geek, but I don't think I'm very geeky. I love computers, art, music, games, goofing around, nostalgia, and hanging out with my friends, who, strangely enough, are into the same kinda stuff. Lately I've gotten into collecting arcade games and arranging music.

Download my MP3s here! Absolutely free!

Trivia:

• Age: 30
• Birthday: October 26, 1977
• Eyes: Blue
• Height: 5'10
• Hair: Naturally reddish brown, pretty much like in the picture.
• Wearing: Jeans, a t-shirt, sneakers or Docs
• Occupation: Software Engineer
• Residence: A nice house in Maple Grove
• Hobby: Anything having to do with computers, art, or music..and of course, VIDEO GAMES.
• Email address:PRIVATE
• Favorite Music: Lots. From 'Phantom of the Opera' to 'Pink Floyd'. Lots of trance/techno. And of course my own. ;)
• Favorite Song: TranSadness by Russ-O-Lini ;) Click Here
• Favorite Color: Red
• Favorite Quote: "That was entertaining...for about five minutes."
• Favorite Movie: Lots. I like the classics. Humphrey Bogart, the Marx Bros., etc. I like recent movies too, like The Princess Bride and Forrest Gump. And the latest movies, like American Beauty and Gladiator.
• Favorite Musical: Phantom of the Opera
• Computer System: I have a small data center in my basement. It's that bad.

Well, that's it. I can't imagine you'd want to know anything else..if you do, mail me!

This page was created on 6/23/2008 10:46:41 AM
This page was last updated on 8/11/2004 4:24:58 PM
Copyright ©1999-2008 Russ Melanson