Dr1819

My Page!

I'm an avid aviator, with more than 2,500 hours and various ratings - I just finished a whirlwind tour of North Carolina and Virginia, flying mostly IFR in a Cessna 172 - fabulous! I'm back in Germany, taking networking issues to task.

I've spent time in more than 31 countries since I visited my second country when I was 3 months old. I've enjoyed wearing kilts, sarongs, and other forms of male attire typically worn overseas, and have half a dozen such articles of clothing I wear on a regular basis.

There are more than a hundred different names for the many different styles of skirts and robes worn by men around the world, but it's all men's wear. Many Westerners who've taken to wearing them for their own use refer to them as MUGs, short for Male Unbifurcated Garments, a term (acronym, actually) which has grown in popularity on several continents since it's origens in the mid-90s, and has since spread to the fashion industry, as noted on the many sites (including Utilikilts, Macabi Skirts, J'Dez), including companies in other countries which now cater to the rapidly growing demand in MUG menswear. All use the term "MUG." This term has also appeared in numerous newspaper articles, blogs, and special interest groups.

I'm also an avid photographer and have a passing interest in fashion. I'm straight, and rather conservative in my religious and political beliefs. Although my choice of clothing is typically non-Western, it's simply because of my upbringing among non-Western areas. The simple truth is that I enjoy relaxing in much the same way that others among whom I grew up relaxed. Male Unbifurcated Garments (MUGs) have been worn by men throughout the ages (including Jesus and his disciples), and are still worn throughout many civilizations today.

Sadly, much of the commentary I've received on Wiki counters what I've witnessed throughout the world, usually by those who've never seen it (and apparently are unable to believe it's actually true), or by those who may have seen it but believe the practice only exists in isolated locations. Regardless, I've been there, seen that, and done that, so regardless of what others believe the world to be, I've seen in many times, in many places with my own eyes, and that's the overarching factors. So I ask your forgiveness when I take "it ain't so!" commentary with a large block of salt and continue to state what I've witnessed, namely, MUGs around the world (including the US, GB, Germany, Holland, Italy, Spain, and France).

Earlier this Spring (2006), I had the wonderful fortune to have walked on the grounds and physical walls of Abraham's house, just over a mile north of Talil Air Base in Iraq. Because of Biblical history defining in detail the origens and subsequent travels of Abraham, as well as the archeological evidence at the site which includes a cuneiform brick inscribed with words to the effect that "this house belongs to Abram," I remained convinced that the dig is true. As these and other experiences and events match both Biblical and non-Biblical accounts of Abraham's historical origins and other events mentioned in the Bible, my belief in the authenticity of the Bible continues to be quietly affirmed.

I'm interested in gadgets of all kinds, although I shy away from PDAs. As a networking engineer, I've learned what computers can do, and what they can't do. All too often people push information systems to the computer thinking that the computer itself will solve their problems when quite often what's required is a carefully designed whiteboard. Carefully trained human minds remain the best resource for organizing information, although properly-designed information systems can be an invaluable management tool. It's because of what I've seen in information management, and the general progression of the modern world to an information-based society, that I firmly believe that information systems, to include logic and database management, should become core courses for school children, the same as reading, writing, and arithmetic. Many people possess a wonderful ability to communicate, but few people possess the ability to appropriately organize information in a standardized format that can be used by others. As a result, our world has become a place of information overload, which chokes true progress, as measured in terms of innovating and increasing efficiency and effectiveness on current processes.

In summary, I love life and my dear friends, but most of all, I love my son - very much. Please pray for me as I continue this journey called life. Dr1819 21:55, 4 July 2006 (UTC)