READING

My first passion is reading. Fiction, non-fiction, newspapers and business / IT publications, as well as novels and short stories. I try to rotate through material in Chinese Japanese, French and German.

I live on the Web, using it for intelligence gathering on a wide range of subjects, through subscriptions to online bulletins and newsgroups, directed searches and agents. Filtering and absorbing this data strongly competes with my print-reading time (and just about everything else I do). I still prefer to read newspapers and business journals in hardcopy, rather than pre-select areas of interest in these publications online versions.

COMPUTING

Trying out new software and hardware, checking out new WebSites and generally exploring the Web is a favorite past-time of mine. I spend a certain amount ot time helping friends with PC/technical related problems.

ARTS & CULTURE

I enjoy practicing calligraphy and reading poetry. Next is cinema, with an emphasis on mystery and science-fiction, followed by museums and exhibitions.

My taste in music runs from classical to popular, with lots in between. These days I split my listening between MP3, CD and MD formats, with a rare concert thrown in.

Classical: Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Bach, Mendelssohn, Brahms and Lizt

Popular: Anggun, Coco Lee, Misia, Namie Amuro, Elva Hsiao, Li Hui-ping, Celine Dion, Anita Baker, Sade, Alana Davis, Brandy, Jewell

Funk/Jazz: Grover Washington Jr, Gil-Scott Heron, Keith Sweat, Deni Hines, Yvette Michele, Alfonzo Blackwell, Regina Belle, Herbie Hancock, 

Rock: David Bowie, Sheryl Crowe, Sarah McLachlan, Johnny Clegg, Sting, Brian Ferry, Prince, BAP, George Michael, David Gray.

Movies: Science Fiction, Mystery, Historical, Alternative and Independent

SPORTS

Hiking, yoga, jogging, cross-country skiing, swimming and basketball. 

Did martial arts (Karate and Tae Kwon Do) for many years, but have not kept up.

I also enjoy backpacking and telemarking (backpacking on cross-country skis), orienteering, mountain climbing, sailing and archery.