You either clicked for this page in error, or you’re wondering who the heck I am, and what this site is about.
The latter part is easy. This site is a repository for many of my online creations and projects. This is a personal website, not a professional one. Basicly, if something interests me and/or I want to share it online…it’s going to appear somewhere in this site.
As for who I am — I’m one of the many people named "Michael Adams"…one of two living in Windsor Connecticut. As for "what" I am….
- I’m a geek. Gadgets fascinate me, and I spend way too much time admiring patterns, complex designs, and algorithms, and pondering how to solve puzzles.
- I’m an actuary, for many of the same reasons.
- I’m the husband of the most wonderful woman in the world. That’s not always easy, especially given some of the challenges we’ve faced since a tragedy a few years ago, but she’s worth it. I still haven’t figured out how she puts up with me.
- I have opinions and a big mouth (or well-worn keyboard) to express them with…at least in venues I’m comfortable in. Granted, that is in conflict with my frequently being a quiet introvert…but there it is.
- I’m an armchair political activist. However, my political views defy easy description. I’m socially somewhat liberal, at least in the sense of people having the right and ability to make their own choices and mistakes, but I’m fiscally conservative. I’m generally distrustful of the government, but I’m not sure that human nature would permit a significantly better system than what we have in the U.S. to arise. I’m anti-abortion, but pro-choice to the extent that I distrust the government’s ability or qualifications to adjudicate tragic decisions. I trust reasonable people to make reasonable decisions given appropriate information and opportunity, but I believe that the political processes that arise when large numbers of people are involved, aggravated by instant media coverage delivered by individuals who may not understand what’s really going on make “reasonable decisions” a much more challenging goal than it should be.
In other words, I generally defy labeling, but if I must be tagged, “centrist”, “watered-down Libertarian”, or “moderate/liberal Republican” probably come closest to fitting.
- I am a religious person. I believe in God. I believe that we are God’s children, that we live in God’s creation, and that we ought to act accordingly. I believe that people ought to consider the consequences of our actions, and that when we make mistakes, we ought to do our best to fix them. That’s it in a nutshell. As I said previously, I sometimes think too much, and I find I can spend too much time and energy when contemplating doctrine or dogma beyond those basics. I try to make peace with having to accept that there are certain things I have to accept on faith.
I enjoy learning about how others’ believe and how they express their faith. I’m amazed at how many ways there are to say the same basic thing…and I’m equally amazed (and saddened) over how much energy is wasted preaching and squabbling over matters that really aren’t…or shouldn’t be…important. I get frustrated when some individuals advocate positions that are inconsistent with the faith they claim to be preaching in the name of. And yes, I’m guilty of painting too many people with a broad brush when I encounter such behavior. (Sorry, I try to do better.)
- And, I am a person with a very eclectic set of friends and acquaintances. Some of them also have LiveJournals, although that’s a biased sampling. My mannerisms, choices of words, and speaking/writing style will tend to reflect whatever group, if any, I’m addressing or interacting with. I agree with some of them sometimes, disagree with others at other times. I tend to focus on the agreements more, but I do enjoy the stimulation of a debate when “agreeing to disagree” in a friendly manner is a realistic outcome. To make assumptions about my views based on those held by people I am sometimes around is a very risky proposition.
If, after all this you wish to know more about me, try contacting me through one of the methods listed on this page.