Welcome to Empire Data Systems - my very own, personal, fictional company in my own, personal reality. Which, incidentally, has absolutely no bearing on or correlation to your reality. Or anybody else's... Similar to the Acme Company and Setec Astronomy in Sneakers, I use EDS any time I need or want to use a company name. It all started when I was in high school and I registered some software; it asked for company name and I had to come up with something. Mostly I use it for anything dealing with computers - my old RedHat installations, any Micro$oft keys, this website, etc. Listed below are some other fictional companies that I use for family, dramatic or literary purposes:
- Empire Data Systems - My current fictional, all-purpose company.
- Mayo Family Industries - The company name for my family. What exactly we produce at this point, I am not sure. But as soon as I find out, I will register MFI with Texas and maybe get a tax break.
- Centaurus Research/Centaurus Research Centre - A fictional company that predates EDS. Used for everything from my personal daydreams to short stories to a semi-serious prototype of a technology research group I would have eventually liked to create. Obviously, I didn't go in that direction...
- Nub-Nub Works - Rarely used now. I usually use it in games where I name bases or planets. It is derived from Skunk Works and my predilection for Nub-Nubs (Bun-Bun backwards). It is hard to explain why I like rabbits - they are simply the most awesome animal ever created. Some other time I will astound you with just how incredible and nifty rabbits are. You will be amazed. But until then, check out this video of a rabbit and a snake.
Sounds strange? I admit, it is. You are suitably impressed; yet a small, nagging question begins to form in the deep recesses of your mind. If this is his home on the web, a made-up company, then who is he? Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain! [ref]
While I was growing up with my friends, we played computer games, made characters in various RPGs, and surfed BBSs and the fledgling web. We were in constant need of a handle; a moniker or pseudonym to represent our characters or online aliases. I chose 'WarBride'. (Note the spelling - capital W, capital B, no space)
I have no idea where I ran across it. No, there are no hidden meanings in my choice of a name. Yes, I know what a war bride is. No, I am not one. Yes, I know who the band Warbride is. No, I am not a fan. While I am in the military and have a healthy dedication to protecting my religion, family and freedom [ref] - I'm not particularly war-like or militaristic. I am simply 'WarBride'.
As my friend Chad wrote once, "It reminds me of an episode from one of the Batman animated cartoons. Bruce Wayne starts hearing voices and ends up getting hospitalized in a mental institution. At the end when you find out someone had planted a device on him that would make the sound like it was coming from his head, he says, 'I always knew it wasn't me because it called me Bruce. That's not what I call myself.'" Any time reality needs to be suspended - WarBride emerges.
So the next time that you are online playing a game or browsing a forum and see WarBride; chances are that it is me. And if I am on the opposite team - I suggest running.
I have way too many hobbies and not enough time. A short list of the things I love are:
- My family
- Computers (Programming, Games, Linux, Building them, etc)
- Books
- Movies
- Science Fiction & Fantasy (really anything with swords, lasers, dragons, spaceships and any combination thereof)
- Woodworking
- Shooting and Firearms
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Electronics
- Games & Computer Games (Table-top, Role Playing, Real Time Strategy, First Person Shooters)
- Toys
I am in the US Air Force and work as a Ground Radar troop. While I occasionally get irritated at my specific job, I immensely enjoy being part of the overall purpose and mission of the Air Force. My dad was also in the military and I was able to grow up living all over the world. Happily, I managed to marry someone else who enjoys moving and seeing new places, so we are enjoying moving together from base to base every few years. It looks like we will be at Hill AFB for a while.
In 2007, I graduated Suma Cum Laude from Park University with a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science. I guess that means that I am pretty good computer trainer - I can make them learn tricks, house-break them and, for the most part, take care of their 1's and 0's.
I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (The Mormons), currently active in the Boys Scouts of America as a leader and I have a fantastic wife and family.