> /ksnet/usr/about> /ksnet/usr/aboutWho Is KieferSkunk?
Last updated November 25th, 2005
(11/25/05)
It's been a while! I have been really bad about updating my site, so unless you've been following my LiveJournal, you are probably a bit out of the loop on what's going on in my life.
Since my last update in September '03, I've taken a full-time job with Microsoft (as a blue-badge!), I've moved several times and am now living in Sammamish, WA, and I take care of three adorable cats: Nicholas, Trevor and Calcifer.
Also, the biggest news in my life recently is that I am now engaged to the most wonderful woman in the world, the lovely and talented Firebringer! We got engaged on May 25th, 2005, and our wedding date is set for March 15th, 2006. I have also made the choice to get a vasectomy, meaning that we will not be having children (though we may consider adopting later in life).
I haven't done much music lately, but you can check out my current offerings on my Music Page. I've also done a few sketches worthy of posting, as I practice drawing every now and then. If you're interested, take a look at my Sketches Page.
I am currently a full-time Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) at Microsoft Corp in Redmond, WA. I work in the
Windows XP Embedded group, currently part of the Windows Core OS Division,
and I help out with the Windows Vista project
as well, writing web-based test reporting and bug-tracking tools.
In 2003, I worked on contract as an SDET for FASA Studio, working on the highly successful Xbox title Crimson Skies: High Road To Revenge. It was my first actual job in games, though I'd done volunteer beta-testing for games and software before. In the past, I have also worked for Ask Jeeves, and several small technology and web-design companies.
My Personal Resume is available for viewing on my website, but please note that I am not currently looking for work. If you're looking for more personal news, check out my LiveJournal.
My main interests and hobbies include computers, furries, games, playing and making
music, puppeteering, and spending time with my friends. Computers have long been my life - I play games, chat on the 'Net, work
on creative projects, and even do a little freelance programming on the side. (For example, I wrote a playlist organizer and
frontend for Windows called FoxPlay, though I am no longer supporting that project.) People say
I spend too much time in front of the computer, but what do they know? For bonafide geeks like me, there's almost no such thing
as 'too much computer time'.
As for my musical interests: I've recently taken up creating my own works! I'm working primarily in the Electronica genre, though I'm also experimenting in the realm of jazz, rock and ambient, as well. I have some excellent hardware and software and plenty of samples to work with; Alas, inspirations are few and far between, so I spend most of my time listening to it instead. I'm a fan of easy-listening, new-age, "Smooth Jazz", light rock, 80's hits, Techno-Trance, and the occasional classical piece.
I also love animals. My most favorite animals are (currently) skunks, bats, dolphins and kangaroos, though there are actually
only a few animals that I don't like. My fiancee and I currently care for three cats and a very large corn snake (more than
six feet in length!). And even though I have allergies to cats and dogs, if you have a pet, I'll probably love it to death
anyway!. :)
Sometimes, when I have the time and inspiration, I sit down and write stories. (For this, I thank my Creative Writing teacher in high school.) I put together a collection of my short stories, poetry and articles - if you're looking for something to read, take a look and let me know what you think. :)
Ah yes... what would I be doing on PlanetFurry's network if I weren't into furrydom? :) I've actually been a furry since I was 13, though I didn't get seriously into the fandom until I was in college. I was introduced to furrydom by my parents, oddly enough - I am one of only a few "second-generation" furries in the entire fandom. Both of my parents are into it - my mom runs Pre-Registration for Further Confusion, the West Coast's biggest furry con. And my dad makes fursuits - he's been working on designing the ultimate set of working wings for several years now. Basically, what it boils down to is that I don't have to worry about whether my parents show up at a Con and find me hanging around with a bunch of weirdos. They're already there, and if I'm not, they're probably wondering why. :)
My first furry alias, both personally and online, was Joey McKangaroo. The name came from my first online nickname, on a timesharing service named Quantum Link (Q-link) for the Commodore 64. See, my initials are MCK, and since there were a lot of other KANGAROOs online, we decided to merge the word KANGAROO with my name, and we ended up with MCKANGAROO as a result. Later on, someone took that to mean "McKangaroo", as in, a scottish roo, and it stuck. Later on, I developed this alias into a character for the TOON roleplaying game, and eventually the identity became my first full-fledged furry character.
When I went to college, though, my
personality changed and Joey just didn't fit me anymore. At about the same time, my interest in dolphins had really taken off.
While looking through some of my old stuff, I came across a sketch (shown at right) that I had drawn several years back, and I
decided that this image suited my personality much better. The dolphin's name was Dorsola, which was basically a pun about his
dorsal fin. This character went through several evolutions and was my online persona for more than five years. I am still
known as Dorsola in the Descent community and several retro-gaming and emulation communities, but Dorsola the character has
been officially laid to rest.
My current character, KieferSkunk, is perhaps the most accurate reflection of my personality. Not necessarily the most intelligent of creatures, skunks tend to be quiet and keep to themselves, and lead fairly straightforward and peaceful lives. Plus, I have a thing for big tails. :) I've always really liked skunks - even knew someone in Central California who had one as a pet. They're cute and loveable creatures, so long as you don't piss them off. ;)
I'm pretty active in the furry community, though not as much as I used to be. I have characters on several MUCKs and am a Helpstaffer on SPR (meaning, I can make characters and answer questions there), but I don't spend much time on the MUCKs anymore, due mainly to my real-life relationship. Most of my involvement with the community now consists of various posts to message boards and forums, keeping in touch with people, and occasionally helping out with conventions and online radio.
Click Here to check out my Furry Characters page - containing descriptions of my characters used both on the MUCKs and for my stories.
On my free time, I'm usually playing games or browsing my favorite websites. (Of course, doesn't everyone?) I play all sorts of things - Unreal Tournament, Worms Armageddon, Acrophobia, the Sierra Hoyle games, and the occasional MMORPG. I am also a big fan of retro games and emulation, and I used to be a big Descent fan. (I still run the Official D2_3DFX FAQ, but that project is pretty much dead, at least as far as my involvement in it is concerned.)
Recently, I've started helping to maintain the Homestar Runner Wiki, an independent online knowledge-base dedicated to documenting HomestarRunner.com. The Wiki can be modified by anyone, so feel free to visit and help out if you're an HSR fan! I've also gotten involved in online political activism (I am a Democrat and a rather outspoken critic of the Bush Administration), and I participate in several LiveJournal communities, including Bush_Sucks and Childfree.
KieferSkunk.net also serves as a mirror site for several furry-related projects that you will definitely enjoy reading: