About The Author

Millions of people on the Internet and all I get is SINCE NOV. 03, 1995!* TIME IS NOW: Eastern Time. Internet services provided for free by Alachua County FreeNet. About The Page Author		'The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas at the same time and still retain the ability to function.' - F. Scott Fitzgerald 'I have sworn eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.' - Thomas Jefferson 'No matter where you go, there it went.' - T.S. Lawrence y name is Todd Sherman. I was born in Point Pleasant, New Jersey on January 15th, 1963, the first son of Henry Allaire Sherman, Jr. and Lydia Louise Sterner. I could tell you all about my grandparents and great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents, too; but that's another web-page, entirely (if you're so interested). The web page of the `second son,' Trent Sherman, can be found by clicking here. I lived in New Jersey until the age of nine in 1973, when the family moved to Ocala, Florida. (But before we had moved from New Jersey, we had moved around at least twice that I can remember. I think it must have been when I was around two when we moved to Long Branch. Then finally, probably when I was around five, we moved to a three story house in Ocean Grove.) In 1975, we moved yet again...this time from Ocala to Gainesville, Florida, where I have lived ever since. (Well, out of nostalgia, I did try moving back to New Jersey again for a couple years in 1988 but, I regretted it and quickly ran -- as in, `with most possible haste' -- back to Florida, where I knew the people were much nicer, and where I knew the living was much [that's MUCH] safer. Here's a little more on that story.) In 1977, I attended Gainesville High School, where I graduated in 1981. Our logo was a `purple hurricane' which, actually, looked more like a purple dust wheeze and, seemed to do more towards making people scratch their heads and do a double-take than in striking any horrific fear in their hearts during a football game. (Though I will say we were 5A State Champs the year that I graduated.) In 1987, I attended Santa Fe Community College where I studied for an A.S. in Computer Programming. In 1990, I attended Webster College, pursuing a Paralegal Certificate, and graduating in 1992 with an `A-.' (So I wasn't perfect.) I live here with my two little pet fur-balls -- Muffin, and Raisen. There was a sister to Raisen, whose name was Bran, but she was shot and killed by a next door neighbor one night (who since moved away), for his own pleasure, after all of the cats got out one evening. But I won't get started on that here. And then let's not forget our Pesky Pet Mosquito, `Bzzt!' To continue...   I sort of have a wide and varied range of hobbies and interests, which include the likes of: Amateur Radio (my callsign is KB4MHH), a little bit of Radio Frequency Scanning, occasional Amateur Astronomy, following our Space Program, Computers, Meteorology (weather-related stuff), Genealogy, Photography (especially astro-photography, weather photography, any kind of sky photography), and of course, caring for and playing with my two little "kitties." (Gee! Did I mention them already?)   These days I am the founder and Coordinator of Alachua County SKYWARN. SKYWARN is a National Weather Service-sponsored program. Started in 1997, we train people how to spot the signs of severe weather and in how to properly report them to the NWS and to local authorities. We call these people "Storm Spotters". Spotters help give advance notice to the public of dangerous severe weather events, and in so doing, it is hoped, they help save lives. I'm very proud of this program and of the good that it is doing for people. We try to hold spotter training classes at least twice a year at the Alachua County Library, downtown, in upstairs Meeting Room A. Keep an eye on the AC-SKYWARN home page (above) for info on when the next class will be, or watch for our announcements during TV-20's weather segment. Another program that I run as Project Manager and Coordinator is called the Alachua County EMWIN Project. EMWIN stands for the Emergency Manager's Weather Information Network. Quite simply, we can download the latest weather bulletins (and some low-res graphics) from the GOES weather satellite and then redistribute them by various means - to email, pager, cellphone, PDA, web pages, and even to client programs connected to us over the Internet. So, say, if you wanted the latest thunderstorm and tornado watches and warnings sent to your cellphone or pager, we could do that for you...at no charge whatsoever. It's all offered free to the public as a public service. I'm proud of THIS program, too, of course! :) See the above link for more information about the project and how to make use of it. I work as a Field Representative for the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Basically, if they have a phone number, I'll try to call them. If not, I'll drive there to make a personal visit to conduct the survey. I have a laptop. I read survey questions to respondents from off of the screen. I type a Y or an N or a figure into the laptop. I smile. TOUGH JOB, HUH??? So far, my range of travel has been as far north in Florida as the city of Live Oak in Suwannee County, and as far south as the city of Summerfield in Marion County. It's not a bad job. It's fun. I get to meet lots of new and interesting people, and see lots of new and interesting places...even within my own city and county. I like it. So there yuh go. I work and volunteer for two branches of the Department of Commerce: the U.S. Census Bureau, and the National Weather Service. 8^) Favorite music? (sigh!) ...ANYTHING! I have pretty eclectic tastes. ...From classical to rock, oldies to new stuff...I can handle it. :) I even like to listen to some of the more moving SOUNDTRACK music that is out there. I'm not much of a fan of country, however. And I don't understand today's Rap and I don't think I ever will. I like music with ORIGINALITY. I don't like hearing rip-off's of someone else's previous work. That's cheap. I like to hear artists who think and invent their OWN music. I appreciate WORK in music. Today's Rap...I don't see much of that going on. These people have no brains, they can't sing, so they just talk...with a background beat. Really hard work, there. God, *I* could do that! No, I'm not married. No, I don't have a girlfriend at this current moment...unless you count my little kitty...Raisen. (Deja vu?) So I guess, yes, I am single, living free, not seeing anyone, not being nagged, no strange and/or unusual demands are being made of me, no hinderances in my life....at least, not as of yet anyway. And I kinda like it that way. The future can always change, however. (God forbid.) She'd have to be something pretty darned special, though. :-) That being said, I'm single, available, passionate, sensual, and really, really eager to please a woman wanting to be with me. Nope, I don't have any kids, either. Doesn't mean that I don't WANT any. But I DO want to be sure I have the right mate before I have any. (sigh) I also want to make sure I'm READY, first. I'm not sure I'm completely ready for that, yet. (sigh) But I'm also starting to get up there, too, now. :-( But I'd rather have NO kids at ALL than have some and not be ready, or have the wrong mate who wasn't ready and then we'd end up having to go through a divorce. I would NEVER want to put my kids through that. *I* went through that when I was little. It sucks. People shouldn't have kids until they're 100-percent ready in mind, body, soul and financially. If you're not, it's not fair to the kids to put them through the hell. Here are my beliefs in life... I believe that those who say that Santa Clause isn't real are lieing; in things chocolate or strawberry -- including ice cream and milkshakes; that things can go better with Coca-Cola (TM) *OR* Pepsi (TM) depending upon one's mood at the moment; that Murphy was an optimist; in doing things my own way at the most inopportune time; and in my kitty-cat, Raisen. (Deja vu?) I believe that cats can talk - they just don't think we're worth talking to at this particular moment, and that they are much more intelligent a species than we. When they finally decide to talk to us they will announce a Press Conference and share their advanced knowledge with us. I believe that dogs and men must be more closely related somehow in the evolutionary chain than was originally thought. We think so much alike. (Grrr!) When we've compiled our findings we'll announce a Press Conference and share our advanced knowledge with the public. For now though, we're in a Pack Meeting and when we have time we'll get right on it. Just not right now. [`YYYYES!!! TOUCH-DOWN!!!'] Oh, uh...sorry. Where were we again? I believe in the human spirit. Before we can attempt to join any religion (and that can be Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, or any other religion), we must first understand what it is to be human. Contrary to the teaching of many a minister - who will propound that one cannot learn how to be a good human being until one first has the Holy Spirit inside - I propose that it is actually exactly the opposite...that before one can know enough to understand what it is to be a good religious follower, one must first understand the joys and pains, and the good and the bad of being a human being; and one must experience it from both sides. Until one has experienced the bad, one cannot possibly fully and completely understand how important it is to be good. This comes with the first-hand experience of life, and not from someone else telling you that this is the way something should be. This is called wisdom. Anyone attempting to practice religion without it is just the equivalent of a dog in a Pavlovian experiment doing what it has been trained and tortured to do, instead of acting based on conscious, consciencious aforethought and understanding. I believe that it is important for us to treat each other kindly, fairly, and humanely at all times. To not do so has the potential to physically, mentally, or emotionally, and permanetly ruin someone else's life, or quality of life. Just for one moment, pretend that there is no God in Heaven. ...Just pretend. ...Just for a second. Close your eyes and think about it. What would that mean to all of us? If there were no god, would there a Judgement Day? No. So then, if someone does you wrong, and ruins your life, what happens to the person who ruined it? What happens after that person dies? Does he have to answer for it on Judgement Day? No. He (or she) gets away with it. What happens to the harmed person's life? Does that person get it back after he/she dies? No. That person's life ends...permanently. There's no coming back. That person never gets a second chance. His/her life was ruined, and there would be no justification. Yes, what would the world be like if there was no god. There are a lot more things to ponder about that subject. I'll let you think about it. When you're done, go back to believing in your god - but now with a new outlook. To those who are good to me and who treat me with respect and like I matter, I am a very loyal and dedicated friend. I don't like it when people try to bend me and mold me into something they think I should be. I prefer to be accepted as I am, and to be treated like I'm okay just fine just the way that I am. I accept other people the way they are and I don't try to change them. I expect the same treatment from other people. I can accept anyone else's religious beliefs, and I will never be heard to make fun of your religion, or to berate you if you have none, or to try to "convert" you to mine. I want people in my circle who are willing and capable of treating me with the same respect. In my relationships, I am the same way. To those who are loyal and dedicated to me, I am just as loyal and dedicated and I go out of my way to try to make the other person happy and to feel wanted and needed and important; and I try to keep my promises harder than most other people do. Believe in me 100-percent, without question or hesitation, and I will believe in you the same way. That's all I've ever wanted in a relationship, really...trust, faith, and belief. ...But I am not a kickable puppy. I am not a trainable show poodle. I do not appreciate people who try to bend me and shape me into something I am not. I don't like being yelled at, or forced, or to have reverse psychology used on me, or to have "limitations" or "barriers" to the friendship or relationship thrown up in front of me. That is, "we can't be friends UNLESS you're (this)," or "we can't be friends UNLESS you first do (this)," etc. Accept me as I am or you will not last long with me. This is something that I have learned in life. If you think that you can MAKE me follow you, or that you can make me do what you want me to do, or that you can turn me into something you'd like "better," then we won't be friends for very long. Accept me as I am...or leave. But I will not be controlled, or abused. I love thunderstorms and lightning. They are indeed the most exciting and awe-inspiring naturally occuring shows on earth. I could sit and watch them for hours, and I'd always end up being surprised and enthralled. That having been said, I believe that the area of the Midwest Plains states is God's own, personal, and private playground. He picked the Midwest Plains for a reason. It is there in that least populated of places where all of His frustrations are privately vented. For this reason, let only those who Know and Understand be the ones who dare to venture forth to try to witness Him. Anyone else is a Fool, and risks eternal ripping, pounding, squashing, and drowning. So says me. So...when's the next bus out there again? I believe that you're not right and that I'm not wrong, but (to be fair) it could also be possible that I'm not absolutely incorrect and that YOU'RE not necessarilly right. (Kidding aside, I actually think in quite the opposite way of that. I'm prone more to listen to both sides of the story, to weigh all the facts, and to withhold any judgement until all the facts are in - regardless of how irritated others might get with me because of that. When I discover that I am wrong, I'm usually the first to apologize - even though others might think it unnecessary or a waste to do so.) I believe that Carl Sagan was an alien, and that Albert Einstein was secretly his father. Regardless, I was fascinated by both of them in growing up. (I think I probably heard that in the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind.) I believe that my cat, Raisen, is actually human. (There she is, again.) I don't believe in haunted houses, ghosts, UFOs, Von Daniken, Nastrodamus, psychics, or in Mary's face appearing in trees, windows, walls, cloud formations, or church bell towers, or in anchovies as a thing that should be eaten by any sane individual, or in any of those nasty rumors being spread that Gene Roddenberry died a few years ago. Are you an old schoolmate? Visit my page at Classmates.com. If you're wondering why there isn't an abundance of clear imagery of me, there is a reason for that...I'm a bit camera shy and there really aren't that many of me available anyway. (Besides, I'm the one usually holding the camera, anyway.) However, if you're THAT curious ... well ... okay. Here's some. Here's a family genealogy photo album I'm putting together. Lots of neat and interesting stuff that I've found about the family. This is a major project. Here are some of my Astrophotography attempts - including some pics of Comet 1996B2 Hyakutake, and of comet 1995-C-O1 Hale-Bopp! (This is really amateur stuff, okay?) Some of my Severe Weather-related Photography and Videography And of course, some photographs of my pets: My cat Raisen. My cat Muffin. Now, if you'll excuse me...Raisen wants me to turn on the water in the bathroom sink. I must obey. Me at age 2, spraying my father with the water hose as he worked diligently on something that really didn't need getting wet. I remember this picture. (Taken about 1965 in Point Pleasant, NJ.)
About The Author Todd L. Sherman/KB4MHH Gainesville, Alachua Co., Fla. E-mail: afn09444@afn.org Created: September 24, 1995. Last updated: August 29, 2006. © Copyright 1995-2006 by Todd L. Sherman. All Rights Reserved.