User:DWH

DWH's answers to frequently asked questions

You can also find out more from DWH's forum profile.

What is the origin of your username?

Literary Detective DWH= the latest incarnation of my name, taken from the uber-wonderful Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde. I can also be found as JediDWH, Commander-DWH, and just plain DWH.

DWH = the shortened form of my original screenname, downwithhydrogen.

downwithhydrogen = my honours and AP chem classes both decided to kick hydrogen out of the periodic table. It breaks too many rules.

How did you get to spacefem.com?

I was a senior in high school, bouncy and excited about my multitude of AP exams hovering on the horizon. Coming down to the computer I shared with my younger sister one day, I noticed with a great deal of irritation that she'd changed my homepage again. "Silly girl," I rolled my eyes, "why do you keep getting rid of TheForce.net?" Scanning the page to see what could possibly be more worthwhile than Star Wars, one of the articles grabbed my attention. It simply read, "Math." Being in two AP math classes at the time, my life's slogan was "Math is great, it's better than chocolate cake." So I registered, and posted just that on the thread. And the rest is history.

Where is your user pic from, and what does it mean to you?

My avatar is a painting of mine that is now five years old, called Jazz and Blues. Probably the best thing I've painted to this day. This is aided by the fact that I don't have time to paint anymore, but I wish I could. In any case, I love that painting lots. It's currently displayed in my room on a music stand.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Since I was about 12, I've wanted to work in visual effects/computer animated features. Now that I'm all grown up and professional and stuff, I work for a visual effects company! Still hoping to get more artistic training, though. I want more of a hand in the creative process than I currently have. Also, artists get paid a whooole lot better than I do.

Companies I'd like to work for include:
Industrial Light and Magic (my first CGI love)
Dreamworks

Pixar (not only the best in the business, but they also have a swimming pool!)

What general things should we know about you?

I'm an artist masquerading as a programmer. This only works because I do, in fact, have a great love of technology. I adore building, upgrading, and fixing computers, be it with hardware or software. Recent additions to my collection that make me happy include a 200 GB hard drive and Windows Vista RC1. ZOMG, so much shininess with Vista. Not good for a computer without prodigious amounts of memory, but I built my computer with graphics and animation in mind, so it all works out. Which leads me to the next point, where I have a dream of working for Pixar one day. I love modeling characters, I love textures, lighting, animating, the whole deal. It's something I would do for fun, and I currently get credit for it. Not only do I get credit for it, but hopefully someday soon someone will pay me to do it. In my spare time, I like drawing, reading, writing, and making professional-grade costumes. I work at the costume shop here at Oberlin College, and it's mad loads of fun. I'm getting paid to improve my craft, and being instructed by someone who's incredibly good at what she does. So much love.

How do you generally stand on political issues?

My vote goes to the National Barking Spider Resurgence Party.

Okay, so nobody's ever heard of them. They're fairly centrist and excessively snarky. Both of these suit me very well. And the presidential candidate from the last election actually responded to my e-mail letting them know they were awesome. Not that I imagine he gets a lot of mail, but it was still pretty sweet.

Snark. Politics need more good-natured snarkiness. And pie fights.

What do you feel is your greatest achievement in life?

Greatest accomplishment so far? Getting my Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, man. That was a hard-won diploma, and I earned that sucker. Oberlin sometimes eats people, but it didn't get me!

Describe any animals you live with.

There was a heat-sucking demon living in our basement for about a week. Does that count?

What do you like/not like to wear?

I like wearing fun babydoll shirts and swirly skirts. Preferably with birkenstocks.

I don't like wearing anything that makes me look like a high-powered executive. It's a look that I can carry off, but it's not something I enjoy wearing in the least.

list every job you've ever had, in any particular order

Babysitter

Sandwich minion
Statistics Tutor
Art Teacher's Assistant
Freelance musician (weddings, parties, etc)
Freelance artist
Lifeguard
Swimming Instructor
Opera theatre costume maker
Freelance Star Wars costume maker
Freelance web designer
Programming teacher (summer camp)
Digital Art/Ceramics teacher
SIGGRAPH Student Volunteer

Sr. Production Services Technician

What's your major?

I have a BA in Computer Science. My minor was Philosophy. I maintain that the two are totally related.

I'd like to go back someday and get my Master's in Computer Graphics. That'd be pretty nifty.

What are your favorite movies?

Star Wars, the original trilogy. Are other movies necessary?

What part of the world do you live in? Do you like it?

Los Angeles, California. I haven't really decided if I actually like it yet, but I guess I don't actively dislike it. I suppose I should come up with some sort of opinion on the matter...

I kind of miss Michigan, though. It had weather. The snow was lovely, you really appreciated spring when it came, and summer rain is one of the most glorious things ever. Fall leaves, too. I'm a seasons girl, and those aren't really found around here.

Describe yourself in four flattering words (obituary-style):

vivacious - passionate - creative - nerdtastic

What is your religious identification/lack thereof?

I'm a Christian. Raised by Baptists, but I buck at a lot of the Baptist rules and restrictions (no dancing? Lame). Honestly, my faith is the most important thing in my life, and I never would have gotten through college with my sanity intact without it.

Which gender are you sexually attracted to?

Men. Nerdy, musically-inclined men.

Care to list your body mods?

+ Two holes in each ear

+ I pierced my nose this summer because a) I've kind of always wanted to, and b) in the graphics industry I can get away with it.
+ I have a swath of hair that's bleached so that I can dye it funky colours. I have three I like to play with, and I might try to pick up another when next I'm paid. But I've got a raspberry pink, a bright violet, and a blue that never stays the colour I want it to.

...I think that about covers it.