Who am I? I guess that is a pretty standard question to start by
answering, judging from the personal webpages I've seen, but I always
wondered what made the authors think that anybody cared. Yes, I have a
family I care about, two nephews (both in their fifth year of life), and
pictures of most of these people (except for a few who owe me pictures,
Elizabeth). But, what's that to you? You'll probably never meet these
people. I'd also have to worry about their safety if I were to include
photos, given the bizarre response I got to my
old tutoring page.
OK, who am I? A better question is, what do I do. I have studied
Mathematics and Electrical Engineering on the graduate level (coursework
for PhD and MS, respectively), and also have a degree in Physics. So, when
you see me putting up material on these subjects, yes, I do know whereof I
speak. The material on Physics may not be the latest word in research (it
probably won't be), but it will be valid.
I enjoy writing, theatre (both attending and performing), cooking,
photography, philosophy and other things, including the sciences, as I'm
sure you've guessed. I'm learning to play Chess and Go. I enjoy bicycling,
but have had to give it up, because the roads just aren't safe enough for
that sort of thing, any more, and there is too much theft in my area,
anyway. Hiking has taken its place.
I have little interest in sports or current events. (The only causes I
have gotten involved with in the last few years have been the Peace
movement, and the push to abolish capital punishment). I live on the Near
North Side of Chicago. That should give you some sense of what this page
will be about.
My thanks to SavvySearch, for helping get this
page listed.
Note : A common question that I have been asked : "Are you that Joseph
Dunphy, who I saw ...?" Answer : Probably not. Joseph Dunphy is a very
common name, but some people have a hard time accepting this. I remember
one frantic late night phone message from a lady in Utah, begging me to
call her immediately, that this was an emergency. I called her, and asked
her what this was about. She said that it was about my daughter-in-law, in
a shocked tone, as if she was amazed that I could even ask.
"Um, ma'am", I started to say, "I'm only a college student, and I don't
even have a girlfriend yet." Barring time travel, it would have been some
trick for me to have a daughter-in-law.
Sometimes, like then, this sort of confusion is amusing, in a
bewildering way, but sometimes it can be a real nuisance, too. The lady
from Utah quickly realized that I did sound a little young for a guy in
his mid 50s. When this kind of silliness gets me sucked into somebody
else's fight, though, or somebody else's cause, it begins to get a little
old.
My life is lived off line, so don't write to me about flamewars, past
or present. I have better uses for my time than those, and I wonder about
the people who don't. Don't write or talk to me about the Occult, or
Communism, or Sports, or Financial planning. These are not part of my
life, and I don't especially want them to be.
If you can respect this, welcome. I hope you enjoy my little page. If
not, please
move on;
the rings this site are on await.
