Surplus Ops & Reverse Engineering - This entails scrounging, rebuilding, and generally doing better for fewer dollars what others pay big bucks for.  Many times, this includes dissecting a successful item, and learning how they did it.  I enjoy seeing value where others don't. I put more time into projects, but my knowledge, opinions, and insights become experience based rather than sterile book knowledge.  Book learning tends to sort knowledge into bins: product packaging, analog design, sensors, digital design, RF, ergometrics, machining, software, operations, etc.  An actual study piece rarely draws the line where one stops and the other starts.  Reverse engineering entire packages gives robust, operational skills across many disciplines.  I appreciate the spirit of Midnight Engineering, and the gregarious nature of Nuts & Volts. I bid on government surplus goodies, and pick up all sorts weird stuff for decent prices.  I repair what is repairable, sell some, and tear the rest apart for educational value.  At different times, these interests branch out to contract software and hardware engineering, and technical writing.  Check out the following:

• Zenith Minisport computer - I published two years of a newsletter giving hints, hacks, operating hints, and other goodies.
• Disposable camera salvage - Don't turn in your disposable camera! Salvage usable parts, learn about the flash circuit, and still get all the pictures.  Published in the Nov 1997 issue of Nuts & Volts.
• Mork Market - I always have stuff for sale.