Welcome to my world. (You mean I have to blog now?)

Well, since we are getting ready to launch the [name redacted to protect the innocent and the guilty] podcast here in a couple of weeks I suppose I should start doing posts so that those of you who don’t know me can get to know me.

I am not really sure where to start since I am kinda new to blogging that isn’t a rant about one thing or another.
I suppose I should start with a simple Introduction.

HI! My name is Michael aka DP. I have been actively involved in fandom in one form or another since 1990. I have been a fan since my childhood in the ’70s. Yes, I am old…ish.

Most of my activity in fandom was involved with my working two main conventions. First was Confurence, which died and became Califur. I first started that one in 1992. The second one I dedicated most of my heart and soul to was Anime Expo. I started in 1998 and recently resigned my position earlier this year. I wore many hats at AX. Starting in Press and moving to Special Events Tech, to manager of the Main Events room then that while becoming Assistant Division Manager for all of Tech then running the AMV contest and eventually becoming their Director of Entertainment Group. For about a year or so I was also Director of the EX Media Group which ran AX Live as well as a couple of other shows.

While a great amount of my focus for the last 15 years has been Anime and Japanese pop culture, it is far from my only interest. I have long been a big ‘ol Star Wars and Star Trek nerd. While I enjoy Fantasy, Science Fiction is my favorite genre and there are A LOT of titles I love and enjoy.

I am also a bit of a music nerd. Every thing from orchestral soundtracks to Punk Rock to Gothic Industrial to Electronica and DubStep. Hell I even like alot of Rap and Funk.
Then, there is the computer nerdery, with a heavy focus on graphics and video. My degree is in telecommunications with a focus on Television Production.
I am also a bit of a gamer, Video and table top. I really love BattleTech. Unfortunately, so few people still play it.
There are lots of other things I am into. My tastes are somewhat varied. I guess you could say I am a jack of all trades of nerdery.

I am seriously looking forward to this project kicking off and taking shape. I look forward to interacting with all of you and to being allowed to be a fan again. I have spent so long buried in the behind the scenes of the Fandom convention world that I started to lose sight of what it meant to be a fan. Now, I get to be a fan again. I look forward to sharing it with all of you and from learning a bit from all of you as well. There will likely be a bit of adjustment as we get in the flow but I look forward to your input and feedback.

Here’s to the future!
We are all Otaku, of one form or another (or many forms in my case. )
-DP