Jeff Smith

After nearly twenty years working in the field of high-tech computer graphics, special effects and consumer software, I have shifted gears and returned to academia, where I am currently in the process of finishing a doctorate in computer science. I live with my wife and four daughters in Saskatoon, where, in addition to pursuing my research, I am also a writer and a community volunteer. Whenever there's any time left over from that, I also dabble in a number of visual art forms and music composition. The rest of the time, I'm unconscious.

For those of you who are looking for my blog, it went dormant temporarily, while I focused on completing my thesis, getting my novel published, and caring for my infant daughter, but most of those issues are sliding off the front burner these days, so I've revived it here.

For those looking for my notes from the self-publishing workshop, you'll find them under the Talks section in the menu at the left, or by clicking here.

Most Recent Blog Post

What's in a Theme?

Aye, there's the rub. Blogging is all well and good, but you gots to have a theme. Scattered musings on the state of consumer culture, the deplorable lack of food in public restrooms, and your favorite trance-rap band just don't serve to generate a community of like-minded folk. And when you get right down to it, I think that might be the whole point of blogging - at least, for me. It almost has a angelic choral overtones to it, doesn't it?

A community of like-minded folk.

I even considered using that as the title of the blog, except that it sounds a bit like it's going to be some off-center political rant, and that isn't really my intent, so perhaps not a great choice.

What is my intent? There are several pieces of advice that come to mind here:

Go with what you know
Go with what you like
Pick something with depth that will allow you roam

And in my life, those all point to “creativity and software,” so that's what I'm going to focus on.

Now all I need is a title.

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