About
Ah yes, the standard colophon, “about us” page. Every web site has a story behind it. Some are more glamorous than others, while others could be turned in to Oscar-award winning dramas. So what is the story behind TechMiso?
Why do we write at TechMiso?
We write on TechMiso because we are a couple of passionate geeks who enjoy tech conversation, tech criticism, insightful tech commentary and acute analysis of the technology realm. Did we use “technology” enough in that statement?
Two of our early goals with TechMiso are (1), to provide pragmatic commentary on a gamut of tech issues and (2), to transcend typical tech conversation by providing helpful tools that can assist the citizens of the intarweb in making informed, intelligent tech decisions.
The web is chock full of so-called experts, pundits, evangelists and every other conceivable title known to mankind. The miso lovers here are TechMiso enjoy being in the conversation, offering firm, insightful commentary and analysis on an assortment of issues and topics which are in some capacity tied to the technology realm.
One part analysis. One part technology. Global. TechMiso.
Of course, we failed to mention the real reason we enjoy writing on TechMiso: you have got to do something while waiting for the hot, steaming bowl of miso soup to cool off enough to chug it down!
Why the name TechMiso?
We searched the shallow depths of our intellect, as well as the intarwebs far and wide for a name that is both applicable, fun and brand-able. It literally took us months before we agreed on the name TechMiso. Oddly enough, once we came up with the idea to use TechMiso, we both immediately fell in love with the name. Besides, the name TechMiso just plain rocks.
One of the reasons we chose the name TechMiso is because of our undying love for Miso soup. How could anyone not like Miso soup, especially a couple of guys who call Japan home? Miso soup is a staple of the Japanese diet! Throw in a little tofu, a little seaweed, and what you ultimately end up with is the breakfast of champions. Believe you me.
In addition to our Japanese food fetish, the use of the word “miso” can also be extracted as a play on “noumiso,” which is the Japanese word for brain. We posit the use of TechMiso can be interpreted as us TechMiso guys using our collective intelligence, or potentially more correctly worded with the preface of “lack thereof,” to provide you with quality tech writing. Not only mere quality tech writing but articles which are enjoyable to read on a multitude of levels.
About Rich
In IT for 20+ years, Rich brings a wide breadth of technical experience to TechMiso. His current position is Manager of IT at Pacific Stars and Stripes in Tokyo, Japan. He’s also seen Top Secret Tech Control days in the Air Force and has been part of defense contracting around the Pacific Rim. Splash in a few months with Lehman Brothers Japan [now defunct] and there you have his IT experience.
Through his time in IT, he’s become involved with areas of technology that range from Helpdesk to Tier 4 support, procurements and contract negotiations small, medium and large. His IT niche is analysis and problem solving. He also enjoys the clean up of company waste and abuse (especially in government).
About Scott
Over the course of the last eighteen years, Scott has been providing technology consultation to the United States government in one capacity or another. During the nineties, Scott performed a variety of telecommunications and network security services directly for the United States Navy as a rowdy, drunken, foul-mouthed sailor. In 1999, after honorably separating from the Navy, Scott stayed in Yokosuka, Japan to work for CSC on what has become known as ONE-NET, the overseas NMCI. Scott currently works as an Information Assurance Manager for the Department of the Navy.
You have got to admit, those are some of the most boring sounding jobs known to mankind! Certainly not as glamorous as most people assume.
So who is the real Scott Jarkoff? Will the real Scott Jarkoff stand up?
Scott is the guy who is addicted to the intarweb, has been working with computers since before he could talk and eats miso soup with dinner every day. He is the guy who advocates technological solutions to every day problems. Scott enjoys tinkering with new web-based applications, especially from web start-ups who are looking for feedback on their products. Oddly enough, Scott has even dabbled in the creation of large-scale web sites. The web and inter-connectivity is his passion.
One day Scott will own an Empire resembling the Death Star. Until then, he gets by living in a cardboard box near a park bench in downtown Tokyo, stealing free wifi from the McDonalds across the street.
