User:Randolf Richardson
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[edit] Introduction
I'm Randolf Richardson. My interests include Chinese culture (specifically Traditional Chinese Medicine, Martial Arts, and Table Tennis), Computer programming (specifically Psychology applied to MMORPG creation, work with large Databases, Assembly language programming, and the Java programming language), and most of all the beautiful forests and rivers here in British Columbia.
Another interest is reading, in general. I've read a variety of topics, mostly in books, but also in other formats available on the internet (including a good portion provided by the Canadian Government). The topics range from fantasy works such as Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings to various business management, psychology, philosophy, computer programming, and scientific subjects.
[edit] Society
In Canada, especially here in British Columbia, a diverse mix of cultures exists, which I believe is one of the greatest things about my country. Cultural diversity is really a strength in a society because everyone gets many opportunities to learn about the world through a variety of perspectives, all from the convenience of home. But the most important aspect of cultural diversity is the exposure to different cultures, which is beneficial to anyone dealing with people in general.
I also take an active role in protecting my local community by reporting safety hazards (e.g., malfunctioning railroad crossings, erratic and drunk drivers, spammers, &c) to the appropriate authorities, try to assist those who call for help, and provide tips to tourists about nice things to see around town. I also proactively discourage illegal [in Canada] and unethical activities such as MLM/Pyramid schemes, ignoring those who ask for help, cheating on taxes, &c, not voting in elections, and much more.
I often encourage people I know to do these things because I firmly believe that everyone has a responsibility to protect (and also improve) the freedoms that our ancestors worked so hard for.
[edit] Books
As time permits, I shall list more of my favourite books along with information about why I consider them to be good reading material.
[edit] Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
These books are excellent for children of all ages because they focus on how a variety of characters work together to overcome their problems in adition to being heors who save the world from the forces evil. I enjoyed the entire series, and recommend reading them in the order they were published because the storyline will be easier to understand.
Unlike most stories typical of current times, the characters in Harry Potter's world remain consistent in their roles instead of "turning over a new leaf so that everyone can live happily ever after." These particular character traits, which mirror reality, give the entire story more authenticity, which provides especially important perspective to children that will be useful to them later in life.
As a parent, I also like the way in which children are portrayed as behaving respectfully, not only to one another but also to adults whether in a position of authority or not. By reading these books and learning about the characters, children also observe an important attitude of being considerate to both loved ones and strangers, while also getting a sense of the potential dangers of being too trusting of the wrong people.
[edit] Lord of the Rings, The by J. R. R. Tolkien
A very well-written set of six books that, along with excellent dialogue and fantastic descriptions of nature, take the reader simultaneously through the heroic journeys of a few characters that stray onto different paths throughout most of the story. These books, which some people mistakenly refer to as a "trilogy," should also be read in the order they were published.
There is a keen focus on friendship, and Frodo, a Hobbit who journeys with his faithful friend Sam throughout the entire story, is charged with carrying the most powerful ring to the lands of the enemy where it can be destroyed. The ring proves, however, to be an incredible burden, and the story demonstrates how the friendship between Frodo and Sam barely overcomes its evil influence.
Many other obstacles along the way, along with a wide variety of characters who only appear once or twice throughout the whole story, make things more realistic. The descriptions of the environment are detailed enough to give the reader a general sense of what the world looks like, and leaving plenty of room for the imagination to fill in the rest of the picture. Unlike other stories, geographical maps are included that help give the reader a better idea of where each character is at, where they came from, and their destinations.
In particular, I really enjoyed reading about Tom Bombadil, who I believe is a Sage, but the author left out a lot of history for this and many other characters purposely as "mysteries" for the fans to debate (or perhaps there were plans to write additional short books for those who were interested?).
[edit] Contact information
Randolf Richardson - randolf@inter-corporate.com
Inter-Corporate Computer & Network Services, Inc.
Box #30138 - 8602 Granville Street
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
V6P 5A0
http://www.inter-corporate.com/
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