About

I started The Silicon Underground in October 1999. I'd just finished writing a book, Optimizing Windows for Games, Graphics and Multimedia (O'Reilly), and wanted an outlet to write about other things. I bounced around a few different hosts early on but by 2001, I was self hosting at dfarq.homeip.net, a solution that let me get by on my DSL line's ever-changing IP, while providing a reasonably short URL and being cost effective at the time.

I cover about six topics on a regular basis here: new technology, old/retro technology, nostalgia in general, computer security, DIY, and electric trains. By day I work as a security engineer, specializing in vulnerability management. I am CISSP and Security+ certified, in addition to being certified in various vulnerability scanners. I've worked in the computer or computer security field since 1994, working my way up from sales to computer technician to system administrator by 1997.

Outside of work, I am a competent DIYer. I rehabilitated a few homes in the St. Louis area in the aftermath of the 2008 mortgage crisis, learning how to do simple repairs and cost-effective upgrades in the process.

I've also been into electric trains since about 2003. My dad had a couple of Lionel trains as a kid and he set them up a few times when I was younger, but I didn't know a lot about them. I got the trains back out in 2003, built an 8x8 layout in my basement, and started accumulating more trains as time went on. Although Dad grew up with Lionel, I came to really like American Flyer and Marx trains.