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The first version of Aquarionics Dot Com went up on the 27th December 1999. It was built in hand-written HTML, had an “innovative” navigation system that included javascript files so I only had to update them in one place (and was, thus, entirely not navigatable by search engines) and wasn’t really very good. It was basically a reupload of my existing site from my free hosting.

One of the pages that still works from that era is the Codes page. Back in the usenet era, it was common to have incomprehensible “code blocks” that described your personality problems to four decimal places, and I collected loads of them, put them in a Marquee tag for reasons best understood by my 18 y/o self, and uploaded them black onto a dark cyan background, thus: The 1999 Codes Page.

Every two years since, I’ve updated my “Geek Code”. The Geek Code itself hasn’t been updated since 1996, so basically this is an archive of what geeks twenty three years ago – and counting – thought was important enough to be your biography. The original geek code site by Robert A. Hayden has long since gone to the great availability zone in the sky, but nothing ever leaves the internet really, so it’s archived at Geekcode.xyz too.

So, as is traditional, the updated geekcode:

GCM$/GAT d--/d+ s+:+ a C++++ UL++++ P+ L+$ E-- W++++ N U+ K w O-- M+++ V- PS+++ PE- Y+ PGP++ t+ 5+ X R++ tv b+ DI-- D+ G+ e++/* h--- r++ z?

And you can see it alongside all the updates of the last 20 fucking years.

The main things I notice in the above is a continual reevaluation of what I actually *do*, a gradual shift further left politically, and the gradual decline into fury and then apathy of my opinion of Dilbert.

However, for the first time, what that actually means, officially decoded:

Geek: GCM$/GAT

I’m a geek of Computer Management (I get paid for this).

I am a a geek of All Trades.

Dress: d–/d+

My t-shirts go a step further and have a trendy political message on them.
… and …
Good leisure-wear. Slacks, button-shirt, etc. No jeans, tennis shoes, or t-shirts.

Shape: s+:+

I’m a little taller than most.
I’m a little rounder than most.

Age: a

I’m between 30 and 39.

Computers: C++++

I’ll be the first in line to get the new cybernetic interface installed into my skull.

Unix: U+

I not only have a Unix account, but I slam VMS any chance get.

Unix Linux UL++++

I am the sysadmin. If you try and crack my machine, don’t be surprised if the municipal works department gets an “accidental” computer-generated order to start a new landfill on your front lawn or your quota is reduced to 4K.

Perl: P+

I know of perl. I like perl. I just haven’t learned much perl, but it’s on my agenda.

Linux: L+$

I’ve managed to get Linux installed and even used it a few times. It seems like it is just another OS.

I’m making money at this.

Emacs: E–

Emacs is just a fancy word processor.

Web: W++++

Three pluses is “ I am a WebMaster. Don’t even think about trying to view my homepage without the latest version of Netscape. When I’m not on my normal net connection, I surf the web using my Newton and a cellular modem. ” This is one stage beyond that.

Usenet: N

Usenet News? Sure, I read that once.

Kibo: K

I know who Kibo is.

Windows: w

Ok, so I use MS Windows. I don’t have to like it.

OS/2: O–

I can’t even get the thing to install!

Macintosh: M++

I am a Mac guru. Anything those DOS putzes and Unix nerds can do, I can do better, and if not, I’ll write the damn software to do it.

VMS: V-

Unix is much better than VMS for my computing needs.

Politics-Social: PS+++

Legalize drugs! Abolish the government. “Fuck the draft!”

Politics-Economic: PE-

It’s ok to increase government spending, so we can help more poor people. Tax the rich! Cut the defense budget!

Cypherpunks: Y+

I have an interest and concern in privacy issues, but in reality I am not really all that active or vocal.

PGP: PGP++

I have the most recent version and use it regularly

Trek: t+

It’s a damn fine TV show and is one of the only things good on television any more.

Babylon 5: 5+

Babylon 5 certainly presents a fresh perspective in the Sci-Fi universe. I watch it weekly.

X-Files: X

Ho hum. Just another Fox show.

Roleplaying: R++

There is no life outside the role of the die. I know all the piddly rules of (chosen game). MY own warped rules scare the rest of the players.

Television: tv

I watch only the shows that are actually worth while, such as those found on PBS.

Books: b+

I enjoy reading, but don’t get the time very often.

Dilbert: DI–

Don’t read it, but I think the dog is kinda cute.

DOOM!: D+

It’s a fun, action game that is a nice diversion on a lazy afternoon.

Geek Code: G+

I was once G++ (or higher), but the new versions are getting too long and too complicated.

Education: e++/*

Got a bachelors degree
… and …
I learned everything there is to know about life from the “Hitchhiker’s Trilogy”.

Housing: h—

Married, (persons living romanticly with someone might as well label themselves h—, you’re as good as there already.)

Relationships: r++

I’ve dated my current SO for a long time.

Sex[?]: z?

It’s none of your business what my sex life is like.

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