About me

Hi, I'm Kaleb Coberly. I'm a cyber-crimefighter with imaginative ambitions and ambitious imaginations. I do some freelance editing as well. As for hobbies, let's just say I like to check out many things, and some things I check out for a while — a librarian's worst nightmare. Also, I think I'm punny — and dreamy, librarians.

Education and work

After a few years of finding my direction, I started an associate degree in computer programming because I like that you can build things to solve problems. Then, I found a sweet job at an Internet security firm, IID. So, I've decided to continue my education through my job and my self-directed projects and interests for now.

In another life, I was going to be an English/humanities teacher. That was sort of what my bachelor's degree from The Evergreen State College was geared toward. ("Language, mind, culture and education," 2008, with an extra year of master's pedagogy added for shits and giggles, I guess.) At the time, I wasn't emotionally prepared for that path. But, now I am gearing my educational and career paths to include more of my strengths.

That said, I try to integrate my past experience into my current life and vision for my future. For instance, as a community college newspaper copy editor, I mainly helped adolescents develop their writing practices, like a teacher. But, since I was their boss, I usually just pointed out stuff they needed to figure out and told them to use a little Google-Fu or find another job, then I got back to programming. JK! ... sort of. Also, I want to create a type of artificial intelligence that will create the wealth for me to be an extreme philanthropist (e.g. skydiving for hunger) with a home in every hemisphere ... or, I want to at least write a story in which someone does that.

As for freelance work, I did some basic copy editing of a textbook about a programming language designed for algorithmic Forex trading, MQL4. (As of now, they have not published my edited version. I did a few docs for the same company on the MQL5 site too.) That project integrated nicely with my personal project of building an automated trader.

I have worked in food service off and on for over 15 years (with other menial jobs strewn in for good measure). Although there were parts of it I liked, I finally accepted that it was unsustainable for me; the income is unstable; the hours are odd and unreliable; I'm expendable; and, sometimes I felt like I was crushing the life out of my soul. (15 years of wisdom condensed: tip your server. Most of them already know whether they deserve it or not. Either way, you will be a blessing.)

So, having flipped a coin one day to decide whether to stay at my job as a cook, I gave my notice and swore never to do anything I didn't love. Now, I do what I find life in, even if there isn't much (or any) monetary gain, because I wasn't getting much for pimping myself out to the man either. I still got bills to pay, but either I can pay them or I can't, same as before. I consider it a major personal gain, and I think it makes me a little dangerous, if not only empowered.

Hobbies

I like to stay fit. It is pretty fascinating and satisfying to figure out what you can do with your body and then do it. I cycle through various degrees of fitness and various regimens. Right now I am practicing Pilates to prepare for my first marathon.

I also picked up a skill set as an umpire last year. But, that doesn't mean I know much about the fan side of sports. I don't really follow teams and stuff. I do enjoy watching a game, though! Anyway, I'm not umping this year, because I have too much on my plate. Maybe 2015?

Other very casual hobbies include learning to play the piano (as well as guitar, ukulele and harmonica — all very recently, except guitar), and photography (my newest interest).

As for writing poetry and prose, I wouldn't call that very casual nor very concentrated; it's more like an old friend I live with — like a casual spouse? Actually, Facebook status updates seem to be my main outlet for this type of expression these days. At least someone reads it there, right? (Thanks Mom.) (#CreepiestParagraphEver #ThinkAboutIt ... Don't worry, all you available librarians reading this, that was intentional humor.)

Also, I have been gradually developing a collection of sci-fi short stories. Maybe some of them will form a novel. But, that would require the ability to really develop a character or two, and that would require some depth of understanding of the humans.

And, Forex trading? Well, that is a long-range project that I have spent a few years on and dabble with when I have time — like a regular tryst?

I spend a lot of time plugging my ears with Pandora, listening to everything from Philip Glass to Hank Williams III, to Sufjan Stevens, to Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, to Wax Tailor, to Public Enemy, to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, to Igor Stravinsky, to Jackson 5... you feel me. Also, I really enjoy Radiolab, a podcast, and On Being, another podcast.

And, I like IPAs, red wines with the letters "z" and "h" and "noir," karaoke and rope swings, as tandem as possible (ATAP) ... so, random things in tandem — haps ATAP. Et fin.