I am Mike Jackson
I was born in St. Paul, MN in 1965. My parents later moved to Eagan, MN,
and I graduated from Burnsville High School in 1983.
I became interested in computers at about age 10. My favorite place to hang
out was the local electronics / TV repair shop, where the owner had a Victor
computer (This was one of the early S-100 bus microcomputers). When I got
into Junor High School, I was able to access and use a new Control Data
Mainframe run by the Minnesota Educational Computer Consortium (MECC).
The MECC system is where I first really learned computer programming using
BASIC and later PASCAL, and COMPASS (COMPASS is the assembly language for
the CDC Cyber 73/74/75/76 system that MECC used). For me the MECC system
seemed like a fore-runner to much of how the Internet is today, but not as
global. The MECC system had things like interactive chat (XTALK) and
interactive games (COMBAT).
I got my first computer when I was 16. It was a shiney new Apple II. I
proceeded to immediately learn 6502 Assembly language. I wrote several
games for the Apple. I purchased a mouse for my Apple when they first came
out, and still have the Apple to this day mouse, 80 column card, and all. I
regret not getting a serial card and a modem back in the early 1980's, as I
would have been on-line a little sooner.
As I was very interested in both computers and electronics, when I graduated
from High School, I joined the U.S. Navy and became a Sonar Technician. In
the Navy, I was able to stay around computers and electronics. My first
post-training assignment was to the USS Alabama (SSBN-731). I bought a
laptop 8088 system that I could keep on the ship this is where I started
teaching myself C.
I ended up being on the USS Alabama for 5 years, and by the time I left, I was a
Sonar Supervisor. I went to Trident Training Facility, Bangor as an
Instructor and later became the Sonar Division's cirriculum developer.
While on shore duty, I purchased a new 386/33 computer (which was a lot of
computer in 1988), I also had a 9600 baud modem, and immediately became
involved in my local BBS. It wasn't long before I was hosting conferences
on the BBS, and eventually worked my way up to one of the Assistant Sysop's.
The BBS was TSCNet, which at time was called "The Sports Complex". The
reason for this name was the Al Charpentier used to post sports scores on
the system, and many of the users were sports enthusists. When the BBS got
it's first 386 computer, we started using the name "The Sports Complex 386"
or "TSC386" for short.
As DOS is limited by the number of Interrupts and base addresses that can be
used for serial ports (and multiport cards were rare and expensive at the
time) the single 386 quickly grew into a network of computers. At that time
we re-labled the BBS "The Sports Complex Network" or "TSCNet".
By 1993 there were 9 modem lines (The largest in Kitsap County). We decided
to move the BBS out of Al Charpientier's house and turn it into a business.
In 1993 and 1994 TSCNet was a top 100 BBS in the Boardwatch Magazine
Readers's choice awards.
In 1993 TSCNet was the first to offer Internet E-Mail and USENET access in
Kitsap County.
By 1995, we were offering Dial-in Internet (PPP) connections using Linux.
The majority of our business today comes from dial in PPP and Web server
accounts. We also offer network connectivity such as Frame Relay to the
Kitsap County Area.
By 1997 we started expanding beyond the Kitsap County area, and now provide
Dial-up K56Flex Internet service to Eastern Jefferson County (Port Townsend,
Port Ludlow, etc) and to King County (Seattle, etc..).
I wear quite a few hats here at TSCNet:
What else do I do? In addition to staffing the TSCNet Office and answering questions, I teach
classes on Un*x and TCP/IP networking, and do network and Internet consulting.
I wrote and maintain the Linux Shadow Password
HOWTO Version 1.3 (as my personal contribution to the Linux Documentation Project).