al's brief bio

My life's path has thus far taken me through three careers: first as a professional archaeologist (my master's thesis, Prehistoric Fishweirs in Eastern North America, is online), then as a computer repair technician, and currently as a radio electronics technician in an EMI (electromagnetic interference) lab.

Outside of my career, i devote a fair amount of time to being an active musician; i currently play with the Cornell University Klezmer Ensemble, Mitzfits (Klezmer ensembles), and Musica Universalis (an early/acoustic ensemble). My primary instruments are clarinet, guitar, and Irish whistles. In addition to being an amateur ethnomusicologist, I play a bit of Turkish saz, and studied classical Indian sitar for two years.

allen's careers


1985-1999 - archaeologist
2000-2006 - computer repair tech

2006-present - electromagnetic interference tech

I am `40-something' and living with my wife Marie & our cat Zena in Johnson City (near Binghamton), New York in the northern Appalachian region. In addition to playing music together in Musica Universalis, we are both on the Organizing Committee for the Cranberry Coffeehouse (a local folk music venue). We are also avid stereo photographers, and occasionally engage in GeoCaching.

My hobbies include electronics and radio-frequency monitoring; i am a licensed amateur radio operator, and President of the Binghamton Amateur Radio Association...i also spend a lot of time outdoors hiking, backpacking, and foraging for wild plants and mushrooms.

If you'd like to know anything more, and my home page (or any of its auxiliary links) fails to elucidate it, please write!

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last updated 21 March 2009