<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- $Id: about.xml 1803 2008-09-08 11:11:03Z lastcraft $ -->
<page title="About Last Craft" here="About">
    <long_title>About Last Craft</long_title>
    <content>
        <section name="me" title="People">
            <p>
                <img src="../images/marcus.jpg" />
                At the moment this site is maintained by myself,
                <a href="mailto:marcus@lastcraft.com">Marcus Baker</a>
                and I am an <a href="marcus_cv.html">Object Oriented web developer</a>
                and father of two.
                I am currently a freelancer working as a senior developer for
                <a href="http://www.wordtracker.com">Wordtracker</a>
                and as a consultant to various smaller companies.
                Wordtracker is an internet statistics company with a huge database
                of search engine keyword popularity.
                The company software development is eXtreme Programming based.
            </p>
            <p>
                My wife <a href="mailto:aviva@lastcraft.com">Aviva Racher</a> is a
                microbiologist and Mother of the same two.
            </p>
        </section>
        <section name="issues" title="Issues">
            <p>
                Read the interview <a
                href="http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/patents/2000/05/24/PizzoFiles.html">
                Who's really being protected?</a> on the
                O&#39;Reilly network if you have an interest in software patents.
            </p>
        </section>
        <section name="associations" title="Associations">
            <p>
                Besides working for Wordtracker, I also act as an independent
                consultant.
                Usually in relation to bringing agile development practices into an
                organisation.
                Clients include Waterscape and Amnesty International.
            </p>
            <p>
                I did a quick site for a graphic designer and illustrator friend of mine,
                <a href="http://www.dylanbeck.com/">Dylan Beck</a>.
                He has a very unique style.
            </p>
            <p>
                The <a href="om/">Ambassadors of Om</a> are a Jazz-Funk
                fusion (?) band with an internet presence going back over five
                years. Site includes samples, videos and links. The band is
                managed by guitarist and lead singer <a
                href="mailto:wahg@cwcom.net">Paul&#160;Grimes</a> who is a friend of ours.
            </p>
            <p>
                <a href="mailto:mark@leisurepursuits.demon.co.uk">
                Mark&#160;Eichner</a> is Aviva&#39;s uncle and run&#39;s the
                <a href="http://www.leisurepursuits.demon.co.uk">
                Leisure&#160;Pursuits</a>
                off-road driving school. Lots of wheels and mud!
            </p>
        </section>
    </content>
    <internal>
        <link>
            <a href="#me">Last Craft people</a>
            Myself and friends and relations.
        </link>
        <link>
            <a href="#issues">Issues</a> that I care about.
        </link>
        <link>
            <a href="#associations">Associated companies</a>
            and people.
        </link>
    </internal>

    <external>
        <link>
            <a href="http://www.xpdeveloper.com/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi?MarcuS">Extreme Tuesday</a>
            Club is an informal meeting in London to promote
            <a href="http://www.extremeprogramming.org/">Extreme programming</a>.
        </link>
        <link>
            <a href="http://www.phplondon.org/">PHPLondon</a>
            is a user group that meets the first thursday of every month.
        </link>
        <link>
            <a href="http://www.wordtracker.com">Wordtracker</a>
            crunches internet search data for web marketing.
        </link>
    </external>
    <meta>
        <keywords>
            software development,
            computer programmer,
            php programming,
            programming php,
            software development company,
            software development uk,
            php tutorial,
            bespoke software development uk,
            corporate web development,
            architecture,
            freelancer,
            php resources,
            wordtracker,
            web marketing,
            serach engines,
            web positioning,
            internet marketing
        </keywords>
    </meta>
</page>