Yahoo! Answers

Hey Community Members!

It’s been a long time overdue, but we’d like to finally announce our next Featured User of the Month. Let’s congratulate Rob Nock! He’s been with Answers since May 2007.

In Rob’s Own Words…

“My wife and I live in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, USA along with our son Eric and his dachshund, Thor.  We relocated to this area nearly twenty-five years ago so that my wife, who is an optometrist, could take over the private practice of an eye doctor who intended to retire.”

“Bloomsburg (population approximately 12,000, not counting the student population) is the county seat of Columbia County, Pennsylvania, and home to Bloomsburg University. The University is now the largest employer in the town and a major economic force in the area.”

Bloomsburg Town Square

“[Bloomsburg] is also home to the largest annual fair in the state. It is used throughout the year for a variety of events – antique car shows, horse shows, trade shows and competitions to name a few.  The main, week long event, held each fall in late September ~ early October is The Bloomsburg Fair.  Daily attendance is often in excess of 100,000 persons.”

The 2010 Bloomsburg Fair

Rob’s Past

“I grew up in what was then a rural area of Pennsylvania about 35 miles outside of Philadelphia during the post World War II era, an early member of the “baby boom”.  When I graduated from high school in 1965 I enlisted in the U.S. Army and spent the next four years training for a highly classified Military Intelligence position and then serving outside the United States.  It was at this time that I began pursuing my lifelong interest in photography.  As a result of my photographic skills, security clearance and posting in an area near the German-Czech border I was asked to photograph classified response efforts of the Soviet incursion in Czechoslovakia in the Summer of 1968.”

Rob's Victorian Home & Wife's Optometry Practice

“After leaving the military service in 1969, I settled with my (now ex) wife and our young son in my home town.  I began working as a camera salesman for a specialty retail chain.  An unfortunate accident took the life of our son in 1972 and our marriage never recovered from the loss, in 1974 my ex moved to California and eventually divorced me.”

“In January of 1980 I began working as a computer programmer and, after a few bumps, began to advance in my career as a programmer analyst.  In 1986 I met an optometry student named Betsy and in November of 1987 we were married.”

“In the early ’90s I became a self employed programmer analyst taking contracts with various companies.  I continued that business until 2001 when Betsy and I adopted our son.”

Eric & Thor

“In 2006, I was diagnosed with cancer and began chemo-therapy but an associate from my contracting days helped me land a position that allowed me to work from home most of the time and by the time I finished chemo therapy and the contract was expiring I was hired for another contract as a tech support specialist working from home.”

“From 2008 onwards technology jobs became more difficult to find, so when I became eligible for Social Security retirement benefits I applied and since that time have been devoting my time to photography in the hopes of running a Photography Studio as a retirement business.”

Meet Rob!

Rob & Answers

“I do not remember the exact specifics of hearing about Y! Answers but I remember being aware of it before I started participating.  I believe I heard about it from one or two of the Yahoo camera/photography groups that I was active with.”

“I believe my first answer was this question about chemical photography vs: digital photography”

What about chemical photography?

“My favorite categories have to do with cameras and photography but I also like to answer questions about computer hardware and software, politics, U.S. History (especially the Civil War and 20th Century/WW II), movies, and relationships.  I will also answer questions in word games, art, music or other categories if I see a question that piques my interest and I feel qualified to answer.”

“I prefer to give a few high quality answers, particularly when I see answers to a question that give incomplete, misleading or inaccurate explanations. If I disagree with someone or they disagree with me I hope to respond in a pleasant and respectful manner.  If I am treated disrespectfully I tend to have pretty thick skin and will give people the benefit of the doubt that they are either having a “bad hair day” or have misunderstood a concept or point.”

Rob’s Free Time

“Besides working on Y! Answers I am starting my business as a semi-pro photographer.  I also maintain the household, serve as the family cook, teach Sunday School and volunteer for various community services such as: Red Cross Meal On Wheels every 7~9 weeks; volunteer at a unique local service organization called “Agape” where I work most Thursdays as a volunteer chef/food coordinator serving a community meal. I also serve as a Cub Scout volunteer leader (and soon to be Boy Scout leader) for one of the local Pack/Troops and a volunteer counselor at Cub/Boy Scout Summer Camps; and do numerous activities for our local Episcopal church congregation.”

Thanks for reading,

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