My name is Erin Thead, and I work for the Noxubee County Library System. (This is my own web site, though; they have nothing to do with the content or the hosting.) My undergraduate degree was in software engineering. My specializations are in web design: Java, PHP, HTML/CSS, and Perl are the languages in which I prefer to work. I am well-versed in object-oriented design and database work as well, and I make it a point to build information security into the design itself rather than add it on at the finish.

From 2006 to 2007, I worked in online marketing, database/web development, and administrative functions in the John Kerry for Senate political campaign. They also had (and have) nothing to do with the content that is on this website, including blog content. I was never an official blogger, and anything I have written here or on any blog on the Internet should be taken as my own opinions.

I will do website designs for small-scale sites. If you're interested, please send me an e-mail. I cannot consider large databases or high-content sites at present. If you would like to see some examples of my work, visit my software development page.

This site pretty well explains most of my interests and hobbies, but I'll reiterate them anyway because there are a few that aren't covered: art, writing, fantasy, sci-fi, the work of J. R. R. Tolkien, Shrek, Pixar movies, Jane Austen novels, astronomy, theoretical physics, cats, weather, gadgets, software development, Web development, politics, and election reform. Check out my links for sites that I like.

In 1997 and 1998, I took part in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee representing the newspaper The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, MS. I made the finals both years. Later, in 1999, the Mississippi Legislature passed a resolution acknowledging it (PDF).

PolitiCalypso.com is my blog site. This site, ErinThead.com, also reachable at ErinThead.net, is now my official personal site.

In case anyone cares, THIS is my one and only Facebook account. It is infrequently updated, but I feel that I should keep it in existence to prevent someone from setting up a page impersonating me. Evidently, this is becoming a problem. I don't like that website and strongly prefer my own, because I can customize this site as much as I like. I do not have a MySpace or other social networking site account, and any such page is either for a doppelganger or it is a fraud.