BJ Chippindale is an engineer with degrees in Psychology, Mechanical Engineering, and Computer Science; he's programmed Real-Time, Embedded, Multi-Threaded instrument control systems at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (yes, it is an old hat). Now retired and living in Wellington, NZ, he has been politically Green for the past 30 years because NASA has no illusions about climate. Described as "tenacious" by his admirers and "mule-headed stubborn" by his mirror, he is the first Mahinist.