In 1982, when I was only seven years old, my mother scrounged together what extra money she had and surprised me with my first and only computer I would own until I was old enough to buy my own as an adult. Now, my new “computer” was not the new Commodore 64s that was sweeping the country at the time. You see, my mother didn’t have Commodore 64 money. Til this day I still don’t know the name and model of the device she brought home to me. In fact I’m not sure it would qualify as a computer by today’s standards.
In fact, my first “computer” didn’t even have a monitor. It more resembled a keyboard with a cable and adapter that attached to the back of our living room television. My television served as its monitor. My new “computer” also came with a work book that had three documented programs inside. The first program was approximately twenty lines long and when executed it plotted a series of pixels on the television screen, that when finished illustrated a lone highway road. The second program, this one approximately 40 lines long, executed a single lightning strike from the top of the television’s all black screen. This program was different from the first as this one included an audio sound of a thunder clap to compliment the lighting strike.
Then finally the third program, this one the longest of the three at approximately fifty lines long prompted me to enter my name or anyone’s name. Then when executed whatever name the user entered at the dos prompt the program then printed on the screen in bright bold blocked letters “Tarik Moore is a flashy person!” And the word “flashy” flashed repeatedly on the screen. It was at that moment I knew what I wanted to do for a living.
Whenever I was at school or visiting family and they’d ask what I wanted to be when I grew up my friends and classroom peers ran off the usual Firefighter, Policeman, Football or Basketball player. My response, a Computer Programmer, always instigated a double take. Funny thing was, I had no idea what a Computer Programmer actually did. It was just the only job I’d heard of at that age with the word computer in it. Plus, all I knew was I could sit in front of that living room television punching those keys one index finger at a time and would lose hours from my days and I never once complained.
Fast forward, twenty four years later, after earning my Bachelors of Science degree in Information Science & Systems from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. After working two years for two different employers I ran into one of my fraternity brothers of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. After he learned of my profession he suggested I apply for a job he was actively recruiting for. Two weeks later I was hired as an I.T. consultant at Accenture and the first project they assigned me to was in Leeds, England. Although, I had traveled extensively in my own country, my first I.T. consulting project would be the catalyst of my first trip outside of America. In fact, until that moment I didn’t even have a passport.
I would spend the next ten months in the United Kingdom. During those early summer months I traveled to London, City of Bath, Stonehenge, Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Stockholm twice. Then harsh European winters hit and my traveling outside of my host city of Leeds receded. But with the winter came my birthday, December 5th, and along with it a birthday present from Hollywood. The Blade III trilogy was coming to a end and I was a big fan of the first two installments. So, on a Saturday afternoon, I bundled up and walked from my flat to the local Cinema to witness how New Line Cinema was wrap up the Blade Trilogy.
You see, I was raised as an only child so when I wasn’t punching the keys of my “computer” or playing sports, I watched movies. All of them! Comedies, Dramas, Suspense, Horror (s/o to Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, and the Omen). I even watched a few musicals because the scores were so catchy (s/o to Little Shop of Horrors). If I hadn’t become a computer geek I’m sure I would have pursued a career in Cinema.
Now, back to Blade III. Halfway through the movie I walked out of the theatre disappointed. It was like the producers didn’t even try to make a good movie. Part had me hooked, part two was even better, so I was salivating waiting for part three but it had let me down. So, while walking back to my flat, thoroughly disgusted that the producers thought that was the proper ceremonious send off for the Blade character I impulsively said to myself, “I could have written a better story than that.” And that’s when the light bulb went off. A month later I had completed my first very very rough draft of “The End Justifies the Means” by. T.H. Moore. Now, fifteen years and two more books “The Devil’s Whisper” and “I AM…” by T.H. Moore later I’m thankful to the producers of Blade III. If not for them who knows if I would have placed pen to paper and shared the stories my active imagination created. Thanks Wesley Snipes! I owe you a drink.