Author has written 4 stories for Family, Sci-Fi, and General.

I bet you accidentally stumbled on this page. Let me introduce you to myself:

The basics are thus: My real name is Ted C. Quijano. I'm 21. A Pre-Med (Biology Major, two specialties in Developmental Genetics and Neurobiology & Behavior), I attend Stony Brook University(SUNY-Stony Brook), which is 60 miles east of my home town, New York City. Yep, I live in the Big Apple. I hold TWO jobs aside from my studies. I am an instructor for SAT/PSAT/SciHi (you in NYC should know what the SciHi is) for Kaplan Test Prep Co. and am currently teaching two classes. The other job is a research volunteer for a lab in Stony Brook focusing on developmental neurobiology (i.e. how we get a brain and nervous system). Suprisingly, I can balance all of this with a life, a girlfriend, church and family, and writing. I dare say I'm my own Renaissance man. =)

Some of you might ask: Ted, so I know what you are, but *who* are you?? I'm a definately laid-back, good-hearted kind of guy who's been in love with the world of science (biology, especially) since I was 4 feet tall. I got two nicknames and my lifestyle reflects the dichotomy between the informal, fun-loving TJ who has a crazy personality, pretty much done every idiotic thing he's concieved about, has broken every major lab rule in exsistence, and can definately hold his own liquor (inquiries will be answered) vs. Ted, the austere, formal, quiet studying type who prefers to read and write for fun and babble on about stem cells, Notch-Delta signaling in brain development, etc...

My works are pretty much "realistic" and I strive to keep it that way. My stories tend to stray as far away as possible from the worlds of anime and manga that writing something else is more original... Thus the realism. I'm a huge fan of the military so expect some heavy military influence in "The Defection Gambit."

My heiarchy of career choices:

Neurologist (M.D) --(if that fails)--> Developmental Neurobiologist, academia (Ph.D.) --(i.t.f)--> Developmental Neurobiologist, industry (Ph.D. or M.S.) --(i.t.f)--> H.S. Teacher, certification in Biology Education --(i.t.f)--> Grand Poohbah of the World.

The various pieces of Sci-Fi I love:

Star Wars (Ep. IV-VI), Babylon 5, Stargate: SG-1, Space: Above and Beyond, The Wing Commander series of games, Devid Weber's "Honor Harrington" series. The BattleTech universe from FASA Games, the Jovian Chronicles & Heavy Gear games from DP9 Games.

Mantras and Thoughts:

"It dosen't matter if there's a heaven or hell. Either way, you can't help the world in both of those places."
"I trust someone who can admit to being be wrong on occasion more than someone who says he/she's always right."
"If I could make life better for someone, anyone, around me then I can die in peace."
"Life is Perception. Perception is Life. If you believe the world is crap, then it probably will be for you."
"Teachers are the unsung heroes of America."
"Human beings are unique as a species due to two main things: the ability to throw expertly (look at pitchers) and becuase we're the only species that helps those unrelated to us."
"It's funny advances in world togetherness, the modern notion of democracy and then then world confederation, comes in the heels of advances in weaponry such as Personal Firearms and the A-Bomb respectively. Interesting...."
"Funny. War is, quite ironically, the most visible and greatest form of cooperation the human race has seen."

Here's some great quotes:

Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore? - Henry Ward Beecher (1813 - 1887)

The most important scientific revolutions all include, as their only common feature, the dethronement of human arrogance from one pedestal after another of previous convictions about our centrality in the cosmos. - Stephen Jay Gould (1941 - 2002)

With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion. - Steven Weinberg (1933 - ), quoted in The New York Times, April 20, 1999

You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. - Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948)

"... there are many reasons why you might not understand [an explanation of a scientific theory] ... Finally, there is this possibility: after I tell you something, you just can't believe it. You can't accept it. You don't like it. A little screen comes down and you don't listen anymore. I'm going to describe to you how Nature is - and if you don't like it, that's going to get in the way of your understanding it. It's a problem that [scientists] have learned to deal with: They've learned to realize that whether they like a theory or they don't like a theory is not the essential question. Rather, it is whether or not the theory gives predictions that agree with experiment. It is not a question of whether a theory is philosophically delightful, or easy to understand, or perfectly reasonable from the point of view of common sense. [A scientific theory] describes Nature as absurd from the point of view of common sense. And it agrees fully with experiment. So I hope you can accept Nature as She is - absurd.

I'm going to have fun telling you about this absurdity, because I find it delightful. Please don't turn yourself off because you can't believe Nature is so strange. Just hear me all out, and I hope you'll be as delighted as I am when we're through. "

- Richard P. Feynman (1918-1988),
from the introductory lecture on quantum mechanics reproduced in QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter (Feynman 1985).

Other noteworthy news:

A proud member of:
We_Ownz_It. The yahoo group for everyone & anyone against
the stealing, copying, or reproducing of original fiction
without permission. Feel free to join.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/we_ownz_it/

For anyone interested in the military/special operations:
http://specialoperations.com/
http://www.globalsecurity.org/

Now for my Oscar Speech:

I'd like to thank Mom and Dad for having me.
I'd like to thank David Weber for the Honor Harrington series
I'd like to thank Andy McNab for being an accomplished writer of the the Nick Stone series. Great that you've been able to tie your former like as the most decorated SAS-operative ever into pen and paper.
I'd also like to thank two particular writers, Mbwun and Deathworm, here on FictionPress for inspiring me to write. Reading your stuff kindled a new-found literary fire in me.
And I'd like to thank God and Sci-Fi in general for givng me the idea for "The Defection Gambit"
Lastly, I'd like to thank Jen: my beautiful, supportive, loving, caring, wity, intelligent girlfriend. I dunno where I would be without you!

And thanks for the people who have read my stuff and reviewed it. Your criticisms and priase push me on.