Welcome to my world!

Yours Truly

Hi! Thanks for dropping in on the world of Rick Dicks. (Yes, that's really my name.) Feel free to write to me about anything you see on this page. Criticisms are especially welcome, as they help me improve my site.



About Me

A systems architect for a large consulting firm by day, an avid golfer on the weekends. In between I enjoy cycling and rollerblading. I think salsa is one of the basic food groups - the hotter the better. I spent many years as a database administrator on some of the largest databases in the world (at that time), and I am still a member of (and webmaster for) the Dallas-Fort Worth DB2 Forum.

My Other Hobby -
The Hailstone Problem

There is a fascinating and unsolved mathematical problem known as the Hailstone problem (aka 3x+1, aka "a *&^& waste of time", and several other names). I've been working on it for over 20 years now. Why? Just to see if I can solve it, I guess. There's no known useful application if it is solved, no fame or fortune awaiting - just the challenge of doing something that's never been done. In future versions of this page, I hope to share some of my discoveries about this topic, but for you Hailstoners out there (and there are many of us), feel free to write with thoughts, questions, or just to relieve the frustration.
For an explanation of the Hailstone Problem, and an online hailstone calculator, click here.

Golf -
The Final Frontier

As if trying to solve a useless, probably unsolvable problem isn't enough challenge, I had to take up a sport like golf. I play several courses around the Dallas, Texas area. One of my current favorites is Stewart's Peninsula in The Colony, Texas. It's a links-style 9-hole course on the edge of Lake Lewisville. Although the course is short, it can be very challenging on a breezy day. Shot placement is critical here.

More of my world

The DFW DB2 User Forum
My Golf Buddies - Our Farewell Salute
My Golf Buddies - Reunion Tour 2000
A Pictorial Visit to Seaworld
A site I created to help my scattered family keep in touch
My friend Dick Walker's site - a world-class fiddle player

e-mail: rickdicks@rickdicks.com or you can page my cell phone.