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David S. Cargo's (escargo's) Home Page

New and somewhat improved!

David S. Cargo’s (escargo’s) Home Page

Welcome to escargo’s home page, that is, the home page of David S. Cargo. After some time of neglect, I decided to use a new format and some revised content here. Perhaps you found this page while using Google to look up information in the course of a hiring decision.

I hope you find the information of use, in a positive way.

Currently, I use Skypoint for connecting to the internet through a high-speed DSL connection through CenturyLink.

A Short Bio

David Cargos and Cargos in Minnesota

According to the listings provided by Switchboard there are 17 people named “David Cargo” in the U.S., but I am the only “David S. Cargo”. Additionally, I’m the only David Cargo living in Minnesota. I used to be the only Cargo living in Minnesota, but two distant relatives moved to Warroad, Minnesota.

Born and Raised in Washington

I was born in Washington state on May 3, 1951. During my early years I lived on the Olympic Penninsula.

I lived in Port Angeles and Port Townsend on the Olympic Penninsula.

I graduated from Port Townsend High School in 1969.

(My mother lived in Sequim, which gets a mention in Dan Youra’s Official Olympic Penninsula Guide.)

Education

I graduated with a degree in Mathematics from the University of Washington in 1974. (Sometimes you can see Mount Rainier in the U of W homepage, if the weather is clear.)

I worked for the Division of Cardiology at the University of Washington School of Medicine starting as a computer operator and later as a systems programmer to earn money for school. I was eventually a full-time staff programmer, but since this was before I graduated, I usually skip this on my resume. (This work was under Dr. Robert A. Bruce who is known as the “father of exercise cardiology”.)

I was admitted to the department of Computer Sciences at the U of W in the fall of 1974, and attended one quarter’s classes there.

Relocated to Minnesota

I moved from Seattle to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1975. (Another link for Seattle, Seattle-Area Info. For my personal list of favorites for Seattle, click here.)

I have more lately thought that I must have moved to Minnesota just in time to avoid going to work for Microsoft in its early years.

Further Education

I have taken classes from the University of Minnesota in a variety of subjects: Computer Science, History, Classics, Geography.

I almost have earned the equivalent to an undergraduate degree in Medieval History. (This obviously has little to nothing to do with either mathematics or computer programming, but I do find it interesting. There’s lots of stuff on related to Medieval History on the Web, like the Bayeux Tapestry.)

I have taken Computer Science classes at the U of M (some classes even 20 years apart). I completed a CSCI 5110: User Interface Design, Implementation, and Evaluation. Our team project earned us an A grade.

Ever since I have been interested in user-centered design and usability testing. Computer programs are tools, and if they are hard to use, then they lose some or all of their benefits.

I have also taken a Java class at Saint Paul Technical College (now Saint Paul College).

This was before I went on to help write a book about Java programming (Professional Java Custom UI Components).

As part of work, I’ve taken classes in a variety of technical subjects, such as project management, Fibre Channel networking, and storage management on Xiotech systems.

In 2012, I completed a Health IT Certificate program at Normandale Community College.