About

jdhodges.com covers a range of topics, from computer help to news about off-the-grid living. This site is a blog, but strives to keep posts concise and informative.

Last updated Jan 19th, 2014

About the Author

J.D. has been a tech enthusiast since his dad let him play with computers in the early 80s. It all began with an Apple II. Then quickly to Intel based computers utilizing the 286, 386, 486, and beyond :-).  Currently he uses a Dell Latitude E5530 as his work laptop. You can also checkout a partial history of J.D.’s computers.

He started building websites in high school after learning HTML from a series of magazine articles. During college, when blogs were a new concept, he started Weblogs.us and offered full-featured free blog hosting. During that time he also taught himself to code in ASP, the first of many programming languages.  Since then he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems (CIS) from Drury University. Finally, his formal education was completed with a Juris Doctor from the University of Tulsa College of Law.

He is now a member of the Missouri Bar. Weblogs.us continues to provide free blogging services to this day and the skills learned there have generated myriad other business endeavors.

Beyond work, J.D., his wonderful wife, their beautiful daughter, and their wonderful son all live off-the-grid on an inholding of the Mark Twain National Forest:

Recent family photos

Our 2014 Christmas photo, taken at the farm by my wonderful wife Samantha

Our 2014 Christmas photo, taken at the farm by my wonderful wife

My family at an early 4th of July party, June 29th 2013

Early 4th of July party, June 29th 2013. Photo taken by my dad.

Where we live

View from our front yard, photo courtesy of Caitlin Lee

For the past 22 years my family has lived off the grid. No powerlines, no phone lines and no strings attached 🙂 Renewable energy is a passion and a part of life for the Hodges family. When we are ‘in the big city’ for school, work or play we endeavor to be eco friendly there as well.

These topics and many more form the basis of jdhodges.com and J.D. hopes you find something useful and enjoyable for you within these pages 🙂

Older family photos archive

Christmas 2011 family portrait, photo courtesy of Caitlin Lee

Photo of Samantha and me at the farm. This is right around the end of her first trimester.

Photo of Samantha and me at the farm in early 2010. This is right around the end of her first trimester.