About SOL4
First, some history: When I created the sol4 domain in the early 2000s, I intended to use it to share information and other stuff with the internet in general.
Yes, some people would call this a plaything, but in recent iterations, it's fast becoming a blog, concentrating mainly on my wanderings around Southeast Asia, photography, and technology.
The most commonly asked question from the old days was, What does sol4 mean?
Put very simply, sol is another name for the sun, and the number 4 means the fourth planet; in other words, the 4th planet from the sun, "Mars."
And yes, I am one of the many supporters of the work Elon Musk and SpaceX are doing down in Boca Chica to put humans on the Moon and the Red Planet.
If you want to keep up to date on the happenings with Starship in Boca Chica, just like I do, check out the following well-established YouTube channels, which cover what's happening and, as far as I can tell, are not biased, fake, or have some agenda.
About Me
topI originally came from the UK, but have called Sydney home for several decades, and freely admit I am addicted to travel, having visited over 40 countries and lived in several. These days I try to take a few trips per year, usually sticking with Asia.
After working in the technology business for over 40 years, I am classed as very experienced, having worked in many different parts of the technology world, starting back in the day in electronics, and drifting between other sectors over the years. These days I am working in the cybersecurity area for a major Australian bank.
As for photography, that's been something I have been interested in since the 80s, and even spent some time doing commercial work as a side hustle back in the day.
Support Me
topI am an engineer, not a full-time blogger or web developer, but I still manage to allocate some of my very scarce free time to adding content. The day job takes priority, but I do what I can.
While I have no plans to make this site commercial, there are affiliate links for some of the services and products I use. So, if you appreciate any of the content here, please consider using some of the affiliate links; it costs you nothing extra.
FAQ
topWho owns the photos on this site?
Most of the photos on this site are original and belong to me. In contrast, everything else is labeled with the owner's details.
Is metadata provided for photos?
Each photo is labeled with the source/location, and if available, the GPS coordinates.
Can I reuse or republish your photos?
Just about every photo used on this site was taken by me and may not be used by anyone else without written permission.
Which images on the site are created by AI?
There are a few images, such as logos and the odd page banner, which are created by AI; each of these is labeled AI Created. The banner at the top of the page is one of them. For my thoughts on AI read this page.
Where do the site icons come from?
Some of the icons used are from the general internet and licensed for personal and commercial use. The source for most is flaticon.com.
How is this website built and edited?
This site is hand-coded in good old-fashioned static HTML and styled with CSS, with all content checked with Grammarly. When it comes to AI none of the content is written by AI, some images are created with AI, and these are marked as "AI Created".
Are any of the product reviews sponsored or gifted?
All of the reviews on this site are for products and services I liked; none have been requested, nor have any discounts been given or any free products supplied. Should that change, it will always be fully disclosed as part of the review.
How can I contact you via email?
There are no email addresses on this site, so do not bother to scan for them. You may be able to talk to me at the martian engineer at gmail dot com.
Who is responsible for the opinions expressed here?
The opinions expressed on any page on this site are those of the creator and may or may not be something I agree with.
What are your personal views on religion?
I am an atheist with zero interest in any religion, with my outlook being "if you have religion, good for you" whereas "I don't have religion, good for me", in other words live and let live.
What is your policy regarding personal backgrounds and equality?
Before anyone else asks, I have zero interest in the "woke" madness which is spreading fast. To me, I do not care about anyone's gender, sexual preference, religion, race or anything else. I treat everyone the same regardless.
What should I do if I disagree with the content here?
If there is anything on this site you do not like, agree with, etc., you are recommended to go to another site.