Focus On: Tom

The Executive Producer of the Help Zone, which includes The Screen Savers, Call for Help and the Help & How-To Zone. He's the man behind the people behind the Screen Savers web site. (In other words we do all the work.)

Name: Tom Merritt

Job Title: Executive Producer

Homepage: http://www.subbrilliant.com/news.html

Hometown: Greenville, IL

Favorite website: BBC

First computer: TI 99/4A

College/University: University of Illinois at Urbana

Former Life: DJ, Newscaster, Writer, TV Producer, Bookseller (in that order)

Favorite piece of technology: Fire

Favorite author and book: Author, Evelyn Waugh (BTW he's a guy), Book, Man in the High Castle.

Favorite movie or TV show: Casablanca (movie), Star Trek(TV).

Favorite quote: "When I wake up I will be sober, but you, madame, will still be ugly." Winston Churchill.

Motto:"Effortless Effort."

The Proust Questions

What is your most marked characteristic? My nose.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Staying alive.

When and where were you happiest? In London in the fog.

What is your greatest regret? Regrets?... I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Having my belly full, my tastes satisfied, my mind challenged and... I'll stop there.

What is your most treasured possession? My head.

Where would you like to live? I used to say San Francisco, I guess I'll say London now.

What is your greatest fear? Loneliness.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Fear.

What is the trait you most deplore in others? Lack of empathy.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Beauty.

What is your greatest extravagance? Technology.

What is your favorite journey? Anywhere in a plane.

What is it that you most dislike? Pain.

What is the quality you most like in a man? Forthrightness.

What is the quality you most like in a woman? Forthrightness.

What do you most value in your friends? Honesty, understanding, stability.

If you were to come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be? A cloud of dark matter.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be? Landed gentry

How would you like to die? I really honestly don't care, although the quicker the better.

Got a question? Send it to thescreensavers@techtv.com.