Interests: Actually, the above photo says a lot about me. I love the outdoors and spend as much time as I can hiking, fishing, and camping. I also love technology. I like to fool around with computers and the Internet. I'm always amazed by the latest, greatest technological toys and want to be among the first to try them out. I especially love the fact that technology now lets me work from anywhere in the world. (In fact, I'll be teaching this course from many places this semester!) Other interests include teaching, soccer, history, and traveling.

I have a beautiful wife and two children who fortunately get their looks from their mother. My daughter is an outstanding student at UCR and my son is a star athlete and student body leader in high school. In other words, I'm pretty lucky.

But like many of you, I haven't always had it easy. I guess that's why I became interested in economics. Here's some of my special interests in economics:

• How everything fits together in this complex, fascinating economy. As you'll see, almost everything has economic implications.
• Consumer economics. How simple concepts can help a person make wise economic choices.
• How to make the economic system more equitable. Too often our society tends to look the other way when it comes to economic and social inequality.
• The remarkable period of economic growth the U.S. is currently going through.
• How to make a lot of money through applying economic principles!

Education: I have attended many colleges: East L.A. College, Whittier College, Oregon, Claremont Graduate University, International University, U.C.L.A., and C.S.U.L.A. I also studied overseas in the former Soviet Union at the University of Leningrad.

How to contact me: By far the easiest way is to email me at ahoward@rh.cc.ca.us. You can also call at (562) 463-4605. I will be available for office appointments at Rio Hondo.