I hate those bios that talk about why your cat is the cutest, or why you can't wait for the New Kids On The Block reunion.

You better have an interesting life if you're going to use up valuable bandwidth needed to sell you Viagra or Russian brides. Of course, I've never met anyone who doesn't find themselves fascinating, so here goes...

I was born in 1959 to my parents Jackie and Gary Lautens. (I always wonder when people say "born to my parents". Who else would you be born to?)

Fast forward to Victoria College at the University of Toronto where I earned a degree in history in 1982. At Victoria College I was active in theatre, acting, writing, and eventually writing for and co-producing The Bob Revue - Canada's oldest comedy revue that started the careers of Norman Jewison and Margaret Atwood.

As a debater I won the Ward-McCully Debating Tournament in 1982. My name is also on a target shooting trophy somewhere in the basement of Hart House. I won by complete fluke, so no one has to be alarmed - or come to think of it, maybe you should be...

Before going on to law school I worked in Ottawa for two years as a Special Assistant to Senator Hazen Argue, Minister of State (Canadian Wheat Board), where I was responsible for his Cabinet stuff.

I then went on to Queen's Law School, where I completed my law degree in 1986, and met my wife Rhea. At Queen's I chaired the Speakers Bureau and was on the university's pistol team. With my friend Eric we came second in the prestigious Engineers' Beer Brewing Contest with our entry "Old Yeller". One drink and they had to shoot you.

On my Call to the Bar in 1988 I opened my own law practice in downtown Toronto. My practice was primarily litigation, with an emphasis on family law. I appeared at all levels of Court, including the Ontario Court of Appeal, Divisional Court and even the Federal Court of Canada. See the Law Stuff link for more details.

I have been active in politics for the almost 30 years, and have held a variety of posts. I finally ran as a candidate in the riding of Beaches-Woodbine in the 1995 Ontario provincial election. I lost - but then again so did a lot of other people. I reminded my wife that Lincoln ran 11 times before he got elected. She reminded me that I'm no Lincoln.

I left my law practice in 1998 to join a Canadian technology company. After it was sold to an American software giant I became a consultant, working in the areas of strategic management, corporate communications, ethical issue management and technology procurement and evaluation. You can see my consulting business website here: www.ethicalmanager.com. I am also Vice President of Inter-Citic Minerals Inc., a TSX-listed gold exploration company with property in the People's Republic of China, where I look after their investor relations and communications.

I also write a weekly column for the Sun chain of newspapers on a variety of topics. I appear weekly in the Calgary Sun and the Winnipeg Sun. Have a look at what I've written this week. I also published in recent memory a collection of my columns: A Chip Off The Old Writer's Block. I also have a war / thriller called The Last Blitzkrieg. They are available by clicking here.

The rest of my time is filled with a number of interests, including doing PR and promotion for a number of charities and other organizations, including The Order of Saint Joachim, a 250 year old order of knighthood of which I am the serving Grand Master. You can learn about them by following the Groups link.

I am married to Rhea, another lawyer, which is not to say that she doesn't have other many fine qualities.