User:Vchimpanzee/Dr. Emilio Bombay

Michael Gerst was a senior editor for system support and development at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in Fort Worth, Texas. He is best known as computer advice columnist Dr. Emilio Bombay, who wrote his syndicated column from 1995 to 2007.

Education and career
In 1975, Gerst received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Texas Christian University, where he served as editor of the Daily Skiff and president of the school's chapter of The Society of Professional Journalists.

After college, Gerst began his career at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, starting as a copy/layout editor in 1977, and advancing to deputy news editor in 1980. From 1986 to 2007 Gerst served as the paper's systems editor. He was editorial systems manager in 1999. In 2007, Gerst began working as senior editor for system support and development.

From 1990 to 1995 Gerst taught news editing at Texas Christian, with the status of adjunct professor. Gerst returned to teaching between 2000 and 2006, this time specializing in computer assisted reporting.

Dr. Emilio Bombay
From 1995 to 2007, Gerst wrote a syndicated computer advice column using the pseudonym "Dr. Emilio Bombay". MacDailyNews described "Dr. Bombay Computer M.D." as "an oftentime humorous takeoff of advice columns" where "Dr. Bombay specializes in berating his questioners" and, in many cases, "the questions themselves turn out to hold the answers". In a notice of changes being made with its stories for the New York Times News Service as of March 25, 2000, the Star-Telegram described the column as having "Typically smart aleck answers, occasionally correct." His web site bombayinstitute.com included the disclaimer "Dr. Emilio Bombay is not licensed to practice medicine, dentistry, psychiatry or just about anything else. He has, however, perfected cold fusion." Gerst won a 2006 award as "Best Hateful Computer Columnist", according to The Dallas Observer, which said, "Honing sarcasm down to a fine, fine art not seen in most major-market newspapers, Bombay manages to be both helpful and truly vile at the same time, as he responds to reader questions about tech problems."