Rant: Who is the enemy?

This has been bugging me for a long time and I really need to say it. I'm thinking about what Tim DeChristopher said about how alone we're a little finger that can be easily broken but together we make a mighty FIST. I'm thinking about how we're kept separate with lies and propaganda so people can't see what's going on. For example, people talk about how much we spend to help poor people and don't even give a thought to how much we give corporations or how much we pay our supposed 'representatives.'

(Representatives? Yeah, right. They certainly don't represent me. I can't think of anything any of them have done in recent years from which I benefited. No, they only represent rich people and corporations who can afford to 'lobby' to make laws to benefit them and to keep us down. HINT: Look up who contributed to your representative's campaign. Follow the money.)

West Virginia is one of the most, if not THE most, corrupt state government in this nation. They're willing to let our mountains be destroyed and our people poisoned and kept in poverty. Wonder what it is that makes them so supportive of the coal companies? It's not like the state actually benefits from the coal being extracted and shipped off to other places: the profits are spent in other states. As our alleged representatives, shouldn't they be acting in OUR best interests? If Rahall or Rockefeller or Manchin had to live down the mountain from a mountaintop removal site, I bet they'd change their song real quick when their water is in poisoned, their risk of cancer increased, and their kids and grandkids born with birth defects. But, no, they're rich so they don't have to worry about it.

It's like Robert Kennedy, Jr said recently: ""If you tried to blow up a mountain in the Berkshires or the Adirondacks or California, you would be put in jail." So true. We ignorant "inbred hillbillies" are expendable. The Appalachian people are being sacrificed so the rest of the country can 'keep their lights on.'

They pit us against each other so we don't realize who is the real enemy. They keep us scared of each other. Old, young, Black, White, Mexican, immigrants, men, women, gay, straight, coal miners, environmentalists, poor people... those aren't my enemies. Not necessarily. Not if they're willing to sit down with me and find a solution. My enemy is the one who works against me and has the power to limit my freedom.

Liberals think conservatives are their enemy and conservatives think liberals are their enemy. This is how they keep us down and it breaks my heart that people don't see it. Everyone thinks his or her agenda is the only one that could be correct and they don't see that others have a legitimate reason for disagreeing. People need to be willing to set aside their prejudices and preconceived notions so we can communicate honestly and try to find common ground. Angry words and name-calling haven't worked so far. Let's try something else.

I said this very thing not too long ago on a forum to someone who was railing against those of us who are against mountaintop removal. I said that each side had some good points and that we should be able to sit down and work something out. To which he replied that he wasn't going to work with any "dirty hippies". Gee, that's a helpful attitude. Some people just like to wallow in their ignorance. Willful ignorance is something I hate probably more than anything else. There is no excuse for remaining ignorant when information is available to you. There is no excuse to keep a battle going when your opponent is asking to sit down with you and work out a solution.

If you don't agree with someone, stop and realize that they're probably not out to hurt you. Maybe they don't know the harm they might cause. Maybe they're willing to listen. Stop and consider why they believe as they do.

Okay, guess that's my rant for today. Why do I care about this stuff? Because I cannot do otherwise. Now that I know, I can't go back.

Earthchild has spoken. Thanks for listening.

Faith

Okay, I have to say this. I'm sorry if anyone is offended but I really don't understand this. I'm watching a news video about a young man who, on the way home from his graduation with his Dad, was sucked out of their car through the sunroof by a tornado. The car was lifted and tossed by the tornado. The father was very badly injured and is still in the hospital. They have yet to find the young man's body. I cannot even fathom the horror this family is suffering. I don't want to even imagine it. So the aunt is being interviewed and the interviewer says that he hopes the family can find the strength to get through this... words to that effect, and the woman say, "Well, our family has a lot of faith in God... I don't know what came after that. I was too upset to let it continue.


Now, someone please explain to me... I don't even know how to phrase it... Your loved one has just been brutally killed. You can't even find his body. Another loved one is horribly injured. You don't even know if he'll survive. Not to mention that this was all on a day that should have been special to the family. And your entire community has been devastated. Please someone explain to me how a person could have faith in God? That He'll do what? Help you find the body? It would seem to me that the time for Him to help would be BEFORE the tornado. Wouldn't you say?

Is it just the "faith" that holds a person together through such an experience? Not actually a god but just the faith? I can understand that it would help to have something on which to focus to keep a person from falling apart. Like a form of self-hypnosis. But what is it the person is expecting? Are they expecting their god to do something? Do they believe there is an actual personal god who can and will help them? Or is it just what people say? I mean, I would hardly expect or even accept comfort from someone who could have easily prevented the tragedy. I really want to know how this works. I don't remember. Maybe it's different for different people. I'd really like everyone's take on this; Christian or not. Or any other religion.


Now, I'm beyond any preaching here so I just want an answer. I'm not going to change my mind on my own beliefs. I've been all through it. Anyone who has known me for long knows how serious I was about God and being a Christian. I'll never go back to that. I manage a lot better on what I believe now instead of having bad things happen and wondering why and waiting for a supernatural being to somehow help me and wondering why He won't answer. And don't tell me the silence means "no" or "wait" either. Silence is silence.


I appreciate and look forward to your honest and thought-filled response.

Sean Keefe: A Case of Paternity Fraud

To anyone with any sense of justice and morality, the fact that this injustice must be corrected and now is obvious. I don't see how any logical and reasonable person could see otherwise. Sean Keefe is the uncle of a friend of mine. I'll let him tell his own story in the video below--and I recommend clicking through to youtube to read more details--but this situation has touched me in such a way that I must comment. Not only comment but do whatever I can to spread the facts of this miscarriage of justice so that perhaps others will stand up for the liberty and justice for all of which America is supposed to represent.


What has been done to this young man, while not the first case of injustice I've seen, and not even the worst, strikes me hard when I think this could be my own son going through this. While I support Sean and his efforts, and while I respect him and hope this all works out for him, this is not about Sean. This is about what's right and what's wrong. This is happening to men all over the country. The details of this are told on Sean's Facebook page and his Youtube page so I'll not repeat it here but PLEASE go to those sites and read about it. There are 38 states with no paternity fraud laws. If your state is among them, and West Virgina IS, then PLEASE do what you can help us bring about laws that will protect people from that harm that is brought about by dishonest people who are willing to use their own child to extract money deceitfully from innocent people.


Please watch this video and then check the links below for more information and actions that you can take to help Sean and to correct this injustice for others.











Sean's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/WV.Paternity.Fraud?sk=info [If you read through the comments, you will find contact information. Please write to these media outlets and government agencies to get more attention to the matter and get help from anyone who is able.] Please do what you can to help get this information out. Thanks.


Sean's Youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/SPKCEK
West Virginia Senate Bill 502: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=sb502+intr.htm&yr=2011&sesstype=RS&i=502 [Paternity Justice Act of 2011]
West Virginia Senate Bill 503: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=sb503+intr.htm&yr=2011&sesstype=RS&i=503 [Why on earth should a person have to support a former spouse who cheated on him? That's absurd. The cheater should be paying, if anyone.]


In researching this matter, I have found the following links of interest:


http://www.ejfi.org/family/family-78.htm#paternity [Such are the injustices of our laws and courts.]

Dogs and their people needed help

I had to run (okay...drive) all the way to Beckley today to get printer ink. On my way to stop by Kroger, I saw this young couple with a dog. They had a sign about needing help. I don't like to hand out money so I bought them a few things in Kroger. Not much; some stuff like apples and crackers. I didn't have much to spend. I also got some dog biscuits and some bottles of cold water. So when I got back over there, I discovered they also had a cute little puppy.


I know there are those who will say I'm a fool and I've been had but it felt right to help them. I don't think that makes me special or anything. I just think that could be me or one of my sons or our puppies that need help. What if we ended up losing our home--we ain't that far from it--and had no way to keep our dogs? I know there are people who would say give them away or take them to a shelter. I'm not an overly sensitive and emotion person. I try to be realistic and practical. But those people have no heart. I don't see any way I could give up any of my puppies; they're part of the family. If it came down to it, we'd go live on the mountain even without a house. We could build a shelter of some sort. We'd manage. When Mighty Dog was young and we had a rough time keeping her (and us) in food, Clyde would go shoot a squirrel for her dinner some days.


As I was walking away, the girl was opening the bag and I heard her say in an excited voice, "Apples!" I had to sit in my car and cry for a while before I could drive home. Some think that people who are having a bad time must have done something to cause it or deserve it. I guess it makes them feel better for not caring or helping, and maybe it takes away the fear that it could happen to them.

It's so sad that there are people who have no place to be; no food; no access to clean water or even a drink of water. Even people who used to have a decent life who now have lost it all. There have been people who have had to give up their own children because they could no longer feed and shelter them. Not their dogs but their CHILDREN! Can you imagine how that would feel?


I've been researching this because I'm writing a paper for school on this topic. There are people who had a nice house and decent income who have lost it all. There are children who had their own room and nice toys and clothes and who always knew there would be dinner who had to give all that up. There are families who had to give up their pets because the other choice was to watch them starve because they couldn't even get food for their own children.


What is wrong in this country when things like this are going on? What is wrong when people go out and buy themselves and their kids new stuff when there are those who have nothing, not even hope? Do you think by helping them you're encouraging them to not try? Maybe by not helping them you're encouraging them to die. Think about that. Believe me, I'm not saying I'm any better. I went most of my life never even thinking about stuff like this. It's only come to me recently and I feel the need now to make sure everyone knows. Once you know something, you're responsible to act.


Did y'all know there's a homeless shelter in Beckley? There are food pantries in Raleigh and Fayette counties. Maybe these places could use some help.


The New Homeless

Homeless Pets

Homeless Family

Groping at the airport

There is a new horror story going around now about a 6-year-old girl being groped. Honestly, I'm getting tired of it. No, I don't mean the obvious: "I'm tired of people being groped." I mean I'm tired of hearing people complain about being groped. Enough has been known about this that by now, if you are a parent standing in line with your child, you know perfectly well that your child is likely to be groped. Yet you took that precious child and got in line. I don't want to hear about it.

The only way this will ever end is when people just stop flying. Not just on a certain day; that's just symbolic of our powerlessness. DO NOT FLY AT ALL. Yes, this will be extremely difficult for some but most people have options however inconvenient those options may be. Stop flying, people! That is the only solution. How long do you think it would take if the airlines were losing that much money? I don't want to hear your excuses. Protecting our freedom is inconvenient.
Do you suppose that Paul Revere--on being told he'd need to carry the message that the Redcoats were coming--said, "Gee, sorry guys, but I always have dinner with the family on that evening."

Do you suppose there was a conversation at the Boston Tea Party planning meeting that went: "Well, sure it's a great idea. But I have to work the next day so I need my sleep. I'm sure there will be a big enough turn-out without me."

Or signing the Declaration of Independence: "I don't know fellas. We could get in a lot of trouble for this. You know they keep a list with our names on it. Things aren't that bad, are they? Maybe if we wait a while, it'll all blow over. Maybe when the next king comes to the throne things will be different."  

You get the idea. This whole matter depends on each of us. Protecting our freedom depends on YOU. Not just in the matter of the TSA but in the matter of our personal, individual, daily freedom.

But, as for the matter at hand: Don't fly. If you cooperate, you only encourage them. If you make a fuss at the gate, you will be used as an example. Just don't even get in line. By getting in line, you are volunteering to be groped. By putting your child in line... well, I think it's obvious what I think about a parent who would put their child in that situation. It's not just what is going to happen to them but--maybe even moreso--what they are going to learn from it. How will they view their freedom and rights as adults after you've shown them that it's okay to kneel to authority? Is that what our soldiers have fought and died for?

I don't care how wonderful Disneyland is or how much I love dear old aunt Matilda who lives across the country, I will not put myself, much less my children, in a line to be groped. It will be a long car ride or nothing. Life's full of sacrifices; this is one of many. 

Either you want to live free or you don't. I'm certainly not going to teach my children that "sometimes" it's okay to set aside their rights and submit to authority. Not gonna happen.

We all talk about how America is the greatest country on earth; about how free and brave we all are. Talk is cheap. Let's see some action. 

 Earthchild has spoken. Thanks for listening.

Christopher Hitchens born this day in 1949.

After I let go of my religious beliefs, I was reluctant to let others know. Not only could I not talk about it with family and long-term friends but I wasn't able to express my opinion on issues from my point of view.

That's changed now and I'm getting more and more comfortable as time passes. There are several people that I can thank for this. Richard Dawkins, Michael Shermer, Brian Keith Dalton... and several others have shown me not to be afraid to speak up. At the top of the list is the man whose birthday is today. That man has inspired me to say what's on my mind and not to be worried about whether someone isn't going to like it. That man is Christopher Hitchens.

I saw Hitch recently on an interview expressing how he didn't understand why all of these people took such an interest in him. Could he really not understand how he touches so many of us and inspires us to be who we are? I wish I could tell him.

In addition to the inspiration to accept my beliefs about god and the lack thereof, Hitch has also taught me about death. From what I've read and from interviews I've watched, he has the peace and dignity that I hope I will have when my time comes.


I am thankful that he was born so today I want to add my voice to the chorus of people who are wishing Christopher a wonderful and joyous anniversary of his birth and--and this means more than when it's said casually--MANY MANY MORE. An abundance of more. 

Peace and comfort to Hitch and to his family and loved ones.

"The only real radicalism in our time will come as it always has — from people who insist on thinking for themselves and who reject party-mindedness." Christopher Hitchens

For fear of offending someone

I am so sick of hearing people [let's call them peopleA] say they can't do or say this or that for fear of offending someone. I get these emails and see this on Facebook a lot. They say things like "We can't make all the schoolchildren attend a mandatory Billy Graham Crusade for fear of offending someone. Well, this loyal American has had enough. Who has the guts to join me in demanding that all schoolchildren are required to attend this crusade?" Okay, I'm exaggerating. Slightly. Very slightly. These people--you know who you are and if you're not then I don't mean you--go all psycho because they're not allowed to force others to do things their way and claim it's because people are "afraid of offending someone." It's not really even offending people. What they're doing is more rightly called "violating someone's rights" or, at least, "hurting someone's feelings."

Then someone [let's call them peopleB] does something peopleA don't like--not trying to make others do it, mind you--but just saying what they think or wanting to live their own way; expecting the same freedom to which we are all entitled, and then peopleA get all worked up and... dare I say it... OFFENDED. No one has tried to force them to do anything and the only thing they've been prevented from doing is violating someone else's rights. 


Now let's try to make this clear: 

If you want to force people to do or not do something, you are not offending them. You are violating their rights. They may also feel offended but it is their right to feel that way but the main thing is that you have violated them.


If you live your own life and use your free speech to say what you believe and you allow everyone else these same rights, then you are not violating anyone's rights. They may feel offended because you won't live their way or they don't like your opinion but that is their problem to get over.


Each of us has the same and equal right to live as we choose, say what we choose, believe, eat, drink, smoke, dress and whatever else AS WE CHOOSE and we do not have the right to decide these things for anyone else no matter how strongly we feel for or against. 


I understand that it makes you feel better to convince yourself that these other people are in the wrong because they're just being oversensitive and offended but you should try to be honest with yourself. If you are trying to force your beliefs on others including on the children of others, YOU are the one in the wrong. You do not have the right to do this. YOU do not have the only say in what our country represents. So grow up and learn the lessons you should have learned in kindergarten: Mind your own business. Keep your hands to yourself. Live and let live. Be kind to each other.


Earthchild has spoken. Thanks for listening. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Weekend Libertarian: On Hitchens, The Suffering Atheist

Weekend Libertarian: On Hitchens, The Suffering Atheist: "B.P. Terpstra “Christopher Hitchens is undergoing radiation treatment and wasn't able to write this week's column on his usual schedule,”
..."

"it’s politically-incorrect for Christians to share their faith, but acceptable for militant atheists to evangelize 24/7."

Yet another Christian with a persecution complex. From what I see and have seen all my life, Christians never hesitate to "share their faith." And they freak out if someone even casually say they're an atheist. Where do these people get off acting as if those mean old atheists are keeping them down? I've never known of a situation where a person was afraid that people at their job might find out they're a Christian. Yet I know people who are concerned that even their own family might find out.

And, as I said in my earlier rant, they've been putting up billboards and church signs and different displays for as long as I know and yet they have a hissy-fit if an atheist group dares to put up a sign.

Even after all these years, the audacity amazes me. Can they really be this blind or are they being deceitful? I guess some are one; some are the other.

"You can easily lose count of all the famous Protestant/Catholic intellectuals and their great contributions to healthcare/medicine." And the same goes for atheists, agnostics, and free-thinkers.


And his ending: "Are we surprised that atheists pray though?" Who?! Show me. Give me an example of an atheist who prays.

And, of course, as usual, there is no way to comment. Well, my comments are open. And unlike those forwarded messages I get from religious folk, I don't say, "If you agree, pass this on. If you don't agree, just delete it and shut up." Grrrr... If you agree with me, say so. If you don't, tell me why and back it up. If you have questions, ask. I believe people who disagree can have a reasonable discussion.

Sorry to rant twice in a row but just read this and it pissed me off.

And what really irks me is that this guy is a libertarian. I expect libertarians to be more reasonable. Guess I was mistaken.

Hypocrisy and whiners

I recognize that there are many Christians to whom this does not apply and who are just as appalled as I. If you are offended by what I have to say about this, it's because you see yourself in it. In that case, know that I'm offended, too.

So the Freedom From Religion Foundation is putting up signs across the country that say things like "Imagine No Religion." There have been a few other cases where atheist and freethinker groups have put up billboards or signs on buses that say similar things like, "Be good for goodness sake." and "Sleep in on Sunday."

It never fails that we get a bunch of whiny religious people saying how wrong it is that atheists get to put up signs like that because THEY find the signs offense. What a bunch of hypocrites! They've been putting up their signs since the beginning of signs! How can they say they shouldn't have to see our signs when we have to see theirs?!  I just saw one guy on the news say that theirs was a religious neighborhood and if someone didn't like that, they should move. !!! Excuse me?! I cannot believe how bigoted people can be!

Then they have the nerve to say how atheists are angry and 'on the attack' against them! Like we go around to sick and dying people in the hospital and try to scare them into believing our way. I think Hitch says it well here:



Anyone with a brain can see that atheists are just tired of having to hide so now they're saying, "Hey, we're here!" And with few exceptions, they're also saying, "You're free to believe as you choose. We just want that freedom, too." Why?! Someone tell me WHY that cannot happen?! Why can these bigots not respect the rights of others to their own beliefs?


Many of them think it's also perfectly fine for them to knock on our doors and tell us what they believe. What would they think if an atheist knocked on their door and told them what he believes? I'll tell you what. They'd be crying about how persecuted they are.


(I can't believe that old guy hit him with a broom! Oh, wait...yes, I can.)

Of course, I don't mean every religious person. Or even every Christian. Just the ones who think they have special rights over other people. Just the ones who think they're being persecuted because someone else wants the same rights that they have.

Sorry for the rant. Oh, wait...no, I'm not. Ranting is what I do. I don't mean to offend anyone unless they deserve it. If none of this applies to you, then great...I don't mean you. If you see yourself in this, know that you're showing me that you believe you're better than me and that you have special rights over me and, if you call yourself my friend, then perhaps you should reconsider because you hurt my feelings daily.

Dishonesty in reporting and blogging

I am so sick of dishonesty! Okay... Christopher Hitchens is an atheist. And he's dying from cancer. He has a friend who is a doctor and a scientist who is working on finding a cure for cancer from the human genome. Francis Collins also happens to be a Christian. Did I mention they are friends? So Hitch agreed to be a guinea pig for this experimental treatment. It probably won't even help him--although, I sure hope it does because he's awesome!--but the experiments will be useful in finding a cure for cancer eventually.

So today I'm seeing all  over the place headlines saying something like "Atheist turns to Christian doctor for cancer treatment." They're trying to imply that an Atheist went begging for a Christian to help him. Even with being the cynic and skeptic that I am, I am still flabbergasted. And truly pissed. People should be more honest. The truth is that Hitch has already said that knowing he will die soon is not going to make him change his mind about whether there is a god.

And the experimental treatment came about through science by a scientist [Francis Collins] who is a Christian and also believes in evolution.

What really gets me is how certain people will post something like this and then close the comments so no one can dispute it. I see it all the time on blogs and on youtube. The Atheists almost always leave their comments open. So, anyway, I read this on some woman's blog today and, of course, she had her comments off. Heaven forbid someone post the truth.

Sheesh. I'm already worried about Hitch and sad about losing him so soon. Now people gotta twist his situation around to support the lies they want to tell. Lying is also a sin.

Evolution is JUST a Theory?

While I respect everyone's right to believe and teach their own children as they choose, I need to clarify the statement that "evolution is just a theory." If we're going to do science, we need to understand the terminology.

Evolution is indeed a theory but the word "theory" as in common use is not the same as a "scientific theory."

scientific theory: a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena <the wave theory of light>

Scientist use the scientific method; which includes
-observation
-hypothesis
-experiments to test the hypothesis
-publish findings to a peer-reviewed journal
-Other scientists will to try to prove it to be wrong
-if scientists cannot prove the theory is wrong, it becomes a scientific theory

The theory of evolution has been through this process. This means there are facts to back up the theory of evolution. It couldn't be called a theory otherwise. No theory can ever be proven as 100% accurate. Science is never 100% sure of anything. There are always new facts to be found and adjustments to be made. Our knowledge of science is always growing and changing based on continuous scientific research. That's what makes it science. Claiming you know all the answers and it's settled is NOT science.

Scientific theories must be falsifiable and must be able to be modified according to new findings.

Other scientific theories include, for example:

-Germ theory of disease
-Cell theory
-String theory
-atomic theory
-plate tectonics

Many scientific theories have been disproven, such as:
-expanding earth
-emission theory
-recapitulation theory
-geocentric theory of the solar system

Scientific laws are similar to theories and can also be referred to as theories because there is always being a chance we'll find other facts that will require modification, such as:
Theory of gravity
Hubble's law of cosmic expansion
Kepler's law of planetary motion

Hope that clears that up and is helpful to someone.

Earthchild has spoken. Thanks for listening.

Rock Beyond Belief

Last year, the army at Fort Bragg spent about $50,000 plus other perks and services that is estimated as closer to $100,000 for an evangelical Christian membership drive. Which, of course, was unconstitutional because the government is not allowed to support one religion over others. Some soldiers were forced to attend and, those who didn't go were punished.

That was wrong in and of itself. However, when the MAAF [Military Association of Atheists and Free-thinkers] contacted them, they were told that they could stage their event and get the same support that the Christians got.

Cutting the budget

This is something I wrote on Facebook a while back: 
==========================================

Why is it when discussing where government should cut expenses, the most popular one is to cut assistance to poor people?

Why don't we consider cutting the politicians' pay? They make way too much. They could live on way less.

The president earns a $400,000 annual salary, along with a $50,000 annual expense account, a $100,000 non-taxable travel account and $19,000 for entertainment. Plus he gets all of his living expenses paid (including all food, tailor made clothing, gasoline, transportation, utilities, medical care, security, golf outings, vacations, grand parties and banquets, theater performances seated in the Presidential box, private showings of new release movies, command performances by the greatest musical artists, personal servants, private secretaries, master chefs, and personal trainers).

So what exactly does he need the $569,000 for?

New Liberty Party?

Okay, I’m looking at the platforms of these three groups:

Libertarian Party:
http://www.lp.org/

Democratic Freedom Caucus:
http://www.democraticfreedomcaucus.org/

Republican Liberty Caucus:
http://www.rlc.org/

Whole lotta noise

I was just studying for a sociology exam and got to thinking about this concept of how we—as individuals—have a responsibility towards society. I, personally, tend to believe that I am an individual and have no responsibilities other than those to which I’ve agreed. On the other hand, I do see the need for people to work together on some things. It’s just not clear to me just how much responsibility each of us has and to whom. We do have responsibility for our actions but, other than that, how are “the rules” to be determined? Do we have to go against our basic beliefs because someone else determined that was best for society? Can we make others go against their beliefs because we think our way is best? Who gets to decide?

Peaceful Protest

Well, obviously, I'm not going to be able to keep up with this as I would like. I have the thoughts but can't get time to do it. Maybe I'll do better this summer while school is out. Now I just have too much homework and studying to do. Anyway, I wrote this a while back but meant to add more so never did post it. 

==========================

While many of us celebrate the victory of the Egyptian people against tyranny, it causes one to wonder what would happen if the people of America were to hold non-violent protests against some of the unconstitutional laws of the United States government. Well, we don’t have to wait to see what would happen because it’s happening already. Check this out:

To Begin

Sometimes I have a lot to say so I’ve decided to write a blog. Perhaps someone will be interested in the thoughts and interests rambling around in my head. I usually talk to myself on the drive to school and I think “This is great; I should write it down” but forget about it later. 

Anyway, if you’re interested in reading my ideas and opinions, welcome. Feel free to disagree. You won't be the first. Please use reason and evidence, whenever possible as that will carry a lot more weight than opinion. You won't be the first for that either but, sadly, you'll be in a small group.