Welcome!

One of the most important aspects of a free society is the ability to to communicate freely and openly in a civil manner. The open communication between members of a society drives understanding, creates cohesion and reduces conflict; aids in problem-solving and drives progress thru the exchange of ideas.

My posts and articles will strive to be educational, thought-provoking and fact-based. I welcome comments, suggestions, corrections and discussion as long as they are factual and civil. Failing to abide by these simple rules will be addressed as stated in the Terms of Use and Code of Conduct.

Over the past decade we have witnessed a dramatic change in our ability to communicate freely, even here in the USA. When we disagree or hold a differing point of view, we should be able to discuss it in a civil manner with others without fear - fear of reprisal, violence or hatred. Sadly, expressing a differing opinion often results in being called names, threats of violence or reprisal - or actual violence. The most ironic thing (to me) is that most of this intolerant behavior is exhibited by people who claim to be the tolerant ones…

Along with this degradation of communication we also see the rise of falsehoods - and their acceptance. Public figures, whether in politics, business or news/entertainment are making false claims - and these are propelled forward as ‘truth’ by many news media - even when the claim is clearly untrue. When a political party can fabricate - and maintain - a lie so egregious that a president can be impeached with no consequences to the perpetrators when the lie is exposed - what do we do? Clearly the truth is no longer the ultimate defense…

I will be writing on a variety of topics over time; my hope is that as you find a thought-provoking article you might comment on it or offer your thoughts and opinions; an educational article may spark an interest - or you may have information you can share to further our collective knowledge.

While I would like nothing more than to sit at a table with a pitcher of iced tea and just have a pleasant conversation with any and all that drop by, sharing ideas, knowledge and iced tea, the reality is that running this site (my ‘virtual table’, sans iced-tea pitcher) costs money. My intent is to keep all content freely available and simply ask that if you find value in the content, the discussion or the information that you will make a contribution; I would like to avoid the commercialization found on many sites that detract (in my opinion) from the content.

Thank you for your support, your consideration and your conversation. Perhaps we can, together, find ways to reverse the trends - make conversation less antagonistic; make lying by public figures unacceptable; and find new ways to work together for a stronger society.

April 5, 2025