Raised Liberal Republican in the deep Jim Crow south. Spent 30+ years in the Navy. Rose from recruit (in 1953) to Commander upon retirement. Served in Vietnam during all five campaigns. When the Jim Crow dems flocked around Ronald Reagan en-masse and co-opted the Party of Mr.,Lincoln, repented from the Republican party. I tossed militarism on the trash heap, to boot, and morphed over into a form of secular humanism best described as "non-theoliogical Quaker-Buddhist" a la Bertrand Russell and Elbert Hubbard. (Nothing to do with Scientology.) After service, I opened my own business providing bolting services and heavy equipment. I did business throughout the USA and on six continents. Now retired, I travel; make mens' primitive jewelry; carve wooden bowls; and enjoy my Super-Dog Lucy -- a standard poodle-Portuguese water dog hybrid. Spare time, if any, is spent reading & writing on various subjects, primarily about current events. Member: Torch International; MENSA; Intertel; Norfolk (Virginia) Boat Club. ,