I'm glad that you and others have appreciated my work. My background
 is not so impressive. Basically, I'm an interested party with a desire to
 participate, and to have my voice heard. I'll offer this:

 I'm California born, and was raised in the San Francisco Bay area. I
 graduated from San Francisco State University in 1977 with a BA degree in
 Theatre Arts. Afterward, I journeyed to Los Angeles and spent a fifteen year
 career there, acting and directing for primarily the stage, and serving as a
 director for one of the oldest living theatre companies, Theatre of NOTE.
 During that time, I received six Drama Critics awards for both acting and
 directing. I also taught acting and public speaking.

 I cut my debating and argument skills as one of the few defenders of Jimmy
 Carter. As conservatives were not very politically aware, I found myself most
 often arguing with friends from the left. As an example, I offer the attached
 e-mail I just sent to Ampol in response to a Jimmy Carter attack from Dave
 "Doctor" Gonzo (his latest submission to Ampol).

 Ediotr's Note: My buddy Dave?  Attacking Carter?  I'll have to read that.

 Few people realized at the time, nor do they in retrospect, that the right wing media was
 going after Carter in the same way, then, that they are going after Clinton and Gore now.
 But, back then people were more willing to buy the left wing media myth, so
 they just assumed the attacks were coming from the left. (The phrase, "the
 liberal press," was coined by Vice President Spiro Agnew in 1972 when 80% of
 the nations press was endorsing Richard Nixon for president.)

 (As a side note, the press was allowed to show their true colors in the early
 80s after Reagan abolished the "fairness doctrine." When people talk about
 bringing the "fairness doctrine" back, nobody squeals louder than Pigboy.)

 Reaganomics had a ruinous effect on theatre, so I returned to the Bay Area in
 1992 to rebuild my financial situation and soon began the study of law. As an
 upperclassman, I was handed a loser of a case for Moot Appellate Court, but
 wound up winning it anyway. I completed my studies in 1998, and currently
 work in support of a large Patent Law firm. When I get around to taking, and
 passing the California Bar, I have an interest in joining a Public Defender's office.
 (Obviously, not in Texas.)

 ha ha

 Currently, I'm trying to get up the energy to write a novel, and attempt to
 hone my writing skills by answering issues of the day. I usually write a few
 letters to editors every month, many e-mails, and one or two commentaries
 (depending upon time constraints and what upsets me at the moment).

 Keep up the good work!

 Jim Higdon