For slightly more than a year I've been posting my thoughts on my Yahoo 360 page blog. While I don't have a problem with using that format, I'm probably going to be moving my thoughts, ramblings and occasional rant to this site. Many of the blogs I've read here are quite thought provoking, and while I don't anticipate my ever being in that category, I'd certainly appreciate some feedback periodically.

For those of you who don't know me, here's a little background: I'm a 43 year-old man who currently works as a substitute teacher, as well as a rancher. I served in the US Air Force, and also worked as a cowboy before going into education. I have taught my own classes (high school history and geography, mostly, as well as middle school German), and I DO have strong opinions about the failures of America's public education system.

Politically I'm right of center. I've called myself conservative, but there are times when that's not a fully accurate description. I'm not a libertarian inasmuch as I don't accept the complete "live and let live" philosophy...mostly because there are those in this world who don't want us to live, so I wouldn't want to let them live.

I'm pro-choice, but anti-abortion. What that means is that I'm opposed to abortion, but I also know it's not my decision to make and I'd hope the woman choosing would choose life. I believe that gun control is hitting your target, and I don't want some wuss politician or over-reaching judge to tell me that I have to stand back and take it when some sleazeball decides to invade my house, jack my car, or mug me on the street. I'd far rather give said sleazeball a .45 caliber lesson about respecting someone else's personal space than lose what I've worked for or possibly my life. I believe in capital punishment: Public hanging for rape, murder, child molestation and congressional malfeasance or judicial stupidity.

I believe that an armed society is a polite society.

I prefer horses over cars, trucks over cars and cars over walking or Segues.

I eat beef and believe that "vegetarian" is synonymous for "lousy hunter" and "sicko." Ronald Reagan ate meat, Hitler was a vegetarian. Draw your own conclusions.

I believe an enemy is to be killed, not negotiated with, and some enemies have to be fought to the death. I believe Vietnam veterans were screwed over by factions in Congress who were either too stupid or outright treasonous enough to not understand or not care what kind of evil would be inflicted on South Vietnam, and that many of those same individuals are trying to effect the conduct of the War Against Islam.

I would go back to the Air Force if needed or wanted.

I am a proud heterosexual who has no problem with those who are homosexual, I just ask they conduct themselves with maturity and dignity, not like a stereotype.

I can't stand rap, hip-hop, or whatever it's called this week. I believe rock went downhill when "grunge" and "alternative" became the rage in the early 1990s.

I think MTV should go back to showing all videos all the time and quit running The Real World and other garbage like that, and that MTV2 should maybe show some videos other than "gangsta rap." TV Land needs to find some programming other than The Andy Griffith Show.

I prefer Texas style barbecue over any other variety.

I believe NASCAR is for inbreds. If I want to watch people making left turns at high speed, there's a corner here in town where I can do that all day long until I'm sick of it. If I want to watch cars go zipping by, weaving around like idiots, I'll prop up a lawn chair overlooking the Interstate. And someone please explain to me when working a steering wheel made someone an "athlete"? If NASCAR drivers are athletes, then does that make me a marathoner because of the 1000 mile trips I drive in one day to see friends and family?

Okay, I know I pissed some of you off. Let the fireworks begin.