Hello world!

Well, I’ve taken the plunge.  Let me introduce myself.  I’m a woman ”of a certain age” so this blogging stuff is pretty new to me.  Let’s just say I predate the computer age.  I’m a reader and sometime commenter, but this is my first blog.  Please be patient as I learn the ropes.

My interests include politics, current affairs, reading (fiction and nonfiction), family and friends, good intelligent conversation, good food, wine, music, and needlepoint — not always in that order.  I chose the name for this blog because I’m much more interested in generating light.  There’s plenty of heat in the blogosphere.  I listen to contrary views. In fact I welcome them, but this isn’t the place for insults, name-calling, or flame wars.  So if that’s your thing, you’ll find plenty of company elsewhere.  Oh, and just so we understand each other, if you and I disagree, I (and hopefully those who comment) will likely ask you to back up your opinion with facts and sources.  That way we can all learn.  Humor, sly or otherwise, is welcome.  We all need to laugh a little more often.

Disclosure statement: 

• I’m an Obama supporter this time around. 
• I believe that what happens to a person AFTER he or she is born is even more important than what happens before.  I call that being pro-life. 
• I was brought up a Christian, but I don’t think that non-Christians or even non-believers are consigned to eternal damnation. 
• I think there is a role for government in society beyond just the military and police and fire protection, but that role is very limited when it comes to personal behavior.
• I love my country enough to criticize it when I think it’s on the wrong track
• I am convinced that global warming is largely caused by human activity
• I don’t think “they hate us because of our freedom”
• I like smart.  Human intelligence is what gave us the Enlightenment, the Renaissance, the advancement of science — everything that is good and noble in human history.  It gave us art, literature, poetry, philosophy.  But intelligence alone can lead as easily to evil as to good.
• Values are important. But in defining pubic policy they should be overlaid atop facts, not facts chosen to support ideology.

So, what are potential topics hereabouts?  Recent books we’ve read and why we think they are important or worthwhile to read.  Movies we should add to our collection or our Netflix queue.  Ideas — new or recycled.  Frustrations about our current political and economic situation, preferably with solutions suggested or at least pointers to additional information.  Hopes and dreams for ourselves, our families, our country, our world.  Even the occasional needlepoint post or other posts about interests, hobbies, passions (well, let’s be careful about passions, ok?). Places, people or events that changed your life or your views.

Give me a day or two to think of a good conversation starter, or suggest one yourself.  And if you’re interested, I may see you over on Mudflats.  www.mudflats.wordpress.com  That’s the sort of community I hope will develop here, but with a somewhat broader range of topics.

One last caution.  Please be careful about copyright.  Include links rather than extensive quotes.  Give credit to others for their ideas rather than trying to pass them off as your own.