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| Personal background |
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Born Dec. 24, 1952, I am fortunate enough to have experienced America before its downfall was as far advanced as it is now. One of my best memories is a 4th of July celebration spent sitting on a beautiful hillside near a pond watching the fireworks. I remember the talk of the day was trying to get a glimpse of Sputnik. It was 1961, a very happy time in America, despite the cold war. Although the banks already owned us as slaves, we did not know it yet. Innocence was everywhere. Kids did not commit senselessly violent acts just for fun and schools did not have metal detectors. School curricula were still based on academic excellence and there was nothing wrong with competition. As a result, I am extraordinarily well educated. Although I have a Masters degree in Finance, most of my learning occurred in elementary school.
Fast forward to 1964: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and the British rock invasion hit the shores of America. What a wonderful experience that was. It was indescribably exciting. The parties I attended with 10 13 year old boys and 10 13 year old girls were just what my hormones needed. Getting a few moments on a sofa with the girl you liked was everything. I would give everything I have to get another chance to start over and be there again.
Fast forward to 1968: Jefferson Airplane, The Doors, The Blues Project, The Mothers of Invention, Traffic, LSD, Marijuana and, in my high school, heroin. In those days there were no syringes so we used eye droppers with baby nipples attached with a rubber band. It worked. The excitement became more intense but the times were still good. The music is as unique and powerful as it ever was. My memories of that music combined with drugs is probably and will probably always be my most powerful memory.
When did the good times start going bad? The turning point was the release of a so-called rock opera called Jesus Christ Superstar. I hated it intuitively. I knew it was a signal of bad times ahead. I was right. It was the beginning of the fanatical christian movement. It was the beginning of the end of Separation of Church and State, one of the most basic and revered tenets of American Democracy.
1970 - 1973 Enrolled in George Washington University in Washington DC. For 1 1/2 years, I partied, attending virtually no classes. On occasion, I would cram for exams, the night before and get an "A" or write term papers in one night and get an "A". These were 2 of the very best years of my life. Anti-war movement was in full swing.
1973- 1975 Enlisted in US Army. 2 years of army-condoned heavy drinking. End of story.
1975 - 1977 I engaged in extra-heavy drinking, shooting heroin and was hospitalized 5 or 6 times in psychiatric wards and/or detox wards. They were all unsuccessful. In 1977 I joined AA. It was initially successful in getting me off drugs and alcohol. AFter 5 years or so, I realized that I wanted nothing to do with their so-called "spiritual" program, which was Christianity in disguise. By this time I was on Methadone Maintenance, which was also very successful and decided to leave AA. This was one of the best decisions I ever made. I never looked back. In the same year, 1977, I got my first job as a computer programmer. I had graduated from a matchbook school in computer programming in 1976 at the very top of my class.
I spent the next 22 years in a successful career as a mainframe computer programmer/analyst. I remained on Meth maintenance the entire time, through today, which has been essential in protecting me from the consequences of drug use. At this point, I must mention that it is the war on drug users that creates most of those consequences. If it were not for the criminal label placed on drug use, there would be no drug black market, and the prisons would not be full of non-criminals who use drugs. Most, if not all of the drug-related violence would end overnight. Because of the reality of drug use in America today, meth maintenance is essential for survival and to propel users into a productive life, which is exactly what has happened to me.
In 1998 I decided it was time for a change. At this point I began to learn web programming and about 2 years later, developed website devoted to sales of precious metals. I liked the idea of selling a product that has intrinsic value.
It has been a tough uphill battle but I have stuck with it and am glad I did. The site address is in my profile.
I love science, world history of all ages, politics, learning, not participating, that is, and economics. I am fascinated with academic pursuits of all kinds. Unfortunately, due to a major, invasive sleep disorder, I am not able to achieve what I would like.
I welcome communication from other members.
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