I was born and raised in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  For as many years as I can remember, I've been interested in social issues and modes of communication. 

When I was a child, I took a large box a toy came in and taped toilet paper roles to the front to make a toy TV camera.  When I got my first tape recorder, I began making radio interview shows, radio dramas, and variety shows.

At Memorial High School, I wrote short stories and TV scripts when I should've been studying.

I'm the one in the family who rescued old photos from drawers and books from the attic.  I 'm the one who became a writer and filmmaker. 

I've been a lonely person, not finding people in my own family who share my interests.  

I grew up in an alcoholic family but I've never used alcohol, tobacco, coffee, caffeine or other drugs.  When I became a rebellious teen, my struggle was to avoid drinking and second-hand smoke.  I began refusing to serve alcohol, or to pick up beer or cigarettes from the store for my parents.  I had a lot of pressure to conform, but I stood tall, though it was sometimes very difficult with painful results.  I longed to reach "legal age" so I could chose to escape the drug culture.  (At that time, one could legally use alcohol at age 18.)

As soon as I had the freedom to do so, I began refusing to accompany my parents to bars. 

Today, I enjoy having a home where alcohol and smoking are forbidden.

My taste in entertainment is more highbrow: theatre, literature, classical music, independent and foreign films....  My interest in popular entertainment is more technical: science fiction, National Public Radio's Science Friday.... I question assertions about religion, life and politics that others blindly accept.  I'm more liberal in many ways: I see greed, violence and lies about history as immoral.

People must stand against immorality.  They must stand against religious leaders who say they follow Christ yet who preach in favor of violence; they must stand against drug users who assault children with second-hand smoke and endanger other people's lives by driving while intoxicated; they must stand against violence mongers who try to legitimize and legalize their lust for carrying concealed lethal weapons; they must stand against government leaders who seek to steal our liberties under the guise of national security and business leaders who poison the environment and exploit workers to feed their own selfishness.

We all must care about others, including non-human animals.  I don't believe we must let our own rights be trampled upon.  But we have to give a helping hand.  We have to let other cars into our lane, we have to be willing to jump a stranger's car or to help push them out of a snow bank.  We have to smile occasionally and be kind.  If someone else has a frown, don't tell them to smile, give them a reason to smile; say something nice or do something to help them.