'Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.'
Wiliam Ernest Henley

"Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light." Dylan Thomas

" We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke, English statesman and political philosopher (1729-1797)

Thucydides wrote, “The secret to happiness is freedom, and the secret to freedom is courage.” Therefore, the secret to happiness is courage!

I am proud to be an American. I make no apology, have no shame, feel no embarrassment for America and Western Civilization for its culture, its history, its existence. America is not perfect as it is human, yet its contributions to human freedom and betterment infinitely outweigh its flaws. It is an honor and privilege to be a citizen of such a moral and humanely noble country as America.

"If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your consul, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains set lightly upon you; and may posterity forget ye were our countrymen." -- Samuel Adams "

'Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.'

Patrick Henry: "Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace -- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

"If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace." - Patrick Henry
AND NOW, thanks Madivan!,
THE BASICS:

NAME?	DAVID - NOTDOWNWIDEMS, SHELLBACK, YOU WOGS!
PLACE OF RESIDENCE?	DAPHNE ALABAMA, USA
NATIONALITY?	AMERICAN, OF COURSE!
AGE?	63
PROFESSION?	RETIRED COMPUTER PROFESSIONAL - Software Integration Analyst
MARITAL STATUS?	HAPPILY MARRIED SINCE MAY 6,2006...THIRD TIME'S A CHARM!
FAVORITE RESTAURANT?	MCCORMICK'S SEAFOOD HOUSE, LODO, DENVER; FELIX'S FISH CAMP, SPANISH FORT, AL
THEME MUSIC?	BOHEMIAN LIKE YOU - THE DANDY WARHOLS
HEROES?	RONALD REAGAN, RUSH LIMBAUGH, PAT TILLMAN, DAVID HOROWITZ, MARK LEVIN, MICHELLE MALKIN, PHYLLIS SCHLAFLY, AYN RAND
LAST BOOK READ?	"The Hindenburg Murders", Max Allan Collins- MILITARY HISTORY MAGAZINE

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." John Stuart Mill English economist & philosopher (1806 - 1873)

And now, for a graphic of the great United States/not-so-great foreign countries that I have visited:

Member since 2002, PROUD LURKER since 1998!