I graduated from Indiana State University with a BS in Economics and Political Science in 2001, but of course my current line of work has nothing to do with that at all. I actually work in the Home Equity lending department of a regional bank in our area. I also have a part-time web design and computer consultant business called StarGazer Productions, but it is pretty informal and irregular in the work I do.

My personal pleasures and hobbies include non-fiction reading, especially World War 2 history, Astronomy, and Astrophysics. I also enjoy various forms of gaming, including board games, miniatures wargames, roleplaying games, and computer games. My favorites of these are when they also correspond and coincide with my love of WW2, so games set in that era are my particular love.

My "official" role on Helium is that of Steward, overseeing the Sciences Channel. At present I have 2 Substewards, each overseeing a separate sub-channel. These are Ian Loft (Earth Sciences) and Jack Winter (Biology). Their profiles are available on my "Writer's List" to the right. Enjoy Helium, and feel free to contact me or the appropriate sub-steward if you would like!

My passion is ...

World War 2 History

I know too much about ...

lots of generally useless topics. Great for Jeopardy though!

My parents always told me ...

that I was an underacheiver

My childhood ambition ...

to be an Astronomer and Astronaut

My favorite memory ...

probably my wedding day and subsequent honeymoon

Why I write ...

more reasons than I can fit in this little window

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

Outshined, Soundgarden, "A-Sides"

My first job ...

fast food drive through

My best moment ...

would have to probably be graduation from college

My inspiration ...

is to someday be a member of the United States Congress

Politics, News & Issues > Politics in Africa Ending poverty in Africa

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Poverty in Africa is a major problem, and it's roots run deep.

One of the primary reasons that Africa is the poorest continent in the world is based on it's colonial history. The national boundaries of Africa's countries were designed specifically to generate unrest. Lines were deliberately drawn that split allied ethnic groups, and groups rival groups together. This was done so that the colonial governments could maintain control. It's a classic case of "divide and conquer".

Unfortunately, when these nations gained independence, they maintained those old colonial lines, and y...

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