For what its worth, I didn't see anything especially controversial, Rob, with your credo. You had my respect as an artist before, and you have my respect as a man now. I tend to tricky-trot somewhere between you and Ugo, I guess. Maybe its something in me that I can't "choose sides"--reason v. faith. I honestly don't know if I have "faith"--there is a big part of me that, to be honest, spends a great deal of time just being freaked out. Asimov said, "Life is pleasant, Death is peaceful. Its the transition that troubles me." Yeah, me, too. In the meantime we just muddle though as best we can with what we have to keep us going. Your philosophy makes a lot of sense to me on one level, where reason triumphs over the manipulative BS of particular authorities. At the same time, though, I am emotional and I like that, sort of. Sometimes, though, I do fly off the handle and regret my words later. But its part of who I am, not for good or bad, but because that's my nature. And there I go losing my train of thought again ...freakin' train is always running fast or slow!

For what its worth, Rob, I think I do see where you're coming from, and appreciate your perspective.