First, a confession: I crave witty, interesting and intellectual conversation. My mother is to blame. She encouraged me to read, think, argue, and play Scrabble. And from this crucible of life, sprang theforthrightone. A mordant social critic, a lifelong learner, full of poetry and flame. A mashup of Carol Kennicott and Howard Beale, trying not to dry up from the stupidity and shallowness of much of modern life. Craving beauty and depth, undergirded by whiskey and wry.

Somehow I became a walking clipping service – a life of manually curating content in journals full of pungent rantings, smooth ruminations and healthy skepticism. So come along for the ride, as I share tidbits of the maddening and marvellous things we call life.