Who, What, Why

This weblog went live on January 12, 2003, as an offshoot to the website I started in memory of my brother Tom. Tom left us on June 30, 2002, after battling esophageal cancer.
That's him on the left, me on the right. I'm Joe, the older brother.

For those of you who might not get it, I should point something out. Sometimes I'm serious about a topic. What I say, I mean, and there's no taking what I've written two ways. Other times, I'm kidding, or doing parody, or mocking the culture or one of its many asshats. You should have the brains to figure out which is which.

Since this is my blog, my site, and my investment of time and money, I feel it appropriate to lay down a few rules for visitors. (For you PC types who don't like the harshness of the word "rule," let's call them "expectations").

The Rules:

• You are welcome to read and to post comments to the postings. Due to excessive comment spamming, I require a name and e-mail address to submit comments. Certain comments will automatically be held in a queue for moderation, depending on their content. Spammers will be banned, forever, with no amnesty.
• You are free to agree or disagree with any commentary posted here. Please post your arguments using some intellect and aforethought.
• If you don't have something constructive to offer, whether pro or con, please don't. This is my sandbox, and I prefer everyone play nicely. Throwing sand at others or pouring water in the sand will be considered violations of the rules of order and will result in ejection from the playground.
• If you harrass anyone here, I will ban you. Disagreeing and arguing a point isn't harrassment. Attacking someone with epithets, profanity and the like is and will get you banned.
• If you visit and don't like the rules, please leave. Go start your own site. I'll even visit if you invite me.
• I welcome e-mail, pro or con. Please note that I reserve the right to put your e-mail up on the site for all to see. Profantiy, stupidity, general idiocy, or vicious attacks have an even better chance of being posted, so others can mock you. You have been warned.
• Treat this place as though it was my home. You wouldn't want anyone screwing around in your house, would you? Don't make me draw a weapon on you.

About your host:

I'm Joe Dougherty, the older brother. I live in Florida where I'm employed by a large federal defense agency as a computer systems and network manager. Kelly and I have been married since 1979, and we have a daughter, Kaitie.

I'm conservative and willing to defend it to the death, much to the chagrin of some my friends and family back home in the northeast. I believe in some of the concepts of libertarianism. I'm an active Catholic. I like good cigars, a lot. I think technology has the potential to lengthen, strengthen and improve our lives. I love the New York Yankees and the Jacksonville Jaguars. I don't suffer fools easily, and I don't care what you believe, as long as you are willing to intellectually and rationally able to defend it. Even if you're wrong.

Please have fun. Tom would.

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