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The chap at the top is Diogenes of Sinope, sitting in his clay tub. He was a crusty old fellow and just right to put at the top of this website. Diogenes did his own thinking to a degree that most people found intolerable.

There’s a story about Diogenes being visited by Alexander. After a brief chat Alexander asked him if there was anything that he, Alexander, could grant or give to Diogenes. Diogenes just asked him not to stand in the way of the sun. Recall that Alexander ruled much of the known world at the time. After this remarkable encounter one of the great conqueror’s generals made a derogatory remark about Diogenes, considering what things he might has asked of the age’s greatest conqueror. Alexander chided the man and said that if he could not be Alexander then he would rather be Diogenes.

There’s another story about Diogenes. His legend has it that he went about in daylight carrying a lantern. When asked why he was doing such a thing he explained that he was just looking for an honest man. I wonder if he ever found one?

Diogenes was the great cynic and cynicism is a good fit with today’s world. You might give him a thought from time to time if you choose to read any of my essays about these present times.

We are living in an age when everybody in the world wants to tell everybody else in the world how to live and what to believe. We now have violent thugs in the street who attack people for disagreeing with them, dramatizing parallels to the Nazi and Communist gangs in Germany in the 1920s. Some of these people have even gone to the homes of news announcers and commentators to attack them and their property. There is now a species of hominid called a “Social Justice Warrior” who takes it upon himself/herself to tell everybody how to live according to his/her conclusions about an elusive concept called social justice. They are a source of much discord and some violence.

Let’s take a break from all this. Let’s be different and let’s be rational.

For any controversy there is a rational analysis that can be employed. It must start with the intent to explore the ideas and not to advocate either side although in the analysis it may come to an advocative conclusion.

Right under the painting of Diogenes you will find a box containing a number of topics. Each labels an essay which you will access by clicking on that label. Browse through them a bit. Each explores a single germ of an idea.

I am an old man who has spent a life in a profession that requires rational, analytical thinking. I think there is not enough of this valuable commodity in the world so I am endeavoring in my simple and practical way, to interject some by way of the internet, a thing that has only existed in the later years of my life. If you have an inquiring mind scroll down the menus at the top and see what’s in store. And don’t fail to make a comment. All criticisms are welcome.

© 2026 Thomas A. Nelson Sr.