@Cycloptichorn,
Thanks for noticing. All things considered, life has treated me well. Been enjoying the grandkids, among other things.
I have in fact been out of the loop in terms of news, and have cared little about posting on the forum, as I have figured its probably the same old thing, mostly sniping back and forth between libs and more conservative people. I continue to be disappointed in the news media, mostly obsessed with a case about somebody named Anthony, and ignoring the more weighty issues confronting us. Of course, it comes down to the people themselves that the media is playing to, which is disappointing.