Hello Steemit community, I am Ultimus. No, I am not posting my real name or picture as I don’t want to. I like privacy and it is my choice. Instead, here is a nice gif of George C Scott playing Patton, from one of my favorite movies. Enjoy. But I am here on #Steemit and I thought introductions would be appropriate. So here are a few things about me.

Let’s start with the mundane.

Favorite book: Sun Tsu: Art of War.

The quick to judge may think I am a war-monger. Yes, is it a book about warfare, but also about adversarial confrontation, strategy, planning, understand resources, gains, pitfalls, and advantages. It is used in business, sports, military studies, psychology, and other respected fields. He was hugely successful in his time, earned a place in the annals of history, and then wrote a book which has stood the test of time and transcended domains beyond anyone’s imagination. Yup, Art of War. Go ahead and judge me.

No I don’t read fiction. Fiction I watch on a screen, preferably a large screen, with a bowl of popcorn. The only fictional books I ever liked were the early books of Tom Clancy. Just the first few before they became bloated boat anchors or were taken over by shadow writers to produce thin excuses for Xbox game plots. But Clancy, in his heyday when he was free from the burdens of success, pumped out The Hunt for Red October, Red Storm Rising, and the origins of his Jack Ryan character. Good stuff.

I am a proud American.

Yes, I know we are arrogant, self-centered, sometimes dim-witted, boisterous, and think we are entitled to own the world. No, I am (mostly) not that way. I am however proud of the principles our country was founded on. The principles of freedom, equality, representation, liberty, justice, free speech, individual rights, and the notion that hard-work opens opportunities.

The society operates under the notion that a little revolution now and then is a good thing. We just do it in microbursts, instead of letting it build up. Learned that from our civil war. So the social upheaval you might witness is just a little steam escaping, which will change our course a few degrees at a time. It is better than letting the boiler explode.

Although a relative new country on the global map, we have contributed great things to mankind and society. We have pushed forward the curve of intellectual, economic, self-governance, and technical thought. Some for bad, but much more in the good bucket. Unfortunately, I think a large number of people have forgot our foundations and how to treat each other with respect, both physically and in their choices. My 4th grade teacher made the class learn a single rule, which has stuck with me over the years, “I will not infringe on the rights of others, and/or cause a safety problem”. Simple enough for 4th graders, yet still beyond the reach of so many adults. If my fellow Americans could just embrace such a simple code, we could forge ahead as a unified powerhouse and do miraculous things for all of mankind.

On the upside, America learns fast, adapts, and is willing to take the initiative. Americans focus on what-could-be and are willing risk what great assets we already have in the process, which is a little unusual. Simply put, America is ambitious. We like winners, being the best, and even if we lose we come back stronger and better next time. We spend little time crying or complaining about losing a fair fight. Instead, we just start preparing for the next round.

Where I call home

I have travelled the world and choose to live in California, where there is a little bit of everything and a lot of good weather. In two words, California is diverse and happy. We benefit from great weather, a plethora of activities, and lots of opportunities. One state has it all: ocean, rivers, mountains, plains, lakes, forests, rolling hills, deserts, beaches, iconic cities, and snow. The economy is huge, somewhere in the top 10 as compared to all the countries in the world. We have brilliant scientists, technology innovators, talented athletes, the heart of the entertainment industry, and just about every type of person you can imagine. California is a destination place for people from all over the globe. Probably every race, religion, and social viewpoint is represented and for the most part is embraced. People are tolerant and pretty respectful overall. Most of whom get along pretty darn well and see a good future for the state.

Favorite Comedian

George Carlin and Robin Williams. Robin Williams at the Met concert was gold. He was a frenetic comic genius and could make people of any age laugh until it hurt. RIP

Carlin’s intelligent and sometimes indignant satire on society was the necessary logic slap-in-the-face that drove audiences to a place where only laughter resulted at the absurdities of society. His lack of filter and willing to challenge taboo subjects was nothing short of stunning.

Personal habits

I eat meat (medium rare, grilled is perfect) so I am not interested in vegetarian posts. Just not my thing. Happy for you but I won’t waste my time in listening to anyone try and convince me of my eating habits. I eat vegetables, love them actually, but they will be sitting on the plate next to my steak, chicken, fish, or pile of bacon.

I drink. Not to get drunk, but to enjoy the flavor of the distilled spirits. A nice scotch, whiskey, or bourbon please. I have begun to enjoy wine as well, but my fallback is whiskey on the rocks. You say you don’t think drinking alcohol is healthy. Well, I didn’t ask and don’t really care. I drink in moderation, just as I eat steak in moderate bites.

If you didn’t like the drinking, you won’t like the fact I smoke an occasional cigar. I am not a human chimney, but a couple of times a month I might enjoy a good stogie. Ironically, I sometimes make it a little reward for myself after a good workout or run. Many times, it is after having a wonderful steak dinner, sitting on my deck, while sipping whiskey on the rocks. Get the picture?

I don’t do drugs, never have, never will. Not my thing. I don’t need an escape, relief, or some artifical trip. I don’t need an escape. I want to enjoy every moment. I like my life. (probably has something to do with eating meat, having a beautiful fiancé, relaxing on my patio, and enjoying my career). So I won’t be up-voting your weed, methadone, cocaine, heroin, or any other chemical-high post. I have seen what that crap does. If that is your thing, so be it, just try not to ruin others’ lives (which goes back to the 4th grade rule and covers much more than drugs) and the Stupid People comments above.

So overall on a personal note, I look at it this way: if I didn’t drink, smoke, gamble, curse, appreciate the female form, and eat meat, I would have no vices and be a perfect angel.

Lastly, and most important, I don’t like stupid.

I am not racist, sexist, don’t care what religion you follow or not, I place no value on where you were born or to whom, not critical of nationality, or any condition of yours which was outside your control. That said, I don’t like stupid people. They get on my nerves and frustrate me to no end.

And a point of clarity, ignorance is different than stupidity. Ignorance is lacking the understanding of what is acceptable. This excuse pretty much stops at the 4th grade. Stupidity is knowing what is right or realizing you should learn about it, but choosing to do something counter for no equitably good reason.

It could be the lady who was yapping on her phone while driving and almost crashed into me today. Stupid.
Those who are hypocrites in being critical of others then doing the same themselves, internally self-justifying they are above the rules. Stupid.
People who expect all the benefits of life should be theirs, without work. Yup, stupid. Even if you are born rich, you must still work to be a good person and contribute to a better society.
People who demand their belief is right and all others are wrong, when talking about personal opinions. “Red is the best color! Well, I like blue. You are WRONG! Red is the best color”. That also counts as stupid. People are entitled to their own opinion. Mine is, you are stupid.
People driving slower than everyone else, in the passing lane. You know who you are. Stupid.
Own a gun but don’t know about firearm safety or choose to handle it like a toy? Stupid, but just for a short time. To that end, I think Darwinism (i.e Darwin Award winners) naturally cleans out the gene pool of some stupid people.

Life is good.

I do love life and all the diversity and unpredictability people can bring. I have traveled the world, explored many topics in depth, met all manner of people, and seen heroism, innovation, brilliance, as well as waste, abuse, stupidity, and travesty. There is good and bad, but we are an amazing species on an equally incredible planet.

I appreciate every day, every moment for what it is. I care and protect those around me. I am a fanatic when it comes to honesty, as life is too short to lie or deceive, or be around those who do. I believe simple rules are the best guide in life. If you do it, own up to it. If you make a mistake be the first to admit it, make it right, and learn from it. I support the proliferation of information, education, and reason, and logic.

I believe in straightforward concepts. Let people make their choices and learn from their mistakes. Respect others personal choices and rights of others. Just because you don’t agree, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t do it. Refer to the 4th grade rule above.

Embrace we all have a responsibility to make society better for ourselves, future generations, and mankind’s future existence. In a thousand years we will likely either be looking at earth from colonies on other planets and saying “we didn’t do such a bad job” or the only thing left will be mutant rats and cockroaches fighting over how to open the last Twinkie in the ruins of what was our civilization. We get to choose. So if we are only thinking what can we get out of this world, we not are living up to our responsibilities to make humanity great.

I am looking forward to posting on Steemit. I think this place needs a little more sarcasm, realism, and people who don’t really care about popularity, vanity, or playing nice just to fit in with the crowd.