Introducing Myself -- a dab of freedom, a pinch of writing and scifi, a gargle of politics, a whiff of cryptocurrency ...

Howdy Steemers(?) Steemians(?) ... browsed around for a day and couldn't find a primer on getting started, but I think I understand this introduction thing. I tried to be a little more creative while giving you ways to double and triple check who I am. No identity thieving here.

And it's weird, because I had to sign in with Facebook to ID myself anyway. But here goes the pic*, and then some of my lovely information. (*Any way to upload pictures directly to steemit? Or you can only link to outside hosted images?)

So I've been writing professionally since 2001 but, as you can see, I also do some writing for fun. Still, I don't quit my day job.

The thing about Darwood & Smitty is that it's entirely related to steemit, because it's a scifi novel set in 2045, but it tackles a lot of modern issues ... like the challenges of freedom, taxation, invasions of privacy, and political corruption (ok, so that one's not a current problem, but the rest are, right?)

Like other cryptocurrencies, steemit represents a way -- maybe and maybe not the way -- but a way out of our broken political and economic system. And it really represents the people kind of getting together and saying, "You know what, enough of this. We're going to exchange things in our own way, and when the government's ready to start being of and for the people again, then ok we can talk."

Now I'm a big fan of asking questions and using humor when I can -- it's all about getting people to be open minded and to consider new perspectives on a topic. Because heaven knows I haven't got all the answers, and no one does. But I think when we collectively start asking questions and walking in other people's shoes, then we start coming together in the way we need to for our ultimate survival and success.

I'm not talking about getting along because no one's allowed to offend anyone else because that's not politically correct, or allowed. But getting along because why the heck shouldn't we? Because it's way nicer when we can just go about our lives and try accomplishing what we feel we're here to accomplish. We've got a little while for doing that -- so what, we're going to waste it fighting? Well, that sums up way too much of human history. Enough of that.

I'll try wrapping this up now, because it's meant to be an introduction and it's gotten completely out of control. Well that is what happens when you give me a platform to write on. So please, do blame steemit.

Truth is, I'm interested in a lot of topics, and I hope to post things here across that variety. Meanwhile, as a salutation, here's something I can't share directly on steemit because it's music. Things I've played on the piano. Just another hobby in case you really want a feel for who I am:

http://www.stevemccardell.com/music.html