Aging author, published historian, published naturalist, published nature photographer,cosmologist, philosopher, civil war historian, nonracist confederate, graybearded old fool, now worthless old timer according to USA, 61;

Born Dachau, Germany, now Naturalized American Citizen;

Author of two "real" books "Appalachian Genesis" (TN: Overmountain, 2000) and "Hogs of Cold Harbor" (PA: Whitmore, 2005);

Former freelance magazine writer/photographer, later professional newspaper writer/photographer, now retired,

MA English Literature from U. of KY;

-- broke back in 1993 while caving, now a chronic pain case lost in intellectual studies -- cosmologist ala Teilhard and Frank Tipler; philosopher supreme ala transcendalism( Emerson, Thoreau, et al), existentialist (Nietzsche, Schophenhaur, et al) -- but biggest fan of Bergson and his Elan Vitale;

Ex-adventurer -- camera & photo tech lover -- film collection of 145 pro cameras & equipment -- digital users Canon 20D w/ 17-40L; 28; 50; 35-70; 55-200; 200L; more . . . .