Good morning, good people.
I am Joe Shearer, I am 67 years old, have taught for the last few years after retiring, worked in industry for 37 years, in steel, in silicon and in avionics for some years, have a daughter and a freshly minted grandson whom I adore only a bit less than my daughter. My interests are in history, especially military history, in military strategy and in the applications of technology to military matters. In personal life, I had been into debating, into quizzes, both taking part as well as conducting them, and a host of other nerdy things. The saving grace has been sports; I rode, dressage, tent pegging and polo, I rowed, I swam, and now I walk (at a slow waddle). I am mildly left of centre in politics, and don't get along with intolerant people, but most especially those to whom religion is a dividing tool.
My name in real life is something else; Major Joe Shearer, later Major General Joe Shearer, was the man who brought a seven-a-side game on handy little tats played by the Manipuris in Manipur, and made it an obsession with British regiments in India, riding people in India and finally to the world, as the game of polo.
I am looking forward to a little and quiet and to an absence of controversy, so that interesting subjects may be discussed in a reasonable manner, and not in a way that drives me to an apoplectic state. On the other hand, there are some very familiar names, and I feel reassured.
Good wishes to all,
'Joe'
