This was the letter sent with the first edition hardcopy of Robert’s Ramblings.

27 September 1999

Welcome to the first edition of Robert’s Ramblings, a periodic publication of essays and commentaries by me. My intent is to publish this, in the words of Dilbert creator and author of the Dilbert Newsletter, the frequency will be “roughly whenever I feel like it”. Some of you may not care about what I have to say and that is fine, remember this cost you nothing. Some you will want to share this with friends (maybe I’m stretching here) and that is fine too.

This issue is on a serious topic, not all of them will be that way though, that’s why it is called Ramblings. Some will be funny, some will be sad, some will entertain, and some will probably make someone mad. Whatever your reaction, remember these are only my thoughts. You’re welcome to share them and you’re welcome to disagree with them. As I tell my friends at work, my skin has already been calibrated by being screamed at by a Marine Major so there is little any one else can say that would rattle me. By the way, it took a Navy Commander to explain to a Marine Lieutenant Colonel, that the Navy Lieutenant was doing his best with limited resources to see that an entire exercise involving roughly 2400 people was completed and that the Marine Major needed to back off.

One day, in the not too distant future, these will be posted on my yet-to-be-developed web page along with other topics such as Robert’s Readings which will discuss the books I’m reading (yes, books–I usually have about 3 going at any given time). I am a proponent of using writing as a tool to aid thinking. I see far too many students who believe that writing is something that is done after all the hard work is over. Writing is hard work and is the best tool I know of to help clear up some cluttered thinking. My Ramblings are more an exercise for me than they are anything else.

Now, why do I think any of you care about what I have to say? Well, first, several of you have told me that you do, others act like they do. Most of you read news reporter’s commentaries and I can promise that what I have to say has been given much more thought than anything printed in the papers. But I respect your opinions and your privacy. If you do not wish to receive future issues, then let me know and I’ll send them to someone else. I do however hope you will enjoy these and wish to continue to receive them. Should you know someone else who would like to get them then send me their names and addresses and I’ll add them to the list. Of course you have the privilege of being charter subscribers.

And now, in the words of John Adams:

Let us dare to read, think, speak and write….