Hi

I've been taking a bit of a break - and this time it was intentional. Earlier this year when I missed some time from the blog it was unintentional, simply a product of things that were taking place in my life at the time. This latest break was more of a self-imposed research and reflection period.

As I've stated before, I am self-taught with no formal education and my career has almost nothing to do with the Navy directly. As a hobby instead of part of my professional life, the blog can quickly become a time sink for me where I start writing too much and reading too little. As I am not beholden to any corporate, government, or academic entity for the content I write about here - I have the option of taking a step back and objectively examining my positions on the topics discussed here. That is basically what I have spent the last several weeks doing.

I've read some great books lately - some for the second or third time, and I've also had a chance to catch up and read many of the outstanding reports published this year by various experts. It has been nice actually - to read instead of write - and think about the ways others are seeing the emerging world in comparison to my own views.

I intend to write more often over the coming weeks, but I also think the blog has taken an interesting direction with the contributing content of the other writers. I like the current direction - so my intent is to write less but hopefully say more when I do write. I'll let you guys judge the level of success in this new approach.

Either way, it is good to be writing again. Hopefully the blog remains one of your daily reads.

- Raymond