This Blog

The purpose of this blog is to discuss current issues, law, politics, culture, philosophy, science, art or whatever catches the interests of the authors posting columns here. Sometimes we are looking for the best ideas to address the problems facing the modern world, sometimes we are just sharing things we have a passion for or simply just like and find interesting.

You may contact the Editor/Authors of FFS via e-mail at eic.ffs@gmail.com.

If you wish to contact a specific Editor/Author, please put their name in the subject line of the e-mail and it will be forwarded to them.

Editor/Authors

Mike Appleton, J.D.

Mike Appleton is in private practice in business and commercial litigation and appeals. His pro bono work is focused on the representation of abused and neglected children as a guardian ad litem through the Orange County (Florida) Bar Association. A little known fact is that Mike once once represented Linda Lovelace in a contract disputes. Mike was born in New York but was raised mostly in the west and southwest. he graduated from high school in El Paso, Texas in 1964 and entered the Jesuit novitiate at St. Charles College in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. Within six months he determined that the priesthood was not his calling and left. He entered Harvard in the fall of 1965 and took an A.B. in philosophy. He returned to Texas and received a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 1972, where he served on the prestigious Texas Law Review.

Nona Blyth Cloud

Nona Blyth Cloud has lived and worked in the Los Angeles area for the past 45 years, spending much of that time commuting on the 405 Freeway. After Hollywood failed to appreciate her genius for acting and directing, she began a second career managing non-profits, from which she retired last year.

Nona has now resumed writing whatever comes into her head, instead of reports and pleas for funding. She lives in a small house overrun by books with her wonderful husband and a bewildered Border Collie.

Mark Esposito, J.D.

Mark Esposito (a.k.a. mespo727272) is an attorney in Virginia who has practiced on every level of the federal system. He handles a wide variety of cases ranging from civil rights to business law to torts. A partner with Schilling & Esposito in Richmond, Mark practices with his law school classmate. He holds a J.D. from the University of Richmond, VA (1984) and a B.S. from James Madison University (1980 Summa Cum Laude). Mark is married to the former Suzanne Daley with two sons, ages 20 and 24. They reside in Henrico County, Virginia, and he is actively involved in youth recreational sports and civic associations and boards. He enjoys traveling, woodworking, and trips to his alma mater to watch an incredibly successful football program. He would know. Mark played college football (as a center) and was an all-state football player in high school.

Gene Howington, J.D., B.G.S.

Gene writes and does stuff.  He is a middle-aged American with a degree in English Literature with a minor in East Asian History from the University of Kansas and a law degree from Loyola School of Law – New Orleans.  He’s worked in the legal field and in businesses ranging from start ups to Fortune 100 companies. A civil libertarian, an egalitarian, a technocrat and a soft rule utilitarian, he doesn’t play partisan politics and view all the major parties with a critical and jaded eye. He is currently owned by two cats, but also loves dogs.  He loves to cook, collect first edition books and is a voracious reader of history, law, science, philosophy and fiction (just about any genre, but particularly fond of science fiction, detective fiction, thrillers and the patently bizarre).  In addition to writing columns, he is Editor-in-Chief of Flowers for Socrates.

James Knauer, B.S., C.N.E.

James Knauer is a graduate of Michigan Technological University where he attained a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science in 1988. In 1994, he earned the title Certified Network Engineer from Novell Corporation. Having written his first computer program in 1978, he has spent his life in some aspect of software development, most often in support of general ledger accounting systems. In 1996, he founded the Myne Cooperative Network to design web pages for the brand new platform, immersing himself in all the relevant technologies, many of which remain in use today. He will read anything, including the backs of shampoo bottles if that’s all that’s at hand. He also began studying music at a young age, and has a life-long relationship with the piano keyboard. His grandfather was an architect, having served on the team that built the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit, Michigan, as well as designing many of the more modern schools in a town called Jackson, Michigan. James follows in these footsteps, having taken up 3d modeling and animation for simulated environments. Now ensconced in the Seattle area, he cares for an adult male cat and cooks from scratch, while serving the IT needs of local small businesses. The invitation to join Flower of Socrates he regards as a high honor and privilege.

Elaine Magliaro

Elaine Magliaro, a graduate of Salem State College, worked as an elementary school teacher for more than three decades and as a school librarian for three years. She taught a children’s literature course at Boston University from 2002-2008. Elaine served three terms as president of the Massachusetts PAS North Shore Reading Council of IRA and as its events coordinator for many years. She also served on the advisory board of the Keene State College Children’s Literature Festival from 2006-2008 and as a member of the NCTE Poetry Committee from 2009 to 2012. Now retired, Elaine writes children’s poetry. Her poems have appeared in several anthologies. Things to Do, her first poetry collection, will be published by Chronicle Books. She has been happily married to her high school sweetheart for more than forty years. They have one daughter. Elaine spends three days a week as the “nanny granny” for her granddaughter Julia. Elaine is currently pursuing other literary interests she has had on the back burner for far too long. Her first children’s book, Things to Do, will be released by Chronicle Books in early fall of 2016. In addition, two of her original works will be included in anthologies scheduled for publication next year. Her acrostic poem “Crickets” will be included in One Minute Till Bedtime, compiled by Kenn Nesbitt and published by Little Brown, and her poem “There Was a Witch” will be included in a collection of space poems, edited by John Foster and published by Frances Lincoln (UK). Be sure to keep up with Elaine and her current projects at her blog, Wild Rose Reader.

Charlton S. Stanley, PhD, ABPP

A Board Certified forensic psychologist, Dr. Stanley was one of the founders of the American Board of Forensic Psychology (ABFP). He is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Counseling Psychology (ABCoP). Both those specialty boards are part of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). He is listed in the National Register of Health Service Psychologists. He has been named a Life Member of the American Psychological Association. He has devoted most of his professional career over the past 40+ years to working with law enforcement, corrections and the judicial system. His areas of interest include risk management, general and specific legal competency, the insanity defense, ethical issues, and trial strategy. A pilot with muli-engine, instrument and glider ratings, he also consults on aviation psychology cases. He has been consulted by the FAA Aerospace Medical Certification Division numerous times. He has consulted on liability cases involving aircraft accidents and incidents involving both full size and model aircraft. He is a member of the Association for Aviation Psychology, the Academy of Model Aeronautics, and several other aviation organizations. Dr. Stanley is frequently in demand as an expert on medical and psychological ethics. He served on the Medical Ethics Committee of the Central Mississippi Medical Center for many years. He served on the Credentials Committee of Charter (psychiatric) Hospital. He also is a past Executive Secretary and Chair of the Mississippi Board of Psychological Examiners. Dr. Stanley is an expert hypnotist and has been a consultant to a number of State and Federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies on issues of forensic hypnosis. He is also qualified as an expert in interrogation, confessions and the Miranda warning. He is trained in the operation and use of such devices as the voice stress analyzer, penile plethysmograph and other biofeedback devices. He is past President of the Mississippi Biofeedback Association. He has evaluated several hundred defendants charged with capital crimes. He has testified as a court-appointed expert in forensic psychology in State and Federal Court hundreds of times. He has been a consultant to the Attorney Generals of both Mississippi and Tennessee, as well as the US Attorney’s office and Department of Justice. Dr. Stanley is a widower after 55 years of marriage to his wife Letha. Father of two sons and two daughters. Both his sons are veterans of the US Coast Guard. His younger son is deceased and was interred in the Mountain Home National Cemetery with full military honors. When not at work, he can be found in his workshop. A journeyman draftsman, he is an expert in technical drawing. In a previous career, worked in the engineering department building the Titan II underground missile launch system. He is an amateur luthier and cutler, making mountain dulcimers and knives. He also does some gunsmithing, among other things. A serious amateur photographer, he has done some professional photography and has won photography contests. Other interests include the history and culture of the Celtic people. He is a past President of the Clan Skene Association, one of the most ancient of the Scottish Highland Clans. Dr. Stanley writes on several blogs.

Bob Stone

Bio pending. He’s a mystery. We know Bob likes German Shepherds and Elmore Leonard.

Annieli Summers

Ann Li-Summers most recently taught at Texas A&M University. A graduate of Grinnell College and the University of Minnesota with doctoral studies at the University of California, Ann has taught since 1977 at institutions such as Southern Illinois University, UCLA, and Baruch College of the City University of New York. Her book chapter on the virtual capital in the postmodern period appears in 2008 collection on the political economy of art.

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