welcome

I hope the Beyond 2025 webpage is continuing to be a valuable resource here for you all! I’ve decided to start a little page to include some more personal writing and resources while working. Anyone who’s known me since I was little knows I love writing. I wrote my first (terrible) sci-fi fantasy novel when I was 14 years old, I participated (and even won) a couple of poetry contests, and of course that old journalism degree I earned pushed me to learn a thing or two about reporting.

I don’t necessarily see this page as a frequent activity. My bandwidth for this project only allots me so much time a day to even go through my massive inbox of information. However, I find that sometimes I need an outlet to just speak. We’re inundated on the daily with scary headlines and terrifying statistics about so many things out of our control. While listening is core to our survival, speaking out gives us the energy to take action. Our actions motivate those around us. Working together is what will protect our rights and democracy.

Currently I have comments turned on for this site to allow for this speech- of course if the mud hits the fan I will immediately disable them (I know how the internet do be sometimes 🙃). I would like to open this space up as a place for you to speak - uninterrupted and unchallenged. I don’t intend to debate or reply to comments here (although I will be moderating and deleting anything I find antithetical to my objectives to create a factual, safe and pro-democracy space).

read the rules or suffer the consequences … respectfully

What can you call me? While we’re here I’ll be adopting the pen name of two of my favorite authors. One who wrote one of my favorite satirical writings - A Modest Proposal (remember that essay you read sophomore year about eating babies as a way to fix the Irish famine?). Humor is not only my favorite coping mechanism, but I find that people are much more willing to listen when you put a bit of sugar with the medicine. The second is the creator of an anime that is a great watch now if you have 2000 hours to spare. All should carefully study and unpack the epic tale of freedom and fighting authoritarianism, One Piece. For those of you who haven’t had the joy of experiencing this show - allow me to leave you with an appropriate and timely quote:

                <q>Never Forget. A country is it's people.</q>
                <p>- King Nefertari Cobra</p>
                

Peace out ✌🏼

-Swift Oda