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Greetings from Susan and Michael McKinney

Greetings everyone, my name is Michael A. McKinney and I am Donald McKinney's son. I want to first thank the community for the outpouring of love and respect for my late father, Donald E. McKinney. I know there is a significant hole in a lot of people's minds and hearts, and from our family to yours, we appreciate the support you have expressed.

I have voluntarily (and maybe a desire to pickup my father's burden) joined the Traveller Community, and I am retaining in full my father's works as well as all the documents and books he came to possess over his years.

Traveller was my father's second love (mom being the first) and he devote much more time than I originally knew, and have come to know over the last few days. I don't dare to say I can replace my father in this community, and I don't feel there should be a rush to do the same. But I hope you will welcome me, and I should get my professional stuff out as well.

If you hazard to look at my Facebook page, you'll see that I write fairly often on politics. I won't discuss my views and what I write here, for rules of the forum. However, it is my career to discuss politics, in Washington, DC, and I have professionally written on politics, locally and nationally. My Master's degree IS in Propaganda effectively (the nice name was Political Warfare and Public Diplomacy). It was studying history of messaging, and modern efforts of the sort. In my last year of my Master's program, I studied Space Warfare, in terms of mostly theory, and wrote an examination of the history of Russian Space 'Aggression'. Because of experimenting with classes in undergraduate school, I studied a good amount of physics and mathematics.

I look forward to knowing you all better.
 
Welcome, Michael. We're glad to have you here, though I wish it could have been under better circumstances. My condolences to you and your family.
 
Welcome aboard, Michael, and thank you for introducing yourself to everyone here. You'll find many personalities on this board; I hope you find the experience fruitful; yes, and even enjoyable.
 
+1.

That is, "Welcome aboard, Michael!" Hope that you and Susan are travelling OK.

And (borrowing from Yes Minister) in regards to your message, "That's a courageous decision, Minister!" ;-)

Actually, this board is pretty polite & helpful to newcomers. If there's anything you need to know, just ask and someone will probably know the answer. And yes, it was usually Don! So the rest of us will now have to take up the reins and help.
 
Welcome to the board, Michael. My condolences on your family's loss. In my rare interaction with your father he was always insightful, patient and encouraging.

I so look forward to your involvement with this community. I'm sure your father is proud of your decision and if I may speak for a few or perhaps many others, we are grateful for your willingness to carry on your father's work.

cheers

s
 
Welcome Michael.

As I have said before, my heart goes out to you and your Mother. My condolences.

May you too come to love Traveller, for your own reasons, perhaps even as much as your father did.

That said, keep the politics in the Pit, have fun, and do not be afraid to ask anyone if you have questions.

~Cryton :devil:
 
Welcome aboard, Michael. (And my condolences.) I look forward to your ongoing participation ... sounds like it could be very interesting.
 
Welcome Michael.

As I have said before, my heart goes out to you and your Mother. My condolences.

May you too come to love Traveller, for your own reasons, perhaps even as much as your father did.

That said, keep the politics in the Pit, have fun, and do not be afraid to ask anyone if you have questions.

~Cryton :devil:

Oh, and remember - many questions will wind up with 3+ well reasoned but incompatible answers... and often, as many or more not well reasoned answers. (But not all poorly reasoned responses are wrong, either.)
 
We are very glad to have you. May your Travels always be successful. Please know that we will support you and your family in any way that we can.

Cheers,

Baron Ovka
 
Welcome!!

Your father was an incredible resource on these forums and is missed!

Sounds like your resume places you quite adequately with this bunch of know-it-alls ;-)
 
Maksim-Smelchak,

Welcome!

*** Do you speak/read/write Russian? ***

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

I have *cough* really light *cough* proficiency in that. However, I had a Polish professor who has studied the Intermarium for most of his life, so when I hit a Soviet or Roscom document, I would talk to him to find out its details.

I can read and write some Spanish and Latin. I can read some Chinese and Arabic, and I know a small amount of Japanese expressions. There are personal or professional reasons for all of these. I applied for the foreign service last year, but was asked to reapply this year because of a lacking in positions to fill.
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I look forward to where the travels through my dad's collection of works and readings take me. And for all those, thank you. Mom and I are doing as well as we can. Things will obviously be rough going out. Your condolences are appreciated, and my father would be proud to know so many people thought highly of him and relied on him.

To his memory, let's continue moving towards a faster and brighter speed, that way he knows his presence encouraged us, rather than slowing or halting us. My dad was not one who sat on his thumbs in sorrow, nor should we. It won't be easy, but if he we were here, I know he would be encouraging all of us to continue the march.

If we are not to go, and no one else wants to go, then who will go? Then go we must, for no one else will go where we are willing to go. (And Mom greatly appreciated all the messages that were emailed to us showing support for our family. It was a surprise to see so many positive messages and folks my father had an impact on. Thank you)
 
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Maksim-Smelchak,
I have *cough* really light *cough* proficiency in that. However, I had a Polish professor who has studied the Intermarium for most of his life, so when I hit a Soviet or Roscom document, I would talk to him to find out its details.

I can help you with Slavic languages and speak/read/write Russian fluently. Please call on me if I can help.

I also have an international relations (political science) degree as well as linguistics.

I can read and write some Spanish and Latin. I can read some Chinese and Arabic, and I know a small amount of Japanese expressions. There are personal or professional reasons for all of these.

I can do all but the Chinese well. I also had professional reasons at one time.

Now, I have to work on my Vilani...

I applied for the foreign service last year, but was asked to reapply this year because of a lacking in positions to fill.

Don't worry about that. Foreign Service is a country club and it's more about nepotism and connections than anything else. Think tanks generally pay better with many less catches.

If you are still looking for work, I have a buddy out here with a think tank and I can check with him for you. He's a game theory guy.

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
 
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