Technical certificates.

Okay now, off the top of the head:   I have a Washington State Vehicle Operator's License (driver's license), a Federal Communications Commission First Class Radiotelephone Operator's license, and a Washington State Residential Weatherization Inspector's license. In addition, I have a membership in the Communications Workers of America and a membership in the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists. Two years in English Literature at the University of Washington, three years in Music also at the U. of W., and two years in Music at the Cornish School of the Arts in Seattle.

I do not have a Poetic License (I'm not sure how one applies for one), but that doesn't stop me from acting as if I had one. I don't know of any institution that offers a Prose License, so I practice writing prose without qualms.

I'm quite sure I left out many awards and certificates (and I haven't even mentioned trophies and medals for prowess in fencing [swordsmanship]).

I don't think that any of this qualifies me to pontificate on how the world should be run. But there, too, that doesn't stop me from doing so.

So—let the blithering continue unabated!

Don Firth

P. S. I do not have a certificate or license to operate a folklift, but when I was working as a Production Illustrator at the Boeing Airplane Company (yeah, I have a certificate as a draftsman and technical illustrator), whenever I went out into the shop or assembly line, I had to step lively to keep from getting run over or mashed against a wall by forklift operators who were either blind or had a total disregard for property damage and human life.