"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32... and also chiseled into the marble entrance of the CIA Central Intellegience Agency... how's that for irony!
Most of what you believe about your government is a lie, an elaborate illusion to keep you ignorant of the truth. To the extent to which you buy their lies and the propaganda of the major media you are deluding yourself. "None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
So, citizen, are you going to take the blue pill or the red pill ? As Morpheus said, "all I offer is the truth and nothing more".
In great empires the people who live in the capital, and in the provinces remote from the scene of action, feel, many of them, scarce any inconveniency from the war; but enjoy, at their ease, the amusement of reading in the newspapers the exploits of their own fleets and armies.... They are commonly dissatisfied with the return of peace, which puts an end to their amusement, and to a thousand visionary hopes of conquest and national glory from a longer continuance of the war. Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations
The general rule is that an unconstitutional statute, though having the form and the name of law, is in reality no law, but is wholly void and ineffective for any purpose since unconstitutionality dates from the time of its enactment and not merely from the date of the decision so branding it; an unconstitutional law, in legal contemplation, is as inoperative as if it had never been passed... An unconstitutional law is void. (16 Am. Jur. 2d, Sec. 178)
“Nationalism does nothing but teach you to hate people you never met, and to take pride in accomplishments you had no part in.” Doug Stanhope
There's a fine line between the American dream and the American nightmare. Don Henley
You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality. - Ayn Rand
Most of the trouble in the world is caused by people wanting to be important. ~ T. S. Eliot
Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism when hate for people other than your own comes first. Charles De Gaulle
The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable. - H. L. Mencken

Show History

Shark for Lunch

This series originally started in the Spring of 1999 under the series title, Shark for Lunch. That series was primarily the brain child of Crawford Lyons and Richard Wileczek who wanted to duplicate our weekly lunch discussions on a TV program. The regular members of that lunch crew were Mike Nixson and Crawford's wife, Lynn who were drafted into this regular series on the local York community access channel. Mike Nixson agreed to do the show only to the extent that he would be responsible for "shooting his mouth off." There would be no production responsibilities for Mike. We can only surmise that Lynn was prevailed upon to do the show so she could watch Crawford do and say outrageous things first hand.

The first show was recorded on May 3, 1999 and the subject was Bill Clinton's dirty little war in Kosovo where American troops are still stationed. In general, while many of the subjects were very serious, Crawford in particular brought a levity to each show that was rarely reproduced anywhere else. Like his hero, Howard Stern, you never knew what he would say next.

In July of 1999, Lynn and Crawford announced that they were moving to New Hampshire. While they were still able to do the show, Crawford would only be able to have a limited role in its production, primarily focusing on the content (Crawford was after all always the creative heart of this show). Mike being technically inclined to begin with, began taking over the technical production of the show. In February of 2000, the taping sessions were relocated from the cable access company to Nixson's residence in Manchester township. In November 2000 after 46 shows, Crawford and Lynn discontinued their participation in the show.  Selected episodes are available on YouTube.

Over the next 18 months, six shows were produced by Mike and Richard under the Shark for Lunch name and during this period, Mike built a video recording facility. By mid 2002, Richard had moved on to other ventures.

Common Sense

In mid 2002 Mike rechristened the series as Common Sense, taking the title from the revolutionary pamphlet of the same name by Tom Paine. The format of the show was primarily an interview format with Mike the host and one or two guests. Since then, we have produced over 38 shows.