Hi, my name is Julie. My online alias is Cornflower Woman. I've always been a nonconformist--not for the sake of intentionally not conforming, but because no matter how hard I try to fit in, my compulsion for freedom and independence always overpowers my desire for acceptance through assimilation. I guess you could say, from that perspective, I embody the American Spirit--the spirit that insists on individual autonomy and freedom from tyranny. It's that spirit which has compelled me to launch this series because I believe we each deserve to be our own masters of independent critical thought.