With savages, the weak in body or mind are soon eliminated; and those that survive commonly exhibit a vigorous state of health. We civilised men, on the other hand, do our utmost to check the process of elimination; we build asylums for the imbecile, the maimed, and the sick; we institute poor-laws; and our medical [...]

Check out some free (or cheap) music from one of my favorite artists, Don & Lori Chaffer aka Waterdeep and Don’s new alter ego, the Khrusty Brothers. Just mouse-over the album cover and click to get a preview.

Thank God… That’s a phrase I don’t use flippantly and in this case I mean it quite literally. Thank God… It seems (too early to know for sure yet) that our president-elect indeed was just blowing smoke to make the far left and the media elect him. My worst fear was that he would actually [...]

October 3, 1863
The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they [...]

I read this story today about a college in Iowa that is performing a musical using readings of the King James Version of six Old Testament stories about cannibalism, rape, murder and bears mauling children. They’re acting out the stories as they are read unaltered. No interpretation or additions, just acting them out dressed in [...]

One sentance could turn it around:
“I will not raise Capital Gains Tax over the next four years.”
Alas, but all we hear is crickets…

“Promote then as an object of primary importance, Institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.”

George Washington, Farewell Address, [...]

I stumbled upon an interesting article in Business Week by Newt Gingrich. He makes the case that adolescence is a concept that was invented in the 19th century to keep young kids out of sweat shops and coal mines and is now an outdated idea. He postulates that if children transitioned directly to young adulthood [...]

So my blog has been decidedly political the past few month (when I actually posted anything). Like many Americans this week, I’ve been going through sort of an introspection. I realize that over the several years I’ve gotten complacent about my political, fiscal, social views. I’ve been disenchanted with the current version of the Republican [...]

This years election will change the way candidates are selected and campaigns are run forever.
According to opensecrets.org, as of October 27, 2008 the two candidates combined had raised just shy of 1 billion dollars (that’s nine zeros!) Barack Obama raised just shy of three quarters of that at $639 million and spent $573 million, John [...]