Just a Thought…

If you’re going to be wrong about God, isn’t it better to live your life as if there is a God than live your life as if there isn’t?

[Ed. Note: This topic has obviously generated some thought. Please see this excellent description of Pascal’s Wager for more insight. I should also note that I didn’t intend to imply that I agreed with Pascal on the notion that a belief in God is a better “bet”. I simply think that for me, because I already believe what I believe, the alternatives just don’t make much sense.]

A Compelling Argument for Fair Tax

“President George W. Bush said he would press ahead with the war on terrorism and his goals for the U.S. economy such as changing the tax code during his second term,” Bloomberg News reports. In “Simplifying Federal Taxes: The Advantages of Consumption-Based Taxation,” Chris Edwards, Cato director of tax policy studies, writes: “Minor simplification reforms will not be enough. The tax system is caught in a spiral of continual change and nonstop growth in rules. Since the mid-1980s there have been 7,000 federal tax code changes and a 74 percent increase in the number of pages of tax rules. Complying with federal tax requirements wastes 6 billion hours each year as families and businesses fill out tax forms, keep records, and learn tax rules.”
[Read more about the Fair Tax Plan]

"Don't Argue With An Idiot" and Other Truisms

I received this from my sister today and thought a few of these were classic:

Now that food has replaced sex in my life, I can’t even get into my own pants.

Marriage changes passion. Suddenly you’re in bed with a relative.

How come we choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America?

Don’t argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.

Why is it that our children can’t read a Bible in school, but they can in prison?

Why do I have to swear on the Bible in court when the Ten Commandments cannot be displayed in a federal building?

I saw a woman wearing a sweat shirt with “Guess” on it. So I said “Implants?” She hit me.

Sportsman of the Year

I noticed on Uncle Jack’s blog that Sports Illustrated is taking a fan poll for Sportsman of the Year. On the ballot is Pat Tillman, an Army Ranger that walked away from a $3.6 million contract to join the Army with his brother. Pat was killed in Afghanistan on April 22. He’s currently running third behind Michael Phelps and Lance Armstrong. While I’m a huge fan of Armstrong, can there really be a better selection for this award that Pat Tillman?

Make your voice heard. Head over to SI and vote today.

Questions of a Two-Year-Old

They were predicting one to two inches of snow last night, but we ended up with just a light dusting. After she got dressed, Lily went outside to touch the snow. Jack, still in his pajamas, was feeling left out. So I went out, made a miniature snowball and brought it into the house for him.

He stood there with this tiny snowball slowly melting in his hands and then asked, “Dad, is this magic?”

This whole scene was reminiscent of a previous snow incident.