You may remember that Sassy (my 14-y/o) tangled with the school administration a few months ago over her hair color. Well, we finally have resolution: the school board has officially changed the policy and will no longer outright forbid “un-natural” hair color. Instead, the schools will focus on someone’s hair if it proves to be a “distraction.” Fair enough, to my mind - cool!

The birth certificate of the United States of America: the Declaration of Independence! The most significant document and political statement in history. The document that affirmed that each man is an end to himself, with rights that are inherent by virtue of birth. The document that created a nation, a moral nation, and changed the world. The document that boldly declared that governments serve people.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

After 230 years, these words still resonate across the globe, and they send a chill down my spine. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

Anletter to the New York Times from a Army Lieutenant currently serving Over There hits the nail right on the head regarding the NYT publication of the story about the efforts to track terrorist funding:

As your story states, the program was legal, briefed to Congress, supported in the government and financial industry, and very successful. Not anymore. You may think you have done a public service, but you have gravely endangered the lives of my soldiers and all other soldiers and innocent Iraqis here. Next time I hear that familiar explosion — or next time I feel it — I will wonder whether we could have stopped that bomb had you not instructed terrorists how to evade our financial surveillance.

Heard this letter read on Laura Ingraham’s show yesterday. Read the whole thing. And for a visual perspective, check out Michelle’s place.

Actually, the site is called “Get Rich Slowly,” and it’s chock-full of tidbits and advice on saving money, earning money, and investing money. Lots of good stuff and links.
There is an occasional quibble, however, such as in the entry that excerpts a book about how to live better, fuller, wiser, etc. Practical suggestions, to be sure, but the capitalist in me cringes at this:

Support what other people do; spend your time and money on things done for something other than profit.

Dang it. I support what other people do whenever I buy groceries, fill up my gas tank, pay my utility bills, donate to a worthy charity, and buy new furniture. What on earth does the “…for something other than profit” line mean? Sounds like a throwaway line to support local musicians, artists, and such, which is fine, but it sends the wrong message by equating profit with something “bad” or otherwise than ideal.

Listening to Mike Savage on the drive home, and he started to play an audio clip of Representative Lynn Woolsey making a comment on the death of Al Zarqawi…all he played was a bit of Woolsey saying something about how we attacked “from the air,” and then Savage got so upset that he cut the tape and began ranting. I want to know what she said — does anyone know where I can find a reference to her comments?

You will never find me whining about the price of gas, nor will you ever hear me bashing the oil companies or gas stations. As a famous economist* once said, “Prices go up, prices go down.” Filling up the gas tank in my Explorer is just a routine part of day-to-day living that I absorb. Coffee prices have gone up a bit lately, too, but you don’t see me complaining about that, either. And really, how can you take someone seriously who is complaining about paying $3.00 for a gallon of gas, when that same person likely purchased a Mocha-Latte-Grande-Skim-Frothy Thingie at the local beanery for $4.25? Still, having said all that, it’s still pretty cool to be living in one of the “green” counties listed on the Gas Prices Map (which I first saw over at GeeGuy’s place). (more…)

On a recent Objectivism thread, I made a comment that reflected my opinion of “getting drunk.” Someone took that comment and initiated a new thread, which has grown quite a bit and elicited some strong opinions - some who agree with me, others seem to fall into the “Randroid” camp, and there’s a few who seem to be deliberately trying to not get the point. Someone tried to equate - morally - *getting drunk* with *taking NyQuil to relieve cold symptoms*. Argh.

First of all, who knew that Isaac Hayes was a Scientologist? Second of all, how on earth does Hayes decide that NOW is the time to bail out on the show, giving up his role as the wise, soulful Chef? After how many years of no-sacred-cows, no-holds-barred, potty-mouthed humor? Hm…I guess that poking fun at every other religion, ethnicity, country, and sexual orientation is just fine, but once his own religion got the South Park treatment, well…that was the last straw. Much more discussion over at MeFi. (via Tammy)

UPDATE, March 21: looks like it may not be accurate — apparently Isaac Hayes suffered a stroke back in January, and it appears that someone (Scientology rep?) might have announced that Hayes was leaving South Park WITHOUT Hayes’ permission.

All this talk lately of Shia and Sunni muslims has puzzled me: what, exactly, is the difference between the two “branches” of the same religion? From the History News Network comes this brief explanation:

The Sunni branch believes that the first four caliphs–Mohammed’s successors–rightfully took his place as the leaders of Muslims. They recognize the heirs of the four caliphs as legitimate religious leaders. These heirs ruled continuously in the Arab world until the break-up of the Ottoman Empire following the end of the First World War. Shiites, in contrast, believe that only the heirs of the fourth caliph, Ali, are the legitimate successors of Mohammed.

There are other smaller groups within the Islamic community, too. The Sunni branch is the largest, worldwide, but the Shia branch is dominant in Iran.

When I linked the humorous (and blasphemous!) video titled “The Passion Of The Benny Hill,” one of my readers wondered if I would also post anything about the “anti-muslim” cartoons that have triggered violence. The commenter, Frosty Nuggets, seems to believe that I have an anti-christian bias, when in fact I am biased against ALL religions. I am also biased against superstition, psychics, ghosts, and other such nonsense. So in answer to Frosty Nuggets, and to demonstrate that all religions are equal in my eyes, here is one of the Danish cartoons that sparked such a firestorm (click here to see the rest):

I’m sure some of you have read the “You Have Two Cows” funny that periodically circulates via e-mail, such as this standard-issue listing. The intent is to demonstrate the basic difference between competing political and philosophical ideas, or how certain countries implement such policies. Well, thanks to our friends at Wikipedia, we may have finally found the most comprehensive “You Have Two Cows” listing ever created. Among my favorites:

PACIFISM: You have two cows. They stampede you.
SURREALISM: You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.
UNITED NATIONISM: You have two cows. France vetoes you from milking them. The United States and Britain veto the cows from milking you. New Zealand abstains.
COMMUNISM — CUBAN: You no longer have any cows. They sailed to Miami. You still have no milk - but you do have Fidel.
FRISBEETARIANISM: You have two cows. One of them flies up on the roof and gets stuck. You hope the government provides cow ladders.

Even more from Zodanet. Arranged alphabetically on different pages, including some great Objectivism definitions:

1. You have two cows. They are married. One of them has an affair with Ayn Rand while writing lots of philosophical work. The relationship goes south, Rand excommunicates said cows, declares that cows are irrational.
2. Cow is Cow.
3. I swear, by my cow and my love of it, that I will never milk for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to milk for the sake of mine.

And for you World Of Warcraft fans, how about this:

You have two cows. You try to camp them for a rare quest item, but the other faction keeps coming along and slaughtering them before you can finish your quest. You set your PvP flag and attack in an attempt to get even, but they bring their friends and kill you repeatedly. Eventually you level up to where it would be pointless to complete the quest and abandon it and the cows.

Gotta have an entry for instant-messenger fans, too:

1. OMGz u hav 2 cowz lolz!!1
2. DuudEz, i m liek teh fr34kin 1337 coz I totoly pwned yur 2 cows!!1!11!oen!uno!!

There are scores more, including Atheism, Wales, Nihilism, Visual Basic, Spiderman, C++, Groundhog Day, and so on. The bottom line here is that COWS ARE INHERENTLY FUNNY. Set aside some time this weekend and get caught up on all of the “You Have Two Cows” reading.

Although I have been an Atheist and Objectivist since my teens, I was in fact raised in what can best be termed a “secular Jewish” home, which is why some of Betsy’s “Tenets of Secular Judaism” elicited a few chuckles:

* Thou shalt go to college and enter a profession.
* Thou shalt not marry outside thy faith.
* Honor the Sabbath and keep it holy. Go shopping.
* Thou shalt not marry a rabbi. What kind of living is that? Better a doctor or a lawyer.
* Honor thy father and thy mother lest they lay a guilt trip upon thee … especially thy mother.
* Thou shalt not pay retail.