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interesting read.. not necessarily saying i agree, but it's an opinion i've never heard. The reason politicians can get away with doling out money that they have no right to and that does not belong to them is that they have the morality of altruism on their side. According to altruism--the morality that most Americans accept and that politicians exploit for all it's worth--those who have more have the moral obligation to help those who have less. This is why Americans--the wealthiest people on earth--are expected to sacrifice (voluntarily or...

One of the Florida State University professors protesting against a proposed chiropractic school at the college created this spoof campus map. Apparently, seven professors have threatened to quit if the chiropractic school happens. (via BB)...

In Sri Lanka, 22,000+ people died because of the Tsunami, yet they can't find any dead animals. I guess what you see in the movies is true; if you see animals fleeing, do join them....

President Bush defended American generosity Wednesday, even as his administration figures out how to pay for more help beyond the $35 million it has already promised to tsunami victims in Asia. In his first remarks since the weekend disaster that so far has killed more than 76,000, Bush -- like some in his administration previously -- took umbrage at a U.N. official's suggestion that the world's richest nations were "stingy," and indicated much more is expected to be spent to help the victims. "Well, I felt like the person who...

It's hard to believe that 14,000+ people can be killed so easily and so quickly by something like water. It's especially sad that it took two hours for the water to reach land, but people only needed 15 minutes to get out of it's path. "Most of those people could have been saved if they had had a tsunami warning system in place or tide gauges," he said. Person also said that because large tsunamis, or seismic sea waves, are extremely rare in the Indian Ocean, people were never...

The Oil-for-Food Scandal: What happened, and who's to blame. U.N. haters. The oil-for-food scandal is a legitimate one, but recently it's been driven—and often distorted—by people who seem interested in undermining the United Nations' overall authority. Conservatives resent the share that the United States pays of the body's dues—22 percent, down from 25 percent—and fume when the body doesn't reflect American interests 100 percent. The scandal presents a chance for payback. Everyone here deserves some blame for Saddam's outlandish thievery. But what was the ultimate damage? Negroponte has told the...

best album of the year. buy it at...

I went to Ray's funeral today. I didn't explain anything when I listed the obit, but Ray is the son of a man I worked very close with at MarketStreet for years. Bob Irvin, my mentor, took a very special interest in me and spent more time working with me than anyone else ever has. He invested a great deal of time teaching me everything I basically know about training and development. I'd only met Ray a few times, never spending more than a few minutes with him. However, I...

a very fitting tribute... The family of Ray Irvin will celebrate his life at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, 2004, in the Sanctuary of the First Christian Church, 2323 Broadway in Lubbock with the Rev. Michael Passmore officiating. The family will receive visitors in Kuykendall Hall at the church following the service. Ray died Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004, at Covenant Medical Center as a result of complications following an automobile accident, Saturday, Dec.11, 2004. Ray is survived by his twin children, Kate and Garrett, Molly Collie Irvin; and his parents,...

BAGHDAD—The Iraqi Department of Homeland Security recently released a 10-level, color-coded homeland security advisory system that will alert citizens to the risk of a terrorist attack within Iraq's borders. The country's current threat level is elevated, or Code Yellow-Orange. Citizens living in towns with populations of 1,500 or more should prepare for the smoke of burning vehicles to obscure the sun and expect hostages to be tortured for several days before being killed. Should the terror risk level rise to Code Orange-Yellow, it is likely that hostages will be left...

The Killers album "Hot Fuss" and my new Gary Fisher Tassajara mountain bike....

six songs you must like to be my friend: dreaming in two hour drives - teitur eye in the sky - jonatha brooke here i dreamt i was an anchorman - the decemberists surround me - the ben taylor band mercy on the fallen - dar williams float on - modest mouse five of these were free....

There's so many great things about the bicycle; so much that I can't even begin to talk about it's greatness. Luckily, there's a gigantic community of cyclists from all over the world to help. This gentleman and his friends rode around 500km throughout the Hunan Provence of China, and documented everywhere they rode, and everything they ate. It's inspiring. Go read the rest....

Welcome to your new home, Gaerne Podium Carbon Road Shoes....

(Official Press Release Below) There's a lot of hub-bub going around about Target Stores stepping out of the Salvation Army bell-ringing program. Almost all of the attention is completely negative, calling for boycotts and angry letters. However, I support Target in their decision. Throughout my time in management with United, I've seen the best and the worst of fundraising in store entrances. The Salvation Army people are class, always kind and never intrusive. But every year, there are hundreds of complaints about fundraisers outside of our particular store. Most...