Stemming from yesterday's thoughts: Are most people successful at attaining pleasure or merely relief? And are they calling this relief that they experience, "pleasure" or "happiness"? Food when you're hungry, water when you're thirsty, going to the restroom, sex with a stranger: the feelings obtained are really just physical relief, no? And yet, people can mistake these experiences for "pleasure", even "joy", because they are the best feelings they've ever experienced. But, it's truly a misunderstanding with the definition of these words. Ok, that's pretty deep for one day.

So, after a recent alcohol related death in Major League Baseball, some teams have begun banning alcohol from their dugouts. This has inspired a minor outrage among players and coaches alike. It inspired this from me...."they've been drinking DURING the games????" I'm always surprised as to the overwhelming focus that people place on alcohol, and how it is so often the center of weekend plans. Yet, most people don't consider this self-medication a problem. I'm just not sure why?

Now that a donut costs about a dollar, doesn't that make the idiom, "I'll bet you dollars to donuts" mean practically nothing?

God's Politics: A Brief Review I am very happy that Christian democrats finally feel like they have a voice in the moral dialogue of our country, with the help of this book assuring them that they are not alone. I admire the fact that the author believes that the fight on poverty should hold just as many of our thoughts as the fight on abortion. But, the left and right in this country are still divided as to what is the BEST way to alleviate these problems. The author, Jim Wallis, argues that the rich in this country should pay more taxes in order to sponsor government-based initiatives for these goals. But, many on the right believe that this is unconstitutional. The author does not make a biblically convincing case for the ideas he presents to solve these social woes, he just makes a good case that God cares about them. Perhaps that's enough?

So, with this latest Minnesota bridge disaster, there are talks about a private takeover of bridge construction paid for by private tolling. So, it is a safe assumption that a private company could create a bridge more efficiently than the government, strictly because of the incentive to do so. But, how will this improve safety or accountability?

Most people think they're smarter than most other people. But, mathematically, that's impossible. You might have some wisdom, some insight, but there are a LOT of people smarter than you, especially in regards to specific issues. This is why political discussions often don't go anywhere. We all think we're right and have nothing to learn. Therefore, our argument becomes, "Shut up! Don't you understand how smart I am? Listen to me!" The moral of this story is to actively search out people who are smarter than you (they exist, trust me, even if you have to find them in literary form) and start learning from them.

I am setting up a shared movie program at my office. I did this at my last workplace as well. Everyone who wants to can willingly type up their movie library into an excel sheet, and combine them with other employees who do the same. Then, we have a "Your Company Name Goes Here" Movie Library. All who willingly share their own library can request to lend movies for free from other people's collections. Downsides. Some people's movie collections suck. They take all my good films, and I don't want to watch Bridget Jones' Diary. But, when I willingly sign up for this program, I am aware of the risks, and do it more so because I want my coworkers to be able to have access to a great collection of free movies than what I personally gain from it. Any other examples of where this "willing" socialism could work?

There is nothing inherently wrong with a "big" business. There is something very wrong with an any-size business committing illegal activities or engaging in corrupt practices. But, these things are not intrinsically linked. For instance, how long then, would you root for the "good practice" underdog? Until your patronage causes them to become successful and grow? And then, do this company's "good practices" automatically disappear, because they have become "big" and therefore, "bad"?

"If God exists, it no longer matters what you believe is right and wrong."

Why don't they sell milkshakes in gallon jugs? They sell yogurt that you drink, smoothie drinks, etc. Why not milkshakes? I would love to keep a gallon of low-fat, skim-milk milkshake in my fridge at work. High-protein energy for a man who loves milkshakes. That could be the slogan! Why doesn't this already exist?