I'm not looking to judge here. We all think it's stupid. That's why you don't ever baby talk to your boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse in public, and why you have two completely different phone voices depending on who's around at the time. I'm legitimately curious in the psychology behind it. Is it some sort of inner desire to revert to a state of complete dependence?

So, I understand how Good Friday got its name. The idea that now, we look back at Christ's death through the lens of the Easter resurrection, and therefore see this horrible act as a pure act of love, through which we now have hope for the problem of sin. But, then why are church services on Good Friday still all dark, sad and candle-lit? It's like we're pretending we don't know what's coming.

Why do they sell tobacco sticks at pharmacies?

I just ate a warm grilled salmon filet on top of cold iceberg lettuce. What a terrible idea. This isn't like ice cream and hot fudge where the contrast makes sense. It's just making my salad warm, which is gross. Listen up restaurants.

I used to recommend The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel to my friends, even before the Bible, because of my belief that the resurrection is the primary hang-up they have to get through before considering the Bible shouldn't be treated like Aesop's Fables. But, I've had a couple of friends who have found it difficult to get through. So, I think I might have skipped a step again. Now, I'm recommending either Reason for God by Timothy Keller or Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. Both of these start with the idea of God in the first place. Why we have it and if we need it? Lewis in particular uses compelling logic, wonderful for you philosophical-minded readers. Keller's book is a little bit easier to digest, and goes step by step through typical objections to reasonable faith. Here's my suggestion. Go to your local library and see which one you might like. Read the first few chapters of one of them. If you don't like it, try the first few chapters of the other. If you still don't like it, give up. I'm ok with that. But, you've got to try. It's too important not to have an opinion on.

...does NOT get you off the hook for being a jerk. You do not have an uncontrollable propensity for swearing, arrogance, bitterness or the like. These things can be controlled. If not immediately, then over time. You are not trapped in your former self. Stop the cop-outs.

Continuing off our "why do scientists offer such differing conclusions" topic from yesterday... I can find scientists who believe the Earth is only 6,000 years old. But, I can't find any who aren't Christians.

If economics is a science, why do all of these "scientists" have such drastically different approaches for how to best climb out of our current financial situation? It's not necessarily that any of their economic calculations are wrong. It's because they all have different beliefs in what a good financial situation looks like, and what the role of government should be within it. So, next time you hear the president or anyone else say "economists agree with me", remember that it means nothing.

Penn Jillette made an interesting point on his video blog, searching for consistency within the abortion debate. His argument is that at the end of one's life, no brain activity means you can legally pull the plug on them, so shouldn't no brain activity of the unborn child mean they don't have human rights either? I think this argument of consistency could do well in the legislation world. But, here's my ethical problem with it. In the case of the dying patient on the gurney, if you KNEW that in a certain number of weeks their brain would start kicking again, there's no way you'd pull the plug, right?

Calling all teenage boys. Jump on the Vampirerotica bandwagon. You dress like this kid, and you're going to be set. To be clear, this is not Marilyn Manson goth. This is something I am calling, Gothfeminant. Yes, it includes make-up. But, trust me, it'll be worth it.