This has probably already been mentioned as I havent read the entire comment string but once the GOP choses to abandon such issues then they have effectively lost me and, I suspect, a great many others.  Moral issues count and cannot be shoved aside as a casualty of politics.   It is only the efforts of men such as Ted Cruz, of whom I have become a big fan, that I continue to have hope that this party can be rescued from the "democrat lite" ending it seems bent on.

I am so very weary of John McCain.  For every one thing he does that is laudable he turns and completely destroys the goodwill with something that betrays his true character.  Despite all of the issues we have to contend with I think we are fortunate to not have had him as our President.

It is time for him to step down and he can take Graham with him.

I think I will preemptively mourn the passing of the post office by watching Costner's "The Postman" this weekend or perhaps I will just go mow the lawn instead.

On a chilly and foggy friday morning here in Fresno CA this just warmed my heart right up and cleared the fog away.

I echo every sentiment you have about homeschooling.  One interesting side effect of being a homeschooling parent has been the new awareness of just how libertarian I am when i had always percieved myself as a mainstream rebublican.

"Don't tread on me" has, for me,  become more than just a slogan from history.

Great post!

It is interesting to me that Piers Morgan should somewhat come to the forefront on this.  Didnt we already prove that Brits werent to be trusted some 200+ years ago?

Santayana's quote once again comes to mind...

I am a bit youger than Tabula but I have experienced the same and have a theory as well..

The older we get the more we tend to understand the true scope of life.  As a younger man all I ever tended to think about was my immediate need and other concerns were either just over my head or of no interest.  Now I have  a greater understanding of the joys and tragedies in life (that comes with a Wife and Children) along with an appreciation of how broken this world is and my heart is more moved and tears flow.  I have a sense of what should be over against what is and it can be heartbreaking.

I think it comes with age and wisdom - thats my story and I am sticking to it.

Independence Day.....did the aliens use mac os or windows and how did the protagonists know which version of their virus to upload?

I actually stood in line for 45 minutes to see this film and was blown away at how dopey it was.  Had it been one of those self aware tongue in cheek experiences I could have stomached it.

Sorry but I have to refuse the premise.  These tales are sweeping epics about the nature of Good and Evil, courage, honesty,deception, mercy, self sacrifice, and loyalty not about gender equality.  These books were the first I read as a child and as an adult that moved me and stirred in me a great passion for the written word.  Upon reaching the conclusion of the Lord of the Rings I was genuinely sad to see the tale end.  I felt as though I had been on the journey and had a connection to the characters.  Even writing this post I cannot quite adequately describe all of my feelings about Tolkein's creation.

Now I have read them to my daughters and they have responded as I did as  a child so its not just me or my gender...its the story.  We live in a world dominated by post modernism, situational ethics, a general coarseness and has no understanding of the broken nature of mankind.  Those who buy into that thinking cannot be expected to understand what is special about such works.

(Climbs down from soapbox)

Married

25

18 years (first and only marriage)

3 daughters

I used to be intimidated by the thought of Marriage when I was a young man fresh out of college but now I could not think of life without my wife and kids.  In fact, life before marriage, seems like a pale and  shallow existence as I look back upon it.

Thank you Bereket for posting this excerpt.  I have always enjoyed Ravi's writings and find him, as you state so well, able to pierce a lot of the confusion with clarity and gentleness.

Mankind is broken and there is only one fix that I know of.  It is time to remember what Christmas and Easter truly represent.

A peeve of mine comes from the world of sportscasting. I think this started with John Madden but when beginning a description of a players ability they start with some form of "now here's a guy..."I no longer watch sports unmuted on the television as the broadcasters are so bad.

Hi Rob,

I wont go into the comments for fear that I might negatively impact my IQ as a result but I did read the article - very funny and witty as always.  I love the title as well, it needs to be on a T shirt.  Perhaps an add to the ricochet store?

I just watched the two episodes with my wife and found myself forgetting about the worries of the day and laughing quite a bit.  In fact I woke up this morning and found myself quoting lines from the show.  Excellent job Rob and Co.  Whoever wrote the toast for Brian Doyle Murray should get a cookie - that was great.  It reminded me of something my Dad would have said.

Its nice to have a simple comedy that is only seeking to get a laugh.

Kudos!

I completely get it...I work in a service industry and in order to have a moments peace I either have lunch in my office with the door shut and my head phones on (listening to ricochet podcasts of course) or I eat out wearing a hat and sunglasses and hoping no one notices.  Sometimes you just have to disconnect from the workplace.  It can, after all, be a rather unforgiving environment.  That being said to not acknowledge the customer later when back on the clock - thats unforgivable.  Lousy hipsters...

Thank you for this submission Ben.  Would that we could vote for such a man as President again...