I too did not care for Scotch when I was younger, now having discovered Single Malt I am a convert. Taxes are rather high in Washington State, so my father and I content ourselves with Glenlivet 12. We are at present finishing a bottle of Glenlivet 15 which we opened for Christmas and I would say that is my favorite so far. I make occasional trips to Illinois and hit Binny's to stock up on special bottles there. We are into a Glenmorangie Nectar D'or (12 yr Sauterne cask) that is very nice also. We drink Black Grouse for a blend and the Johnny Walker Double Black Dad got for Christmas is good also. I did not think I would like the real peaty stuff, but have found that I do like it. We have some Double Cask Laphroaig and also have a cask strength Laphroaig yet to open. Great thread....

I agree that you can only find God by asking for faith. You do not have to believe right off, but need to be open to what comes to you. In the case of Catholicism/Christianity, you need to read the Gospels and Epistles so you know what Jesus was teaching and what his apostles had to say about it so that you know what to look and listen for. Also, you need faith and reason, either one alone is insufficient. I am very happy in my Catholicism, Christianity is not afraid to look at the world and see how it works and use its intelligibility to find God. Christianity and Judaism would not have continued for so long if there was not a truth to them. I wish you the best.

I used the term consciously, a weeding out I guess. Very open to meeting in Walla Walla or Wenatchee if any are interested. Lots of great places over here. Spent 14 years on the West side in my younger years and love it there also. Except for all the blue.

Great conversation.  While I do not give much credence to sports writers especially on subjects other than sports, I have come to agree with one who seems more balanced than most.  With Pete Rose his infractions had nothing to do with how he played the game and he was great. Let the steroid people who were really good into the hall, they had great talent to begin with, but make a separate section to show that there was not the purity that previously existed; even though that "purity" can be debated....amphetamines and such were not unknown before steroids. We are using asterisks in the record book, make room sized one in the Hall of Fame. I am fine to wait until they are dead, or recognize them but do not include them in the induction ceremony. That would help apply the shame that is missing from culture today and helps hold our worst instincts in check. 

Lots of good stuff here, the thing that struck me the most when reading the post initially was the lack of attention to the value of the human person. The world was created for man and that in itself is a reason to continue to populate it. While advancements in technology seem to be mostly heralded as a good thing, it has its limits, to my mind. We are social and need others around. If robots increase and we decrease it will be a stunted world. We need to keep people employed and useful, or we do them a disservice, just look at how things are going now. Creativity seems to be ignored in many conversations and I agree with comments above and we keep our society healthy by continually creating in all ways. It is a moral statement.

Many times I wonder what God's plan is, And I do not presume to have an understanding with God-He is other and I can only marvel at the mystery. You say that logic and faith do not intertwine, but Faith and Reason require each other to balance out our understanding. Find Fr. Barron on you tube or at word on fire.org. He has great things to say. I pray you will find your way back, I would be lost without my Catholicism.

Baby Back Blues just off I-55 on the Joliet/Plainfield border in Illinois. Every thing is well smoked and the flavor is magnificent.

My sentiments exactly, Hamas is a death cult, sacrificing their children in hate. Jesus response is to weep over the death of anyone, and I use the present tense on purpose. He would say that no innocent children should die, but he also knows the fallen nature of humanity and that there is no paradise on earth.

Great thoughts, I never thought media would start to let on the truths about the President. It has always amazed me that he does not try to get people on his side, just pretends to work with others and nobody calls him on it

Awesome, I cannot come close to a better answer.

I love the Seattle area, all good suggestions above, I like the outdoors and Mt. Rainier is spectacular. Deception Pass is marvelous and the best ferry ride if you have time is from Anacortes through the San Juan Islands. I also like the trip from downtown to Winslow on Bainbridge Island-shorter than going to Bremerton but more scenic at the end of the journey. Winslow is a fun little town to look around for a bit and have lunch if you can put up with the crunchy granola types. No one has mentioned the North Cascades Highway yet-very nice even if you only get as far as Ross Lake. I have great memories of a couple of fishing trips there before the highway was built. 

As a Catholic Christian, I find myself to be quite rational and objective and had no trouble helping to make a solid decision the one time I have served on a Jury. I would say the biggest problem you would find is a lack of clear thinking by some people, and that is due to the poor education some get. I personally would rather not be tried by a professional jury.