Stem Cell Research

Ron Paul thinks most people are Missing the Point. Agreed.

Emperor Norton

His Imperial Majesty Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico

This is really funny. I guess S.F. has always had a few nutjobs.

Memorial Day Post

Remember

Gold Standard

Abandoned Gold Standard Guarantees Inflation

10 suggestions to make the most of your post-graduation life

Live gently, enjoy the journey, get a hobby

By Steven Greenhut
Register columnist

When I was fresh out of college a friend of mine - he was in his 60s at the time - told me that, a few aches and pains aside, he didn't feel any different at his advancing age than he did when he was in his 20s. I couldn't understand how that could be, given that the four decades or so that had passed were an eternally long time.

Now that I am in my mid-40s, and my oldest child is going into high school, I can understand what my friend was saying. Really, events that took place 30 years ago sometimes feel as if they took place last weekend. I don't have many aches and pains yet, but I definitely understand how quickly decades, and an entire lifetime, can pass.

On that realistic note, here are 10 suggestions to make the most of your post-graduation life:

1. Treat every moment with relish.

Do not waste your time. Have fun, of course. Do not be dour either. But do not tarry in pursuing your dreams, lest you wake up one morning late in life wondering where the time has gone and why you never did anything that matters. A book for Russian orthodox monks reminds them that the best way to live a holy life is to remember that life is finite, that they will eventually die. One needn't be a monk to learn from that profound wisdom.

2. Be intellectually curious.

You should search for truth and be willing to change your mind when confronted with new facts. I saw a license-plate holder the other day that said, "Truth, not tolerance." Actually, that saying is half-right. Tolerance in and of itself is empty, a politically correct passion that loses sight of the quest for truth. But one ought to seek truth and be tolerant at the same time, lest one become self-righteous and arrogant.

3. Don't let your ideology get in the way of your love of justice.

Too many times, I've seen people so committed to a particular point of view that they are unwilling to deviate from it, even if it's the right thing to do. For instance, people who are "tough on crime" often want to throw the book at any criminal, even in a situation where leniency is in order. Softening up, even when the facts demand it, is hard to do for people unwilling to backslide on their particular outlook. My suggestion: Always do the right thing; you can work on the ideological ramifications at another time.

4. Live gently.

I know the saying, "Life's short, play hard." But, really, that's a foolish viewpoint. You should make time for play, and you should be willing to work and even play hard. But you want to think about what you do before you do it. I like the road sign when one drives into the state of Maryland: "Drive Gently." You want to live gently, too. You don't want to irrevocably damage your life or someone else's through carelessness. Accidents happen, but less so to people who are careful about the way that they live. I'm not saying to avoid taking well-selected chances, but a life well-lived is one well aware of the perils of rash behavior.

5. Find love, get married, have kids.

This used to be standard advice - so much so that generations have come to ignore it. Granted, marriage and child-rearing isn't for everyone. Certainly, one is better off single than being locked into a bad marriage. But if you find true love, don't hesitate. As I said before, life is short. There's nothing more fulfilling than taking this sometimes tiring journey as a family.

6. Figure out what you want to do in life as early as possible.

It can take years to develop a career. Success and financial rewards usually don't happen overnight. I know someone who continually changes his mind about what he wants to do, and as such never gets off the first, most frustrating rung of each career ladder. The sooner you decide, and point your compass in the right direction, the more quickly you will find fame, fortune, or at least enjoy what you do every day. Because, well, you'll be doing a lot of it.

7. Enjoy the journey.

It's trite, perhaps, but important. You should have a destination. But too often, people get to their destination, then immediately pick a new destination. They never enjoy the ride, but only dream about the great things that will happen when they get to a new place. They live life disappointed. But those who like the car trip as much as the final vacation spot are among the happiest folk you'll meet.

8. Follow the 10 Commandments or the Golden Rule.

These are time-tested truths, no matter your particular faith. An early boss of mine, in his exaggerated West Virginia accent, used to credit all good things to "cleeeeean living." He was pretty much right. Don't forget it. An honest life is a reward unto itself.

9. Develop a hobby.

If only I had followed this advice. I have few hobbies, few skills outside of work. This is a source of endless frustration. Here's where I learn from my daughters, who are always playing their instruments or tending to their pets or riding horses or playing sports. Nothing clears the work-addled mind like a good, active hobby. P.S.: TV, video games and the like do NOT count as hobbies.

10. Live an examined life.

You know the saying: An unexamined life is a dangerous thing. You know people who don't examine their lives, but see the world entirely from their own, narrow perspective. Christian apologist Malcolm Muggeridge wrote that we all live in our "self-enclosed prisons." The best way out is to look inward, to examine in all honesty the things we do well and to correct the things we don't do so well.

Godspeed.

Vegetarians, come away from The Dark Side

This is undoubtedly one of the most interesting things that I've ever read on the Internet.

Bring on the Global Warming

People are attracted to the Sun Belt for its warmth. Plus the sun is great for agriculture.

Defensive militaries, war mongering, and national defense

I'd much rather have a strong national defense than a strong national offense.
"prescription drugs are 16,000% more dangerous to Americans than terrorists"

Social Security & the Environment

Harry Browne has the solution to both in one short article. Should we drill for oil at ANWAR? I don't know, sell the land to a private company or person and let them decide. Just don't let the government own any land. They'll ruin it for sure. Why would they protect it when they have no interest in the future value of the property?

Blog List

Here are some blogs that are even cooler than mine.

Hey Ladies

First the Homeland Security Department just wanted to feel your boobs at the airport, now they want to see them too.

FDR

Was the worst American President. And they're all pretty bad.
The New Deal in One Lesson

Democrats vs. Republicans

No Child Left Behind, steel tariffs, hundreds of detentions without habeas corpus, Afghanistan, the PATRIOT Act, Guantanamo Bay, prescription drug benefits, mandatory mental health screening for kids, Iraq, Torture-Gate, Stop Loss Orders, the Homeland Security Bill, the REAL ID Act

Yea, the Republicans are far worse than the Democrats. Of course, I would never support either.

A Week of Bush Is Like A Year of Clinton

Antoine Wright not returning

Will become first A&M basketball player drafted since 1987.

Texas A&M Sports Update

A&M could be poised for strong season

Rachel Cohen of DMN is predicting an 8-3 season.

Comeback for the ages

Soccer, the second greast sport in the world.

We are LITTLE. The Earth is BIG

This kind of puts things in perspective.
All the oil we teeny people have consumed since 1857 would fill less than 20% of Lake Tahoe.

Foreign Policy Threatens Our Freedom

A government win in the Padilla case would constitute the most major transformation in American criminal law since the inception of our nation, because it would effectively give U.S. military officials the omnipotent authority to arrest, detain, and punish anyone in the country simply by accusing him of “terrorism.”

Scary, very scary.

I Used To Be a Neocon

Great article from an ex-neocon.

Steak

Mankind was born to cook meat well.

A&M Basketball

Is on the up & up. It's rare when an Aggie makes it to the NBA.

A&M AD Means Business

Since arriving in College Station 2.5 years ago, Bill Byrne has replaced the coaches in the four major sports (if you include women's basketball), not to mention track & field. Way to clean house Bill.

What would you do for $10,000?

Check out these humorous statistics.
7% would kill a stranger

More Star Wars

Another great Star Wars III article.

Note: This might spoil the movie if you haven't already seen it.

Gun and Drug Laws

Anthony Gregory explains:

– what we're dealing with are possession crimes: victimless offenses against the state, whereby merely having something is branded a crime and punishable by fines and imprisonment.

Dr. Ron Paul

Knows a thing or two about money.

4th Amendment

Going, going, gone. Actually, they did away with it a long time ago.

Would Our Founding Fathers Recognize America Today

No they wouldn't, obviously.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/walker/walker11.html

Star Wars III

Another great article.
Is Bush a Sith Lord?

Firefox

If you haven't made the switch yet from Internet Explorer to Firefox, you can do it here. Firefox is a far superior product with fewer popups and it's free of course.

Spyware Problem?

It seems that almost every computer has some kind of adware or spyware on it these days. If you want to get rid of it, read this article and follow the instructions.

Texas A&M fires Baseball Coach

After 21 seasons. It's about time.

Jim Rogers on the economy

You may have seen this guy before if you watch the Saturday morning investment shows on the Fox News Channel. I like his insights. Here are a couple of articles he wrote:

The Rise of Red Capitalism

Breakfast of Champions?

LP Letter to O'Reilly

http://www.lp.org/fp/article_143.shtml

Big XII to get Instant Replay

Looks like it will happen this season.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/fb/fbc/3193687

Star Wars Episode III

I went to see it last night and it definitely lived up to the hype. I thought it was great. You should read this article before you go see it.

Craig's List

Lots of people love this site.

G. Edward Griffin

This Unfiltered News site is great. I read it every week.

Gorilla Mask

I like this guy's blog.

New post

My first one sucked. Let's try again.
This is a great article from Lew Rockwell
The Glory of War

Heisman Watch

So here's my first post. I hope you like it.

Top 100 candidates