tom
.-= tom Vail´s last blog ..Advice for the President – Stop the Leak =-.

I believe Marcus Aurelius was wrong. I do think the lion’s share of what we hear is probably opinion, but I also think there are valid and invalid opinions – opinions that are more likely to conform to reality. If there is only perspective and opinion, and the truth and facts are a fiction, then these conversations about seeking the best path are really meaningless. For me, the simple fact that we are able to communicate, however poorly, constitutes evidence of an objective reality.

And I’m really bummed that I missed an important part of that objective reality! I couldn’t swing a trip by your vineyards, and I was really hoping to make that happen on Memorial Day. I think that on my next sunny weekend, my wife and I will climb on the Harley and at least drive by your vineyard and shoot some pictures of the countryside. I once worked in the private sector near there – beautiful country!

Cheers Tom.

She said, “Sometimes you should color outside the lines.” I said, “Why bother buying the coloring book in the first place? Get a blank piece of paper and make what you will… why make the coloring book look like shit?” Thanks to my tactless point making, the conversation degenerated from there. Like Lazarus, Finster’s second rule of domestic tranquility applied: When in an argument with your lover, and you discover you’re right, apologize, AT ONCE! OK, perhaps I wasn’t precisely right

I think my essential “peeve” is similar to yours – be careful of your own presuppositions, you picked them up like you picked up most childhood diseases… uncritically from your family and friends. As a consequence, I tend to share that skin crawling sensation for virtually the same reasons – ESPECIALLY with those annoying little corporate sayings.

I’ve read Columbine – totally freaked me out. Initially, I couldn’t quite wrap my head around how poorly the media reported the story. Had their little bomb detonated…?

Glad you like the posts – maybe we can hash out what a Constitutional purist is, I like the sound of the name I don’t want my kids drowning in a sea of central (control) planning either. Hopefully most of America will start following Texas’ lead with their textbooks. Perhaps a solid grounding in America’s founding will help the next generation of leaders. I think what will help them more is what their family instills… those first principles, those presuppositions that they’ll (hopefully) challenge and not find wanting.

Cheers buddy!

Things that make my skin crawl when I hear them are “no weapons of mass destruction were found,” “Bush stole the election,” and now “how about that racist Arizona law.” It shows a staggering lack of knowledge and a dismaying amount of mimicry. Responses, of course, are “read the freakin Duelfer report for yourself,” “learn about the election process,” and “read the damn law.”

I used to say I was Libertarian, now I think I’m more of a Constitutional purist. I don’t know if that has a name or not. But the effect of the leftist pressure in my life is actually making me look at your average Republican and forgive the parts I don’t agree with just so I don’t drown in a sea of controlled press, controlled teachers, and controlled entertainment industry.

If you really want to shatter something most people think they know a lot about, read the book Columbine by Dave Cullen. I consider myself reality-based, but after reading only the first third of that book I can see I was as ignorant as any “Bush lied” shouting head – at least about Columbine

Love your posts, Steve.