20. Your kids never tell you that you’re a lot dumber than their
teacher.

19. If you can’t find matching socks for your child first thing in
the morning, who cares?

18. Cleaning out the refrigerator can double as chemistry lab.

17. Your kids have good reason to think they might get spanked in
school, but no reason to think they’ll get beat up by a gang.

16. If the principal gives the teacher a bad evaluation, she can
stick her icy feet against his legs at night.

15. You can post the Ten Commandments on your school room wall and
won’t get sued.

14. You never have to drive your child’s forgotten lunch to school.

13.Your child will never go to their 20th high school reunion, meet
an old flame, and recklessly abandon their marriage.

12. You get to change more than diapers, you get to change their
minds.

11. If you get caught talking to yourself, you can claim you’re
having a PTA meeting.

10. It’s better to be slightly concerned about socialization than
very concerned about socialism.

9. Your child will never suffer the embarrassment of group showers
after PE.

8. The only debate about the school lunch program is whose turn it
is to cook.

7. You never have to face the dilemma of whether to take your
child’s side or the teacher’s side in a dispute at school.

6. If your child gets drugs at school, it’s probably Tylenol.

5. The teacher gets to kiss the principal in the faculty lounge and
no one gossips.

4. Your kids recognize that this list is numerically in reverse
order.

3. Your honor student can actually read the bumper sticker that you
have on your car.

2. If your child claims that the dog ate his homework, you can ask
the dog.

1. Some day your children will consider you to be a miracle working
expert and will turn to you for advice.

(HT: Shasta)

The winner is Melissa Markham. FDR said this during his First Inaugural Address. Next week will have a new quote and perhaps a new format (I am still refining;).

No, not the NerdFamily. We’re more of a Ain’t You Glad You Joined the Republicans family, and we hate Liberals just as much as anyone else on Dick Cheney’s payroll. But what bothers me the most about “democrats and progressives” is that my end political goals (freedom from tyranny, minimization of poverty and its effects, fair treatment for all) are the kinds of things that the Left swoons over.

However, ideas promoted by the Right are attacked as motivated by evil, rather than discussed on their merits. Does a capitalistic marketplace for healthcare actually provide better, cheaper medicine or is it just there so the rich can be heathier? Would tighter borders raise wages and create better working conditions for laborers, or does it just keep “those people” out?

That’s why I’m very interested in The Euston Manifesto, a statement of beliefs of a few liberals put out today who are able to see past minor political squabbles and look to the end results. It’s primarily focused on foreign policy, but I think it moves the discussion a direction that can really be fruitful. Here’s a few samples:

No apology for tyranny.
We decline to make excuses for, to indulgently “understand”, reactionary regimes and movements for which democracy is a hated enemy — regimes that oppress their own peoples and movements that aspire to do so. We draw a firm line between ourselves and those left-liberal voices today quick to offer an apologetic explanation for such political forces.

Opposing anti-Americanism.
We reject without qualification the anti-Americanism now infecting so much left-liberal (and some conservative) thinking. This is not a case of seeing the US as a model society. We are aware of its problems and failings. But these are shared in some degree with all of the developed world. The United States of America is a great country and nation. It is the home of a strong democracy with a noble tradition behind it and lasting constitutional and social achievements to its name. Its peoples have produced a vibrant culture that is the pleasure, the source-book and the envy of millions. That US foreign policy has often opposed progressive movements and governments and supported regressive and authoritarian ones does not justify generalized prejudice against either the country or its people.

Now I’m not ready to become a Euston Manifesto signatory (frankly, there are parts of the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights that leave me a little queasy) but I do support the idea of looking at our core beliefs first, and making political judgements later.

Just wanted to wish everyone Happy Pesach and provide you with these lighthearted Passover Greetings.
First, You gotta love JibJab’s “Matzah!” (A disclaimer, they do use a bad word but it is quick and painless;). Then you have to toddle over to American Comedy Network’s Matzo Man. Last but definately not least, Taglit-birthright Israel has a Passover greeting featuring Elijah the prophet played (sort of) by Elijah Wood.

(HT: Volokh Conspiracy)

This left me speechless. Suffice it to say that when I played RBI baseball (a Nintendo game) with my brothers, it was never quite this dramatic. (Its about eight minutes. Drama takes time.)

(from 1986 World Series Game Six Re-enacted in RBI Baseball)

If that wasn’t enough for you sports fans, here’s Covering Teen Wolf: One Coach’s Guide. which reminds you that “you’re not going to stop Teen Wolf entirely, but you can try to contain him”.

Welcome to my new Wednesday Feature, Who Said It? How you play is read the quote and just post a comment saying who and if you are really good when. No Cheating;). I am starting with an easy one so amaze me with your brilliance.

“Only thing we have to fear is fear itself”

Supposedly this was being handed out at a yesterday’s Dallas illegal immigrant protest. According to Wizbang this was photographed there. While I don’t have any empirical evidence it doesn’t suprise me at all. Even if this was not handed out, you can’t tell me that this isn’t the Democrats goal and point.

So in the spirit of all these Friday Features, I have decided to start a weekly Wednesday Feature. Want to know what it is? Well, come back and check it out;).

Passover Begins April 12th this year. Have a Happy Passover and enjoy this Greeting! Thanks Richard for the email.

So I hope;) everyone who remembers my post on Bono at the National Prayer Breakfast. Well, I now have the video. I will warn eveyone that it is about 20 minutes but I feel well worth it.

I really appreciate his (what I hope are changing) views on believing in God but being cynical of organized religion. I think through all this he (and I hope others) see the power in the community in communion with God. While I have gone through my own issues with churches I believe in them and that I need to be in one. Churches are made of people, all of which are flawed and some (including me) are extremely flawed. This means that there will be failures of the church but hopefully there will also be successes. I also think we need to remember that many people would, like Bono, rather turn to the MTV people and shows than deal with hypocrisy. So we need to be aware that we (Christian or not) are always portraying our beliefs or lack of faith in them.