The Rule of 72
My Wife just emailed me this note (just after asking if I minded whether she purchased a pitcher for an upcoming dinner party), and it’s clear that she understands me completely: Hypothetical conversation with your hypothetical future daughter: ————— ‘Hey dad…can I borrow six dollars allowance?’ ‘Why?’ ‘Umm…because’ ‘Honey, why? You can tell me.’ ‘I want to get a pitcher.’ ‘Six dollars? Honey isn’t that a lot of money? Think of what you could put that money towards. You could invest early and be a billonaire by the time you were thirty and then you would have the financial freedom to travel the world like mommy and daddy have always talked about...
From Russia With Love
I’ve always been fascinated by Russia. The nation has a remarkable history. Some of the greatest thinkers, writers and scientists hail from Russia, but some of the worst men imaginable have been born of Russia as well. It is a country of extremes; loved by its own people and perhaps not always well understood by foreigners. Back in the days when people were actively prevented from leaving Russia the KGB had a peculiar way of finding out which travelers planned on permanently fleeing the country. The ones who planned not to return would usually have a small container of Russian soil hidden carefully in their belongings. So great is the love of Russians for their country that even upon fleeing a repressive dictatorship the desire to take a small...
A Fresh, Dark, Foaming Calling
Historically Beer has played a major part in church history. Many of the best imported beers today were originally developed in Monasteries where monks devoted their lives to prayer, fasting and brewing superb Ales. In more recent years, however, Beer seems to have been cast away by much of the western Church. It stands falsely accused of all number of ills. Many Christians have no problem admitting that guns are not evil–that it is the people who use them that may have problems–but those same people at times are unable to extend that logic to alcohol, specifically Beer. Beer, unfortunately, is decried by many as an unholy devilish nectar. The Nazarenes, proud rectors of my alma mater, go so far as to devote considerable time and energy at...
Imported Brews
Two favorite things of mine are superb fiction (and its defense, consumption and propagation) and good sophisticated beer (again: its defense, consumption and propagation). Take a few minutes out of your day to go read excellent posts on both subjects: On Beer and Redemption You see, I was about 23 years old, and up until that point in my life I had only been exposed to darkness, or should I say lightness. I guess in a metaphorical sense it was darkness, but in actual reality it was lightness. I am talking really light, like 4% ABV light. You know, Bud Light, Miller Light, Smirnoff fruity drinks. When I met with Dan that day, he told me that those beers were just a facade, a glimpse of what real beer could be like. I had my doubts, but finally I gave in and...
Metanarratives and “External” Verification
R. Sherman has spent some time lately pointing out the unfortunate frequency that logical fallacies find their abhorrent way into common discourse. The two particular fallacies he notes as being especially common are the appeal to authority and more recently the dreaded ad hominem. Of course he’s right about how often these are employed; think back to the latest argument you heard and it’s quite likely that someone or something was insulted in the argument (i.e. only stupid people like country music) or that a claim was backed up by the rock solid reasoning of claiming that “so and so” said so, therefore it must be so (i.e. my friend is an English professor and said. ). Fallacies are fun to examine and important to understand if you value...