We Could All Use a Drink

I just saw a rerun of the Colbert Report in which the guest was the president of a college who started the conversation at the academic level of lowering the drinking age to 18.  No longer is the argument only being held in college dorm rooms by pissed off teenagers who want to have a drink at the bar because that's where all the hot women are.  It still continues there, but there is a growing number of collegiate presidents who are thinking that the drinking age should be lowered so that there is less of a taboo feeling surrounding drinking.  Evidence can be found to support the thought that drinking out in the open is more safe than drinking behind closed doors.

The only reason that I think it is really important to be talking about this right now is this: with a 'war' that has gone on for 8 years (in which 18 year olds can fight), a global recession, numerous foreign problems that this blog has reported on previously, and the sudden realization that life after high school is full of this thing called responsiblity, I think in these times everybody, especially 18-21 year olds, could really use a drink.

The District of Columbia wants to have representatives in Congress. This will be short. What state do they live in?

Please comment any answers.

God's Name is Jim?

I don't know how many of you are fans of the Daily Show, but I am. A couple nights ago, there was a ruckus between Jon Stewart and Jim Cramer of CNBC. Go to the Daily Show website and watch it. This entry was made on my new smartphone, so it's going to be a little short. However, the next blog post will be very special, so stay tuned.

Noticing Patterns

I don't know if anybody is a big enough nerd to know that Tuesday was Square Day, it was 3/3/09.  I heard about it, I didn't celebrate; promise.

Today it's 3/6/09, no fancy name, but it still follows a pattern, which I think is interesting.

A bit of insight into the way my mind works, I studied music and then math and then history in college and each of these studies are similar in one major aspect: each of them is a study of patterns.

Here's an interesting pattern I've noticed: every time that a member of the government mentions that a company is getting bailout money or that a new stimulus measure is being passed the dow falls.  Why?

Here's my theory.  If you give them a little when they're doing ok but not great, you'll give them a lot when they're doing bad but not terrible.  Just imagine how much we'll give them when they're paying you to take the stock.

Anybody?  Bueller?

A Normality that is Golden

Also known as the Gold Standard. Ron Paul, seen in this video, discusses the beginnings of the Federal Reserve.

Mentally Ill-ussion

Thanks for the great idea, Beck.  Great title too :)

There's a disease in the justice system.  It has permeated the minds of great legal thinkers.  That is the mentally ill defense.  If a person is under great duress or has some other medically proven mental inability they can become exempt from their crimes.

This is not justice.

If a person with bipolar disorder can say that they were not aware of their actions, or if aware not in control, the same defense should be able to be used by drunks.  "I was too drunk to know that driving my car into that guy was a bad idea!"  "OK, go to detox for a few months and enroll in AA."  But Leviathan, someone might say, the drunk chose to be drunk, the mentally ill don't choose to have their problems.  Does that make their debt to society any lesser?  No.  If a person commits a crime against society they have to pay for it.  Just the same as everyone else.  That's justice.  No one will argue that the unabomber was completely sane, but I think everyone can agree that it's a good thing he's in jail and not a mental home.

I am a fan of equality.  If the mentally ill desire to be treated equally in society, they must be treated equally in the courts.  Same as blacks, gays, women, and any other group of people.

Update

Hey guys.  It's time for an episode of good news bad news.

Good news - I got a job.

Bad news- I still have to work in working and writing, but I'll get it going within the next few days.

Good news - Conan is taking over for Jay and Jimmy is taking over for Conan.

Bad news - I have to work early and don't have DVR, so I don't know when I will sleep.

Good news - The world has been fairly at peace.

Bad news- I haven't had as much to write about and readership has dropped off.

What would you guys like to read about that I can write about in the future?