The “Official” Tithe: Nyeh.

After faithfully tithing our money to whatever church we were attending, we’ve stopped. 
We were big tithers.  Tithing a tenth of our income to our local church was on the same page as commandments like, “Do not commit adultery.”  We have always tithed.  And we never complained about it, either.

We still practice the fine art of giving away more [...]

Ruminating on Our Enemy the State: America the Adolescent?

With regards to the topic of discussion this month over at RTD (where I also put up this same post), Lydia commented,
“…[A]ll the bad that can be said about corps. can be said about the gov. Refer to “Our Enemy, the State,” by Albert Knock for an exposition on this.”
Salixc provided links to the book [...]

Our Enemy the State (in Bile Green and Size 9 Font)

The labored sounds of a printer are to the East of me. That would be, “Our Enemy, the State” sludging itself out, page by page. The text is in a lovely green color, since the black ink cartridge ran out yesterday (likely having something to do with multiple copies of Woody and Buzz [...]

Voting Based on Abortion Stance

These are thoughts penned in response to those who vote based on abortion policies alone (as I once did), feeling that to cast a vote in any other direction would be participating in the death of unborn babies:

When the Nazi’s forced all the Jews to live and starve in the ghetto’s, it was BAD. [...]

Oh No, I’ve Become a L-Word!

I knew it was probably true, but preferred not to think about it.  Last time I gathered with some family friends around the big eat-good-food-while-we-debate-late-into-the-night table, yammering about this and that (topics ranging from global warming to Bush to the Iraq war to Israel to welfare to illegal immigrants to health care to abortion, etc, [...]

Punishment as Reformation…Or Not.

The reformative effect of punishment is a belief that dies hard, chiefly I think, because it is so satisfying to our sadistic impulses. 
~ Bertrand Russell, “Ideas that Have Harmed Mankind,” Unpopular Essays, 1951
Now I assume my Saturday Night Live pose and say, with my best Jewish mama voice, “Discuss.” 

The 30 Days Project

We’re gearing up to start 30 days and are excited that some of you will be joining us.  Since I might not be able to post much in the next little while, I wanted to make sure that the 30 Days links are front and center.
“He that hath pity on the poor lendeth unto the Lord; [...]

30 Days of Nothing—-The Practical Basics

Many are wanting specifics for how to get involved in 30 Days of Nothing. 

These are some of the things that my friend and I have decided on for ourselves.  Remembering that you can change, add, or delete as necessary for your family and/or particular situation, consider the following basic plan:

1. No Extra Purchases
Do buy toilet paper.  Do not [...]

When the Ugly Truth Gets Naked

I’m (depressingly) finding 30 Days demanding my attention, even though we’re not starting until next week.  
I went shopping without children yesterday, a fun little spree in which I picked up seven great books at a used bookstore, a few “like-new” items for birthday presents at a thrift store, and enjoyed a lunch date at a deli with my husband. 
 
Previously, I would have [...]

A Lenten 30 Days of Nothing

Edit to Add:   We are changing the start date (to allow more of you to join us ) to Monday, February 26th.  This gives us all more time to plan and prepare, as well as talk with our families.      

How the other half lives…and dies.   

I have four children. When they woke up this morning I kissed [...]