It’s hard to imagine the United States without a large central government. Americans often forget that the Founders disagreed vehemently regarding the size/form/structure that our new governement should take. These disagreements first resulted in factions (Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists) and eventually led to the development of America’s first political parties.

Alexander Hamilton, John Adams and other Federalists believed that Britain’s strong central government served as a wise model for the new American nation (minus a tyrannical monarch of course). Thomas Jefferson and James Madison believed that liberty would be best preserved in the hands of state governments and by extension, the people. These Democratic-Republicans feared a system that was ominously similar to Britain’s.

In your opinion, what is the proper balance between federal authority and state’s rights? Who should have the authority and why?

The Allegory of the Cave appears in The Republic, Plato’s famous dialogue on justice. You were given a translation of this excerpt in class. When you have finished reading the excerpt and reviewing the video interpretation (included below), explain the significance of the allegory in one well-constructed sentence.

What is the message or thought Plato is trying to convey?

Now that I’ve experienced the trail firsthand, here are a few suggestions for planning your own Silver Comet adventure:

• Use a road bike. We worked way too hard on a mountain bike.
• Stop in Rockmart, GA and eat at Frankie’s Italian Restaurant. Excellent food, great service, and a gigantic wall mural for you to sign.
• Plan for a fall or spring trip. We rode in July and saw temps of 100+ degrees.
• Bring lots of water and a camera. You won’t regret having the water, and if you run out, you can sell the camera and get more.

Feel free to share your own thoughts/experiences below.

In March of 2009, I checked my credit score to make sure Kate and I were ready to apply for a home loan when the time was right. At the time, I had a decent credit score (718) and assumed all was well.

In June of 2009, I applied for a mortgage online. Our loan representative called me immediately and said something like this:

Josh…
I’m looking at your credit history, and it’s excellent.

During the last few years, I can see that you made all of your payments on time, in full.

However…

Your credit score is currently a 0 (zero).

That’s a problem.

My first thought was “You’ve got to be kidding me. You’ve got the wrong guy.”

Here’s what happened.

When I graduated from college in 2006, I paid off my student loans very quickly. Even though wonderfully generous loan companies give you money for your education, they expect you to repay the principal (fair enough) plus interest over a long period of time (not so fair). Since I took a few math courses in college, it seemed like a good idea to pay off the principal as soon as possible to avoid paying thousands of dollars in interest.

I guess I was wrong.

I later learned that my quick loan repayment meant that my credit score only had a 12 month window to benefit from my financial responsibility. By the time we applied for a mortgage, I hadn’t made any debt related payments in over 12 months and the credit bureaus “could not determine my ability to make payments on a loan.”

What a joke.

Other factors also brought my credit score to its proverbial knees:

• We live within our means.
• We only spend money we actually have.
• We pay for everything in full.
• We do not have a credit card.

Even though these credit bureaus had all of my credit history at their fingertips (college loans completely paid off in less than a year, no late utility payments, etc..) they still assigned me a credit score of 0 (zero).

The message: You must have debt to get a good credit score.

I was actually being punished for my financial stewardship. Because I did not adhere to the system (the same system that drives millions of Americans deeper into debt each year), I had to jump through hoops to get us approved for a home mortgage.

Good thing I enjoy jumping through hoops.

I spent the entire month of June contacting past utility vendors for “letters of alternative credit.” Most of them wouldn’t provide these letters, in spite of the fact that I paid them thousands of dollars over the course of my short adult life. I guess it’s unreasonable for the consumer to actually request something from the corporation.

Let me recap some of the ironies so you can learn or repeat my mistakes:

• You should have lots of debt if you want a good credit score. Debt is good.
• Don’t pay things off quickly. That would be unwise.
• Get as many credit cards as you can. They will help you.

In retrospect, what I’ve really learned is that Fair Issac Corporation (responsible for FICO scores) wields a dangerously powerful and highly illogical control over lending in this country. If you’re not willing to adhere to their system, you may end up with a credit score of 0 (zero).

Life on the edge.

The translation below is borrowed from James J. O’Donnell, Provost of Georgetown University. For posterity’s sake, I have italicized my personal comments. 

Get yourself a cup of coffee, take a few minutes out of your busy day and do some healthy reading.

PLINY TO THE EMPEROR TRAJAN
It is my practice, my lord, to refer to you all matters concerning which I am in doubt. For who can better give guidance to my hesitation or inform my ignorance? [A little flattery never hurts] I have never participated in trials of Christians. I therefore do not know what offenses it is the practice to punish or investigate, and to what extent. And I have been not a little hesitant as to whether there should be any distinction on account of age or no difference between the very young and the more mature; whether pardon is to be granted for repentance, or, if a man has once been a Christian, it does him no good to have ceased to be one; whether the name itself, even without offenses, or only the offenses associated with the name are to be punished.  [As governor of Pontus/Bithynia, Pliny is basically asking for advice on how to punish/manage Christians within his region.]

 

Meanwhile, in the case of those who were denounced to me as Christians, I have observed the following procedure: I interrogated these as to whether they were Christians; those who confessed I interrogated a second and a third time, threatening them with punishment; those who persisted I ordered executed. For I had no doubt that, whatever the nature of their creed, stubbornness and inflexible obstinacy surely deserve to be punished. [Note to self: A commitment to your beliefs (referred to here as stubbornness) may get you into trouble.] There were others possessed of the same folly; but because they were Roman citizens, I signed an order for them to be transferred to Rome.

 

Soon accusations spread, as usually happens, because of the proceedings going on, and several incidents occurred. An anonymous document was published containing the names of many persons. Those who denied that they were or had been Christians, when they invoked the gods in words dictated by me, offered prayer with incense and wine to your image, [keep in mind, Roman emperors were to be worshipped as gods] which I had ordered to be brought for this purpose together with statues of the gods, and moreover cursed Christ–none of which those who are really Christians, it is said, can be forced to do–these I thought should be discharged. Others named by the informer declared that they were Christians, but then denied it, asserting that they had been but had ceased to be, some three years before, others many years, some as much as twenty-five years. They all worshipped your image and the statues of the gods, and cursed Christ. [Even though Pliny claims ignorance at the beginning of the letter, he seems to have a fairly accurate understanding of the Christian faith. He asserts that true Christians are unable to deny Christ, which goes hand in hand with New Testament teachings. See Matthew 10:33, Luke 12:9.]

They asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by oath, not to some crime, but not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery, not falsify their trust, nor to refuse to return a trust when called upon to do so. When this was over, it was their custom to depart and to assemble again to partake of food–but ordinary and innocent food. [Here we get a rare glimpse into the practices of the early Christian church. They met early in the morning once a week, sang together in worship, reinforced a counter-cultural code of ethics, and then ate together as a group.] Even this, they affirmed, they had ceased to do after my edict by which, in accordance with your instructions, I had forbidden political associations. Accordingly, I judged it all the more necessary to find out what the truth was by torturing two female slaves who were called deaconesses. But I discovered nothing else but depraved, excessive superstition. [Most Roman emperors (and citizens) were extremely superstitious, so there's some irony here. ]

I therefore postponed the investigation and hastened to consult you. For the matter seemed to me to warrant consulting you, especially because of the number involved. For many persons of every age, every rank, and also of both sexes are and will be endangered. For the contagion of this superstition has spread not only to the cities but also to the villages and farms. [Pliny indicates that Christianity is a significant  force to be reckoned with] But it seems possible to check and cure it. It is certainly quite clear that the temples, which had been almost deserted, have begun to be frequented, that the established religious rites, long neglected, are being resumed, and that from everywhere sacrificial animals are coming, for which until now very few purchasers could be found. Hence it is easy to imagine what a multitude of people can be reformed if an opportunity for repentance is afforded. [The spread of Christianity transformed Roman culture in Pliny's region. However, he assures Trajan this problem can be solved.]

TRAJAN’S REPLY TO PLINY
You observed proper procedure, my dear Pliny, in sifting the cases of those who had been denounced to you as Christians. For it is not possible to lay down any general rule to serve as a kind of fixed standard. They are not to be sought out; if they are denounced and proved guilty, they are to be punished, with this reservation, that whoever denies that he is a Christian and really proves it–that is, by worshiping our gods–even though he was under suspicion in the past, shall obtain pardon through repentance. But anonymously posted accusations ought to have no place in any prosecution. For this is both a dangerous kind of precedent and out of keeping with the spirit of our age. [Emperor Trajan gives Pliny a nice pat on the back and reinforces Roman legal procedures.]

From a historical standpoint, this primary source helps us trace Christianity’s influence in the Roman Empire, Rome’s intolerance of unauthorized belief systems, and the important relationship between the Roman emperor and provincial rulers.

From a religious standpoint, this primary source helps us understand practices of the early church and the counter-cultural implications that Christ’s message carried in a Roman context. In other words, Christians were identifiable because they lived differently. What a concept.

Now that you’ve finished reading, I hope you feel inspired. Forget “expert” opinion and conjecture. Read the primary sources.

Winston Churchill understood that the British people could only survive World War II if they committed to a long, painful struggle for victory. There was no easy way out, but Churchill’s resolve saved Britain and influenced the course of modern European history.

Blood, toil, tears, and sweat. Not words that most of us want to hear. In fact, today’s marketing campaigns strategically avoid words that dredge up thoughts of hard work and/or commitment. Take these three advertisements for example:

Lose 25 Pounds in Just 2 Weeks!

Go From Broke to Rich FAST!

Reduce Debt by 75% NOW!

The common theme? Invest minimal effort, and expect instant results. Unfortunately, the American drive to work hard and actually accomplish something is fast disappearing. I’ve seen it in the classroom, on the basketball court, and even in my own life. Many of us are looking for an easy fix. The best body, the perfect shot, the easy grade. So we cut corners. We cheat. We blame others. 

When I was 13 years old, I worked an entire summer to save enough money to buy a 55 gallon aquarium. In retrospect, I can tell you that I should have saved that money for more important things. Yet through the experience I learned a valuable life lesson. If you want something, you have to work for it. If you work hard enough, you just might get it.

This post is a renewed call to hard work. 

Choose an overwhelming task. Work hard. Accomplish something.

You won’t be disappointed.

+ WooThemes
The best premium Wordpress themes. Hands down.

+ Web Design Ledger
A beautiful site offering web design resources and tutorials.

+ Periodic Table of Typefaces
For typography lovers everywhere…

A few weeks ago, I noticed a water leak in the Audi. As I drove uphill, water came rushing through a vent near the passenger side floor. I figured this is one of those problems you can’t really ignore.

Instead of dropping $150+ to have a dealer fix the problem, I decided this was something I would try to fix on my own. The good news for me is that I fixed the problem in less than an hour. The good news for you is that I’m a nice guy and I took some raw video of the process.

I won’t make any guarantees, but this video should help Audi owners who are experiencing similar problems. When you’re done fixing your water leak, feel free to send me a check for the difference.

Several days ago, I purchased a Flip Mino HD Camcorder (hereafter referred to as “the Flip”). I was hoping that Kate and I could use this device to record some of our sentimental moments as a family. I also thought that it might be helpful for some personal projects that have been sitting on my proverbial shelf.

When the Flip arrived, I removed the camcorder from its well-designed packaging, threw the instructions aside, and began my test drive. I chose the Flip because it was small (3.94″ x 1.97″ x 0.63″), affordable ($200), and ready to shoot in HD. The Flip did not disappoint. Simple, intuitive, and surprisingly capable, I had my wife and son out in the yard for our first video within minutes.

Thanks to this device, you should expect some new video features on the site sometime in the near future.

• If you’re interested in purchasing a Flip Mino HD for yourself, here’s a link to their official website.
• If you want to save $20, use the Amazon link below instead of purchasing through Flip Video.