Yes, Well Some Guns Are Lazy!

Is the media wrong?

Dear Editor,

Today I placed my pistol on the table right next to my front door. I left the clip beside it, then left it alone and went about my business. While I was gone, the mailman delivered my mail, the neighbor’s son across the street mowed the yard, a girl walked her dog down the street, and quite a few cars stopped at the stop sign near my house.

After about an hour, I checked on the gun. It was quietly sitting there where I had left it. It had not moved itself outside. It had not killed anyone, even with the numerous opportunities it had to do that. In fact, it had not even loaded itself. Well, you can imagine my surprise, with all the hype about how dangerous guns are and how “they” kill people.

Either the media is wrong, or I’m in possession of the laziest gun in the world!

Well, I’m off to check on my spoons. I hear they’re making people fat!

Richard Gross

Lehighton

[Found online.]

Q&A About the Euthyphro Dilemma (Rewritten)

A Dear Reader:
How do we understand the following statement of Avraham Avinu: השופט כל-הארץ, לא יעשה משפט? Isn’t Hashem the cause and source of the definition of משפט, and/or of how He is “supposed” to run the world?
Hyehudi.org Editor:
First of all, let’s make it easier to research the question. This is known as the Euthyphro Dilemma; Google it.

Second, as loyal Jews, we need to focus on our practical obligations (including the mitzvos of thought), and not the “Truth”. This may well be the kind of question Mishna Chagigah 2:1 forbids contemplating. As the saying in Yeshiva goes: “One does not die from a difficulty”.

Although the mind cannot escape certain conundrums, one must axiomatically admit the alternate half of the paradox that will best enable observance of all other mitzvos, as these paradoxes occur to us. (Rabbi Nachman of Breslov would apply here the Kabbalistic idea of “Mati velo mati”.)

For example, as regards Rambam Hilchos Teshuvah 5:5, one should ordinarily accept the outlook humanity has perfectly free will (sort of). As regards the Euthyphro dilemma, one should usually accept Hashem created ethics (so it is only “arbitrary” for Him), and interpret sources such as Avraham’s prayer for Sedom accordingly. Similarly, one should generally assume Hashem wrote the Torah (although certain syllogisms and sources imply the Torah has existed since forever, instead). And so on.

(For a related discussion, check out the “Practical Guide to Speaking with an Atheist“.)

Do Sheitels Still Have an Avoda Zara Problem? 3 Books Address the Issue

All on Hyehudi.org…

I recommend you study them in the above order and come to your own conclusions.

(And then there is the question of whether such a hair-covering is even halachically effective for a married woman in Reshus Harabim at all. For that one, read this: קונטרס בענין כיסוי השיער.)

 

How to Get Rich Slowly

My Advice for a High School Student One Year Before Graduation

Gary North

Dec. 29, 2011

Here are some guidelines from a man who has made a lot of money, written a lot of books, and who is more productive today than at any time in his life at age 69.

1. Make a business plan for your life. Your entire career is a business plan. You should make one early. This must cover the following:

What do you want to accomplish?
How soon do you want to accomplish it?
How much are you willing to pay?
2. Stay out of consumer debt. Minimal debt is all right for a business, but only if you have a detailed business plan.

3. Never pay retail for anything with a price tag in triple digits. This especially includes college. //www.garynorth.com/public/372.cfm

4. Get into the job market immediately after graduation. If required, get a fast-food job, but if you do, learn everything about how to run it. Keep your eyes open. Do this with whatever job you get. If you can be mentored by someone who owns a business that makes $1,000,000+ a year, take that job.

5. Do not move into the first house you buy. Buy it as an investment. Use John Schaub’s approach. This will teach you how to buy. It will serve as your first step to a comfortable retirement. As Schaub’s former partner Jack Miller always said: “The best way to become a millionaire is to borrow a million dollars and have your renters pay it off.” He did this many times.

6. You can beat the competition if you do three things.

Do exactly what you promised.
Complete the project ahead of time.
Do it for the price you agreed to.
You may notice that there are applications of the three tasks in any business plan.

7. Compound growth is the key to success.

Conclusion. These 7 seemingly simple steps are not intuitive. Your peers do not understand more than two, and they will probably violate all of them. This will give you a lifetime competitive advantage. This advantage will increase over time, due to compound growth.

The lifetime plan is crucial. It gives you a set of goals. It motivates you to stick with the program, to “stay the course,” as President Reagan used to say. It lets you know how well you are doing. You should refer back to it on a regular schedule. Write down how well you are doing. Identify weak areas. Work on these areas. Put these notes in a file or folder. Refer back to it on a fixed schedule.

From GaryNorth.com, here.

מיסים ורווחה: חשאי וקולי קולות

ברכות ט”ו ב’:

ואמר רבי טבי אמר רבי יאשיה מאי דכתיב שלש הנה לא תשבענה שאול ועוצר רחם וכי מה ענין שאול אצל רחם אלא לומר לך מה רחם מכניס ומוציא אף שאול מכניס ומוציא והלא דברים קל וחומר ומה רחם שמכניסין בו בחשאי מוציאין ממנו בקולי קולות שאול שמכניסין בו בקולי קולות אינו דין שמוציאין ממנו בקולי קולות מכאן תשובה לאומרים אין תחיית המתים מן התורה.

מיסים לוקחין בחשאי; מע”מ, מס הכנסה, מס רכישה ומס שבח, אינפלציה, ו”רווחה” נותנים בקולי קולות…