Whenever you hear a politician carry on about what a mess the schools are, be aware that you are looking at the culprit.

So keep fightin' for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don't you forget to have fun doin' it. Lord, let your laughter ring forth. Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce.

Bad policies, stupid policies, gutless policies have real consequences.

Sometimes I think Texas exists as a reality check for those who might wander too far toward the precious.

California is now close to spending more on prisons than it does on higher education - surely the death warrant of a civilization.

In the first place, any group of folks willing to make asses of themselves in pursuit of a good time should be commended and encouraged: The spirit of human frolic needs all the help it can get.

I think most of us become nicer as we get older, less judgmental, less full of certitude; life tends to knock a few corners of us as we go through. Cancer, divorce, teenagers, and other plagues make us give up on expecting ourselves - or life - to be perfect, which is a real relief.