Sometimes a random post just strikes me as interesting, and this was one of them. It’s funny the random memories we have of childhood.

There’s some interesting research out today from Barna.

Religious books have become a publishing phenomenon in the past decade, and no religious book (other than the Bible) has generated more attention – or sales – than Rick Warren’s bestseller, The Purpose-Driven Life. More than 20 million copies of the book have been sold, and millions of people have been exposed to Purpose-Driven church programs, classes and resources. After all the reading, teaching, and conversation on the topic, exactly what do Americans perceive their purpose in life to be?

That was the question posed to a random national sample of 1003 adults surveyed by The Barna Group. One particular response was provided by nearly half of the population, and only two other options were mentioned by at least one out of every ten people.

Family First

More than four out of every ten adults – 44% – said their top priority in life is having a satisfying family life. This was nearly three times as popular as the second-most common response and more than four times as prolific as the third-most popular reply.

Hat tip: Matt.

One has to wonder if there is more to this story. While I have no problem with the private high school having rules preventing the pregnant teenager from participating in the graduation ceremony (it’s PRIVATE, they can set whatever rules they want), it seems like a double standard to permit the father to particpate.

Cosby was told in March that she could no longer attend school because of safety concerns, and her name was not listed in the graduation program.

The father of Cosby’s child, also a senior at the school, was allowed to participate in graduation.

A “piece” treaty has been signed:

According to a press release, the companies will sign a formal “piece” treaty, vowing to package hot dogs and buns in quantities of eight.

Hot dogs are currently sold eight to a pack, with buns selling with six or twelve a pack, the press release states. In order to have an even cookout, chefs must buy 24 of each to ensure every dog has a breaded mate.

Thanks to former inequities, more than 2 million buns a year are wasted, the press release states.

Fark labeled it “Stupid,” but I think “Hero” would have been a better choice of tags.

Cake Knife Gets Girls Banned From Baccalaureate:

The trouble started when the girls brought a cake to school and looked for a knife to cut it. They say they found a butter-type knife in the school’s band room and tried to return it, but the door had since been locked.

One of the girls put the knife in her book bag. Then a teacher saw it.

“He said it really didn’t matter [that it was used for a cake],” Pickens said. “[He said] it’s a knife on school grounds, and you have to be written up for it — you ought to be glad we didn’t have you arrested.”

SP Times:

Anticipation Builds Around Schiavo Autopsy
Medical examiner says it will be two or three more weeks before he is done with the data.

Howard Dean is at it again:

“I think he’s guilty . . . of taking trips paid for by lobbyists, and of campaign-finance violations during his manipulation of the Texas election process,” Dean said.

The remarks reflected no retreat from Dean’s comment Saturday to Massachusetts Democrats that “I think Tom DeLay ought to go back to Houston, where he can serve his jail sentence.”

Howard Dean is so far gone that even Barney Frank is saying he’s nuts.

Fellow Democrat Barney Frank, a liberal Massachusetts congressman, said Monday on television that he considered the comment “very unfair.”

“I think it was inappropriate,” Frank said. “I’m a great critic of Tom DeLay’s . . . but to say that he’s a criminal, at this point there’s no basis for that.”

And DeLay’s office has pointed out the following quote by as a comparison.

“I’ve resisted pronouncing a sentence before guilt is found,” Dean said during the 2004 Democratic primary campaign. “I still have this old-fashioned notion that even with people like Osama, who is very likely to be found guilty, we should do our best not to, in positions of executive power, not to prejudge jury trials.”

Ari J. Kaufman and Aaron Hanscom, two California public school teachers, have written an editorial in the ocRegister. (Registration required).

You can read the whole thing at Aaron’s blog without registering. Here’s an excerpt:

All teachers are saints, incapable of succumbing to the baser instincts of human nature like laziness, selfishness or ingratitude. Of course, this assertion is as verifiably false as the statement that all car salesmen are honest, gracious and industrious.

…

It is essential that we retire this conflicting attitude faster than new teachers like us are “retiring” from the profession. It’s human nature to work your hardest when there is an incentive, especially if it is monetary. While heart surgeons undoubtedly get satisfaction from helping their patients, only a few could honestly claim that their substantial salaries don’t help make all the arduous work worth it.

If teachers don’t get extra money for staying late or going above and beyond the call of duty, why in the world should they bother? We’ve all heard or uttered that unfortunate-but-true maxim: Teachers aren’t in it for the money. This is the reason top college graduates are flocking to other white-collar professions, rather than wasting their intellectual abilities on a job which doesn’t reward their efforts.

Their co-workers do not appreciate their editorial.

We are now targets at school. “They” are [angry]; and “they” is/are seemingly EVERYONE. Pay based upon performance is hardly a partisan issue; it’s teachers versus the rest of society. Even my hard-core left-wing, non teacher friends think “Merit Pay” sounds plausible.

From PRWeb:

“Their Lives,” which the author says fills in missing chapters from the 950 page “My Life,” debuts in stores on May 31, 2005, the same day as the paperback version of Clinton’s memoir. This book features an in-depth look at eight women who crossed paths with the so-called “Man from Hope” - seven former objects of desire as well as his wife, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Check out this exchange that Drudge has posted from the White Houes press briefing yesterday.

Q Are you asking them to write a story about how great the American military is; is that what you’re saying here?

MR. McCLELLAN: Elisabeth, let me finish my sentence. Our military —

Q You’ve already said what you’re — I know what — how it ends.

MoLWW says: “Well, if you thought that there was any journalistic integrity or independent thought in the media, think again.”