Politicians are arguing now over whether it's wise to give Americans a break on gasoline taxes during the summer. It's no secret gas prices have shot through the roof recently, and the theory is that dropping the gas tax would put a few more dollars in our pockets and alleviate at least some of the pressure we've been put under in the last few weeks.

I was disgusted yesterday to see the Post-Standard slam the plan, claiming the government ought not make buying gas easier for motorists. That illustrious editorial board believes that only by applying pressure -- and making driving hurt -- will we finally be forced to change our driving habits. Perhaps we'll use more public transportation, or we'll all drive hybrids...

CATEGORY: Commentary & Debate

TAGS: gas tax, Obama, Clinton

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Randy Pausch is a dying man. I don't know him. We've never met or talked on the phone. But I know a lot about Randy, his family, the cancer that's choking the life from him all too early, and the way he's chosen to live and die.

Randy has an aggressive form of cancer, and he was recently given three to six months before his health would deteriorate drastically. So, on Sept. 18, Randy gave his last lecture at Carnegie Mellon, a talk entitled "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams." It's a striking and brutally honest address. It's funny, insightful, and filled with amazingly simple tips on how to live life.

Throughout the lecture, Randy leads you through his life, and the satisfaction and pride he has in achieving so much in such a short time...

CATEGORY: General Society

TAGS: Randy Pausch, last lecture

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I haven't written yet this season about the Yankees, primarily because they've been so awful that it's been hard to be optimistic. And it's too early in the season to give up just yet.

Well, now the season's a quarter of the way through, and there haven't been signs yet that the team is coming around. And though the Steinbrenners and Brian Cashman won't listen to me, I have an idea why.

First, "the big three." Ian Kennedy, Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain were billed throughout last season as the future of the Yankees. Nevermind that none of the three was truly tested in the Major Leagues. Or that none had pitched a full season in the majors yet...

CATEGORY: Baseball

TAGS: Yankees, Jeter, Chamberlain

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