Rick Warren

Hey guys,

I just wanted to hear your opinions on all the outrage over Obama's choice of Rick Warren to give his inauguration speech. Do you think the outrage is merited, or is it overblown? Do you love Rick Warren or hate him? Personally, I think it was a completely legitimate choice. I strongly resist any accusations that Warren is homophobic or opposed to women's rights, but then again, I am coming at this from a Christian perspective, so I realize that I have somewhat of a bias. But I want to know what you guys think.

the price of smoking

It's a bit too obvious, but as I was riding in the car, I saw the sign. It was just at a 7-11 but it never caught my attention before. There was a sign showing cigarette prices. It never occurred to me that some people actually pay up to $7 for a pack, probably even more because they go through more than a pack a day. Is it really just to make money off of an addiction? It's pretty blatant. It's not like cocaine or heroin where you have to go to drug dealers. It's going to a corner store and buying a pack or two.
How could I not think this before? If cigarettes are addictive and the companies make them addictive, of course they can put up those prices for them. I didn't do any research for this but I just think it's quite crazy that it actually allowed. Those who are smoking aren't all rich, how are they affording them? Maybe the prices aren't all the same everywhere, but I really was shocked when I took time to think this through.
That's just my quick thought of the day.