Overrated Things

Guacamole. People rave over this Mexican condiment. Why? It has a nice color but is basically flavorless.

Homemade spaghetti sauce. Yes, it’s good when you can get it, but some sauces in a jar taste almost as good, and with a lot less effort and mess.

Homemade cakes. Cake mixes, even generic ones, are just as good.

Popularity. It’s fine if you are popular for the right reasons, but popular people usually aren’t.

Super Bowl commercials. A few are funny, but most are quickly forgotten, despite the millions of dollars they cost. And isn’t the main purpose of an ad to move product?

Political moderates. Most are liberals who don’t want to admit it. Grownups think things through and take principled positions.

Academy Awards. Popular, family-friendly films, such as The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, or those with strong Christian themes, such as The Passion of the Christ, almost invariably get snubbed, in deference to PC “message movies” such as Brokeback Mountain.

Open-mindedness. Not all ideas and philosophies are created equal.

Flat screen TVs. No matter how sharp the picture, it’s still just a television.

Name brand coffees. Generally good, but $4 a cup? Just increase the dosage on your store-bought coffee and you’ll be surprised at the robust flavor.

Relevance. Not bad in small doses, but don’t confuse it with more important values, such as truthfulness and fidelity.

The mainstream media. While the West is locked in a mortal struggle with militant Islam, the White House press corps is calling for Dick Cheney’s resignation over a hunting accident. Sad to see the implosion of such an important institution.

The weather. You can be happy (or sad) regardless of the atmospheric conditions.

Wealth. See above.

Ring tones. How many do we really need? And if we all want to “express our individuality” through ring tones, aren’t we just following the herd?

Lottery tickets. They exploit the poor, who can least afford them. Most aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.

Choice. Especially when used as a code word for “abortion at any time and for any reason.”

Candles. They cost too much and can be fire hazards. Try using a flashlight or the dimmer switch.

Vitamins. Most of us get all we need with a balanced diet.

The Olympics. Pseudo-amateurs competing (on tape delay) in events no one cares about.

Tomato juice. You can’t drink tomatoes, which are made for burgers and salads.

The paperless office. When are we going to put this myth out of its misery?

Opinion polls. They change with the weather and are not a solid foundation upon which to advance policies.

A stiff upper lip. Sometimes it’s good to cry—and even a sin not to.

Florida. Nice beaches, good winter weather, but too crowded, too hot, and the bugs are too big.

Politics. It can accomplish good things (or bad), but our salvation lies elsewhere.