Max Temkin of Maxestentialism has graduated from high school and is off to college this fall (and no, that’s not him in the photo). He’s also started up a new blog with some friends called Mankind Minus One, taking their title from a John Stuart Mill quote:

“If mankind minus one were of one opinion, then mankind is no more justified in silencing the one than the one — if he had the power — would be justified in silencing mankind.”

Max is off to a fine start, and is preparing his mind this summer for higher education:

I’m reading about “the other side, or heaven from this book by Sylvia Browne. She has some interesting commentaries:

There are countless places of worship, like churches and synagogues.

Really? No Mosques? Let me ask a question here. Once you get into heaven, where you get anything you want, experience no suffering (how boring!) and live in total harmony with your environment next to god, what, exactly, is the point of prayer?

Then she writes:

[All animals] exist on the Other side… animals that have existed throughout the history of the world are there as well, such as dinosaurs, unicorns, griffins, and other species.

…And you realize, Ohhh. She’crazy!

Personally I think she drinks.

Also check out Mollie at Behind These Hazel Eyes, who will be a senior in high school this year and on whose blog the above photo of DJ G-Dubya was found, and Beg Regenspan from Catalyst Blog, who this week accuses Jonah Goldberg of taking “monstrous digital shits.” He has a way with words, our Ben.

Since the left doesn’t have expensive think-tanks where fine young minds can be lavishly paid to develop their political acumen and communication skills and must needs blog pro-bono, I really applaud Max and other teen bloggers who DIY and hope everyone will check out their sites, blogroll them, and in general do our own no-budget version of the Richard Mellon Scaife thing. Without the one way post-mortem trip to hell.