Monday, July 7, 2014
Sunday, July 6, 2014
WHAT'S FOR LUNCH? Consumer Reports has their occasional survey of fast food places up, and top honors go to Chicago-based Portillo's Hot Dogs, with Firehouse Subs and Schlotzsky's right behind, and McDonald's all the way at the back of the pack. I'm sure there's stuff to argue about--Sonic beneath Wendy's? Chipotle over Qdoba? The razor close margin between Five Guys and In-N-Out?
Saturday, July 5, 2014
THE "WIDE" IN "WIDE RECEIVER": What is a tight end? Penn Law Prof. Stephen Burbank, as system arbitrator for NFL/NFLPA disputes, has decided that the Saints' Jimmy Graham remains one (thus saving FFL keeper league commissioners a great deal of tsuris). You can read his full reasoning here.
Friday, July 4, 2014
IN CONGRESS JULY 4, 1776: The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
[See, related, Isaac Spaceman's "A Word From Your Editor" (July 4, 2008) here. And set your DVRs -- 1776 airs on TCM at 1:30pm today. In the meantime, enjoy "The Lees of Old Virginia" as performed by the My Little Pony troupe, and read John Adams' letter to Abigail Adams of July 3, 1776 ("It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.")]
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
[See, related, Isaac Spaceman's "A Word From Your Editor" (July 4, 2008) here. And set your DVRs -- 1776 airs on TCM at 1:30pm today. In the meantime, enjoy "The Lees of Old Virginia" as performed by the My Little Pony troupe, and read John Adams' letter to Abigail Adams of July 3, 1776 ("It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.")]
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
JEFFERSON, I THINK WE'RE LOST: There's now a question as to whether the Declaration of Independence reads (as we thought):
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.—That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...Or like this, as new research suggests:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness—That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...Without that unintended period after Happiness (or Happinefs), scholars allege, “The logic of the sentence moves from the value of individual rights to the importance of government as a tool for protecting those rights. You lose that connection when the period gets added.”
Thursday, July 3, 2014
BOOK CLUB: Our extended holiday weekend provides a good opportunity for our regular catch-up, so, what are you reading these days?
I'm finishing up Mark Harris' Five Came Back, which is yet another fascinating Hollywood history of his, this time on the directors (Capra, Ford, Huston, Stevens, and Wyler) who served the nation during World War II, and the amazing films and documentaries they made both during the war and afterwards. It's an absolute must for film buffs. You?
I'm finishing up Mark Harris' Five Came Back, which is yet another fascinating Hollywood history of his, this time on the directors (Capra, Ford, Huston, Stevens, and Wyler) who served the nation during World War II, and the amazing films and documentaries they made both during the war and afterwards. It's an absolute must for film buffs. You?
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
I BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE ELSE WILL WIN: Travis Waldron's flowchart helps you figure out which World Cup quarterfinalist to root for now.
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