Check out the site and subscribe to the magazine like I do!
The '80s Music Video Quiz Score: 80% (8 out of 10) |
Skin Disease or Dungeons and Dragons Character? Score: 88% (14 out of 16) |
Posts
Book Review – The Solace of Open Spaces
7 years ago
Friday, May 16, 2008
Check Out Mental Floss
If you are a knowledge junkie like me, you need to check out the magazine (and Web site) called Mental Floss. It has a great collection of assorted trivia, from country profiles to history lessons to top 10 lists. You can even take various quizzes on the Web site like the one below.
Check out the site and subscribe to the magazine like I do!
Check out the site and subscribe to the magazine like I do!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Happy Birthday, George!
Today, May 14th is the birthday of "the Maker" as Star Wars fans refer to him - George Lucas. To celebrate, you should watch a Star Wars or Indiana Jones movie (a die-hard fan can watch Howard the Duck...).
http://www.rebelscum.com/toys2008/hayford_LucasBday.jpg
http://www.rebelscum.com/toys2008/hayford_LucasBday.jpg
Saturday, May 10, 2008
No Easy Answers
I'm currently on an American history kick right now. I guess it is due to the historic primary race between Clinton and Obama and also that it is an election year. I'm reading three different books simultaneously: 1776 by David McCullough, Young Patriots by Charles Cerami, and now a book I got for my birthday - Andrew Jackson by Sean Wilentz. I need to discipline myself and focus on one and get it finished! I'm also listening to a great series of lectures available free as a podcast ("Teaching American History"). The sound quality is bad, but the content is superb.
Anyway, here are some various thoughts that I've had recently:
Who is the first president of the United States?
You'd think that would be an easy one - George Washington, right? Well, actually you would be wrong. Our first president was actually John Hanson. You see, when our nation made its Declaration of Independence and launched into a war with Britain, we needed a national government to coordinate our actions. This national entity was not the constitutional republic we know so well. It was a confederation of the states created by the Articles of Confederation in 1777. John Hanson was unanimously elected to serve as the newborn nation's first president. His actions set precedents for the future presidents as did the other men who served after him. It wasn't until 1789 that the Constitution officially replaced the Articles of Confederation and George Washington, our eighth president but first under the Constitution, began his first term.
How many US presidents have their been (under the US Constitution)?
Okay, here is another trick question. After a little thinking (or research) you would know that George W. Bush is our 43rd president. But if you counted up the list of names of US Presidents, you would only get 42. This is because of Grover Cleveland. He was our 22nd and our 24th president - the only one to serve two non-consecutive terms in office.
Why do I like the Electoral College?
For the past two presidential elections, much has been made about the popular vote versus the electoral college vote. The current thinking among many Americans is that the popular vote is the supposedly true will of the people and that we should do away with the "confusing" and "archaic" system created by the founders of our country. In my view, just because something is simpler does not mean that it is better. The reason why we have the Electoral College is to avoid the tyranny of the majority. To become president, one must win a majority of majorities. I'll write more on this some other time.
"Every nation has the government it deserves"
I just found this quote from the French political philosopher, Joseph de Maistre, and I love it! I am concerned with how our Constitution is being abused and how populism continues to overtake reasoned thought. If we continue to abdicate our sovereignty to foreign entities and allow an activist Supreme Court to twist or disregard the Constitution for sectarian political agendas, we truly will get what we deserve.
Anyway, here are some various thoughts that I've had recently:
Who is the first president of the United States?
You'd think that would be an easy one - George Washington, right? Well, actually you would be wrong. Our first president was actually John Hanson. You see, when our nation made its Declaration of Independence and launched into a war with Britain, we needed a national government to coordinate our actions. This national entity was not the constitutional republic we know so well. It was a confederation of the states created by the Articles of Confederation in 1777. John Hanson was unanimously elected to serve as the newborn nation's first president. His actions set precedents for the future presidents as did the other men who served after him. It wasn't until 1789 that the Constitution officially replaced the Articles of Confederation and George Washington, our eighth president but first under the Constitution, began his first term.
How many US presidents have their been (under the US Constitution)?
Okay, here is another trick question. After a little thinking (or research) you would know that George W. Bush is our 43rd president. But if you counted up the list of names of US Presidents, you would only get 42. This is because of Grover Cleveland. He was our 22nd and our 24th president - the only one to serve two non-consecutive terms in office.
Why do I like the Electoral College?
For the past two presidential elections, much has been made about the popular vote versus the electoral college vote. The current thinking among many Americans is that the popular vote is the supposedly true will of the people and that we should do away with the "confusing" and "archaic" system created by the founders of our country. In my view, just because something is simpler does not mean that it is better. The reason why we have the Electoral College is to avoid the tyranny of the majority. To become president, one must win a majority of majorities. I'll write more on this some other time.
"Every nation has the government it deserves"
I just found this quote from the French political philosopher, Joseph de Maistre, and I love it! I am concerned with how our Constitution is being abused and how populism continues to overtake reasoned thought. If we continue to abdicate our sovereignty to foreign entities and allow an activist Supreme Court to twist or disregard the Constitution for sectarian political agendas, we truly will get what we deserve.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
My Phenomenon Song
I blame it all on one of the shows I watched as a child. For now and for ever, whenever I read or hear the word phenomenon I can't help but think of this song.
Follow the link to this You Tube video to see what I am talking about...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YevYBsShxNs
Follow the link to this You Tube video to see what I am talking about...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YevYBsShxNs
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