Film, culture, history
James Madison is often quoted as having been against hand-outs,
“I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.”*
Although these probably weren’t James Madison’s exact words, Congressman Madison probably said something similar.
Daniel Isaac Eaton waited in Newgate prison to find out what his fate would be.
Before Eaton could be convicted, a Mr. Prince Smith filed an affidavit in Eaton’s defense.
In addition to other words of common sense, Mr. Prince Smith told the court that “It was quite impossible to maintain the fear of God by force; and religion ceased to be the fear of God when it became the fear of man.” Continue reading “The sentence for the pamphlet”
Just as the prosecution’s case was brilliant if simple, so Daniel Isaac Eaton’s defense was as inept as it was informative.
First of all, Eaton was late for his trial. Continue reading “Daniel Isaac Eaton’s self defense”
St Patrick’s day “a day always precious in the estimation of the Irishman, was celebrated yesterday at the Free Mason’s Tavern.” Reported the Morning Chronicle.
So the famous playright Sheridan, the Mayor of London, and a few other notables celebrated St. Patrick’s, so what? Well, unlike in previous years, British newspapers in 1812 saw trouble brewing in these celebrations.
This year, the Welsh people may be celebrating a recent Rugby triumph over England.
200 year ago, however, the Welsh in Liverpool gave “loyal toasts” to the Royal family and other British notables.
a tale by Candy Korman
The men were celebrating. Pushing the Americans back at Queenston Heights on the Niagara front was, no doubt, a decisive moment in the combat, but there was no telling what turns the war would take. Continue reading “A Man of Science”
“A snake of the diamond kind has been lately killed at Blackwattle swamp, the length of which was 10 feet 4 inches, and its largest circumference five inches.” the Sydney Gazette reported on January 4th, 1812.
A woodcutter was going about his business, when he turned around and saw the “monstrous” creature. Naturally the woodcutter was afraid of snakes, so he whacked the animal on the head.
That didn’t stop the snake much, so the woodcutter ran for his life. Continue reading “Great Snakes! Australia in January 1812.”
Last time, we reintroduced the “me” generation. We told you that one writer represented everything good about the eighties. And you asked us who that was.
In the 1980s, everything was planned ahead. Before a film was made, they had a screenplay. So while Back to The Future didn’t hit the screens until 1985, many people already knew what to expect in 1984. Continue reading “Jobs Hope and Future in the Reagan era: part II”
In 1984 we had Ronald Reagan, the Tupperware Party, Steve Jobs, Bob Hope, and Back to the Future.
27 years later we have Barrack Obama and the Tea Party, no Jobs, no Hope, and no Future.
Reagan is a man who defines an era. The 1980s were known as the “me” generation, a time when people were said to be selfish.
Back in 1997, when a Balanced Budget amendment was put forth by the US Senate, the Committee on the Judiciary quoted Thomas Jefferson almost from the start.
Towards the top of Senator Orrin Hatch’s report it affirms that “the public debt is one of the greatest dangers to be feared by a republican government.”
On September 3 this year, another politician claimed that Jefferson saw a balanced budget amendment as the solution, and his aids had the quote to prove it.
Continue reading “Did Jefferson support a Balanced Budget amendment?”