The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
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.
As true now as it ever was. No more Kings attempting to imprison political opponents. Oh wait. There are signs that people are beginning to wake up to the threat of the bureaucratic state (aka BS). Hopefully, it’s not too late. Some of the recent Supreme Court decisions should limit the reach of the BS, but people need to stand up and fight for their freedom, just like our founders did.
Anyhoo, it’s been a busy morning preparing for this afternoon’s shindig at The Rite Spot. Chili is the crockpot, cornbread muffins, and brownies are baked. I’ll need to head upstairs soon to get the rooftop set up for an as yet undetermined number of guests. I’ll cover how everything goes down in tomorrow’s post.
I once again woke up with breathing issues. A scary 85 blood oxygen level reading on the oximeter. I used the nebulizer and my oxygen tank to bring it back to the normal range and went back to bed. A couple of hours later, I again awoke, not feeling quite right. I got an 89 reading this time, so I repeated the process. I had a hard time falling asleep again, but my Fitbit says that happened at 2 a.m., and I slept through until six. It looks like it is time to schedule a consultation with the doctor.
Last night, we did our “me time” thing. Swan went out with a couple of friends to Baloy Beach, and I visited BarCelona. I had a few beers there, and then I finished things off for the night at Wet Spot. I had a Sit-n-Bull discount coupon, so I came home with some food for my girl and the help.
I did some people-watching as well.
Swan was pleased with her surprise lasagna from Sit-n-Bull, which included a pecan pie for dessert. I had a pulled pork sandwich and brought pizza for the rest to share. Swan asked if I had enjoyed my “me time,” and I told her yes. It makes me appreciate the time we spend together all the more. And that’s the truth.
We did share the morning candy walk and visited some different neighborhoods than our regular Sunday version.
And that was how Independence Day Eve went down.
Reekay speaks about finding a peaceful retired life in today’s YouTube video. He lives in Bohol, which is at the top of my list of places to visit. But I’m satisfied with my decision to settle in Barretto. There is no way I could handle the big city life of Manila or Cebu. A girl I was courting BEFORE I moved here wanted me to come to Samal Island and live. Nope, it’s too small for me. That’s the point, I think. Everyone is different and needs to find the right fit for them.
And for your smiling enjoyment:
Alright, that’s all for now. There’s work to be done. See you here tomorrow!
Those breathing problems are worrisome. Good that you’re getting checked.
As a four-time loser, it is hard to argue with this.
D’oh! Spot the error!
(Here’s a hint at my old tutoring blog.)
If someone eats the frog, he’ll be the turd you intended
Here’s a relevant exchange from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the scene in which Prince Hamlet speaks in semi-riddles to his uncle Claudius, who had murdered Hamlet’s father, King Hamlet, to usurp the throne. Hamlet has accidentally killed the king’s flunky Polonius, and he’s now telling the king that Polonius is “at dinner,” not to eat, but to be eaten by worms, and that being eaten by worms is the fate even of kings (hint-hint!):
How a frog may “go a progress through the guts” to become a turd.
Have a good rooftop party! Happy Fourth! May much food progress through many guts on this fine day.
We see this cowardice even today. People, given the choice, will often reject freedom. Freedoming is hard work. So much easier to rely on government, to be passive, to be a sheep.
I just saw something yesterday that proves your point. Some twerp was editorializing in the NY Fucking Times that the First Amendment is interpreted too broadly and people shouldn’t be able to say what they want because “misinformation” and hurt feelings. Still shaking my head.
You can’t get away with it, even as a caption? Oh well. As a four-time loser, it is hard for me to argue with this.
So, you found my analogy Shakespearian? Thanks!
The erroneous sentence has a dangling modifier: “As a four-time loser,” but the subject of the sentence is “it.” Is “it” the four-time loser? You have to change the subject to “I.”
As a four-time loser, I can’t argue with this.
Doesn’t my revised version work, too?
As a four-time loser, it is hard for me to argue with this.
No, because “it” is still the subject of the main clause, and “it” is not the four-time loser. “Me” is an object pronoun, so it can never be the subject of a sentence—not unless you’re Jar-Jar Binks.
Me-sa makin’ a big speech in da Galactic Senate!
So beware dangling modifiers that look like this:
As a teacher, it’s hard for me to keep my students’ attention.
Correct:
As a teacher, I have trouble keeping my students’ attention.
Kev, lesson noted. I’ll try to avoid dangling my modifiers henceforth!