Self-evident

First of all, a writing post (because that's what this blog is really supposed to be about, more than politics, etc). Jeff VenderMeer talks about opening paragraphs using his newly release Third Bear as an example. Some good writerly neepery going on there. And just as an example of why I keep reading Jeff's blog (you know, other than it's good, except that he's been a little quiet as of late), "Why 'the third bear'? Well, because the third bear is 'just right,' and the story is meant to poke holes in fairytale like machine gun fire through cheesecloth." Read it all (with all the examples).

On the 234 Anniversary of bells ringing out that a new country has been born, NPR's Morning Edition reads the Declaration of Independence out loud. Very, very good. And this is why I love Public Broadcasting in all its forms. And, really, the Tea Partiers should really listen to this (after all, this is the document they revere and are attempting to connect themselves to). "To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world." I think the rest of us have been waiting for just such a declaration. And, please, notice taxation without representation isn't first, second, third, fourth… In fact "He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands," comes before it. Arizona's new immigration law, anybody?

So, I'll be on and off-line this weekend, but I don't promise to post anything new. You all should be out and enjoying the summer, and your freedoms. This is the holiday for us, the citizens.

"And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor."

Amen.