Barbaro not doing well

Frank D. Roylance of the Baltimore Sun is among those reporting that Thoroughbred race horse Barbaro faces 'tough times'. Barbaro shattered a leg running in this year's Preakness, after having won the Kentucky Derby. He's been getting top-level care but he's developed complications.

hat tip: Miss O'Hara is a go-to site on things Thoroughbred, including Barbaro.

"...artifacts at the turn of a civilization..."

Anthony Esolen acquired an older set of The Book of Knowledge, printed 1949, at a flea market. When he got it home he compared it against a set he already had of The New Book of Knowledge, circa 1968. Priceless.

Smiles, courtesy the guys at Brandywine Books

For your reading enjoyment, Phil Wade provides a snippet of James Thurber's Guide to English Usage, and Lars "Rhymes with Farce, Not with Cars" Walker provides A swordsman's tale.

Speaking of movies...

I think it's fair to say that Lady Jane is a fan of the new Pirates of the Caribbean film:

I don't care what the critics say. They didn't like POTC [Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl] either. POTC: DMC [Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest] is great for a hot summer afternoon. Viewing it doesn't require a Ph.d in Hollywood thinking. It's just pure fun.

I don't live anywhere near a movie theater, so I'm a bit out of the loop on stuff like this, but I'm glad if someone's making a film or two, now and then, purely for fun.

And, to be sure, Lady Jane has lots of company in her enthusiasm. Dead Man's Chest has broken several box office records.

Truth, Justice, and all that stuff

Jeremy Lott wades in where others might fear to tread, putting the latest Superman movie's "truth, justice, all that stuff" quote into context.

If he's right, some commentators on the right might need to rethink their commentary, I think. For that matter, I might have to, at least just a bit. (Rats. It was such a fun thing to be mad about...)

Mr. Lott seems to be making wading into controversial waters his career of the moment, having just released a book attacking the currently too-common practice of accusing people of hypocrisy. The book is published by Thomas Nelson, which provides some info here.

To go to Barnes & Noble, click the bookcover below.


In Defense of Hypocrisy: Picking Sides in the War on Virtue

I haven't seen the Superman movie, so I'm operating on secondhand information here. While I have no doubt that some of the criticism of the movie is valid (based in part on what I've read from the people who made the movie), on the other hand Superman movies are supposed to be overdrawn and sometimes over-the-top, and sometimes that type of humor doesn't translate well in transcription... so I'm wondering if Mr. Lott has a valid point in his commentary, at least about the use of the altered motto, as it was used in the movie? (Don't yell. I'm just asking. Bear with me. Qualifiers to follow.)

Now, me, I'd have been happier (substantially) if the movie-makers had managed to use "truth, justice, and the American way" without alteration and with a straight face, somewhere in the movie. I can't help but think they copped out, let the side down, however you want to put it. I'm disappointed in them. But I'm not so sure that spitting nails about their shortcomings and lack of proper moxie and focus is the way to go.

(On the other hand, has anybody checked to see if maybe they violated some licensing agreement? Surely the Superman character is still under license??? Ehem.)

Don't get me wrong. I'm glad that various people have taken it upon themselves to educate the public about how Superman has, in the past, been proudly used to promote the best America has to offer in the way of ideals, honor, and virtue. Youngsters need to know that America does stand for good things, and that the popular culture used to bolster those good things - and could again, only for the deciding to. Yes?

I think where Mr. Lott falls short is in perhaps failing to realize that we've had so many treasured American icons trashed or corrupted in our lifetimes that we're somewhat duty-bound to fight the corrosion or co-opting of what is left, even if it's just a comic book hero. Mr. Lott has a point about the sense of proportion (or lack of it) in some quarters, but to conclude his commentary by saying "Let me restate that so the movie's critics can't miss the point. In Superman Returns, Superman saves America from certain destruction, thus ensuring that "the American way" can keep on trucking." as if that makes this a pro-America film doesn't satisfy me. The Superman I grew up with would save people anywhere, if they were in danger of being wiped out, having been taught by his wonderful adoptive apple-pie American parents that that was the right thing to do. If he saved Brazil from destruction, it would not make it a pro-Brazilian film, now would it?

And, besides, to save "America" -- meaning the land mass and the people on it -- is by no means a guarantee of ensuring the continuation of the "American Way." Not by a long shot. Now is it?

So, in short, I think Mr. Lott makes a few points worth listening to, but misses a point or two himself.

And now for something totally different

jquinby at Me Autum Minui found a Russian tourist's travelogue of a May 2004 trip to North Korea. It's written in English, and has lots of pictures.

Remembering 7/7

In London a year ago, these folks lost their lives when maniacs with bombs struck in multiple locations. Many more people who were just minding their own business were hurt, and of course many more than that were grief-stricken. I'm sure today's anniversary is tough for some survivors to deal with, and I just want them to know that they and their murdered loved ones are not forgotten.

Laughing along with moms, two takes

1. Mental multivitamin recently found out what her son found especially inspiring in his youth, and it's not what she expected. In fact, she's more than a bit embarrassed by it. (Via Sparrow.)

2. And I think Sallie's right when she says if this doesn't make you laugh, nothing will.

Literature, take three

Why Do We Read Literature? Phil Wade, Brandywine Books, July 1, 2006.
Who's in control here? Lars Walker, Brandywine Books, July 3, 2006.
Fiction and Reality Amanda Witt, Wittingshire, July 6, 2006.

Alberta boom

Thomas Lifson reports that so many people are heading to work in the oil and gas industry in Alberta that there are labor shortages being reported in Calgary and Edmonton.

Massachusetts lawmakers look for ways to boost population figures

Just so you know, some legislators in Massachusetts are determined to have a high population count in the 2010 Census, and are lining up ways to get there. Right now there's apparently a focus on making sure college students, low-income people, and immigrants ("documented and undocumented", according to a quote attributed to Marc Draisen, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council's executive director) are tracked down and counted. See Bay State wants everyone to count:Lawmakers earmark funds for US Census (Andrea Estes, Boston Globe, July 4, 2006).

(Via Ed Lasky at The American Thinker, who points out that Massachusetts could be addressing the reasons it tends to have population stagnation, instead of proposing to fund research into ways to generate a bigger count.)

And yes, I realize that this article on a plan to, amongst other things, include as many noncitizens as possible in a national census for the stated purposes of ending up with more congressional seats and getting more federal funds was published on July 4 just begs for some sort of commentary, but well... 'Nuf said.

The article stated that Governor Mitt Romney has not said whether he will approve the measure. A spokesman said that the governor is not going to comment on any specific aspect of the budget until the budget review is complete.

New Orleans update

Joe McKeever is continuing to report from New Orleans.

George Washington, some background

Robert Tumminello, a New Yorker living in London and Dorset, England, provides a look at George Washington's English family roots. (Nice job combining your two countries, Robert.) He also provides the news (to me) that George Washington is "big business" in the UK. As an example, he quotes from the Sulgrave Manor website's current "What's New" item:

If you are not familiar with British road or rail systems, reaching us here in the heart of England can look a bit difficult from London. Now there is an alternative to doing it yourself!

Evan Evans, London's premier coach tour company, have added Sulgrave Manor to their list of regular destinations. The day trip, including a look at Banbury Cross and a visit to Blenheim Palace, is called 'The Great Statesmen's Tour', linking Winston Churchill and George Washington into one historic journey...

How about that? Churchill and Washington in the same breath. In England. Not too shabby. And very decent of the Brits, I'd say.

Back a few months ago, I was reading in a book in Newsweek's Founding Father's series, George Washington: A Biography in His Own Words, c. 1972. In it, his earliest known writings and drawings are acknowledged, but the book notes that the "earliest existing spontaneous writing from his own hand" is from when he was sixteen, and had been asked along on a surveying trip. The journal begins with a fairly standard "A Journal of my Journey over the Mountains began Fryday the 11th. of March 1747/8" but quickly becomes, uhm, well, it's a good reminder that George Washington was a teenager once and had to grow into his legendary self. The following passage -- which I later found at American Memory at the Library of Congress -- got my attention. (For whatever reason, I can't seem to get a link directly to the page from which I get the following excerpt. It's from "The Diaries of George Washington. Vol. 1. Donald Jackson, ed.; Dorothy Twohig, assoc. ed. The Papers of George Washington. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1976." which I found by searching for 1747, and then going down the list of matches. I've omitted the explanatory notes):

Tuesday 15th. We set out early with Intent to Run round the sd. Land but being taken in a Rain & it Increasing very fast obliged us to return. It clearing about one oClock & our time being too Precious to Loose we a second time ventured out & Worked hard till Night & then returnd to Penningtons we got our Suppers & was Lighted in to a Room & I not being so good a Woodsman as the rest of my Company striped my self very orderly & went in to the Bed as they call'd it when to my Surprize I found it to be nothing but a Little Straw--Matted together without Sheets or any thing else but only one Thread Bear blanket with double its Weight of Vermin such as Lice Fleas &c. I was glad to get up (as soon as the Light was carried from us) & put on my Cloths & Lay as my Companions. Had we not have been very tired, I am sure we should not have slep'd much that night. I made a Promise not to Sleep so from that time forward chusing rather to sleep in the open Air before a fire as will Appear hereafter.

Wednesday 16th. We set out early & finish'd about one oClock & then Travell'd up to Frederick Town where our Baggage came to us. We cleaned ourselves (to get Rid of the Game we had catched the Night before) & took a Review of the Town & then return'd to our Lodgings where we had a good Dinner prepar'd for us Wine & Rum Punch in Plenty & a good Feather Bed with clean Sheets which was a very agreeable regale.

Thursday 17th. Rain'd till Ten oClock & then clearing we reached as far as Major Campbells one of there Burgesses about 25 Miles from Town. Nothing Remarkable this day nor Night but that we had a Tolerable good Bed [to] lay on...

I don't know about you, but I suspect I'll never respond to "Washington slept here" in quite the same way again ;).

For the George Washington's Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799 collection, go here.

For a teacher's resource page related to the collection, go here. It provides hints on how to search the collection. It also has links to things like Essay:"Yr. Most Humble Obt. Servt.", which "...is highly recommended for those seeking insights into the nature of correspondence in the eighteenth century, as well as the logistical aspects of drafting, delivering, and preserving written communications during that period..."

Texas eyes change in how English is taught

From Janet Elliott, Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau, in today's Houston Chronicle:

...At its meeting Thursday, the 15-member board [State Board of Education] is expected to scrap a curriculum revision process dominated by teachers and the Texas Education Agency and discuss a new timetable for revising the English reading and writing standards.

Many on the board want to replace a student-centered curriculum that calls on students to use their own attitudes and ethics to interpret texts with teacher-centered instruction that emphasizes the basics of spelling, grammar and punctuation.

It was a fight social conservatives on the board lost in 1997, when moderates and liberals adopted the curriculum for all subjects. Now, with social conservatives expected to have a majority on the board for the first time after the November elections, the plan to rewrite the English standards is viewed by some as the opening shot in an effort to put a conservative imprint on the state's curriculum...

Ronald Reagan's Message on the Observance of Independence Day, 1986

From twenty years ago, stirring words from a man who believed in the importance of the message and the meaning of the Declaration of Independence.

Happy Independence Day!

Major wildfire season so far

The National Fire News shows that 3,821,505 acres have burned in the United States between January 1 and July 3, 2006. For comparison, the ten-year average for January 1 to July 3 is 1,661,564.

Ouch.

There are state-by-state listings of current fires at the above link.

For National Fire Maps, go here.

Booklovers, update your blogrolls...

Both Brandywine Books and Semicolon have new urls.

BBC NEWS | Business | Brussels in tangle over nappies

Just so you know, the European Commission is finding ways to address the European baby shortage. Or at least squabble about it.

Liberty and Lily: Wedding Thoughts

This is one of the best wedding write-ups I've read. Thanks, Donna-Jean.

Pfc. Thomas Tucker honored, laid to rest

Gateway Pundit has story, links.

You may file this next bit in the "It's a Small World" Department. When our bookstore was in a small mall downtown, the folks who had the second hand store across the hall from us were Tom and Vivian Tucker. We were introduced in passing to various of their out-of-town relatives, including the young man buried Saturday, who was the grandson and namesake of our neighbor. We moved our bookstore out of the mall to another location here in town and the Tuckers moved their store to a small town about eight miles away, so we aren't neighbors anymore, but we still bump into each other now and then, generally every couple or three months or so, generally when we happen to show up at the same small restaurant at the same time. In case you've been wondering where I've been lately, amongst other things I've been dealing with things I haven't been obliged to address before this, like pondering what in the Sam Hill a person should or shouldn't say to someone who has lost a grandchild to monsters posing as humans.

I would like to say that I'm very proud of the good folks of Private Tucker's hometown of Madras, Oregon, and the surrounding communities, for the way they've handled this. The consensus seemed to build early on to focus on Tucker's life, his service and his sacrifice instead of the way he died. Support came in all shapes and forms, but at the same time family members and friends were allowed to be alone when they wanted to be left alone. Grief was openly expressed, but people stood tall as they cried. Good on them.