Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
A Couple of Things That Made Me Happy…
…today, when I needed it. I had a rough weekend when I was reminded that no, I hadn’t quite recovered from my recent cancer surgery. Back on track now, but there were some long hours when I required the comfort of a heating pad on one side and a cat on the other.
I don’t usually talk about my troubles, in person or on social media. “It’s not a good idea to talk about your troubles. Eighty percent of the people who hear them don’t care, and twenty percent are glad you’re having them.” –Tommy Lasorda. But this place is an exception to the rule.
Hat tip to Handwaving Freakoutery on Substack for this gem. Benjamin Franklin, my great hero, trolls the Royal Society with what must be the best-articulated fart joke of all time. Letter from Benjamin Franklin to a Royal Academy About Farting (1781) | Teaching American History
Never underestimate an old fat guy. Dr. Franklin and William Howard Taft are my two prime examples.
“Some are graduated from college summa cum laude, and some are graduated miriable dictu.” –Taft
“No tendency is quite so strong in human nature as the desire to lay down rules of conduct for other people.” –also Taft.
Another shining star in the noble OFG pantheon, G. K. Chesterton:
“America is the only nation in the world that is founded on a creed. That creed is set forth with dogmatic and even theological lucidity in the Declaration of Independence; perhaps the only piece of practical politics that is also theoretical politics and also great literature. It enunciates that all men are equal in their claim to justice, that governments exist to give them that justice, and that their authority is for that reason just. It certainly does condemn anarchism, and it does also condemn atheism, since it clearly names the Creator as the ultimate authority from whom these equal rights are derived.”
Since so many people are trying to make American exceptionalism a bad thing, that is a quote to cling to…especially as it came from a loyal British subject.
“The personal strengths and weaknesses of a leader are no true indication of the worth of his cause.” That’s from Lord of Light, by Roger Zelazny. Listening to it again for the hundredth time, I heard that and thought, “How did he know Donald Trump?”
“It never requires coercion for a man to make a monkey of himself in a presidential campaign.” –Taft again. How did he know Donald Trump?
“Nothing is proven until it is officially denied.” — Otto von Bismarck. How did he know Joe Biden?
And finally, from a man who had an arm and an eye blown off in various battles: “I could not tread these perilous paths in safety if I did not keep a saving sense of humor.” –Horatio Nelson
Best wishes, y’all. Thanks for being here.
Published in Humor
I will never think of a Constitutional crisis the same way again. Thanks again for the most obscure history lesson and we truly wish you the best buddy.
~files a
nclaim on behalf of Ricochet Quote of the Day Workers and Citation Engineers Local #4356 for lost wages due to freelance work.One query, are you reading GK Chesterton to your cat, or is the pet reading him to you?
If the cat is reading him to you, I offer great praise to said beast.
At my house the dog up and leaves whenever I start in on GK.
However she has been part of the household a bit over 8 yrs now. Her original habit of looking overwhelmingly annoyed whenever a gust of wind was emitted by either of her humans no longer happens.
Perhaps my continual suggestions to her that her emissions are even more tear jerking than mine have at long last taken effect.
Oops. Should have thought of that. My bad.
Glad you’re feeling better! Was looking for a decent clip of Kato attacking Clouseau to commemorate your surgery, but you’ll just have to imagine it.
I’ll just let my imagination run riot. The one where he comes through the bed canopy is priceless.
Aw geez, Doug! Don’t you hate when those days sneak up on you?! Thanks for lifting up my day,too. And feel lots better very soon!
My cat sits on the couch in the basement, and reads the Anarchist’s Cookbook while muttering to himself. There is a lot of catnip smoked as well.
This comment was a LOL!!!