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Tag: Declaration of Independence

  • 1805 Letter Penned by Thomas Jefferson Goes on Sale

    A July 24, 1805 letter written by United States Founding Father and President Thomas Jefferson went on sale for $35,000 in Philadelphia.

    The Raab Collection is handling the transaction, after an anonymous private collector came forth with the one-page historical note, which had never before been seen by the public, or examined by scholars.

    The letter was penned by Jefferson when he was 62, and was sent to his friend and estate manager, regarding the appraisal of the president’s Poplar Forest Plantation in Virginia. The president wanted to commence dividing parts of his acreage to leave to his grandchildren. Jefferson had six children with wife Martha Wayles Skelton, though only two lived into adulthood.

    Raab Collection president Nathan Raab commented, “This important historical discovery shows our nation’s third President as family man, looking to ensure that he would be able to leave something of value to his grandchildren.”

    Jefferson, April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826, was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and served two terms as the third President of the United States between 1801 and 1809. During the American Revolution, Jefferson served as the Governor of Virginia between 1779 and 1781. From 1784 he was a U.S. diplomat stationed in Paris, and in May, 1785, he became the U.S. Minister to France. Jefferson was a polymath who spoke five languages and had a keen interest in science, invention, architecture, religion and philosophy.

    Here is a condensed biography on Jefferson:

    Raab added, “This letter is an important contribution to the historical record. Such discoveries of Thomas Jefferson letters are uncommon particularly when the topic is so important and gives such a rare glimpse into the personal and family lives of people we only know from their public persona.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus Nude on ‘Rolling Stone’ Cover

    Julia Louis-Dreyfus graces the cover of the latest issue of Rolling Stone–in the nude. The Veep star’s cover shot and the third season of the show make headlines at about the same time–the new season aired Sunday and the magazine hits news stands Friday.

    Inside the pages of Rolling Stone, Louis-Dreyfus dishes on Seinfeld as well as the upcoming season of Veep. She says she gets to curse a lot in season three, and that seems to please the actress to no end.

    “Once, when we were trying to come up with the particular perfect, horrible, swear-y thing to say in Veep, I said, ‘You do realize that if we were 12, we would get in big trouble for this conversation,’” Louis-Drefus told the magazine. “That was not part of the curriculum in high school, and the fact that it is now a part of the curriculum of my life is a pleasure, which is the understatement of the universe.”

    Julia also mentions that she landed the role on Seinfeld as Elaine Benes partly due to her ‘disposition.’ And she talked about sexism in Hollywood.

    “There is sexism — I’m not denying its existence,” she says. “But I’m saying that I will deny its effort against me. I just pay it no nevermind and say, ‘Get out of my way.’”

    On the magazine cover, Julia Louis-Dreyfus sports nothing but a copy of the U.S. Constitution on her bare back.

    Prior to this post she shared one indicating her expectation of landing some new Twitter followers.

    Do note the reference to Toronto Mayor Rob Ford in her tweet with her use of the ‘drunken stupor’ excuse.

    Will you be picking up a copy of Rolling Stone this Friday with Julia Louis-Dreyfus–nude–on the cover? Given the number of Seinfeld and Veep fans she has–the news stands could sell out quickly.

    Image via YouTube

  • Sean Connery Dreams Of Independent Scotland

    Actor Sean Connery has never been shy about his feelings when it comes to his beloved Scotland. The 83-year-old movie star believes that it is past time for Scotland to become an independent nation, to free itself at long last from the United Kingdom.

    Connery is a long-time supporter of the Scottish National Party and is currently campaigning for his fellow Scots to vote “yes” to independence in September.

    He has not been to Scotland in more than a decade, declaring in 2003 that he would not set foot in the country again until it was an independent nation. Since then, the “007” actor has spent his time traveling the globe, living in locations ranging from Spain to New York.

    Said Connery, “I fully respect the choice facing Scotland in September is a matter for the people who choose to work and live there. That’s only right.”

    Even though Connery does not count himself among that number, his heart remains with Scotland and he believes that Scots should realize what a tremendous opportunity independence could bring. Connery called the chance presented in the fall, “too good to miss”.

    “A ‘yes’ vote will capture the world’s attention. There will be a renewed focus on our culture and politics, giving us an unparalleled opportunity to promote our heritage and creative excellence.”

    Despite Sean Connery’s strong sentiment, the Scottish National Party and its supporters apparently face an uphill battle when it comes to the upcoming referendum.

    In a recent YouGov poll, 53% of persons asked preferred to remain a part of the United Kingdom rather than seek independence. Only 35% of those who wanted to break away.

    Does this mean that most Scots are content with how things are? Not necessarily. This poll didn’t include all Scots nor is it indicative of the true sentiments of everyone participating in the referendum.

    While it may represent a tough battle for those who support an independent Scotland, continuous discussion and debate will no doubt shed light on the issue. It should get citizens to think more carefully about where their true feelings lie: With the United Kingdom or with a free and independent Scotland.

    Do you think Scotland is better off staying with the United Kingdom or seeking independence? Comment below!

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • May July Be Forever Known As The Month The Internet Declared Its Independence

    May July Be Forever Known As The Month The Internet Declared Its Independence

    There’s a lot of talk of freedom and independence during July, especially in America. It’s the core-founding principle of our nation that every citizen be entitled to their basic human rights – “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Shouldn’t those same basic human rights apply to the new frontier – the Internet?

    A lot of different organizations and groups are making a stand for Internet Freedom. In a similar fashion to the Declaration of Independence written almost 250 years ago, the new Declaration of Internet Freedom is meant to send a message. It’s a message that’s meant to inspire those fighting for the cause and to send a warning to those who would dare violate its core beliefs. Here’s the preamble:

    We believe that a free and open Internet can bring about a better world. To keep the Internet free and open, we call on communities, industries and countries to recognize these principles. We believe that they will help to bring about more creativity, more innovation and more open societies.

    We are joining an international movement to defend our freedoms because we believe that they are worth fighting for.

    Let’s discuss these principles — agree or disagree with them, debate them, translate them, make them your own and broaden the discussion with your community — as only the Internet can make possible.

    Join us in keeping the Internet free and open.

    As you can see, there is no real declaration yet. They are working on writing one in the same manner that the original Declaration of Independence was written years ago. The goal is to take many voices and consolidate them into a single unified shout of freedom.

    TechDirt has put together a lovely infographic that details the core tenets of the current declaration. It’s still a work in progress and much still needs to be done. Here’s what they have so far:

    May July Be Forever Known As The Month The Internet Declared Its Independence

    The movement already has a lot of great support from various high-profile Internet activists including Reddit, EFF, Free Press and others. Unfortunately, none of the major players in the tech industry like Google or Facebook seem to even be acknowledging the existence of the declaration. Fair enough, those same companies are all for passing legislation that goes against everything the Declaration of Internet Freedom stands for.

    Much like the original Declaration of Independence, the drafting of a suitable document is going to take time and the collaboration of many voices. Fortunately, we have the Internet for said collaboration these days compared to a couple of righteous dudes sitting around a house telling Thomas Jefferson what to write. To have a hand in drafting what could be a historic document, check out the discussions at reddit, step2, Cheezburger and Github.