#US founding documents

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Mike Luckovich

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

November 1, 2023

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

NOV 2, 2023

A follow-up to some stories I’ve mentioned:

Egypt has opened its border crossing into Gaza, permitting ambulances to carry 76 badly injured Palestinians to Egypt, while 335 people who hold foreign passports were able to cross.

Jonathan Lemire, Nahal Toosi, and Alexander Ward of Politico reported today that the White House suspects Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanhayu’s days in office are numbered. 

Here at home, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has scored the House Republicans’ bill to provide $14.3 billion in aid to Israel and to “offset” that spending with $14.3 billion in cuts to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). As those of us who have followed the economics of adequately funding the IRS predicted, the CBO found that the cuts to the IRS would cost far more than they save. As it is currently constructed, the bill would add $26.8 billion to the national budget deficit.

New House speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) tried to spin this information in a way that can only be described as dishonest: “Only in Washington when you cut spending do they call it an increase in the deficit,” he said.

Johnson rejects the separation of church and state in our government, saying that the framers’ idea “clearly did not mean…to keep religion from influencing issues of civil government. To the contrary, it was meant to keep the federal government from impeding the religious practice of citizens. The Founders wanted to protect the church from an encroaching state, not the other way around.”

Actually, James Madison of Virginia, the key thinker behind the Constitution, had quite a lot to say about why the government and religion must be kept apart.

In 1772, when he was 21, Madison watched as Virginia arrested itinerant preachers for attacking the established church in the state. He was no foe of religion, but by the next year, he had begun to question whether established religion, which was common in the colonies, was good for society. By 1776, many of his broad-thinking neighbors had come to believe that society should “tolerate” different religious practices; he had moved past tolerance to the belief that men had a right of conscience. 

In that year, he was instrumental in putting Section 16 into the Virginia Declaration of Rights, on which our own Bill of Rights—the first ten amendments to the Constitution—would be based. It reads: “That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other.”

In 1785, in a “Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments,” Madison explained that what was at stake was not just religion, but also representative government itself. The establishment of one religion over others attacked a fundamental human right—an unalienable right—of conscience. If lawmakers could destroy the right of freedom of conscience, they could destroy all other unalienable rights. Those in charge of government could throw representative government out the window and make themselves tyrants. 

Madison believed that a variety of religious sects would balance each other out, keeping the new nation free of the religious violence of Europe. He drew on that vision explicitly when he envisioned a new political system, expecting that a variety of political expressions would protect the new government. In Federalist #51, he said: “In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights. It consists in the one case in the multiplicity of interests, and in the other in the multiplicity of sects.”

In order to make sure men had the right of conscience, the First Amendment to the Constitution reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof….” 

In 1802, President Thomas Jefferson called this amendment “a wall of separation between Church & State.” In a letter of January 1, 1802, he explained to a group of Baptists from Danbury, Connecticut, how that principle made him refuse to call for national religious days of fasting and thanksgiving in his role as head of the government.  

Like Madison, he maintained that “religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship.” “[T]he legitimate powers of government reach actions only,” he wrote, “[and] not [religious] opinions.”

“[T]hat act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’” he wrote, built “a wall of separation between Church & State.” It prevented him even from such religious practices as declaring a day of fasting in times of trouble, or thanksgiving in times of triumph.

—

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[stop-breaking-my-heart-telltale]

What can I say? They're my favorite.

[quaranmine]

i wish there was a way to open google docs without pulling them up to the very top of recently opened documents. because sometimes i want to cause myself psychic damage with old writings but also they should just stay buried down in "last opened 2019" you know

actually post cancelled i just figured out you can make it sort by "last modified" instead of "last opened" which is probably more useful sorting metric for me anyway

[infiniteglitterfall]

Welp. Just had the most horrifying realization.

What determines whether people want to punch Nazis or not isn’t the fact that they're Nazis.

People only want to punch Nazis when they disagree with them.

[femivi]

fatui agent femi ? h m m m. . .

[givehimthemedicine]

about those tunnels...

[ excerpt from my big analysis because this particular tidbit is so chef kiss ]

you know when Will pointed out that spot in the tunnels, and said it was important and the Mind Flayer didn't want him to see there?

but then it turned out Will was just lying to get those soldiers sent to their deaths by demodog ambush?

Will wasn't lying.

that really is an important place.

the ambush happened directly underneath the library.

oh, and remember "the hub"?

remember how that was another really important place in the tunnels?

the place Mike had everybody go set on fire to help distract the demodogs so El could close the gate?

the hub was right under the Creel House.

[crowcryptid]

1 AM is the perfect time to try to revive this laptop that doesn’t function due to windows bloat (presumably)

Last time I tried to login it froze for an hour and when I finally got in and tried to open anything it would freeze up completely.

Let’s see if it works

[saturdaysky]

Fic rec for you all to go along with this sketch! 💜

I have been reading an interesting shadowgast fic called Starling, which follows Bren as he breaks out of the Sanatorium and steals a fairy along the way. It's a lucky catch for Bren, who will need all the luck he can get to survive his escape. Training has taught him the use of these creatures: fairies are excellent arcane focuses, like little batteries no smarter than a cat. He will care for the creature, and then he will use it up. It is his best and only option.

Except... the creature surprises him sometimes. Does things it should not. It is almost as if- but no, there is no thought in that little mind. How can there be? It is only a fairy.

---

I really enjoy Bren's POV in this fic. The author does a great job weaving in his ruthlessness, practicality, desperation, and heart. It's very neat! I would happily read a dozen chapters of Bren playing this post-Vergesson survival simulator.

If any of the above sounds fun to you, please go show the author some love on their fic! And show some love to @valakiir, too, who has done some lovely art for it. Thank you both for the inspiration <3

[lucalicatteart]

-- Poorly Constructed Enchanted Tool --

A small tool carved from a fruit tree seed. Energy to power the enchantment has seemingly run-out long ago, and the method of recharging is unknown - but, based on the appearance, it's very likely that this was once used for detecting magic. Usually, looking through the glass center would highlight areas of higher magical energy concentration present in the viewer's environment, even if they were otherwise obscured to the naked eye. While this form of enchantment itself is highly advanced, the craftsmanship of the item is far less neat or complex than what might be typically seen in similar devices. It may have been made as part of training/practice, or as a hasty replacement for a previous tool that had broken.

[deadmomjokes]

Idk how me, a broad and chubby woman from a long line of broad and chubby women, and my husband, an average-height man from long lines of very tiny women and very average men, managed to produce a child so exceptionally tall, long, & lean that she can't wear store-bought clothes anymore without alteration. Yet here I am, dusting off a sewing machine I barely know how to operate....

[lyncotek]

Introduction to Retro Reflective Sheets

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History of Retro Reflective Sheets

The adventure of Retro reflective sheets lines returned to the mid-twentieth century whilst modern minds sought answers to improve nighttime visibility on roads. Initially evolved for military purposes, unfashionable-reflective materials gradually found their manner into civilian applications, mainly in visitors signage. Over the many years, improvements in technology have propelled the evolution of retro reflective sheets, making them imperative components of modern-day infrastructure.

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Applications in Signage

Retro reflective sheets locate massive use in numerous signage packages, which include road signs and symptoms, lane markings, and hazard indicators. Their excessive-visibility houses lead them to essential for directing motorists and pedestrians alike, especially at some stage in midnight or damaging weather conditions. Additionally, retro-reflective sheets are employed in creation web page signage to alert people and motorists to capacity hazards.

Role in Traffic Management

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Challenges and Limitations

Despite their several advantages, retro reflective sheets are not without challenges. Maintenance is a essential aspect, as amassed dirt or debris can impair their reflective homes through the years. Additionally, intense weather situations, which include heavy rain or snow, might also briefly lessen visibility, necessitating proactive cleaning and maintenance efforts. Additionally, ensuring compliance with safety requirements and guidelines creates a situation that requires planning for those involved in signage and site Traffic management.

Future Trends and Innovations

The future of retro reflective era holds promising traits aimed toward similarly improving performance and functionality. Ongoing research seeks to validate best practices and manufacturing processes to improve product sustainability and efficiency. Additionally, blending retro reflective sheet with smart technology, as well as connected cars and IoT systems, opens up new possibilities for enhancing visitor management and security.

Case Studies

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Regulations and Standards

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Environmental Impact

In an era of growing environmental focus, the environmental impact of retro reflective sheets warrants interest. While those materials offer durability and durability, end-of-lifestyles considerations, including recycling and disposal, are vital for minimizing their environmental footprint. Initiatives promoting sustainable practices, which include recycling applications and green substances, play a critical role in mitigating the environmental impact of unfashionable-reflective signage.

Comparative Analysis with Traditional Signage

A comparative analysis among retro reflective sheets and traditional signage substances highlights the superiority of the previous in terms of visibility, durability, and value-effectiveness. While conventional paint or vinyl signage might also provide preliminary price financial savings, the long-time period blessings of retro reflective generation a long way outweigh  the upfront funding. Moreover, the enhanced visibility and protection furnished by means of unfashionable-reflective sheets justify their good sized adoption in modern signage programs.

Educational Initiatives

Educating stakeholders and the general public approximately the advantages and right usage of retroreflective sheets is critical for maximizing their effectiveness. Public focus campaigns, education packages, and academic materials help disseminate information approximately the significance of retro reflective signage in enhancing street safety and site Traffic management. By empowering people with information and resources, those tasks foster a lifestyle of safety and duty at the roads.

Market Trends and Growth Prospects

The market for retro reflective sheets is poised for substantial boom within the coming years, driven by increasing investments in infrastructure and transportation tasks international. Emerging economies, mainly, are witnessing fast urbanization and growth of transportation networks, fueling call for for first-rate signage and traffic management answers. Innovations in materials and era are anticipated to similarly stimulate market increase, developing possibilities for producers and suppliers inside the retro reflective industry.

Conclusion

Retro reflective sheets have revolutionized the fields of signage and traffic management, supplying unparalleled visibility and protection benefits. From road signs and symptoms to site visitors cones, those specialized materials play a vital function in guiding and protective street users, in particular at some stage in nighttime or destructive climate situations. As technology continues to advance and infrastructure wishes evolve, retro-reflective sheets will remain integral gear for making sure green and safe transportation structures worldwide.

Unique FAQs

Are retro-reflective sheets only used for road signs? Retro reflective sheets have diverse applications beyond road signs, including construction site markings, parking lot signage, and temporary traffic control devices.

Do retro-reflective sheets work in all weather conditions? While retro reflective sheets are designed to enhance visibility under various conditions, extreme weather events like heavy rain or snow may temporarily reduce their effectiveness.

Are there regulations governing the use of retro-reflective sheets? Yes, government agencies and industry organizations establish regulations and standards to ensure the proper application and performance of retro-reflective signage for road safety.

How long do retro-reflective sheets typically last? The longevity of retro reflective sheets depends on factors such as quality, exposure to elements, and maintenance practices, but they are designed to withstand years of use without significant degradation.

Can retro-reflective sheets be recycled? Yes, many retro reflective materials are recyclable, and there are recycling programs available to properly dispose of end-of-life signage materials while minimizing environmental impact.

[pears-trinkets]

.

[loeewenzahn]

Free stuff shelves, buy nothing groups, little libraries in the city, food sharing spaces ily. I really like when sharing is made more accessible

[carcarrot]

you guessed it: that old man influenced me to buy another pair of shoes

[brionysea]

mike would have done something physics-y with this information