Hamilton and Dueling

Since Hamilton died in a duel, Mr. Chernow gives us some background on this early-American phenomenon.

_ _ _

Dueling was so prevalent in the Continental Army that one French visitor declared, “The rage for dueling here has reached an incredible and scandalous point.” It was a way that gentleman could defend their sense of honor: instead of resorting to courts if insulted, they repaired to the dueling ground. This anachronistic practice expressed a craving for rank and distinction that lurked beneath the egalitarian rhetoric of the American Revolution. always insecure about his status in the world, Hamilton was a natural adherent to dueling, with its patrician overtones. Lacking a fortune or family connections, he guarded his reputation jealously throughout his life, and affairs of honor were often his preferred method for doing so. The man born without honor placed a premium on maintaining his.

-- Ron Chernow, “Alexander Hamilton”

real sleep?

Since I am still keeping the cats indoors, I slept in the big room on the clunky bed. I don't think I have ever easily drifted off into a good sleep in this room. Except for the naps, that is. I marvel why I usually enjoy a good nap in here, even if we are only talking about fiften minutes. I count myself lucky that I enjoyed a good sleep over the latter half of the night.

And the weather is staying the same. Tonight, should I just force the cats out of the big room and take the better odds on getting some real sleep in my room? The thing is, I often have a rough night even in my own bed. Sleep just isn't something I have been able to count on for a number of months now, like something is a little off on my internals.

Life is that much harder when you cannot get a good sleep.

Bill Maher on the New Year

2012: I call it the year in “meh.” Not the worst we’ve ever experienced, but nothing particularly great to say about it either. Like being a socialite, but in Tampa.

-- Bill Maher

glorious this afternoon

The weather was looking like it was going to shape up. Since I had the cats inside, I took the opportunity to take out the lawn mower and vacuum up the leaves again. Those bad windstorms, a week or two ago, knocked down the rest of the leaves from the trees. And the day is glorious this afternoon: sunny and still a little nippy cool. As for the cats, interestingly, Ash decided to come back inside and doze on the bed. I appreciate it, but I do want to vacuum the floors before Pop returns.

Pessoa

“For those few like me who live without knowing how to have life, what’s left but renunciation as our way and contemplation as our destiny? Not knowing nor able to know what religious life is, since faith isn’t acquired through reason, and unable to have faith in or even react to the abstract notion of man, we’re left with the aesthetic contemplation of life as our reason for having a soul.”

-- Fernando Pessoa, “The Book of Disquiet”

Mr. Saturday Night

( You're about to view content that the journal owner has marked as possibly inappropriate for anyone under the age of 18. )