Mensch tracht, und Gott lacht

Monday, July 04, 2005

Rather Nifty Fourth of July Fact

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on the Fourth of July, 1826. That day happened to be the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson served as Adams' Vice-President and then defeated him in the subsequent election of 1800.

And you tell me there's no God or that He is an absent landlord.

17 comments:

Jay D. Homnick said...

I agree with tlaloc that the anecdotal evidence is strong that people have a tendency to die around dates that are important landmarks in their lives.

But I also agree with Hunter that this is probably evidence of a designer's symmetry. Which I think leaves Hunter and me in our usual slots and tlaloc in his accustomed spot.

Anonymous said...

What are the odds that two framers/founders would both die on the same fourth of July? Remember, many of them were of similar ages, so the odds that they'd die in the same year are not that low. This reminds me of the "birthday paradox". Anyone care to work it out?

Hunter Baker said...

Same day, same year, not just an anniversary, but a 50th anniversary. Two of the biggest names in the founding. Wrote each other throughout their lives. Huge rivals and yet friends. I think it's all a bit more than simple coincidence can explain.

Nevertheless, I didn't mean to kick up a big debate. Just being cute.

You've never heard me, for instance, make much of the fact that JFK, C.S. Lewis, and Aldous Huxley died within 24 hours of one another. There is a great book about the conversation they might have had in the afterlife, though. It's Between Heaven and Hell by Peter Kreeft.

Jay D. Homnick said...

Another "nifty fact" abut the Fourth of July is that both George Steinbrenner, owner of the Yankees, and Peter Angelos, owner of the Baltimore Orioles, were born on that day (a year apart).

Now there's an afterlife conversation for which I would love to be a seraph-on-the-wall.

Anonymous said...

I've always thought it was amusing that Ayn Rand and John Belushi died on the same day. The Goddess of Cold Rationality was shoved out of the spotlight by a drug-addled comedian whose most famous character was a pre-verbal samauri. That's what I call karma.

Jay D. Homnick said...

Incidentally, we have discovered that tlaloc is no ordinary leftist; this, based on his startling admission that he does laundry.

Jay D. Homnick said...

And, Kathy, I understand that Belushi died from mixing up that kook Ayn with a heroine.

Anonymous said...

we have discovered that tlaloc is no ordinary leftist; this, based on his startling admission that he does laundry.

Does he? If he's familiar with a laundry list doesn't that mean he sends his dirty clothes out to the Chinese laundry in a big wicker basket? Why do we still say laundry list anyway? No one sends all their linens out to the laundry anymore. I don't even send out my husband's shirts. It's like continuing to call collections of music "albums." Have you ever seen a real record album? It was a bunch of 45 singles packaged in a cardboard book. An LP was only a 'record album' by analogy. And people my age continue to call CDs 'albums.' It's weird.

Anonymous said...

both George Steinbrenner, owner of the Yankees, and Peter Angelos, owner of the Baltimore Orioles, were born on that day (a year apart).

Now there's an afterlife conversation for which I would love to be a seraph-on-the-wall.


If I were privy to an afterlife conversation between Steinbrenner and Angelos I'd want to be wearing my best asbestos evening gown. Half the population of DC is in a tizzy right now because George Soros might become part-owner of the Nats. Much as I detest Soros, any league that would not only allow a bottom-feeder like Peter Angelos to own a team, but allow him to extort money before he'd allow another franchaise within 100 miles of him has demonstrated there are absolutely no character barriers to being an MLB owner.

Anonymous said...

Have you ever seen a real record album? It was a bunch of 45 singles packaged in a cardboard book.

It was a bunch of 78 RPM disks, actually.

Jay D. Homnick said...

Although I am sharply critical of Soros' politics (and know lots of nasty gossip about him from my showbiz friends), I have to mention something very admirable.

His hedge fund matches any charitable donations given by its employees. Although there is an application that needs to be filled out, a friend of mine who worked there a few years told me that they honored his request in all cases but one. And my friend gave out quite a few thusand dollars.

James F. Elliott said...

Although I am sharply critical of Soros' politics (and know lots of nasty gossip about him from my showbiz friends)

Is it worse than having a cocaine habit, a drinking problem, and forcing your girlfriend to cross state lines to have an abortion? Cuz, you know, the guy who did that got to be president...

You two can break the law, perform morally reprehensible actions, "gentleman's C" your way through college and be president! If he can do it, why not Soros? Aside from that whole "he's a furriner" thing. Man, it would be so funny if the Constitution was amended so the Governator could run for Prez and then Soros beat him. I'd laugh myself permanently silly.

Kathy Hutchins said...

Is it worse than having a cocaine habit, a drinking problem, and forcing your girlfriend to cross state lines to have an abortion? Cuz, you know, the guy who did that got to be president...

You two can break the law, perform morally reprehensible actions, "gentleman's C" your way through college and be president


Which two? Oh, you meant "too", not "two." Do they let graduate students get away with such things these days? I would have been whipped silly by my DA if I'd put something that stupid in print.

You can get a Rhodes scholarship with undergrad Cs? Really?

James F. Elliott said...

Ooo, the lady is mocking my quick-typed grammar. Give me a break. Ad hom attacks aren't going to refute my points, Miss. But if that's all you've got, I guess you've got to shoot your load. Too bad it's shooting blanks.

Was George W. Bush a Rhodes scholar? Because he sure as hell was a cocaine addict, a drunk, and a man who made his girlfriend get an abortion. Remember his big, famous commencement speech where he exhorted all the C students that they, too, could be president? I do. It was the single most arrogant thing I'd ever heard an elected official say.

I know. You were really hoping I was talking about Clinton (your erstwhile Rhodes scholar). The sex that was inferred by the abortion got you all hot and bothered for semen stains and cigars.

Hunter Baker said...

That's a little much, James. Really.

Anonymous said...

She did call him stupid.

S. T. Karnick said...

She did not call him stupid; she called a statement stupid.