[lysie]

A very important new year. A new thread.

[lysie]

Post away!

[cripplecreek]

Thomas Jefferson letter to John Norvell (Michigan's first senator) on advice sought about publishing a newspaper.

To your request of my opinion of the manner in which a newspaper should be conducted, so as to be most useful, I should answer, `by restraining it to true facts & sound principles only.' Yet I fear such a paper would find few subscribers. It is a melancholy truth, that a suppression of the press could not more compleatly deprive the nation of it's benefits, than is done by it's abandoned prostitution to falsehood. Nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle. The real extent of this state of misinformation is known only to those who are in situations to confront facts within their knolege with the lies of the day. I really look with commiseration over the great body of my fellow citizens, who, reading newspapers, live & die in the belief, that they have known something of what has been passing in the world in their time; whereas the accounts they have read in newspapers are just as true a history of any other period of the world as of the present, except that the real names of the day are affixed to their fables. General facts may indeed be collected from them, such as that Europe is now at war, that Bonaparte has been a successful warrior, that he has subjected a great portion of Europe to his will, &c., &c.; but no details can be relied on. I will add, that the man who never looks into a newspaper is better informed than he who reads them; inasmuch as he who knows nothing is nearer to truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods & errors. He who reads nothing will still learn the great facts, and the details are all false.

Entire letter

[Old Sarge]

Here's how I keep informed:

[Jemian]

Happy New Year!

I have to report that after a week of many family get-togethers, everything was very civil and we had open and honest discussions. PTL!

I am sad to report that in the future, I will be exercising my third ammendment rights to all unmarried personnel.

[JRandomFreeper]

Well, another year, and I'm still alive. Many, including me, are suprised. ;)

/johnny

[prairiebreeze]

Happy New Year to all, thanks for the ping lysie.

May 2012 bring us all good health, prosperity and happiness.

And may Barack Hussein Obama be relegated to his rightful place in the ash bin of history.

[Jemian]

Dog just posted this on FB

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Had an unexpected overnite stay in the hospital....blood pressurd went thru the roof..i am now taking bp meds...and to change my ways and get healthy again....this episode scared the hell out of me.....wish me luck.

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