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Music Ed
Low and Lower
Low & Lower
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Cellist Brooks Whitehouse and Bassist Paul Sharpe are Low & Lower, America's #1-selling cello bass duo. This ensemble's performances are a mash-up of artistry, virtuosity, and satire, developing a completely new genre in answer to the question, "Cello and bass...seriously?" With MacGyver-like determination they create, inspire and commission works using only the limited materials at hand - a cello, a bass, two voices, a sense of humor, a touch of theater, and a willingness to do almost anything.
Since their inception in 2010, they have traveled the country entertaining audiences with cello/bass chestnuts, brave new works, daring arrangements, vocalizing and storytelling. A live video of Lawrence Dillon's Poke filmed during their domestic tour has gone viral, spreading across the world to Europe, Africa, South America and the Philippines.
In addition to Dillon's Poke, Low & Lower has inspired new works by Joshua Davis, John Allemeier, Bruce Tippette, and Ching-chu Hu. Allemeier's Undercurrents premiered on UNCSU's Arts NOW Series to enthusiastic reviews. They performed on WGBH Boston's Drive Time Live, appeared at the Arizona MusicFest and the International Society of Bassists Convention at Eastman, and gave master classes and recitals at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the University of Michigan. Low & Lower hosted a two-man Halloween Spectacular show with the Winston-Salem Symphony, performing an exorcism on the concertmaster's violin, stealing her solos in Saint-Saens' Danse Macabre, and ultimately firing her.
Having had great success with YouTube videos, including Poke, Get Me to the Hall on Time, and Modern Music Genius, (getlowandlower.com), and having performed everywhere from coffee houses to correctional facilities, Low & Lower is currently pitching a reality TV series called, "Extreme Venues." They have already shot significant Alaskan performance footage above 6,000 ft. and below -30° Fahrenheit. Low & Lower is currently seeking funding for a television documentary on their string recruiting efforts in Western Australia entitled, Low & Lower Goes Down Under.


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Making Haste from Babylon
THE ENTRAILS OF THE KING
No kingdom lackes her owne diseases.
—JAMES I, BASILIKON DORON (1603)1
His skull was so hard and so strong that the surgeon had to struggle to break it open with a chisel and a saw. He found a swollen brain packed tightly inside the thin film of cells that enveloped its surface. The white matter filled the membrane, spilling out onto the table under the surgeon's hands. He prized out the dead man's heart, and the onlookers saw that it was unusually large. They found that his lungs and gallbladder were black. One kidney was sound, but the other had dwindled to such a tiny size that the surgeon had to rummage for it in the dead man's bowels. When at last he located it, he picked out two small kidney stones.
Although the departed had passed away three months short of his fifty-ninth birthday, he was already senile in body. Gravely weakened by arthritis, he suffered from kidney disease, and possibly he had endured a series of small strokes. It seems that a larger stroke killed him, after eight days of fever. Only his liver remained entirely normal. This the royal doctors expected, since the case notes record the feel of the organ—"naturally good, big, bloody and strong"—when tested by hand during the king's lifetime. Despite his many years of heavy drinking, the postmortem revealed no sign of fatty liver or cirrhosis. The tissue was as fresh and healthy as a young man's.
They removed his vital organs and his viscera, for separate burial in a casket. Then they embalmed the cadaver and placed it inside a sheath of lead. They encased the lead box in an oak coffin, filled with spices, its surface wrapped in purple velvet studded with gilded nails and hinges. On Monday, April 4, 1625, eight days after the death of the king at his country home in Hertfordshire, the cortege set off for Whitehall Palace. Drawn by six black horses, the hearse traveled through pouring rain some sixteen miles southward, past London to the river Thames. At last, that evening, the coffin arrived in the royal apartments, where the monarch would lie in state.2
The dead sovereign was the first King James. Whenever the Mayflower drama is replayed, he always appears somewhere on the stage, as the villain or sometimes the comic accessory, and rightly so. If James had never lived, men and women would still have migrated to America, but their precise motives and the pattern of events might have taken a very different shape. For that reason, we have to delve into the king's character, to find what lay behind his antipathies, including his hatred of the Puritans. In doing so, we reenact the intense curiosity felt by the people of his age.
Throughout his lifetime, since his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots, last saw him when he was ten months old, the body of the king was the object of the piercing gaze of strangers, for what it might reveal about the destiny of the state. Because monarchy obliged the king to display himself to his subjects, James always dined in semipublic, in front of those admitted to the royal apartments. His love of hunting on horseback meant that he was often seen in the open air too.
Privacy of a kind existed in the bedchamber, which James said should not "be throng & common," but instead a place where the king could meditate and speak discreetly. And yet even here he would not be alone. "Kings' actions (even in the secretest places) are as the actions of those that are set upon the stages, or on the tops of houses," James told Parliament in 1610, and this was literally true.3 In the bedchamber, Stuart kings had about them a half-dozen gentlemen-in-waiting.
So, over the course of his reign, first as king of Scotland and then after 1603 as king of England too, many thousands of people saw James. Often they wrote down their observations. For this reason, and because so many portraits survive—at least fifteen oil paintings, besides medals, busts, and the like—we can re-create a remarkably reliable picture of his appearance and his mannerisms. He also bequeathed to posterity an archive of evidence about his long feud with Puritans and Brownists. Because King James wrote copiously in four languages, much of it comes from his own pen.
James published two books containing attacks on the likes of Robert Browne. In the second, titled A Meditation upon the Lord's Prayer, and dated 1619, James gave a pithy account of their origins. He wrote with a lucidity that modern historians would do well to emulate. "Our Puritans are the founders and fathers of the Brownists: the latter onely boldly putting into practise what the former doe teach," he pretty accurately said, and he threw in for good measure an insult or two aimed at what he called "these innumerable sects of new Heresies, that now swarme in Amsterdam."
Much earlier, in his manual of kingship called the Basilikon Doron, James piled up an even larger heap of abuse of Brownists and Puritans alike. Rash, brainsick, and heady, vain, proud, and pharisaical, ungrateful, fanatical, seditious, and conceited, they were "very pestes in the Churche & common-weale," said the king. And, in case readers failed to take the point, his editor inserted an extra little caption, calling Puritans "an evill sorte."4
Why did James hate nonconformity so much, and why did he feel compelled to venture into print? Queen Elizabeth, that mistress of delegation, never stooped to verbal combat with Separatists: for her, a couple of public hangings every ten years did the trick quite well enough. What made James behave so differently, with less physical violence, but with so much more emotion?
He acted as he did because he wished to defend the hygiene of the realm. Aptly enough for a king who spent his later years in almost constant physical pain, James tended to speak about his kingdoms in the language of the body and medicine, in terms of anatomy, well-being, and morbidity. In doing so, he did more than merely repeat medieval clichés that compared the realm and its people, the body politic, to a frame of human flesh and blood.
Men and women at the time used figurative language so freely and with such verve that it was impossible to say where metaphors finished and reality began. They did not think in terms of rigid lines of demarcation between soul, mind, and body, or between matters that were personal and those that were political. Nor did they slice up their experience into segregated zones, as we do. They did not insist on sharp boundaries between fields of knowledge, each one with its academic police ready to handcuff those who dare to cross their borders. In the eyes of Jacobeans, God had created everything, and so everything was connected to everything else. For them, an educated man or woman was a person who tried to see things as a whole.
So it was with King James. He never used one metaphor where five would do. "What God hath conjoined, let no Man separate," he said in 1604, as he urged his first Parliament to unify England and Scotland by force of law. "I am the Husband, and all the whole Isle is my lawful wife: I am the head, and it is my body: I am the shepherd, and it is my flock, I hope therefore, no man will be so unreasonable, as to think … that I, being the Head, should have a divided and monstrous body." In the eyes of King James, a Christian king performed the role of a bridegroom, a father, and a pastor; he was God's lieutenant on earth, he was the origin of justice, and he was the source of wealth and well-being.
From the heart of the kingdom, the sovereign pumped the blood of mercy through the arteries of the state. That being so, he also served as the doctor of the nation. James called the monarch "the proper Phisician" of his kingdom, with a duty to cure it from sickness, and this he meant entirely literally. He used the phrase not in some work of learned theory but in his most famous and practical text, A Counter-blaste to Tobacco of 1604, his fierce attack on the practice of smoking.
A king and a philosopher, a monarch but also a human being, James experienced dominion as an alternating condition of power and fragility. "I am a Man of Flesh and Blood, and have my Passions and Affections as other men," he said in 1607, and this was an understatement.5 Often succumbing like a Shakespearean hero to waves of emotion emitted from an obscure source, James felt the troubles of his realm in his skeleton, his nerves, and his intestines. His views about health and medicine formed a seamless whole with his wider doctrine of government, and with the ideas that caused him to loathe religious nonconformists.
King James thought of Puritans as a disease, which at its worst took the form of the Brownists. But before we venture into the depths of his mind, there is a story of surfaces to be told swiftly. It concerns events that took place between the Puritan crusade to the Netherlands, and the execution of Henry Barrow in 1593, and then, a decade later, the purge of nonconformists overseen by King James.
THE ROAD TO HAMPTON COURT
Barrow the Separatist went to his death in a season of defeat for the Puritan cause. Another change in political fortunes had occurred, with the decline of the party at court who sympathized with Puritanism. Leicester and Walsingham died, in 1588 and in 1590. Davison languished in disgrace. The Puritan clergy lost their most powerful defenders. They also faced a determined foe in the form of John Whitgift, archbishop of Canterbury, with at his side the implacable Richard Bancroft.
Soon after the defeat of the Armada in 1588, an underground Puritan printing press began running off anonymous pamphlets. They were filled with abuse against the bishops of the Church of England, penned by someone who called himself Martin Marprelate. Amusing for the first few pages, until the polemic begins to pall, The Marprelate Tracts denounced the bishops as swinish rabble, sauceboxes, petty popes, and lying dogs, men guilty of corruption and embezzlement. The author called for a much deeper reformation, of the kind that Puritans in Parliament had long been looking for. He also gave Whitgift and Bancroft the opportunity they needed to embark on an all-out attack on Puritans within the Church.
Neither man was a bloodless bureaucrat. Both were evangelical Christians. A man renowned for his charity, Whitgift had been a defiant Protestant during the reign of Mary Tudor. He became a convinced Calvinist, making his name with lectures intended to prove that the pope was the Antichrist. And far from being a careerist, Bancroft had a reputation for being blunt and combative. Often passed over for promotion, he did not become a bishop until the late age of fifty-three. However, both men had come to believe that Christianity depended on an efficient, disciplined, well-financed hierarchy, with the bishops as commanding officers. Their attitudes hardened and became authoritarian. The Marprelate affair made them all the more convinced that they were right.
As the leading mainstream Puritan, Thomas Cartwright tried to distance himself from Marprelate, but to no avail. Bancroft's hunt for the author soon turned up embarrassing evidence against Cartwright and his friends, men known as "forward preachers." Bancroft was able to show that they were building in secret a parallel church of their own, a presbyterian club of clergymen and supporters among the landed gentry. When the time was right, they would step out of the shadows and remake the Church of England as a presbyterian assembly. It would be run by preachers and lay elders, with not a trace of old Catholic ritual, not a bishop in sight, and very little role for the queen. This, said Bancroft, was sedition of a revolutionary kind.6
In 1590, the Church authorities jailed Cartwright and eight other forward preachers and stripped them of their posts as parish clergy. Their lawyers mounted an excellent defense, tying the prosecution in legal knots, and in due course they were released, after three unpleasant years in prison but without the trials reaching a conclusion.
Even so, the affair dealt a body blow to the Puritan movement. And when Parliament met in 1593, Archbishop Whitgift got what he wanted, a new statute aimed directly at the most radical Puritans and Brownists. For the first time, the law entirely banned private religious gatherings—"unlawful assemblies, conventicles or meetings under pretence of any exercise of religion"—and imposed penalties of banishment or prison.
Despite this, the forward preachers left trailing behind them a mass of loose ends. Many years later, they resurfaced and made fresh connections. Puritan books were still read, and Puritans survived in the universities and elsewhere, despite a hostile climate. They often met bafflement, irritation, or anger among their neighbors, people who liked a little Catholic ritual and preferred a lenient religion that did not demand endless devotion. The strongholds of the Puritans were quite few and far between. But although they had a narrow base, they put down deep roots. In places, we find a critical mass of Puritan ministers and supportive local gentlemen, yeoman farmers, and town tradesmen. They were the kinds of people who later supported the New England project, or even made the trip themselves.7
Elizabeth died, and King James came south in 1603 to claim the throne. That summer, the survivors among the forward preachers began a campaign to persuade the king to take the Church down a Puritan path. Their manifesto was called "the Millenary Petition." It listed more than thirty changes that they wished to see. Some came from the old Puritan agenda, such as calls for an end to the sign of the cross in baptism or to bowing at the name of Jesus. Others were economic, intended to increase the incomes of the parish clergy by ending practices such as the leasing out of tithes, the kind of thing that had caused so much trouble at Sturton. The petition also contained one particular demand that neither James I nor the archbishop could possibly accept.
The petitioners wanted to ease the burden of "subscription," the rules which required that clergymen swore that the Book of Common Prayer was entirely the Word of God. If this change were made, it would remove the most powerful weapon in the armory of discipline. Bancroft had become the bishop of London, he was Whitgift's most likely successor, and he had his own project of an entirely contrary kind. He wanted a much tougher set of rules to impose moral and religious discipline, and he intended to enforce it with subscription.
However, the king did not simply reject the petition out of hand. A man who usually relished the exchange of ideas, he convened a debate, which took place at Hampton Court Palace in January 1604. At this event, James exploded with the infamous outburst in which he issued threats against the Puritans who attended, pledging that he would "harry them out of the land." This was an incident so notorious in Pilgrim history that in 1921, during American celebrations of the Mayflower's tercentenary, an actor dressed up as King James repeated the same words, accompanied by bagpipes, to an audience including President Harding. Time and again, writers about the Pilgrims have quoted or misquoted James, uncritically and without asking what he meant, and without examining the quality of the source.8
The sentence appears in a semiofficial account of the event, approved by Bancroft, and written by a clergyman called William Barlow. He and Bancroft intended to mock and belittle the Puritans, making them out to be pedants, with the conference portrayed as a total defeat for the Puritan cause. Barlow reports James's exact words as follows: "If this bee all, quoth he, that they have to say, I shall make them conforme themselves, or I will harrie them out of the land, or else do worse."9 The most revealing clause is the first—"if this bee all"—because Barlow wished to suggest that the Puritans were trivial, and their complaints petty.
Barlow says that James became exasperated by the leading Puritan spokesman, a wordy academic who wished to make minor amendments to the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion. This, says Barlow, seemed "very idle and frivolous" to the king and his bored privy councillors. They relieved the tedium by laughing over an old joke to the effect that "a Puritane is a Protestant frayed out of his wits." The king's threat to harry them out of the land was apparently something similar. It seems to have been a heavy-handed effort in sarcasm from an irritated monarch who had endured two full days of circuitous pomposity. If so, it was entirely in character for James.
As it happens, the conference was not an annihilating defeat for Puritanism. Most famously, it led to James's authorized translation of the Bible. It also gave rise to a list of small reforms, such as a pledge to make the ecclesiastical courts fairer and not to excommunicate people for trivial offenses. Measures like these helped to cool the heat of controversy, and so, after the purge of Puritans ended, in about 1608, England enjoyed a decade of relative calm in matters of religion.
However, in the immediate aftermath of Hampton Court, these elements of compromise paled by comparison with Bancroft's energetic attack on dissenters. Whitgift died soon after the conference, leaving Bancroft to carry on the campaign against all those who disturbed peace and good order. First, he pressed ahead with inspections of every aspect of cathedral and parish life, covering drunkenness and fornication, as well as signs of religious laxity. At the same time, in 1604, the king issued two proclamations against nonconformity. He insisted that everybody follow the Book of Common Prayer to the letter.
This allowed Bancroft to use the tool of subscription. He gave clergymen a deadline of November 30 to sign up to full acceptance of the prayer book, or face dismissal. Meanwhile, Bancroft had prepared another weapon: a new, steel-plated set of canons, laws, and regulations for the Church, intended to seal off every loophole through which a Puritan might creep. For example, they imposed new duties on parish churchwardens to report offenses such as private conventicles or unlicensed preachers. This made it far harder for villagers to turn a blind eye to each other's nonconformity.
These new rules were not simply a matter of sterile coercion. Since Bancroft was an evangelical himself, he wished to repair the shaky morals of the parish clergy and to see sermons preached every Sunday and in every parish. If he could carry out these reforms, he would make pious men and women far less likely to look for Puritan alternatives. So, for example, his canons included strict rules barring clergymen from taverns and from gambling, together with a requirement for every church to have a pulpit. And splendid new pulpits did indeed appear. Within a few miles of Scrooby, for example, churches in the villages of Tickhill and North Wheatley possess sturdy Jacobean examples. Erected in 1608, they remain in excellent condition today.
However, Bancroft's canons contained a flaw. Because Puritan sympathizers might oppose them, the king never submitted the canons to Parliament for approval. They became law only by way of his personal decree. For this reason, uncertainties lingered about their legality, and opened the way for protests by the same lawyers who defended Cartwright. Even within the Church, men had their reservations.
In the north, in the archdiocese of York, doubts expressed by high-ranking opponents meant that not until March 1606 did the canons come into force. This delay allowed Brewster and his allies to carry on their activities far longer than they could have done in the south. They were able to build a far wider movement than would otherwise have been possible.10
By the time Bancroft became archbishop of Canterbury, in December 1604, the deadline had passed for clergymen to subscribe. Within the next five years, mostly during the first twelve months, he achieved the dismissal from their parishes of about eighty ministers who resolutely refused. In a sense, this was a trivial number, less than 1 percent of the parish clergy at the time; but, again, the numbers matter less than the commitment of the small minority involved. The victims of the purge included four Puritans living near Scrooby, associates of William Brewster. Among them was the white-bearded Richard Clifton. What's more, Bancroft swept up within his net the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, seeking to rid them of nonconformity as well. In due course, two Cambridge men, John Robinson and John Smyth, led the Separatists of the Quadrilateral out of the Church of England.
Before that, we have to return to King James, and look more deeply for the secret of his animosity toward the Puritans. His beliefs about religion and the Church carried an intense emotional charge. To appreciate why this was so, we begin with the suffering man, and not with his disemboweled carcass under a surgeon's knife.
OUR MASTER LEAR
Ill health obsessed the king and his leading subjects. In the opening months of 1605, at the height of the great purge of Puritans, and as Shakespeare began to plan the writing of King Lear, we find one eminent man after another beset by bodily afflictions. In January, the bishop of Winchester complained about his sciatica and his flatulence, while Lord Cobham had the gout. The insomniac Lord Zouche tossed and turned with measles and a heavy cold, while Sir Bevis Bulmer caught a burning fever. William Brewster's boss was Sir John Stanhope, head of the Royal Mail, and in March he suffered from colic and cramps. The Earl of Dorset consulted his doctors about some unspecified illness. They gave him "physic and fomentations" intended to open his pores and make him sweat.11
During these months disease was rife, though as so often its exact type cannot be established. Although London was free from plague, an epidemic struck the western port of Bristol, and in the Pilgrim country the town of Worksop suffered ten months of contagion. Only six miles from Scrooby, in Worksop that year fifty-three people died, forty-nine from something tersely called "infec" in the parish register, compared with sixteen deaths in a normal year. As was the custom, the JPs placed a levy on the other parishes nearby to raise money for the town. We can be sure that the Pilgrims were well aware of the calamity.12
Men and women lived with death leaning over their shoulders, but the king's health always gave most cause for alarm: very much so, in 1605. Of course, he had two sons, Prince Henry and Prince Charles. But they were only eleven and four years old, while his daughter Elizabeth was not yet nine. If a minor succeeded to the throne, the king's death would plunge the realm back into the uncertainties that dogged the closing years of the old queen's reign. Later that same year, the Gunpowder Plot came close to ending his life, by blowing him up as he opened a new session of Parliament. But even without that notorious conspiracy by Roman Catholics his survival was never certain. With his passion for the chase, James always ran the risk of a fatal accident—while on his way south, two years before, he broke his leg in a fall—and in 1605 he suffered from a series of heavy colds. His courtiers nervously watched his habit of heavy drinking in the open, while he was perspiring after many hours in the saddle.
At this point King James was only thirty-nine. As the years went by, allusions to his worsening health came to feature ever more often in the eyewitness accounts that survive. If we exclude mocking comments made by opponents, we come up with a comprehensive portrait of James in middle age. He was a man of medium height, broad shouldered, but with a slender body and spindly legs. He had a sparse light brown beard the same color as his hair. He was apt to walk about in circles, something first noticed when he was in his teens. Later in life he did so while leaning for support on a good-looking young man. James was inclined to cough and splutter because of mucus and catarrh, and to gobble his food because he lacked teeth. Prone to stomach upsets, he broke wind frequently, from both orifices. He also suffered woefully from diarrhea, blamed by his doctor on excessive drinking.
Like the king's physical health, his turbulent feelings were also on display. They were documented in 1623 in notes made by his principal physician, the French doctor Theodore Turquet de Mayerne. He recorded the king's chronic stomach upsets and the pain he suffered when he threw up his food, pain so severe that apparently it covered his face with red spots. Mayerne also commented on his attacks of anxiety and depression, after a death in the family or a political setback.
In 1610, the king endured a disappointing session of Parliament, when the Commons blocked plans for reform of the royal finances. After dissolving the assembly, James collapsed in early 1611, vomiting twice a day and suffering more than a week of diarrhea, with unusually watery, bilious feces. Most alarming of all were symptoms of mental distress: chest pains, palpitations, and "moestitia," meaning "grief" or "sadness." He suffered even worse agonies after the death of the queen in 1619. A multitude of ailments struck him simultaneously. As always, he suffered from runny bowels, and severe melancholy, but also from inflamed kidneys, an acute bout of arthritis, a rash of small white ulcers on the back of his throat, and, ominously, an intermittent pulse.
After editing James's letters, a modern scholar described him as "one of the most complicated neurotics ever to sit on either the English or the Scottish throne."13 By middle age he would have presented an insoluble riddle for a psychoanalyst. By then, James had endured painful illness in his childhood—he could not walk until he was six—and a host of attempted coups, bereavements, and conspiracies. His mother Mary was beheaded. His father was murdered, strangled while his house was destroyed by an explosion, and of course James I came close to dying in a similar way in 1605. His opposite numbers in France, Henry III and Henry IV, both fell to the assassin's dagger. And as it happens, the second of these murders occurred in 1610, not long before James's collapse the following year.
Was he a coward? That was his reputation. Referring to the autopsy, a diarist mentioned the inflated size of James's heart to explain why the king was "soe extraordinarie fearefull." Famously, James wore a quilted doublet to hinder an attacker's knife. People took these traits as signs of a yellow streak, but that was unfair. Hunting on horseback is not a pastime for the timid. Few men had better reasons than James I for succumbing to occasional attacks of panic. But who could say precisely which of his fears were neurotic phobias and which had some objective basis? Nobody could define the boundary where rationality ended and chronic anxiety or depression began.
Almost inevitably, a man so insecure might waste his energy in a futile quest for emotional support—and this James did, time and again. He might turn to alcohol or ceaseless physical activity, such as hunting. This was habitual for James. He might look for comfort from younger men, as favorites or lovers: he leaned on them in more ways than one. Or perhaps he might take refuge in fantasy and cast himself in the role of a philosopher king, dreaming of an imaginary empire of perfection where everyone obeyed his wise instructions. This James did too, as we shall see.
For James I, Separatists and people like them came to symbolize the poison of disorder and discontent that threatened to contaminate his ideal monarchy. In this there lay an element of paranoia, and if we reach that conclusion, we have the authority of Shakespeare. From Lear and Othello to The Winter's Tale, he provided a commentary on the character of powerful but frightened men, and the devastating effect of their anxieties. His audience cannot have failed to see that Shakespeare was exploring in heightened form the daily plight of their sovereign.
In an age when monarchy was personal, the inner life of the king had implications of the most far-reaching kind. And when King James wrote about Puritans and Brownists, we find him using language that mingles theology, political calculation, and obsessional neurosis. We see it most clearly when he uses the terminology of medicine.
PATHOLOGY AND THE PILGRIMS
In his case notes, Mayerne said that King James laughed at doctors. Even so, this unhealthy man took care to choose as his physicians the medical luminaries of the era. King James favored not only Mayerne himself, a star who treated Cardinal Richelieu for gonorrhea, but also William Harvey, the man who first described the circulation of the blood. Most frequently of all, James selected men who had new things to say about the nature of disease, linking it to poor hygiene, to contamination, or to defective chemistry inside the body.
The king's interest in public health was entirely genuine. When the City of London chose a lord mayor, the new incumbent came before the king to be praised or chastised; and in the early 1620s, the mayors found themselves being berated by His Majesty for the City's failure to clean up the open sewer known as the Thames. As king of Scotland, the young James employed as his court physician a man who blamed the plague on polluted drinking water. And in 1618, James sponsored Britain's first official compendium of drugs and elixirs, a project that embodied his concern for the well-being of his subjects. Like Bancroft's canons, it was intended to promote uniformity and to serve as the guarantor of health and good order.
Mayerne, Harvey, and the London College of Physicians prepared the book, which came to be known as the London Pharmacopoeia. Appropriately, it included a formula for distilling Scotch whiskey, but it was a serious work that went through many editions, often revised and updated. "Desirous in all things, to provide for the common good of our subjects," the king decreed that he would do away with "all falshood, differences, varieties and incertainties in the making or composing of Medicines." For that reason, he gave the book the force of law, with a proclamation that made it a crime to concoct potions that deviated from a list of standard recipes.14
When he spoke in this way about the common good, King James drew on new theories, ideas that were absurd and even bizarre, but capable of developing along a scientific path. Chemical medicine, as they were known, originated with the Swiss metallurgist known as Paracelsus. He died in 1541, but by the end of the century his system of thought had deeply influenced the medical establishment in England. During the reign of James I, it came close to being accepted as official orthodoxy. Most of the king's favored doctors were Paracelsians. Among them was Mayerne, trained in Paris by a French Paracelsian by the name of Joseph Du Chesne. In 1605, Du Chesne's principal book appeared in London in translation. Of course it was nonsense, an esoteric farrago of garbled theology, alchemy, and magic, but it contained the seeds of progress. It also had affinities with the king's own attitudes and emotional commitments.
Du Chesne said that sickness arose from chemical dysfunction, a toxic chain of cause and effect open to investigation in the laboratory. Following Paracelsus, he believed that the material world arose as the product of three essences—salt, sulfur, and mercury—mixed and compounded by heat and by alchemy. Du Chesne explained that salt was dry and solid, mercury was moist and fluid, and between the two was sulfur, sweet and clammy. Combined together, in food, wine, and sperm, they created a human being.
The liver absorbed food and drink, and from the salt within them it synthesized a hot white juice. This became blood and flowed up through the veins to the heart, as if the body were a system of tubes, glass vessels, and retorts, heated by a flame. The heart cooled and purified the blood, added sulfur, and then transmitted it to the brain. Like a distiller making cognac, the brain slowly heated and refined the blood and added mercury. With the process complete, the liquid became rich arterial blood, ready to flow outward to refresh each limb.
Odd though they were, Du Chesne's theories possessed a degree of logic. Since the body was a chemical machine, of course it gave rise to waste products, just as men found ashes or sediment when they smelted copper or brewed beer. Among the dregs of human biology, said Du Chesne, were saliva, urine, and sweat. Left within the system to decay, these congealed to form what Du Chesne called "superfluous humours," noxious excrements liable to violate the balance of body and mind: in the kidney, they produced the stones that inflicted so much pain on King James. Trapped in the liver, the humors would accumulate and rise up to infect the brain, causing "long madness, burning frenzies, setled melanchollies … and many such like." As for the second cause of disease, that was obvious: poison, or lethal waste matter implanted from outside.15
What did all this have to do with politics? Not much, we might think, but Du Chesne and Mayerne would have disagreed. So would King James. Both Mayerne and Du Chesne were intensely political, and served as physicians to Henry of Navarre, the Huguenot leader and later the king of France. French royal doctors saw commentary on public affairs as part of their profession, and they applied the doctrines of medicine to the exercise of power. Observation first, to identify the symptoms; next, the application of theory to decide the cause; and then the choice of therapy: that was how a doctor went about his job. The king should follow the same procedure to eradicate the maladies that afflicted his people.16
For Du Chesne, the body functioned best when its internal functions bubbled freely away, without interference, following their natural course. So too in the language of King James the realm prospered when the balm of his wisdom flowed outward like pure spring water, circulating from one end of his kingdom to the other, without interruption by the disobedient. When James condemned tobacco smoking, he did so using ideas of the same kind. Tobacco, said the king, contaminated the natural fluids of the human body, and smokers harmed not only themselves but the nation. "Sucked up by the nose, and imprisoned in … braines," smoke left an oily deposit in the lungs, which poisoned the mind and made men lethargic. By purchasing the weed from foreigners, they undermined the economy of the realm. By inflicting a smelly torment upon their wives, they endangered the holy institution of the family.
For King James, Puritanism resembled the addiction to nicotine. Like the superfluous humors described by Joseph Du Chesne, the Puritans were sediments, dregs, or dross, by-products of an alembic malfunction in the organs of the body politic. Willful Puritans upset the king because they followed their private, individual inclination, rather than accepting the established wisdom of the community, sanctioned by statesmen and embodied in the Church. Puritans behaved, in other words, like tobacco smokers, devoted to their own obsession regardless of the cost that fell upon themselves and others.
This idea, that Puritans were diseased, came to have wide currency. It was expressed in pungent form in one of the most popular books of the period. The Anatomy of Melancholy appeared in 1621, and its author, Robert Burton, devoted a chapter to the victims of spiritual malaise. According to Burton, the Brownists were "a company of blockheads," men and women who "will take upon themselves to define how many shall be saved, and who damned in a parish." Incited by the devil, their outlandish ideas were symptoms of mental illness, the fever of religious melancholy. To bring it about, Satan used the infirmities of the body: Burton claimed that brain sickness arose from a distempered liver.17
Sick and deluded, a Puritan became an agent of infection, giving rise to quarrels and division: or so it seemed to King James as well. Left free to do their worst, they would deface the body politic and shatter the hard-won unity of the realm. Although Tudor kings and queens had valued peace and uniformity, for James they became an obsession that he experienced with an almost physical intensity. Here was a monarch who had come to understand the perils of discord during his period north of the border, when Scotland stumbled from one plot and one civil war to another until the young James engineered a degree of stability.
In the opening years of his reign in England, James tried to complete a great scheme of unification to make his authority seamless in every corner of the British Isles. Because Puritans endangered the fulfillment of such a project, he wanted them gone, and they were not the only ones. As Jacobean exiles, the Pilgrims had many equivalents: as we shall see, refugees took their leave of Donegal and Edinburgh as well as Scrooby.
A PERFECT UNION OF PERSONS
When King James crossed over the frontier on his way south after the death of Elizabeth, he entered political territory of a kind that was almost entirely new. Three hundred years before, Edward I had briefly created an English empire by conquering Wales and Scotland, but it failed to survive for more than a decade. In 1603, James believed that God had given him a duty to re-create a unified Britain, beneath one monarch, and not merely in name alone. Unification had to be thorough, and deep, so that the king could promote common standards of civility, sobriety, and God-fearing obedience, rolled out into each enclave of his domain. This was what James had in mind when he told Parliament that he wished to see England and Scotland become "a perfect Union of Lawes and persons."18
Unification seemed to be a practical necessity. Border thieves and raiders passed back and forth between England and Scotland, evading extradition. Until the two countries were united, it would be impossible to put a stop to their activities. In Ireland, meanwhile, 1603 marked the end of the Nine Years' War between the English and the Earl of Tyrone, the leader of Catholic resistance, but in English eyes the country remained unpacified and alien. It seemed likely to rebel again as soon as the moment presented itself. At home on the mainland, the king's peace varied in quality from one place to another, depending on the energy and talent of the JPs in each county.
James acted with vigor to put a stop to social evils and to make the rule of law uniform across his kingdoms. In the north, he convened a new border commission, and it began to track down and string up the outlaws of the region. In England the king issued a host of proclamations, thirty-two in the first nine months of his reign, and more than eighty in the first five years. Among them were measures for dealing firmly with such enemies to good order as highwaymen, pirates, drunkards, unlicensed alehouse keepers, and speculators who endangered London by building ramshackle, fire-prone dwellings. As Bancroft pursued the Puritans, the king ordered the JPs to redouble their efforts against all forms of offenders, and often they did so with alacrity. In the Quadrilateral, in April 1604, the JPs at Retford prosecuted thirty individuals for brewing without a license, including five from Scrooby.
Of course the Gunpowder Plot against King James made the process of coercion more urgent. On both sides of the Irish Sea, dissident Catholics seemed to pose the greatest danger to the Crown. And so the king's lord deputy in Dublin began a policy of intense persecution of the old religion. Legalized theft of territory, executions of priests, the beating to death of Roman Catholics on the doorsteps of their churches: all of these took place. And in Ireland, the quest for uniformity led to a famous incident in Donegal that oddly resembled the case of the fleeing Pilgrims.
Forgotten by everyone else, but never by the Irish, it came to be known as the Flight of the Earls. It involved the two great Gaelic magnates of the north: the old rebel Hugh O'Neill, the Earl of Tyrone; and Rory O'Donnell, the Earl of Tyrconnell. Goaded by the authorities, and possibly hoping to find military support from Spain, in 1607 the earls boarded a ship at Lough Swilly and set off for exile in Rome. They left Ulster to the mercy of English colonists. This was only one of many episodes of exodus, enforced or voluntary, or somewhere in between.
In Scotland, James had already used the tactic of ejection many times against rebellious nobles or Calvinist troublemakers in the Church. The years after 1603 witnessed a new array of banishments or occasions when people fled because the Crown left them no alternative. In 1609, for example, the king and the Scottish parliament banned lawless "Egyptians" and ordered the Gypsies to quit the kingdom or be hanged. They dealt in much the same way with the Graemes, an extended Anglo-Scottish clan of border raiders. More than seventy Graemes suffered deportation to the Netherlands, where they were supposed to serve with English regiments. They deserted and came home, and so the Crown arrested fifty families of Graemes: men, pregnant women, and children. They marched them to a distant harbor and shipped them out to Roscommon in the west of Ireland.
The same year, in Edinburgh, the authorities jailed six ministers for illegally convening the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. They packed the six men off to France and to Holland, where one of them lived close to the Pilgrims in Leiden as minister of the city's Scottish congregation. Many English Roman Catholics were compelled to leave as well.19
Like the painful stones within his kidney, men and women such as these irritated King James, and so they had to go: earls, Catholics, Gypsies, Graemes, and Presbyterians alike. Again, this was a consequence of his doctrine of sovereignty, and it found a parallel in the medical theories that fascinated the king.
Because Du Chesne, Mayerne, and the chemical doctors pictured disease as the product of superfluities, waste matter retained within the body, or poison coming from outside, they favored medicines designed to expel them from the patient. Enemas and laxatives figured high on their list of recommended drugs. When the king's son Henry fell ill in 1612, Mayerne diagnosed his fever as the result of eating too many melons, grapes, and oysters. He gave the boy a purge made of senna and rhubarb, then opened his veins and bled him. Prince Henry died soon afterward, but Mayerne's prestige survived. So did the concept of purgation.20
For James, the language of ill health supplied a rationale for banishment and exile. If the king was the doctor of his realm then, said James, he too should search out the "peccant humours" responsible for disorder and do his best to cast them away. If the kingdom succumbed to contagion, then the remedy was for the monarch "to purge it of all those diseases, by Medicines meet for the same." The consequence was rejection for all those who clouded his vision of perfect uniformity. Among them were the Scrooby Pilgrims and many others: a battalion of Cordelias forced out by their King Lear.
For William Brewster and his friends, events came to a head in the Quadrilateral in 1607. A new archbishop of York arrived, a man devoted to the service of King James. He encountered the evangelists Smyth and Robinson and the Puritan network to which Brewster belonged, and again the consequence was exile. Into the story came another Separatist. This was Thomas Helwys, the forgotten leader of the Pilgrim flight from England.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Arthritis is a condition many of us have had some experience with; whether it's relatives, friends or personal experience, we've likely encountered the often debilitating illness at some point. As we get older, particularly where genetics is concerned, the realisation that we may personally suffer from this can be frightening, especially as we see or have seen how this affects those we love. So in this month's 'Let's Talk' health feature we talked to Arthritis Research UK to get a better understanding of the most common forms. However, don't let this be the end of the quest to understanding, we can't recommend reviewing their website highly enough either, it has a wealth of information available and surprisingly we found that Fibromyalgia, a condition which is gaining much attention but has little knowledge around, is actually an arthritic condition; the information they provide is insightful, informative and supportive.
What is arthritis and who does it affect?
Over 10 million people in the UK live with the daily pain of arthritis. This invisible pain can have an impact on every aspect of a person's life, from the ability to perform everyday tasks, work and family life to even a person's mood or ability to sleep.
There are over 200 different types of arthritis however; the most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which affects around 8.5 million people in the UK. With this condition the surfaces within the joints become damaged so the joint doesn't move as smoothly as it should. It can affect any joint, however, it is more likely to affect weight bearing joints such as the knees and hips.
The second most common form of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis which affects over 400,000 people in the UK. The condition is an autoimmune condition, which means that the immune system starts attacking the body's own tissues instead of germs and viruses, which in turn causes inflammation within the joint that can lead to damage.
The most common symptoms for osteoarthritis include pain, which tends to increase over the course of the day, stiffness in the affected joints and possibly a grating/grinding sensation. For this condition, we recommend speaking a doctor if the person experiences recurrent joint pain.
For rheumatoid arthritis, the main symptoms include joint pain and swelling, especially in small joints, stiffness which is worse upon waking and general flu like symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis varies from one person to another but it usually starts quite slowly. A few joints – often fingers, wrists or the balls of feet – become uncomfortable and may swell, often intermittently. Early diagnosis and the commencement of treatment is incredibly important for this condition, so if a person experiences pain and stiffness in the morning that lasts longer than an hour we recommend them to see their doctor as soon as possible.
The are many factors that can affect your risk of developing osteoarthritis including age as risk increases after the age of 40, gender as more women than men tend to be affected, genetics, previous injury to the joint and weight.
For rheumatoid arthritis, we are not entirely sure what sets of the autoimmune responses however, the condition itself seems to be a combination of lifestyle and genetic factors. Risk factors for this condition include age as although it can occur at age it most commonly starts between the ages of 40 and 50. Gender is also a risk factor also as about three times as many women as men are affected. Previous research has also suggested that lifestyle factors such as smoking and high consumption levels of coffee and red meat also increase the risk of developing the condition.
There are two things which can help prevent or slow the progression of osteoarthritis. One is to keep active and maintain movement of the joints, the other is to maintain a healthy weight, as extra weight can put strain of the joints.
Arthritis Research UK invests in breakthrough treatments, the best information and vital support for everyone affected by arthritis. They believe that by harnessing the power of exceptional science we as a society can overcome the pain, isolation and fatigue arthritis causes, making everyday life better for all those directly and indirectly affected by the condition.


Who Carries The Risk Of Throat Cancer?
The larynx, upper, middle and lower section, separated into 3 main sections, are opened and closed, our breathing, our conversation is the limb that provides. In the middle section of the larynx the vocal cords is located. The lower portion provides the link with the trachea.
Throat cancer usually occurs in regions near the vocal cords. Therefore, the first symptoms of cancer are related to the changes in sound. For example, your voice may be raucous than usual.
That you cannot determine the exact cause for hoarseness in a short time 2-3 weeks and you should see a doctor.
If the cancer is not in an area near the vocal cords the first symptom and there may be swelling in the throat persistent sore throat.
Diagnosed With Cancer Of The Larynx?
You will get detailed information from your doctor about your symptoms and your health history examine. Later examination it is checked whether or not there is any swelling in the region of the larynx. Expert, in order to see the throat area "nasendoscopy" called a thin, flexible tube. This tube from the nose to the larynx is lowered. A tube with a light and camera on the end in the throat can be examined in more detail.
Of throat cancer, among various types of cancer, although it was not among the top 10 in terms of the incidence, especially among smokers are common. Some of the chemical components found in cigarettes, by changing the structure of the larynx prepares the ground for the formation of tumor cells. After 10-15 years of quitting smoking, due to smoking, the risk of developing cancer of the larynx 60-70% is decreasing at the rate of. Most cancer of the larynx aged between 55-64 years (30%) is a type of cancer that is found in.
Who There Is A Risk Of Throat Cancer?


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Marsden 2009-II: So much to learn from synapses
By Fabiana Kubke • 14/10/2009 This post was syndicated from Building Blogs of Science - View original source
These are three more interesting neuroscience projects funded by the Marsden Fund of the Royal Society on their last round.
Johanna Montgomery from the University of Auckland will study what happens during development to determine what synaptic connections are maintained and which are eliminated
After neurons are bor n in the embryo they need to make connections (synapses) with their appropriate targets. Developmental neurobiologists have known for some time that many synaptic connections that are initially made are later eliminated. Why and how this happens is at the core of understanding brain development, brain plasticity and how different brain areas come to be connected the way they are. But this is really hard to study because the process is very hard to monitor over time. Johanna and her colleagues are now able to monitor this process in the developing inner ear (cochlea) because they can identify those synapses that persist in the adult and those that don't. In their new model, they will record simultaneously the electrical activity from the sensory hair cells and the tiny nerve terminals beneath them, and determine what is different between the two types of synapses, and whether these differences can explain why some synapses are destined to stay and others to be removed. They will also examine how normal auditory experience may affect the way that this process is regulated. This is a great project because it not only addresses a fundamental aspect of the development of neuronal connections but will also provide important information as to what happens to the wiring of the ear as a result of abnormal auditory experience which has profound implications for our understanding of deafness.
John Reynolds from the Univesity of Otago will study how synaptic connections change during learning
Our brains attach causal significance to our actions. For example, if we turn on a light at home and suddenly there is a blackout in the entire city we immediately assume we are somehow are responsible for it. Chances are we were not. But our brain reaches this conclusion based on the timing between both events, because this is how the brain learns the relationship between an action we perform and a sensory event that follows, that is , cause-consequence relationships. John proposes to study how these relationships are built in the brain, and suggest that dopamine in the striatum (that is part of the basal ganglia) is somehow involved in this process. If he is right, then changes in synaptic activity should follow cause-consequence learning. To record the activity of synapses you need to record from inside the cell, and although this is not an easy thing to do, John has mastered the technique to do so in an anaesthetised animal (I must say very few people are actually able to do this!). They chose to record from the synapses in the striatum during this type of learning because it is an area known to be involved in reward-related learning, skill acquisition, the formation of stimulus-response associations and lots of other things. It also contains the largest amount of dopamine in the brain and receives inputs from virtually all areas of the cerebral cortex. The big thing behind this project is that they will be able to correlate synaptic efficacy and the effects of altering the timing of the dopamine signal in the entire animal with a very specific behavioural task: did A cause B? I, personally, can't wait to hear what they find!
Paul Smith from the University of Otago will look at how our balance organ may be involved in memory
I, for one, never thought of my ear being involved in memory. But it turns out that it is. The vestibular system provides the brain with information about our head movement and position, and therefore it contributes to the formation of memories about places and the environment. Damage to the balance organ (vestibular system) in the ear causes memory deficits, and it looks like the vestibular system is necessary for the retrieval of some types of memory. What Paul proposes to do is to examine whether he can enhance memory retrieval by stimulating the vestibular system. If the hypothesis is correct, this work will change our understanding of how memories are formed and retrieved, and, of course, have huge implications for therapies for memory disorders.
About Building blogs of Science
Building Blogs of Science was the blog of Neuroscientist Dr Fabiana Kubke. We have archived her posts for your reading pleasure.
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Fellow Vancouverites, take note: Nine West is hosting its grand re-opening party at Pacific Centre this Friday, March 27 and there are some amazing deals to be had. The first 100 customers will receive a $50 gift card, but even if you miss out on that you can still take advantage of a 20% discount all day. Is this not the perfect time to stock up on new shoes for Spring and Summer or what? Plus, enter to win free shoes for a year and indulge in some free cupcakes while you're at it -- yum!


WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which represents a New York City firefighter who survived the 9-11 terrorist attacks and has filed a lawsuit to stop the Ground Zero Mosque, is asking a court to enjoin the mosque's developers from performing any demolition or construction at the site and is moving for court-ordered discovery in the case.
Today's filing comes just weeks after Mayor Bloomberg's Office released just a portion of documents in response to the ACLJ's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request - documents that the ACLJ contends validates the substance of its suit and reveals an inappropriate involvement between the Mayor's Office and developers of the mosque – while acknowledging that it was not releasing all documents responsive to the ACLJ's request.
"There is a disturbing pattern of stonewalling by the City and Mayor's Office in providing information about what's clearly been a politically tainted process from day one," said Brett Joshpe, ACLJ Counsel. "The limited release of documents by the Mayor's Office underscores our concerns. With developers moving forward with their plans and the continued lack of response by the City, we're seeking an injunction from the court to halt the destruction of any of the buildings at issue in the case."
The ACLJ's lawsuit names New York City's Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), the New York City Department of Buildings, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and the mosque's developers. In its affirmation to the court filed today, the ACLJ cites the Respondents' failure to answer its petition in a timely manner. It also cites two complaints to the Department of Buildings noting unauthorized work without proper permits at the mosque site and the developers' application for $5 million in public funding through the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation as an indication that project is moving forward.
The ACLJ's lawsuit alleges that the LPC abused its discretion and acted arbitrarily in its deliberations last summer about whether to landmark a building that was damaged on 9-11 and which would need to be demolished to develop the Ground Zero Mosque.
In responding to our FOIL request, the Mayor's Office released limited communications two days before Christmas - documentation that reveals that City Hall had direct communications with the mosque's developers, explicitly tried to assist with the political process, and was involved with discussions between the developers and the Community Board 1. An email from the developers' attorney, Shelly Friedman, also acknowledged that Robert Tierney, the Chairman of the LPC, was seeking "political cover" from politicians in order not to landmark the building.
The ACLJ represents Tim Brown, a firefighter and first responder, who survived the Twin Towers' collapse and lost nearly 100 friends.
The ACLJ also has heard from thousands of Americans who have signed on to the Committee to Stop the Ground Zero Mosque.
The affirmation filed today is posted here.
Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice focuses on constitutional law and is based in Washington, D.C. The ACLJ is online at www.aclj.org.


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Home » Travel Guides » United States » Tennessee (TN) » 25 Best Things to Do in Nashville (TN)
25 Best Things to Do in Nashville (TN)
Nashville is the capital of the state of Tennessee and it sits along the banks of the Cumberland River. Nashville picked up the nickname 'Music City' due to its long and exciting musical history, as you go around the city you will notice the great music venues that are situated here.
The city was founded in 1779 and named after an American Revolutionary War hero called Francis Nash. The summers here are hot and humid and the winters are moderately cold with normally only a light snowfall. The downtown part of the city is an exciting place to hang out so let's take a look at the best things to do in Nashville.
1. Witness A Star Performance At The Ryman Auditorium
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In the 1880's local businessman Thomas G. Ryman became a converted Christian after listening to the words of the evangelist Reverend Sam Jones. At that moment he decided that he would build a tabernacle that would allow everyone to hear the great man speak. The tabernacle was completed in 1892 and was the largest structure in the area. Over time the place was used for political rallies, local events and entertainment productions. Over the years many legends of the entertainment business have taken to the stage, including the likes of Charlie Chaplin and Aretha Franklin. Many awards decorate this fantastic venue and a trip whilst in this city is highly recommended.
2. Pretend You Are In Ancient Greece
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The Parthenon in Nashville
The Parthenon is a full scale replica of the original Athenian building and statue found in Greece. It feature a 42 foot high statue of Athena and is the main focus of this incredible sight. The Parthenon was built in 1897 as part of Tennessee's 1897 Centennial Exposition. The idea behind the structure was that it would be a replica to a monument that was considered the pinnacle of classical architecture. Today the Parthenon is used by the city of Nashville as an art museum, 63 paintings from 19th and 20th century American artists adorn the walls for all to see.
3. Tour The Belle Meade Plantation
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The Belle Plantation is steeped in history and a tour when in Nashville is both enjoyable and educational. You will start by taking a tour around the Greek-Revival mansion where you will learn about the history of the mansion and the surrounding area. Once you have finished this you will be able to view other buildings such as the dairy, carriage house, dairy and gardens. When the site seeing is finished you can take a trip to the winery for some free wine tasting. If you are hungry there is an onsite restaurant in Harding House where you can stop for lunch or dinner.
4. Visit President Andrew Jackson's Home
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President Andrew Jackson's Home
Between 1829 and 1837 Andrew Jackson was the President of the U.S.A. he was the seventh president and one that was loved by his countrymen due to his natural leadership abilities. A walk through Andrew Jackson's Hermitage with give you an insight into his colorful life as well as experience the great personal loss that he suffered during his life. You can explore the farm as well as the beautiful mansion where he lived. Whilst at the Hermitage you can also visit Andrew and his wife Rachel's final resting place, a tomb where they now lie side by side.
5. Explore The Beautiful Grounds Of Centennial Park
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Centennial Park, Nashville
Just a couple of miles outside downtown Nashville sits Centennial Park, the park spans an area of 132 acres and was previously used as farmland. There is a one mile walking trail that keen walkers can take a stroll around. A beautiful lake called Lake Watauga sits within the perimeter of the park and provides a beautiful backdrop for a relaxing picnic. Each year many people visit the park with their dogs, the dogs can take advantage of the dog park to roam free and get some exercise. Other attractions of Centennial Park include an art activity center and a museum.
6. Ignite Your Passion For Science At Adventure Science Center
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Since 1945 the Adventure Science Center in Nashville has been inspiring people to become involved in the sciences. The center now spans an area of 44,000 square feet and features just under 175 exhibits that are hands-on and interactive. The main focus of the museum is physics, biology, visual perception, mind, air and space, and energy and earth science. There is a planetarium on site that has the most current technology installed ensuring that guests leave feeling excited and interested in the field of science.
7. Get Close To The Animals At Nashville Zoo
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The Nashville zoo is spread out over 200 acres and offers a fantastic day out for both children and adults. The zoo has many activities to get involved in, rather than just seeing the animals you will find yourself running and crawling to experience the zoo in the most interactive way. There is a jungle gym that will see you swinging like a gibbon, running like a zebra and crouching like a tiger. There is a mob of meerkats that you can visit and see the world from their perspective. Other exhibitions include the gibbon islands that call out to visitors as they enter the park.
8. Enjoy The Frist Art Museum
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If you are an art lover then you need look no further than the Frist Art Museum. There is 24,000 square feet of gallery space that showcases the best local, national and international artists. The center is open seven days a week and under 18's will always have free entry. There are permanent exhibitions as well as temporary ones allowing frequent visitors to experience something new each time they visit.
9. Take Some Quiet Time In The Cheekwood Botanical Gardens
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Cheekwood Botanical Gardens
The Cheekwood Botanical Gardens are a spectacular place to spend an afternoon, you can bask in the beauty of the immaculately kept lawns and the dazzling displays of flowers. There are eleven display gardens that each other a different variety of flowers. In spring you can visit the Cheekwood in Bloom festival where you will see more than 100,000 tulips in bloom at the same time. Each Christmas there is a wonderland that is full of Christmas trees, trains, live reindeer's and of course Santa.
10. Watch The Best Of The Best At The Bridgestone Arena
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Since 1996 the Bridgestone Arena has been hosting the biggest names in the music industry. The likes of Adele, Rhianna and Madonna have all performed on the stage here and over 16 million people have been to see a show. For music events there is a capacity of 20,000 and when the Nashville Predators are here 17,113 people can pack in and enjoy the game. Originally the arena was known as the Nashville Arena before several other firms took over sponsorship. Currently Bridgestone have the naming rights after entering into a financial arrangement to have their name on the arena.
11. Learn The History Of The State
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Tennessee State Museum
Tennessee State Museum was established in 1937 to tell the story of the state of Tennessee. There are 60,000 square feet of space dedicated to permanent exhibits and another 10,000 to temporary exhibits. The story starts pre-colonisation and goes on throughout the 20th century. You can learn about President Andrew Jackson as well as the American Civil War. There is a collection of uniforms, weapons and flags from the civil war which is the one of the largest collections in the U.S.
12. Visit The State Capitol
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Tennessee State Capitol
The historic Tennessee State Capitol building is one of the oldest working capitols that the nation has. The building was designed in a Greek Revival style and is still a working building. You can go on a tour of this grand facility where you will get to see the chambers, house of representative and the old state library. The building was first opened in 1859 and was designed by the famous architect William Strickland. Unfortunately during construction of this building Strickland passed away and he is buried in the northern part of the building.
13. Soak Up The Atmosphere Of The Tennessee Titans
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The People of Nashville love their football and when the Tennessee Titans play their home games at the Nissan Stadium the whole city becomes awash with excitement. The Titans compete in the NFL and have a proud history having competed in the playoffs on 21 occasions. The team was formerly known as the Houston Oilers before relocating to Tennessee in 1997. After they had moved they changed their name to the Tennessee Oilers before settling on the Titans a few years later. The current stadium has a capacity of 69,000 that is often full to the brim with adoring fans.
14. Take A Tour Of Belmont Mansion
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Belmont Mansion was constructed between 1849 and 1853, the building is an Italianate Villa and covers an area of 19,000 square feet. Initially the building was used as the summer home for a local socialite known as Adelicia Acklen, she would come here in the summers and spend time with her family. Other uses for the building have included being the headquarters of the Union army as well as an all-girls college. The buildings are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the house operates as a museum.
15. Take A Walk In The Park
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The Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park in Nashville provides a tranquil setting to gather your thoughts and go for a stroll. A gentle walk around the park will see you come into contact with various exhibits that teach you about the history of Tennessee State. There is a 200 foot granite map of the state, a 95 bell carillon, a memorial to World War II, a Pathway of History and the Rivers of Tennessee Fountains. Each year this charming park puts on a variety of free events that draw the community together. The highlight being the Tennessee History Festival that is held each year in the fall.
16. Understand The Beginnings Of Nashville At Fort Nashborough
Source: Mariusz S. Jurgielewicz / shutterstock
Fort Nashborough
Fort Nashborough was where it all begun for the city of Nashville. In 1779 this stockade was built to protect the local people from wild animal and Indian attacks. It was built from logs and covered an area of 2 acres. The fort was reconstructed in the 1930's out of used telegraph poles and tells a fascinating story about the history and origins of this city. One month after the land for the original fort was agreed to be purchased the American Revolution broke out.
17. See The European Cars At Lane Motor Museum
Source: zombieite / Flickr | CC BY
Lane Motor Museum
Lane Motor Museum is situated on the site that used to be the well known Sunbeam Bakery. The bakery is no more but when you visit Lane Motor Museum you will see that many of the original characteristics have been kept. Jeff Lane opened the motor museum in 2002 after a lifetime love of automobiles, he began by donating his own collection of cars to the museum. The cars are mainly European and is the largest collection of such cars in the United States. Many of the cars in the showroom are in working order and in excellent condition, other cars have been left to show their natural aging.
18. Watch A Show At Nashville Municipal Auditorium
Source: Harold Stiver / shutterstock
Nashville Municipal Auditorium
If you like to see a good show then a trip to Nashville Municipal Auditorium will take care of that. The venue hosts many indoor sport and music events and has an ever changing program of shows. The auditorium was constructed in 1962 and has been going strong ever since. Another feature of the venue is the Musicians' Hall of Fame Museum which feature all genres of music and dates back to when music was first recorded. Many famous musicians have been inducted here including Keith Richards and the late Roy Orbison.
19. Enjoy The Warner Parks
Source: Joseph Guerre / shutterstock
Percy Warner Park
Just nine miles outside of downtown Nashville are the Percy Warner Park and the Edwin Warner Park. The parks cover an area of 3,180 acres and are one of the largest municipal parks in the country. You will come across a great network of hiking trails in Percy Warner Park as well as the 10 miles of equestrian paths to enjoy. If you and the family want a picnic there are plenty of picnic shelters that are big enough for everyone to enjoy. Another feature of the parks are the two golf courses that are present, Percy Warner Golf Course and Harpeth Hills Golf Course.
20. Relax At Percy Priest Lake
Source: David Newbold / shutterstock
Percy Priest Lake
Percy Priest Lake was completed in 1968, it is 42 miles long and covers an area of 14,000 acres. The lake has numerous recreational activities that you can enjoy, these include boating, fishing, camping, picnicking, horseback riding, sailing, hiking and many more. The camping facilities range from very basic facilities on islands within the lake to fully developed campsites. If you choose to go fishing you must hold a Tennessee State Fishing License, you can fish for many varieties of bass as well as sunfish, catfish, bluegill and trout.
21. Walk The John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
The Cumberland River in Nashville has long had a bridge running over it but for many years it sat there unused. In 2003 the bridge was reopened and named the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. The bridge is 960 meters in length and is one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world. During the last refurbishment the bridge had a centre lane created that is fifteen feet across and is dedicated to bicycles. A great time to admire the bridge is at night as it is always dramatically lit which makes it stand out for miles around.
22. Listen To Some Bluegrass At Station Inn
Source: Attapol Yiemsiriwut / shutterstock
The Station Inn in Nashville has gathered a bit of a cult status since its opening in 1974. The inn was originally opened by 6 bluegrass pickers, they provided the music for the guests and the site started to gain in popularity. In 1981 the Station Inn was sold to a new owner and different performers started to play each night, the owners would book in many acts and the Inn was nearly always full to capacity. Many big names in Bluegrass would regularly drop in unannounced and the place gained the iconic status that you see today. A trip to the Station Inn is an absolute must for any Bluegrass fans.
23. Take The Family To The Agricultural Museum
Source: Serge Yatunin / shutterstock
The Tennessee Agricultural Museum is situated on the grounds of the Ellington Agricultural Center. The museum features a whole array of farming items from the 19th and 20th century and they are exhibited in a plantation barn. You can take a look around a blacksmith shop, wagons and even see a Jumbo steam engine. After you have seen the items in the museum you can explore the farm house, gardens and go on a nature trail.
24. Reflect In The Mount Olivet Cemetery
Source: Cheryl E. Davis / shutterstock
Mount Olivet Cemetery
Mount Olivet Cemetery spans an area of 206 acres and is located in Nashville. The cemetery was opened in 1856 and has many of the areas political and business leaders buried within its boundary. When the American Civil War ended the women of the city wanted somewhere to bury the men that had given up their lives for their country. This part of the cemetery is known as Confederate Circle. The cemetery is open during daylight hours and is a place of quiet contemplation for visitors.
25. Have Fun At Robert's Western World
Source: Rolf_52 / shutterstock
Robert's Western World
Many of the biggest country artists have performed and continue to perform at Robert's Honky Tonk. A trip to Robert's will see you enjoying a few cold beers, a sizzling hot grill and lots of live music. There is also a gift shop on site should you wish to take a memento home with you. The business is currently owned by the famous musician Jesse Lee Jones, lead singer of Brazibilly.
Where to stay: Best Hotels in Nashville, Tennessee (TN)
Categories Tennessee (TN) Tags Nashville
25 Best Things to Do in Nashville (TN):
Witness A Star Performance At The Ryman Auditorium
Pretend You Are In Ancient Greece
Tour The Belle Meade Plantation
Visit President Andrew Jackson's Home
Explore The Beautiful Grounds Of Centennial Park
Ignite Your Passion For Science At Adventure Science Center
Get Close To The Animals At Nashville Zoo
Enjoy The Frist Art Museum
Take Some Quiet Time In The Cheekwood Botanical Gardens
Watch The Best Of The Best At The Bridgestone Arena
Learn The History Of The State
Visit The State Capitol
Soak Up The Atmosphere Of The Tennessee Titans
Take A Tour Of Belmont Mansion
Take A Walk In The Park
Understand The Beginnings Of Nashville At Fort Nashborough
See The European Cars At Lane Motor Museum
Watch A Show At Nashville Municipal Auditorium
Enjoy The Warner Parks
Relax At Percy Priest Lake
Walk The John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
Listen To Some Bluegrass At Station Inn
Take The Family To The Agricultural Museum
Reflect In The Mount Olivet Cemetery
Have Fun At Robert's Western World


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The Morning Dispatch: RNC Threatens to Boycott Future Presidential Debates
Republicans accuse the bipartisan organization that oversees the quadrennial debates of political bias against their nominees.
The Dispatch Staff Jan 14
Happy Friday! If there was going to be a YouTube video to surpass 10 billion views, we're glad it's something as profound and enriching as "Baby Shark."
2021 was the sixth-warmest year on record, according to new data released Thursday by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. With global temperatures 1.51℉ above the 20th-century average, 2021 was cooler only than 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020.
President Biden appeared to concede on Thursday that Senate Democrats will not be able to advance the party's two voting bills—the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act—after Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin reiterated yet again their opposition to abolishing the legislative filibuster.
The Supreme Court on Thursday blocked the Biden administration's COVID-19 vaccine or testing mandate for businesses that employ at least 100 people, with a majority of justices ruling that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is empowered to set "workplace safety standards, not broad public health measures." In a statement, President Biden expressed disappointment in the Supreme Court's ruling and said he will continue to "advocate for employers to do the right thing to protect Americans' health and economy" by implementing vaccine mandates. The justices did, however, determine in a 5-4 ruling that the Biden administration's vaccine mandate for healthcare workers at facilities receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding is lawful.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said yesterday that diplomatic talks over Ukraine had hit a "dead end" because the United States and its allies are "telling [him] no" on Russia's primary demands and only offering to negotiate on "secondary" issues. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters Thursday that "the threat of military invasion is high," as the U.S. intelligence community has determined Russia is "laying the groundwork to have the option of fabricating a pretext for an invasion."
Sen. Ted Cruz's legislation that would quickly reimpose sanctions on the Russia-led Nord Stream 2 pipeline opposed by Ukraine failed to advance Thursday after 44 Democrats and one Republican voted against it. The Biden administration had lobbied against the bill in recent days, arguing it would "remove leverage" and "undermine" its efforts to deter a Russian re-invasion of Ukraine.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday the Producer Price Index—a measure of what suppliers and wholesalers are charging their customers—increased at its slowest pace since November 2020 last month, but is still up a near-record 9.7 percent year-over-year.
Despite President Biden saying in November that migrant families separated at the border during the Trump years and suing the government "deserve some kind of compensation," the Justice Department argued in federal court this week the plaintiffs' cases should be dismissed because illegal immigrants cannot "challenge the federal government's enforcement of federal immigration laws." The Wall Street Journal reported in October that the government was considering up to $450,000 settlement payments per person affected by the Trump administration policy.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that the Omicron variant accounted for 97 percent to 99 percent of COVID-19 infections confirmed in the United States between January 2 and January 8. The U.S. is now averaging about 800,000 confirmed COVID-19 infections per day—as well as about 1,700 deaths attributed to the disease—but there are early signs the Omicron wave is nearing its peak. President Biden announced yesterday that hundreds of military personnel will be deployed next week to assist overwhelmed hospitals in six states, and that he had directed his administration to double its rapid COVID-19 test order to 1 billion.
The January 6 Select Committee issued subpoenas to four social media companies on Thursday, demanding information from Alphabet (Google), Meta (Facebook), Reddit, and Twitter regarding the various platforms' alleged hosting of election misinformation and violent extremist content.
A National Student Clearinghouse Research Center report published yesterday found college enrollment has declined by 5.1 percent (approximately 940,000 students) from Fall 2019 to Fall 2021.
The Labor Department reported Thursday that initial jobless claims increased by 23,000 week-over-week to 230,000 last week, but remain near record lows.
RNC Threatens to Pull the Plug on Presidential Debates
(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.)
During the 2020 campaign, one of the oddest targets against which then-President Trump turned his wrath was the Commission on Presidential Debates, the organization responsible for producing the televised specials that are typically the only mano-a-mano candidate confrontations of a given election cycle.
The commission—which for years has operated more or less out of the public eye—has hosted the presidential and vice presidential general election debates since George H.W. Bush beat Michael Dukakis in 1988, and its board of directors is stuffed with former high-powered officials of both major parties. Trump's objection was that he believed most of the formerly high-powered officials couldn't stand him in particular.
"The problem is that the so-called Commission on Presidential Debates is stacked with Trump Haters and Never Trumpers," he tweeted in late 2019, nearly a year before the first debate was set to take place. "As president, the debates are up to me, and there are many options, including doing them directly and avoiding the nasty politics of this very biased Commission."
Trump ended up going through with the debates (although the second was canceled after he contracted COVID). Now, however, the Republican Party is moving past mere complaints. On Thursday, Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel sent a letter to the co-chairs of the CPD—first reported by The New York Times—threatening to bar future Republican nominees from participating in CPD-sponsored debates barring significant changes to the organization.
"The RNC has shared our concerns with the CPD in good faith, carefully documenting why the party and its voters have lost faith in your organization, and we have proposed commonsense reforms that would restore trust in the debates process," McDaniel wrote. "Unfortunately, neither the tone nor substance of your latest response inspires confidence that the CPD will meaningfully address the serious issues which the RNC has raised."
Trump's complaints about the CPD were rooted in its supposed personal animosity against him, and the RNC letter as well complained about "a majority of [CPD's] Board Members publicly disparaging the Republican nominee" during the last cycle. But McDaniel's other gripes were more procedural, as she demanded that CPD "adopt term limits for its Board of Directors," "commit to holding at least one debate before the start of early voting," and establish several new layers of transparency, including by prohibiting CPD staff from publicly supporting or opposing candidates and disqualifying anyone with "personal, professional, or partisan" conflicts of interest from moderating debates.
"These proposals are common sense solutions for an organization whose unique, nonpartisan role in American elections requires it to stand above the political fray," McDaniel went on. "Indeed, we believe that most neutral observers would be shocked to learn that these overdue reforms are not already CPD policy."
The CPD responded quickly. "The CPD deals directly with candidates for President and Vice President who qualify for participation in the CPD's general election debates," the organization said in a statement provided to The Dispatch. "The CPD's plans for 2024 will be based on fairness, neutrality, and a firm commitment to help the American public learn about the candidates and the issues."
It's not hard to see where the CPD is coming from: The organization sees an above-the-fray posture as key to its bipartisan credibility, a posture that precludes folding to a party's ultimatums. It's also not hard to see why they'd scoff at claims about their partisanship; bipartisanship is sewn into the fabric of the organization, which was co-founded in 1987 by the RNC and DNC chairs at the time, Frank Fahrenkopf and Paul Kirk. But Fahrenkopf, 82, is still the CPD's Republican co-chair, and McDaniel would likely argue—correctly—that he's not representative of today's GOP, which Trump commandeered in large part by denigrating its old guard.
Regardless of the merits of the complaint, it's pretty clear who's holding more of the cards here. The CPD's role in the process is based entirely on inertia; it organizes the debates because it's the entity that has organized them for years. But it's not like people would still tune in to watch the Democratic nominee monologue at an empty podium.
Of course, there's always the possibility that the Republican Party would decide abandoning the debates would look uncomfortably like running away from a fight. That's the line Democrats will probably take, anyway. "After years of having their toxic policies exposed on the national stage, the RNC has decided they would rather hide their ideas and candidates from voters," DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison said yesterday. "Regardless of the RNC's tantrum, voters can count on hearing from President Biden and Vice President Harris, who are proud of their records."
Sen. Mitt Romney—the GOP's 2012 presidential nominee and McDaniels' uncle—told reporters yesterday the RNC would be "nuts" to go through with the plan. "The American people want to see candidates for president debating issues of consequence to them," he said. "It provides a service to the country and to the people, to hear the prospective candidates of the two major parties duke it out."
What would a CPD-less election look like? Before the CPD era, the debates had been administered for several cycles by the League of Women Voters, but it gave up the task in exasperation in 1988, accusing the two parties of attempting to micromanage the rules of engagement.
"It has become clear to us that the candidates' organizations aim to add debates to their list of campaign-trail charades devoid of substance, spontaneity, and honest answers to tough questions," the League said then in a statement. "Never in the history of the League of Women Voters have two candidates' organizations come to us with such stringent, unyielding, and self-serving demands." The CPD was born out of the two parties' desire to hash out the rules of engagement on their own without recourse to any pesky idealistic third party; it's a sign of the times that even that arrangement is now grinding gears at party headquarters.
If the RNC follows through on its threat—it's set to be voted on in a party meeting next month—it's possible the eventual nominees' campaigns would negotiate the terms of debate amongst themselves in 2024. It's also possible the nominees would simply not debate in person at all. That, too, would be a sign of the times.
Worth Your Time
Josh Barro's first full Very Serious newsletter outlines his view on what Democratic leaders are doing wrong in the lead up to the 2022 midterm elections. "Ever since Donald Trump was first nominated, Democrats have become enamored of the mostly wrong idea that they can win political contests through disqualification," he writes. "Because Republicans are so bad—so racist, so erratic, so fascist, whatever—voters can be told they are not even an acceptable option and therefore they must vote Democratic, whatever views they hold on any other issues; whatever the actual performance record of Democratic officeholders; even if the Democratic nominee is Hillary Clinton. … It's an appealing message for partisans because in theory it allows you to pick up more voters without adjusting your policy agenda at all. But especially without Trump on the ballot, this strategy is a mirage."
In Commentary, John Podhoretz memorializes the magazine's most prolific contributor in its 76-year history, Terry Teachout, who died yesterday at the age of 65. "The loss to his loved ones, the loss to the American theatre he both championed as a critic and mastered as a playwright, and the loss to the broader American culture he knew more fully than anyone else in our time cannot be overstated," Podhoretz writes. "Terry possessed an extraordinary talent, all the more extraordinary because his life's work was a defense of the value, meaning, and profundity of ordinariness. A child of small-town Missouri, he was someone who made a study of every topic that interested him and, with his passion for completeness, achieved a greater level of expertise in matters of high and popular culture than just about anyone in America."
For GQ, Daniel Riley profiled Shohei Ohtani, the two-way Los Angeles Angels phenom who just wrapped up one of the most unique seasons in baseball history. "It has been some time since a new baseball player has become a household name," he writes. "But it was palpable all last year that we were witnessing someone who might reframe the possibilities, for generations to come, for what any one individual player could do in the game."
Presented Without Comment
CNN @CNN
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin said President Joe Biden may have gone "a little too far in his rhetoric" when he compared lawmakers who do not support changing Senate filibuster rules to pass stalled voting and elections legislation to segregationists. Top Democrat concedes Biden may have gone 'a little too far' in comparing some lawmakers to segregationistsSenate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) reacted to Sen. Mitch McConnell's criticism of Biden's voting rights speech. Durbin told CNN's Jake Tapper the 'stark' words from Biden reflected his great emotion for voting rights.cnn.it
138 Retweets794 Likes
Also Presented Without Comment
The Associated Press @AP
BREAKING: The founder of the far-right Oath Keepers militia group and 10 others have been charged with seditious conspiracy in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Seditious conspiracy: 11 Oath Keepers charged in Jan. 6 riot | AP NewsWASHINGTON (AP) — Stewart Rhodes, the founder and leader of the far-right Oath Keepers militia group, and 10 other members or associates have been charged with seditious conspiracy in the violent attack on the U.S.apne.ws
Toeing the Company Line
In the second edition of Stirewaltisms, Chris opines on Democrats' perilous political position before pivoting to podcasts, polls, and 2024 punditry. "On the defining issue for his term so far, Biden is losing the confidence of the public, which means he is losing the respect of his rivals for power inside the party," he writes. "Vice President Kamala Harris won't be the only one sniping at Biden from behind the draperies as 2024 draws nearer."
New York Times columnist Ross Douthat dropped by The Remnant on Thursday for a discussion about his latest essay. Is the United States actually on the cusp of a new civil war? Why is Biden a less effective president than Bill Clinton? Can a case be made for mandatory voting? And is there anything worthwhile about Don't Look Up?
In the months before Joe Biden became president, we published a series of pieces from expert analysts breaking down his policy agenda, from the courts to foreign policy to education to federal spending. Now we're updating the series, with the same authors checking in on Biden's progress a year into his term. First up: Abby McCloskey grades how Biden has managed with his family policy agenda.
Have presidential debates outlived their usefulness, or do you believe they still serve an important purpose?
Reporting by Declan Garvey (@declanpgarvey), Andrew Egger (@EggerDC), Charlotte Lawson (@lawsonreports), Audrey Fahlberg (@AudreyFahlberg), Ryan Brown (@RyanP_Brown), Harvest Prude (@HarvestPrude), and Steve Hayes (@stephenfhayes).
135 Comment579 ShareShare
Another Aaron
Jan 14Liked by Declan Garvey
I think Dave Chappelle should moderate the next presidential debate.
82Reply
Jan 14Liked by Andrew Egger, Declan Garvey
My proposal for debates: show the question that was asked at the bottom of the screen and if candidates don't answer the asked questions and instead try to spin, they drop into a dunk tank.