Jamesian Philosophy Refreshed

I'm on vacation this week, so this post and the next three are being written (were written) long ago, and are not at all responsive to current events. Just so you know. I'll throw something quite random out there today. One blog that discusses ancient history recently referenced some ancient Greek ruthlessness with the wonderful line, "Just because they invented geometry doesn't mean they wouldn't mess you up at the drop of a hat." [No, my vacation does not involve a trip to Greece -- this is more random than that -- but it's a good line.] Okay, the "drop of a hat" thing might have been an unnecessary cliche.  The line might have been even better if the final phrase had had a skewed connection to geometry. The Greeks: Just because they invented geometry doesn't mean they wouldn't mess you up at every curve or right angle in the road.

If all has gone well, as you are reading this I have begun a mini-vacation in North Carolina. So for today let us simply contemplate the flag of that state.  That the flag of North Carolina shall consist of a blue union, containing in the center thereof a white star with the letter N in gilt on the left and the letter C in gilt on the right of said star, the circle containing the same to be one-third the width of the union. The fly of the flag shall consist of two equally proportioned bars; the upper bar to be red, the lower bar to be white; that the length of the bars horizontally shall be equal to the perpendicular length of the union, and the total length of the flag shall be one-third more than its width. That above the star in the center of the union there shall be a gilt scroll in semi-circular form, containing in black letters this inscription "May 20th, 1775," and that below the star there shall be a similar scroll containing in black letters the inscription: ...