An Evacuation Day Letter

March 17, 1776

An open letter to General Howe:

It has come to our attention while observing your military maneuvers against our army in Boston that you may not fully understand your position. Thus we are writing to bring to your attention to two features of the situation.

First, you could continue your action of evacuating your forces from Boston and relocating to Nova Scotia. This would be a great strategic victory for General Washington, boost morale on the colonial side, and serve to increase their support among the rebellious population.

Second, with end of the recent unfavorable weather, your position is strengthened should you instead choose to attack. While we understand your wish to avoid another situation like the recent battle at Bunker Hill, we feel that we should point out that you did win that engagement.

What this means is that while an attack would no doubt be costly, you could achieve victory here, potentially nipping the revolution in the bud and eliminating the General Washington as an ongoing threat to your control of the colonies. The next commanding general would be in a weakened position and a future colonial army would be unlikely to challenge British rule.

We hope this letter enriches your knowledge of the strategic situation and promotes understanding and clarity as your suppression actions continue.

Sincerely,

The Tories 

New Year's Resolution Post

Happy new year!

A little late you say? Well, who says that the year begins on January 1? Numa Pompilius? Why should I listen to that guy? Any day and every day can be a beginning, so you and I can celebrate the new year whenever we want to.

Every year, in late December and early January, we read about people who make resolutions, begin with good intentions, then stumble, fail, and quit. Gyms and churches see more people for a while. People try to renew, to walk a better path, and then slip off. And they don't get back on. Or they don't take a lesson from the mistake and set a better, more useful goal. They just slip back and wait until next year. I think that's a bit sad.

Every day is a new year. I know I'm sounding like a self-help guru here, and I don't want to, but the way people respond to small failures bothers me. People fail. All people fail. In the immortal words of Adam Savage, "failure is always an option." If you're not failing occasionally, you are not trying.

I know people who believe in a comparatively recent notion that in order for us to have a fulfilling life we must go through a singular experience, to be "born again" as a new person, renewed in our commitments and our faith. I don't think that's a very helpful philosophy. I think it better that we make an effort to be continually renewed, to start fresh as frequently as possible. Be born again and again and again.

So, what are my resolutions for this year, which begins today and runs until I say so? Same as usual, be a better version of me, read more, write more, engage more, experience more, stop doing things that are self destructive, do things that lead to health, growth, and renewal. My goals are the same. The resolution is to succeed.

See you next year. Whenever that is.