Just wanted to pop in real quick and wish everyone here in the states a Happy 4th of July. Since we are celebrating the founding of our country I would like to take this time to shine a light on my favorite player in the American Revolution, Thomas Paine. No, he wasn't the victorious general or a crafty politician, instead he succeeded in winning the hearts and minds of the American people with his writings.

His most famous and most important work was Common Sense , the pamphlet that convinced George Washington, John Adams and thousands of colonists that this country had to be free from Great Britain. He also wrote several short pamphlets during the war called The Crisis in order to keep up the spirits of the soldiers and the people. Here is the beginning of the first issue of The Crisis :

"These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value."

Plus he came up with the name of the country so that's got to count for something.

-Jeremy

PS - New articles on the front page today, including two on the 4th of July, a review of WALL-E and a guide to online dating for men.