The stupid books

How exactly does one define "patriotism"? Webster's Dictionary labels it as “a love for or devotion to one's country.” Certainly, many of our Founding Fathers would fall into that category. Men like Thomas Jefferson and John Adams could be considered patriots. They spent large parts of their lives pursuing freedom for this country. And they exited this world with a flair for the patriotic as well: Both men died on the 4th of July in 1826. However, for all of their accomplishments, the two men still lack something from their illustrious careers: They never consumed 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes. One of the more bizarre displays of "patriotism" in this country can be found every 4th of July in Brooklyn, New York. Since 1916, the city has hosted Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. The event is believed to have started as a contest between two immigrants who wanted to prove who was more patriotic by the number of hot dogs they could eat. Or maybe they were just trying to impress the local Coney Island women. The historical record is a bit fuzzy. Regardless, the meaning of patriotism has now expanded. What was once relegated to flying flags and shooting fireworks has now grown to include one's penchant for stuffing vast amounts of processed meat in their bellies. Our Founding Fathers must be very proud. Read More »