Actual entries from the NYT Almanac’s "Chronology of U.S. History" (not online that I can find, unfortunately; you’ll have to take my word for it), with verbatim quotes next to the year:

1636     New Englanders massacre hundreds of Indians in Pequot War.  Harvard College established.

1656     First Quakers arrive in America; imprisoned in Boston, beaten, and deported.

1842     U.S. accidentally seizes California, then returns it with apology to Mexico.

Some unknown NYT editor is either utterly oblivious… or (I prefer to think) has a deliciously bleak sense of humor.

No, not politics, not on the weekend…

Spent much of the weekend at the L.A. stop of the IRB Sevens rugby tour, which may become my favorite sporting event of the year.

Imagine world-class athletes from 16 countries running their brightly-clad kiesters off — and fans hailing from every one of them, all gathered in one place for a solid weekend of overeating, flag-waving (not necessarily your own — whomever you’re rooting for at the moment will do), and good-natured screaming unto hoarseness.

This time around, a bunch of Aussies were the best to drink with (gee, there’s a surprise), the Argentinians were the most organized singers, and (as always) the Kenyans had the most interesting cheer — a kind of accelerating, over-the-head, back-and-forth arm wave deal that rapidly devolves into a bunch of kathwaping and giggling.

The level of high-density good-sportsmanship among the fans is something I’ve only encountered at the Olympics, and even it’s not quite the same — people just aren’t crammed together the same way, drinking and screaming together in the same venue for a cult-building solid weekend of sport.

If you ever, ever have the chance to attend one of these — whether here in L.A. next year, or if you cross paths with the tour somewhere else in the world — go.

w.

Wow.  Neat.

Thanks to your votes, this teeny corner of the Internet is now a Koufax Awards finalist in three categories:

Best Writing

Best Series

Most Humorous Blog

The Best Series nod is for the around-the-world Travel Journal originally posted at This Modern World.

Thanks, everybody.  Thanks for the votes.  I’m blown away.

Y’know that stuff you hear from showbiz types about how "it’s just an honor to be nominated, the other nominees are so good and I admire them so much, I’m happy just to be here," none of which you ever really quite believe?

In this case… hell yes.   Believe it.

To vote in the finals, just click on the categories you want to vote in, and scroll down to the bottom of the new window, add your comments, and send.

Thanks!

PS — Two things to add: a) without Colin contributing so much tech work, this site simply would not exist, so he gets half of any credit; and b) if you click over and vote, the other nominees offer some terrific reading.  Forget any competition; do yourself a favor, and if there’s a site nominated you haven’t looked at, dig in.  After which, then I hope you’ll still remember to vote.