H.Res. 110

This is kind of amazing. While it's fairly common for Congress to pass hundreds, if not thousands, of resolutions in each session, this one is particularly wonderful. I do love the "Steeler Nation".

Full text below (read it, it's a hoot!):

111th CONGRESS 1st Session

H. RES. 110

Congratulating the National Football League champion Pittsburgh Steelers for winning Super Bowl XLIII and becoming the most successful franchise in NFL history with their record 6th Super Bowl title.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 3, 2009

Mr. DOYLE (for himself, Mr. ROONEY, and Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

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RESOLUTION

Congratulating the National Football League champion Pittsburgh Steelers for winning Super Bowl XLIII and becoming the most successful franchise in NFL history with their record 6th Super Bowl title.

Whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII by defeating the Arizona Cardinals 27 to 23 in Tampa, Florida, on February 1, 2009, winning their second Super Bowl championship in 4 years;

Whereas with this victory the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise has set a new National Football League standard for most Super Bowl victories with their record 6th Super Bowl championship;

Whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers went 15-4 against the hardest-ranked 2008-2009 schedule in the NFL and defeated the San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, and Arizona Cardinals during their record-setting post season run;

Whereas linebacker James Harrison returned a goal line interception 100 yards for the longest play in Super Bowl history;

Whereas quarterback Ben Roethlisberger went 21-30 for 256 yards and led the team down the field for the 19th and most important 4th quarter comeback of his career;

Whereas wide receiver Santonio Holmes won the Super Bowl MVP award with a 9-catch, 131-yard performance, including the game-winning touchdown in the corner of the endzone with 35 seconds left in the game;

Whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers new `Steel Curtain' defense, including stars James Harrison, Ryan Clark, Troy Polamalu, James Farrior, Ike Taylor, Larry Foote, Casey Hampton, LaMarr Woodley, Brett Keisel, Deshea Townsend, and Aaron Smith were ranked first in the NFL in overall team defense for the 2008-2009 season;

Whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers defense during the 2008-2009 season allowed the least points scored, lowest average passing yards per game, and the least overall yards per game in the entire NFL;

Whereas head coach Mike Tomlin is the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl championship and has continued in the legendary tradition of head coaches Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher by bringing a Super Bowl championship to Pittsburgh;

Whereas linebacker James Harrison was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the 2008-2009 season;

Whereas team owner Dan Rooney and team President Art Rooney II, the son and grandson, respectively, of Pittsburgh Steelers founder Art Rooney, have remarkable loyalty to Steelers fans and the City of Pittsburgh, and have assembled an exceptional team of players, coaches, and staff that made achieving a championship possible;

Whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers fan base, known as `Steeler Nation', was ranked in August 2008 by ESPN.com as the best in the NFL, citing their current streak of 299 consecutive sold out games going back to the 1972 season; and

Whereas, for 76 years, the people of the City of Pittsburgh have seen themselves in the grit, tenacity, and success of the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise, and they proudly join the team in celebrating their NFL record 6th Super Bowl championship: Now therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives congratulates the National Football League Champion Pittsburgh Steelers for winning Super Bowl XLIII and setting a new championship standard for the entire NFL.

(http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.RES.110:)

Lessons

This semester, well, year really, has been one of the most commitment- and responsibility-free of my life. Having graduated out of every extracurricular organization that defined my undergraduate existence (and for a time moving across the world), I now have more free time than I know what to do with. This semester I'm enrolled in class three days a week; four days out of seven I literally have NOTHING scheduled in my calendar. In a nutshell, I'm bored as all get-out.

This was not necessarily a problem last semester; I was living in Adelaide and surrounded by people; finding company and activities was pretty easy. All I had to do was walk into our common room. It also helped that I engrossed myself in my surroundings whole-heartedly; new experiences can do that, and I didn't have much time to fully enjoy them. Still, I certainly felt the lack of busy-ness.

Multiply that tenfold now. I'm back in a city I know very well, albeit one that I still love, and it's the dead of winter. Potential for activity abound, but it's hard to rustle up the people to accompany me. Actually, I take that back; my levels of social activity would be more than adequate to satisfy me if I had more work to do. Spending most of my day inert does not motivate me well. In fact, I think having more free time negatively affects my work ethic and the quality of what I do produce. Monotony leads to lethargy and ennui, and ultimately procrastination. It also doesn't make me the greatest companion when I do get out, I think, because I'll seize that person with all the force of a reluctant recluse.

Luckily, however, my sorry and workless state might be at an end. I have an opportunity to once again become a productive member of society at a local not-for-profit adoption agency. If I do, I'll have much less free time, but I think will be happier as a result. Is it unusual for a person to look forward to working more and relaxing less?

I think this past year has taught me a valuable lesson. I ended my senior year worked to the bone, exhausted, and dispirited. I was rejuvenated by exposing myself to a society that enforces a better work-life balance and giving myself more personal freedom. In doing so, I realized that while life can't be all work and no play, it also can't be all play and no work (at least for me). Keeping those thoughts in mind for my future career, I hope to strike a good balance that leaves me happy, healthy, and satisfied both at work and beyond.

The Answer

For those who read my last post, the answer is not, as you might have thought, George Washington.

Samuel Huntington, of Connecticut, was the first President under the Articles of Confederation (and Perpetual Union). He shared many commonalities with Washington; born into a modest family, raised with little formal education, and was a life-long patriot. However, Washington never signed the Declaration of Independence, as Huntington did.

After his time in the presidency, he became Lieutenant Governor and then Governor of Connecticut, until his death in 1796.

Cool, huh?

The First President

The First President in United States history: think you know who he was? Let's see.

He was born in a rural colony of Britain in the early 1730s. His formal education was limited; he was mostly self-taught. His family owned and operated a farm.

His wife's name was Martha. They had no children of their own.

He was elected as a delegate to Congress. He signed the Declaration of Independence. While not known for an extensive education or brilliant speech, he was highly respected and esteemed by his fellow patriots for hard work and a steady character.

He did not own slaves, and was outspoken against slavery his entire life. After his death, he had a city named after him.

Who was he? I'll post the answer tomorrow, but guesses are welcome.

Work without Hope

All Nature seems at work. Slugs leave their lair—
The bees are stirring—birds are on the wing—
And Winter slumbering in the open air,
Wears on his smiling face a dream of Spring!
And I the while, the sole unbusy thing,
Nor honey make, nor pair, nor build, nor sing.

Yet well I ken the banks where amaranths blow,
Have traced the fount whence streams of nectar flow.
Bloom, O ye amaranths! bloom for whom ye may,
For me ye bloom not! Glide, rich streams, away!
With lips unbrightened, wreathless brow, I stroll:
And would you learn the spells that drowse my soul?
Work without Hope draws nectar in a sieve,
And Hope without an object cannot live.

- Samuel Taylor Coleridge