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FROM THE DESK OF
John Razumich
Fun Days In June June 1 — Global Day of Parents June 2 — National Donut Day June 3 — World Bicycle Day June 4 — National Cheese Day June 5 — World Environment Day June 6 — D-Day June 7 — Global Running Day June 8 — World Oceans Day June 9 — National Donald Duck Day June 10 — Global Wellness Day June 11 — National Children’s Day June 12 — Red Rose Day June 13 — World Softball Day June 14 — Flag Day June 15 — Nature Photography Day June 16 — National Fudge Day June 17 — Bunker Hill Day June 18 — Father’s Day June 19 — Juneteenth June 20 — International Surfing Day June 21 — Summer Solstice June 22 — World Rainforest Day June 23 — National Pink Day June 24 — Swim a Lap Day June 25 — Global Beatles Day
Oyez, Oyez, Oyez! THE SPITEFUL ORIGIN OF THE SUPREME COURT’S POWER
These days, when the going gets tough, America turns to the U.S. Supreme Court to sort out its most daunting legal battles. Nine unelected, and ideally impartial, judges listen to oral arguments on controversial cases from its lower courts, all in the name of adhering to or amending our Constitution. They can strike down laws that spent years being dragged through the legal process, undo executive decisions, and even change long-held American beliefs with a majority vote. But it wasn’t always this way. In fact, in the early 1800s, when America was still in its judicial infancy, the courts held almost no real power. Justices didn’t even have their own building or space to meet in — they borrowed the basement of Congress, which one newspaper at the time referred to as a “dark, dank potato hole.” And at the time, Congress didn’t really see the Supreme Court becoming anything important, especially not as the final say for nearly every decision our country makes.
So how the heck did the Supreme Court become so powerful?
It was all because of a man named John Marshall. In 1801, Marshall was the chief justice of the infant Supreme Court. Marshall also hated his cousin, who was none other than Thomas Jefferson. Marshall and Jefferson disliked each other for a few reasons, the pettiest being that Marshall’s mother-in-law romantically rejected Thomas Jefferson. However, they also fought incessantly due to their political leanings; Marshall was a staunch Federalist who wanted big government involvement, while Jefferson was a Republican who wanted the power to remain with the states.
June 26 — National Chocolate Pudding Day June 27 — National PTSD Awareness Day June 28 — National Insurance Awareness Day June 29 — National Handshake Day June 30 — Take Your Dog to Work Day
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... continued from Cover
Well, in the late 1790s, John Adams was president, and the Federalist Party held power in America. However, in 1800, Thomas Jefferson and the Republican Party dominated the election, winning by a landslide and kicking the Federalists out. So, in the last hours of his presidency, Adams and the Federalist Party tried to act fast to retain some sort of power in the incoming Republican administration. The previous Supreme Court chief justice had just died, so Adams quickly filled the spot with his secretary of state, John Marshall. He also created over 40 other judgeship positions across the country and filled those with Federalists too. But to become a judge, the sitting president must give them their commission on a document with the seal and signature of the president.
unhappy — so unhappy, in fact, that he canceled the 1802 Supreme Court term and sent Marshall away.
In his time away, Marshall saw the future of the Supreme Court dying and knew he needed to do something to legitimize its value if it was to remain a part of the U.S. government. So, its 1803 comeback made an enormous splash in the name of a very famous case: Marbury v. Madison. William Marbury was one of the judges appointed by Adams in those final hours. His name was also on one of the papers left on the desk. So when Marbury brought this to the Supreme Court to argue he deserved the judicial role, Marshall made a decision that changed history forever. Even though he, too, was a Federalist, he decided that the court couldn’t rule on the case because it didn’t follow the proper procedures outlined in the Constitution. So while Congress passed a law that said certain cases could jump right to the Supreme Court, the Constitution said all cases must go through the lower courts first. In essence, the law that Congress passed was unconstitutional, and the Supreme Court wouldn’t follow it.
So, in the waning hours of Adams’ presidency, he fervently stamped and signed these documents. Unfortunately, when the clock struck the final hour, some documents
were left behind. When Jefferson entered and found 40 Federalists and his detested cousin in judiciary roles, he was
This decision to lose one Federalist judge to gain the power of striking down laws ultimately gave the Supreme Court the influence it has today — and John Marshall did it to spite his cousin. RESCUE DOG’S LEGACY LIVES ON How the World Fell for Frida
Dressed in protective goggles, blue booties, and a matching vest, this incredible rescue dog became a symbol of hope in Mexico. Frida, a cheerful yellow Labrador retriever, was a devoted member of the Mexican Navy known for her search and rescue skills. Trained to find people trapped under rubble after earthquakes, Frida always worked hard to save lives. Frida became a national hero when a devastating earthquake hit Mexico City in 2017. The 7.1 magnitude earthquake took more than 300 lives and injured many more. While sifting through dangerous debris and aftershocks, Frida saved 12 people after finding them alive while uncovering more than 40 bodies during her lifesaving career. While the nation was devastated by the disaster, this smiley rescue pup brought worldwide attention to the tragedy. Frida’s dedication (and impeccable style) quickly made her an internet celebrity, and soon, murals of the lifesaving canine graced the
walls of Mexico City. Even Captain America, aka Chris Evans , gave Frida a shoutout on Twitter, adding, “What did we do to deserve dogs?” The hero dog then traveled the world, helping countries suffering from the aftermath of disastrous earthquakes. Frida saved lives in Haiti and Ecuador before retiring from her position in 2019 at 10 years old to live the rest of her days in comfort and love. Sadly, the Mexican Navy announced Frida’s passing in November 2022 due to old age. She was 13 years old. In her honor, a magnificent bronze statue of Frida, clad in goggles and boots, stands in front of the Mexican Navy office in Mexico City. On the day of her death, the Mexican Navy changed their Twitter banner to an illustration of Frida and spread the hashtag “#HastaSiempreFrida.” Frida will always be remembered for her lifesaving work and the hope she embodied for the entire world.
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The Original Rap Battles
HOW DISSES BECAME POETRY
Long before diss tracks, rap battles, and “yo mama” jokes, there was medieval “flyting.” Defined as quick exchanges of witty insults, these poetic slights were popular in England and Scotland from the 5th to 16th century. Insulting someone in verse took immense effort and quick wits, and they were undoubtedly a performance you didn’t want to miss. Despite crude language and below-the-belt potshots, flyting became entertainment for royals and was dubbed “court flyting.” While these jests are not well-documented, one flyting event made history. The iconic exchange known
clever nature, and their flyting did not disappoint. This famous dialogue featured two firsts: using fecal matter as an insult and dropping the F-bomb. Low-brow and crass, these speedy insults were simply too entertaining for even kings and queens to ignore. If you’re wondering what exactly these two “gentlemen” were saying, we’d have to admit that it would be difficult to quote without including expletives and curses. However, one tame section can be shared here. Dunbar reportedly insulted Kennedie by saying: Maggoty mutton, gorged glutton, scurrilous certain heir to Hillhouse, Rank beggar, oyster-dredger, dismal debtor on the lawn, Lily-livered, soul-shivered, cheap as slivers in the millhouse, Bard baiter, thief of nature, false traitor, devil’s spawn. While these amusing fights were a form of entertainment, men also used them to influence the courts and improve their social profile while lowering others. So, as you can imagine, flyting could get intense (similar to rap battles and heated diss tracks).
as “The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie” occurred
in the early 16th century between William Dunbar and Walter Kennedie. The two were performing their court flyting for the Scottish King James IV.
Both men were known for their intellect and
Centuries have passed, yet some things never really change!
Thermometer! Take a break!
Goat Cheese and Thyme Stuffed Chicken Inspired by BBCGoodFood.com
Ingredients
• 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts • 3.5 oz firm goat cheese • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, plus 2–3 sprigs
• 4 pieces of thin-sliced bacon • Olive oil • 2 zucchinis, thinly sliced • 1 large tomato, thinly sliced
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. Split the chicken breasts almost in half along the long side, open them like a book, then flatten the sides out. 3. Put the goat cheese on the “open book” side of the chicken and sprinkle with thyme leaves. Fold the chicken over to enclose the cheese, then wrap each breast in two slices of bacon. 4. Lightly oil a shallow gratin or casserole dish, then arrange overlapping rows of zucchini and tomatoes on the bottom. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then set chicken on top. Place thyme sprigs on chicken. 5. Bake for 40–45 mins until the bacon is crisp and golden and the zucchini is tender.
Beach Burgers Cycling Father
Juneteenth Music
Refugee Sailing Solstice Waterski
Pearl Pride
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
From the Desk of John Razumich PAGE 1 How One Family’s Drama Shaped Our Judicial System PAGE 1
A Furry Hero in Mexico PAGE 2
The Colorful History of Medieval Smack Talk PAGE 3 Goat Cheese and Thyme Stuffed Chicken PAGE 3 The Workaround for High Egg Prices PAGE 4
ARE CHICKENS ALLOWED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? Beat High Egg Prices by Turning Farmer
In some parts of the U.S. this past January, a carton of eggs cost over $8 — and the national average was a painfully high $4.82! “Eggflation” has settled down a bit, but you probably won’t forget that bird flu-induced chaos anytime soon. You may even be plotting a way to avoid it — like buying backyard chickens. Backyard birds are a great addition to most households. If you give them the space, food, and attention they need to thrive, they’ll pay you back with eggs, meat, garden compost, pest control, and endless entertainment. However, you can’t just bring chickens home on a whim. Before building a coop, you need to find out your city’s chicken-raising policies. City Crackdowns on Chickens You might think backyard birds would be beneath the notice of your city government. But in fact, many cities have ordinances that ban chickens, limit the number you can own,
lay out how to raise them, or require a permit within city limits. Rural vs. Urban Raising If you live in a rural area, you can likely raise as many chickens as you please without worrying about lawsuits or grumpy city officials. According to The National Agricultural Law Center, right-to-farm statutes protect rural dwellers in all 50 states from litigious neighbors. However, if you live in a suburb or city, you should check at least two things before buying chickens. 1. City Ordinances: Visit your city’s website and search local laws for “chicken” or “domestic fowl.” You may be surprised by what you find! For example, according to the Portland, Oregon, website (Portland.gov), “Up to four (4) chickens, ducks, pigeons, and/or other similarly sized domestic fowl may be kept on any lot.” If you’re not sure how to search your
city’s laws, call or visit your local library and ask a librarian for help. 2. Homeowner Association (HOA) Rules: Regulations around chickens can also vary at the neighborhood level. If you have an HOA or neighborhood association, check their rulebook for restrictions on backyard birds. You may need to submit an application, or the birds may be counted as pets and strictly limited. Buying chickens can be complicated, but if you use a bit of persistence now, you’ll avoid high egg prices later!
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