"As we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of the opportunity provided to serve self-interest when Al Gore created the internet; and we should also thank Mark Zuckerburg and Jack Dorsey for creating Facebook and Twitter out of the kindness of their big hearts and not the thinness of their small wallets."
-Ben Franklin, Autobiography (1742)

Friday, January 6, 2012

Out and In for 1811: The Lost and Founders Edition

We take the coming and going of the New Year very seriously in America (and at Lost and Founders, obvi). Historically, the dawn of a New Year is a time for reflection on the past year’s events and a time to resolve to make better for the future.   Each year the Washington Post, a truly American publication, reveres the New Year by listing the official “Out” and “In” List for the year. 


Many of you have probably assumed that The List is a trend of the 21st century; but, like most great American traditions, The List began in our country’s founding days. In fact, this year marks the 200th anniversary of the first “Out” and “In” list ever published in America! So, to celebrate 2012, we’re giving you an inside look at what was going “Out” in 1811 and coming “In” in 1812:


Out: Wigs
In: Natural Curls


Out: Sexism
In: Slavery


Out: Non-Intercourse with Great Britain 
In: The War of 1812


Out: Corporal Punishment
In: Signing your kids up for the draft


Out: Generic Ales
In: Microbrews


Out: State Flags
In: State flora and fauna


Out: Lewis cock-blocking Clark across America
In: Louisiana, admitted as the 18th state on April 30, 1812


Out: Fairly apportioned political districts
In: Gerrymandering


Out: Words with Founding Fathers
In: Hanging with Founding Fathers


Out: Talking about the Napoleonic Wars
In: Talking about Napoleon’s height


Out: Horse-drawn carriages
In: Horse-drawn lawn mowers


Out: The New England Colonies
In: The Jersey Shore


Out: Puritanism
In: Tebowism


While the "Outs" and "Ins" have changed significantly since the Founders first rang in the New Year, reflecting on each New Year is a long-standing American tradition that we at Lost and Founders will always honor. Cheers to 2012 and to the Freakin Weekend.

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