Professor Claes Ryn discussed popular myths. #1. “US was a Fresh Start Country”. In fact, the US was a continuation of old British common law, classical education, Christian ethics, and British tradition. The break was over not being treated the same as homeland Brits. #2. ” US is a leading democracy”. The Founding Fathers wanted to avoid the tyranny of the democratic populist majority and preferred a republic  with aristocratic oversight. The Senators were appointed by the state legislatures up until 1913. The US Courts were not elected, and presidents were people of substance. #3. “American Exceptionalism”. President Wilson’s “War to make the world safe for democracies” is out of step with the founding fathers intent.

Chris Ullman, an executive with the Carlyle Group, learned to whistle by listening to his father whistle Gilbert and Sullivan songs. He honed his skills during college, and improvised jazz and blues songs in a friend’s band. In 1992 he got 2nd place whistling “In the Mood” by Glen Miller at the International Whistler Competition, and got 1st place 4 other times. He appeared on “Jay Leno” and his boss at Carlyle got him and invitation to the Oval Office to whistle for Pres. Bush (43), who asked him to whistle a “Country & Western” song; to which Chris asked, how about the “Lone Ranger”? (not knowing any C&W songs) and he whistled “Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony” plus “Take the A Train” by Duke Ellington (which he also did for us).