What a country!
As you know, Ghandi walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and, with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him a super calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.
Trivia #1: The oldest (1785) known Independence parade is held where? – Boston Massachusetts, Bristol Rhode Island, Charleton South Carolina, Providence Rhode Island, Canton Massachusetts, Richmond Virginia
Trivia #2: Every Independence Day, who many times does the Liberty Bell ring?
Trivia #3: What US President was born on July 4?
Trivia #4: What was the total number of people who signed the Declaration of Independence? – 1, 13, 26, 34, 48, 56, 63, 77
On this date: July 4, 1634, the city of Trois-Rivières is founded in New France, later to become the Canadian province of Quebec
July 4, 1776, US Congress proclaims the Declaration of Independence and independence from Great Britain
July 4, 1789, 1st US tariff act signed by President Washington
July 4, 1803, The Louisiana Purchase is announced to the American people by President Thomas Jefferson
July 4, 1826, Past presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both die on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, President John Quincy Adams calls “visible and palpable remarks of Divine Favor”
July 4, 1831, “America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee)”, with lyrics by Samuel Francis Smith, has 1st public performance at Park Street Church in Boston, Massachusetts
July 4, 1845, American philosopher and naturalist Henry David Thoreau moves into his shack on Walden Pond
July 4, 1884, Statue of Liberty presented to US in Paris
July 4, 1917, Troops of the Russian Provisional Government open fire on protesters in Petrograd during the ‘July Days’ of unrest
July 4, 1934, Hungarian physicist Leo Szilard patents the chain-reaction design for the atomic bomb
July 4, 1939, Lou Gehrig is first MLB player to have his number (4) retired on his “Appreciation Day” at Yankee Stadium, makes iconic “luckiest man” speech
July 4, 1959, America’s new 49-star flag honoring Alaska statehood unfurled
July 4, 1969, 140,000 attend 2-day Atlanta Pop Festival in Byron, Georgia; performers include: Janis Joplin; Blood, Sweat & Tears; Chicago; Led Zeppelin; Delaney and Bonnie; Creedence Clearwater Revival, Canned Heat; Joe Cocker; Chuck Berry; Spirit; and Johnny Winter
July 4, 1970, Casey Kasem’s “American Top 40” debuts on LA radio
July 4, 2009, The Statue of Liberty’s crown reopens to the public after 8 years, due to security reasons following the World Trade Center attacks
Go away: Sean “Diddy” Combs
Article I’ll skip: Even a small amount of processed foods linked to chronic disease, study suggests. (I can’t wait to eat a couple of grilled hotdogs this afternoon!)
This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Haiti’s criminal gangs have exerted “near-total control” over the capital, as escalating violence pushes the Caribbean nation “closer to the brink.” (See “Good News” below)
Stand beside her, and guide her.
The Colorado Rockies just won their 20th game of the season… on July 3rd!
Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Nolan Ryan and Phil Niekro both reached the 3,000-strikeout milestone on July 4.
Useless information supposed to fire my imagination, part deux: Edward Rutledge, who was 26 years old, was the youngest person to sign the Declaration of Independence.
Good news: We, Americans, live in the greatest country on earth. (If you are reading this from outside the US, move!)
Trivia #1 answer: The oldest (1785) known Independence parade is held where? – Boston Massachusetts, Bristol Rhode Island, Charleton South Carolina, Providence Rhode Island, Canton Massachusetts, Richmond Virginia – Bristol, Rhode Island
Trivia #2 answer: Every Independence Day, who many times does the Liberty Bell ring? – 13
Trivia #3 answer: What US President was born on July 4? – Calvin Coolidge, July 4, 1872
Trivia #4 answer: What was the total number of people who signed the Declaration of Independence? – 1, 13, 26, 34, 48, 56, 63, 77 – 56 people signed the Declaration of Independence
Just another tricky, just another tricky day for you… you’ll get through.
Don’t give up, don’t ever give up. (About those Red Sox… I’m trying…)
Be careful out there. (It’s a jungle!)
Happy Independence Day! (Think about that… and celebrate!)
What is a four-letter word with a small laugh in the middle. It really is.
“God bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with a light from above
From the mountains to the prairies
To the oceans white with foam
God bless America, my home sweet home
God bless America, my home sweet home”
– Kate Smith (Bobby Orr and Espo at the end, classic!)
Tearing up…
BTW, I’ll be taking a break next Friday while on a 3-day wedding celebration extravaganza. Until the 18th…
Ed's Head On Friday 