dc fireworks

Revolutionary War Ancestors

NOTE: This flag flys high at the Leavenworth National Cemetery taken when I visited 19 May 2008. My ancestor William Gist FROMAN is buried about 1/2 mile to the south/southwest of this mark. I couldn't believe my luck at this shot, didn't even crop it. As I turned off the camera, and looked back towards my ancestor's tombstone, the cemetery's distant bell tower began to toll the hour -- a fitting tribute, and the end of a marvelous day of cemetery research. DearREADERS, As we gather in the read

A MOST EXTRAORDINARY 4th OF JULY

Well, today began bright & early, as I woke up before 7:00 (ick) to get ready to go to the third Loganville Annual 4th of July Parade & Festival. The first year, I was working as a volunteer for the parade committee. The second year (which was last year), I was actually in the parade itself. This year, finally, we were able to get a booth set up for Operation Love From Home! :) Throughout the day, folks came by and signed cards for our deployed heroes all over the world. [Altogether, the read

Happy Fourth of July!

I have blisters on my feet. That’s the big difference between living in Timonium and living in DC: I’m walking a lot more, and my body is noticing. If I keep this shit up, I might start losing weight, too. So Monday was my last day to clean out my old apartment: and I did. I also stocked up on alcohol: a full case of Boh, half a case of Bass. Today, I braved July 4th traffic to sell my Matrix to my dad. Pending the arrival of the lien release, and the official turning in of the license plates read

Chicago Fireworks Fail to Dazzle

Every July 3rd since I moved up here, my wife (Mrs. Bored), her sister and I have gone to Taste of Chicago to view the Grant Park Orchestra and the July Fourth Fireworks display. One reason why I've enjoyed this tradition is that they have been world-class spectacles that gave a unique sense of the Midwest. But not this year. This year, the Grant Park Orchestra was replaced with canned music inartfully provided by The Mix. They shouldn't have even bothered. The music, instead of enhancing the read

Happy Independence Day

Today is my first official Independence Day as an American. I must admit to having mixed feelings about this. I think part of the problem is that my husband is working so apart from a failed attempt to go to a community barbecue this afternoon I haven’t really done anything to celebrate (the munchkin was being too bratty for us to stay until the food was served, but at least we got some to bring home). My husband is working for the next two days, and while some friends of ours are having a ba read

jesse helms

RIP Jesse Helms

RIP Jesse Helms July 4th, 2008 by QuakerJono 86 years Because I believe it is wrong to celebrate death, both as a Quaker and as a human being: That, as they say, will be that. I must say, though, I find the date highly ironic. Posted in RIP | No Comments » read

Have a Glorious Independence Day!

Have a Glorious Independence Day! Posted by Eric F. Langborgh at 01:06 pm In honor of this most important day in our history, I include below a selection of quotes from our Founding Fathers concerning their thoughts at the time of the drafting and, later, of the significance of the Declaration of Independence.  And with the sad news of Jesse Helms’ passing — who now shares with Jefferson the distinction of being a great American who died on our nation’s “birth day” — I end with an appropriate q read

Only the good die young

Ex-Sen. Jesse Helms dies at 86 - CNN.com read

Died In The Fourth Of July

Thomas Jefferson, 3rd U.S. President. April 2, 1743 - July 4, 1826 ."From the moment that to preserve our rights a change of government became necessary, no doubt could be entertained that a republican form was most consonant with reason, with right, with the freedom of man, and with the character and situation of our fellow citizens." --Thomas Jefferson: Reply to Virginia Legislature, 1809. ME 16:333 ."I sincerely believe... that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity under read

Jesse Helms Departs This Mortal Coil (Finally)

by matttbastard (click the image for a restrained-but-unsentimental obit from ThinkProgress) Hey, sing ‘Dixie’ to Jerry Falwell for me once you finally get down there, you racist, homophobic assbag. Oh, and Happy 4th of July (indeed). Recommend this post at Progressive Bloggers read