PDA

View Full Version : Happy Fourth of July?



Olympic Fan
07-04-2017, 12:54 PM
We need to celebrate the birth of America ... even if we have the wrong birthday.

No less a figure than John Adams, who did as much as anybody to push the Declaration of Independence to passage, made that clear in a letter he wrote to his wife on July 3, 1776:

The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

It was, of course, on July 2, 1776 that the Declaration was adopted. It was only announced on July 4 ... hence the confusion.

Still, a magnificent achievement by a remarkable group of men ...

Bob Green
07-04-2017, 12:56 PM
Here is the document:

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/

It is worth the time to read it at least once a year.

Indoor66
07-04-2017, 01:11 PM
We need to celebrate the birth of America ... even if we have the wrong birthday.

No less a figure than John Adams, who did as much as anybody to push the Declaration of Independence to passage, made that clear in a letter he wrote to his wife on July 3, 1776:

The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

It was, of course, on July 2, 1776 that the Declaration was adopted.

And I have been angry about the date confusion for many years. I have, since childhood and reading about John Adams in one of those orange history books, been a great admirer of our second President. The real point of my anger is that the world does not properly recognize and celebrate my birthday.😡👿

devil84
07-04-2017, 02:32 PM
And I have been angry about the date confusion for many years. I have, since childhood and reading about John Adams in one of those orange history books, been a great admirer of our second President. The real point of my anger is that the world does not properly recognize and celebrate my birthday.😡👿

You mean, they don't properly celebrate our birthday! Happy mutual birthday, Indoor!

Indoor66
07-04-2017, 03:27 PM
You mean, they don't properly celebrate our birthday! Happy mutual birthday, Indoor!

Right back at you - but I get first call - I think I got there first. 😂😎

rthomas
07-04-2017, 05:53 PM
July 4th is great. I love the food and alcohol, but I hate the fireworks - or I should say I hate that my pup dog hates the fireworks, and so I hate the fireworks because she's my sweet bubba. Let's go with quiet.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/01/science/july-4-fireworks-quiet.html

Reilly
07-04-2017, 07:26 PM
... It was, of course, on July 2, 1776 that the Declaration was adopted. It was only announced on July 4 ...

Per this, the act to declare independence was agreed upon/adopted July 2, but the Declaration itself was still undergoing edits and was finalized/announced on July 4:

https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/when-is-the-real-independence-day-july-2-or-july-4

Indoor66
07-04-2017, 08:28 PM
Who can name the person who actually "wrote" the Declaration we see today?

devildeac
07-04-2017, 08:32 PM
Who can name the person who actually "wrote" the Declaration we see today?

Having just returned from Monticello, my guess would be Thomas Jefferson, with some editing from John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, along with a couple other members of the "committee of five."

Faustus
07-04-2017, 11:11 PM
Technically, Timothy Matlack, working under the secretary of the Congress, Charles Thomson, seems to have been the one to have 'engrossed' or written the official document drawn up by Jefferson (with help from the Committee of Five, then further changes by the committee of the whole house). But this wasn't done until later in July, probably not signed by any of the delegates until August 2 or so. I bet the 'original' was likely thrown away after the official one was finished. That's if this is a Trick Question.

But I also suspect DevilDeac knows of what he speaks...

Olympic Fan
07-04-2017, 11:33 PM
Technically, Timothy Matlack, working under the secretary of the Congress, Charles Thomson, seems to have been the one to have 'engrossed' or written the official document drawn up by Jefferson (with help from the Committee of Five, then further changes by the committee of the whole house). But this wasn't done until later in July, probably not signed by any of the delegates until August 2 or so. I bet the 'original' was likely thrown away after the official one was finished. That's if this is a Trick Question.

But I also suspect DevilDeac knows of what he speaks...

The debate over when the Declaration was signed is matter of great historical debate. Matlack did compose the copy that is now accepted as the "original." Most historians believe his copy was created in mid-to-late July, but there is a growing number who think it was actually done on July 4. A few years ago, most historians believed that the majority of delegates signed in early August, but new scholarship suggests that as many as 20 (of the 56 signees) signed on July 4 - including Hancock, who was almost certainly the first to sign (as the President of Congress). But many delegates definitely DID sign in August ... and some signed much later. There are several signees who weren't even in congress when the declaration was adopted.

But you want Declaration trivia? Okay, what's written on the back of the "original" copy?

Jeffrey
07-05-2017, 11:12 AM
It was, of course, on July 2, 1776 that the Declaration was adopted. It was only announced on July 4 ... hence the confusion.


Are you certain? IIRC, the Lee Resolution was adopted July 2, 1776 and the Declaration of Independence was adopted July 4, 1776.

pfrduke
07-05-2017, 11:57 AM
But you want Declaration trivia? Okay, what's written on the back of the "original" copy?

The recipe for Granny's all-American apple pie?

PackMan97
07-05-2017, 12:03 PM
Here is the document:

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/

It is worth the time to read it at least once a year.

Too much common sense for today's world.

duketaylor
07-05-2017, 12:11 PM
My twins celebrated theirs Monday with a train/metro ride to DC and went to the Nats/Mets game with their older sister.
Shame on devildeac not stopping by for a visit since he went to Monticello, not far from me;)

duketaylor
07-05-2017, 12:17 PM
"Yes, there actually was something written in the back of the Declaration of Independence. But instead of an invisible map like in the Nicholas Cage blockbuster movie National Treasure, it only said "Original Declaration of Independence, dated 4th July 1776" at the bottom of the document, upside down."

Guessing this is it.

Olympic Fan
07-05-2017, 01:03 PM
"Yes, there actually was something written in the back of the Declaration of Independence. But instead of an invisible map like in the Nicholas Cage blockbuster movie National Treasure, it only said "Original Declaration of Independence, dated 4th July 1776" at the bottom of the document, upside down."

Guessing this is it.

That's what I was looking for ... probably written on it when it was rolled up and put into storage for the first time (before it became an icon that was put on display behind glass and with inert gasses to protect it).

chris13
07-05-2017, 01:53 PM
But you want Declaration trivia? Okay, what's written on the back of the "original" copy?

This offer currently only valid for white men with property. May be extended to women, people of color and the propertyless after beta testing complete.

devildeac
07-05-2017, 03:01 PM
My twins celebrated theirs Monday with a train/metro ride to DC and went to the Nats/Mets game with their older sister.
Shame on devildeac not stopping by for a visit since he went to Monticello, not far from me;)

Sorry. We drove up late Friday night through Richmond but drove back Sunday through Lynchburg and Danville. Believe me, I did think to give you a call but logistics didn't work this time. I-85 is also a freaking mess in both directions from Henderson to the NC/VA border:mad:.

Bob Green
07-05-2017, 03:25 PM
I-85 is also a freaking mess in both directions from Henderson to the NC/VA border:mad:.

Thanks for the great news. :rolleyes: With football season approaching, I was hoping the road construction would be complete.

94duke
07-05-2017, 04:17 PM
Thanks for the great news. :rolleyes: With football season approaching, I was hoping the road construction would be complete.

They finished one side, and now they are working on the other side. So now all traffic is routed to the other side.

devildeac
07-05-2017, 04:22 PM
Thanks for the great news. :rolleyes: With football season approaching, I was hoping the road construction would be complete.

It's a bit longer but I'd come down via I-95 S to Rocky Mount, take US 64 W to Raleigh, then pick up I-440 W to the Durham Freeway which is NC 147. I-40 W, which goes around Raleigh to the south, is still under construction, too.

They have single lanes north and south for 20-25 miles and the project looks like another 12-18 months before completion. Truly awful planning on the NCDOT part.

devildeac
07-05-2017, 04:25 PM
They finished one side, and now they are working on the other side. So now all traffic is routed to the other side.

I guess that could be sorta/kinda true. I-85 S is under construction but when we were on I-85 N on Friday night, we were partially on the crappy shoulder driving 20-30 MPH and took about an hour to travel the 20-25 miles. :mad:

DU82
07-05-2017, 08:32 PM
I guess that could be sorta/kinda true. I-85 S is under construction but when we were on I-85 N on Friday night, we were partially on the crappy shoulder driving 20-30 MPH and took about an hour to travel the 20-25 miles. :mad:

The project on I-85 is to rebuild the entire road from the VA border to Henderson. This pavement was constructed in 1977. Other sections further south from Falls Lake to Henderson, have been rebuilt over the past decade or so.

Last year, the first two (of four) ~five mile stretches of NB 85 were re-built. The intent was to then finish the other two sections this year, then two sections on the SB side over each of the following two years. Given the length of time that would take, the decision was to create the 21 mile single lane operation, so that the work could be finished next year, at least a year early. Other than possibly holiday periods, the traffic volume is not heavy enough to create significant delays, although obviously getting stuck behind somebody driving 40 or 45 isn't great. (And Friday would have counted as a holiday, albeit a minor one from a traffic standpoint.)

In the sections of road that have been reconstructed on the NB side, the SB traffic is in a full, newly constructed, lane. NB is half on a new lane and half on a shoulder that was designed to hold traffic for a year. The sections that haven't been reconstructed are not great, but not "crappy" in that you could only go 20-30. I drove back from DC last night, and was doing right about 60 the entire stretch. (Drove NB on Saturday, again at 60.)

So, no, not "truly awful planning" but intentional to get the job done faster, and plenty of planning and analysis was done to determine how bad it would be during the worst part of the year to determine the cost/benefit/risk of doing it. (And a possible backup on holidays is one of the "risks" that was considered.)

Regarding the alternative route mentioned, down I-95 to future I-87 (formerly future I-495, usually called US 64) and then to I-40, that adds 20 miles to the trip (measuring from Emporia), and includes driving right past Carter-Finley Stadium. So the backup on I-85 would have to be severe, and no backups on 95 or 40, to make it worth your while. Perhaps on Labor Day Friday/Monday (Saturday is not a high-volume day.) OTher than a crash, I wouldn't be that worried about other Saturdays.

(If I was coming to WW from Rocky Mount, I'd get off 64 onto I-540, exit at US 70, go two signals west to TW Alexander, then on TW-A to NC 147 (Durham Freeway.) I-40 in south Raleigh should be completed late summer/early fall. Similar issue with replacing almost 40 year old pavement.)

chris13
07-05-2017, 09:41 PM
Here is the document:

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/

It is worth the time to read it at least once a year.

I listen to the NPR reading every year on July 4th
and it always gets dusty towards the end.

http://www.npr.org/2017/07/04/534096579/a-july-4th-tradition-the-declaration-of-independence-read-aloud

devildeac
07-05-2017, 10:44 PM
The project on I-85 is to rebuild the entire road from the VA border to Henderson. This pavement was constructed in 1977. Other sections further south from Falls Lake to Henderson, have been rebuilt over the past decade or so.

Last year, the first two (of four) ~five mile stretches of NB 85 were re-built. The intent was to then finish the other two sections this year, then two sections on the SB side over each of the following two years. Given the length of time that would take, the decision was to create the 21 mile single lane operation, so that the work could be finished next year, at least a year early. Other than possibly holiday periods, the traffic volume is not heavy enough to create significant delays, although obviously getting stuck behind somebody driving 40 or 45 isn't great. (And Friday would have counted as a holiday, albeit a minor one from a traffic standpoint.)

In the sections of road that have been reconstructed on the NB side, the SB traffic is in a full, newly constructed, lane. NB is half on a new lane and half on a shoulder that was designed to hold traffic for a year. The sections that haven't been reconstructed are not great, but not "crappy" in that you could only go 20-30. I drove back from DC last night, and was doing right about 60 the entire stretch. (Drove NB on Saturday, again at 60.)

So, no, not "truly awful planning" but intentional to get the job done faster, and plenty of planning and analysis was done to determine how bad it would be during the worst part of the year to determine the cost/benefit/risk of doing it. (And a possible backup on holidays is one of the "risks" that was considered.)

Regarding the alternative route mentioned, down I-95 to future I-87 (formerly future I-495, usually called US 64) and then to I-40, that adds 20 miles to the trip (measuring from Emporia), and includes driving right past Carter-Finley Stadium. So the backup on I-85 would have to be severe, and no backups on 95 or 40, to make it worth your while. Perhaps on Labor Day Friday/Monday (Saturday is not a high-volume day.) OTher than a crash, I wouldn't be that worried about other Saturdays.

(If I was coming to WW from Rocky Mount, I'd get off 64 onto I-540, exit at US 70, go two signals west to TW Alexander, then on TW-A to NC 147 (Durham Freeway.) I-40 in south Raleigh should be completed late summer/early fall. Similar issue with replacing almost 40 year old pavement.)

Great explanation. Thanks!

My wife (from Henderson) actually thinks the pavement is older than 1977:eek:. She moved there in about 1964 and remembers construction from Henderson to the VA border for 5-10 years. At least the "shoulder" did not have the rumble strips for 20+ miles:rolleyes:. We returned from Charlottesville on Sunday via US 29 through Lynchburg and Danville to avoid I-85 S, not knowing what the traffic would be like. Pretty drive.

I live very near I-540 but, if I was traveling from Rocky Mount to Derm, I'd take I-440 as I think it's shorter than I-540 and avoids the I-40 construction zone in south Raleigh, a longer route. Good to hear the I-40 project is near completion. I thought it would be another year. We travel on that part of I-40 quite infrequently.

DU82
07-06-2017, 08:44 AM
Great explanation. Thanks!

My wife (from Henderson) actually thinks the pavement is older than 1977:eek:. She moved there in about 1964 and remembers construction from Henderson to the VA border for 5-10 years. At least the "shoulder" did not have the rumble strips for 20+ miles:rolleyes:. We returned from Charlottesville on Sunday via US 29 through Lynchburg and Danville to avoid I-85 S, not knowing what the traffic would be like. Pretty drive.

I live very near I-540 but, if I was traveling from Rocky Mount to Derm, I'd take I-440 as I think it's shorter than I-540 and avoids the I-40 construction zone in south Raleigh, a longer route. Good to hear the I-40 project is near completion. I thought it would be another year. We travel on that part of I-40 quite infrequently.

The I-540 route is about a mile longer, but is usually more reliable than 440, and is signed at 70 MPH, instead of 60. From 64, the north and side sides of Raleigh are roughly the same distance. Typically, I-40 would be slightly faster (absent crashes) but the current construction makes them about even.

Back to I-85 (and any other road in NC), you can check traffic conditions on NCDOT's TIMS page (TIMS=Traveler Information Management System) - http://tims.ncdot.gov/tims/

There's also a Twitter account: @NCDOT_I85. It covers any incident on 85, including the two major construction zones: the one near the VA border, and the widening between Concord to south of Salisbury (miles 57-69.)

Once those two are finished, there's two other projects on the docket, one widening from 4 to 6 lanes (three lanes in each direction) from the SC border to US 74, and the section in Durham/Orange from NC 147 to US 70. That'll leave the section from I-40 to US 70 in Orange County (Hillsborough) as the only part of 85 between SC and north Durham that won't be at least six lanes.

Rich
07-06-2017, 01:44 PM
Thanks for the great news. :rolleyes: With football season approaching, I was hoping the road construction would be complete.


They finished one side, and now they are working on the other side. So now all traffic is routed to the other side.


It's a bit longer but I'd come down via I-95 S to Rocky Mount, take US 64 W to Raleigh, then pick up I-440 W to the Durham Freeway which is NC 147. I-40 W, which goes around Raleigh to the south, is still under construction, too.

They have single lanes north and south for 20-25 miles and the project looks like another 12-18 months before completion. Truly awful planning on the NCDOT part.


I guess that could be sorta/kinda true. I-85 S is under construction but when we were on I-85 N on Friday night, we were partially on the crappy shoulder driving 20-30 MPH and took about an hour to travel the 20-25 miles. :mad:


The project on I-85 is to rebuild the entire road from the VA border to Henderson. This pavement was constructed in 1977. Other sections further south from Falls Lake to Henderson, have been rebuilt over the past decade or so.

Last year, the first two (of four) ~five mile stretches of NB 85 were re-built. The intent was to then finish the other two sections this year, then two sections on the SB side over each of the following two years. Given the length of time that would take, the decision was to create the 21 mile single lane operation, so that the work could be finished next year, at least a year early. Other than possibly holiday periods, the traffic volume is not heavy enough to create significant delays, although obviously getting stuck behind somebody driving 40 or 45 isn't great. (And Friday would have counted as a holiday, albeit a minor one from a traffic standpoint.)

In the sections of road that have been reconstructed on the NB side, the SB traffic is in a full, newly constructed, lane. NB is half on a new lane and half on a shoulder that was designed to hold traffic for a year. The sections that haven't been reconstructed are not great, but not "crappy" in that you could only go 20-30. I drove back from DC last night, and was doing right about 60 the entire stretch. (Drove NB on Saturday, again at 60.)

So, no, not "truly awful planning" but intentional to get the job done faster, and plenty of planning and analysis was done to determine how bad it would be during the worst part of the year to determine the cost/benefit/risk of doing it. (And a possible backup on holidays is one of the "risks" that was considered.)

Regarding the alternative route mentioned, down I-95 to future I-87 (formerly future I-495, usually called US 64) and then to I-40, that adds 20 miles to the trip (measuring from Emporia), and includes driving right past Carter-Finley Stadium. So the backup on I-85 would have to be severe, and no backups on 95 or 40, to make it worth your while. Perhaps on Labor Day Friday/Monday (Saturday is not a high-volume day.) OTher than a crash, I wouldn't be that worried about other Saturdays.

(If I was coming to WW from Rocky Mount, I'd get off 64 onto I-540, exit at US 70, go two signals west to TW Alexander, then on TW-A to NC 147 (Durham Freeway.) I-40 in south Raleigh should be completed late summer/early fall. Similar issue with replacing almost 40 year old pavement.)


Great explanation. Thanks!

My wife (from Henderson) actually thinks the pavement is older than 1977:eek:. She moved there in about 1964 and remembers construction from Henderson to the VA border for 5-10 years. At least the "shoulder" did not have the rumble strips for 20+ miles:rolleyes:. We returned from Charlottesville on Sunday via US 29 through Lynchburg and Danville to avoid I-85 S, not knowing what the traffic would be like. Pretty drive.

I live very near I-540 but, if I was traveling from Rocky Mount to Derm, I'd take I-440 as I think it's shorter than I-540 and avoids the I-40 construction zone in south Raleigh, a longer route. Good to hear the I-40 project is near completion. I thought it would be another year. We travel on that part of I-40 quite infrequently.


The I-540 route is about a mile longer, but is usually more reliable than 440, and is signed at 70 MPH, instead of 60. From 64, the north and side sides of Raleigh are roughly the same distance. Typically, I-40 would be slightly faster (absent crashes) but the current construction makes them about even.

Back to I-85 (and any other road in NC), you can check traffic conditions on NCDOT's TIMS page (TIMS=Traveler Information Management System) - http://tims.ncdot.gov/tims/

There's also a Twitter account: @NCDOT_I85. It covers any incident on 85, including the two major construction zones: the one near the VA border, and the widening between Concord to south of Salisbury (miles 57-69.)

Once those two are finished, there's two other projects on the docket, one widening from 4 to 6 lanes (three lanes in each direction) from the SC border to US 74, and the section in Durham/Orange from NC 147 to US 70. That'll leave the section from I-40 to US 70 in Orange County (Hillsborough) as the only part of 85 between SC and north Durham that won't be at least six lanes.

The mother of all thread hijacks?!

tbyers11
07-06-2017, 01:47 PM
The mother of all thread hijacks?!

I don't know. There are few things more American in the summertime than complaining about road construction ;)

devildeac
07-06-2017, 01:48 PM
The mother of all thread hijacks?!

Well, some of us were traveling on/around July 4 :o.

Wait'll the puns start and/or the beer discussions begin, too. :o:o

duke79
07-06-2017, 02:48 PM
The mother of all thread hijacks?!

Yea, I was thinking the same thing.....how did we get from a Fourth of July celebration thread to a road paving discussion??

Reilly
07-06-2017, 03:09 PM
... how did we get from a Fourth of July celebration thread to a road paving discussion??

Because the road to Henderson is paved with good decisions?

Indoor66
07-06-2017, 03:14 PM
Because the road to Henderson is paved with good decisions?

Back in my day it only went to Creedmoor.

devildeac
07-06-2017, 03:30 PM
Because the road to Henderson is paved with good decisions?

But Henderson lives in Las Vegas and roads to that location are not all paved with good decisions. :o

Jeffrey
07-06-2017, 03:41 PM
But Henderson lives in Las Vegas and roads to that location are not all paved with good decisions. :o

Tell that to Bugsy.

Reilly
07-06-2017, 03:41 PM
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness entail getting out of Chapel Hill as quickly as possible, and governments are instituted among men to build good roads to make that possible.

duke79
07-06-2017, 05:55 PM
Because the road to Henderson is paved with good decisions?

LOL, yea, but I thought it was just a "bridge too far" (no pun intended).

Back to the original intent of this thread, I went to hear NC native James Taylor (and his special guest Bonnie Raitt) perform at an outdoor music venue near my house, followed by an impressive fireworks display! He performs almost every July 4th weekend at this venue to a packed, sold-out audience. He started the concert with a nice, acoustic version of the star-spangled banner and then went right into "Carolina in my Mind". At the age of 69, he still has his voice and puts on a good show. Bonnie Raitt played 3 or 4 songs with him and her voice is still as powerful as ever. Absolutely gorgeous night in New England.

devildeac
07-06-2017, 07:24 PM
I may start having DU82 chauffeur me around the Triangle area even if it's not July 4. :D:o

Indoor66
07-06-2017, 08:03 PM
LOL, yea, but I thought it was just a "bridge too far" (no pun intended).

Back to the original intent of this thread, I went to hear NC native James Taylor (and his special guest Bonnie Raitt) perform at an outdoor music venue near my house, followed by an impressive fireworks display! He performs almost every July 4th weekend at this venue to a packed, sold-out audience. He started the concert with a nice, acoustic version of the star-spangled banner and then went right into "Carolina in my Mind". At the age of 69, he still has his voice and puts on a good show. Bonnie Raitt played 3 or 4 songs with him and her voice is still as powerful as ever. Absolutely gorgeous night in New England.

Did he sing about his days on the Morgan Creek?

duke79
07-06-2017, 09:13 PM
Did he sing about his days on the Morgan Creek?

Yep, he sang "Copperline". I believe Reynolds Price wrote the words to that song, for James.

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=22767

duketaylor
07-10-2017, 07:24 PM
in .NC is one-lane I think, for a long while. Route 1 might be better option.

Bob Green
07-04-2018, 07:13 AM
Happy Birthday!


Here is the document:

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/

It is worth the time to read it at least once a year.

As I said last year, it is worth the time to read the declaration once a year.

left_hook_lacey
07-04-2018, 08:40 AM
Right back at you - but I get first call - I think I got there first. 😂😎

Hate to break up the party, but a woman that radiates grace, love, and patience was born on that day and should, in my opinion, be celebrated first. My mother. 😀

Bob Green
07-04-2019, 06:29 AM
I'll bump this thread back to the top and re-post the link to the document:

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/

It is worth reading!

OldPhiKap
07-04-2019, 07:22 AM
Happy birthday America (celebrated)!

OldPhiKap
07-04-2019, 08:20 AM
“We Brexited before Brexit was cool”

Tripping William
07-04-2019, 08:24 AM
I miss Oly

OldPhiKap
07-04-2019, 08:43 AM
I miss Oly

Yup. And hope Jarhead is enjoying the day.

budwom
07-05-2019, 07:23 AM
Went to 7/4 dinner event at long time friend's house on lake in VT, he is from Florida, and never ever grills (can you imagine)? Yesterday there was a pot luck event, as host his "centerpiece" meat course was boiled hot dogs, cut in half, place on buns.

Is this technically legal?

Will rebound at home tonight with large, lean, grilled lamb burgers. My meat gland needs resuscitation...

Bob Green
07-04-2020, 06:29 AM
Happy Birthday, America!

https://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/

OldPhiKap
07-04-2020, 06:31 AM
Happy Birthday, America!

https://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/

Indeed. The great experiment rolls on!

Tripping William
07-04-2020, 06:37 AM
Happy Birthday, America!

https://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/

Even if we’re lighting the candles two days late (see Oly’s original post). :o

The “train of abuses” section of the Declaration has become very sobering reading for me this year. I guess it’s just 2020 doing its thing.

Tripping William
07-04-2020, 06:39 AM
Indeed. The great experiment rolls on!

Yep. Trial and error.

OldPhiKap
07-04-2020, 06:43 AM
Yep. Trial and error.

Always has been, always will be. But that’s the only way to stay vibrant, not static.

Tripping William
07-04-2020, 06:46 AM
Always has been, always will be. But that’s the only way to stay vibrant, not static.

Agreed. And hopefully as we perform the former (trials), we learn something from the latter (errors).

OldPhiKap
07-04-2020, 07:03 AM
Agreed. And hopefully as we perform the former (trials), we learn something from the latter (errors).

“You must spread some Comments around before commenting on Tripping William again.”

dukebluesincebirth
07-04-2020, 08:09 AM
Agreed. And hopefully as we perform the former (trials), we learn something from the latter (errors).

I haven’t seen too much learning, and lots of repeating the same errors. Be better America.

Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15
07-04-2020, 08:14 AM
All I will say is "Happy Birthday America."

These are strange times, indeed.

Indoor66
07-04-2020, 08:22 AM
I haven’t seen too much learning, and lots of repeating the same errors. Be better America.

An old story. Read Edmund Burke or George Santayana.

SouthernDukie
07-04-2020, 09:01 PM
All I know is John Hancock was such a hog! :p

Happy 4th of July, everyone.

rsvman
07-04-2020, 09:06 PM
Happy Independence Day!

We always have burgers, but this year I upped the ante by making hamburger buns from scratch. Wow. They were amazing.

Acymetric
07-04-2020, 09:45 PM
Happy Independance Day! Speaking of which...cross-posting from the TV thread:

Time to watch Independance Day!

Starts at 10:00 pm (Eastern) on AMC, or you can stream it on the AMC website if you have a TV login (Spectrum, DirectTV, etc).

mattman91
07-04-2020, 10:57 PM
USA! USA! USA!

*Patriotism intensifies*