SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY: Awesome photo of firwleworks, a comet, and lightning together!

http://mostamazingpics.com/fireworks-lightning-comet-priceless

CULTURE/SOCIETY: Your dad originally celebrated the hip 4th of July?

Your dad celebrated the 4th of July before you did and he’s still got the banana hammock to prove it.

http://dadsaretheoriginalhipster.tumblr.com/post/26492611885/your-dad-celebrated-the-4th-of-july-before-you-did

ENTERTAINMENT: Happy New Year - Pee-Wee Style

CULTURE/SOCIETY: My "Tweets" From Twitter

daughter and i woke up late on the 4th-decided to skip the parade. guess we're both getting older. :( 04:07 AM July 05, 2008 from web
going to the parade is not as fun with a gal who goes just for tradition. i miss the little girl excited about thrown candy and firetrucks! 04:07 AM July 05, 2008 from web
sat up close to the fireworks. we both still had to see those. they were great! 04:06 AM July 05, 2008 from web
found my mp3 player! can't do my job checking other's data entry without my music! especially when the school stations are dead in summer. 09:40 PM July 03, 2008 from web
had a fun day yesterday-wanted to say, "thank you mistress god, may i have another?" but god would probably put on leather and gave me more! 09:38 PM July 03, 2008 from web joshuabelanger - @OlderMusicGeek 100% agree! 02:11 AM July 01, 2008 from Twinkle in reply to OlderMusicGeek
@shannonhilson and @tweelings_en - i cant get enough flogging molly - especially the cd, "swagger" - they come here next month - wooooo! 01:43 AM July 01, 2008 from web in reply to shannonhilson
@joshuabelanger - i found most good artists of any type tend to be dicks - look at hemingway, john "johnny rotten" lydon, andy kaufman. 01:35 AM July 01, 2008 from web in reply to joshuabelanger
there are a few nice ones - but they're the exceptions unfortunately. seems you have to think highly of yourself to make it far. 01:35 AM July 01, 2008 from web joshuabelanger - Watched a doc on Dali today. I was unaware of how much of a pretentious dick he was. And the dada movement wasnt as fun as it looked. 02:14 AM July 01, 2008 from Twinkle
a last bit from the arts festival. i was embarassing my daughter when we were there. i felt people should get excited about art like sports. 01:10 AM July 01, 2008 from web
was shouting things like "whoo arts festival!", "yes, black and white photography!", "all right, wired sculpture", "whoo hoo, mixed media!" 01:09 AM July 01, 2008 from web
i even suggested we paint the letters a-r-t on our chest and do the wave. "yeah, art, all ri-i-i-ight!!!!!!!!! 01:09 AM July 01, 2008 from web
@sushiday - god, you're torturing me with that banana bread description! 12:56 AM July 01, 2008 from web in reply to sushiday
@sushiday - if you get more eyeaches that turn to headaches, you might want to see a doctor. it's probably nothing, but then again... 12:46 AM July 01, 2008 from web in reply to sushiday
@sushiday - (in homer voice with drool running out of my mouth) hmmm, banana bread with chocolate chips! want to send some my way? 12:42 AM July 01, 2008 from web in reply to sushiday sushiday - @OlderMusicGeek Oh yes, it's wonderful. An ooey gooey mess of chocolatey banana deliciousness! Mmmmmm... banana bread... 10:51 PM June 30, 2008 from twhirl in reply to OlderMusicGeek shannonhilson - Flogging Molly, where have you been all my life? Nothing beats discovering a new band to love. 10:17 PM June 30, 2008 from web sushiday - Making banana bread with chocolate chips... mmm it smells good! 05:04 PM June 30, 2008 from twhirl
@killregrets - that movie night idea still sounds like a blast! 05:16 AM June 30, 2008 from web in reply to killregrets
@juice_brianne -didnt eat at the arts festival! we just went to quik trip. got sandwich, chips, drinks for 3 for price of 1or 2 items there. 01:59 PM June 29, 2008 from web in reply to juice_brianne
the arts festival was fun and interesting-saw an all white band play west african drums and a cajun band from st louis! 04:08 AM June 29, 2008 from web
and i finally saw a local bluegrass band, mr baber's neighbors, that i have been wanting to see. and they are good! 04:08 AM June 29, 2008 from web
oh, yeah, i also quite a few purty pictures! 04:07 AM June 29, 2008 from web
2 hours into the arts festival - my tween daughter's friend says, "it's only art here!" 04:14 PM June 28, 2008 from web

@jmcoon - you used wal-mart as a reason to get out of your house?! 04:13 PM June 28, 2008 from web in reply to jmcoon
@juice_brianne - you're at the arts festival too! are you hiding from me and my daughter?! :) 04:12 PM June 28, 2008 from web in reply to juice_brianne
taking my tween daughter and a friend of hers to the arts festival in town. i hope i get to see what i want to see! 07:38 AM June 28, 2008 from web

CULTURE/SOCIETY: Employees Tell About First July 4 In U.S.

Hmmmm, I seem to have become something of a holiday blogger. Oh well, that's cool by me!

This is from my work newsletter. - OlderMusicGeek

Employees tell about first July 4 in U.S.

L (name deleted) was surprised by the differences between Fourth of July and Canada Day, which is July 1. “I thought the celebrations would be similar,” she says. “Not so much!”

L, finance/recoupment specialist in Recoupment and Medicare Secondary Payer at (town name deleted), grew up in Canada and experienced her first Fourth of July as a U.S. resident two years ago.

“We have the picnics, parades, you know, the whole deal,” she says. In Canada, however, only licensed professionals are allowed to set off fireworks for community shows. “Not in the U.S.,” she says. “Anyone can go to the local fireworks tent and stock up on various explosives.”

That’s just what Laurie and her husband did. “My husband took me to a local fireworks stand and told me to pick out whatever I wanted,” she says.

She and her husband also grilled hot dogs, tried to teach each other the words to their national anthem and attended a parade and fireworks show.

“The fireworks would have been romantic except my husband and hundreds of people around us were setting off their own fireworks,” she says. “So there I sat on our blanket alone, happily holding my sparkler!”


Fireworks of another kind

D (name deleted), process analyst in Preprocess at NAS, grew up in (town name deleted), Manitoba, which is 15 miles north of the International Peace Gardens located on the Canada-U.S. border.

The only time D paid attention to the American holiday was when she was planning a shopping trip to (town deleted), N.D., and wanted to make sure the stores would be open, she says.

In April 2004, D married a North Dakotan, and their wedding reception was held on the Fourth at her in-laws’ cabin on Lake Metigoshe near (town name deleted), N.D. D experienced another kind of fireworks when the grill was engulfed in flames.

“We were still able to eat the potatoes,” she says.

D says she sees more flags and festivities on the Fourth of July than she did on Canada Day. D has noticed “Americans are more patriotic.” To her, Canada Day meant a day off work. “The patriotism is nice to see,” she says. “I’m so happy to be here.”