A Word from the Editor

Greenlee Gazette--you may have noticed--has been a little sparse of late. And that will continue for the next several days. Obligations, work, family and friends have conspired to monopolize my time, and leave very little for blogging. All should be back to normal by about July 8, but for now? There's not going to be much in the way of new stuff. I'm going to put up something new every chance I get, but it will be a trickle rather than a flood. So, if you don't find something new, please come back soon! Thanks.

UPDATE:   Here it is, the night before a trip home, and I should be in bed. Or blogging. But my brain is fried. Crammed too much into the early part of the week, and need to decompress. While I'm Back to Ohio, I will be blogging a little. When I have the chance, I'll sneak away, and see what's going on. In the mean time, Happy Independence Day, everybody!

Maya Rudolph Sings the National Anthem (SNL)

Happy 4th of July!

What is Patriotism?

This scene, from the pilot episode of The Newsroom, shows a fictional cable news anchor asked the "tough" question, "Why is America the greatest country in the world." His eventual answer when pressed is classic Aaron Sorkin, and wonderfully performed by Jeff Daniels as Will McAvoy. The show itself has seen a barrage of criticism, but I have to say I'm liking it. It is heavy-handed at time, but as the dialog of the show points out, you have to speak truth to stupid sometimes.

And I for one do not find this speech in anyway un-patriotic. I think "American exceptionalism" is a perfectly laudable goal, but it is not a given. I think true patriots want to make America better, not proclaim it to be #1 in areas where it is empirically not. That doesn't mean that I don't have a swell of patriotism when July 4th rolls around, and it doesn't mean I don't love my country. It makes me a realist.

What Happens in Vegas: Deadly Fireworks Accident

Last night--as happens every 4th of July--there were tons of illegal fireworks being set off around the Las Vegas Valley.  One of them set the tree behind my house on fire, I kid you not.  Luckily, a fire truck must've been passing by, and the tree will likely survive its roasting, but the scattered burnt pine cones will never be the same.  A local man was not so lucky, however.  Sadly, this too happens every year.

[Excerpt]

Man killed, teen injured in fireworks accident

Read it at: Las Vegas Review Journal

Things That Make You Go "Boom": Palmyra, PA Fireworks Accident

Image from source, WHTM

I grew up in Whitehall, Ohio in the 70s and 80s, and our community's fireworks on the 4th of July were considered some of the best around. But there were several years where an event like this seemed likely, with fireworks going off very low to the ground, sometimes showering sparks into the crowd. Fortunately, nothing like this every happened.

[Excerpt]

11 Injured in Palmyra Fireworks Incident

Four children were among eleven people injured in an explosion during a fireworks display Sunday night in Palmyra, according to police.



Police said one of the fireworks charges misfired and caused the blast inside a discharge tube. The explosion then caused surrounding discharge tubes to fall and the fireworks inside to discharge toward a nearby crowd. . .



Read more at: WHTM

The 50 Star Flag Turns 50

Image from source, AOL News

As a graphic artist by trade, this story hits my sweet spot. And if Puerto Rico ever gets granted the 51-st state designation, adding the 50th star is easy: it fits in the middle.

[Excerpt]

50-Star Flag Designed by Ohio Teen Turns 50

This Fourth of July marks the 50th anniversary of something special: the birth of the 50-star flag.



While it might not seem like much of an accomplishment, there's a patriotic story behind the design of the flag. In 1958, a 17-year-old Ohio teenager, Robert Heft, had a high school assignment to create something of his own imagination and concept. . .

Read more at: AOL News

America the Stupid: 26% Don't Know We Won Independence from Britain

Woo-hoo, we're #1! USA! USA! Wait, what do those letters stand for? Uhhhmmmm. . .Shit. . .Armenia?  God, we're stupid. Sooooo stupid.

[Excerpt]

Celebrate, America! 74% of You Know What Country We Declared Our Independence From!



Marist University saw that the Fourth of July was coming up and decided to commission a poll to show how stupid we all are. The question: “From which country did the United States win its independence?” Marist was surely expecting only 2% of Americans to know the answer. CNN.com was also prepared for the results with a “more than 1 in TK Americans don’t know which country America declared its independence from, the dumb freaks” story. Yet America surprised them all! . . .

Read more at: Wonkette

Independence Day Weekend: Feeling Old!

Images of Freedom Train and Bicentennial logo from Wikipedia

One of the news stations announced that it was the 233rd birthday of the United States yesterday, and a quick check of the math confirms this to be true. And for people in my age bracket (a few years north of 40), this quickly leads to the realization that it has been thirty-three years since the Bicentennial. Yikes.

In 1976, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson were still alive and relevant. The sexual revolution was in full swing (as related in last summer's documentary drama series, Swingtown). And the Bicentennial was huge. There were more flags, bunting and patriotic themed merchandise in evidence than would exist until immediately after 9/11. They even redesigned the quarter, half-dollar and silver dollar to commemorate the event. Everything was America this, and Spirit of '76 that.

One of the biggest events (at least to my then 10-year-old self) was the Freedom Train, an actual train that went from town to town as a travelling museum. It was something of a mini-Smithsonian, or educational Disney exhibit, taking you through the history (mostly high points) of the United States. It's too bad there wasn't a 2-1/3 century blowout this year. I doubt the country has ever been as united in their patriotism without a cataclysmic event to jolt us into it.

But still. . .thirty-three years ago? Yikes.

Should America Rejoin the British Empire?

Photo from source, Asylum

This article tickled my fancy. Now, don't get me wrong, I love America--despite being a liberal! I even wore a star-spangled shirt yesterday for the Independence Day celebration. But I think it is fair to say that America has seen better days. And while I hold out hope for a change in direction, if John McCain were to somehow win in November, the points laid out in this article would be a lot more persuasive.

[Excerpt]

Arguments for Re-incorporating America into the British Empire

Dear Americans,On this day, 232 years ago, the Declaration of Independence was signed and sealed, forming the United States as its own nation and ending your colonial union with Britain and her empires. I think we can all agree, that idea has run its course. . .

Read more at: Asylum

Jonah Goldberg, Patriotism and Nationalism

I've written in the past about author (and frequent FOX "News" guest) Jonah Goldberg, and his strained notions of patriotism. And during this Presidential campaign, the topic has arisen many, many times. But with Goldberg, FOX "News," and often times among the general public, patriotism is being confused with nationalism.

When Sean Hannity blathers on (for the umpteenth time) about Michelle Obama calling America "a mean country," or not being proud of her country, he's implying that saying such things is not patriotic. As though America is never mean. As though one must be constantly proud of America to love it.

Hannity is not the only one of course, but he is a consistant espouser of nationalism dressed up as patriotism. And it's time people recognized the difference. This article does a good job of explaining it, if you are unsure yourself.

[Excerpt]

The Far-Right's Patriotism Problem

. . .For a people to be controlled, they must first be robbed of honest discourse and open debate. Distorting language and stripping it of real and honest meaning is the first tool and the best mechanism for transforming a democracy into an authoritarian state. An informed populace is a dangerous populace. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Happy Independence Day

Photo from Wikipedia

A busy day for me, considering it's a day off. Lots of chores and errands to run, and it's been around 147°. Anyway, settling in for a bit of news was a bit difficult, at least on the cable stations. I mean really, an O'Reilly Factor marathon? Who needs that?

But a quick perusal of the internets does turn up a few nuggets. Let's see what's happening today:

This can't be good: GM, Ford, Chrysler Sales Drop in June.

And anything out of this guy is bound to be depressing: Again, Bush calls for patience.

Uh, sure, whatever. And bad news for the guy who was actually elected President in 2000: Gore’s Son Is Facing Charges in California After Freeway Arrest. Well that's an inconvenient truth, right there. Fodder for FOX "News" for a couple of weeks at least. Don't count on them to dredge up President Bush's or Dick Cheney's similar run-ins, though (or the Bush girls', for that matter).

UPDATE: It occurred to me later that Al Gore III had better clean up his act. . .he only has 19 more years of "youthful indescretions" left, if he wants to be President some day!

Entertainment news has the very sad: Opera Star Beverly Sills Dies. But also, the unbelievable cool: Bladensburg 7-Eleven transforms into Kwik-E-Mart.

And of course there were explosions all over the sky across America tonight, but I just can't get festive tonight. Martina McBride and Lee Greenwood just make me think of Sean Hannity, and who needs that?

Good Morning, USA!

A little levity for a moment (though you could argue a tenuous connection to the news, since Stan Smith works at the CIA!). I found myself singing this song this morning. It's somehow appropriate since it's the 4th of July. Also appropriate since it is a cartoon, and it sometimes feels like we're living in one, doesn't it?



Valerie Plame should really do a guest spot on this show. . .

And while I'm on a roll, I guess I might as well post this one for my friends, Jim & Keith, and Rob & Keith (yeah, that's a lot of Keiths on one page, counting Olbermann--who as far as I know is lacking one thing in common with the other Keiths). WARNING Though this aired on the ordinary FOX channel, it is semi-vulgar and offensive. You've been warned!

Stan meets the Log Cabin Republicans


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