Happy July 4th Everyone
I realize not everyone who reads this lives in the US, but to all those who do, have a happy July 4th. This photo pretty much sums up how I'm going to spend my day today.
I realize not everyone who reads this lives in the US, but to all those who do, have a happy July 4th. This photo pretty much sums up how I'm going to spend my day today.
Comments (Archived):
Back at ya Fred!I purposely stay in the city when everyone else leaves.Quiet like after a blizzard but warm.Have a great one.
Happy 4th of July to my US friends. For us outside the US, we get to catch-up a little because the US slows down. I can tell it’s a US holiday by the sudden trickle down in my email InBox. Even the daily newsletters take a break.
.We want Canada to become part of the US. Next year ya’ll can celebrate the 4th of July with US and us.Look into my eyes, you are becoming sleepy, sleepy, sleepy…JLM.
Ha ha… We celebrate Canada Day on July 1st. It’s pretty close! France is next, on the 14th of July. Bastille Day!
Then India on Aug 15. Begone you effin Brits! I try not to take it personally
In these days of spying and tracking, as it’s independence day, I’d like to suggest all of your readers to start thinking about their web legacy and to start thinking about owning their presence online. This starts with buying a domain for yourself. It’s cheaper than a phone number, easier to remember & will stay with you your whole life![shameless plug]: if you have your own domain and blog, install a SubToMe button too!
“Software code is the crucial component of everything in the 21st centurySoftware is what the 21st century is made ofWhat steel was to the economy of the 20 th centuryWhat steel was to the power of the 20 th centuryWhat steel was to the politics of the 20 th centurySoftware is nowIt is the curial building blockthe component out of which everything else is madeand when I speak of everything – I mean of course:FREEDOMas well as Tyrannyas well as Business as usualas well as Spying on Everyone for free all the timeIn other words the very composition of social lifeThe way it works or doesn’t workFor USThe way it works or doesn’t workFor those that OwnThe way it works or doesn’t workFor those who OppressAll now depends on software!” – Eben MoglenHappy Independence Day to you all !
I second that
Only one domain? Oops..
One domain for *you*, but you can (should!) own many for your businesses, your passions, your interests, or your companies 🙂
at least until the feds seize the name! 🙂 http://www.wired.com/threat…
Well, yes, we should make sure ICANN is not linked to *any* government.
That shouldn’t happen unless you broke a law or something.
The original vision of America is dead. It was a 200+ year run — impressive.but it’s over and clinging to the past will only result in failure and embarrassment. The time for a non-violent revolution is upon us. It is vital to embrace this mentality as options appear. It is the only solution long term to avoid mass poverty and the essential outlawing of innovation. Silicon valley and its farm system in New York are the ones that are meant to be the renegades of today.https://www.youtube.com/wat…
So long as we remain a peaceful innovative resourcefull hardworking and charitable people, we will maintain this unique way of life. we are a lucky people. Nobody would have predicted 25 years ago that we would be essentially energy independent. Our greatest expense today is healthcare. And this problem could be solved without technology, without medicine. Science knows what the solutions is to healthcare. It is a plant-based diet, exercise, freedom and free will, avoiding tobacco, avoiding alcohol and Reducing stress in one’s life. It’s all in our hands, you got to believe!
.If we all just listened to our Mothers.Well played.JLM.
are we peaceful? which nation in the world is more militarized than any other? that we tell ourselves we are peaceful is symptomatic of the real problem: willful ignorance of the facts in plain view.the US is not going to be energy independent any time soon. the natural gas supply is remarkably overstated; this will become apparent by 2020. the US imports 96% of its uranium, which is the fuel used for 18% of electricity generation in the country. a blackout just happened in california last week. the energy crisis, like the debt crisis, is going to get worse. there are solutions, of course, but all solutions require addressing the problem, which the american people refuse to do. tell them about the problem, and they dismiss you as a cynic, convincing themselves that ignorance is strength and optimism.
We as people are peaceful. We as the government are certainly not.
perhaps we have different definitions of peaceful. the people continue to vote for warmongers, and enlist in the military.
I believe you can be a soldier and love peace. Enough even to die for it.
i agree, though i think it’s been a long time since a US soldier died for peace. i think in general they are dying in the name of accumulating wealth for someone else, i.e. military and industrial contractors.
.If you really, really, really want peace, then you will have the strongest, most competent military possible.The current volunteer army v the draftee army is Harvard v day care.Like any tool, you have to know how to use them effectively and how to use them sparingly.When you are a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Unfortunately, that is not true.Soldiers who have seen the ugliness and horror of war up front hate it with a passion. When a young man dies in your arms or your decisions cost men their lives — believe me you will hate it.JLM.
There are 3500 trillion cubic feet of reserves of gas in the us. A cubic foot of gas has 1000 btu.Oil has 5000 btus per barrel. The Saudis hv 250 billion barrels of reserve.That’s about 3x the energy.
those reserves are both massively overstated. but rather than debate the geology, here are some points to consider, if those numbers are in fact true:1. why is saudi arabia investing so aggressively in nuclear power, with plans to construct 16 nuclear power plants over the next 20 years? investments in solar are similarly aggressive. a diversified energy portfolio is wise, but these numbers are especially high and were not being discussed back when saudi oil fields were producing lots of oil at low costs.2. if the US has so much natural gas, why is it STILL importing natural gas?there is a ton of oil and gas left, that is not the issue. the issue is at what cost. with natural gas the other issue is that natural gas serves multiple purposes: use it for running cars, and there’s less available for creating fertilizer.
Here is why, DOE’s authority to regulate the export of natural gas arises under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), 15 U.S.C. § 717b, and section 301(b) of the DOE Organization Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7151. This authority is vested in the Secretary of Energy and has been delegated to the Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy.
not sure what that has to do with imports?
Cant develop a market without market forces.
still not sure what you mean. if the US had the natural gas it needs, it would not need to import. moving natural gas is a huge pain which is why prices are regionalized (costs a lot more in israel or japan). the US has the money to buy from domestic producers, problem is domestic producers simply do not produce enough even with the alleged miracle of shale.
.1.5 million years ago I worked for the Mobil Corp — first job out of the Army.I used to study the known reserves world wide. Funny little thing to study.The estimates of known reserves — which is a well defined term — have been grossly UNDERstated since the first such analysis was ever made.I subsequently had a chance to see some very confidential and secret documents which looked at known reserves as a measure of strategic power and those documents were contemporaneously in conflict with industry documents — as an example the industry could never get a handle on Russian/USSR reserves but the spooks could.Bottom line — there is one Hell of a lot more oil and gas out there than anyone is willing to admit.We are burning gasoline today which comes from reserves that were not even identified, in many instances, four years ago.The US has the potential to cut its ties to the Middle East within a 5-6 year period if we would make such a political commitment.JLM.
s/exercise/yoga and I fully agree. Just kidding — any exercise that is safe for a person to do, that they are ready for – is good! 🙂
Kid, you’re the Ann Coulter of AVC, driven by sensationalism and negativity. I’d strongly suggest you re-read today the Declaration of Independence and contrast that document w/ how the rest of the countries in the world, both alleged civilized and uncivilized, operate today. Yes, our country isn’t perfect but it’s still the best place to live and pursue one’s dreams.
.Funny thing is that in the time of the Revolution people like The Kid and Ann Coulter would have been knee deep in the Revolution itself.One of the greatest things about our country is the ability to dissent and be heard. To have that right to dissent enshrined in the basic freedoms of our Nation and its Constitution.I can imagine both The Kid and Thomas Paine having said:”Government, even in its best state, is a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.”Thomas Paine was the conscience of the Revolution and in its darkest hour provided the basis for dissent and inspiration for survival, triumph and victory.I love the voices of dissent. I love a bit of drama on behalf of freedom.I agree more with you than you do with yourself as it relates to America being “…the best place to live and pursue one’s dreams.”Let’s make damn sure that our government does not encumber our future and that of our children,.So let’s all dissent with your laudable objective in mind.The home of the brave;The land of the free!JLM.
“and Ann Coulter”Not so sure about that.For Ann Coulter the “shtick” [1] is a means to an end. (Kind of reminds me back in the 90’s when I would think of what to say in order to get quoted in the paper. It worked very well. I was good at that.)Not to say that Coulter doesn’t believe what she is saying (always a shred of truth to even what I did). But she’s an entertainer and is doing what she is doing in order to achieve other goals (fame and money) which have taken on a 2nd life. Al Sharpton as another example. He may have started out being outraged but pretty soon being outraged became a business and a career for him. It’s hilarious if you see the transition Sharpton has taken from someone in a gym suit to a dapper TV host. No malice, I greatly admire what he has done. (Now and then of Sharpton attached below for the benefit of younger AVC’ers who are not familiar with early Sharpton.)Now Kid on the other hand, well, he definitely needs to find a way to monetize what appears to be his genuine outrage.[1] Shtick: http://en.wikipedia.org/wik…
I second that as well
Why so negative ?A day like this is meant to celebrate independence with independent thoughts and ideas !
Don’t think I was being negative at all. By suggesting that Kid revisit the Declaration of Independence only serves to validate your comment. That aside, Kid often provides a contrarian view on AVC, to the extent that I often wonder if it’s just to ruffle feathers rather than a genuine belief. However, upon further reflection, Kid’s choice of role models–Alex Jones, Rand Paul, Ron Paul–does perhaps suggest his comments are rooted in sincerity. The ability for an American citizen to ascribe their own beliefs and values is at the core what makes this country (not perfect) but special.
I believe Kid would rather be silent than insincere.
#truth
lol….first, i’m not interested in being better than other countries. just because the rest of the world sucks doesn’t make it any better. if anything it makes it worse as the places to go to are few and far between. though with that said i think the blanket assumption that the US is the greatest is questionable at best. if i didn’t have family and friends here that i’m not willing to forsake i would have left already, and if enough of them were willing to migrate in mass i’d certainly sign up for it.i disagree with ann coulter more than i agree with her so the comparison is severely misguided. alex jones, jim marrs, ron paul, and generally rand paul are much better comparisons.
You’re misreading the economic tea leaves.
feel free to support your assertion. my case is simple: as interest rates rise the party is over and great depression 2.0 resumes. this downturn will likely be more severe than 2008. none of the problems have been solved. the situation is comparable to an alcoholic who, instead of choosing rehab, chooses to drink more and because he got drunk again and no longer feels the pain for the time being, falsely believes he is cured. alas, in reality, he has only exacerbated the problem.
It makes me so angry that we are wasting the recession. It was a hard lesson.
.You are so right that you should get the rest of the day off.JLM.
lol thanks! 🙂
I really don’t think being in the valley today is renegade. A lot of the original funding came from the government, and I see a lot of fluidity between government roles and tech roles
the valley is supposed to be renegade, granted they are not as they are too busy creating the next world-changing photo sharing app. bitcoin is a step in that direction, though. the tech community will find the will as they realize there is no other recourse.
You think the original version of America made it 200 years? The blogger Mencius Moldbug makes a case for the US now being on the fifth form of government since colonial times: http://unqualified-reservat…
sure, it’s all subjective. i would say the spirit of the US and the US as the land of great opportunity really ended in the 60s, first with the assassination of JFK, but then also with the assassination of MLK and RFK. at that point it was the clear the military industrial complex had effectively executed a coup against the idea of a government for and by the people. some may argue it occurred earlier, though i think the sufficient economic opportunity enjoyed in the 50s and early 60s makes a case for the contrary.1776 to 1966 puts us at 190 years. you could argue the civil war and lincoln’s power grab was a coup, the creation of the federal reserve in 1913, or probably some other points too.
I hope everyone on that side of the pond has a great day.
is it a public holiday?
Yes. It’s the anniversary of America’s independence from Britain
a smart move. worth celebrating
enjoy the fireworks – my favorite part!
Happy Fourth of July to all!And, a special ‘Thank You’ to my friend in Afghanistan and everyone who serves our country.
#respect.unfortunately all of the southeast is blanketed in rain & storms. View from the office right now of downtown Chattanooga. Quiet. Calm. 2 Flags.
considering that independence day is a day created by a propaganda committee in the time of woodrow wilson to hype up the first world war, i have some reservations about it ..love the sentiment, but it means more directed to the entire earth and the human community.
nothing beats a population enslaved by the debt costs of war celebrating their independence
“The American Revolution was a beginning, not a consummation.”Happy Independence Day, my AVC friends!
Eat meat from a paper plate.Shoot things in the air that explode.Drink mass produced beers and single barrel bourbons.Jump in a lake with your kids and your dog.Watch a baseball game.A fine ode to the glorious sons of bitches that had the balls to pick up their weapons and strike back at oppressive laws and taxes of the only superpower in the world….and then created a government specifically designed to keep itself out of the lives of individuals. Wow!Party like it’s 1773!
.I wonder if we still have that DNA in our veins?We sure could use a spot of revolution just now.A day to thank the Founding Fathers for their wisdom and genius. Well played, FF!JLM.
For all the things that are wrong with this country, we still have the power to revolt by voting.
election fraud, insecure voting machines
I’ll buy a fraud by campaign finance argument.
sure, there are a number of fraud sources — we can pick and choose as we please. 🙂 gerrymandering, two party ballot system, voting machines, campaign finance, electoral college…..
or gerry mandering. or crony capitalism.
.I agree more with you than you do with yourself.JLM.
.My rational brain agrees with you but this recent IRS scandal — which ultimately defanged the Tea Party and other conservative groups by denying them the ability to raise funds and expend those funds to support Romney — is a huge attack on fair elections.It is particularly troubling given that only 525K votes changes the outcome of the election.To suggest that this was not the objective of this undertaking is to beg for a lobotomy scar inspection.JLM.
you could do an Egypt
.The US really screwed up the situation in Egypt. On the day of the coup, I predicted it was coming on my blog.http://themusingsofthebigre…I have gotten several very weird emails as a result of it.I guess the NSA was pissed.JLM.
My husband wrote a song that is being mastered within the next few days before going live. I will send you the MP3 as soon as it’s done. “Calling All America”He is very clear that he doesn’t mean for it to be a political statement. He just loves his country.
.Let’s hear it!Happy 4th of July to all lovers of freedom and liberty.JLM.
Then I’d have to wear a corset….
Happy 4th of July, everyone :-)Just a reminder that the Internet Defense League has an action today, if you’re interested http://internetdefenseleagu….
A day for a swim and that’s where we’ll be.Have a good one!
Cheers. Enjoy.
.In Santa Fe, New Mexico, a wonderful place where they celebrate Independence Day with Pancakes on the Plaza.That Plaza dates from 1610 when Santa Fe was founded by the Spaniards who stole it fair and square from the Indians.The air is clear and cool and dry at 7000′.Some pancakes, mountain hiking and then fireworks and a BBQ.Is this a great country or what? Made all the better by folks like you!On Earth as it is in Texas (well, New Mexico today)!JLM.
When you are worn out after the festivities- head to Ten Thousand Waves for a massage!
.Hey, Jim, small world.When I get to hiking, I always over do it and go way too far. At the time I cannot help myself.My legs are fine until I stop and then I need industrial strength work on only my calves.10,000 Waves, here I come.Happy 4th of July — hopefully at the beach.JLM.
First, Happy Fourth!Secondly – this is a pet theory of mine, but it seems strange to me that today is Independence Day. By this time the Second Contential Congress was seeing regular skirmishes and raising war bonds. They were already a government in situ.Then there is also the issue that we don’t celebrate the ratification of the constitution as the nation’s as we have it current birthday.But hey, this is a bit pendantic…..
and which European financiers were buying up those war bonds?
france though it was mostly locals.Interesting story – those war bonds precipitated the development of the constitution – it was felt by some federalists that we couldn’t pay them back without centralizing some power and giving an institution a federal tax (which at first were tariffs)
.The American Revolution was fought from 1775-83 and was precipitated by the Boston Tea Party of 1773.The Constitution was drafted and adopted in 1787 and ratified by the States in 1789.It is important to know that the Constitution was painstakingly written, adopted and ratified — some States rejected it before ratifying and some States ratified it by a single vote.This is important also because it shows the importance, thoughtfulness and genius of the document itself. It is not an Obamacare type law thrown together in the dead of night and passed along party lines.This is why it is a sacred foundation document and the mark of real genius.It is the best such document ever drafted. People need to know this when they throw out aspersions or shallowly declare something “unconstitutional”.It is genius. And it was not written over night.JLM.
Yes! But of course.Still, it makes me wonder if this is the right day to be celebrating (not that I am not going to stop celebrating on the fourth)
Let’s not forget the meaning behind this holiday, so please refer to it as Independence Day!
Happy 4th! I love this holiday… Whether you live in the U.S. or not, whether you love it or hate it, what the 4th of July celebrates had/has worldwide impact.We’ll celebrate much the way Andy suggests…neighborhood softball, dinner on the dock, lots of time in/on the lake, traditional 4th games on the community lawn with the addition of a bullfrog race, fireworks over the Pacific viewed from the Malibu bluffs …we’ll sing the national anthem at some point, I’ll wipe my eyes… same thing year after year. Thank God. Thank the revolutionaries. Land of the free…
it surprises me that the United States became so singularly united, with not even one continental territory choosing to become a sovereign nation.
Texas keeps threatening to secede from the Union… but you are right, it is remarkable.
Wiping out than ghettoizing the Indians certainly helped.
.Texas was a separate country when it joined the United States.We still think we are though we pretend to be part of the US. This is just our little joke.On Earth as it is in Texas!JLM.
How’d the 1860s work out for Texas 😉
Happy 4th July
A fine ode to the glorious sons of bitches that had the balls to pick up their weapons and strike back at oppressive laws and taxes of the only superpower in the world….and then created a government specifically designed to keep itself out of the lives of individuals. Wow!bajar SpyBubble
I hope everybody had a happy and safe Independence Day!
Happy Fourth Everyone!