# July 4 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 3, 2001, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092 "2001-07-03T15:30:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dpr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dpr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dpr)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092/1 "2001-07-03T15:30:13Z")
The clock ticked over not long ago so… Happy Independance Day for all you 'merrikans!!! Enjoy the fireworks, remember the spirit, don’t drink and drive, be good to one another and anyone seeing my fiance give her a hug for me. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092/2 "2001-07-03T16:06:37Z")
Thanks, **dpr**! I will spend the day working for double-time-and-a-half! Then in the evening, I suppose we will grill steaks and try to find a place in our yard where we can see at least a part of the local fireworks show. And, of course, I’ll be thinking patriotic thoughts! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092/3 "2001-07-03T16:22:49Z")
Gracias! I have some left-over Molson and Moosehead. I’m staying away from the theme parks, just going to sit at home, fire up the barbeque grill and make some Spiedies! But no salt potatoes. Damn. Ah, might head to the Lakefront in the evening for the fireworks. The perfect workweek - Saturday and Sunday off Work Monday & Tuesday Wednesday off, Work Thursday & Friday Saturday and Sunday off Joy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092/4 "2001-07-03T16:25:53Z")
I think this is as good a place as any to remind the Americans of John Adams thoughts on Independence Day. Of course, when he wrote this to his wife, Abigail, he though Independence Day would actually be July 2, 1776, not July 4. > [@](#): > > The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch 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 shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore. ---
**Author:** ![GraceTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092/5 "2001-07-03T16:34:58Z")
I think _I_ have the perfect work week **Screech-Owl**. Saturday and Sunday - off Monday and Tuesday - work Wednesday - Sunday - off ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092/6 "2001-07-03T17:09:10Z")
> [@](#): > > … fire up the barbeque grill and make some Spiedies! ¿Que? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092/7 "2001-07-03T17:13:44Z")
Hell, **Unc** , I’m still working on the “Molson and Moosehead.” Imported beer on the 4th? CANADIAN beer on the 4th? BAD Canadian beer on the 4th? ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092/8 "2001-07-03T17:30:06Z")
[Spiedies](http://www.thefoodweb.com/recipe_archive/category/meat/spiedies.html) - only one of many recipies. Grilled mariniated meat on a soft Italian roll. **dropzone** - I am _not_ driving 1500 miles just for good Canadian beer - I have to take what I can pick up at the local Albertsons. Although…the Rochester Brew Pub used to make some great local brew. And I _could_ use some salt potatoes and steamed clams for a proper 4th of July picnic. ::considers a quick road trip to New York:: **Grace** - pbth. You win. ---
**Author:** ![Simetra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Simetra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simetra)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092/9 "2001-07-03T17:35:21Z")
Thanks **dpr**. 🙂 I’ll definitely enjoy the fireworks I’m going to be making… \. Nothing like a day off in the middle of the week to completely drain you of motivation. ---
**Author:** ![GraceTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092/10 "2001-07-03T17:36:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by screech-owl \* > **Grace** - pbth. You win. \*\* I guess I shouldn’t mention that my boss just told me I could leave at 1:30 eh? ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092/11 "2001-07-03T18:03:24Z")
Well I’m off at 2:00 my time (hot damn! NOW!), and I’m an hour ahead of you, so I win there. I’m out of here! Now with an hour and a half commute home (with all the theme park traffic - normally takes me about 30 minutes), you’ll probably start celebrating before I do. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092/12 "2001-07-03T22:02:51Z")
From one former British colony to another: thanks, **dpr**. Now,where’s my beer…? ---
**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092/13 "2001-07-03T22:25:42Z")
The youngest Plutino babysat and mowed lawns for the neighbor, earned forty bucks, and yesterday went with his friends to the local Indian reservation to purchase vast quantities of paper and gunpowder. (n case you are wondering it is perfectly legal to buy and sell fireworks there that are illegal elsewhere in the state. Technically, you are only breaking the law when you leave the reservation with them.) Mrs. Pluto is vehemently opposed to things that go bang but the rest of us gang up on her on this one. The 4th of July is supposed to be LOUD! Besides, I like to tape the bottle rockets together to see if I can make them go really high – or better yet, stage them. I’ve never blown any fingers off yet. (I have had a sore hand the next day, though!) Plus we live just one block up from a small lake that hosts one of the best fireworks shows around. We get a great view from our front yard. I can’t wait. BOOM! KAPOW! CRASH! oooh! BANG-BANG-BANG! wow! ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092/14 "2001-07-03T22:34:56Z")
I’ve not been gracious, and I apologize. {clears throat} Thanks, **dpr**! Now, nobody get me started on Australian beer! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![GraceTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092/15 "2001-07-04T00:38:34Z")
Oops. I was bad too. Twice. Thanks **dpr**! ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092/16 "2001-07-04T00:53:11Z")
I’ll join my fellow Aussie **dpr** in wishing all you Americans a happy Independance Day. [sub]Now it’s our turn to kick the British out![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092/17 "2001-07-04T03:38:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UncleBeer \* > \*\*I think this is as good a place as any to remind the Americans of John Adams thoughts on Independence Day. Of course, when he wrote this to his wife, Abigail, he though Independence Day would actually be July 2, 1776, not July 4. > > > [@](#): > > > > The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch 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 shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore. > > \*\* Uncle Beer, I love that quote! I’m so glad you posted it. Listening to the booms in the street a day early, Abby ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092/18 "2001-07-04T10:38:48Z")
Time for another installment of “Fun with smilies” (my first attempt) :(:(:(:(:(:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad: :(:(:(:(☹ :(:(:(:(:(:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad: :(:(:(:(☹ :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad: :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad: Happy 4th, every American one. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092/19 "2001-07-04T11:09:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mobo85 \* > **Time for another installment of “Fun with smilies” (my first attempt)** That is hilarious!!! I never thought my flag would scowl at me and the rest be depressed! Here’s to independence! Here’s to our Revolutionary War Vets! Here’s to 225 years! Here’s to me, one of 300 million individuals living in this country who get the day off! [sub]although in truth I don’t work so I have every day off. But I am the primary care provider for my grandmother and I do that basically every hour of every day all year long so I guess that evens it all out.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092/20 "2001-07-04T14:47:48Z")
England has Thanksgiving, it’s called the Fourth of July. That’s got to be one of the best jokes a Brit can tell. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4/71092.md?page=2)