Happy 4th of July, America

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

4th of July Card to all Americans

[Norman Byers, N.D.]

Hi Pam,

Thanks for the card and Happy 4th of July to you as well

[Halfstep-Denise]

Thank you, Pam!

You always know how to pick the best cards!

Happy 4th of July! Be safe!

Halfstep-Denise llama

[Dr. Shane]

Sun is almost down so we will be going outside to shoot off some fireworks soon.

[phkrause]

Happy Birthday (Eve), America

Tomorrow marks 249 years since the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. Founding Father and second president John Adams expected it would be celebrated on July 2—the day delegates voted to break from Great Britain—but the idea didn't catch on. Today, the Fourth of July is synonymous with fireworks and barbecues, though some celebrate in more peculiar ways.    Since July 4, 1776, the US has grown from 13 colonies with 2.5 million people to 50 states and 14 territories with over 342 million people connected by roughly 5,000 airports, 4 million miles of roads, 140,000 miles of train tracks, and 5.5 million miles of power lines.    The economy has prospered to nearly $30T. Public health advances have dwindled the child mortality rate to under 1%, and Americans live over three decades longer on average. Meanwhile, homegrown scientific achievements have delivered everything from the light bulb and modern flight to the internet and air conditioning. We’ve also sent over 300 citizen astronauts to space—the most of any country.   Since last Independence Day, an American infant was successfully treated with a novel gene-editing technique, computers are becoming exponentially faster problem solvers, and the James Webb Telescope photographed its first new planet.   America’s story is still unfolding, with new milestones to reach and new challenges to overcome. Tomorrow invites us to reflect on our progress and draw inspiration for the next 249 years.    PS–Challenge your friends and family to some patriotic trivia.

[phkrause]

? NYC's fireworks setup

Photo: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images Workers on Staten Island prepare for the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks show — the nation's largest — in New York City last week. The light show (NBC and Peacock, 8-10 p.m. ET) will include more than 80,000 shells in 30 vibrant colors and offer state-of-the-art projection mapping on the Brooklyn Bridge. Photo: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images Go deeper.

[phkrause]

? 1 for the road: Fireworks across America

Photo: Adam Gray/Getty Images Fireworks light up the sky above the Brooklyn Bridge during Macy's 4th of July show in New York City. The 25-minute show included more than 80,000 shells. Photo: Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images Fireworks soar over the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument last night. Photo: David Zalubowski/AP Fans watch fireworks over Coors Field after the Colorado Rockies hosted the Chicago White Sox in Denver yesterday. The Sox won 3–2.