America declared its independence on 9/11/01.
From last year, town not named. And yes, it was a 4th of July parade, not a 9/11 ten-year anniversary parade. Via reddit. Why is the South Tower charred pre-crash? And how bout some jumping people? HISTORICAL ACCURACY, please.
Source: reddit.com
The Fourth of July is about, above all else, letting everyone know how awesome America is. Use our pix mixer to deck yourself out in totally sweet Independence Day swag!
In Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, Americana and politics on display. “I love our flag…. I always win.”
Image by Charles Dharapak / AP
WOLFEBORO, New Hampshire — Mitt Romney celebrated the Fourth of July in "the coolest town in America," in the words of his wife Ann, marching in a two-hour long parade down Main Street in this picturesque resort town.
Romney, who is on a week-long vacation from the campaign, addressed supporters after the parade, thanking his neighbors for the “the warmest and most patriotic” parade in "this little corner of paradise.”
Despite the oppressive sun and heat, Romney was clearly relaxed and upbeat, shaking hands along the more than one mile route with his children and grandchildren in tow — many wearing matching Romney for President t-shirts. Along Main Street, supporters cheered and took photos, chanting “Go, Mitt, go! Go, Mitt, go!”
"I love our flag. I love the heroism of those who built this great country," Romney said from the back of a black Chevy pickup truck.
Romney recounted his search for a campaign slogan last year, saying "The idea that actually I landed on was as simple as this — we 'Believe in America,'" adding that he wants "to make America more like America."
Romney also praised a throng of Obama supporters, marching a quarter-mile ahead of him in the procession and standing not far from where he was delivering his remarks, Romney for their courtesy.
“They were courteous and respectful, and said 'good luck to you' and 'happy fourth of July.'” the Republican said.
Earlier Romney staffers holding signs blocked a group of Obama supporters from view as the candidate passed.
With sweat beading at his neck, Romney paid $1 to buy a cup of lemonade from kids on the side of the parade route and drank it all in one gulp. A boy in a Red Sox hat chased after Romney to give him his $.50 change, but a Secret Service agent did not allow him to get near the candidate.
Asked by a reporter how he is holding up in the family's competitive "Romney Olympics," the presumptive Republican nominee declined to answer. His son Josh, who won last year, said he is again in the lead.
"I always win," he shouted to reporters.
Everyone loves this giant bear, but what about who is in inside? A simple, beautiful message about “making handicaps disappear.”
Via: upworthy.com
This is fascinating. The more you know!
Source: youtube.com / via: laughingsquid.com
What is the Higgs boson, anyway? And why is everyone freaking out about it right now?
Via: physics.info
The Higgs boson is the name of the particle that is the last missing piece of the puzzle in the Standard Model of physics, the model that explains pretty much how everything in the universe works — i.e. why things have mass and experience forces.
These folks did right by America! “The Star Spangled Banner” doesn't always sound great, but when it does, it will give you chills.
Source: youtube.com
Source: youtube.com
Source: youtube.com
Source: youtube.com
Lots and lots of different chemicals. Please note, this is for intellectual purposes only. Do not go out and buy a bunch of sodium chloride and try to make your own.
The Works Children's Museum in Bloomington Minnesota put together this handy guide explaining what chemicals are used to create a variety of fireworks colors.
While it's topical and interesting, it's also dangerous since July 4th is not well known as a sober, intelligent decision making holiday.
Be safe out there, kids!
Hat tip to Boing Boing
In a tumblr entry posted last night, rapper Frank Ocean shared a text document where he describes his first love, another man who he met four years ago when they were both 19. This frank and beautifully written admission comes on the heels of speculation regarding some of the pronouns used on his upcoming album Channel Orange, which will be released on July 17th.
In his statement, which he wrote some time ago and then published with a screen shot last night, Ocean describes his star-crossed romance with a male friend, and ruminates on his sexuality. "I feel like a free man," he writes.
"4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Everyday almost. And on the days we were together, time would glide. Most of the day I'd see him, and his smile. Sleep I would often share with him. By the time I realised I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless. There was no escaping, no negotiating to the women I had been with, the ones I cared for and thought I was in love with."
Via: frankocean.com
"I don't know what happens now, and that's alrite. I don't have any secrets I need kept any more. There's probably some small shit still, but you know what I mean. I was never alone, as much as it felt like it. As much as I still do sometimes. I never was. I don't think I ever could be. Thanks. To my first love, I'm grateful for you."
Via: frankocean.com
The 4th of July is the time to celebrate all things America. And what's more American than shoveling down mysterious meat combinations?
Source: farm5.staticflickr.com
Source: 0.media.collegehumor.cvcdn.com
Source: img.21food.com
Source: i.imgur.com
Campaigns, super PACs, and everyone else have churned out ads by the minute this election cycle. Here are some of the strangest.
Despite this nearly five-minute opus, Barth did not win his primary race to take on Republican Kristi Noem for South Dakota's lone congressional seat.
The Mark Block smoking ad.
In an unusual ad featuring a man urinating on an electric fence, Sledge lays out his pitch to become Texas' Railroad Commissioner.
Gould, a candidate for Arizona's 4th Congressional District, shot Obamacare to bits in his ad.
And strangely enough, why I wish they were legal all over.
Via: videogum.com
Turn your cookout up a notch with these ten great songs about America.
Ray Charles sings "America The Beautiful"
Kate Smith sings "God Bless America"
Simon and Garfunkel sing "America"
Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band perform "American Land"
At a KFC drive-thru, yesterday. As Harland Sanders famously said: “Feed the poor and get rich or feed the rich and get poor.”
Note her license plate. Happy Independence Day.
Source: reddit.com
For the bitter, arrogant, and/or self-loathing Americans, at least.
Via: jest.com
Scientology Churches and recruitment centers around the country have left regular people disappointed overall by everything from L. Ron Hubbard's sex appeal to recruiters' clinginess. Watch out, guys — this could be you.
Finally, a politician with priorities. Everyone knows that on the 4th of July, fireworks are our top priority.
Nothing against them, of course. But based on recent history, at least one of these players from the Wimbledon junior draw will soon make us hopeful that the next American tennis champ has finally arrived—before they're repeatedly thwarted in every Grand Slam by seemingly superhuman Europeans.
Alexios Halebian, Mackenzie McDonald, Mitchell Krueger, Noah Rubin, and Spencer Papa
Image by Matthew Lewis / Getty Images
Ever since Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi hung up their tennis rackets, America has been waiting for her next whites-wearing, little-ball-hitting champion. (In men's, at least. Women's tennis is fine.) Andy Roddick hasn't done the trick, and so far, neither have presumed successors John Isner, Mardy Fish, Ryan Harrison, Donald Young, or James Blake. (Although we haven't given up on them yet.)
As such, here are the next crop of potential American stars who could make the good old U.S.A. just as relevant of a tennis term as the word "Djokovic." Hopefully these guys are great and prove our very dire headline wrong. Also, obviously, our reasons why they'll bog down into mediocrity are, uh, very hypothetical.
STILL ALIVE AT WIMBLEDON:
WHO HE IS: Mitchell Krueger is the great American hope. Krueger's the highest-ranked U.S. junior, at #8, and he made it to the semifinals of the French Open — the best American showing — before losing to world #2 Kimmer Coppejans, a Belgian. Krueger, an 18-year-old native of Aledo, Texas, is headed to Texas A&M, one of the nation's top programs, to play next year. And so far so good at Wimbledon — he beat 28th-ranked Brit Kyle Edmund in the first round and beat Croat Borna Coric in two sets in the second. He tweets here.
WHY HE'LL BOG DOWN INTO MEDIOCRITY: At Texas A&M, finds his true calling as an All-SEC defensive lineman.
Image by Dan Kitwood / Getty Images
43 YouTube covers of We Are Young, one video, let's set the world on fire, etc. Fun.
Source: youtube.com
This is the kind of stuff your cats get up to when they think you're at work. The little hooligans.
Via: lovemeow.com
