Today is the 7th day of the 7th month in the 7th year of this millennium. This is also the day of the Live Earth Concert, featuring the amazing Al Gore. The money quote from our former Vice President and my personal hero:
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together...Well, we need to go far, quickly.
Happy 07/07/07 and Live Earth Concert Day to all!
Won't you please share the joy of WYFP by recommending?
WYFP is our community's Saturday evening gathering to talk about our problems, empathize with one another, show off our favorite pet pics and perhaps share advice. Everyone and all sorts of troubles are welcome. May we find peace and healing here. :-)
My daughter took this video of Wednesday’s 4th of July fireworks finale at the Milwaukee Mile racetrack at State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin:
I hope everyone is having a fine Independence Day weekend!
Every 4th of July, a fair portion of our town’s population gathers in the grandstands to hear a selection of patriotic tunes performed by the West Allis Central High School Band, applaud an exhortation for good citizenship by Mayor Jeanne Bell, and enjoy one hell of a fireworks display.
What better way to the celebrate the 4th than packed and perched in Nosebleed Heaven, sipping a Starbucks or smuggled alcoholic beverage, and savoring the mingled odors of sulphur, cigarettes, spilled beer and good West Allis perspiration? There isn't a bad seat in the house. Pyrotechnic masterpieces explode over our heads. We can express our approval by stamping our feet on the metal planking, which creates thunderous vibrations (you can hear it in the video). And all the while, fireworks from major Milwaukee county parks and impressive (illegal) personal stashes pepper the horizon. It is glorious.
What sets the 4th of July apart from all other holidays? Danger. Danger inherent, apparent, historic. There’s nothing safe about fireworks and yet I am drawn to them like a mosquito to a bug light.
I watch them explode and think to myself, this is what signing the Declaration of Independence must have been like. Screaming, fiery quakes that quivered every spine and every hand extended to the parchment. What a time, what a moment. Damn. I wish I could've been there.
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My fp this week is that, honestly, I am my own fp. Why import when I can make my own? There’s nothing heroic about fixing homemade problems. No new nation to be forged, no points to be scored, no bonuses to earn or lotteries to win. Just a lot of time wasted fixing stupid mistakes when other matters should be getting the attention. The only bright spot is that while it’s too late for miracles, there’s still much that can be done and I know what I have to do.
So that’s my fp. What is yours?