FIRSTS ON THE FORTH!

 THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

   FIRSTS ON THE FORTH!

   It's a big day of celebration here in

the United States. And for a lot of

good reasons! Independence Day of

course resulting from our 1776

Declaration of Independence from

England. Ironically the nation

didn't begin its annual celebration of

July 4th until 1796! In 1802 the U.S,

Military Academy at West Point opened

its doors on July the 4th.  The following

year, 1803, the Louisiana purchase added

828, 00 square miles to the United States.

That was announced on July 4th. In 1831

the song "America (My Country Tis Of

Thee) was song for the very first time on

July 4th. Then, in 1862, Lewis Carrol 

choose Independence Day to publish

"Alice In Wonderland." The following

year General Robert E. Lee pulled his

troops out of Gettysburg on July 4th

effectively marking the beginning of the 

end of the Civil War!  On July 4th 1876

the first electric light was demonstrated 

in San Francisco and in 1884 France gave

us the Statue of Liberty of the 4th of July.

Our flag has changed a lot since 1776. On

July 4th of 1959 we saw a new 49 star

banner as Alaska was added to the union.

That flag didn't last very long though as

Hawaii became the 50th state and another

star was added on July 4th of 1960. A lot

of July 4th history for a fairly young nation.

Wonder what the future hold in store? Hope

it's all positive and that all your NEWS is

good!   

INDEPENDANCE DAY EVE!

 

   WEDNESDAY, JULY 3RD., 2024
      INDEPENDENCE DAY EVE!

   Wednesday, July 3rd. A great day to stay at home!

   We've all hear the expression....."Those Dog days

of Summer." Well it's not just an expression! They

are real. And they begin today!

     They run from July 3rd to August 11th and

coincide with the rising of the Dog Star, Sirius.

     If that's not enough to worry you, it's also

"Stay Out Of The Sun Day!" Bet you didn't

know about that one!

     The cautions connected with both of these

strange "holidays" are pretty obvious. You're

warned to protect yourself from the heat and

the direct rays of the sun.

     But what are we suppose to do with the day

if we agree to "observe" it by staying inside?

     Well I'm glad you asked.

     Fortunately July 3rd also hosts several other

unique "holidays" that provide possible

answers.

     It is, for instance, the official start of  "Air

Conditioning Appreciation Days!" I will admit

to getting a heard start on this celebration

sometime in June! 90 degree days should be

limited, by law, to deserts!  75 to 80 is just

fine by me...IF...the humidity is low enough.

     July 3rd is also "National Eat Beans Day!"

     So, while you're hiding from the "Dog Days"

and keeping out of the sun, you can enjoy a

bowl of beans or two. Any more and you'll

probably have no choice but to stay inside......

probably in one specific room!

      But wait, there's more!

      July 3rd is also "Compliment Your Mirror

Day!" 

      Of course that one can be observed anywhere

you can find a mirror!  I've seen more than one

young woman observing the day way ahead of

schedule and often stopped at a traffic light.

      And one here or there that weren't

stopped at the time! I'll limit my celebration to

my morning shave.

     Anyhow as you can clearly see, even without

a mirror, these July 3rd "holidays" are

sneaking up on you so you had better be

prepared!

      Make sure you don't "let the dogs out,"

use plenty of sun tan lotion, stay cool, comb

your hair, and eat your beans!

      Hope you survive the day (tomorrow's

the 4th!) and that all your NEWS is good!

SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT ALIENS!

   

     TUESDAY, JULY 2ND., 2024

 SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT ALIENS!   

      I'm hearing and reading a lot

about concern over aliens these

days. July 2nd is a day that has

been set aside to focus on the

controversy! It is World UFO

Day!

       Oh. You thought I meant

those "other aliens." No. This

question about these aliens has

been confronting us since 1947!

That's the date the so-called

"Roswell Incident" took place.

        A rancher in New Mexico

discovered wreckage of a metallic

object on his property and reported

it to the military which removed

the debris and initially labeled it

as coming from an Unidentified

Flying Object.

       The official story later changed.

But many people believe that's

because of a government cover

up. Who ever heard of anything

like that ever happening?

        Back in the late 50's and

early 60's I was a volunteer member

of the Ground Observer Corps. I

and my fellow volunteers manned

control towers like observation

posts and scanned the skies for

aircraft in the hope of heading off

a Russian attack on the United

States.

       I've heard tell a couple of

our volunteers reported a UFO

in the area above our post in

Hazleton. Then there were

reports on a UFO coming down

in a Carbondale pond in 1974

.     I never saw anything

that couldn't be identified.

       But what if the aliens are

actually out there? And with

ill intentions! I don't think a wall

would keep them out...no matter

who paid for it!

        So today is a day to join

others, throughout the world,

in discussing the issue. Heck

it might even make a good

topic for politicians running

for office!

       Of course there's always

the possibility the aliens who

came to Roswell are already

here and living among us.

Maybe some ARE politicians!

That could account for their

strange behavior!

        Hope you're watching

the skies and that all your

NEWS is good!