"Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind. "Mankind." That word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps it's fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom... Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution... but from annihilation. We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the world declared in one voice: "We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight!" We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!"

-Bill Paxton and/or Pullman

In a few minutes I'm off to spend the weekend fighting the good fight down at Cannon Beach. The locals have once again banned fireworks on a public beach. Last year their efforts were (somewhat) twarted by a few hundred "patriots" that stormed the coastline and fired them off despite their objections and a heavy police presence. Anyway, you can read about the whole mini-saga here.


Here's a few other holiday-appropriate links:

Coco Colado's 2003 "fire-no-works" guide.

Coco Colado's 2004 "fire-no-works" guide.

The National Council on Fireworks Safety (*yawn*)

The National Archives' history of the Declaration of Independence (double *yawn*)

About M-80s - Pyro Universe's guide to the history of the world's finest (and most finger-shreddin'-licious) fireworks.

X Entertainment's Fireworks Extravagozzzola - XE's guide to the world's lamest fireworks.

Phantom Fireworks - A site that sells fireworks 365 days out of the year. Keep it in mind if you're looking to make Thanksgiving a little more interesting.

A happy Independence Day to all and to all a good night!