This is our nation's 247th birthday.   Time  magazine this morning had two articles providing a slightly different view of what really happened in 1776: July 1776 Was a Shotgun Wedding .  In effect, the Continental Congress saved Democracy from almost certain civil war by finding a way to cooperate. America's "Real" Independence Day is not July 4 .   That day should have been 2 July 1776.  Why?  Read the article. The  New York Times  this morning said: Drones and lasers are becoming   more popular as an alternative to fireworks , minimizing wildfire risks.  Also pet friendly and will not cause any air pollution. Coco Gauff lost in the first round of Wimbledon. Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo are favored to win today's Nathan's hot dog eating contest. There was a two-hour delay because of weather, but Chestnut ( only ate 62, not the record 76 ) and Sudo ( 39.5, before the delay ) did win their Mustard Belts.  I find this competition too nauseating.  But if you want

I said yesterday that I would provide more details about China's new covid crisis today.  Well, I couldn't find anything more, so will continue my search and lay out the situation on Thursday, my day for this virus. Instead, a little bit of everything to bring you up to date on even the most eclectic of topics, like the National Hockey League Stanley Cup Finals.  The only ice hockey games I watch are during some of the Winter Olympics. I begin with what the  New York Times  sends me every morning, a summary of what happened and will.  To begin, this is their expectation of a very hot summer: Hawaii looks to be great, so come over if you have a lot of money.  Also Blowout win:   The Miami Heat   beat the Boston Celtics   in Game 7. They will face the Denver Nuggets in the N.B.A. finals. Golden Knights advance, too:   Las Vegas is back in the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in the franchise’s six-year history after a   6-0 rout   in Dallas. The next Tiger?   The world is re

From  Worldometer  (new  COVID-19 deaths yesterday):           DAY    USA    WORLD      Brazil      India      South Africa 2020 June     9     1093     4732         1185        246       82 July    22      1205     7128         1293      1120     572 Aug    12      1504     6556        1242        835     130 Sept     9      1208      6222       1136       1168       82 Oct     21      1225      6849         571        703       85 Nov    25       2304    12025        620        518      118 Dec     30       3880    14748       1224       299      465 2021 Jan      14       4142      15512       1151         189     712 Feb      3       4005    14265       1209       107      398 Mar      2       1989     9490        1726       110      194 April     6        906    11787         4211       631       37 May     4        853     13667        3025      3786     59   June    1        287    10637         2346      3205      95  July    7         251      8440        1595        817     

On this Friday, I'll just provide the latest of what is happening to Humanity this weekend.  First, that booster shot decision is beginning to get crystal clear as to why the sudden concern.  Those to get fully vaccinated early, like me with two Modernas, have now exceeded six months since completion.  From all reports, I was once 95% protected, but am now less than 50% safe, and probably lower.  Three vaccinated senators joined Lindsey Graham.    You can read that article .  I'll probably be among the first to get that booster, but that won't be until October, then it will take a few weeks for full effectiveness.  I'll need to be very careful for the next three months. That chaos around the Kabul Airport is only getting worse.  See those people standing around in the hot sun?  The temperature on Saturday will go up to 89 F, with the heat increasing to 92 F on Tuesday.  August experiences an average low of 63 F and high of 90 F.  These Afghans have been sent to Qatar, w