Happy 250 America

 

The streets of New York City, America then...

  

...and now.

All apologies Mr. President Washington

Happy Birthday America

Happy Independence Day from Queens Crap!

Happy 4th of July! Stay safe out there.

May God Bless America and Save Us From The Tweeders.

Happy Independence Day from Queens Crap!

Fireworks coming back to East River

From LIC Talk:

The Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks extravaganza is finally returning to Long Island City this summer after a seven year hiatus. Four barges will be placed on the East River between 23rd and 37th Streets, so there will be no better viewing location than our own waterfront parks, balconies, terraces, and rooftops. For LIC, this will be where Mardi Gras meets New Years Eve in Times Square and the Superbowl of Christmases.

Queens screwed out of fireworks again this year

From the Times Ledger:

When the mayor announced in April that the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks were moving back to the East River this year, there was excitement among business owners and elected officials that there would be an economic windfall along the Queens waterfront.
Anthony La Vigna

But a review of the plans for the nation’s largest pyrotechnic display show that the closest barge will be anchored between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges way too the south.

Amy Spilatnick, a spokeswoman from the Mayor’s office, said, “We anticipate that the 4th of July fireworks display will be visible in part from a variety of locations in Queens, including but not limited to a good portion of the East River waterfront. The optimal viewing areas are listed on the Macy’s website.”

Macy’s website lists several viewing spots in Brooklyn and Manhattan, but there are no locations listed in Queens.

Have a Happy Fourth!

First up: Porky Pig and Uncle Sam in "Old Glory"
And then Tom & Jerry in "Yankee Doodle Mouse" I'm sure either or both will be seen as controversial. Feel free to discuss.

LIC wants fireworks back

From the Daily News:

Queens didn't just lose a great view of the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks display when the department store moved the annual show from the East River.

The borough's booming businesses also took a hit.

For more than a decade, local merchants in the neighborhood got a boost from the crowds that flooded its streets to catch a glimpse of the fireworks.

Macy's officials said the fireworks has changed locations over the years to accommodate different themes and maximize public viewing.

"This year's show design along the Hudson River celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty would not be possible on another waterway," said Macy's spokesman Orlando Veras.

What a country we've become

From the NY Post:

For most of our history, it was a given that success and failure were two sides of the same coin -- and that both were necessary. The world was a nasty place, and for generations of newcomers, liberty was blessing enough.

No more. Our culture now demands not just the chance for happiness, but also the result. Millions of Americans believe that are entitled to get what they want because they want it.

They are not pursuing happiness. They are demanding it.

Meanwhile, failure gets a bad rap. And why not? If happiness is available on demand, failure is for suckers.

This cultural switch is ruinous, and a betrayal of the spirit of 1776. The idea that their countrymen would demand bailouts for their businesses and homes, handouts for not working and a life without duty to family and community would shock the founders. They would find it hard to comprehend the popularity of notions like "spreading the wealth around" and the desire to punish earned success by seizing its fruits.

Never mind that you lived with the old values, that you sacrificed and worked and saved for what you have. Now you must pay and pay again for those who didn't. Oh, and shut up about it, too.

That is the fault line of America's culture war in 2011. Pray that the spirit and wisdom of the founders prevails. Otherwise, our nation won't.