So, while I like fireworks, I mostly like the official shows and not the kind people go into Arizona to buy illegally and then set of in the alley behind our house.

Totally. I was glad to have stayed up too late last night, because it meant I was still up instead of startled awake when the jackholes started setting off illegal firecrackers.

Can I be an American one day of the year? I'll let you be Canadian on July 1st in exchange!

Hmm... can I save mine up in case of medical emergency?

Kat, you got up early to get to LAX, right? You're allowed some laziness.

[Edit: and this # has 6=4+2 and 8=4*2, and therefore this slumbernut will be dedicated to legal fireworks for the general joy and non-startled-ness, which is probably not a word anyway]

I did get up early. Went to the airport and am now at home, enjoying the wireless network that we installed yesterday and that Burrell's DH helped us with. Which means I have the laptop in bed. Which I love.

Yeah, illegal fireworks are profoundly irritating. I should have just called the cops. Lori and I both went into the alley and she told him What For. They didn't stop, but did aim the fireworks a different direction.

Honestly, we live in a highly flammable place. That is just not necessary.

this slumbernut will be dedicated to legal fireworks for the general joy and non-startled-ness, which is probably not a word anyway

It's a word now!

Also, non-flammable fireworks for all: [link]

BUT, in speaking of fireworks this company, a sort of SoCal local company, is a family-run, fifth generation outfit that does a ton of the big shows around the country (at the very least), including the olympics in Atlanta and the ones in SLC. On edit: they do some international shows too, including the Jerusalem 3000 celebration.

I remember seeing a pbs thing about them, where they talked about how they planned shows and prepared for them. The special also mentioned that some fireworks have to be hand packed because machinery + explosives = bad.

It's a word now!

Whee! I love Independence Day! Also, thanks for sharing the fireworks.

Kat, who is responsible for the absolutely adorable shirt that Burrell's son wears in that picture?

Wow.

Just...wow:

TOKYO - A Japanese psychiatric counselor has recited pi to 83,431 decimal places from memory, breaking his own personal best of 54,000 digits and setting an unofficial world record, a media report said Saturday.

Allyson painted that. Makes me giggle.

Also, I'm trying to figure out where I can get a pocket constitution. I just don't want to order 20 of them (for $20). I used to be able to get them for free... but how?