Aspects of July 4th just don't do it for me:

I love the get-togethers, the picnics and BBQ's, the parades, the speeches. I don't like celebrating war and fighting though, and I don't really like fireworks unless run by the town or city (and controlled, so that fires, death and injuries don't result from those fireworks). That's because I have too many animals which are, and know too many people who are, stressed or terrorized by fireworks. As an aside, here's a great idea to replace fireworks: lasers, drones, and fun music!

Not stressful! A sunset view from this Land, from about as far west on the mainland as one can go: Kalaloch, WA. I took this back in 2004, I think those trees are still there

The editors at Counterpunch seem to think they have something now by frontpaging Boris Kagarlitsky's "My Peace Plan." There are some things that might genuinely lead them to believe they have something. Kagarlitsky is arguing for peace; he's a smart guy; he understands a sort of marxist (as opposed to mainstream) view of global history. These are all good things.

The revelations of our invasion plans for Iran that the Trump secret documents detailed glaringly reveal the total loss of control we have over our government.

An image of hist first one 50 years ago ..