Pen-Elayne on the Web

Silly Site o' the Day

It's Independence Day here in the US, a day when the proto-fascist contingent actively working on destroying what America has stood for the past couple centuries (you know, an engaged citizenry actually practicing freedom of speech, the press, etc.) ratchets up their attacks upon true patriots (you know, engaged citizens) a few notches whilst, here in the Riggs Residence, the American never stops reminding the Brit who won 230 years ago (um, with French help and all that) and the Brit offers to make the American a cuppa to appease her provided she doesn't throw it in some harbor.

Today we celebrate as usual by watching Peter Stone's brilliant 1776 and remembering the key exchange from the scene and musical number that Nixon insisted be cut out because it offended him (in case some people believe this sort of thing is new) and he believed it referred to the right wing (which it did, but geez wasn't Nixon almost a Democrat compared to the folks in power now). Here's the uncut version of the number Piddle, Twiddle and Resolve which isn't on the DVD:



Meanwhile, Mark Evanier has a video of the opening number of the Broadway revival as seen on the 1998 Tony Awards. And Egalia, like Abigail Adams before her, impels us to remember the ladies.

I also plan on watching the Discovery shuttle launch (hope everything comes off okay) then the World Cup semifinal, reading comics and possibly blogs, eating lots of corn on the cob and potato salad and other veg and fruits in the fridge (oh, okay, and some chicken wings), and resting a bit. No fireworks for me except for this game (via Eszter) and maybe stuff on the TV, although if they play any Sousa or other "rousing patriotic" hoohah I'm turning the sound off.