Semiquincentennial Time

Happy 4th of July1

We're currently out at our town Volunteer Fire Department Pancake Breakfast and then the town parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of our country's founding. So here's a picture from last year.

I really loved this reading of the grievances to King George that are in the Declaration of Independence. Robert Reich was formerly a professor at my alma mater, University of California at Berkeley. Note that it does include some footage and sound from our current ruler who truly believes himself to be a sort of a king. Which of course entirely misses the main point of what we're celebrating today. Freedom from tyranny.

Tyranny Shall Not Prevail! Above sticker available here.

This one from the US Constitution Center has no current presidential administration content and has a lot more background information included on the grievances.

As my ancestor Tom Paine said, "we have within our power to begin the world over again." A good thing to keep in mind these days. This video is part of a series of video shorts called 250 to 250 which are great little snippets of US history.

Happy 4th!

 We had a really big crowd come out for the annual 4th of July parade in Boulder Creek this morning. 

Our local radio station, KBCZ 90.3, had a flatbed trailer complete with a live band that was being broadcast. You can listen to the station on the website which is pretty nice and they also had a video livestream of the parade for people who couldn't come enjoy it in person.

This old car, maybe a Model T? Not sure, but the passenger compartment was lacquered wood!

I always get excited when I see a VW Bug in such nice shape. Mine was almost this color, but not alas not a convertible.

Someone was flying a drone up and down the parade route, I bet that's a dizzying video.

One of the many local tree service companies had a guy up on a redwood tree as they drove along. Another one had a big redwood log with someone wielding a chainsaw spraying the crowd with sawdust (aka Boulder Creek glitter!)

Here's the newest mural in our town, honoring Albert the locally famous wild white peacock who survived the CZU fire.

There was a great native plant display and sale from the San Lorenzo Valley Native Habitat Restoration Program. We bought these Clarkia seeds to try growing in our garden. One of this group's targets is invasive plants like the dreaded non-native and very invasive Himalayan Blackberry that attacked my leg recently, grrrr.

Lots of people swimming in the San Lorenzo river today, the Junction Park swimming hole and rock cliff jumping was packed.

That's all the local news for now, hope you're enjoying the day today too!