July 4 and beyond

                               

                       On July 4, we had a lot of fireworks right here in Berkeley Springs.

        And here is an image from Washington, DC, my old home, where I used to go up on 

        my rooftop to watch a spectacular show.

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    The Empire State building in New York City was all lit up for Taylor Swift's nuptuals. 

And so she and her beloved tied the knot while thosuands looked on. 

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Yahoo: Vatican Excommunicates Breakaway Group, in Biggest Schism in 156 Years

Pope Leo was not going to allow them to remain in the fold while flaunting his orders. Of course, in my youth, all Catholic churches conducted masses in Latin, but that was not the only issue here.

Pope Leo Issues Letter For America’s 250th Birthday Calling for ‘Welcoming’ Immigrants

Pope Leo celebrated an outdoor mass in Italy

 on July 4.  Plenty of young people were

in attendance.

Trump heads to Mount Rushmore, where efforts to impose his likeness have stalled

As has been reported, Trump is already in South Dakota, figuring out how to get his image up on Mount Rushmore, since he is obviously the greatest, very best, most supurb, and most revered president this country has ever seen, with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln. Donald Trump is certainly no shrinking violet; so, to mix metaphors, he believes in loudly tooting his own horn. Alas, there is no more room on the mountain. But maybe his visage could appear on a neighboring site becoming a brand new draw for all faithful Trump alcolytes. Yet, how long might Trumpism even survive? When Donald Trump has gone on to the afterlife, will his family continue to promote him? Will history actually treat him kindly? Hmm.

ABC News, 

Trump posts video of his likeness on Mount Rushmore sculpture ahead of politically charged speech 

Is this item now available for purchase with the profit all going directly to the president? 

One reason that Trump went to South Dakota was to avoid E. Jean Carroll. Donald Trump has been trying every which way to wiggle out of paying Carroll what he actually owes. He has been stalling and squirming, which must be giving her some satisfaction. Trump is lucky he is not in prison now for having raped her, as there is no statute of limitations for rape in this case. He can certainly afford to pay, but he doesn't want to admit blame. So he has been stalling and stalling, but even a sitting president is not exempt from the law.

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Dangerous heat has been baking Phoenix, where a good friend now lives. He stays there all summer to help deliver food to older and disabled folks unable leave. Today there it is 107*  F. 

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Paul Pelosi involved in hit and run in California and could face charges, authorities say

Should 86-year-old Paul Pelosi still be out driving? If he hit another car and didn't even notice, maybe it's time for him to turn in the keys. I myself gave up my driver's licence at age 80. 

That seemed like a prudent decision. 

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Calls for revenge as senior Iranian officials appear in public for supreme leader's funeral

Three of the leader's sons appeared at his funeral. Here are 2 of them below. The funeral is finally taking place now, long after his death. The war that Donald Trump so impulsively started is still not over yet. The Donald just started it at the urging of Netanyahu who was trying to get out of a political jam. So several months later, there is still no final settlement. While taking some losses, it looks like Iran may come out the winner after all in the end.

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Wash. Post, As Christians are attacked in Israel, the government shows little concern

Reports of anti-Christian harassment and violence by Jewish nationalists and extremists have increased, including physical assaults, spitting incidents, and vandalism against holy sites. While some officials condemn the attacks and police have made arrests, Christian leaders and advocacy groups assert that the government's far-right political climate has emboldened perpetrators. 

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                Kids from my old DC neighborhood joined the local July 4 parade.

A former DC neighbor took this photo from his front window of Natioanl Guard troops still on duty out near my old home.

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The aptly named glasswing butterfly with its totally transparent wings easily blends-in to any environment.