Happy 245th Birthday, America!

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O say can you see by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation.
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave

The Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key, 1814

The Flag of our Union

by George Pope Morris ” A SONG for our banner? ” — The watchword recall
Which gave the Republic her station:
” United we stand — divided we fall! ” —
It made and preserves us a nation!
The union of lakes — the union of lands —
The union of States none can sever —
The union of hearts — the union of hands —
And the Flag of the Union for ever
And ever!
The Flag of our Union for ever

What God in his mercy and wisdom designed,
And armed with his weapons of thunder,
Not all the earth’s despots and factions combined
Have the power to conquer or sunder!
The union of lakes — the union of lands —
The union of states none can sever —
The union of hearts — the union of hands —
And the Flag of the Union for ever
And ever!
The Flag of our Union for ever!

Oh, keep that flag flying! — The pride of the van!
To all other nations display it!
The ladies for union are all to a — man!
But not to the man who’d betray it.
Then the union of lakes — the union of lands —
The union of states none can sever —
The union of hearts — the union of hands —
And the Flag of the Union for ever
And ever!
The Flag of our Union for ever!

Anthem for the Fourth of July

by Unknown

On this auspicious Day,
Freemen, thy homage pay,
The king of kings.
Ancient of endless days,
Above all creature praise,
To Him loud Anthems raise,
On Freedom’s wings.
Our favor’d land afar,
The world’s bright morning star,
Shines in the West.
It’s light shall still increase,
Till Liberty and peace,
Expand, and never cease
To make men blest,
Justice and equal laws
Maintain the sacred course
Columbia boasts,
Freedom’s our magic word,
The rights of man our sword,
Our banner is the Lord,
The Lord of hosts.

We must never lose sight of the goodness of our cause. Difficulties are not insurmountable. Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages. – George Washington

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. – Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

Happy First Contact Day

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APRIL 5

Following a day after the real holiday of Easter, the fictional Star Trek celebration of First Contact Day has become an annual event to consider the ideals of the franchise and generate revenue for the current IP holders. In the past few years,, both, CBS and paramount have produced a number of virtual and real events to mark the day. Below are a few links describing the celebrations and providing access to the official events.

Star Trek Dot Com First Contact Day

https://www.startrek.com/firstcontact

Heavy dot Com First Contact article

https://heavy.com/entertainment/star-trek/first-contact-day/

Sy Fy Wire article …

https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/star-trek-first-contact-day-2021-virtual-celebration

We’ve Got This Covered dot Com article

Paramount Announces Star Trek: First Contact Day Virtual Event

June 4, 2020 – The 31st Anniversary Of The 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre

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Tiananmen Square Massacre – June 4, 1989

Every year Beijing’s money and influence campaign against commemoration of their Tiananmen Square Massacre is more dominant than the voices of those who would speak for the peaceful, pro-democracy, Chinese who were butchered at Tiananmen. Aside from commemorating the innocent dead of Tiananmen, this date also marks the death of Western Morality as Communist China was rewarded for their butchery with an increasing amount of trade and money from all of the Western Powers.

Fox News on the 2020 anniversary of the Tiananmen square massacre
https://www.foxnews.com/world/china-marks-tiananmen-anniversary-with-crackdown-ban-on-hong-kong-vigil

CNN on Hong Kong Tiananmen Memorial observations
https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/03/asia/hong-kong-tiananmen-june-4-china-intl-hnk/index.html

Archival Time article on Tiananmen legacy
https://time.com/5601995/tianenmen-square-china-legacy/

Archival Der Spiegel article on ChiCom erasure of Tiananmen
https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/how-china-is-erasing-memories-of-tianenmen-a-973885.html

Archival BBC News Tiananmen commemoration

Tiananmen Square Protests Wikipedia – For those who may not know
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_Tiananmen_Square_protests

Remembering Neko

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October 12, 2018

Hard to believe it’s been three years since I lost my Neko. I’ve had many wonderful companion animals, but Neko and his two brothers, Sparky and Simba, were extra special. I recently stumbled across some old, low resolution, phone camera pictures of Neko posing. Brought back  good memories. I donated to  several animal welfare charities today in memory of Neko.

Neko_01082014_1133MST
Miss you, Neko!

Consider these animal charities if you donate : C.A.R.E. , Petsmart Charities , Alleycat Allies