Politics - Sarah Palin Resigning as Alaska's Governor VIdeo

Sarah Palin's speech this morning rocked Alaskans and people around the country. Palin's predictability is her unpredictability. I'm seeing Alaskan flags on cars, in front of houses, some citizens expressing their own Independence Day. Other citizens are angry and playing the blame game; the bloggers, the MSM, Alaskan legislators, her family under attack, etc.

For weeks the rumors of a criminal investigation against the governor have been brewing. They are rumors, but are swirling fresh again with Palin's resignation. I'm holding my breath for the other "Naughty Monkey" to drop. Another theory for the resignation is that the Palins would have to disclose the book deal as well as other financial details as governor.

Sources say, the third in line for the governorship, Corrections Commissioner, Joe Schmidt, has declined to become Lieutenant Governor. There is no official word of who will become take Sean Parnell's position as he ascends to the governorship.


Andrea Mitchell of MSNBC is now claiming Palin has told some close to her that she is through with politics.

I have said Sarah Palin's political ambition combined with her intellect is like putting a jet engine on a golf cart; lots of horse power and no steering capabilities. Today she proved it.

Alaskans pride ourselves on our frontier spirit, but this isn't what we meant. There is much work ahead to put the drama behind us and carry on to the betterment of our state.

That's just how "mavericky" we are.

---

UPDATE 4:05 PM EST

Rumors of an "iceberg scandal" have been circulating.

Resignation is certainly out of character for Sarah Palin. Senator Mark Begich had a meeting with Sarah Palin two days ago with no mention of her leaving office. Palin's press secretary, David Murrow had posted on his Facebook page Wednesday, "David Murrow is considering life's ironies." He was hired less than a month ago. Yesterday he wrote, "There's gonna be some fireworks this weekend!"

Palin's father, Chuck Heath, told Fox News that he thought her resignation was due to the negativity from the media. According to Heath, the governor was unable to be effective while she was constantly having to defend herself against ethics complaints and the media.

You betcha!

---

ORIGINAL POST:

After Sarah Palin's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week she has announced she will be stepping down in a few weeks. In a press conference call this morning, Alaska's Governor Sarah Palin announced she will not run for re-election and is stepping down as governor.

She had a brief statement. She took no questions.

Her commissioners and Lt. Governor were with her at her home. Palin did not relinquish the reins of the state to the Lt. Governor while running for vice president.

Lt. Governor Sean Parnell will step in as governor at the end of the month. He was defeated by Congressman Don Young in the Republican primary last year.


---

WATCH PALIN'S RESIGNATION SPEECH:

News - Statue Of Liberty's Crown Reopens

NEW YORK — The first visitors allowed into the Statue of Liberty's crown in nearly eight years began the arduous climb Saturday on an Independence Day journey laden with symbolism of freedom and national pride.

"I feel like I was just born today," said Andrea Balfour, 38, as she prepared to ascend the 354 steps with her daughter, Mona. Mona won an essay contest to get to go up to crown Saturday _ her 13th birthday.

The visit was the Staten Island pair's "biggest dream," Balfour said.

The statue was closed to the public after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The base, pedestal and outdoor observation deck were reopened in 2004, but the crown remained off-limits.

The National Park Service says the crown remained closed since Sept. 11 because the narrow, double-helix staircases could not be safely evacuated in an emergency and didn't comply with fire and building codes. Tourists often suffered heat exhaustion, shortness of breath, panic attacks, claustrophobia and fear of heights, spokesman Darren Boch said.

Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., pushed for years for the crown to be reopened, once calling the decision to close it off "a partial victory for terrorists." He said it was embarrassing that it was off-limits for so long.

The reopening "represents some personal vindication," he said Saturday. "It's nice to pat Lady Liberty's toes. It's nice to stand and breathe the air on Liberty Island, but you really haven't lived the experience until you've gone up to the crown. A lot of Americans are able to see that now."

So far, about 14,500 tickets to the crown have been sold, most of them for visits through the end of August. Tickets currently on sale are for visits in the fall and beyond. Tickets for the July Fourth weekend sold out within hours.

Marking the historic date, seven members of the U.S. armed forces were sworn in as citizens Saturday at the statue's base.

"It's the very diversity of this country that has made us strong," Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said.

Thirty people an hour will be allowed into the crown. They will be brought up in groups of 10, guided by park rangers along the way.

Some of the crown's 25 windows offer a view of the Manhattan skyline, no longer punctuated by the 110-story twin towers of the World Trade Center.

New handrails have been installed to help with the climb. Bags are not allowed; only cameras and cell phones are acceptable.

The statue, 305 feet tall to the tip of its raised torch, was designed to mark the 1876 centennial of the Declaration of Independence. It faces the entrance to New York Harbor, welcoming the "huddled masses yearning to breathe free," in the words of Emma Lazarus, engraved on a bronze plaque inside the statue.

The torch has been closed since it was damaged by a saboteur's bomb in 1916.

Visitors are now screened before boarding ferries and again before they can visit the museum in the base or climb to the top of the pedestal.

Jennifer Stewart won a Statue of Liberty lookalike contest to join the first group of visitors headed to the crown. The Brooklyn Heights resident, who has imitated the statue for 23 years, arrived in full costume and green makeup.

"Being able to perceive the world through her eyes, from Liberty's crown _ I just feel it's so important to maintain the opportunity to literally be a part of liberty," she said.

News - Win Free Michael Jackson Memorial Tickets via Online Lottery

Michael Jackson memorial tickets are free via online lottery. Michael Jackson memorial tickets available via online lottery Entertainment Weekly Michael Jackson’s public memorial — to be held Tuesday, July 7 beginning at 10 am at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles — will be open to 17500 attendees chosen through a free, online lottery system at StaplesCenter.com, officials involved … Online Lottery Set for Jackson Memorial Tickets People Magazine Jackson tickets via internet draw BBC News Ticket plans announced for Jackson memorial in LA

Michael Jackson fans were tonight invited to enter an online lottery for one of 11,000 free tickets to his memorial at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

A further 6,500 free tickets will be available for fans to watch a simulcast on screens at the nearby Nokia Theatre by AEG Live, the promoter of Jackson’s planned series of London concerts. Jackson rehearsed at the Staples Centre on 23 June, two days before he died.

Ken Sunshine, a spokesman for the family, and Tim Leiweke, of AEG Live, said the Jackson family wanted the memorial to accommodate as many fans as possible. The centre has a capacity of up to 20,000 with the remainder of tickets going to Jackson’s family and friends. Organisers were insistent that they had created a system that would prevent tickets being resold or forged.

The lottery is open until 6pm Saturday Los Angeles time, when the winners will be drawn and then notified on Sunday.

Sunshine, the family’s spokesman, declined to give any more details about the memorial, saying it was still being developed. But fans have been told there will be no funeral procession or screens outside the centre.

Jan Perry, the acting mayor of Los Angeles, asked fans without tickets not to gather outside the centre. “The best opportunity for viewing if you don’t have a ticket will be from the comfort of your own home,” she said. The city will pick up the bill for policing the event, a source of controversy at a time when the state of California is struggling with budget shortfalls that have led to pay and service cuts.

Millions are expected to watch the memorial worldwide as the organisers are offering live video feeds free to TV stations and on the web.

News - Michael Jackson Memorial will cost $ 25 w/video

The Michael Jackson memorial will cost "$25" and is set for Tuesday. The Los Angeles Police Department and officials have revealed the details surrounding the event.

Fans who want to be apart of the King of Pop's funeral will have to dish out $25 a pop for tickets in order to pay their respects to their icon.

The massive memorial service for Michael Jackson is set for Tuesday - and the Los Angeles Police Department and officials have revealed the details surrounding the event.

There will be 17,500 tickets available to only those who register online. Registration ended last night at 6 PM. A random pool of 11,000 people will be selected from registered fans on Monday at the Staples Center and 6,500 at the Nokia Theater.

The memorial service is set for Tuesday at 10 am. The service will be broadcast - so it will be available via television and internet streams.

sports - Dreaming of a Tour de France windfall

On its 3,500km (2,187-mile) odyssey from Monaco to Paris, the Tour de France passes through hundreds of towns and villages.

The race is divided into 21 stages, or "etapes", and being a town at the start or finish of an etape is a great honour and much sought after.

Tonnerre - a two-hour train ride south of Paris - is one such town.

It will become a "ville-etape" for the first time on 16 July, when the 211km (131-mile) 12th stage to Vittel begins there.

Tonnerre, sleepy but picturesque, will see its population of 6,500 more than double as the "caravan" - the travelling circus that accompanies the Tour de France - moves in.



The riders, technicians, support personnel, organisers, sponsors and journalists make up around 4,500 alone.

Add to that thousands of spectators arriving to cram up against the metal barriers lining the streets.

Meanwhile, millions more will watch on television as Tonnerre enjoys its five minutes of fame, with captivating aerial shots relayed round the world.

The benefits of being a ville-etape are - at first glance - easy to see, though the longer-term economic rewards are more difficult to calculate.

Aside from the income from visitors on the day, the hope is that tourism will grow in the days and months that follow.

Tonnerre does not lack attractions, such as the intriguing Fosse Dionne - a wide natural well more than 300m (900 ft) deep whose source remains a mystery despite numerous diving expeditions.

Economic downturn

Most of the costs of hosting the Tour, such as payments to the organisers, the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), and putting new tarmac on the local roads, are borne by the regional government of the Yonne Departement.

Tonnerre itself is paying 15,000 euros (£12,000) on decorations and giving the town a general spruce up.

The town's mayor, Andre Fourcade, thinks the money will more than repay itself.

"The head of the regional council tells me that for every one euro that is spent, four euros will come back," he says.

"After the Tour de France and in the coming months, I will get the reaction of various businesses, which I hope will have benefited."

There is no doubt that Tonnerre could use some more tourism revenue.

While attractive, the streets betray the signs of economic downturn. Several shops and a hotel have closed down.

Even before the current recession, Tonnerre was hit a few years ago by the closure of a factory belonging to a subsidiary of the giant Thomson group. Over time, 1,000 jobs were lost.

"It's true that the consequences for the town were terrible and that the centre has a rather worrying appearance," says Mr Fourcade.

"I hope the Tour de France will provide the opportunity to give a push in the right direction."

Young recruits

Regulars at Le Balto bar in Tonnerre see the arrival of the Tour as a good thing, although there are some grumblings about the extensive road closures involved.

"For us, if it's fine weather, it'll be a great opportunity," says Brigitte Cligny, the bar's manager. "I hope we will attract a lot of tourists because we have a town which is very pretty, with lots of things to see."

Local cyclists will be among those taking front-row seats when the Tour comes to town.

Among them will be Maurice Cornu, 59, a French champion in his category in Cyclosportives - mass participation events open to the amateur and serious aspiring racer alike.

Mr Cornu, vice-president of a local Cyclosportive club, is involved in several events staged by the town in the run-up to 16 July.

He is hoping the tour will attract young people to the sport of cycling.

"We're trying to train young people because we're in a club that's starting to get old," he says.

"Unfortunately, with the price of bikes, it's difficult for the parents to afford the latest models."

I spent the final minutes of my stay in Tonnerre cycling the first couple of kilometres of the route of what will be the 12th stage with another local enthusiast, Marc Calonne.

"I think it will bring a lot of life," he says.

We cycle along a stretch of minor road he knows well - now freshly resurfaced, the tarmac barely cooled down.

"It's something which will last after the passage of the Tour de France," he says.

One of several benefits brought by the Tour that Tonnerre hopes will remain long after the last spectators have left.

Source : BBC

Politics - Sarah Palin federal indictment : Embezzlement Reason For Resignation?

Sarah Palin Indictment - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin reportedly resigned because of a federal indictment pending in an embezzlement scandal that allegedly involves her receiving huge financial favors from Spenard Building Supplies.

If the news is true, the upcoming Sarah Palin indictment would have crippled her ability to govern effectively.

Her resignation was said to be so sudden that her own children were not aware she was resigning until they heard her speak the words. Prior to the announcement, Palin had given every indication that she intended to complete her tenure as governor, including 36 hours earlier during a meeting with Senator Mark Begich.

The embezzlement scandal revolves around the large, $12.5 million sports complex that Sarah Palin pushed through during her last term as Mayor in Wasilla.

Federal investigators believe the cost of the sports complex was inflated to provide free building materials and labor for the Palin home being constructed close by. Both structures, it is said, feature the “same windows, same wood, same products.”

The sports complex's architect and contractors reportedly have strong links and ties to Palin.

Spenard Building Supplies is the largest building supply company in Alaska - and they were also the supplier and contractor for ex-Senator Ted Stevens cabin.

Federal investigators have been looking into this since last October and now indictments on charges of public corruption and embezzlement appear to be imminent.





With Palin gone, will Ted Stevens run for Alaska gov.?

He's tanned, he's rested and even though he's in his mid 80s, he may be ready.

We're talking about Alaska's former senator-for-life Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in the history of Congress' upper chamber. Stevens was convicted on federal charges last year and barely lost his seat to Democrat Mark Begich in November's election.

But the U.S. Justice Department, under new Attorney General Eric Holder, confessed to prosecutorial misconduct and Stevens' conviction was overturned.

In private conversations with Democratic operatives Friday, Begich was suggesting that Stevens might run next year for the office being vacated by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who said Friday she'll resign at the end of the month.

A pair of Democrats, Eric Croft and Ethan Berkowitz, both former legislators, have already announced that they are running for governor. But either Stevens or Alaska's other senator, Republican Lisa Murkowski, would be an overwhelming favorite to hold the governorship for the GOP.

Stevens has been a dominant figure in 49th state politics for nearly half a century.

He worked in the U.S. Interior Department under President Dwight Eisenhower, was appointed to the U.S. Senate when a Democratic incumbent died in 1969 and rose to chair the Senate Appropriations Committee. He brought home so many federal dollars that, indictment and conviction withstanding, the Anchorage airport bears the title "Ted Stevens International Airport."

Stevens has apparently sold the Girdwood, Alaska, home that was at the center of his indictment. The head of a major oil services company confessed to having paid for improvements that turned a simple ski chalet into a more lavish home. But despite his legal troubles, Stevens came within 3,700 votes of holding his seat in '08.

Will Begich's private speculation come true? Ted Stevens is not a man used to tipping his hand to the Fourth Estate.

Source: seattlepi

Sports - Wimbledon finals schedule

Is Serena recovered from grueling semi?



Venus and Serena Williams have won seven of the nine Wimbledon titles this decade, with the older sibling owning five.

Their roads to the final could not have been more different. Serena, on the precipice of defeat, clawed her way back versus Elena Dementieva in an instant classic, while Venus handed Dinara Safina the beating of her lifetime.


But don't count out Serena. After a bitter loss last year to her sister at the All England Club, she is steadfast on revenge. Will is happen? Our writers weigh in on three salient questions.


Will Serena be adequately recovered from her marathon semifinal match?

Greg Garber: As has been noted in the British papers, Serena is not leanly conditioned in the manner of Andy Roddick or Andy Murray. "She's not fit," wrote Simon Barnes of the Times of London. "Mobility was never a strong point, and she's gone downhill. A pie or two has probably been consumed along the way." Serena's semifinal match with Dementieva on Thursday went two hours, 49 minutes, and despite the fact that she looked winded a number of times in the third set, she looked fine playing doubles with Venus on Friday. If she were concerned about her state of readiness, she could have pulled out of doubles. As it is, the sisters are in the final.


Kamakshi Tandon: It was a tough match -- two hours, 50 minutes -- but Serena didn't look out of gas. Afterward, she said, "I was thinking at, 5-6, 'OK, I'm not tired, so I've just got to keep going.'" The sisters' doubles match Friday was also quite easy, so fatigue shouldn't be a factor unless the final also goes about three hours. With another player, there might also be the prospect of an emotional hangover, but Serena has shown in the past it's not a problem for her.

Venus Williams looks to be in prime shape to capture her third consecutive Wimbledon title.
Ravi Ubha: As dad Richard pointed out Thursday, throw any fatigue out the window at this stage. Serena only averaged one hour, six minutes on court before then and hadn't dropped a set. A day of mostly rest Friday (doubles with Venus) won't hurt. She's had more grueling paths to a Grand Slam final -- think Australian Open two years ago -- and cruised in the showpiece.

Will Venus' ailing knee be a factor?

Garber: It hasn't been a factor so far, so why should it become a problem now? Venus has been wearing heavy tape on her knee throughout the fortnight for "support." Her father, Richard, insists that it is really "sore," but there hasn't been any dropoff in her results. She wrecked Dinara Safina in the semifinals -- Safina managed to win only a single game, the worst loss by a No. 1-ranked player in the history of WTA rankings going back to the mid-1970s. Venus' game on grass is predicated on her movement. She has long legs, and they propel her to the net -- where she wins many of her critical points -- with amazing speed. Based on what we've seen so far, it won't be an issue.

Tandon: Venus won't talk about the problem, but the strapping around the knee is so heavy it's clearly not preventative -- there's a real injury there. Whatever it is, however, it's clearly not affecting her overall level of play. But it might be affecting her on certain shots, and who better to know which than sister Serena?

Ubha: Nope. It hasn't really been throughout the fortnight. In fact, it might have forced Venus to get to the net more, thus ending points quicker. She's had tremendous success going forward. If the knee was really that bad, she would have pulled out of the doubles, as Richard wanted, a few days ago. Similarly, Serena has cast aside nagging knee and ankle injuries.

Who will win?

Garber: This is the 21st time Venus and Serena have met in a WTA-level match; they have split the previous meetings precisely down the middle, 10-all. Their four Wimbledon matches, three of them in the finals, are also a dead heat, at 2-all. The last three matches between the two have gone three sets, but Venus won here a year ago in straights. This is her house; she is the two-time defending champion and is looking for her sixth Wimbledon title. It says here she will get it -- and inch closer to Steffi Graf's total of seven and Martina Navratilova's amazing nine.

Tandon: Venus is the favorite, but it's a close call. Serena seems to have been serving somewhat better -- especially on the second serve -- but Venus has been much better at moving forward to end the point. Based on that, I give Venus the edge.

Ubha: Don't underestimate the revenge factor here, even if they are siblings. Serena was mighty ticked after losing last year's final, essentially talking about Venus as if she were just another opponent. A win would give her three Wimbledon titles, not far removed from Venus' five. Serena got a wake-up call in the semifinals and knows she needs to elevate her game. But she will win.

Source : ESPN

History - The 4th of July Meanings

In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States

Background

During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the American colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia.[4] After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:

“ The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more. ”

Adams' prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.

One of the most enduring myths about Independence Day is that Congress signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.[7][8] The myth had become so firmly established that, decades after the event and nearing the end of their lives, even the elderly Thomas Jefferson and John Adams had come to believe that they and the other delegates had signed the Declaration on the fourth.[9] Most delegates actually signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.[10] In a remarkable series of coincidences, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two founding fathers of the United States and the only two men who signed the Declaration of Independence to become president, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the United States' 50th anniversary. President James Monroe died exactly five years later, on July 4, 1831, but he was not a signatory to the Declaration of Independence.



Observance

In 1777, thirteen gunshots were fired, once at morning and again as evening fell, on July 4 in Bristol, Rhode Island. Philadelphia celebrated the first anniversary in a manner a modern American would find quite familiar: an official dinner for the Continental Congress, toasts, 13-gun salutes, speeches, prayers, music, parades, troop reviews, and fireworks. Ships were decked with red, white, and blue bunting.
In 1778, General George Washington marked July 4 with a double ration of rum for his soldiers and an artillery salute. Across the Atlantic Ocean, ambassadors John Adams and Benjamin Franklin held a dinner for their fellow Americans in Paris, France.
In 1779, July 4 fell on a Sunday. The holiday was celebrated on Monday, July 5.
In 1781, the Massachusetts General Court became the first state legislature to recognize July 4 as a state celebration.
In 1783, Moravians in Salem, North Carolina, held a celebration of July 4 with a challenging music program assembled by Johann Friedrich Peter. This work was titled "The Psalm of Joy".
In 1791 the first recorded use of the name "Independence Day" occurred.
In 1870, the U.S. Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal employees.
In 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal holiday.


Customs

Independence Day is a national holiday marked by patriotic displays. Similar to other summer-themed events, Independence Day celebrations often take place outdoors. Independence Day is a federal holiday, so all non-essential federal institutions (like the postal service and federal courts) are closed on that day. Many politicians make it a point on this day to appear at a public event to praise the nation's heritage, laws, history, society, and people.

Families often celebrate Independence Day by hosting or attending a picnic or barbecue and take advantage of the day off and, in some years, long weekend to gather with relatives. Decorations (e.g., streamers, balloons, and clothing) are generally colored red, white, and blue, the colors of the American flag. Parades often are in the morning, while fireworks displays occur in the evening at such places as parks, fairgrounds, or town squares.

Independence Day fireworks are often accompanied by patriotic songs such as the national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner", "God Bless America", "America the Beautiful", "My Country, 'Tis of Thee", "This Land Is Your Land", "Stars and Stripes Forever", and, regionally, "Yankee Doodle" in northeastern states and "Dixie" in southern states. Some of the lyrics recall images of the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812.

Firework shows are held in many states, and many fireworks are sold for personal use or as an alternative to a public show. Safety concerns have led some states to ban fireworks or limit the sizes and types allowed. Illicit traffic transfers many fireworks from less restrictive states.

A salute of one gun for each state in the United States, called a “salute to the union,” is fired on Independence Day at noon by any capable military base.

Major displays are held in New York on the East River, in Chicago on Lake Michigan, in San Diego over Mission Bay, in Boston on the Charles River, in St. Louis on the Mississippi River, and on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. During the annual Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival, Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, host one of the world's largest fireworks displays, over the Detroit River, to celebrate both American Independence Day and Canada Day.

While the official observance always falls on July 4th, participation levels may vary according to which day of the week the 4th falls on. If the holiday falls in the middle of the week, some fireworks displays and celebrations may take place during the weekend for convenience, again, varying by region.



Unique or historical celebrations

Held since 1785, the Bristol Fourth of July Parade in Bristol, Rhode Island is the oldest continuous Independence Day celebration in the United States.
Since 1912, the Rebild Society, a Danish-American friendship organization, has held a July 4th weekend festival that serves as a homecoming for Danish-Americans in the Rebild section of Denmark.
Since 1916, Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City supposedly started as a way to settle a dispute among four immigrants as to who was the most patriotic.
Since 1959, the International Freedom Festival is jointly held in Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario during the last week of June each year as a mutual celebration of Independence Day and Canada Day (July 1). It culminates in a large fireworks display over the Detroit River.
Numerous major and minor league baseball games are played on Independence Day.
The famous Macy's fireworks display over the East River in New York City has been televised nationwide on NBC since 1976.
Since 1970, the annual 10 kilometer Peachtree Road Race is held in Atlanta, Georgia.
Since 1973, the Boston Pops Orchestra hosts a music and fireworks show over the Charles River Esplanade called the "Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular".
The event has been broadcast nationally since 2007 on CBS.
On the Capitol lawn in Washington, D.C., “A Capitol Fourth,” a free concert, precedes the fireworks and attracts over half a million people annually.

Source : Wikipedia

News - independence day, 4th of july recipes, 4th of july quotes, meaning of 4th of july, history of 4th of july

The Fourth of July is just a day away. You know the holiday means barbecue, sunshine and fireworks, but what do you really know about the day's origins?

The author of "Don't Know Much About History," Ken Davis, appeared on "The Early Show" Friday to quiz the anchors on their awareness of Independence Day history

And now, it's your turn. Check out Davis' quiz questions:


Q: When was the actual vote on the resolution for independence?
A: The actual vote on the resolution for independence was made on July 2nd, and John Adams was certain that this date would be celebrated forever as the date of the nation's birth. But when the Declaration was read after its adoption, and people celebrated with fireworks and church bells ringing, the 4th of July became fixed as the nation's birthday.

Q: Who wrote the original Declaration of Independence?
A committee of five was assigned to draft a Declaration explaining the resolution: Ben Franklin, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Robert Livingston of New York, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. The committee turned the job over to Jefferson, who was 33 years old at the time he wrote the Declaration of Independence. The Continental Congress made more than eighty changes to Jefferson's draft, which had been slightly amended by Adams and all of which Jefferson hated.

Q: Why didn't George Washington sign the Declaration of Independence?
He was already in New York commanding troops when the Declaration was adopted. George Washington, who had limited and mostly disastrous military experience, was popular with his officers. But he had to battle Congress and jealous fellow officers throughout the war. Washington also did not chop down a cherry tree and have wooden teeth -- his dentures were made of ivory, hippo's teeth and even human teeth.

Q: Who was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence?
John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence. And it wasn't until August when the 55 other signers got the chance. The document had to be formally prepared on the nice parchment we have today. Hancock was a very ambitious politician so he signed his name very large on the center of the document, that way everyone else would have to sign around his name in very small print.

Q: What country helped America win the Revolution?
France provided a navy, troops and 90 percent of the gunpowder the Patriots used. Without French help there would be no America. That's why there is a Lafayette Square across the street from the White House.

Source : CBS

Tech News - Debt Ski video game challenges students to manage debt

Two things college students seem to know pretty well: video games and debt.

With that in mind, mtvU, MTV's 24-hour college network, and the Peter G. Peterson Foundation have rolled out a new game called Debt Ski aimed at teaching primarily college students how to identify and manage their debt.

The game is a simple side-scrolling online Flash game, nothing to look at really. You're basically a pig on a jet ski, picking up money, buying necessities and purchasing personal items that add to your happiness but weigh down your debt if it exceeds your income.

The game ends when you fail to pick up enough necessities or fall too far behind on your debt, which is spelled out for you after each round.

I've played around with Debt Ski a few times and as a game, it could use work. I had trouble just picking up necessities to keep the game going. A big part of the game is also avoiding falling personal items that drag down your spending if you pick them up.

But as simple as it is, I think Debt Ski can help students grasp the need for personal debt management in a way that's fun and engaging. Your income needs to exceed your expenses or you're in the hole. But it's also realistic because it takes into account necessary purchases, discretionary spending and the rare financial tsunami that sucks up your savings.

This is part of the mtvU and the Peter G. Peterson Foundation's Indebted campaign, which seeks to educate students about their debts as well as the growing federal debt. It's also the third in a line of games sponsored by mtvU that tackle more real world serious subjects. Previous games have dealt with the lives of Darfur refugees and HIV positive patients.

Debt Ski can be shared easily through blogs and social networks and is meant to go viral. When you lose, you can get more debt management information through the Indebted campaign.

This one video game won't eradicate student debt, which is about $20,000 now for graduating seniors. But it does address a serious issue and it shows that video games can do more than just entertain. They can educate and challenge people in a language that most people now, not just kids, but everybody understands. It doesn't all translate into real world habit changes but I think video games can be a very good tool in tackling a host of real world problems. We're just scratching the surface with Debt Ski and other games.

Wanna Play??? http://www.indebted.com/the-game/debtski/