Ten Things To Do This Independence Day

Happy Independence Day!  Don't know what to do with your day?  SIGIS can help:

1.  Make a patriotic cake.

 

2.  Go watch a fireworks display.  In Shreveport there is the Riverfront celebration.

3.  Fire up the grill and cook a hot dog.  We'll be doing BBQ chicken and some pork and alligator sausage here at SIGIS, and maybe some burgers.

4.  Read the Declaration of Independence.

5.  Attend a Fourth of July parade.

  

6.  Watch The Boston Pops on television, or better yet, in person.



7.  Fly your flag proudly!  Here at SIGIS I even line my walkway with small flags!  Take the American Flag trivia quiz.

 

8.  If there aren't any burn bans where you are, rediscover your childhood by burning a few sparklers.

9.  Make some home made ice cream.  I cherish those memories when I was growing up and we made home made ice cream.  My parents had friends over and we'd all sit in the driveway and take turns turning the crank!  The kids did most of the work because we thought it was fun!  And ooooo was it wonderful to lick the paddle!

(Photo credit)

10.  Take a virtual tour of the Statue of Liberty.

However you choose to spend the day, I hope you are able to spend it with friends and family and that you have a wonderful day!

Full Metal Jacket Reach Around: The July 4, 2011 Edition

For this week's FMJRA I'll share a few of my favorite pictures of a previous Iowa Fourth of July.  You know, those darned Fourth of July parades are only for Republicans anyway and darned if you don't go into one a Democrat and come out a Republican, at least according to that Harvard study that came out this week.  Lamoni, Iowa has a nifty little July 4th parade and Allendale, Missouri (pictured left) has a super nifty July 4 breakfast every year.  If I leave now, I can probably make it for pancakes and home made sausage! 

I don't want to belabor the point but Obama's press conference this past week was simply astounding and I guess I'm not the only one who feels like that.  Professor Jacobson is still shaking his head about it too, as is Bob Belvedere.  And at Frugal Cafe, Rep. Joe Walsh says Obama acted like a 10 year old.

Be sure to read "The Sermon on Iwo Jima" at Doug Ross's place.

Bride of Rove has the perfect explanation for my ankle injury.

Troglopundit has a post about the firefighters union vs. a float here and an update here.  It seems the firefighters union in Racine is protesting a float honoring 9/11 firefighters.

In the spirit of July 4, hop over to Pecan Corner for John Wayne and the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Other McCain reminds you that Obama just wants to raise your taxes.

Donald Douglas updates on the Amazon tax in California.

I can't even begin to fathom site stats like this.  Seriously.  Somewhere along the line I lost my obsession with site stats, and for that I'm glad.  It makes blogging more fun.

Saberpoint posts an open letter to Pamela Geller.

Be sure to catch the recap of Obama's weekly address at The Pirate's Cove.  Priceless.  And then go over to Reganite Republican for Reagan's 1986 Independence Day speech. 

When you're finished with this round-up be sure to check out Adrienne's round up and then Paco's.

Mind Numbed Robot reminds us to exercise caution in picking the Republican nominee.

Bungalow Bill is wondering if Herman Cain's campaign is falling apart.

Pundette has a guide for the Fourth of July, starting with Nanny State Rules from Huff Po.  Doug Powers at Michelle Malkin follows suit.

Ed Driscoll posts on Obama's fall to earth.

Is Obama going to skirt Congress on the debt ceiling issue?  Lonely Conservative posts.

Backyard Conservative posts on the Dems and class warfare.

And that's about it for this week.  I'm off to refill the ice bag and see if a beer helps the old ankle.  What are you doing for the holiday?

Start Organizing Your Fourth of July Parade!

If this Harvard study is accurate, I certainly hope we're all planning Fourth of July parades this year:

A new Harvard University study finds that July 4th parades energize only Republicans, turn kids into Republicans, and help to boost the GOP turnout of adults on Election Day.

Who knew that's all it took?

Full Metal Jacket Reach Around: The Fourth of July 2010 Edition

Happy Fourth of July!  I'm a day late with my FMJRA but I'm guessing it's okay.  We're keeping it small today, having a couple of friends over and grilling later this afternoon.  There's a huge fireworks celebration down on the riverfront tonight with bands and such, but neither Steve nor I are crazy about big crowds or excessive heat OR traffic, so we usually keep it close to home.  I'm glad Shreveport has something like that for the folks that enjoy it, and there are plenty of them.

One of the very best Fourth of July holidays I ever spent, besides some fond memories of my childhood, was a few years ago when Steve took me to Iowa.. It was my second visit there.  His sister lives in a small town (pop. @2500) in southern Iowa.  To me, it is ideal Midwestern, all-America, perfect.  We started out the day with an early morning drive to Allendale, Missouri where the entire town (pop. @55) gathers on the green and cooks breakfast.  There was a little patriotic program, music, and while that was going on, you could go through the serving lines and get homemade sausage, fried eggs, bacon, pancakes, toast, coffee....; everyone sat at long tables in front of the bandstand and had breakfast.  Steve bought a cookbook for me that day from the ladies of the church.

Then we drove back to Lamoni, rested a bit, and went to the Fourth of July parade: teenagers rode their prize horses, decorated with stars and bows, tractors, flatbed trailers decorated for the holiday, the town's firetruck...it was great! 

At the end of the day there was a cookout in his sister's backyard; hot dogs and s'mores. After dark we drove over to the football stadium (I think...it was dark) and watched fireworks.  A perfect day, and I think that's when I realized I could absolutely live in a small, small town and forgo all the big city "advantages" for a life like that. 

Okay, enough waxing nostalgia; let's get on to the links!  I have new memories to make today.

Doug Ross has done some great work this week and I'll highlight a couple of posts:  first is this one about how Bank of America will charge employees for health care based on their salary.  This is not a good thing.  And here is Doug's post about the media blackout of the Gulf oil crisis.

And omigod don't miss this report by Gateway Pundit about Team Obama sending goons to shut up Billy Nungesser, who has been very vocal, as you know, on television.  Incredible.

Smitty at The Other McCain also chimes in on the Gulf media circus, as does Obi's Sister.

Althouse (who has never linked me, by the way) does, from time to time,  some hilarious interpretation of Drudge's images.  This one is great.  She's had her camera out again and has some great shots.

Professor Jacobson's Saturday Night Card Game was about racist dogs.

Pirate's Cove lists some great things about America.  Can you add to his list?

Pecan Corner has some eloquent thoughts on the oil spill.

Backyard Conservative looks at Obama and Blago.

They had a Fourth of July parade where SWAC Girl lives!

Humor break:  Andy has a funny joke.  Go ahead, we'll wait.

Bread Upon the Waters has one of my favorite scenes from the John Adams miniseries.  Perfect.

DaTechguy has a book recommendation and I'm already on it.

Reaganite Republican has video of Ronald Reagan's 1986 Independence Day address.

I'm having fun with this new blog; anyone who has ever looked at a catalog will think it's funny.  Scroll through and read all of them.  Some had me in tears!  Catalog Living.

Loved No Sheeples Here roundup!  Love the picture of the No Sheeples Here Institute for Conservative Studies!  Beautiful!

Don't miss Michelle Malkin's July 4 post.

Donald Douglas also went to a Tea Party yesterday.  He, too, noted that there were fewer signs than before.  What's up with that?

My Bossier has a little patriotic musical interlude.  So does Caught Him With a Corndog.  Go ahead.  Go listen.  I'll wait.

Adrienne's Corner reminds you what happened to the men who signed the Declaration of Independence.

Wyblog reminds us that the Bush tax cuts are about to expire and what that will mean for you.  Scary.

I'm going to Pundette's house for my Fourth of July dessert.

Sister Toldjah calls Michael Steele's comments about Afghanistan "intolerable."  She's right.  Generation Patriot agrees.

Finally, be sure to check out C. L. Bryant's One Nation Back to God page. 

Okay, I'm taking the rest of the day off to celebrate the Fourth.  I'll be back, rested, rejuvenated and ready to fight tomorrow.  You do the same and have a happy and safe Fourth!

Report from the God and Country Rally 7/3/2010

The Red River Tea Party held the first "One Nation Back to God" Rally & Picnic this morning on the lawn of the Bossier Civic Center.  It was a pleasant, but humid, 83 degrees when I arrived; much better than the 103 we had last year for the "Freedom Rally."  I'd estimate there were between 400 and 500 people there this morning and it was certainly an energetic and fired up crowd!

As I arrived, the LA Outlaws were warming up the gathering crowd:

Emcee Royal Alexander welcomed the crowd, opened the program and explained the focus of this year's rally.  He pointed out that in the past, we've gathered to protest loss of individual liberties, the take over of health care, etc., but this year the focus is on bringing the nation back to God and to encourage prayer for our nation and for our nation's leaders.  He explained that we need to keep "our nation 'under' God rather than above him.

He cited 2 Chronicles 7:14 which says,

If my people, who are called by name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

This was definitely the tone of each speaker.  The first speaker was Pastor Stephen Robinson from the Pilgrim Nazarene Chuch in Shreveport who spoke of the importance of prayer and especially, right now, how important it is to pray for our nation.

The crowd was gathering and filling in as he spoke.

As always there were lots of flags and a few pets.  I didn't see nearly as many signs this time and I think that's probably because this was billed a less of a protest rally but as a celebration of God, family and country.  Sharon McCuller opened with a very moving prayer that brought a tear to the eye:

I was thrilled for her when she told me one of her sons is returning from Afghanistan this month.  

I spotted Moon Griffon getting ready to take the stage:

He is one tall dude!

Moon joked with the crowd a little when he took the stage, pointing out that Royal Alexander was dressed in a sport coat and slacks while Moon donned shorts and a casual shirt for the event.  He opened with his trademark, "How y'all ARE?!" and the crowd roared!  I wish I'd taken video of Moon's speech but there will be some online later and I'll try to come back and link it or embed it.  Moon got everyone fired up and said he's had about enough "change" right about now.

He thinks we need to get back to church, get back to Christian values, quit trying to take God out of the schools, and hold our leaders accountable.  His final point was that "You need to get back to church!  You need to get in the churches!"  because he said only half of the people in churches are voting.  Get the message out.  He said we need good, strong God-fearing leaders with Christian values and God in their hearts to lead us and to fight for us.

Moon was followed by more LA Outlaw music and then Royal introduced Rev. C. L. Bryant.  Here's a snip of his opening:



Again, if you want to hear his whole speech, I'll come back and link it.  He's such a motivational speaker!  The crowd was on their feet the entire time:

There were some closing remarks by Royal Alexander and then the program ended and the music and picnic began.  Emma Meeks performed again, and this is a young lady to watch;; she's got talent!:

I didn't stay much longer because the rest of my weekend beckons.  We've got cookout plans to pull together and I still owe you a FMJRA.

The Rally was good for me this morning because I've been so bummed out the past couple of days.  Everything I'm reading in the news just SUCKS and the oil spill crisis is awful and getting worse; the EPA is trying to shut down 1/3 of our nation's refineries; all the Obamacare news is worse and worse....I just had to back off from it for a day yesterday.  So the message this morning was very timely for me.

Start praying.

Shreveport/Bossier Tea Party: July 4

The Shreveport/Bossier Tea Party Team has sent out this email, but in case you aren't on the mailing list, here's the info:

Bring the whole family to Celebrate Freedom at the Bossier City Civic Center in a uniquely American way. You will be joining hundreds of thousands of American citizens as we 'Turn Up the Heat' around the USA. The celebration starts at 4:00 pm with moving patriotic tunes from our own favorite live band, Louisiana Outlaws. We are featuring many powerful and exciting speakers, including the Reverend CL Bryant who on April 15th left the crowd wanting more! We will end this historic evening by watching the fireworks on the Red River to booming patriotic tunes all from the family friendly Bossier Civic Center lawn, so remember to bring your blankets and lawn chairs. Food and drink vendors and portable potties will be available.

Here is the website.

What I'm most excited about is seeing CL Bryant again - he was a GREAT speaker! So fired up!

Here is the video of his too short speech at the Tax Day Tea Party.