> I guess somebody should say it today, so that we don't *all* look like cynical, apathetic, unpatriotic Generation X'ers on this forum (excluding, of course, the esteemed Howard):
>
> Happy July 4th, folks! Be happy for the freedoms that we enjoy!
>
> Iss "in particular, the freedom to make big colorful explosions in the sky tonight" achar

"Esteemed?" Wow, a promotion!
How about a 4th of July joke? (the oldest one I know)
An American serviceman had just arrived in England. It was the first day in July and he realized that he was going to miss one of his favorite celebrations. "Tell me, sir," he said to a nearby Englishman, "Do you have Fourth of July over here?"

The Englishman looked him up and down and replied,"No, we just skip directly from the third to the fifth."

Well, it was funny in 1944.