#capitol fourth concert

[pixoplanet]

🎆 Hooray! It's the 4th of July, Independence Day!

��� Celebrate the 4th of July together with friends.

Today's festivities on the National Mall in Washington, DC, include several major events. The day features the National Independence Day Parade along Constitution Avenue, starting at 11:45 a.m., showcasing bands, military units, and giant balloons​​.

🎖️ Independence Day Parade in Washington, DC, 2014

The Capitol Fourth Concert, held on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, begins at 8:00 PM and will be broadcast live on PBS. This year's concert features notable performances by the National Symphony Orchestra, Smokey Robinson, Fantasia, Darren Criss, Sheila E., Fitz & Noelle (from Fitz and The Tantrums), Chloe Flower, Sister Sledge (now featuring Sledgendary), Loren Allred, and Britt Stewart. The event will include a tribute to Team USA, celebrating athletes heading to the Summer Olympics in Paris​​.

🎆 Spectacular 4th of July Fireworks in Washington, DC

As darkness falls, beginning at 9:00 PM, the National Mall will host a spectacular fireworks display, offering views from various locations, including the Lincoln Memorial and across the Potomac River in Arlington​. ☮️ Peace… Jamiese

https://www.pixoplanet.com/post/4th-of-july

[absotutelyalmostalright]

Day 3106

A Capitol Fourth rehearsals

July 3, 2023

[copperbadge]

We are watching the Capitol Fourth concert and fireworks on TV for the fourth tonight, and one of the sponsors is Boeing, presumably doing a bit of damage control.

But the sponsorship ad they were running showed people staring in awe and amazement at...explosions in the sky.

Which seems, uh, a little bit tone deaf, all things considered.

[d-criss-news]

Darren Criss and Fantasia Barrino at PBS's A Capitol Fourth Concert, Rehearsal, Washington DC, USA - 3 Jul 2024 (Photo by Bryan Dozier/Shutterstock)

[thgfanfictionlibrary]

General Rated Fics Masterlist (5)

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 /

Created: March 12th, 2024

Last Checked: —-

A Tale Of Broken Arrows-albinokittens300 (ao3) Summary: A secret trip to the underground market goes unexpectedly for Price Peeta Mellark when he happens to run into his betrothed, Lady Katniss Everdeen. A Weight Off The Heart-albinokittens300 (ao3) Summary: When Katniss and Peeta make up after their fight coming home from the first Games, they decide to get through the aftermath together. But as they get closer, Katniss begins to doubt just how confused she really was- or if she was at all. Birds in Heaven Know I Love You-CassandraO (ao3) Summary: Katniss and her six month old daughter.

Break In-HGfanonezillion (ao3) Summary: Katniss brings squirrels to Mellark Bakery. She and Peeta have a short conversation with some big news exchanged.

Call-a-Caroller-deinde_prandium (ao3) Summary: Peeta Mellark has three weeks to prepare his fourth grade class for his school's annual Christmas concert. Only one problem: he's completely tone-deaf. The solution? Capitol University's Call-a-Caroller hotline, and its musical superstar, Katniss Everdeen. Holiday fluff inspired by Dial-a-Carol at the University of Illinois. Originally posted on tumblr. Celestial Roadtrip-Buttercupbadass (ao3) Summary: It’s hard to resist Peeta when he’s excited about something. When Peeta drags a grumbling Katniss to see a total eclipse, little does she know that when the heavens align, your world can change in ways you’d never expect.

Eavesdropping-deinde_prandium (ao3) Summary: When a phone call interrupts Peeta's Skype chat with his long-distance girlfriend, he can't help but listen in. Originally posted (ages ago) on tumblr. Based on the prompt "things you said I wasn't meant to hear."

Healing, Again.-albinokittens300 (ao3) Summary: Charlotte Everdeen hears how her daughter is fareing in District 12 after the Rebellion. She returns, inistint on being there for Katniss this time, no matter the cost to herself. His First Hero-Ashyblondwaves (ao3) Summary: Peeta and his son. Is there really much more to say? From the Synchronicity/Everything Grow universe, but can be followed without reading those stories :) In District 12, After The War.-albinokittens300 (ao3) Summary: Gale returns to District 12, and Katniss is tasked with whether or not she can forgive.

[sillyname30]

July recap

What I predicted:

Broadway Musical Series

Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Parts Three

Broadway & Vine

A Capitol Fourth

What we got:

A Capitol Fourth

TSG – Musical Bingo

Twister premiere

Stella Cole (recording studio, possible new song)

Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Three

Twisters premiere

Provincetown (Hedwig, Kamala Harris event, Broadway musical series concert, piano bar)

Broadway & Vine

Elsie Fest announcement

[takeoffphilippines]

Tanduay Bacolod Rum Fest Set August 10-18 With “Ambagan” as Theme

The fourth Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival recognizes the different roles people play in building a community as it chooses “Ambagan” for this year’s theme. Happening from August 10 to 18, this year’s event promises food, arts, music and thrills for everyone to enjoy.

A feast that started as an homage to the city’s sugarcane, which is the main source for Tanduay’s award-winning rums, the event has been held annually since 2019.

“On this same ground, my father, Lucio K. Tan Jr., together with Councilor Em Ang, announced the inception of the Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival. The festival was born out of a desire to ensure that Bacolod, the City of Smiles, remains the heart and home of Tanduay. That wherever Tanduay goes, Bacolod will always be a part of its story,” said Lucio Tan III, President, LT Group and Tanduay Distillers, Inc., before a full house press conference held at the Century Park Hotel in Pasay City, Metro Manila.

Tan, likewise, cited the strong collaboration of Tanduay with the local government in mounting the annual festival. “What’s remarkable about this collaboration is that we are able to tell the story of Bacolod and Tanduay by highlighting their culinary heritage and the artistic prowess of the Bacolodnon, whether in cocktail-making, painting, music, or dance. That, in essence, is what this Rum Festival is all about,” he further said.

On the part of the local government, Councilor Em Ang, Chairman of Bacolod City History, Culture, and Arts, said: “On behalf of our City Government led by our beloved Mayor Albee Benitez, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your continued support. Together, we have built a celebration that not only honors our heritage but also paves the way for future generations to appreciate and cherish. Supporting initiatives like this festival is crucial in preserving our culture and boosting our local economy.”

Through the different facets of the festival, participants are encouraged to contribute, whether through culinary delights, visual arts, and more. On August 10, a motorcade heading to the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) will signal the opening of the festival, where local government officials led by Mayor Albee Benitez are expected to grace the ribbon-cutting ceremonies of the Food Park. The Food Park will feature nightly entertainment, local and international culinary delights, and mixology. The Food Park will be open until the last day of the festival on August 18.

On August 12, a Mixology Competition will take place at the Ayala Malls Capitol Center. On August 14-15, the Culinaria Competition will be held. August 16 is designated as Rum Education Day, featuring a Tanduay Plant Tour, followed by a Rum Masterclass and the nationwide Grand Finals of the Mixology Competition at the Seda Hotel.

On August 17, a motorcade parade featuring some of Bacolod’s beauty queens, with Tanduay Brand Ambassador Derek Ramsay, will begin in the afternoon, followed by a Street Dance Competition and a concert at the BCGC. Bands Juan Karlos and Almost will headline this year's concert performers.

For more information about the festival, visit @TanduayRumFest on Facebook.

—

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[tvrundownusa]

tvrundown USA 2024.07.04

Thursday, July 4th: ~ Independence Day (USA) ~

(exclusive): "Space Cadet" (APrime, comedy movie, <2hrs), Barbecue Showdown (netflix, season 3 available, all 8 eps)

(streaming weekly): Red Swan (hulu, Korean drama series premiere, first 2 eps), Land of Tanabata (hulu, Japanese fantasy sci-fi thriller, first 3 eps), Suicide Squad ISEKAI (hulu), The Boys (APrime), Criminal Minds: Evolution (Para+), Evil (Para+), Domino Day: Lone Witch (SundanceNow|AMC+), Carl Weber's "The Family Business" (BET+, season 5 opener), College Hill: Celebrity Edition (BET+), Makeup x Breakup (AllBlk), Hart to Heart (Peacock)

(specials): Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest (ESPN2, midday live ), "A Capitol Fourth" (PBS, 44th annual concert, 90mins), Macy's "4th of July Fireworks Spectacular" (NBC|Peacock, 2hrs), "The Fourth in America" (CNN, fireworks & performances, live, ~3hrs)

(also new): Masters of Illusion (theCW) / . / World's Funniest Animals (theCW)

[consumerguide]

Top U.S. States for Spectacular 4th of July Celebrations

The 4th of July, America's Independence Day, is a time for grand celebrations, vibrant community gatherings, and breathtaking fireworks displays. While every state celebrates with its own flair, a few stand out for their particularly spectacular festivities. From historical parades to impressive pyrotechnics, these states offer some of the most memorable 4th of July experiences in the country. Let’s dive into the top U.S. states known for their exceptional Independence Day celebrations.

1. Washington, D.C.

The Nation's Capital Extravaganza

Washington, D.C. is undoubtedly a premier destination for 4th of July celebrations. As the heart of the nation, it hosts a series of events that embody the spirit of American patriotism. The day kicks off with the National Independence Day Parade, featuring elaborate floats, marching bands, military units, and patriotic performers.

Community Celebration

Community involvement is a significant part of the celebrations in D.C. Families and friends gather for picnics on the National Mall, enjoying the festive atmosphere and live music performances. The “A Capitol Fourth” concert, held on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, draws thousands of attendees who revel in performances by top musical acts and the National Symphony Orchestra.

Porta Potty Usage

Given the large crowds, the availability of porta potties is crucial for maintaining sanitation and comfort. Strategically placed throughout the National Mall, these portable restrooms ensure that attendees have convenient access to facilities, making the celebration more enjoyable for everyone.

2. New York, New York

The Macy's Fireworks Spectacle

New York City’s 4th of July celebration is world-famous, thanks in large part to the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks show. Launched from barges on the East River, this fireworks display is one of the largest in the country, lighting up the sky with stunning visual effects and synchronized music.

Community Celebration

The city's diverse communities come together for block parties, barbecues, and waterfront gatherings. Public parks and rooftop bars become popular spots for watching the fireworks, fostering a sense of community and shared celebration among New Yorkers and visitors alike.

Porta Potty Usage

With such a vast number of people flocking to viewing areas, porta potties are a necessity. They are strategically placed in high-traffic areas like parks and along the waterfront to ensure accessibility and sanitation, helping to manage the needs of large crowds effectively.

3. Boston, Massachusetts

Historical and Musical Festivities

Boston’s 4th of July celebrations are steeped in historical significance, reflecting the city’s pivotal role in the American Revolution. The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular is a key highlight, featuring a performance by the renowned Boston Pops Orchestra and an impressive fireworks display over the Charles River.

Community Celebration

Boston’s residents and visitors engage in a variety of activities, from historical reenactments to family-friendly events along the Esplanade. The sense of community is palpable, with people coming together to celebrate their shared heritage and enjoy the festivities.

Porta Potty Usage

Given the extensive activities along the Charles River and the Esplanade, porta potties are essential. They are placed conveniently along popular routes and gathering spots, ensuring that attendees can comfortably enjoy the day's events without long waits or inconvenience.

4. San Francisco, California

A Bay Area Spectacle

San Francisco offers a picturesque setting for 4th of July celebrations, with fireworks launched from barges in the San Francisco Bay. The display is visible from various points across the city, creating a stunning backdrop against the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.

Community Celebration

The city's waterfront becomes a hub of activity, with live music, food stalls, and family-friendly entertainment. Communities from all over the Bay Area come together, creating a vibrant, inclusive atmosphere that embodies the spirit of the holiday.

Porta Potty Usage

To accommodate the influx of visitors to the waterfront, porta potties are strategically placed along key areas, including Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39. These facilities help manage the large crowds, ensuring that everyone has access to necessary amenities.

Conclusion

The 4th of July is a day of unity, celebration, and reflection across the United States. While every state has its unique way of marking the occasion, Washington, D.C., New York, Boston, and San Francisco stand out for their particularly spectacular celebrations. These cities not only offer impressive fireworks and festivities but also foster a strong sense of community. With the strategic placement of porta potties, these events ensure comfort and convenience for all attendees, making the 4th of July a truly memorable experience. Whether you're drawn by historical significance, musical performances, or stunning visuals, these states provide some of the best places to celebrate America’s Independence Day. For those planning large events, PortaPottyPro is one of the best porta potty rental companies in the USA, ensuring high-quality service and sanitation for any gathering.Top of Form

Bottom of Form

[steele-soulmate]

Tattooed Wings, CHAPTER 527, Peter Steele & OFC, Soulmate AU

SUMMARY: Mary Claire Bradley meets her soulmate- literally- the famous Peter Steele of metal group Type O Negative. But will obstacles including trauma, stalkers, and toxic family members get in the way of their life?

WARNING: mentions of child rape (nothing graphic) PTSD, milk kink, soft smut, grinding, assault, fingering, hand jobs, blow jobs, 69, P in V sex, blood, noncon rape, violence, death, vandalism, graffiti, attempted kidnapping, break-ins, wild animal attacks, terrorist attack (sabotage) consensual impregnation, bareback, impregnation kink, creampies, terrorist attacks (shootings) hit and run pedestrian accident, precipitous labor, neonatal death, abandoned baby

WORDS: 1110

THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD- THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD- THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD- THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD- THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD- THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD- THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD

“Incoming!” my beefcake of an older husband chuckled, chest bare as he gave all three babies- Baby Tommy, little girl and Baby Eve- skin to skin, the three little human wearing only diapers and socks as they held each other’s hands.

Sure enough, an explosion in the door turned out to be Elizabeth and Katie, both girls clutching at their American Girl look alike dollies as they spilled into the bedroom before racing over to the bed and then crawling underneath the covers, popping out in between Peter and I.

“Little girl is here!” cheered Katie. “Yay yay!”

“Yay yay!” whooped Baby Tommy, rolling onto his back carefully and then sitting up to beam at his older sisters. “Yay yay!”

The kids were all giggling and seeking out all the cuddles as Isabelle poked her head into the doorway to give Peter and me updates on what trouble the girls had gotten up to.

“Hey,” she greeted us with a smile as she took a seat on the edge of the bed, welcoming Primrose as the skunklet crawled into her lap and curled up into a tight ball. “So the girls have a field trip coming up for their American history class. The teacher told me that the class will be going to the 9/11 memorial museum and he told me that he completely understands if you two decide that the girls shouldn’t go.”

“Mommy?” Katie meeped just then, cooing as Baby Eve reached out for her. “What happened on September eleventh?”

Peter and I both exchanged quick little glances.

“9/11 is a pivotal point in American history,” I started with a soft hum. “On September 11th, 2001, a group of nineteen men crashed two airplanes into the Twin Towers and one into the Pentagon outside of Washington DC. The hijackers also tried to crash a fourth plane into another building, possibly the White House or the U.S. capitol building, but the passengers fought back and the plane crashed into an empty field in Pennsylvania.”

The girl were silent as they processed all this new information.

“Mommy, what does pivotal means?” Katie frowned.

“Pivotal means significant or big,” I explained, brushing her sweet baby curls away from her face. “Your girls remember the unmentionable one’s fan club and all the chaos they created when they sabotaged daddy’s concerts? That is called terrorism, which is the use of violence to create fear and worry. That’s what the hijackers did.”

MEOW Mittens appeared out of seemingly nowhere, jumping up onto the bed and rubbing herself up against Elizabeth, purring loudly.

PUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUR

“Good kitty,” Elizabeth murmured in a shaky voice. “Mommy, where were you?”

“I would have been in the second grade with Mrs. Williams at Twin Peaks Elementary, I don’t really remember that day,” I answered honestly. “Mrs. Williams had the TV stand facing her desk and a bunch of the teachers and their aides were clustered around it, watching as the second tower was hit and then came down.”

“Daddy?” she turned her attention to Peter, hugging Elle tight to her chest.

“I was not in New York on that day; I was playing at a show in- I think- Georgia.” Peter’s eyes developed a misty haze as he remembered. “Your Auntie Patrica was there when the plans hit, but she got away before the towers came back down again. She died from cancer commonplaced from the tragedy.”

“Cancer?” Katie wrinkled her nose. “When did cancer come into play here?”

“When the towers came down, the particular mixture of building dust, smoke, and jet fuel at ground zero contained something called carcinogens, which is a substance the causes cancer,” Peter explained in a hollow voice.

“Katie, I can’t remember if you ever met her,” Peter sighed sadly.

“I don’t think I ever did,” she told him, cradling Baby Eve in her arms. “Was she a good egg?”

“She was, she really was.” Peter cooed at little girl and Baby Tommy spread out over the vast planes of his burly chest. “Patrica really was the best egg.”“The only kind of eggies that really matters,” I hummed as Baby Eve started fussing. I lifted up my shirt and Katie fitted her up against my breast. “Gramercy, mo stór.”“Bù kèqì,” she chirped happily. “Mommy, daddy, do you want for Lizz Lizz and me to go to the 9/11 Museum still? Or do you want us to take a mental health day?”

Peter and I both had a silent conversation using our eyes and facial motions.

“I don’t mind acting as a chaperones for the field trip,” Peter offered. “Would that make you feel better?”

“I guess…” Elizabeth muttered half heartingly. Katie just nodded her head eagerly, the two girls once more surprising me with how different for one another they really were. Elizabeth wore her heart on her sleeve and was easily emotional, while Katie was more hard shelled and didn’t really cry easily.

“Okay then,” Peter hummed before opening the paperwork and turned to me. “Do you have a pen that I can borrow, sweetheart?”

I reached over to my bedside table and grabbed a gel ink pen, which I handed over to him.

“Thanks,” he smiled before beginning to scratch away.

Gramercy, thank you, old French?

Mo stór, my dear, Irish Gaelic

Bù kèqì, you’re welcome, Chinese

TAGLISTS ARE OPEN/ ASK BOX IS OPEN/ REQUESTS ARE OPEN/ PLOT BUNNIES ARE WELCOMED

If you liked this, then please consider buying me a coffee HERE It only costs $3!!!

PETER STEELE TAGLIST

@rock-a-noodle

@ch3rry-c01a

[newstfionline]

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Left revolts over Biden’s staunch support of Israel amid Gaza crisis (Guardian) On Wednesday afternoon, hundreds of liberal Jewish American activists staged sit-ins in the Capitol Hill offices of top Democrats to demand a ceasefire in the escalating war between Israel and Hamas. The discontent on display in Washington was a testament to the rising anger among the party’s left over the response from Biden and Democratic leaders to Israel’s war in Gaza. Nor were the scenes in the House the only signs of discontent as US politics—and civil society as a whole—becomes increasingly roiled by Israel’s response to the 7 October Hamas attack. That same afternoon, Joe Biden was asked about the rising Palestinian death toll during a news conference at the White House. Biden replied that he had “no confidence” in the death count provided by the Gaza health ministry, which says nearly 7,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. “I’m sure innocents have been killed, and it’s the price of waging a war,” Biden said, in comments the Council on American-Islamic Relations described as “shocking and dehumanizing.” “The White House and many in the US government are clear as they should be that 1,000 Israelis killed is too many,” said Eva Borgwardt, the political director of IfNotNow, a progressive Jewish group leading many of the demonstrations in Washington. “Our question for them is: How many Palestinian deaths are too many?”

Hurricane Otis death toll rises to 48, missing now number 36 (AP) At least 48 people died when Category 5 Hurricane Otis slammed into Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, most of them in Acapulco, Mexican authorities said Sunday as the death toll continued to climb and families buried loved ones. In Acapulco, families held funerals for the dead on Sunday and continued the search for essentials while government workers and volunteers cleared streets clogged with muck and debris from the powerful Category 5 hurricane. The cost of damage could climb as high as $15 billion according to estimates. Clean up efforts are likely to take time, and the government in an update on Sunday said Otis damaged 273,844 homes in Guerrero along with 600 hotels and condominiums.

New danger for Ukraine: Taking Israel’s side in war against Hamas and Gaza (Washington Post) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s immediate and forceful support for Israel in its fight against Hamas has imperiled almost a year of concerted efforts by Kyiv to win the support of Arab and Muslim nations in its war against Russia. But with Israel’s military operation set to enter its fourth week, and Palestinian civilian casualties mounting, the war in Gaza is posing one of the most difficult diplomatic tests for Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which at times have provided crucial support to Ukraine, have accused the West of double standards in Gaza, alluding to the broad condemnation of civilian deaths in Ukraine compared with the muted criticism of Israel. Tension with Muslim and Arab nations, however, is just one risk facing Kyiv, which must now also contend with the world’s attention shifting largely to a new war in the Middle East, as well as competing demands for U.S. military support at a time when House Republicans just elected a new speaker, Mike Johnson (La.), who has opposed sending additional aid to Ukraine.

Hong Kong, Facing an Exodus, Offers Money for Babies (WSJ) Hong Kong’s government is grappling with an exodus of citizens and a plummeting birthrate. Its solution: subsidize baby-making. The city’s government hopes to address the world's lowest fertility rate by paying a cash bonus to couples who have children—the equivalent of around $2,550—as well as other perks such as priority when renting or buying government-subsidized housing and increased access to in vitro fertilization.

Australia's tight rental market forces tenants to make tough choices (Reuters) Australia's red-hot rental housing market, supercharged by record migration and a chronic supply shortage, could be reaching a breaking point for affordability as tenants grapple with rising costs of living. Nationwide vacancies are at all-time lows and prices are up 30% over three years, forcing renters like Sydney office worker Lara Weeks into unenviable situations. With no way to afford stratospheric inner-city prices when her landlord decided to sell the apartment she lived in for 18 years, Weeks and her cat recently downsized from a two-bedroom to a one-bedroom farther from the city centre that costs 22% more. Rent is now one of the country's biggest drivers of inflation, which at an annual rate of 5.4% in the September quarter is well above the central banks' targeted band of 2% to 3% and could lead to further interest rate hikes as early as next week. That in turn would push up the variable rate mortgages held by most Australian landlords who are typically private investors with one or a few properties rather than large corporations, pressuring them to lift rents further and forcing tenants to make tough decisions.

Israel’s slow and deadly advance in Gaza (Washington Post) Israel has now launched what it is calling the second phase of its assault to destroy Hamas in Gaza, a conflict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as his country’s “second war for independence.” Israeli troops are inside the Gaza perimeter—probing, destroying tunnels. The early movements, even near-term objectives, of the Israeli military’s ground assault remained shrouded in secrecy. Still, a general outline is emerging. Israeli tanks and military bulldozers have entered the territory. Israeli forces are spending the night. They are fully in. This is the beginning of what Israeli leaders are warning could be a very long war, which would see Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, destroyed, and a new entity installed to govern the enclave. But instead of a massive D-Day-style assault, military analysts in Israel say it appears that the IDF is moving slowly, cautiously into the strip, not mile by mile, but 100 yards at a time, searching for and destroying Hamas booby traps and tunnels around the perimeter and preparing corridors for the quick deployment of tanks and troops to the periphery of Gaza City. Gaza is only 25 miles long and six miles wide. At present, Israeli troops are mostly operating at the very edges of the narrow enclave, in farm fields and emptied villages.

Netanyahu Finds Himself at War in Gaza and at Home (WSJ) Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday issued a rare apology that inadvertently framed the political crisis that has engulfed him. A few hours earlier, facing mounting criticism for the Hamas attacks that killed 1,400 Israelis, he publicly blamed the security failures on Israel’s defense and intelligence services. He hadn’t been warned of Hamas’s intention to start a war, he wrote in a tweet on X, saying that defense and intelligence officials had “assessed that Hamas was deterred.” Soon after, he deleted the tweet and apologized. The unusual reversal illustrates Netanyahu’s increasingly fraught position. Over 35 years in politics, he has cultivated an image as a security hawk tough on Palestinian violence and ready to face down the threat of a nuclear Iran. That image shattered Oct. 7 when more than a thousand Hamas militants entered Israel in what many Israelis are calling the worst security and intelligence failure in its 75-year history. Even if Israel wins the war, it may not save his political career.

34 Hours of Fear: The Blackout That Cut Gaza Off From the World (NYT) For 34 hours, the vast majority of the more than two million Palestinians who live in Gaza had no way to reach the outside world, or one another. They had no way to know whether their loved ones were alive or dead. Emergency phone lines stopped ringing. Desperate paramedics tried to save people by driving toward the sound of explosions. Wounded people were left to die in the street. On Friday at sunset, three weeks into Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza—and as Palestinians braced themselves for an impending Israeli ground invasion—the weak phone and internet service that had allowed some semblance of life to continue inside the blockaded enclave was suddenly severed. Two American officials said the United States believed Israel was responsible for the communications loss, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. Panic rippled through the territory. Connectivity restarted spontaneously on Sunday around 4 a.m., said Abdulmajeed Melhem, chief executive of Paltel Group, the main Palestinian telecommunications company. The company had made no repairs and had no understanding of how or why service had partly returned, he said. He added that he believed that the Israeli government was responsible for the cut and the restoration—although service remains limited after an Israeli airstrike on a telecommunication tower early in the war.

Extremist attacks escalate in Niger after coup topples American ally (Washington Post) Islamist militants in Niger have significantly stepped up their attacks in the months since generals here ousted the elected president, jettisoning the counterterrorism support of French forces and throwing into doubt cooperation with the American military. Until the coup in late July, this West African nation had been a reliable ally of the United States and Europe—a democratic success story in a region plagued by coups, a key ally in battling Islamic extremism. But the coup leaders, buoyed by a wave of anti-French sentiment sweeping France’s former West African colonies, are increasingly isolated from their onetime allies. Directing much of its vitriol at France, the new government has pressured the French ambassador to leave and asked all of France’s 1,500 troops to depart in the coming months. Violent incidents targeting civilians by the Islamic State’s Sahel branch quadrupled in the month following the coup, while dozens of soldiers have been killed in attacks blamed on ISIS and al-Qaeda-affiliated Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam.

South Africa Rugby World Cup: The Springboks give hope to a troubled nation (BBC) South Africans erupted in celebration and relief across the country as their team edged out New Zealand to win the Rugby World Cup final in Paris. As South Africa faces economic troubles, sporting success is a welcome distraction and a unifying force. "We hold hope for the country," captain Siya Kolisi said after the victory. "There aren't a lot of things going right in our country and we have the privilege to be able to do what we love and inspire people in life, not just sports people," he added. High levels of unemployment and poverty, along with frequent power blackouts, are some of the issues he was referencing. After the nerve-shredding 12-11 win by the Springboks, those day-to-day issues can be put to one side for a while as the nation basks in the afterglow of victory. South African sports journalist Mohammed Allie, who was in Paris for the match, said that the squad, and the nature of their hard-fought success, contained a lesson for the nation. "If there is one thing the country can learn from this Springbok team and this victory is that how, if you work together, if you're determined to achieve a goal, you certainly can do that," he told the BBC.

Not enough time to walk 10,000 steps? (GMA) Walking 10,000 steps per day is known to improve a person’s health, but reaching that goal can be difficult for many, considering it’s the equivalent of walking around 5 miles. Now, new research is showing more efficient ways to get similar health benefits without devoting at least an hour per day to walking. Taking the stairs is one way, according to a study of over 450,000 adults. The study, published in the medical journal Atherosclerosis, found that climbing five flights of stairs per day—or around 50 steps—lowered the risk of cardiovascular disease by 20%. In addition, the same benefits are found when the climbing is broken up into smaller segments throughout the day, versus climbing five flights at once, the study found. In addition to helping to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, climbing stairs can also help reduce the risk of diabetes and can help improve muscle strength.

[thedaveandkimmershow]

Dang...

So July.

A definite crescendo of a month. Especially for one that starts off with explosions.

One month after moving back to the house after four years living on the Hill, it turns out the correct answer was...

Moving back to the house.

What can I say?

The reasons that made the choice such a difficult one not even two months ago... weren't so tough to navigate after all. Especially the commute side of the equation. It actually does work better than we would've guessed. Plus... the house is super chill, very quiet. Which makes sense since I-5 doesn't run right in front of it. Plus, though the remodeling of the house wasn't actually intended for us, it sure makes the house more optimized for what we do and want.

So yeah. A great call.

July fifth was our dating anniversary, the date of our establishing being July 5, 1990. Kind of a while ago. We lazed the morning. Went to see Indiana Jones & the Dial of Destiny at the Crest Theater, hit the Ballard GoodWill for some random browsing, derailed a trip to Trader Joe's by going to PCC across the street instead for orange creamsicles we subsequently enjoyed on the roof. Had a picnic on the shores of Smith Cove in front of Expedia. Did a walkabout of the Seattle Center for old time's sake. Finished off at Tapster on South Lake Union all—

On a sunny summer's day.

It was a fantastic dating anniversary.

Moving through the month, the next big event was this year's 48 Hour Film Project competition with the Combat Wombats, the production team that was kind enough to invite me to be a Wombat a coupla years ago for their short film, "Cleaners". This year's effort, "PTAgent" was, yes, hard work and a delight for all of us. It also feels like we're getting better at this having begun the journey at a high level to begin with.

By the way, the 48 Hour weekend was also proof of something Kimmer created: my edit suite. This was basically the shakedown cruise for using the room as intended, including the space for clients.

Initially I was thinking the overstuffed couch should be replaced with something a more sleek. That is... until Saturday night and Sunday during the day when the weary director and producer of "PTAgent" put its overstuffed comfort to good use.

The end of the 48 Hour extravaganza always features a dinner out with Kimmer. It's a tradition we didn't know was gonna be a tradition... but a tradition we started with my first 48 Hour Film Project editing "Cleaners", an experience that kept me up that particular Saturday night until 5AM Sunday morning and then up again by 9... four hours later. I think I finished with the edit around 4 that afternoon? At which point Kimmer offers dinner at Maggie Bluffs, our first such celebratory dinner with this year's, our fourth, at Las Brisas in Edmonds. ☺️☺️☺️

The reward for our 48 Hour experience, of course, was the opportunity to watch our work on the big screen at the Uptown Cinema in lower Queen Ann where, once upon a time as a youngster, I watched Young Sherlock Holmes.

Moving on, the second half of the month was definitely the most incredibly packed half. 

So the 48 Hour Film Project competition began the evening of Friday, July 14 ending on the evening of July 16. Four days later, Thursday the 20th, Kimmer 'n I drive up to the neighborhood behind the Grand Avenue Park Bridge, park our car, and walk down to the Everett Marina where Linzy's performing with the band The Little Lies.

Two days after that, Saturday, middle of the day, we join the band again at their Bite of Seattle performance that's taking place on one of the busiest weekends in Seattle history including but not limited to a Mariners game, the Capitol Hill Block Party, various cruise ship departures, and a Taylor Swift at Lumen Field mega concert. All of which conspired to bring everyone into the heart of Seattle.

Every place in the city was packed, is all I'm saying.

Same deal the next day, Sunday the 23rd, when we return to the Bite to see another band of which Linzy's a member: Midnight High (more on that band in a moment).

The Midnight High performance was around 1 in the afternoon after which we went back to the house as Linzy went on to that evening's Taylor Swift concert which, according to everyone, was a VERY big deal. Certainly for Linzy who basically grew up as a musician with Taylor's career. 🤩🤩🤩

Now, while all these shows were happening, as the world premiere of the film I cut approached, Kimmer was also up to her eyeballs... having officially applied to a doctorate program at her alma mater. And, by the time the screening happened, she was officially accepted.

HUZZAH!!!!!! 😁😁😁

And the doctorate program?

Doctor of Science in Integrative Health from the American College of Healthcare Sciences.

So there it is.

We all three were having a very busy week.

A coupla evenings later, Tuesday the 25th, I'm prefunctioning at the home of the Combat Wombats' director as most of the team gathers for pizza oven cooked pizza and drinks and talking shop and talking life… before heading to the Uptown Cinema for the world premiere of "PTAgent" on the big screen. By the time I get home, it's already a half hour into Sunday the 26th, the morning on which we're leaving for southern California to visit family and check in on Kimmer's aunt. At this point, we've gotta be out the door in six hours but manage to eat one of those hours watching an episode of Madame Secretary, a series that's turned out to be a big deal for us this summer after we blitzed through the eight episode season one of The Diplomat four times in a row.

Yeah. We desperately needed another show to watch.

So credits roll on Madam Secretary and now it's a little after 130AM. The way things work out, we'll be up three and a half hours later at 5AM, ready and on the road to the airport by 640AM, in the air by 8, and so on.

Which pretty much explains how tired we were the rest of the day.

Our California family's family, though, which means they give us a huuuuge shot of energy for four solid days of taking our home life on the road, an essential part of which is about seeing Kimmer's aunt who lives in a memory care community.

By the time we're home again, we're into the first minutes of Sunday the 30th, a day that we figured will be a normal-ish, chores-ish day that suddenly turns into the world premiere of Linzy's music on the radio.

One of the bands in which she performs harmonies and keys, you see, is called Midnight High, their latest gig being that one at the Bite of Seattle. And Sunday evening, our day back from California, they're on the Locals Only show on KNDD-FM 107.7 The End. They're promoting their new album, "Swimming Lessons", showcasing a few songs from that album and sharing some of their favorite music including "I Don't Wanna Know" from Linzy's debut Dream Patrol project EP titled "Made For TV".

Dang.

That made for a very "That Thing You Do" moment for us at home and for Linzy over at her place.

And yup.

After a crazy busy July, that's seven months down.

Five to go.

🤔🤔🤔

[inhumanbeing]

Watching what is probably a rerun of earlier today Washington dc concert for the fourth at the Capitol building. I'm sure theres a good political commentary joke about how it's the same general place where the insurrection happend, but idk man make it yourself send post

[d-criss-news]

Darren Criss performs onstage during PBS's A Capitol Fourth Concert, Rehearsal, Washington DC, USA - 3 Jul 2024 (Photo by Kristina Bumphrey/Shutterstock)

[finishinglinepress]

NEW FROM FINISHING LINE PRESS: Watching Bees by Michael H. Levin

On SALE now! Pre-order Price Guarantee: https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/watching-bees-by-michael-h-levin/

RESERVE YOUR COPY TODAY

Watching Bees, the author’s fourth collection, brings together thirty mostly short #poems, many previously published in (e.g.) Scientific American, some already anthologized. Speaking in voices that move easily between different forms, these poems inhabit lives ranging from Noah’s wife reluctantly boarding the Ark, through Trojan warriors on the eve of defeat or survivors of the Black Death or Stalin’s Terror, to sharp-edged current political comment. Beneath them simmer resonant tensions between family members — and between past and present, memory and personal responsibility, despair and hope. As the speaker notes in “Kitchen Talk, “The recipes I’m bequeathed are meals / for fishes, splattered by spoons and sauces, / stained with secrets.” That blend of ironic detachment and feeling is the beating heart of this book.

MICHAEL H. LEVIN is a lawyer, solar energy developer and writer based in Washington DC. His work has appeared on stage, in three previous chapbooks, and in numerous anthologies and periodicals, and has received poetry and feature journalism awards. He is co-author (with his life partner Nora Jean Levin) of the concert documentary Two Pianos: Playing for Life (2018–) and the full-length nonfiction volumes A Border Town in Poland: A 20th Century Memoir (2021) and Firebird: The Musical Life and Times of Rebecca Burstein-Arber (2023). See www.twopianosplayingforlife.org ; www.michaellevinpoetry.com, http://www.paperspleaseanodyssey.org/

PRAISE FOR Watching Bees by Michael H. Levin

Michael H. Levin‘s new chapbook Watching Bees, bears witness to what is to be human. The impulse to reach across the generations with family and friends, our relationship with nature in forms as diverse as volcanos and bees, the atrocities we suffer and those we inflict — all of these, in Mr. Levin’s hands, are opportunities for reflection and insight. Watching Bees satisfies Frost’s notion that poetry is a way of remembering what it would impoverish us to forget — a high bar, which this chapbook meets with grace and elegance.

–Roderick (Rick) Bates, Editor, Rat’s Ass Review

Michael Levin is not only a keen observer — of bees and campfires, sepia-tinged photographs, food-stained recipes. He has an uncanny ability to infiltrate deep recesses of feeling. Whether he’s channeling a chorus-line dancer facing the terror of “a faithless knee” or a scientist witnessing the first atomic test, his varied voices cut to the core – and the soul.

–Karen Lyon, Editor, “Poetry on the Hill,” Capitol Hill Rag

In Watching Bees Michael Levin invites us on a journey through the human condition that (to quote another of his poems) flashes “silver-coin flickers of hope.” From Shakespeare to Stalin, Greek mythology to Judaism, the poems in his fourth collection inhabit dozens of lives with keen observation and meticulous language. Whether exploring nature or moments from his personal life, the experience is vivid, immediate, and more than momentary.

–Jonathan Lewis, Editor, The Federal Poet; Author, Babel On (2017)

Please share/repost #flpauthor #preorder #AwesomeCoverArt #read #poems #literature #poetry

[krispyweiss]

Quarter Notes: Blurbs & Briefs from Sound Bites

- In this edition, Live Nation, Neil Young, Chicago and the Beatles

SURPRISE, NO MORE SURPRISES: Live Nation, Ticketmaster and Seat Geek will include fees in up-front ticket prices, freeing concertgoers of the shock of, say, $50 tickets costing $70.

The move comes amid White House pressure to eliminate, or at least disclose, “junk fees.”

“These private-sector leaders are doing the right thing – addressing the junk fees that matter to working folks and adopting transparent pricing,” President Biden tweeted. “It's time for every industry to join them.”

NEIL YOUNG RETURNS TO THE ROAD: Neil Young’s first tour since the before times - a solo-acoustic job - is slated to run June 30-July 24. Dubbed Coastal, it hugs the west coast with residencies in various California cities and dates in Oregon, Washington and Nevada.

Info here.

A CHICAGO CAPITOL FOURTH: Chicago will perform Independence Day in Washington, D.C., a concert to be broadcast on PBS at 8 p.m. Eastern as “A Capitol Fourth.”

AI AND PAUL MCCARTNEY DO SOMETHING REALLY STUPID: Paul McCartney has reportedly used artificial intelligence to make his voice sound younger, recreate the voices of George Harrison and John Lennon and tack them on to an old Lennon demo to create “the last Beatles record.”

There’s no release date.

“Real Love,” “Free As a Bird” and this dumb-ass idea notwithstanding, the last Beatles song was - and remains - “The End.”

The end.

6/16/23