Ok settle down people!

Next person lighting off a firecracker in my conference room or any other indoors area associated with Dl/LL Digital Media is going to find out pretty quick what happens when a dragon lights  all the fuses to their stash pocket of them at once! That crap stopped being funny in Jr. High and is down right dangerous and stupid!

We clear? GOOD!

And you guys with the super soakers full of ice water- LAY OFF! The wet t-shirt contest is held daily at 3 PM main pool side. Fail to heed me and we’ll have an immediate ‘who shrinks the most when an ice cold super soaker goes off in their pants’ contest!

Before we get this show started a few housekeeping items need to be covered.

1.) PACE YOURSELVES! You have all weekend.

Some of you already look like something any self respecting zombie would turn his falling off his face nose up at and I’m not talking about liberals either! Hang over treatment teams are available both here and on the party mountain. There’s nothing wrong with partying to excess but lets be sure you survive to do it again ok?

Right. Moving on.

2.) To our Canadian readers: I just want to say a belated Happy Canada Day. For those of you who don’t know what Canada Day is or are not Canadian:

Canada Day (French: Fête du Canada) is the national day of Canada, a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act, 1867 (today called the Constitution Act, 1867), which united three colonies into a single country called Canada

3.) Lastly but also most importantly:

I want to put a shout out about a noteworthy accomplishment by someone we all know.

That person is none other than my best friend, Fellow instigator/participator of/in  our shared insanity/delusions, my Co-blogging genetically unrelated brother Impish Dragon. He’s done something I have yet to accomplish in life and I am both happy for him and proud of him for making the dream a reality for his family.

To Impish I just want to say…

Ok time to light the fuse on this puppy and watch it blast off!

Ladies, Gentlemen, Jenerites. Please stand for the National Anthem.

United States National Anthem – The Star Spangled Banner
by The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps

Ten Independence Day Items of Trivia About The Bald Eagle:

1. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson served on the committee that picked the eagle for the national seal [Franklin wanted the turkey].

2. Bald eagles have few natural enemies and live only in North America.
3. Bald eagles get their white head and tail feathers about 4/5 years of age.
4. Bald eagles are not, and never were bald. The term comes from when “bald” meant “white-headed”.
5. Their maximum speed: 40 mph or over 100 mph while in a dive.
6. They can lift roughly half their body weight.
7. The Bald Eagle is no longer considered endangered, and now only threatened.
8. The only other kind of eagle in North America is the golden eagle.
9. Bald eagles mate for life, but if one dies, the survivor will accept a new mate.
10. It is a felony to shoot an eagle.

Quiz: Celebrate this Declaration of Independence quiz

http://www.click2houston.com/news/celebrate-this-declaration-of-independence-quiz/26346530

I got 8/10, pretty tough quiz!

You beat the Leprechaun? Brag about it in the comments section!

A little gratuitous something for our resident fly guy!

No More King!

Parable For The 4th of July

Once, in the 1820’s, a little boy called Sam was playing in the yard behind his house.  During his pretend fighting game, he knocked over the outhouse.  Now Sam was upset and worried that he would get into trouble so he ran into the woods and didn’t come out until after got dark.  When he arrived back home, his pappy was waiting for him.  He asked suspiciously, “Son, did you knock over the outhouse this afternoon?”

“No, pappy,” Sam lied.

“Well, let me tell you a story,” said the father. “Once, not that long ago, Mr Washington received a shiny new axe from his father.  Excited, he tried it out on a tree, swiftly cutting it down.  But as he looked at the tree, with dismay he realized it was his mother’s favorite cherry tree,” his pappy paused.” just like you, he ran into the woods. When he returned, his pappy asked, ‘George, did you cut down the cherry tree?’  George answered with, ‘Father, I cannot tell a lie. I did indeed chop down the tree.’ Then his father said, ‘Well, since you were honest with me, you are spared from punishment. I hope you have learned your lesson, though.’ So,” the Sam’s father asked again,” did you knock down the outhouse?”

“Pappy, I cannot tell a lie any more.” said the little boy. “I did indeed knock down the outhouse.”

Then his pappy father spanked Sam boy red, white, and blue. The boy whimpered, “Pappy, I told you the truth! Why did you spank me?”

Pappy answered, “That’s because George Washington’s father wasn’t in the tree when he chopped it down!”

Keb’ Mo’ – “America the Beautiful”

Live on PBS from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol!

Saturday, July 4, from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET

On July Fourth, America’s national Independence Day celebration honors our country’s 239th birthday and its own 35 spectacular years on air an all-star musical extravaganza that puts viewers front and center for the greatest display of fireworks anywhere in the nation.. America’s favorite Independence Day celebration is broadcast  live on PBS from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, and our troops watching around the world on the American Forces Network. This top-rated extravaganza features coverage from 20 cameras positioned around Washington DC, ensuring viewers are front and center for the greatest display of fireworks in the nation.

In the three decades since the humble beginning of A Capitol Fourth, a parade of superstars — including Frankie Valli, Patti LaBelle, John Williams, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Reba McEntire, Natasha Bedingfield, Barry Manilow, Neil Diamond, Dolly Parton, Steve Martin, Josh Groban, Gloria Estefan, Huey Lewis and the News, Little Richard, Tony Bennett, Faith Hill, Ray Charles, the Bee Gees, Kenny G, Aaron Neville, Kenny Rogers and the Muppets from Sesame Street — have offered the best in American entertainment and helped set the tone for a spectacular American birthday party.

Schoolhouse Rock – “The Preamble”

Father William, the old priest, made it a practice to visit the parish school one day a week. He walked into the 4th grade class, where the children were studying the states, and asked them how many states they could name. They came up with about 40 names.  Father William jokingly told them that in his day students knew the names of all the states.

One lad raised his hand and said, ‘Yes sir, but in those days there were only 13 states.

http://www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth/fireworks-fun/history-quiz/

Got 9/11 on this one. Another pretty tough one!

You beat the Leprechaun? Brag about it in the comments section!

Schoolhouse Rock!: America – The Shot Heard ‘Round the World

A Few More Party Facility Tour Photos

We were running a bit long on Wednesday’s tour so here are a few items that didn’t make it into that tour.

As you can see our multiple pools are anything but ordinary.

And off a wide range of settings and environments

We didn’t skimp on the poolside lounging areas either

We have activities too- You can get a massage

Build a sand sculpture

Make use of our boathouse on our private lake

to go Canoeing,  Kayaking and/or Fishing. Please for your own safety however I must insist you avoid landing on the island with the castle at all costs.

Watch out for the fish if you chose to go angling. This is after all a magical place and some of the magic  or genetically enhanced specimens has apparently gotten into some stock.

If you need anything activities related or have questions please feel free to find and ask Thursday who is serving as Activities Director as well as some damned fine eye candy!

First Continental Congress

The Declaration of Independence

Little Andy Was At His First Day of School

Mrs Whyte, his teacher advises the class that each school day starts with the “Pledge of Allegiance”*** and instructs them to put their right hand over their heart and repeat after her.

As Mrs Whyte starts the recitation she looks around the room, ‘I pledge allegiance to the flag……..’, when her eyes are drawn to Andy who has his hand over the right cheek of his bottom.

‘Andy, I cannot continue till you put your hand over your heart,’ she demands.

Andy looks up and replies, ‘It is over my heart.’

After several more attempts to get Andy to put his hand over his heart, Mrs Whyte enquires, ‘Why do you think that is your heart, Andy?’

‘Well Miss,’ answers Andy, ‘because every time my Grandma comes to visit she pats me there and says, “Bless your little heart,” and my Grandma never lies.’

*** On September 8, 1892 a Boston-based youth magazine – The Youth’s Companion’ published a 22-word recitation for school children to use during planned activities the following month to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of America. Under the title “The Pledge to the Flag”, the composition was the earliest version of what we now know as the Pledge of Allegiance.

As many of you are aware, the Knights of Columbus submitted to congress that the words “Under God” should be added to our pledge of allegiance.  Both Houses of Congress passed the law and it was signed by President Eisenhower  in 1954.

Official versions

(changes in bold italics)

1892

“I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”

1892 to 1923

“I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”

1923 to 1924

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States and to the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”

1924 to 1954

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands; one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”

1954 to Present

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America , and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Do you believe that the word God should stay in American culture?

NBC this morning had a poll on this question.  They had the highest Number of responses that they have ever had for one of their polls, and the Percentage was the same as this:

86% to keep the words, IN God We Trust and God in the Pledge of Allegiance, 14% were against.

That is a pretty ‘commanding’ public response.

Now it is your turn.   It is said that 86% of Americans believe the word God should stay.  Therefore, I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a mess about having ‘In God We Trust’ on our money and having God in the Pledge of Allegiance. Why is the country catering to this 14%?

Pre Battle Speech Independence Day

That speech in the clip above is true for us as well, however our enemies are not fictional aliens from outer space, they’re radical Islamic fundamentalists or ISIS, domestic terrorist and an increasingly tyrannical and overtly big brotherish government trying to turn WE THE PEOPLE into ‘we the sheeple’. Anyway you look at it we’re still fighting for our right to survive. It’s is precisely for these threats foreign and domestic I make the following statement:

I do not advocate violence against government, and I do not want a second civil war in America. I do, however, have a few words for anyone  foreign or domestic of any race, creed, religion, political affiliation, occupation or other walk of life who believes they can control the American People through terrorism, tyranny, aggression or oppression of any kind.

I ‘m here to tell you that, no matter how much you believe you understand the American People, you don’t. No matter how you proceed, you will seriously underestimate the will, creativeness, and fortitude of the American People, thus ultimately creating your own downfall. True Americans, though very patient and peace loving, value liberty, and are neither subjects nor slaves to do any tyrant’s  or religion’s bidding. No matter how massive any efforts to divide or subjugate them, the American people are a force that can and, sooner or later, will come together to unite and defeat any evil.

Advocates of gun rights often argue that in World War II Japan was deterred from invading the U.S. mainland by a fear of American citizens with guns in their closets. They frequently quote Japan’s Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto as saying: “You cannot invade mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass.”  This quote is in fact unsubstantiated and almost certainly bogus, even though it has been repeated thousands of times in various Internet postings. There is no record of the commander in chief of Japan’s wartime fleet ever saying it.

Misquoted, misattributed, made up, mistaken it doesn’t matter. Who said it or if it was ever even actually said has zero bearing on the validity of the statement. Encroach on our freedoms our liberty our our safety and security and we will wait for you in the tall grass, be you a foreign force, foreign or domestic terrorists or our own bent on tyranny government.

Thomas Jefferson wrote the following thoughts-

“When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.”

“Does the government fear us? Or do we fear the government? When the people fear the government, tyranny has found victory. The federal government is our servant, not our master!”

“When the people fear the government, that’s tyranny; when the government fears the people, that’s freedom.”

In the show, The West Wing, one of my favorite Martian Sheen as President Josiah Bartlet quotes is from Season 1 Episode 3 titled ” Proportional Response”. The quotation itself is known as ‘Civus Romanus’-

“Did you know that two thousand years ago a Roman citizen could walk across the face of the known world free of the fear of molestation? He could walk across the Earth unharmed, cloaked only in the protection of the words civis Romanus — I am a Roman citizen. So great was the retribution of Rome, universally understood as certain, should any harm befall even one of its citizens. Where was Morris’s protection, or anybody else on that airplane? Where was the retribution for the families, and where is the warning to the rest of the world that Americans shall walk this Earth unharmed, lest the clenched fist of the most mighty military force in the history of mankind comes crashing down on your house?!”

As brilliant a thinker as Jefferson was I think he was thinking only internally when he made his statements while Pres. Bartlet was thinking only externally. Not only do we need our government to fear WE THE PEOPLE, we need all our enemies to realize that WE THE PEOPLE are the United States, not our government and we are indeed worthy of their fear despite our easy going tolerant nature.  Need proof of this fact? I point you at our greatest generation, who not only fought and died in a war that wasn’t of our making or concern but supplied nearly half of all war materials, weapons and machinery, plus propped up England’s civilian populace at the same time. I point you at those New York Construction works and tradesmen who unbidden by the city assembled their equipment and gear and converged on Ground Zero to hunt for survivors as volunteers, many of whom have died or are currently as a result dying horrible slow deaths and are still proud they did the right thing.

I AM THE LETHAL LEPRECHAUN and I say to all of the enemies foreign or domestic of WE THE PEOPLE OF THESE UNITED STATES-

The eagle born to those who pledged their lives and sacred honor
was smiled upon by God and freed from chains and iron collar.
He is held aloft on unity and by history revered;
for preserving peace through strength his wings now reach
across two hundred years.

I am an American and I’m marching on,
I am a Patriot and this is my song
You are no threat we won’t overcome,

We are AMERICANS and this is our song
WE THE PEOPLE are on the beach,
A Super Power turned killin’ machine,
with a need to bleed you when the light goes green,
and you best believe, you’ve provoked our need

Put a grin on my chin, come at me, ‘cuz we’ll win,
We’re one-of-a-kind and we’ll bring death
to the place you’re about to be:
another river of blood runnin’ under our feet.

Forged in a fire lit long ago, stand with us,
you’ll never stand alone.
We feed on the fear of the devil inside of the
enemy faces in our sights:
aim with the hand, shoot with the mind,
kill with a heart like arctic ice

I am an American and I’m marching on,
I am a Patriot and this is my song
You are no threat we won’t overcome,
We are AMERICANS and this is our song

We’ll bask in the glow of the rising war,
lay waste to the ground of an enemy shore,
wade through the blood spilled on the floor, and if
another threat stands we’ll just kill some more.

Bullet in the breech and liberty in me,
is like a cigarette thrown to gasoline, if
death don’t bring you fear I swear
you’ll fear our marching feet.

Call to your god if we cross your path 
our silhouette hangs like a body bag;
hope is a moment now long past,
the shadow of death is the one we cast.

I am an American and I’m marching on,
I am a Patriot and this is my song
You are no threat we won’t overcome,
We are AMERICANS and this is our song

Now I live lean and I mean to inflict the grief,
and the least of us is still out of your reach.
We The People’s gonna do the deed,
until the river runs dry and our last breath leaves.

Chin in the air with a head held high,
united we’ll stand in the path of the enemy line.
Feel no fear, know our pride:
for God and Country we’ll end your life.

I am an American and I’m marching on,
I am a Patriot and this is my song
You can run, but you won’t hide long,

We are AMERICANS and this is our song
Our resolve is steel and our reach is long,
We are AMERICANS and this is our song
You are no threat we won’t overcome,

I am one of WE THE PEOPLE and this is our song
We made the devil himself turn and run,
I am a Patriot and this is my song
Into the fire I will keep marchin’ on,
We are Americans and this is our song.

Oorah, Liberty, Get Some…

(with all respect for and apologies to the Warrior Project for my purloined & perverted version of  The Warrior Song)

Thank you for your kind attention now all of you get back to finishing the issue before I start the party without you.

38th Annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks 

Macy’s massive show is the biggest display in the country, using 40,000 effects in a 25-minute SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2015 WATCH IT LIVE IN NYC OR ON NBC AT 8pm ET or the replay at 10 PM ET

Of course we’ll have this on in all the Pubs

And while you make your dinner menu selection.

[Please excuse my not listing/describing them. I’ve heard reports of the embarrassing Dragon Drool problems that the Patrons area suffered on Wednesday and hope to avoid that this time around as the clean up required was rather extensive as were the dry cleaning bills. Well, ok, except to mention the Flinstone Cut Prime Rib of Bison]

Or ponder your Dessert options

For our more naughty/flirty/frisky  female groupies Impish has even arranged a special dessert sundae! Just flash your dragon or shamrock tattoo to get one.

Yes I know the portion size is anything but impressive. What can I say…its my understanding Impish insisted on modeling for it personally.

Aaron Tippin – Where The Stars & Stripes & The Eagle Fly

How one of Napolitano’s US Veteran Home Grown Terrorists gets their mail!!

The original Jersey party girl Ginny sent me this one (which might explain why she’s on the floor all the time from wobbly knees co-incidentally)- Just sayin’!

Chocolate Bomb Pudding Shots

Sm Chocolate Instant Pudding
¾ c Kahlua
¾ c Coconut Rum…
4oz Cool Whip (Extra Creamy preferred but not required)

Whisk Kahlua and Instant Pudding together until as thick as it will get (1-2 minutes). Once it has thickened, add Liquor and whisk until all lumps and clumps are gone. Once the mixture is nice and smooth again, whisk in Cool Whip.

Fill almost ¾ of a 1oz plastic shot cup with the mixture then cover and place in the freezer.

It does take several hours to set. For BEST results, I let them set overnight. May use little ice cream tester spoons when serving them.

I’ve not yet tried these, but based on my extensive knowledge of the potables involved, I’ve a few thoughts on this recipe.

Personally I think I’d replace the Coconut Rum with Bailey’s. Kahlua is slightly bitter and coffee flavored and I can’t see where Coconut Chocolate Coffee would ever be a thing.

Now Coconut Rum and Chambord (Raspberry) or Grand Mariner (Orange) I can see, but then them are some pretty expensive pudding shots. Maybe you could use some Southern Comfort (orange)  instead of Grand Mariner but you’d need to watch the alcohol content and be sure that the substitutions don’t total more than the originals in the recipe otherwise its likely they’ll never set up for you.

Also you could explore Frangelico (hazelnut) Godiva (chocolate) or possibly a cherry brandy with the Malibu.

Chocolate, Peanut Butter & Banana S’more Puffs

Don’t be bored by your s’mores…try this heavenly version with puff pastry, peanut butter, bananas, chocolate and marshmallows.  It’s an easy way to make a good thing great!

What You’ll Need

3 bars (1.5 ounces each ) milk chocolate candy
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2  package of Puff Pastry Sheets (1 sheet), thawed
6 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
2 large bananas, cut into 36 (1/4-inch thick) slices
81 each miniature marshmallows (about 3/4 cup packed)

How to Make It

• 1 Heat the oven to 400°F.  Break each candy bar crosswise into 4 pieces along the cut lines, making 12 pieces in all.
• 2  Sprinkle the flour on the work surface.  Unfold the pastry sheet on the work surface. Prick the pastry sheet thoroughly with a fork.  Cut into 9 (about 3-inch) squares.  Place the pastries onto a baking sheet.
• 3 Bake for 15 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown.  Remove the pastries from the baking sheet and let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
• 4 Return the pastries to the baking sheet.  Spread 2 teaspoons peanut butter on each pastry.  Top each with 1 piece chocolate, 4 slices banana and 9 marshmallows.  Reserve the remaining chocolate for another use.
• 5 Heat the broiler.  Broil 4 inches from the heat for 2 minutes or until the marshmallows are golden.  Let the pastries cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes

Chocolate Chip + Banana + Oatmeal Bites (4 Ingredients)

Soft, moist and chewy…just like a bite of banana bread!

Ingredients

• 2 very ripe bananas, mashed 
• 1 cup oats, rolled or quick 
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• small handful semi-sweet chocolate chips or Dark Chocolate if your like me 

Optional add-ins:

• dash of vanilla extract
• shredded coconut
• chopped nuts
• dried fruit (craisins! )
• a few tablespoons nut butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

In a medium size bowl, mash bananas fairly smooth, a few small chunks is ok. Add oats and cinnamon, mix well. Add in chocolate chips, mix again.

Grease a cookie sheet lightly. Using a tablespoon, scoop mixture and place on cookie sheet. I left mine in a dome shape, you could flatten it out a bit with your fingers to make a flatter shape. Should get anywhere from 12 -16 depending on the size you scoop out, if it was a heaping tablespoon or not. 

Bake in oven for 15 – 20 minutes. If you make your scoops dome shaped and on the larger side together, bake for 20 – 25 minutes. Remove from oven, let cool a few minutes before eating.

Store leftovers loosely covered and eat within a day or two.

Notes:
The riper the banana, the sweeter your end result will be. I’ve used rolled oats (like you see here) and quick oats, both with great success. Also, I’ve had batches come out looking lighter than what you see here, usually when using quick oats, so your coloring may vary. They may also darken a bit overnight due to the banana.

I’ve made this recipe many times since sharing. I find that each time my mixture might be a little different. It never been too dry but sometimes seems too wet. This may be that my bananas were large, or extra ripe and soft. If you happen to think the mixture is too wet, add more oats.

You can play around with adding more bananas and oats making a larger batch as well. Since these don’t spread on the baking sheet, you can get 16 on a sheet.

Try using this Muesli cereal  in place of plain oats. It delicious and makes it more of a trail cookie!

We usually go with the Dark Chocolate Chips,  Craisins and the Vanilla Extract.

First Continental Congress

The Passing of The Declaration of Independence

Name Your Favorite Firework!

Each year  fireworks and fireworks displays of any pretty much a given for most July Fourth celebrations. But, did you know there are more than a dozen different types of aerial fireworks? Here are 10 examples of the pyrotechnics that you might see at this year’s celebration.

Peony

The most common type of firework, the peony shell, is characterized by a spherical break of colored stars that burn without generating a trail of sparks, or tail effect.

Chrysanthemum

Similar to a peony, a chrysanthemum has a spherical break of colored stars, though its stars leave behind a trail of sparks.

Willow

The willow resembles a chrysanthemum, but with long burning silver or gold stars that produce a soft, dome-shaped weeping willow-like effect.

Diadem

As a type of peony or chrysanthemum, a diadem has a cluster of stationary stars at its center.

Palm

This shell contains a few large comet stars, which in bursting create large tendrils that give it the appearance of a palm tree.

Crossette

A crossette produces stars that each break apart into four smaller stars, creating a crisscross effect.

Horsetail

The horsetail shell is identifiable by its break, which resembles a short tail.

Ring

A ring shell emits stars in a halo-like shape. Smiley faces, stars and other such identifiable shapes are common variants.

Roman Candle

A Roman candle is a long cylinder that can discharge either a single large star, or a series of them between short intervals.

Cake

With a fuse that sets off a variety of effects in succession, a cake is essentially many Roman candles fused together. Cakes vary widely in size, though some can contain over 1,000 shots.

Schoolhouse Rock Fireworks

Biggest fireworks in the world

This video shows first of all some still pictures and then video of the amazing 48″ diameter 420kg Japanese “Yonshakudama” shell “the world’s largest single firework”
When fired the shell rises to over 2,700ft with a bloom diameter greater than 2,400ft and launched every September 9th and 10th for the Katakai-Matsuri Festival in Katakai town, Ojiya-city, Nigata prefecture Japan, it serves as a dedication to the god of the shrine. The Godzilla waking “Yonshakudama” shell comes in two types, the “Brocade crown over small flowers” and the “Floral shell of shells twice blooming”
The second part of this video is just stunning, the size of these shells simply staggers the mind for the quantity being fired, the smallest being 12″ up to the giant 36″ shells.

  While we’re on the subject of fireworks lets talk a little common sense about them. Fireworks are a dangerous serious business and nothing to be fooled around with or handled when you are in any sort of diminished capacity. They are deserving of the exact same care and respect you would give any other explosive or firearm. If you are using them to celebrate your holiday, please take the proper safety measures! Don’t let yourself become of of these idiots in a viral  epic failure video!

YOU may not be the only one injured by your stupidity and antics. Fireworks love collateral damage!

Ralph Nader: No more coming in 2nd, winning Presidency

n the history of the United States, four presidential candidates who came in second in the popular vote were “elected” president (John Quincy Adams in 1824, Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876, Benjamin Harrison in 1888, and George W. Bush in 2000).

This inversion of democratic elections was due to the 50 states’ winner-take-all laws and the absurdity of the Electoral College. To political observers in other democratic countries, the U.S. is the laughingstock for their failure to change this system that rejects the popular will.

Change is in the wind. A remarkable civic movement is taking on this overlooked issue. The “National Popular Vote” is successfully pressing for an interstate compact, whereby states pass laws declaring that they will give all their electoral votes to the winner of that national popular vote for president. Presto!

Therefore, there is no need for a Constitutional amendment to repeal the Electoral College. What the compact does is align the electoral vote with the popular vote since the Constitution exclusively accords the states the authority to select the manner of choosing its presidential Electors.

Remember from your history book, voters do not vote for presidential candidates directly; they vote for a slate of presidential Electors who then vote for the real candidates.

So far, led by philanthropist Steve Silberstein and his colleagues, 10 states (and the District of Columbia) possessing 165 electoral votes together – or 61 percent of the 270 electoral votes necessary to prevail – have enacted laws for this interstate compact.

They are Rhode Island, Vermont, Hawaii, Maryland (the first to do so), Massachusetts, Washington, New Jersey, Illinois, New York and California.

Visit nationalpopularvote.com for state-by-state details and the list of their bi-partisan advisory board with both retired Republican and Democratic Members of the Congress.

There are numerous other benefits of this long-overdue reform that is backed by public opinion polls in the past few decades. With such a reform, presidential candidates will become more likely to campaign in more states, regardless of whether they are “blue” states, “red” states, or closely divided states. Presidential elections will no longer be focused in a tiny number of “battleground states,” such as Florida, Ohio, Virginia, and Iowa.

In 2012, a majority of the general election presidential campaign events were just in those four states. That means most Americans never see these candidates in their states to meet, question, support, or oppose them. Mitt Romney did not campaign in California or New York; while Barack Obama did not campaign in South Dakota or Texas.

This interstate compact, once it reflects a majority of the electoral votes – enough to elect a president (270 of 538) – assures that, in Mr. Silberstein’s words, “every vote, in every state, will matter in every presidential election.” When people know that their vote matters, they are going to be more motivated to turn out to vote.

With importance placed on the popular vote over the electoral vote, voter suppression or messing with the counting of the votes in specific swing states (i.e.: Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004) will not be as likely.

The present skewed system gives more importance to a tiny number of “battleground” states, which tip the election. Politicians favor these states with more visits and more tangible benefits once the candidate is in office.

Perhaps it is a coincidence, but, as pointed out by National Popular Vote, “battleground” states receive 7 percent more federal grants than ‘spectator’ states, twice as many presidential disaster declarations, more Superfund enforcement exemptions and No Child Left Behind exemptions.”

Applying my theory that it takes one percent or less of the citizenry to make major changes in American government (so long as they reflect majoritarian opinion), this tiny group, the National Popular Vote, could be nearing an historic triumph with their educational and advocacy efforts at the state legislative level.

There is a lot of talk these days about growing inequality in the country. That inequality is exacerbated by the lack of direct influence in elections that a popular vote would give those currently underrepresented groups.

This nationwide citizen drive working to reduce inequality among voters could be an important step toward closing the inequality gap.

To join the effort for the national popular election of the president, go to nationalpopularvote.com for clear and crisp guides toward becoming a participant in your state.

Having personally met Mr. Nader on multiple occasions (he was literally born and raised on town over from where I lived in Connecticut and we have friends and  organizations in common) I can say unresolvedly I not particularly a fan of his politics or political views for the most part but I do applaud his consumer activism.

However I am also a big enough man to admit it when someone I disagree with has hit the nail squarely on the head. In this case Mr. Nader has done exactly that. When lobbying was legalized effectively the Congress went up for sale. From where I sit the same could be said of the 2009 Presidential Election.

Take our right to determine our President back from Big Money and stop them from turning WE THE  PEOPLE into WE THE SHEEPLE, join the effort for the National Popular Election of the President today. Liberty, Democracy, and the right to a free election via popular vote are too precious not to do your part to protect them!

Let Freedom Ring (My Country ‘Tis of Thee) Abby Anderson

Twilight Tattoo at Fort McNair with the Old Guard

Disney’s Celebrate America! – A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky Fireworks Walt Disney World 4th