Sundries (7/7/2026)
Independence Day Edition
“I could’ve been at a barbecue!”
Captain Hiller, Independence Day
Every year our family celebrates Independence Day by watching the Independence Day movie. It came out 30 years ago and I’m thrilled to report that it still holds up.
When Bill Pullman (excuse me, Mr. President) delivers this speech, I always feel teary.
“Perhaps it’s fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom... Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution... but from annihilation. We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the world declared in one voice: “We will not go quietly into the night!” We will not vanish without a fight! We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!”
President Whitmore, Independence Day
Fun fact: Did you know this speech was written in about 5 minutes and what we see in the movie was meant to be a placeholder until the screenwriters could polish it?
Another fun fact: The visual effect you see when Randy Quaid flies his plane into the alien mothership is recycled footage of the explosion of the Empire State Building? In this scene, they turn that footage upside down. Go and look at the images and compare them!
But it hasn’t been all Fourth of July festitivies over here. We’ve also when working on redecorating some of our house and getting the fascia and soffit repaired and replaced.
(So much better!)
Look at my new little puzzling/breakfast nook space! (I have a lazy susan on order that will go on top of that table to make it bigger and more usable for puzzles.
That’s most of the news from Thompsons Station, Tennessee.
How about some links?
Things I Read Recently
View From the East Wing: A Memoir by Jill Biden (book)
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (book)
What Does It Profit to Court the Algorithm by Aaron Armstrong (Substack article)
It’s Time For We, The People, To Take on Todd Blanche by Liz Oyer (Substack)
3 Things I Listened To
Love Trapped (podcast). This is a series of episodes about a former contestant on The Bachelor, but it’s not about that show. It’s about how one date turned into. . . well, you’ll have to listen to find out.
Dr. Death (new season) (podcast). Did you listen to the first season? This new season introduces us to another terrible doctor.
Independence Day sound track.
3 Things Happening In The World
Some Good News
Bald Eagle Takes Flight After Months of Care
(Sectional shopping almost took me out)
3 Things About Me This Week
I ordered a sectional. I can no longer afford to help my children pay for college. :-)
I stayed inside. It was way too hot to be outside.
Ate too many no-bake cookies that my daughter made. (so yummy)
This Week’s Reader Question: Which Is Your Favorite Character? (I’ll share the results next week after I close the voting)