WHAT TO DO ON JULY 4

This is our nation's 247th birthday.  Time magazine this morning had two articles providing a slightly different view of what really happened in 1776:

• July 1776 Was a Shotgun Wedding.  In effect, the Continental Congress saved Democracy from almost certain civil war by finding a way to cooperate.
• America's "Real" Independence Day is not July 4.   That day should have been 2 July 1776.  Why?  Read the article.

The New York Times this morning said:

• Drones and lasers are becoming more popular as an alternative to fireworks, minimizing wildfire risks.  Also pet friendly and will not cause any air pollution.
• Coco Gauff lost in the first round of Wimbledon.
• Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo are favored to win today's Nathan's hot dog eating contest.

There was a two-hour delay because of weather, but Chestnut (only ate 62, not the record 76) and Sudo (39.5, before the delay) did win their Mustard Belts.  I find this competition too nauseating.  But if you want to, direct from Coney Island, here are Miki's victory...and Joey's.

You certainly don't want to watch this during any meal.  In my case, this is what I will have for lunch today.

So what should you do today?  Be patriotic.  I'm wearing blue and red.  Stay home and watch TV.  The annual show is A Capitol Fourth from the National Mall, with 17 minutes of fireworks at the end.  This all began in 1979 with the National Symphony Orchestra.  I was there that first night, for I was then working for the U.S. Senate.  I can still remember that feeling of excitement that morning, figuring out what to eat/drink and where to find the best location to place your blanket.  Watch your PBS station at 8PM EDT (same time in Hawaii).  The stars this year are Renée Fleming, Babyface, Belinda Carlisle, Boyz II Men and Chicago, with Elmo and the Cookie Monster.

The larger Macy's fireworks show will come from New York City, which kicks off at 8PM EDT on NBC, fireworks from around 9:25PM.  This one goes on for 25 minutes, and will debut a new mile-wide waving flag of red/white/blue fireworks.

However, what has blossomed into the best of them will be on CNN from 7PM EDT (1PM Hawaii).  The program will run for 6 hours, showing all the fireworks from the major USA cities, plus:

CNN has lined up a stellar roster of musical artists. Alanis Morrissette, The All-American Rejects, Darius Rucker, Demi Lovato, Duran Duran, Flo Rida, Leon Bridges, Post Malone, Sheryl Crow, Smash Mouth, Zac Brown Band, and The Plain White T’s are all slated to perform on the special. And additional musical guests will also appear.

The best show of all might begin at 6:40PM on  TBS and the Angel's station:  Shohei Ohtani vs Joe Musgrove.  Shohei might have had the best June in Major League Baseball ever, while Joe was the top pitcher last month.  Also, watch this.   If you can bet, Ohtani and Musgrove have some interesting proposition bets.

This also is one of those holiday days when stations play all the Star Wars (TNT), patriotic films (TCM:  Yankee Doodle Dandy, 1776, etc.) and Indiana Jones (Showtime).  His Dial of Destiny is now out, and will be his last one.  After all, he is 80 years old.  

Of course the franchise will continue.  Who will replace him?

• Chris Pratt of Jurassic and other galaxies.
• Glen Powell, who was Hangman in Top Gun: Maverick.
• Ryan Gosling, who is currently the favorite.
• Phoebe Waller-Bridge is in Dial of Destiny, his goddaughter, and also an archeologist.
• 
  Ke Huy Quan, yes, fanciful, but was a child in the Temple of Doom, left acting for two decades, but returned in Everything Everywhere All at Once, winning the Best Supporting Oscar award, and was the real star of the film.  If not as the new Indiana, then perhaps an older Short Round.

The first Indiana Jones movie was released 42 years ago, Raiders of the Lost Ark.  His character was based on Hiram Bingham, of Hawaii, who found Machu Pichu.  Just re-saw Ford in American Graffiti, a 1973 film where he played villain Bob Falfa, his breakout role.  That was half a century ago.

To close, I woke up this morning to Oh? Carol by Neil Sedaka on Music Choice.  Said the song was named for Carol King.  So I researched.

• Yes, they both went to Abraham Lincoln High School, in Brooklyn, New York, along with Neil Diamond.
• And the song was, indeed, named for her when she was Carol Klein, and a member of the Linc-Tones, the first group that Sedaka formed.

• 
  Oh? Carol (colorized version) was written by Sedaka when he was 13, with Howard Greenfield (16), in 1958.  Sedaka's first #1 hit....but that was in Italy in 1960.
• Also in 1958, Gerry Goffin (with King above), who later married Carol King, composed Oh! Neil, which she recorded.  Same music, different lyrics.  And combined.

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THE SAFEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD

Before I focus on the safest countries in the world, a quick run through of "newsworthy" items.  This is a regular Monday workday for most, but not West Virginia because Governor Jim Justice issued an executive order declaring today to be an official holiday for all public employees.  Tomorrow, July 4, is a day off for all in the USA, including West Virginians.

I once loved roller coaster rides.  Not anymore, mostly because of old age.  Plus, I saw on TV one of them in Crandon, Wisconsin, with riders stuck upside down...for hours.  They were rescued.

Turns out this happens a lot.  Watch this one after a power outage in North Carolina. These riders were stuck for 45 minutes.  Everyone survived, and got two vouchers to return.

On the other hand, some love going upside down in a roller coaster.  Here are five of the tallest that by design go upside down.  You got to watch this video.  The most severe is Valravn at Cedar Point near Sandusky, Ohio.  Itself has broken 10 world records.

Heard about the upcoming cage match between Mark Zuckerberg (52) and Elon Musk (39)?  Musk is 70 pounds heavier, but Zuckerberg is said to be in fighting shape.  Dana White, president of UFC for those MMA competition, has been contacted.  Will be for charity.

The European Space Agency two days ago launched a SpaceX rocket from Florida carrying the Euclid (Greek mathematician known as the father of geometry) Telescope to better understand dark energy and dark matter.  This six-year project will cost $1.4 billion.

Finally, after four years of futility, Ricky Fowler edged out Collin Morikawa and Adam Hadwin at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.  You can watch what happened here.  Actually, Fowler has done well these past few years, for he has been the brand ambassador for Mercedes  Benz since 2016, and is associated with companies like Farmers Insurance, Titleist, Taylor Made, Puma, Rolex and Rocket Mortgage.  Ricky started a foundation 2011 to help provide aid for both Japanese and Native American communities?  His mother is half Navajo and half Japanese.

Now, on to the safest countries, by Condé Nast Traveler.  I have evolved to the stage where I now only go to safe countries and cities.  I waver even at Spain and New York City, and for good reason will forever avoid France (they are #57).  Note, though, that the United States sits at #131.  The asterisk indicates I visited there since 2019.  I've been to all of them, except for Iceland.

• The list is driven by the Institute of Economics and Peace's Global Peace Index.
• Factors include terrorism, covid, riots and physical assault, among 23 qualitative and quantitive indicators.
• 163 nations were ranked.
• #10  Switzerland, even though it ranks high in weapons exports.
• #9    Japan,* which comes in second to Finland in safety and security rankings, what I consider to be important in my travels.
• #8    Slovenia has low crime and terrorism rates.  Hmm...nice to know
• #7    Portugal was #18 in 2014, #4 last year and has a low crime rate.  Many choose to retire here.
• #6    Singapore* is new to this list and ranks #2 in the Asian Pacific region.
• #5    Austria was #4 last year.
• #4    New Zealand was #2 last year, and dropped because of violent demonstrations.
• #3    Ireland was #8 last year.  The top three safest countries are in Europe.
• #2  Denmark, with a well-functioning government, low levels of corruption and equitable distribution of resources.  Also, one of the happiest countries.
• #1    Iceland...for the 16th year in a row.   Low in military spending, but is increasing in homicide and terrorism.

I've in the past visited the following countries.  From the World Peace Index:

#15  Germany

#21  Qatar

#22  Australia*

#23  Mauritius

#24  Norway

#28  Sweden

#32  Spain

#33  Taiwan  (safe from crime, but is close to China)*

#34  Italy

#37  UK

#39  Costa Rica

#41  Vietnam

#43  South Korea*

#48  Oman*

#53  Indonesia

#60  Greece

#67  France*

#75  UAE*

#80  China

#92  Thailand*

#99  Cuba

#103  Peru

#108  Bahrain*

#115  Philippines

#121  Egypt

#126  India*

#131  USA*

#132  Brazil

#136  Mexico

#143  Israel

Here is another source indicating unsafe countries, with #1 being Afghanistan, #2 Syria, #3 Ukraine, #4 Mali and #5 Iraq.

I should have also added Canada, the #11 safest country.  Here is a video from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

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HAVE YOU DINED AT RIGO?

Vladimir Putin this weekend supposedly escaped an assassination attempt.  This is the bridge where explosives were placed.  Then again, maybe not, but it was the one he regularly traverses.

Remember, tomorrow is that bridge day that leads to July 4, which is Independence Day on Tuesday, and a Federal holiday for all in the USA.  Monday is a day off also for people in West Virginia.

For tennis fans, Wimbledon has already begun and will continue until Sunday, July 16, on grass courts, of which there are 18.  

• First began in 1877, all male.  
• Men still dominate, as the singles champ wins around $3 million, with $1.5 million for the female winner.  

• 
  128 entrants in both male and female brackets.  Actually, it's more than that, for there will be 15 titles when you add age categories, wheelchair competition, etc.  
• Novak Djokovic is favored at -150 (in other words, bet $150 to win $100, or has a 60% chance of prevailing).   He has won this tournament the past few years.

• 
   #1 seed Carlos Alcaraz is at +350 (right, 22%).
• Daniil Mevedev is at +1600 (6%).
• #8 Taylor Fritz is the highest-ranked American at at 3% chance of winning.

• 
  Anyone know these favorites on the woman side?
• Iga Swiatek (right, 29%)
• Elena Rybakina (18%)
• Aryna Sabalenka (17%)
• #5 choice is American Coco Guaff at 7%.

• 
  Did you know that the four tennis championships are the U.S., French and Australian, all called Opens, with the fourth only known as Wimbledon.  Different for golf, as the UK golf championship is only called The Open.
• And, incidentally, this year The Open will be played at Royal Liverpool from July 20-23.

Just went to Rigo, a relatively new restaurant in Honolulu on Kapahulu Avenue.  If you live here or plan to visit, I can highly recommend their cuisine.

Opened in 2019 where Genki Sushi previously sat, and long ago a bank, for the large vault is still there.  The site had been vacant for a whole year.  Japanese owners from Huge owns 30 restaurants, mostly in Tokyo, and 10 more Rigo's there.  The cuisine is Spanish/Italian/Japanese fusion, prepared in an open kitchen showroom.

Rigo won a 2020 Hale 'Aina Award for Best New Restaurant in Hawaii.  Is open daily from 11AM to 8PM, but the lunch menu is restricted, for they don't turn the Josper oven then.  From left to right:  manager Jimmy Otake, chef Masa Yoda and Atushi Iwasa.

Joining us were Leighton and Steve, who are both attorneys and classmates at Iolani.  Leighton managed Blue Revolution Hawaii and Steve lives at 15 Craigside.

The decor was impressive.

You can see the kitchen where there is a Stefano Ferrara oven, with Chef Yoda, and the only Josper oven and grill from Spain.

We ordered some tapas, and also individually had a dish or two.

I had an excellent butter/shoyu spaghetti.

The pasta immediately above is their noted chilled Hokkaido scallop spaghetti.  But we had it hot.  I should mention that the wines are affordably priced.  We had a Louis Jadot Rosé.

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THE STORY OF BARBIE

Barbie's official birthday is March 9, 1959, even though she was 19 years old when she was born! If you consider Barbie to have been 0 years old when she was born, she would be 64. If you consider the fact that she was born at age 19, Barbie would be 83 years old as of March 9, 2023.

Other notes:

• Cost, $3.
• Her full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.  
• She is not officially married to Ken, and has no children.
• A mint-condition 1959 Barbie doll would be worth $28,000 today.  
• However, the most expensive Barbie ever sold was a collaboration between Mattel and designer Stefano Canturi in 2010:  $302,500.

• Read this if you want all the details about Barbie, such as, she was manufactured in Japan from 1959-1972, then later in Mexico, Hong Kong or Taiwan.

• 
  Greta Gerwig's Barbie, the movie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, plus American Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Will Ferrel, Helen Mirren (narrator), Rhea Perlman and Michael Cera, is set to be released on 21July2023.  
• Simu Liu of Celebrity Jeopardy fame plays a variation of Ken.  
• There will be a soundtrack featuring songs by Lizzo, Nicki Minaj and a bunch of others, plus Dua Lipa singing Dance the Night, and appearing as a mermaid version of Barbie.

• You can purchase a retro Barbie Dreamhouse from Amazon.com for $37.  For ages 3+.

Or the 75th anniversary of the original Barbie for $170 from Amazon.  According to MeasuringWorth, the $3 original Barbie, adjusted for inflation and other factors, would be worth anywhere from $30.10 to $146.00 today.

Oh, this is how Barbie is now supposed to look.

Yikes, we're the same age.

Hurricane Adrian is still heading for Hawaii, but will drop in strength into a tropical storm by later today or tomorrow.  He was up to 105 MPH yesterday.

Hurricane Beatriz, was up to 85 MPH yesterday, but will lose this status today, while just skirting Mexico, south of Puerto Vallarta.

Lot of potential activity in this part of the East Pacific.

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