Bird with orange chest perched atop a stone marker....

Fourth of July Fireworks - Boston 2009, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA ...

The Pops was awesome. The stuff interspersed was a little lacking, particularly that bebop version of U2 (which we turned off until it was over). Neil Diamond was pretty awesome, I mean, for Neil Diamond.The fireworks are awesome. The accompanying music i...

I lit another vigil candle this morning. A 20 year old girl is dead, among seven to die in two accidents this morning.  Preventable deaths.  Vehicular homicides. In both accidents, the drunk drivers were wearing their seat belts - and they lived...

Why not read my fantastical take on John Adams, published last summer at the popular blog Citizen of the Month? Then go take a look at a video clip from HBO’s superb series John Adams. Check out films about the making of the HBO John Adams series....

...at least from me. Maybe it does from other people; I don't know.I'm sure most of you can ascertain that I don't agree with a whole hell of a lot of what goes on in this country. But you know what? I also appreciate the freedoms we do have, and I have h...

The Icelandic Dotland Saga (c. 1245) tells the story of Bjarni Blood-Axe Sturlnorlasson and his troop of intrepid adventurers who ventured to meet Leif Erikson in Vinland but were blown off course to a place Bjarni Blood-Axe called Dotland. They seem to h...

Bench at commuter train station. I know this picture doesn't have center of interest, but I liked the light and color, and the overall feel of the picture. It also would have made a good theme day post for the theme of empty....

From the DotBike Site. ——— MassBike Spins Series Presents: DotBike and RozzieBikes Farmer’s Market Ride Join us Saturday, July 11 for the second annual Farmer’s Market Ride! This year Dot Bike is joined by Rozzie Bikes in le...

Some thoughts on America here and here from Alex de Tocqueville, who brilliantly saw both the nation's strengths and weaknesses. ... I’m sorry. I just love my country – and I fear for it at times. ... At right is the same Grand Union flag that I poste...

My Fourth of July is complete. As always, I read the Declaration of Independence in the Boston Globe from start to finish. It's a great tradition, and I hope it remains unchanged as long as the Globe is in business.The Declaration is also a living documen...

A summer intern at the Cape Cod Times named Henry Rome was such an outstanding journalist at his high-school paper in Pennsylvania that he was named the National High School Journalist of the Year.Now, before he heads off to Princeton University this fall...

We have become obsessed with elderly drivers. Today's example: this story in the Boston Globe about an 83-year-old woman who crashed through the front of a Natick liquor store. My guess is that it wouldn't even have made the Globe a year ago.To be sure, t...

Long before the Dos Equis guy, George Washington was the most interesting man in the world, What we look for in our leaders has changed quite a bit in 233 years… ...

The NCAA has found yet another way to exploit student athletes. ... Hub Blog realized the NCAA had way too much money when, of all things, I noticed the parquet floor at the Garden had been replaced during the recent NCAA basketball tournament with a spec...

One thing about Smilin' Dan Grabauskas -- he knows the T and "hassle factor" go hand-in-hand.Not that I have a problem with the T cracking down on fare scofflaws. I just wish it were uniform. Like outbound on the Green Line, particularly on Comm. Ave?Lot ...

At this rate, Mitt Romney will get the 2012 Republican nomination by default.Sarah Palin added another line to her political resume yesterday. In addition to mayor, governor and vice presidential candidate, she can now add quitter to the litany, walking a...

This is my perfect day, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SAAs seen in Boston Globe, 07/04/09:STEVE GARFIELD, Videoblogger on new media and technology, of Jamaica Plain:7 a.m. Check e-mail, Twitter. Send Tweet: “Reminder, at 10 a.m., see ev...

Boston's South Street Diner, a throwback to '50s-style eateries and a Leather District landmark, is rallying for support to combat an attempt from neighbors wanting to roll back the restaurant's hours and force them to close at 2 a.m. ... Lo...

One of Boston's Swan Boats up close and personal. America's First Family up close and personal. I just saw this photo on flickr and couldn't resist.Anali's First Amendment © 2006-2009. All rights reserved.This Post’s LinkLike what you see? Subscribe to...