I like the Fourth, too. There is more good than bad in this here country, although that is not always obvious. But I do like to observe the holiday in some small way. I built up over the last few years a list of songs I like for the occasion. Find them in your local Youtube. (I'll add your two videos to my list.)
Grateful Dead - U.S. Blues
Steve Miller Band - Living in the USA
Paul Simon - American Tune
Simon & Garfunkel - America
Violent Femmes - American Music
Scott McKenzie - San Francisco
America - Ventura Highway
Wichita Lineman - Glen Campbell
Don McLean - American Pie
City of New Orleans sung by either Arlo Guthrie, or the song's composer Steve Goodman.
America is a country *and* a band. And if you don't know the Steve Goodman version of City of New Orleans it's worth a listen. It's more plain than Arlo's.
I'm really glad you like the Fourth of July, which has never meant anything to me except the one year that we celebrated in my parents' small New England town. There was a parade that included Boy Scouts carrying rainbow flags (at the time the national organization had made a very public anti-gay statement) and lots of old guys in their old uniforms and a fair on the village green and someone (possibly my dad?) reading the Declaration of Independence. That was a good one. But since I mostly didn't grow up celebrating it I usually kind of forget about it until the fireworks start. (Then again I quite like Thanksgiving, so between us we have the problematic but mostly non-religious holidays covered, right?)
I did not like Spent either and was disappointed though happy to support and check in on Holl and Sparrow, et al. There's a section that references taking out all the quotes and nerd stuff on Marxism, etc. and I thought, there begins the mistake because it meant the novel was not in dialogue with an economic discourse/frame.
I was startled at how quickly I was able to get Spent from the library, but soon realized why, i.e., that it's not that good, as you describe. I will probably finish, but just barely. Right now I'm listening to a David Graeber book, which should be good prep for something called The Anthropologists, about which I know nothing, and will try to keep knowing nothing until I try to read it.
Not to nitpick, but I'm pretty sure it's Hey Baby, not babe. Babe doesn't scan. Do you hear X or Dave singing in your head? Stupid question, of course it's Dave.
Her point about Mamdani's listening to voters and not shaming them for their votes is a version of what Tressie keeps saying Dems have to do as well. Making people feel stupid for their choices (even if you do think they are self-defeating) is not a winning strategy. Listening to them and really hearing their concerns is.
Another great column (or what is the genre exactly?). I also loved the Anthropologists and am surprised more people haven't read it. I tried to figure out how to use it to structure my Anthropology and Education course but I couldn't make that idea work.
I like the Fourth, too. There is more good than bad in this here country, although that is not always obvious. But I do like to observe the holiday in some small way. I built up over the last few years a list of songs I like for the occasion. Find them in your local Youtube. (I'll add your two videos to my list.)
Grateful Dead - U.S. Blues
Steve Miller Band - Living in the USA
Paul Simon - American Tune
Simon & Garfunkel - America
Violent Femmes - American Music
Scott McKenzie - San Francisco
America - Ventura Highway
Wichita Lineman - Glen Campbell
Don McLean - American Pie
City of New Orleans sung by either Arlo Guthrie, or the song's composer Steve Goodman.
Good list! City of New Orleans has always been one of my favorite songs. And I’m a sucker for America…the band, but I guess kind of the country too.
America is a country *and* a band. And if you don't know the Steve Goodman version of City of New Orleans it's worth a listen. It's more plain than Arlo's.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXGFKpWUOW0
I'm really glad you like the Fourth of July, which has never meant anything to me except the one year that we celebrated in my parents' small New England town. There was a parade that included Boy Scouts carrying rainbow flags (at the time the national organization had made a very public anti-gay statement) and lots of old guys in their old uniforms and a fair on the village green and someone (possibly my dad?) reading the Declaration of Independence. That was a good one. But since I mostly didn't grow up celebrating it I usually kind of forget about it until the fireworks start. (Then again I quite like Thanksgiving, so between us we have the problematic but mostly non-religious holidays covered, right?)
Good thing we are on it!
I did not like Spent either and was disappointed though happy to support and check in on Holl and Sparrow, et al. There's a section that references taking out all the quotes and nerd stuff on Marxism, etc. and I thought, there begins the mistake because it meant the novel was not in dialogue with an economic discourse/frame.
Exactly
I was startled at how quickly I was able to get Spent from the library, but soon realized why, i.e., that it's not that good, as you describe. I will probably finish, but just barely. Right now I'm listening to a David Graeber book, which should be good prep for something called The Anthropologists, about which I know nothing, and will try to keep knowing nothing until I try to read it.
Not to nitpick, but I'm pretty sure it's Hey Baby, not babe. Babe doesn't scan. Do you hear X or Dave singing in your head? Stupid question, of course it's Dave.
That’s so funny, it’s totally Babe in my head and always has been! But I’m hopeless with lyrics. And Dave, of course! For the last week!
Totally Baby…I don’t know what that’s going to do to the voice in my head!
Too late for a footnote, but today's Lydia Polgreen op-ed today tells the Dems what to learn from Mamdani: listen, be trustworthy, have core values. Here's it is, gift link: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/03/opinion/mamdani-new-york-democrats.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Tk8.Ep_K.1nayqhiGuRyZ&smid=url-share
Her point about Mamdani's listening to voters and not shaming them for their votes is a version of what Tressie keeps saying Dems have to do as well. Making people feel stupid for their choices (even if you do think they are self-defeating) is not a winning strategy. Listening to them and really hearing their concerns is.
Another great column (or what is the genre exactly?). I also loved the Anthropologists and am surprised more people haven't read it. I tried to figure out how to use it to structure my Anthropology and Education course but I couldn't make that idea work.
I say post but I don’t really know either! That would be a cool way to organize a class.