Today we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence….we have BBQs, fireworks, beer and family fun….FYI, not the actual day of the signing…..

I have one of the founding fathers, in my opinion the only father, to thank for my life……many, many, many years ago I read the words of Thomas Paine….one of his quotes stuck with me and I have tried to live up to them….”is the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart is firm and whose conscience approves his conduct will pursue his principles unto death”……..I try!

This will be my only post today for I am spending it with my granddaughter…..

Did you know that there are people living in this country that do not have proper representation in Congress….I know the way the Congress is these days…do any of us have representation?

That joke aside….the people of the nation’s capital only have an observer in Congress…..but there is the possibility that that will change soon……

America could have a new state called New Columbia by this time next year if voters in Washington, DC, choose statehood this fall and Congress allows it. The name—first chosen during a statehood bid in 1982—was approved this week by a statehood commission that included Mayor Muriel Bowser and Paul Strauss, who is one of DC’s two “shadow senators,” reports the Washington Post. Strauss admitted that he isn’t a “super fan” of the name. “We decided to keep what had been part of the statehood legacy since 1982,” he said. “If the voters of the new state want to change it, that’s going to be a great thing they can do as a free state.”

Runner-up names at the 1982 statehood convention included Potomac, Anacostia, Capital State, and the State of Utopia. The Washingtonian reports that at the statehood commission meeting this week, there was applause when DC resident Travis Swanson said the US has “sugarcoated the history of Christopher Columbus” and he doesn’t deserve to be honored with a star on the American flag. Swanson suggested the state name “Douglass Commonwealth,” which would honor anti-slavery leader Frederick Douglass and allow DC to remain DC. (President Obama says he supports DC statehood.)

Now that you are caught up with the news of the day…please go out and enjoy yourself and your family…..I will return tomorrow and start my regular posting schedule….thanx for visiting.