Browsing: July 4

A Brief History On July 4, 1926, Knoebels Amusement Resort opened in Elysburg, Pennsylvania.  One of the few amusement parks that allows you to bring your dog, it is a particularly comfortable place with ample shade and excellent food.  This great old amusement park is just one of several in Pennsylvania, and is among the many reasons to visit the state.  Here we list only 10 of the many attractions, the ones that interestus the most.  Perhaps some of the other museums, resorts, historical sites or parks is what interests you.   Digging Deeper 10. Laurel Caverns. The largest cave system in Pennsylvania, the…

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A Brief History On this Independence Day we would like to acknowledge the important role firearms and guns of all types have played in the formation of and preservation of the United States.  Especially with the 1996 movie, Independence Day and the 2016 sequel, Independence Day: Resurgence,  we also recognize the prominent role firearms and weapons have played in Hollywood movies and television productions.  On June 27, 2016, Shooting Illustrated, an NRA affiliated publication, published a list of “Top Ten Guns of American Pop Culture” giving us inspiration for making our own list. Digging Deeper 10.  Take Down Sniper Rifle.…

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A Brief History On July 4, 1966, The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was enacted, with an effective date one year later, July 4, 1967.  In keeping with the wondrous and mysterious ways of Washington, DC, the FOIA was repealed the next day!  Not to worry, a virtually identical FOIA was enacted on July 5, 1967, and was effective from July 4, 1967. Digging Deeper This goofy, confusing political posturing is exactly why the FOIA was needed.  On the other hand, far from making government transparent as the FOIA was intended, self serving interpretations and vague wordage caused the 1974 Privacy Act…

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A Brief History On July 4, 1910, heavyweight boxer Jack Johnson, an African-American, knocked out former champion Jim Jeffries, a white man, to become the premier boxer in the world.  An indication of the state of racial relations in the US at that time were the riots that broke out across the country in response! Digging Deeper Johnson was the first African-American heavyweight boxing champion, a title he earned in 1908.  He had grown up in Texas, a former slave state in the deepest South, and faced racial prejudice at every turn, including being denied a championship fight for years.…

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A Brief History On July 4th, Americans celebrate their Independence Day, a holiday that signifies their freedom.  During the month of June 2015, Americans experienced a host of developments in the expansion of this freedom.  In any case, to paraphrase Bob Dylan, the times sure were a-changin’ in June 2015! Digging Deeper June 2015 included events, incidents and policy changes that the older generation among us probably did not expect to see take place in their lifetime. To begin, early in the month, Olympic medalist Bruce Jenner, a father of six, changed his name to “Caitlyn” and began referring to himself with feminine pronouns.  While he cross…

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