4th of July

The Solo Stove Bonfire, one of our top picks for the best smokeless fire pits, is perfect for a cool evening, and this deal matches the lowest price we've seen ...

When he’s not hip-deep in the trenches combing through deals on our picks, he enjoys writing about video games, computers, gaming accessories, and tech that he can't afford. You can find deals on everything from hiking boots to sleeping bags that Wirecutter has tested and recommended at REI’s 4th of July Sale & Clearance event. Our pick for the best camping chair for kids, the REI Co-op Camp Chair is a durable and affordable option that will withstand wear and tear from children. So if you’re looking to avoid the rush or can’t hold your excitement back, check out the early Prime Day 2022 deals that are already on sale. Jokes aside, Prime Day is so close that the Deals Team is already losing sleep. Featuring a convenient carry strap that allows for easy transportation, the Co-op Camp Chair also comes with a deep and functional cupholder. There’s a slight possibility that you haven’t seen the endless Prime Day marketing campaigns from Amazon (and our continuing coverage of early sales), but in case you missed it: Did you know that Prime Day is coming up on July 12 through July 13? Although our budget pick is too small for large jobs like making bread dough or coleslaw, the KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper is perfect for chopping small portions of vegetables or nuts—both tedious tasks to do by hand. If your small car will be seeing long or oversized loads (such as a kayak), this is another nice chance to save on a great addition to keep you safe on the road. After researching dozens of wagons and testing 10, we picked the MacSports Collapsible Folding Outdoor Utility Wagon as our favorite all-around wagon for basic toting. Combat the rainy season with our men’s commuter raincoat pick. Folding wagons can be useful tools for families, beachgoers, or really anybody who needs to tote a lot of gear from one place to another.

Oh, and food. Lots and lots of food. Ever since the first fireworks lit up the sky for the new country, July 4th celebrations have included group meals and ...

Ever since the first fireworks lit up the sky for the new country, July 4th celebrations have included group meals and cookouts. For SuperCenter stores, this means being open from 6 a.m.-11 p.m. Some services such as auto care centers, pharmacies or pickup and delivery could have shortened schedules to check ahead. Oh, and food.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of incredible bargains: Score big on TVs, headphones, laptops, video games, tablets...

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Whatever you're looking for, the likes of Best Buy, Dell, Walmart, Amazon, and HP have you covered, and we've scoured all these retailers' shelves (and more), ...

Or, for something a little more permanent, take a look at everything we expect to see from Prime Day PC deals. That's why this $300 discount at Best Buy is so impressive - you're getting a monster of a machine for just $849.99. That means we'd recommend jumping on any prices that work for you ahead of time - there's no guarantee they will still be on sale or in stock once the crowds descend on the 4th. You're getting a mid-range spec here, with an 11th generation i5 processor, 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD - all housed in that luxury chassis. While you're picking up a baseline RTX 3050 spec here (8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD) we don't see machines running this kind of graphics card for much less. You'll also find 8GB RAM and a 512GB SSD in here - perfect for flexible work. We've stumbled across laptop deals as cheap as $78 (opens in new tab) this weekend (that's thanks to a $60 discount on the 11.6-inch Lenovo Chromebook at Best Buy), but you'll find discounts spanning the full price range right now. Save $30 - This is a brand new record low price on this 15.6-inch Asus - with the 2022 version taking its first major discounts in this weekend's 4th of July laptop sales. Save $150 - If you're after a laptop for watching all your favorite shows, you'll want to check out this $200 discount on the Asus Vivobook Pro in Walmart's 4th of July laptop sales. Save $120 - If you're after a little more power in the slimline form factor, we'd recommend checking out this Asus Windows laptop. However, Best Buy is offering a $60 discount on this entry level Intel Celeron N4020 configuration of the Chromebook 3 - with 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage no less. We're just one day away from the main event now, but if you do spot a price you like in this today's 4th of July laptop deals, we'd recommend jumping on it.

Just in case your grill breaks at the worst possible moment, check here to see if Home Depot is open on July 4th, 2022.

If Home Depot doesn't have what you're looking for, Walmart and Target are also open this Independence Day. Whatever 4th of July activities you have planned this year, chances are a shopping trip is in order. Even the best party planners forget a thing or two sometimes.

This 4th of July weekend we'll be trawling the internet to find you the best deals on laptops, graphics cards, CPUs, and more tech.

Earning 4.5 stars in our AMD Ryzen 5 5600X review (opens in new tab), this chip is highly sought after thanks to its strong single- and multi-threaded performance, leading power efficiency and PCIe Gen4 support. Using price comparison tools like CamelCamelCamel (opens in new tab) and PCPartPicker, we compare sale prices to previously listed prices to ensure the deals we post are actually a bargain. The Core i5-12400F is a great all-rounder for an affordable price — made even better with this discount. The fastest CPU for gaming - the Ryzen 7 5800X3D has a few dollars knocked off of its retail price if you use code 4THBUA35 at checkout. We will be combing the internet (and our inboxes) to find you the best deals on tech, laptops, graphics cards, CPUs, and more. - Lenovo:Black Friday in July (opens in new tab)

From major appliances that'll upgrade your kitchen to a vintage-inspired popcorn machine, read on for some of the best appliance deals to shop this 4th of July ...

As part of Wayfair’s GE sale, snag this black model for $239, 23% off the regular price (prices vary by color). This sturdy food grinder attachment works with the attachment hub of any KitchenAid Stand Mixer. The set includes a metal food grinder, a food tray, several grinding plates, a cleaning brush and more. It comes with a remote control, charging base, extra filters and a 12-month warranty. Renters and folks short on kitchen space can still have all the convenience of a dishwasher with a portable option, like this 18-inch model from GE. This full console dishwasher reliably delivers dishes clean, dry and sanitized. The Anova Nano is an easy-to-use model with a touchscreen interface and simple app that will help you produce perfectly cooked meals every time. This Galanz freezer and refrigerator is compact, stylish and effective. The Dyson V8 Fluffy is a powerful, cordless vacuum that’s great for tackling upholstery and pet hair. When your pet is shedding its summer coat, a simple and effective vacuum can make all the difference. Was 1,099, right now you can save 34% and buy it for $728. The OptiWash feature on the washer senses your clothes’ soil level and adjusts the detergent and wash time appropriately, while the Super Speed Dry feature on the dryer can get your clothes ready to wear in just 30 minutes. The refrigerator itself has a 32% discount, bringing the price down to $2,299 with free delivery. Check out the best 4th of July appliance sales and deals below.

It's Fourth of July weekend, and you might be wondering what stores will be closing their doors for the holiday. Is Planet Fitness open on July 4, 2022?

According to Holiday Shopping Hours, Planet Fitness is expected to be open on July 4, 2022. Let’s get into everything we know about Planet Fitness’ 4th of July holiday hours. Fourth of July is this Monday, so we’re sure you have plans to spend your vacation days with family and friends.

Here is everything you need to know about Starbucks on the Fourth of July (7/4/22)

Christopher Burch can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisBurch856. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? nj.com/tip The Fourth of July will be celebrated on Monday, July 4.

If you're planning to visit a Home Depot store on the 4th of July, we have found out its working hours for you as it will remain open.

We suggest you check with your local Home Depot before heading. However, some may work during different hours due to the occasion. While the non-essential services will all remain closed on the 4th of July, the majority of the store will function as usual.

Are you looking for some dog treats after a rough weekend of fireworks? Do you need to pick up extra kibble on a Monday? Then you need PetSmart.

However, just because PetSmart will be open on the Fourth of July, that does not necessarily mean that they will operating with their normal business hours. And while they are reporting that the company will have stores open from 9 AM until 6 PM on Independence Day, we definitely recommend calling ahead just in case. It doesn’t matter what day of the year it is, your pup (or cat) likely needs something.

Is Costco open on July 4th? Here's what to know about the store's holiday hours, plus a list of other retailers you can visit on Independence Day.

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According to the Gun Violence Archive, in 2022, as of June 27 there have been 9663 gun deaths, 18261 gun injuries, and 292 mass shootings.

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Monday, July 4 Haitian Community Organization Festival. Enjoy a free live music concert, Caribbean food, soccer and basketball tournaments, face painting.

Thank you, Evanston 4th of July Association! July 4th Morning games: Morning games are a tradition that has been going on for 100 years. Preregister for $15 a child and pick-up your packet at noon. (RSVP to [email protected] and we will send any details.) July 4th Lakefront Fireworks Register on race day is $20 a child and begins at noon. From sack races to egg tosses to running and pie eating, there is something for everyone. July 4th Band Concert July 4th Parade The following list are all the events planned for this centennial celebration. July 4th Fun Run for children under 10. Evanston 4th of July Association celebrates 100 years!

Roland Emmerich sicced aliens on the world in the aptly titled “Independence Day,” a sci-fi disaster movie starring Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, and Bill Pullman ...

Director Roland Emmerich, who co-wrote “Independence Day” with Dean Devlin, has since become a disaster movie specialist with “The Patriot,” “The Day After Tomorrow,” “White House Down,” and “Moonfall” among others. Brian De Palma outdid himself in “Blow Out,” a darkly brilliant thriller interwoven with enough genre send-ups to almost call it a horror comedy essential. But look deeper and you’ll discover a delightfully inexplicable enigma of holiday horror that’s sure to leave you asking, “What is happening?” and “Why?” in the most amused way. Categorizing Martin Scorsese’s “Cape Fear” as an outright horror title would feel like more of a stretch if Robert De Niro wasn’t so indisputably scary in it. This twisty and terrifying saga follows Marisol (Martha Higareda), an undocumented pregnant woman attempting to cross the border for the second time. At a glance, William Lustig’s “Uncle Sam” is a goofy slasher about a serial killer in striped slacks and a star-spangled top hat. Like “The Bay” and “Jaws,” George McCowan’s 1972 creature feature tries to say something about humanity’s mistreatment of Earth, and the especially American logic behind that entitlement. “Jaws” remains the titan of watery summer scares, but Barry Levinson’s “The Bay” will make your skin crawl in ways no shark ever could. Equal parts gore and kitsch, “2001 Maniacs” features some of the most brutal kills on this list and stands a decent chance at ruining your taste for barbecue. Julius Ramsay’s “The Current Occupant” follows Henry (Barry Watson), a man who suspects he may be the President of the United States. Staffers at the psychiatric asylum where Henry is being held disagree. Roland Emmerich sicced aliens on the world in the aptly titled “Independence Day,” a sci-fi disaster movie starring Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, and Bill Pullman among others. The list has been capped at 13 titles in a star-spangled homage to the original colonies codified by the Declaration of Independence on this doomed day.

Ran out of hot dogs? If you are wondering if Target is open on the 4th of July in 2022, we are sharing their store hours for any last-minute errands!

You can even stop for a quick pick-me-up drink since Starbucks will be open on the 4th of July as well! And if there isn’t a Target near where you live, we are also sharing other stores that will open on the 4th of July for those last-minute grabs. The 4thof July means endless outdoor activities to enjoy in the warm weather, like attending the annual parade, going on a camping trip, watching 4th of July fireworks or making a splash at the pool.

See today's hottest 4th of July sales all in one place as we check out the latest live deals for phones, TVs, wearables, and more today.

You can now get this prestigious, multi-award-winning OLED TV for well under $1000. The 48-inch model is now just $796.99 at Amazon, saving you a huge $703 off the MSRP. You can save $30 today on both the 40mm and 44mm versions of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 at Best Buyand pick them up for $220/$250 respectively. You can get a version with half the RAM and storage for $299, but I certainly wouldn't go that way given my personal experience with these laptops as I'm using an 8GB one right now. Well, if you're looking to upgrade, this is a great time to jump in as Samsung is running its promotion where you'll get $100 Samsung credit and can knock off up to $1000 from the price by trading in an older device. Sure, it's far from stylish with bezels for days and a small 11.6-inch display and 4GB of RAM means multitasking capabilities will be modest to say the least. In addition to finally creating an operating system that works in sync with Google's Play Store apps the Watch 4 has excellent fitness and health features like heartbeat and blood oxygen monitoring and in-depth sleep measurements that are incredibly accurate. A few retailers are running the same promotion today, so take your pick from Dell,Best Buy, and Walmart. They're a comfortable fit too and much more affordable than the arguably more exercise-friendly (but $200) Beats Fit Pro. Just go easy on the number of Chrome tabs running at once and you should be fine. Directly below we've linked to sale sections that have caught our eye so far and below those, we'll be dropping in select spotlight deal highlights on particular items with the best prices to be found online today. We're all set to bring you highlights of the very best offers too with our live report. We're on the lookout for deals on 4K TVs, mobile phones, smart home devices, cheap headphones, and more today.

Right now is a great time to do so. Read on for some of the best deals out there on everything from weather-resistant sectional sofas to dining sets. Once you' ...

Homary: During Homary’s 4th of July Sale, you can get up to 80% off furniture, including pieces for outdoors. Solo Stove: Save up to 45% on the Solo Stove’s bestselling lightweight fire pits during its 4th of July sale. (The brand is also offering an extra 50% off all sale items across all categories.) Serena & Lily: Code SPLASH will get you 20% off everything on the coastal-inspired brand’s site. Score additional savings on select items with code FOURTH. And if any deals are calling your name, don’t wait to act, as many of these great sales end today. Once you’ve finished upgrading your outdoor space, shop our list of the best 4th of July furniture sales for more savings. Right now, retailers like Jonathan Adler, West Elm and Anthropologie are running excellent sales to help you upgrade your outdoor space for less. From discounts on Floyd’s popular outdoor pieces to 25% off Serena & Lily’s chic patio staples, here are the very best 4th of July patio furniture sales going on right now. The 4th of July is finally here, as are tons of can’t-miss deals on all sorts of patio furniture staples. Wayfair: Right now, you can shave up to 60% off hundreds of Wayfair’s outdoor furniture pieces as part of their 4th of July Sale. Right now is a great time to do so.

Highland Park officials are urging people downtown to shelter in place. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker tweeted, "State police are on the scene and we have made all ...

We will continue working with local officials to help those affected.— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) July 4, 2022 We will continue working with local officials to help those affected." Enough is enough!"

The Times report said witnesses reported hearing more than 20 shots. A reporter saw five people covered in blood. One was covered in a blanket.

Independence Day is here, and so are the savings. We've rounded up plenty of sales on air purifiers, office chairs, massage guns, and more.

Use code JULY25 to see the discount at checkout. Use code ZSJULY4 to see the discount at checkout. Clip the coupon button on the page to see the discount at checkout. Clip the coupon button on the page to see the discount at checkout. Use code 4JULWKND150 to see the discount at checkout, where you'll get two free Dream Pillows with your purchase. Use code FREEDOM to see the discount at checkout. Enter code FIREWORKS20 to see the discount at checkout. Enter code SUMMER to see the discount at checkout. This deal is on the version with three routers, but you can save and go for the version with a router and two extenders (having three routers nets you slightly better range and additional Ethernet ports. The 1080p video is clear, even at night, and you get three hours of free video history (you can expand this with a Nest Aware subscription). It can detect people, pets, and vehicles, and you can wall-mount it or use the included stand. It's a great option for those who want the freedom to move around the room while on video calls. It comes with a variety of sounds, with the ability to play continuously for as little as 30 minutes or as long as 90 minutes.

Highland Park police say 19 people were taken to hospitals and authorities are still searching for the suspect. Gunfire at a Fourth of July parade in ...

A children’s bike and pet parade also was scheduled to start 30 minutes before the main parade. My condolences to the family and loved ones; my prayers for the injured and for my community; and my commitment to do everything I can to make our children, our towns, our nation safer. Miles Zaremski, a Highland Park resident, told the Chicago Sun-Times: “I heard 20 to 25 shots, which were in rapid succession. My team and I are safe and secure.” The parade was suddenly halted 10 minutes after it started later after shots were fired. It was unclear if the five dead were among the 19 hospitalized.

The police said at least two dozen more people were injured after the shooting in Highland Park, Ill., north of Chicago, and that they were searching for a ...

Five people died and 16 were hospitalized in the attack on the parade in a northern Chicago suburb, the Highland Park Police said. The timing of a trip by Lisa O. Monaco, the No. 2 law enforcement official in the United States, to Philadelphia in late June, with the heat setting in over the city, was noteworthy. The bangs, he said, that “everyone seemed to confuse it with fireworks” — and then the crowds running. He saw a woman “completely bloody,” he said and multiple people, including a child, injured or dead. And I saw the bullets hitting the tree that was like literally in front of us.” The shooting, he said, led to a “horrific” scene of terrified people and bloodied bodies. He estimated the family was sitting in chairs about 20 feet away from the gunman, who was on the roof of a cosmetics store firing down. The family reached a building and hugged a wall to try to escape the gunman’s line of sight. Representative Brad Schneider, who represents Highland Park, a northern Chicago suburb, in Congress, said he was at the start of the parade when someone began to shoot. Miles Zaremski, 73, a Highland Park resident who was at the parade, said in an interview that he heard what sounded like gunshots from an automatic rifle. He said SWAT teams were going door to door in the area. Police said they believed the gunman, who was not in custody, had fired from a rooftop, using a rifle.

It's officially the 4th of July, which means abundant savings on TVs, kitchen appliances, mattresses, and much more. Despite not running an 'official' July ...

Save $200 on this impressive model — or snatch up the 14-inch MacBook Pro M1 for $1,999 (was $1,799) (opens in new tab). New Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers can avail of four months absolutely free, which saves $8.99 a month. (Keep an eye on Prime Day offers next week.) The Apple Watch 7 features a larger display and faster charging compared to other models, while and tracking heart rate, sleep, stress and blood oxygen. We're talking an Amazon Fire TV 55-inch Omni Series 4K UHD Smart TV for $299.99 (was $559.99) (opens in new tab), which is at an all-time price low. (opens in new tab) Amazon's smart tech is on sale now, too – notably its eero line of mesh routers, Blink home security cameras, and refurbished Amazon Echo devices. Save $81 - Prime members can pick up this Amazon-brand mesh Wi-Fi 6 router at the lowest price we've ever seen. Or, snatch up an Amazon Fire TV 43-inch 4-Series Smart TV on sale for $199.99 (was $369.99) (opens in new tab), a great low-cost display with a $170 discount. Save $21 - The Keurig K-Mini is the perfect coffee machine if space is an issue in your kitchen or home office. (A remote is still included, however.) This one's an early Prime Day deal so there's no problem if you want to jump in before the big day. Today's price at Amazon on the Blue and Purple colors is just $10 more than the cheapest we've ever seen. It's the best-value TV you can buy today, in our opinion – there's no question. As we all know, Amazon Prime Day is next week (July 12-13), so the retailer's relatively low-key approach to Independence Day sales is somewhat understandable.

Multiple northern Chicago suburbs canceled Fourth of July events following a mass shooting along the Highland Park Independence Day Parade route Monday.

"The public is advised to avoid the area of Central Ave and 2nd St. in Highland Park." "While there is no known threat to Evanston residents, the shooter is still at large; therefore, cancelations are taking place in an abundance of caution," the suburb stated in an alert. "The Illinois State Police is currently assisting Highland Park PD with an active shoot situation that occurred at the Highland Park Parade," police tweeted. The public is being asked to avoid downtown Highland Park Monday as police respond to a shooting "in the area of the Independence Day parade route," the Lake County Sheriff posted on Twitter. "Our thoughts are with our Highland Park neighbors," the suburb said in an alert to residents. Glencoe officials said the village was canceling its Fourth of July parade as the city urged residents to "remain home" with the "threat still at large."

Authorities say police are responding a shooting at a July Fourth parade in a Chicago suburb. No casualties have been officially reported, but witnesses ...

“People started saying: ‘There’s a shooter, there’s a shooter, there’s a shooter,'” Glickman told the Associated Press. “So we just ran. It was just sort of chaos,” she said. He and other children in the group held small American flags. A photo posted to social media appeared to show pools of blood near upturned chairs in downtown Highland Park. Police said the suspect should be considered armed and dangerous. Several witnesses told the newspaper that they heard gunfire.

Refresh for updates... Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has issued a statement saying, in part, that "grief will not bring the victims back, and prayers alone ...

I’m sick to my stomach every time news like this comes out, but I don’t wish the pit in your stomach as you call your family and friends to make sure everyone is okay on anyone. I grew up in Highland Park and this parade is a highlight of the year for so many families. A message on the city’s official Facebook page says, “SHELTER IN PLACE. Highland Park Police are responding to an incident in downtown Highland Park. All 4th of July events have been canceled. While there is no known threat to Evanston residents, the shooter is still at large; and cancelations are taking place in an abundance of caution. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has issued a statement saying, in part, that “grief will not bring the victims back, and prayers alone will not put a stop to the terror of rampant gun violence in our country. I will stand firm will Illinoisans and Americans: we must – and we will – end this plague of gun violence”

4th July is celebrated as independence day in the US, as this is the day its author Thomas Jefferson signed the declaration of independence in 1776.

The decorations are usually in the colors of the American flag – red, white, and blue. The decorations are usually in the colors of the American flag – red, white, and blue. The views expressed here are that of the respective authors/ entities and do not represent the views of Economic Times (ET). ET does not guarantee, vouch for or endorse any of its contents nor is responsible for them in any manner whatsoever. Nevertheless, the country celebrates the 4th of July as its national independence day. Two days later, it was signed by Thomas Jefferson, who later on became the 3rd president of the US. Thus, 4th July marks the Independence Dayof the US.

Although this was more than 25 years ago, I can still recall being disproportionately moved by the Lee Greenwood song, God Bless the USA – a staple of July 4th ...

Meanwhile, it certainly helps the imperial image when the US military slaughter of civilians abroad can – as in Iraq – be cast as a noble effort to spread that “special” freedom that we Americans “at least” know we possess. Nor are children in the US free to go to school without having to worry about being mown down by a semi-automatic weapon or other lethal device. Hansen was 13 at the time, and recalls “becoming teary-eyed” on the bus as she “remembered the MTV video of the song” while singing it – with the recollection of visual stimuli of course only adding to the patriotic sensationalism of the moment. But just how “free” are Americans, at the end of the day? One year, when I was 12 or 13 and living in the Texas capital of Austin, my family and I attended a massive Independence Day gathering by the river, complete with deafening music and fireworks that permanently traumatised our dog Bounder. As Mark Twain reportedly said: “God created war so that Americans would learn geography.”

Life in post-hypocrisy America creates a newfound understanding of what "home" really means.

You think of the hideous mendacity of it all, that Roe saved the futures of as many men as it did women. The term of empowerment that belonged to the pro-choice movement for a half-century became a rallying cry for people who could not bear the horrors of wearing a mask. They can hire people who will tell the world that institutions are committed to everyone, and you see another gas lamp lit, for the billionaires who sign the checks and hire the inclusion people to the big jobs who order the hats with team logos and rainbows on them also bankroll the political movements that have led to the stripping away of rights from citizens with the strength of a tsunami. Some prominent male athletes offered public support, as did the social media accounts of some teams, but you think about the players, the teams, the games, and all of the performative nature of support. Black people have known it for centuries, and the alarm will always ring for the ones who have forgotten. There are two rules in the United States, never directly articulated but rife with consequence when broken: Beyond what the mainstream, which is to say white America, determines to be acceptable, it is forbidden to express humanitarian compassion and concern for the people of Palestine -- just ask Dwight Howard. And it is unacceptable to unequivocally advocate for Black people. Think about the people chasing them, the ones over past decades who always told your people to obey, the ones so quick to call others anti-American. You tell yourself to not think about the utter, enraging hypocrisy, to resist the useless and flaccid equivalencies. Would they react to years of being told to shut up and play, of backing the blue, or respecting the law? The crowd came because it was July 4, a Monday day game -- a great day for baseball and family -- and, along with Bat Day, the biggest giveaway day of the year: Yankee Cap Day. You smile a little at the victory in that, because only a few decades earlier, the Yankees were most resistant to a brilliant piece of marketing. From Miranda rights to the environment, to the separation of church and state, to guns -- so many guns -- people are reeling. The spectacle of all-white juries acquitting proud, admittedly guilty white killers of Black people largely predated your birth, and thus for the past 18 months you've held on to a truth: The events of Jan. 6, where Americans stormed the most symbolically important legislative building in the free world -- and a sitting president reportedly enraged he was not taken to the Capitol to join them -- are the most unforgivable betrayals of the American ideal in your lifetime. The Fourth of July nears, and through these Massachusetts towns and villages -- Three Rivers, Palmer, Belchertown -- you see the annual preparations for its arrival.