Happy 4th of July!

Thanks to some other commitments of mine, t's been well over a month since I bothered updating the blog. But for those of you who are stopping by on Independence Day, I'd like to wish you a safe and happy Independence Day weekend.

DOJ to Investigate Nebraska 4th of July Parade Float Mocking President Obama

Glad to see all the other pressing issues addressing the United States have been sufficiently resolved by the Department of Justice.

A 4th of July parade float featuring a dummy and an outhouse marked Obama Presidential Library in the town of Norfolk, NE was enough to involve the DOJ's Community Service Relations team after some residents and Cornhusker state political operatives complained that the display was racist.

The department sent a member of its Community Relations Service team, which gets involved in discrimination disputes, to a Thursday meeting about the issue. Also at the meeting were the NAACP, the Norfolk mayor and The Independent Order of Odd Fellows.


The Odd Fellows organized the parade. One of the floats included a zombie-like mannequin standing near an outhouse labeled “Obama Presidential Library.”


The float’s creator, Dale Remmich, has said the mannequin depicted himself, not President Barack Obama. He said he is upset with the president’s handling of the Veterans Affairs Department.

The man behind the float is rural Madison county, NE resident Dale Remmich, said that the zombie-like mannequin on the float is actually supposed to represent himself. Remmich used his own bib overalls and a walker and the mannequin is posed in a manner similar to Edvard Munch's The Scream. As a veteran, Remmich said he's been frustrated by the VA scandal and the lack of response from the White House since the story seemed to fall off of the headlines. The float has been described by the local chapter of the Oddfellows as a 'political cartoon on wheels' in the parade entry form.

The reaction of the Nebraska Democrat Party and an increasingly politicized DOJ serve to reinforce that Dale Remmich may very well be this year's edition of Tuffy Gessling, a clown at the Missouri State Fair rodeo who donned an Obama mask while performing his antics last year. Moreover, it presents an opportunity for north-eastern elitist an opportunity to wag their fingers and lament the backwards souls residing in America's heartland who just don't appreciate the genius and superior intellect of their 'betters' on the coasts.

Happy 4th of July From Not Another New England Sports Blog!

Swimsuit model Kate Upton declaring independence from most of her clothing in 2012 GQ Photo Shoot

Independence Day is that confluence of so many things I enjoy about summertime and living in the USA- women in bikinis, parades with patriotic themes and things that go boom- such as fireworks displays or exploding targets [although Hurricane/Tropical Storm Arthur has caused the cancellation or postponement of a number of fireworks shows up and down the east coast this weekend NANESB!].

4th of July Parade, Park City, UT.

Not that these things in and of themselves are what make America great...I mean, it certainly isn't our so-called 'leaders' or 'representatives' who make us great- at least not in this day and age. We more or less feed the world through our agriculture and the recent shale oil boom has sparked all kinds of innovation in energy exploration and a renaissance in a manufacturing sector that had once been left for dead. Hell- we somehow managed to be the greatest nation on earth even before certain perpetual victim groups felt as though Hobby Lobby or Georgetown University owed them gratis birth control.

LittleSlav via Instagram

Still, as Americans we like to have some fun when we're not doing stuff like growing crops, hauling goods to market, drilling for oil once deemed inaccessible, putting out fires, innovating, making money or just kicking ass in general. It's summertime, so in general it's hot and sticky- and if you live anywhere near water, that means a trip to the beach is in order....with some advance planning, you can pack a picnic lunch and also get a fireworks show in if you stick around until dusk.

Patriotic farm equipment, San Diego County, CA

So whatever your plans are for Independence Day and this long holiday weekend, I hope you have a good time and are safe.

Happy Birthday, America!

EPA Reportedly Sets Sights on Fireworks Displays

Not content with killing off the coal industry, a new set of rules proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency could end up putting the kibosh on 4th of July fireworks throughout the USA. The changes reportedly ask for further clarification of which streams and wetlands would fall under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers.

However, in a letter to the EPA a number of GOP lawmakers have expressed concerns that these rules would leave small towns open to nuisance lawsuits from environmental groups seeking to shut down 4th of July fireworks displays.

"We are concerned, on the eve of the celebration of this great nation’s founding, that the EPA is set to foster expanded efforts to undermine this form of celebration," says a letter sent to EPA chief Gina McCarthy from 10 GOP senators.
"If finalized, EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers’ proposal to expand the Clean Water Act’s definition of the 'waters of the United States' may enable litigious environmental groups to jeopardize fireworks displays throughout the country," the letter, spearheaded by Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), adds.

Republicans in Congress have called the rules a "power grab," but the EPA has stressed the proposal does not expand protections.

The rules require that the EPA and Army Corps approve any project that might pollute the protected waterways already under their jurisdiction, keeping in place exemptions for farming, ranching and forestry practices.

But the 10 signatories claim the proposal would encourage environmental groups to challenge firework displays at lakes and recreational water areas legally.

In California, the Lake Murray July 4 fireworks show has been canceled three consecutive years due to litigation uncertainty, the letter states.

A number of newspapers have run op-eds supporting bans 4th of July on fireworks displays, citing fire hazards and air quality concerns.

The rules wouldn't leave just small towns vulnerable to such nuisance litigation- large cities such as New York City, San Diego and New Orleans launch their fireworks from barges strategically placed along a river or in a harbor for the 4th of July- although they would be better equipped to handle nuisance lawsuits than smaller towns or counties that launch fireworks from an adjacent river or lake.

However, in addition to nuisance lawsuits, numerous firework displays have been cancelled out west due to increased danger of wildfire and a number of 4th of July fireworks displays are threatened up and down the east coast this year with the approach of Tropical Storm Arthur.

Quickie Sports Chowdah Update- The Devil Padres and Mr Webster; Tyler Seguin's seeing Stars as Iginla saga comes Full Circle in the Hub

AP Photo/Winslow Townson

RED SOX- The Red Sox wrapped up their interleague series with San Diego with a 4th of July day game on Thursday. Having won the first two, Boston was looking for the sweep against the Padres and things were looking good early when Ellsbury and Victorino opened up the bottom half of the first with back to back base hits. Pedroia brought them home with a 2-RBI double to left, but Big Papi grounded out and Mike Napoli hit into a double play to end the early threat.

Brandon Snyder added to Boston's lead with 1-out a solo homer in the bottom of the second. Rookie Red Sox starter Allen Webster struggled mightily in the top of the third after starting off with a walk to former teammate Pedro Ciriaco, hitting Logan Forsyth with a pitch followed by a single to Will Venable. However, he managed to get out of the jam with two fly balls- which included a Chase Headly sac fly to bring home the Padres' first run of the game- and ended the inning by getting DH Mark Kotsay to ground out.

Webster would have a much easier 4th inning, getting the first two batters he faced to fly out before getting ciriaco to ground out to short. In the bottom half of the frame, Mike Napoli led off the inning with a single before Gomes and Snyder lined out. Ryan Lavarnway singled with two away and that brought up Iglesias who belted a long fly ball that ultimately ended up rattling around the right field corner by the Pesky Pole and was ruled a ground rule double. Iglesias and the runners on base initially thought that was a triple and both Lavarnway and Napoli crossed the plate, but after the umps conferred, it was ruled a ground-rule double and one of the runs was taken off the board with Iglesias at second and Lavarnway at third instead of in the dugout, making it 4-1 before Victorino flied out to end the inning.

San Diego's Jesus Guzman smacked a two out RBI single to cut the Red Sox lead in half in the top of the fifth. In the bottom of the frame, the Red Sox chased Stults off the bump and looked as though they were poised to chase themselves out of a scoring opportunity. Pedroia led off the inning with a single, and after getting Big Papi to fly out to center the Padres pulled Stults for reliever Tyson Ross. Pedroia was immediately gunned down after attempting to steal second to make it two out and nobody on for the Sox in a 2-run ballgame, but Napoli would hit a booming fly ball that would one hop off the wall in deep center and ricochet into the Red Sox bullpen for a ground rule double. Napoli would then come home on Gomes' single to make it 5-2 before Snyder struck out to end the inning.

In the top of the 6th, Webster would allow a 1-out single before getting Ciriaco to ground into a double play and end the inning. The Red Sox would then chase Ross off the mound with a 2-out bases loaded single from Big Papi to make it 7-2 Boston, and the Sox would add to that with a leadoff solo homer from Jacoby Ellsbury in the top of the 8th inning to go on and win by an 8-2 final.

Webster would go six complete innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits while walking four and striking out four in his first big league win. Dustin Pedroia went 2-4 with two RBI's while Ellsbury and Snyder each had solo homers for the Sox. Jesus Guzman led San Diego's bats by going 3-3 with an RBI. The Boston win- coupled with a Pittsburgh Pirates loss on the 4th of July- gives the Red Sox a record of 54-34, best in the majors. The Independence Day win is also Boston's 8th win in their last nine games.

While the Padres move on to the nation's capital to play the Nationals, the Red Sox will travel to the west coast for a weekend series against the Angels in Orange County. Felix Doubront [4-3; 4.22 ERA] is scheduled to get the start against the Halo's CJ Wilson [8-5; 3.63 ERA]. First pitch is scheduled for 10:05 ET, 7:05 PT and the game will be televised on NESN.

BOSTON BRUINS- The Bruins opened up the first day of what was expected to be a busy free agency period by sending Tyler Seguin, Rich Peverly and prospect Ryan Button to Dallas for Loui Eriksson and prospects Joe Morrow, Reilly Smith and Matt Fraser.

The Bruins have also lost Nathan Horton to free agency after the Columbus Blue Jackets signed the 6"2' RW to a 7 year deal worth more than $37 million. Horton still requires some shoulder surgery this offseason, and the earliest he's expected to return would be December.

And in a continuation of the Jarome Iginla saga, the Bruins reached a one year $7 million deal with the RW. Reports from the regular season had Iginla going to Boston at the trade deadline, but the Calgary winger reportedly invoked his contract's no-trade clause and opted to go to Pittsburgh at the last moment. The snub took on even greater significance when the Bruins and Penguins met in the Eastern Conference finals- Milan Lucic was quoted as saying Iginla's snub 'lit a fire' under the Bruins in their four game sweep of the Pens.

Happy Independence Day From Not Another New England Sports Blog!

Just a quick note to wish all you visitors a Happy 4th of July. This is probably as good a time as any to reiterate why I LOVE this holiday so much.

Although not exclusive to the 4th of July, bikinis and summer seem to go hand in hand.

Mmm....nope. Still haven't wrecked myself.

So it was only natural that Kirkland, WA- based online swimwear retailer Bikini Beach became a semi-regular fixture in the town's 4th of July parade [many thanks to Turners and Models for keeping a detailed photographic record of those occasions- NANESB!].

Wait- did the Patriots just score a touchdown?

Then there's the parades- growing up in New England, the rich history of the area meant that parades would often feature re-enactors dressed up as minutemen from the colonial era occasionally firing off a volley from their muskets [the AR-15s of their day!- NANESB!]. In parts of the south and Mid Atlantic, re-enacting battles from the Civil War has been popular.

Restored fire truck in Cobleskill, NY's 4th of July Parade. Photo by inkfeather via Flickr.

Of course, throughout the country it seems as though no Independence Day Parade is complete without the appearance of a fire truck. It can be a newer truck with one of the local departments, but often it's a painstakingly restored vintage pumper or ladder truck undertaken as a labor of love and shown off for exactly this occasion.

Having long finished up it's day's work, LLPX former Belt Railway of Chicago GP38-2 #2228 basks in the glow of a fireworks display in Poplar Bluff, MO on July 4th, 2007. Zach Pumphrey photo

And let's not forget the fireworks- no fourth of July seems to be complete without them. People will stake out a spot a few hours in advance and have a picnic or a cookout while waiting for it to get dark enough for the fireworks to begin. People will come from as far as hundreds of miles away to stepping out on their own apartment balconies to take it all in. And when it does, it is usually a sight to behold (usually) and ends with not just a bang, but a series of teeth jarring concussive, car-alarm triggering blasts depending on how close you are.

As a matter of fact, I'm on my way to such a display right now. But I'll leave you with this:



Above all, have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Today's Train of Thought: Pitt-riotic Display, July 4th, 2013

Today's Train of thought takes us to one of the busiest portions of rail line in the Keystone state- and the Norfolk Southern system for that matter.

I make sure there's zero ambiguity regarding my love for the main streets of small towns (and/or curvaceous bikini clad women) decked out in bunting for 4th of July Parades, but from rickety branchlines that see maybe one train a month to well polished mainlines that get 70 trains a day, nothing says "America- fuck yeah!" to me more than the rail network. Do you want to know why we don't have high speed intercity passenger trains outside of the northeast? It's not because of an ignorant and intransigent public like some HSR advocates claim- it's because of the sheer volume of goods and commodities that move to market by rail. High Speed Rail would either take one of these vital arteries offline by using it for dedicated passenger service or future HSR lines would have to be built from scratch- both of which are cost prohibitive. Freight- for lack of a better term- pays the freight.

During the 1999 breakup of Conrail, Norfolk Southern obtained the former Pennsy Pittsburgh line between the Enola and Conway yards [just outside of Harrisburg and Pittsburg, respectively- NANESB!]. Dubbed the Pitt Line, this 248 mile mainline traverses some of the most difficult terrain east of the Mississippi. Between Harrisburg and Altoona, the line avoids the difficult terrain by hugging the western bank of the Susquehanna River before turning west and paralleling the Juniata River for much of the way into Altoona. West of Altoona, the Pitt Line's assault on the Alleghenies begins in earnest, climbing grades as steep as 1.86% before traversing the famed Horseshoe Curve and cresting the Alleghenies at the town of Gallitzin- a mountain town named after an 18th century Russian aristocrat who became one of the first ordained Catholic priests in the newly-formed USA. Along the route, the Pitt line cuts through an interesting and often overlooked cross section of American history that dates from before the French established Fort Duquesne to the current natural gas drilling boom along the Marcellus Shale.

Heading west, the line coasts downgrade about 25 miles towards Johnstown, PA. From Johnstown, the Pitt Line follows the Conemaugh and Kiskiminetas Rivers into Pittsburgh and onto the massive yard at Conway, PA from there.

The line provides a sampler of early US History along its route- Harrisburg was a key supply and logistics center for the Union and the ultimate objective for Robert E Lee's Army of Northern Virginia during the Battle of Gettysburg. Further west, despite being rendered obsolete nearly a decade before the Civil War, the Allegheny Portage railroad (which hauled passengers, cargo and barges between canal termini in Hollidaysburg and Johnstown) feature America's first railroad tunnel in Conemaugh township and is now part of a National Historic Park. Horseshoe Curve itself is considered an engineering marvel and was important enough for the US Army to assign troops to guard it against sabotage during the Civil War and World War II.

West of the Alleghenies are the six counties who were among the first locales to rebel against the United States government during the 1791 Whiskey Rebellion after the government attempted to levy a tax on the production of distilled spirits. Johnstown itself is infamous for a catastrophic 1889 flood that killed more than 2000 people. A Pennsylvania Railroad employee became part of Johnstown flood lore that day when Engineer John Hess saw a massive wall of water and debris heading towards his locomotive in East Conemaugh, PA. Acting quickly, Hess reportedly tied down the steam whistle and threw the engine into reverse, the shriek of the steam whistle serving as a warning to the townspeople of Conemaugh of the deadly wall of water and debris hearing their way. Hess was said to have barely escaped his locomotive by the time the deadly onslaught caught up with him.

More recently Johnstown was put back on the map thanks to the eccentric goons of the fictitious Charlestown Chiefs in the 1977 cult hockey comedy Slap Shot. The 'Charlestown Chiefs' are widely believed to be a stand-in for the real life Johnstown Jets of the early 1970s and much of the movie was filmed in and around the Johnstown, PA area with the closure of a steel mill being one of the movie's backstories. Less than a decade later, the East Coast Hockey League established a team in the city and a contest was held to name the new ECHL. Sure enough, the fictional Chiefs were the hands down winner and the team remained in Johnstown for 22 seasons before moving to South Carolina in 2010 in what was clearly a case of life imitating art.

Here, eastbound Norfolk Southern Conway-Enola freight 10A is seen beginning its attack on the Alleghenies at Vandergrift, PA on June 21st, 2008. This mixed freight set to traverse this historic line and the communities alongside it with former Conrail C40-8W #8415 (still in blue) leading and a Helm leasing former Union Pacific SD60 still in armour yellow. Railpictures.net contributor Tom Granville framed this shot beautifully with Old Glory in the foreground.

Today's Train of Thought- Rocket's Red Glare, July 4, 2012

According to Kamblach Publishing's American Shortline Railway Guide, northern Delaware's Wilmington & Western operates freight service over their 10-mile line in northern Delaware with brick and lumber making up most of the traffic. Of course, that was the 1996 edition- the last time they bothered publishing one on paper.

The guide also mentions that the W&W also hosts year round excursions powered by steam, diesel or a restored Pennsylvania 'Doodlebug'- a quick check of their website confirms that they still do. In fact, I'm guessing the excusrions are their bread and butter.

Built in 1873, the Wilmington & Western and its line through northern Delaware's Red Clay Valley was absorbed by the Baltimore & Ohio about a decade later. It remained in the B&O fold for nearly a century until CSX predecessor Chessie System sold the remnants of line off to Historic Red Clay Valley, Inc. who had been leasing the line for weekend excursions since the laet 1960s. The line has seen its share of adversity since 1999, getting struck by floods from Hurricane Floyd in '99 and Tropical Storm Henri in '03. The latter wiped out a number of bridges along the line, shortening the W&W from 10 miles to less than 2. However, by June 2007, the W&W had managed to re-open the entire line.

In addition to a pair of 1940-built EMD SW1s, the W&W also features a trio of steam locomotives; an 0-6-0 Baldwin switcher, an ALCo 4-4-0 American and a Canadian Locomotive Works 2-6-0 Mogul.

Built in 1907, the little Baldwin switcher saw service with the Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic Railroad, the US Army, and Virginia's Blue Ridge Railway before going on static display at the nearby Avondale, PA Railroad Center before being donated to the W&W in 1997 with the stipulation that she be restored to working order. Renumbered by the W&W to #58 and dubbed the 'Veteran's Locomotive' after her Army service, the little Baldwin switcher was steaming up and down the Red Clay valley in about a year's time.

Here, railpictures.net contributor Christopher Blaszczyk caught the #58 cooling down at Hockessin, DEafter spending July 4, 2010 hauling passengers on the W&W. Onlookers in the background can be seen watching fireworks that, from this angle, look like they were launched out of the #58's smokestack.

Happy Independence Day From Not Another New England Sports Blog!

Maybe its just me, but it seems as though its an unwritten rule that just about every town in New England (or upstate New York) has their own vintage fire engine that's either in the process of being restored or is already restored and is prominently featured in the town's 4th of July parade.

Firetrucks making an appearence in the Milltown, NJ 4th of July Parade. Frank H. Conlon/Newark Star-Ledger photo

Of course, some of the towns that don't have a working vintage fire truck can usually get a more recent model from the current Fire Department fleet to pinch-hit for them in the parade- that's if they aren't already scheduled.

Fire Engine with Summit County Historical Society banner in the 2010 Frisco, CO Independence Day Parade.

Or they could always arrange to borrow one from a nearby town. In any case, my point is that any parade celebrating the 4th of July [or Memorial Day or Columbus Day depending on where you live- NANESB] seems incomplete without at least one fire engine participating.

It's a little like the 4th of July without fireworks, which unfortunately is a reality in many cities and towns in recent years. While some towns in the Rocky Mountain region have postponed or cancelled fireworks displays over valid concerns about wildfires, the coastal Oregon town of DePoe Bay was pressured by Federal wildlife officials to cancel this year's Independence Day fireworks display because the noise might scare off protected species like the Brandt's Cormorant. And why should we ever doubt the feds and environmentalists? I mean, they have such a high batting average when it comes to birds in Oregon, right?

The fireworks- held a day ahead of Independence Day so they wouldn't have to compete with larger towns- have taken place in DePoe Bay since 1993.

Of course, not everything about the 4th of July in the Pacific northwest is all about being a buzzkill. In addition to the traditional fire engines and vintage cars, one Seattle suburb has managed to make a good thing even better.

Two...actually three photos courtesey of Tuners & Models

In recent years, Kirkland, WA based swimwear retailer Bikini Beach has participated in the city's Independence Day parade, complete with models sporting bikinis adorned in the stars and stripes.

Kinda makes you wish your hometown had an internet-based swimwear and lingerie retrailer so that they could participate too, huh?

Happy 4th of July From Not Another New England Sports Blog!

Well...whaddaya know? Turns out the main streets of small town USA aren't the only think I like to see draped in the American flag. Looks like Stargate SG-1 actress Amanda Tapping has done a fine job of wrapping herself in the stars and stripes. I'm told this is what the kids call 'Rule 5' these days, although I'm simply familiar with it under the category of 'Eye Candy'.

	United States Marine Band - The Stars and Stripes Forever .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

However, before there was an Amanda Tapping and even before there was a Gil Elvgren, there was Rolf Armstrong.

This 1943 print by Armstrong is called Yankee Doodle Girl. While many other pin-up artists hadn't even started out by that time, Armstrong had amassed an impressive resume of magazine covers, theater posters and print ads to his credit. You might recognize another of his works- 1945's A Winning Combination. It apparead on the cover of some scholarly publications and was more recently mimicked by comedienne Tina Fey on a 2009 Vanity Fair cover.
But before I get any more distracted, I wanted to wish the visitors to Not Another New England Sports Blog! a safe and happy 4th of July. Personally, I didn't think it mattered whether or not you were Republican or Democrat to be able to enjoy the 4th of July, but apparently the folks at Harvard feel otherwise.

Jack of all trades- 4th of July as seen from a California citrus grove

Unfortunately it seems that a number of municipalities out west are unable to have a fireworks display this Independence Day because of either wildfire dangers, lack of funds or nuisance lawsuits.

Meanwhile up the road, a California Northern GP15-1 takes in a fireworks display in Tracy, CA. Railpictures.net photo- Eddie P Sarber

With that in mind, I hope that all of you have a good time with your family or friends this Independence Day- try not to blow off any fingers!

Best Wishes!
Fenway_Nation

Today's Train of Thought- Courtesey the Red White & Blue

Prior to the nation's 1976 bicentennial, a number of American railways decided to mark the occasion by introducing one-of-a-kind bicentennial paint schemes. The paint scheme was usually limited to one or two engines- some of which were renumbered 1776 or 1976 for the occasion.

A number of these locomotives have since been repainted, sold, retired or scrapped since then, but there were a number of holdouts. The Alaska Railroad had a pair of F7As that remained in the bicentenial scheme well into the 1980s. Belt Railway of Chicago had one of their then-new MP15AC's delivered in a red, white & blue scheme which didn't get repainted until the late 1990s. Pennsylvania's Pittsburgh and Shawmut was apparently so taken with their bicentinial scheme that they repainted the remainder of their small fleet of SW9s in red white & blue until their 1999 takeover by Genesee & Wyoming. ALCo holdout Delaware & Hudson had a chop-nose RS3u renumbered 1976 that was stored serviceable by the time then-parent company Guilford divested themselves of the D&H. The locomotive never saw service again with the D&H, but it found a home along Pennsylvania's Northern Tier hauling freight and excursion trains for the Tioga Central- where it still remains in its bicentennial colors.

With that in mind, today's star spangled train of thought takes us to the deep south and features some red white and blue engines hard at work.

A solid set of rent-a-wreck SD40-2s- with red, white and blue Helm Leasing #6204 and #6206 leading the way- trundle across the Chattahoochee River Bridge between Phenix City, AL and Columbus, GA with Norfolk Southern stone train 67G in October 2007. Interestingly, railpictures.net contributor Casey Thomason was watching the train approach from another Time Zone as the Georgia-Alabama state line marks the boundary between the Eastern and Central Time Zones.

As all-American as this scene might look, the leading pair of locomotives started out life in Canada, built at EMD's London, ON shops for BC Rail. Not too long after the SD40-2s were delivered, the BC Rail went from a two-tone green paint scheme to red white and blue up right up until their 2003 takeover by Canadian National. The CN deemed the units surplus and they were acquired by Helm Financial and subleased to railroads like Norfolk Southern, Pan Am Railways or Kansas City Southern.

Badger State Civility Update- Racine Firefighter Union Local Pulls Support of 9/11 Memorial Float

Rick Wood/Journal-Sentinel

An Oak Creek, WI fireman who invoked an obscure provision in Wisconsin state law to opt out of his union's political activities says that the union local that had initially supported his parade float has since backed out upon learning that he's a "fair share" union member

Under state law, public employees can drop out of the union and opt to pay just their "fair share" for the cost the union incurs for negotiating contracts. These nonvoting employees don't have to foot the bill for the union's political, social and ideological activities.

Officials say it is highly unusual for Wisconsin firefighters to ask to go fair share. But [Oak Grove FD Lieutenant] Gorniak - who describes himself as a born-again Christian who supports conservative politicians, including Gov. Scott Walker - filed his resignation letter and became a fair-share worker in late March or early April. He said he made the move in response to the protests in Madison over Walker's collective-bargaining plan.

The move is so rare that union officials are still, months later, trying to figure out how much Gorniak should pay to cover negotiating costs.

The theme of the parade float is the now-famous photo of the three New York firefighters raising the American flag amid the wreckage at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, with local firemen standing in for the FDNY firefighters in the photo.

In 2002, Gorniak and members of his church constructed the float that appeared in three different parades in Milwaukee County. It remained in storage until recently, when Gorniak and others were kicking around the idea of refurbishing it and participating in the Racine, WI Fourth Fest parade. Organizers of the Fourth Fest and the IAFF Local 321 were on board with Gorniak's float- at least until word got back to Local President Craig Ford. Gorniak said Ford, the union president, was on board initially.

"I think he would have hugged me at first," Gorniak said of Ford. The two even agreed to bring in a New York City Fire Department firefighter to march in the parade, with Racine picking up the cost. Gorniak continued, "I was beside myself with joy."

All of that changed a few days later.

"Craig said, 'I've got a question for you: Are you fair share?'" Gorniak said. "I said, 'What does that have to do with anything?' "

Ford decided to take the parade issue to his executive board. Before the vote, Gorniak said, he offered to back out and turn over the keys to the truck, letting Ford and other Racine firefighters lead the float through the parade.

It didn't work.

Gorniak said he was told a few days later that the board had voted not to support the float.

"The float is coming anyway," Gorniak said. "I'm going to run it with or without firefighters."

In 2002, three firefighters stood atop the float, and others from several South Shore fire departments walked solemnly along behind, often with their helmets under an arm.

Gorniak said he is offering an open invitation to any firefighter - union or not - who would like to join the float at Monday's parade.

The last thing he wants, he said, is the homemade tribute to become the latest battle ground in the state's collective-bargaining wars.

"I want to touch our community," Gorniak said. "I'm hoping patriotic people are out in droves, and they don't see this as union or nonunion."

While Ford and IAFF Local 321 officers in Racine may not have wanted anything to do with Gorniak's float, there have been requests for the float to appear in a parade for the upcoming Burger Days in Seymour, WI and South Milwaukee's Heritage Days parade, and its looks as though the float will still participate in Racine's Fourth Fest.

Quickie Star Spangled Sports Chowdah Update- Beckett Dealing as Sox Play Texas Hold 'Em

MLB: As bad as this week's interleague road trip started out, the Red Sox made a strong showing in the Lone Star state by capping a 3-game sweep of the Houston Astros on the strength of Josh Beckett's start Sunday afternoon.

After Friday and Saturady's victories, this was far from the offensive outburst we are often accustomed to seeing from the Sox, however. Boston got on the board thanks to a throwing error on a Jason Varitek ground ball that allowed Youkilis to score. The Astros would manage to tie the game up on an Angel Sanchez pinch hit RBI single.

Youkilis would then factor into the go-ahead run in the 9th after the Astros bullpen decided to intentionally walk Adrian Gonzalez (who was actually starting at 1B in an interleague game) to load up the bases with 2 away for Kevin Youkilis. Youk, for his part, was unintentionally walked by Mark Melancon to being home Drew Sutton- who was pinch hitting for Beckett to lead off the tio of the 8th- and make it a 2-1 Red Sox lead.

Papelbon would give up a 2-out single in the bottom of the 9th, but it would do no damage as he got the next batter to strike out for his 17th save and complete the sweep of the Astros. Beckett allowed five hits, one run and struck out 11 in eight innings of work.

The Red Sox head back to Fenway for a series against the Blue Jays that kicks off with a 4th of July day game on Monday- Brandon Morrow (4-4; 4.36 ERA) will start for the Jays while John Lackey (5-7; 6.81 ERA) goes for the Sox. First pitch gets underway at 1:35 PM ET on NESN

ALL STAR VOTING: Starting pitcher Josh Beckett, DH David Ortiz, 1B Adrian Gonzalez and outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury were named to the 2011 MLB All-Star game. The contest is set to take place on July 12, 2011 at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ.

4th of July: You're Doing it Wrong, Progressives

Restored fire truck carries VFW Members in Aloha, OR 4th of July Parade- Oregonian photo

I mentioned this earlier (altho some of you might've been distracted by the pics of Prinecess Eugenie at the beach), there isn't much else out there that brings as much joy to my heart as seeing the main street of a small town adorned with American flags or red white and blue bunting. Apparently a recent ivy-league study claims that my conservative political leanings play a role in that.

According to a recent Harvard study, 4th of July celebrations energize only Republicans, help boost Republican turnout on election day and are likely to turn young spectators into Republicans.

Democratic political candidates can skip this weekend's July 4th parades. A new Harvard University study finds that July 4th parades energize only Republicans, turn kids into Republicans, and help to boost the GOP turnout of adults on Election Day.

"Fourth of July celebrations in the United States shape the nation's political landscape by forming beliefs and increasing participation, primarily in favor of the Republican Party," said the report from Harvard.

"The political right has been more successful in appropriating American patriotism and its symbols during the 20th century. Survey evidence also confirms that Republicans consider themselves more patriotic than Democrats. According to this interpretation, there is a political congruence between the patriotism promoted on Fourth of July and the values associated with the Republican party. Fourth of July celebrations in Republican dominated counties may thus be more politically biased events that socialize children into Republicans," write Harvard Kennedy School Assistant Professor David Yanagizawa-Drott and Bocconi University Assistant Professor Andreas Madestam.

I'm sorry- was I supposed to throw up my hands and recoil in horror at the last part? Was the end result of this study supposed to be me wringing my hands over how politicized independence day has become? I really don't recall Independence Day parades featuring veterans riding on fire trucks or high school marching bands as having an inherently political bias- but then again, these guys are super-smart and from Harvard, so I could've just as easily missed something I suppose.

For all their faults, the GOP has not been out there in recent weeks attempting to circulate the meme that the Constitution is obsolete and needs to be replaced with an open-source document via social networking outlets like Twitter or Facebook. In fact, the same people attempting to advance that argument have been sharply critical of the GOP- particularly the incoming crop of freshman supported by the Tea Party last year- going so far as to claim reading the founding document aloud was some sort of perverse fetish.

Or is yearning to be even more like a sparesly populated, bankrupt Scandinavian nation the new definition patriotism now?

Nor is the GOP attempting to stop 4th of July fireworks displays through the use of nuisance lawsuits or attempting to limit the number of times a city council meeting can say the pledge of allegiance. In fact, given the open contempt that the media elites have demonstrated they hold for the flyover states and small town America, I would venture a guess that many of the progressives that make up so much of the voting bloc of today's Democrat party would be downright uncomfortable at one of these functions, however non-partisan they may actually be.

Happy 4th Of July From Not Another New England Sports Blog.

There's no denying that times are- at best- rough or uncertain right now. But this is the 4th of July and this blog is my soap box- so while I can't pretend to have all the answers, I do know that shedding the notion that American exceptionalism and American military might are things to apologize for or eschew will not make things any better.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of the NANESB! visitors a happy Independence Day and to remember our outstanding men and women in the military who cannot be there to enjoy a cookout, ballgame or day at the lake with their loved ones.

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free

-Ronald Wilson Reagan, 40th President of the United States

But since you're here, good NANESB! reader, why not stay for some vintage American-as-Apple-pie eye candy with an emphasis on the 4th of July and Americana?

The above 1953 work by the incomparable Gil Elvgren is appropriately titled Looking for Trouble. Hopefully her being cautious pays off so we don't wind up with some ridiculous fireworks ban a-la that one episode of South Park.

Elvgren also produced illustrations for NAPA Auto parts advertisements up until the late 1970s. This untitled work was used by NAPA during the 1976 bicentennial, complete with a Philly fille parked in front of Independence Hall. This was completed less than 4 years before his death in 1980.



This concludes my 4th of July message. Have a great Independence day, everybody!

Some Star Spangeld Trains of Through- July 4th, 2010.

Since today is no ordinary day, I thought Today's Trains of thought could deal with themes like Determination and Redemption....and of course....fireworks.

Southern Pacific's 1941-built Lima GS 4-8-4 'Mountain' was withdrawn from 'Daylight' service in 1957 and put on display in a Portland, OR park upon retirement. There, she was vandalized and stripped for parts by opportunistic scavengers until she was 'scouted' in 1974 for something called the American Freedom Train. This was actually the second train to go by that name- Harry Truman's At tourney General, Tom C. Clark, proposed the train as a means of reawakening the American public to the nation's history and liberties in the Post WWII-era. The 1947-1949 Freedom train carried original copies of the US Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence, accompanied by US Marines at all times. The idea for a second 'Freedom Train' came about in the mid 1970s in time for America's bicentennial, although it carried different items like an original copy of the Louisiana Purchase and Martin Luther King's pulpit and robes as well as a moon rock brought back by NASA.

Despite the vandalism and scavenging, the bearings and rods for #4449 were determined to be in good shape, making her a prime candidate for the Bicentennial Freedom Train. After a mow months of restoration work, the 4449 along with former Reading Baldwin 4-8-4 Consolidation T1 #2102 (which was operating as recently as 2005 in Washington State) and former Texas & Pacific Lima 2-10-4 Texas class #610, the Bicentennial Freedom train would tour the 48 contiguous states. The #4449 would go back to being repainted in er former orange and yellow 'daylight' colors and work numerous excursions over then next 25 years- mostly around Portland, OR- and is currently operated by the Friends of the 4449 and the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation.

In the wake of the September 11 attacks, somebody at the roundhouse in Portland got it in their minds to 'restore' 4449 to her bicentennial American Freedom Train as a point of pride. In the spring of 2002, she emerged from Portland, OR's Brooklyn Roundhouse in the AFT Red White & Blue and operated a series of long-haul excursions over BNSF's Oregon Trunk line. Above, photographer Bruce Fingerhood catches the meticulously repainted Lima charging over Trout Creek Trestle on the BNSF Oregon Trunk Line en route to Bend, OR in March 2002. The 4449 returned to her original color scheme the following year.

But what would the 4th of July be without some fireworks? Here, New York, Susquehanna & Western SD40T-2 #3014 and two other 'yellowjacket' tunnel motors are done for the day and awaiting a new crew before taking train SU-100 further east on this summer 2008 Binghampton, NY evening but the fireworks at the Binghampton Mets' NYSEG stadium are just getting under way. Railpictures.net contributor Christopher Blaszczyk was the intrepid photographer who found the yellow and black tunnel motors in repose at Binghampton's BD Cabin.

Like the #4449, NYSW #3014 had spent much of its working life on the Southern Pacific before being struck from the roster and moving elsewhere.