Posted on 07/05/2013 8:58:20 AM PDT by Lucky9teen
On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.
In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation.
Source: Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970
<http://www2.census.gov/prod2/statcomp/documents/HistoricalStatisticsoftheUnitedStates1789-1945.pdf>
The nation's estimated population on this July Fourth.
Source: U.S. and World Population Clock <http://www.census.gov/popclock/>
The value of fireworks imported from China in 2012, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($227.3 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $11.7 million in 2012, with Israel purchasing more than any other country ($2.5 million).
The value of U.S. manufacturers' shipments of fireworks and pyrotechnics (including flares, igniters, etc.) in 2007.
Source: 2007 Economic Census, Series EC0731SP1, Products and Services Code 325998J108 <http://www.census.gov/econ/census07/>
In 2012, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags. The vast majority of this amount ($3.6 million) was for U.S. flags made in China.
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>
<http://www.usatradeonline.gov>
Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2012. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $188,824 worth.
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>
<http://www.usatradeonline.gov>
Dollar value of shipments of fabricated flags, banners and similar emblems by the nation's manufacturers in 2007, according to the latest published economic census statistics.
Source: 2007 Economic Census, Series EC0731SP1, Products and Services Code 3149998231
<http://www.census.gov/econ/census07/>
Fifty-nine places contain the word "liberty" in the name. Pennsylvania, with 11, has more of these places than any other state. Of the 59 places nationwide containing "liberty" in the name, four are counties: Liberty County, Ga. (65,471), Liberty County, Fla. (8,276), Liberty County, Mont. (2,392) and Liberty County, Texas (76,571).
One place has "patriot" in its name. Patriot, Ind., has an estimated population of 209.
The most common patriotic-sounding word used within place names is "union" with 136. Pennsylvania, with 33, has more of these places than any other state. Other words most commonly used in place names are Washington (127), Franklin (118), Jackson (96) and Lincoln (95).
Sources: TIGER Shapefiles, the Census Bureau's geographic database (Place/MCD/County combined "used within name" count), Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2011
<http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2011/SUB-EST2011-3.html>
Dollar value of trade last year between the United States and the United Kingdom, making the British, our adversary in 1776, our sixth-leading trading partner today.
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/highlights/top/top1112yr.html#total>
Number of all hogs and pigs on March 1, 2013. Chances are that the pork hot dogs and sausages consumed on the Fourth of July originated in Iowa. The Hawkeye State was home to 20.3 million hogs and pigs. North Carolina (8.9 million) and Minnesota (7.8 million) were also homes to large numbers of pigs.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service,
<http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/HogsPigs/HogsPigs-03-28-2013.pdf>
Total estimated production of cattle and calves in Texas in 2012. Chances are good that the beef hot dogs, steaks and burgers on your backyard grill came from the Lone Star State, which accounted for nearly one-sixth of the nation's total production. And if the beef did not come from Texas, it very well may have come from Nebraska (estimated at5.1 billion pounds) or Kansas (estimated at 3.8 billion pounds).
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
<http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/MeatAnimPr/MeatAnimPr-04-25-2013.pdf>
Number of states in which the value of broiler chicken production was estimated at $1 billion or greater between December 2011 and November 2012. There is a good chance that one of these states Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi or Texas is the source of your barbecued chicken.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
<http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/PoulProdVa/PoulProdVa-04-29-2013.pdf>
Acreage planted of potatoes in Idaho in 2012, the most in the nation. Washington followed with 165 million acres. The total 2012 potato crop is forecast to exceed 467 million hundredweight (cwt), the highest level since 2000 when 523 million cwt was produced. Potato salad is a popular food item at Fourth of July barbecues.
Source: USDA, National Agriculture Statistics Service, Economic Research Service
<http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/CropProdSu/CropProdSu-01-11-2013.pdf>
<http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/vgs-vegetables-and-pulses-outlook/vgs353.aspx>
Top 5?
In. WooHoo!
Woo-Hoo! Single Digits!
YAYNESS FOR SILLINESS!!
Top Ten! Woohoo!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOO TGIF!
Top 10 ?? Me?????????????
Gosh, sometimes it is good to be late
BTTT
The “other” thread is here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3039420/posts
Happy 2013th birthday??? OMG. I will feel a sense of relief when I see that wave of nuclear missles streaking across the sky someday...
The technology in the new supercars is amazing ...
The mother-in-law arrives home from the shops to find her son-in-law boiling angry and hurriedly packing his suitcase.
What happened? she asks anxiously.
What happened!! Ill tell you what happened. I sent an email to my wife telling her I was coming home today from my fishing trip. I get home... and guess what I found ? Yes, your daughter, my Jean, with a naked guy in our bed! This is unforgiveable, the end of our marriage. Im done. Im leaving forever!
Calm down, calm down! says his mother-in-law. There is something very odd going on here. Jean would never do such a thing! There must be a simple explanation. Ill go speak to her immediately and find out what happened.
Moments later, the mother-in-law comes back with a big smile.
I told you there must be a simple explanation .....she didnt receive your E-mail!
Whatever we are voting on.... you win.
Woohoo!!!
Stopped for dinner in Anniston, Alabama the other day and here's what I saw:
I went around and read the other side of the sign if anyone needs a translation. For the record "weekley" is spelled the same and there is a space in the middle of "wel come" on both sides.
If you want to drive safe on the Fourth, don’t buy a fifth on the 3rd.
The Entrance Exam
When I was young and my intent was to go to medical school, the entrance exam included several questions that would determine eligibility. One of the questions was “Rearrange the letters P N E S I —to spell out an important part of the human body that is more useful when erect.”
Those who spelled ‘spine’ became Doctors. The rest ended up in Congress.
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