Monday 7/4/22
July 4th - Independence Day
Alice in Wonderland Day
Independence From Meat Day
Indivisible Day
Invisible Day
Jackfruit Day
National Barbecue Day
National Barbecued Spareribs Day
National Ceaser Salad Day
National Country Music Day
Sidewalk Egg Frying Day
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A few different Fourth of July related injuries have been on the rise over the last decade. Here are the top three to be aware of . . .
1. Firework injuries. They're up 32% since 2012, partly because parents don't keep a close enough eye on their kids. The most at-risk group is teens between 15 and 19. Last year, one in eight injuries caused by fireworks were in that age group.
2. Grilling injuries are up 18% in the last decade. Little kids are the most likely to get burned. One in five patients who show up to the E.R. with a grill-related injury are under the age of 10.
3. Heat-related deaths. They're up 56% in the last three years alone. People at the highest risk for heat stroke are babies, young kids, and seniors 85 and up.
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A civics poll for the Fourth of July looked at how much we know about America's history and laws. Here are a few questions they asked, and how people answered . . .
1. Who was the first president? 13% . . . or roughly 1 in 8 people . . . don't know it was George Washington. 6% said Abe Lincoln, our 16th president . . . 4% chose John Adams, our 2nd president . . . and 3% said Thomas Jefferson, our 3rd president.
2. What did the Declaration of Independence do? 78% knew it declared our independence from Great Britain. 9% thought it freed the slaves . . . 7% said it declared our independence from France . . . and 6% thought it gave women the right to vote.
3. At what age can you vote for president? Only 80% knew it's 18 years old. 3% said 16 . . . 9% said 21 . . . and 7% said 35. (Some of those people might have misread the question. 35 is the minimum age to BE President.)
4. What are two rights of everyone living in the U.S.? 86% got it right. The correct answer was "freedom of speech and freedom of religion." But 4% think the freedom to "disobey traffic laws" is one of them.
5. Who was Ben Franklin? The correct answer was a "U.S. diplomat." But 21% thought he was our third president, and 4% chose "inventor of the airplane."
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With inflation and everything else going on, we knew this number would be higher. Now we know how MUCH higher . . .
According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the average Fourth of July cookout will cost just under 70 BUCKS this year . . . a full $10 more than it cost in 2021.
The average is $69.68, up from $59.50 last year. That's still only $7 per person, but an increase of 17%. (It was $59.66 in 2020, and $54.88 in 2019.)
They base it on 12 different things you might serve at a backyard barbecue for 10 people WITHOUT including beer or alcohol.
The biggest jump this year was the price of ground beef, up 36%. Here's a rundown of what everything costs . . .
Two pounds of ground beef for burgers, $11.12 . . . two pounds of chicken breasts, $8.99 . . . and three pounds of pork chops, $15.26.
Hamburger buns, $1.93 . . . cheese, $3.53 . . . chips, $4.71 . . . two-and-a-half pounds of potato salad, $3.27 . . . pork-and-beans, $2.53 . . . two pints of strawberries, $4.44 . . . and some lemonade, $4.43. Then for dessert, some cookies, $4.31 . . . and a half-gallon of ice cream, $5.16.
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What are the biggest Summer turn-offs for you?
In a new poll, the biggest summer dating turn-off is: "Socks and sandals." It's a classic that won't die.
Other things that made the Top 10 include: Bad tan lines like a "farmer's tan" . . . sunburns . . . "branded t-shirts" . . . mosquito bites . . . cheesy pick-up lines . . . being downers or just unenthusiastic . . . talking too much . . . and smoking.
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Today's Useless Fact of the Day - Three U.S. presidents have died on the 4th of July.
James Monroe, John Adams,(1826) and Thomas Jefferson (1831)
The 50th star was added to the American flag on July 4, 1960 symbolizying Hawaii.
It's a tradition in New England to eat salmon and peas on the 4th of July.
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