Independence Day. A celebration of the American Spirit, the triumph of Freedom over Tyranny. How will we celebrate? In New York City, you might be standing behind miles of barricades along 12th Avenue, or even 11th Avenue, to make sure you don’t get anywhere near the Hudson River where five barges will be blowing off enough fireworks to decimate a small country in a very colorful fashion.

I love fireworks. I’ve seen a lot of them in New York. Some were legendary, like the Bicentennial Celebration or The centennial anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge, both of which could be easily witnessed among throngs of people watching from the RIVERSIDE. When did the Police Barricade State take over? It’s been gradual in some ways, part of the ongoing national campaign to curtail personal freedom in every possible walk of life. Hey let’s go to the YMCA for a swim! But no diving, no jumping, no paddle boards (you could kill someone with those things).