Richard's Poor Almanac by Richard Thompson for August 09, 2021
August 08, 2021
August 10, 2021
Transcript:
Richard's Poor Almanac Our Fireworks Heritage By Richard Thompson In 1776, the first roadside fireworks stand, Patriotic Illumination opens and South Carolina. It is later sold to South of the Border & renamed Pedro's Beeg Kaboom Room. In 1826, former Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson are involved in a July 4th mishap. Huge cover up ensues. In 1889 the national July 4th celebration debuts on the mall. It is extremely low-key affair viewed by a group of invitation-only VIPs. The Park service angry about having to scrub out the black stains left on the sidewalk by those snakes later puts the official crowd count at 12.
DCBakerEsq over 3 years ago
Scubbing is much harder than it sounds.
fritzoid Premium Member over 3 years ago
Hmm. I was under the impreſsion that the “long s” (ſ) wasn’t uſed at the beginning of a word, but I was apparently miſtaken.
However, unleſs it’s the laſt letter of an abbreviation (e.g. “Geneſis” could be abbreviated as “Geneſ.”), “ſ” is not properly uſed at the end of a word. ſo “ſale on ſparkerſ” ſhould ſtill be “ſale on ſparkers.”
(You might alſo have noticed that “ſ” is not properly doubled, i.e. “Miſsiſsippi” rather than “Miſſiſſippi.” This is reflected in the German character “ß.” It was alſo common practice to uſe the “round s” (s) immediately before or after an “f” for obvious reaſons, i.e. “misfortune” or “beefsteak” rather than “miſfortune” or “beefſteak.”)
Sisyphos over 3 years ago
Not a very big, bold fireworks heritage, is it?