#WhatsHappening for July 4, 2018

Hi kids- happy Wednesday. Hope you're all managing to survive the day with all of your digits intact.

Before we delve too deep into the silly stuff, I'd like to remind you- on this most "American" of holidays- of something (those of you who joined us last Saturday may recognize a bit of this, but bear with me)- the government, from the local to the federal level, works for us.

That's the reason the United States exists- because the people who'd moved to this continent 250 plus years ago got fed up with the bullshit English queens and kings were putting them through and said "that's enough." The representation they demanded and won through treason and war still exists today. And it exists for all of us, regardless of whether we consider ourselves: Agnostic, Jewish, Democrats, Atheists, Christian, Republican, Muslim, Hindi, Independent, Buddhist, or Taoist (or any other -ism or whatever you subscribe to)- and no matter the color of your skin. 

This is our country, and it is for us to set the course that this nation steers. It is for us to demand that the government and its members, as our proxy, lead as we instruct. And if they don't, we vote them out.

We, the People are the true rulers of this land. Let's act like it.

Don't forget to join us for another round of Saturday Night Karaoke, live and all up in your ears this week at the Iron Horse Tavern in historic downtown Norcross.

The Nobel Prize committee said yesterday that the annual award ceremony's concert won’t be held this year so the even can be evaluated.

Nobel Institute Director Olav Njolstad said the musical tribute is on "temporary leave," because the organization wants to "re-think the concert format and content, but also reflects the challenging financial situation of the concert."

"People’s media preferences have undergone radical change since the first concert in 1994. This is something the concert organizers and producers are keenly aware of as they move forward," Njolstad said in a statement. "We have struggled to maintain an appropriate level of financing and want to use the year ahead to develop a new format."

Rumors that the cancellation was related to the sex-abuse and financial crimes scandal that have touched the Swedish Academy and a decision not to award the Nobel Prize in Literature this year have been denied by officials.

Organizers of the party at the Ghost Ship warehouse in Oakland have pleaded guilty to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the December 2016 fire that swept the building. 

The warehouse was the home of an art collective that lived on the premises where the blaze occurred. Prosecutors alleged that the defendants had collected rent from illegal tenants and schedule underground events there multiple times before the night of the fire. The two men appeared yesterday to enter theirs pleas. Sentencing is scheduled for August 8th, and it's expected they'll each get 10 year as the result of a plea bargain with the Alameda County District Attorney's office.

Billboard: Katharine McPhee and David Foster Are Engaged

I saw this other places, too. I wish 'em the best. I guess Foster's hoping the fifth time is the charm.

Birthdays today include: Stephen McNally of BBMak (40); William Goldsmith of Foo Fighters (46); Andrew Creeggan of Barenaked Ladies (47); Matt Malley of Counting Crows (45); Kirk Pengilly of INXS (60); John Waite (63); Ralph Johnson of Earth, Wind & Fire (67); and Bill Withers (80). #MusicalBirthdays