News: Everyone seemed to have a good time at our backyard Fourth of July celebration last night.

Comment: Lots of sparklers and shower fountains. Neighbors shot plenty of fancier fireworks, too. Thanks very much to Jane for bringing over ingredients for S'Mores.

Jane was right when she said it was a lot more fun than fighting the crowds and traffic at one of the area, municipal fireworks shows.

News: More good astronomy last night.

Comment: I appreciate Vanessa going out to Joe and Sarah's property to keep me company. She seemed to be genuinely interested in seeing the stuff we viewed. The scope whirred and spun and we knocked off about 20 bright clusters, globulars and nebulas in about a half hour. Spotted all the biggies in Sag. and Scutum.

News: We took some of Mike's kids to see Lilo and Stitch yesterday -- http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/liloandstitch/

Comment: Very good, althought not up the standards of Shrek or Chicken Run. I laughed out loud at several scenes...but many other scenes were obviously aimed at the kiddie crowd.

11:07:14 AM