I realize not everyone in our audience celebrates the 4th of July (American Independence Day), when we, with the essential aid of the French, and possibly a little assist from the madness of King George, shook off the yoke of colonial Britain—which a lot of us didn't want to shake off the yoke of. (Did you know that? Fewer than half of the residents of the Thirteen Colonies were revolutionaries on this day in 1776. More were Tories, loyalists to the crown. But they tended to keep quiet about it. And many quietly switched sides when it became expedient. And some went back to England, or sent their children back.) (I'm hoping to get some history lectures in the Comments.)
Anyway, before I get too far down that track: TOP will be closed for a few days for the holiday.
Coming up just after, the July Print Offer. In response to requests, it will be a completely different sort of image for us, and it's a two-digit (sub-$100) sale as well. A picture I love, and that longtime readers have seen before. And it's a TOP reader's picture, too.
Speaking of readers' pictures: also when I get back, I'll be sending a letter to all the buyers of Phil Rosenberg's Keck Observatory print about the contest they can enter to win a week at a Hawaiian villa and have their own picture in a Print Offer. (I'll be asking for 1–3 guide or proof prints not to exceed 8.5x11" in size if you want to start thinking about it.)
Also this coming month, I could well have some Blog Notes about the new TOP, which is coming along, and possibly about the new Johnston family digs, which will have a larger office and will thus have to be known as [Slightly More] Sprawling TOP World Headquarters. (It means I won't be able to enjoy this new road, but then, I always use the alley anyway.)
In the meantime, please keep the comments about the cameras coming. I'm finding them very enjoyable to read, and informative.
See you in a few days, and, if it applies, have a nice and safe Fourth! Send me a picture, and I'll publish a few.
Mike
Mike
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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
Jack: Had the British won...see this beer video.
David Miller: "Happy 4th of July to citizens of the USA!
Re 'the yoke of colonial Britain—which a lot of us didn't want to shake off the yoke of': While some residents of the Thirteen Colonies may have returned to Britain, a significant number emigrated to other British colonies, where the British government designated them 'United Empire Loyalists,' often rewarding their faithfulness with land grants in their new locations. The influx of Loyalists had an enormous effect on the 'other' British North American colonies and were instrumental in the formation and early history of Canada. (Happy birthday to us on July 1st!)
"Though the United Empire Loyalists were discussed at length in Canadian history books when I was in grade school in the 1950s, I was surprised to discover that the United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada still exists. (I was pleased to note that among the traditions they maintain is the correct use of the apostrophe in the name of their organization.)
"I wonder if they're on speaking terms with members of the Daughters of the American Revolution?"
Mike replies: Heh. I could ask my great-aunts, except they're all...well, you know.
Anything about photography planned?
[Unfortunately, no time for any 4th of July photographing this particular weekend. Except I just did a few nice portraits that I like. --Mike]
Posted by: Hopeful | Thursday, 03 July 2014 at 11:25 AM
"And some went back to England, or sent their children back." And others, like my wife's ancestors, went north, to what would become Canada. A very brief synopsis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Empire_Loyalist
Posted by: John Werle | Thursday, 03 July 2014 at 12:54 PM
We are prepared to take you back.
Posted by: Stephen Almond | Thursday, 03 July 2014 at 02:23 PM
The tax rate on a typical New England tradesperson was about 9% in pre-revolutionary America. 7% afterwards. Of course there was much subsequent economic and geographic expansion but for the lives of an average carpenter or blacksmith... not so much of a difference.
Of course now the average tradesperson is taxed more than 50% and there is nary a call for revolution of any sort. Unfortunately IMHO.
Posted by: Frank Petronio | Thursday, 03 July 2014 at 03:08 PM
My loyalist ancestors were in Massachusetts and decamped to Canada unit things quieted down. Happy 4th!
Posted by: mark | Thursday, 03 July 2014 at 03:45 PM
A propos "The madness of King George", I was told that it was originally released in the UK as "The madness of King George III"b ut for the USA they dropped the "III", fearing that folks might wonder what happened to the prequels "I" and "II".
Posted by: John | Thursday, 03 July 2014 at 05:32 PM
Do the non-European natives of your land also try to spoil the celebration by calling it Invasion Day? Happens here in oz.
Posted by: Arg | Thursday, 03 July 2014 at 06:43 PM
Mike,
Happy to oblige with some history. Many loyalists, including my ancestors, made their way north to Canada. Wikipedia gives a reasonable summary of the numbers and the impact on Canadian history:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Empire_Loyalist
Ut incepit fidelis sic permanet
Grant Tomlinson
Posted by: Grant Tomlinson | Thursday, 03 July 2014 at 07:03 PM
If TOP keeps expanding, you can follow the lead of the website Ars Technica. They have orbiting Headquarters.
Patrick
Posted by: Patrick Perez | Thursday, 03 July 2014 at 07:40 PM
My mother's family name was Ingersol until the Revolution, when it changed to Ingerson. No one knows why it changed, but I have often wondered if the sons changed their name because of differences with their father over Independence. (The first American Ingersol moved to Long Island from England in 1650.)
As an illustration of how unreliable oral history can be, my aunt once told me the family changed its name to avoid any association with the Great Agnostic, Robert Ingersoll, but in fact the name had already been changed by the time Ingersoll was born.
Posted by: Chuck Holst | Thursday, 03 July 2014 at 09:45 PM
Happy 4th!
Posted by: Armand | Friday, 04 July 2014 at 01:33 AM
Got the print the day I left for a holiday in Japan. It's gorgeous. Hope you give the buyers a bit of time to get back to you, as I'm far away from my home and portfolio until the 20th, and I bet I'm not alone in that.
Posted by: John | Friday, 04 July 2014 at 02:57 AM
Today I realized I had these two pics that I was fortunate enough to take last July 4th-http://jimmyreina.wordpress.com/
Posted by: Jimmy Reina | Saturday, 05 July 2014 at 12:21 AM
Mike:
This is OT but I wanted to say that, as an avid reader of this TOP, I really miss it when you are away. Although, I can't tell you all the subjects I've read over the years, I wanted you to know that I can't remember all the meals my mother made but I surely would have starved had it not been for her cooking. Ditto for TOP.
Just my two pesos, my friend.
Posted by: Hugh Smith | Saturday, 05 July 2014 at 10:51 AM
The Loyalist influence on Canada's history was enormous. I'm told that the Loyalists are the major reason why we English-speaking Canadians sound more like Americans than like Brits.
I've also found it fascinating that the Loyalists are known in the USA as "Tories". In Canada (and I suspect in the UK as well) "Tory" is a nickname given to a member of the Conservative Party or one of its descendant parties, or to the party itself.
Posted by: Jordan | Monday, 07 July 2014 at 10:37 AM