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Entertainment
5 Timeless Classic Film Underdogs We Love To Root For
Against all odds? I was never good at math anyway.
16 January 2019
103
Movieclips
You can't keep a good man down. Between a rock and a hard place, swimming upstream without a paddle, when you have no other place to go, you have the underdog. There is no one better to learn from when the options are close to none. Though their steps are small, their leaps have no bounds. Here are five underdogs we can't stop cheering on.
1. Luke Skywalker.

Luke Skywalker's father wants to rule the galaxy with or without him, and distant relative Obi-Wan Kenobi just had to keep it a secret. Everyone goes through that hating-your-parent faze, but Luke never outgrew it. Living on a moisture farm on the deserts of Tatooine with smugglers and Tusken Raiders will force anyone to thirst for more. That deserves a swig of blue milk.
2. Marty McFly.

Exploiting the very fabric of the space-time continuum to travel forward to the past only to travel back to the future. Sounds heavy. Marty McFly is a hip square that's a little rough around the edges, but he always gets that Kodak moment in the nick of time. Who gets to meet their parents before they're born? My friend in time, Future Boy, that's who. Or Calvin Klein or Clint Eastwood if you prefer.
3. Daniel LaRusso.

The best defense is the best offense. That is, of course, if you decide to sweep the leg instead. Daniel LaRusso is the New Jersey newcomer to California and he's made some friends but more enemies. When you're the new kid, it's hard avoiding rumors and keeping and starting a reputation. Nothing like a little karate to kick start your life. Wax up some more cars, LaRusso!
4. Rocky Balboa.

Another Italian, this time from the humble streets of Philadelphia. Rocky Balboa taught us that life will knock you down, but you decide to get back up and to roll with the punches. Life is more than black and blue though. Sometimes it's red, white, and blue, or yellow, or Russian, but no matter what, even after the final bell, there's a champion in all of us. Going the distance, proving yourself for yourself, that's the true spirit of an underdog.
5. Rudy Ruettiger.

Faith without work is dead. No one knows this better than Rudy Ruettiger. Playing for Notre Dame started as a dream, then it became a goal. The mark of a good athlete is having a good an academic standing. The Irish get a bad rep, what with all the drinking and big families, but leave it to Rudy here to dispel the myths and fulfill his dream. In life, luck is only half of it.
Underdogs don't get the respect they deserve until they learn to respect themselves. When they do, they return that respect twofold. Rock the boat, but don't fall overboard.
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The fourth of July is a time to celebrate our country, but lately, I wake up with feelings of dread. The second I open my eyes, I'm thinking, "What bad news awaits me when I log onto Twitter or Facebook?" The morning of Independence Day was no different.
We are a country that voted a racist, sexual predator into the White House. We are a country that has experienced countless deaths at the hands of someone with a firearm, yet nothing has been done about gun regulation. We are a country that is putting innocent children in cages. We are showing our worst side to the rest of the world.
I can't be proud of that, and I won't celebrate it.
Today, I choose to remember a country that celebrated and welcomed different walks of life. A country that believed in freedom. A country that gave us Broadway, Disney World, a countless list of museums and natural parks, and beautiful architecture. A country that allows people to be exactly who they are. A country that I hope comes to its senses, and soon.
Although I am not proud of where we are right now, today I choose to celebrate a country that was always great.
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Lifestyle
There Is So Much Beauty In The Fourth Of July Despite The Blazing Hot Temperatures
Because what other time could you be sweating from every pore in your body but still be having a good time?
11 July 2018
590
https://www.pexels.com/photo/4th-of-july-american-bright-candles-461917/
July fourth is arguably one of the hottest and most American holidays there is. Families and friends come together to celebrate the day of the United States' independence. The whole town comes out to the same place, at the same time, to sit in the burning hot sun and watch the commencement of the celebration parade.
Old cars drive through, fire trucks and police cars blare their sirens, pageant princesses and little misses wave from their glorious floats, high school bands play with the sunlight gleaming off their instruments, and horses prance through the street.
Even with so many amazing things going by, everyone's attention is always on something else. Retired veterans from every branch of the military drive or walk by, proudly wearing their hats and waving at everyone they pass. These are the people that you're going to want to pay attention to, out of respect if nothing else.
Just about every other car throws out candy and little kids scramble to get some before it disappears. It's a race to get the most and the best pieces. Clearly, this is the highlight of their morning and it keeps them quiet until siblings start fighting over who got what. Although by the end of the day, all you've got is hard bubble gum and partially unwrapped dum-dums.
Once the last sirens die out the majority of the crowd begins to trickle away. Some go to the pool or the beach and get a tan, and others take it easy all day, but most will be grilling out on this night. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and apple pie are served and the adults kick back with a beer to watch the children play and run around in their red, white, and blue outfits.
Chances are the local park will hold family-friendly festivities that evening, including face painting and sketchy amusement rides. People are posing for pictures at every turn and the sound of overlapping chatter and laughing never dies down.
As the temperature begins to drop a couple degrees kids and adults alike light up sparklers and draw pictures or words in the air, creating fairytale-like memories that will carry on anytime you think of the Fourth of July.
Finally, when dusk starts to settle in it is time for the long-awaited fireworks. The best spots in town fill up within in minutes to watch the show, but really it's pretty good from nearly anywhere you choose. Family pets are hurried inside to avoid any mishaps or runways and then the sky lights up with beautiful colors and designs.
The last fireworks are always the best because the town always makes sure to have a very grand finale. By the time they end, it's late at night and everyone is tired but in a good way. Some people might be sunburnt and some might be getting a tad grumpy, yet no one seems to really care that much. It ends up to be a great day had by all, and hopefully, nobody forgets the true meaning and importance of this summer holiday.
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Arts Entertainment
Dear Naperville, Hire Me To Plan Next Year's Firework Show
I could do so much better.
10 July 2018
157
Dear Naperville,
I have been a longtime resident and lover of the Fourth of July, and I'm sorry to say that your fireworks display this year was a disappointment. So, I am officially throwing my hat in the ring to coordinate next year's Fourth of July fireworks show.
What was wrong with this year's show, Emma? Let me break it down for you.
First, you spent WAY too much money on low fireworks. My family and I watched the fireworks from Ribfest, which is right next to where the fireworks are shot off, and even we couldn't see a good fourth of the fireworks. A huge tree and tons of rides blocked the low fireworks. I can't even imagine how little of the show we would have been able to see if we were farther away like we usually are.
If I were in charge of planning the fireworks show I would eliminate the low shooting fireworks. This is a show for ALL of Naperville not just the 5% of people right in front of where the fireworks are shot off. Wasting the budget on low shooting fireworks is just wrong. I would replace these low shooting fireworks with ones that go high in the sky.
Second, the music played alongside the fireworks needs some SERIOUS work. The songs should encompass the patriotic spirit of the holiday (bonus points for each song that includes the words American, America, USA, United States, and the US). Whoever was in charge of the music clearly did not get the memo because they included songs such as "Party Rock Anthem" and "24K Magic." What do those songs have to do with the Fourth of July?
If I was in charge of the music for the fireworks show I would play exclusively patriotic songs like "Born in the USA." I would also time the fireworks with the music so when the beat drops the firework pops. Instead of it sounding like music was just playing alongside the fireworks the music would be part of the show.
Finally, the finale needs a lot of work. Everyone knows when the finale is starting because of the sheer amount of fireworks in the sky, but this year you couldn't even see half of the fireworks because of the smoke. The use of bright popping fireworks created so much smoke they covered the other fireworks. It made me disappointed that I was missing so much of the show. Additionally, in true American fashion, I think the finale should be mainly red, white and blue fireworks because it is the finale of celebrating the Fourth of July. But we had a rainbow extravaganza.
If I was in charge of the finale I would flip the color order used. The show started off with a constant stream of red, white and blue fireworks only to start using rainbow ones at the very end of the show. I would start off with the rainbow ones that are fun and colorful and end with the patriotic ones.
Now, I'm not saying this was a bad fireworks show Naperville, but it could definitely have used improvement. As you can see I've got some pretty great ideas for next year's show and I'd be more than willing to take the planning off of your hands.
Sincerely,
A Fourth of July enthusiast
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Kerry Sheehan-Delany
There's a clear difference between June and July, and July 4th kicks it off with all of our favorite summer things. Just like winter, we Americans know when the fourth is coming and when the fourth is with us.
1. Red, White, and Barbecue
There is nothing that rings Independence Day better than a barbecue. You can smell it blocks down the road and watch smoke join the cumulus clouds in the bright, blue sky. Corn hole is the activity of choice while you wait for the grill master to cook the burgers and dogs to perfection. With a spread of snacks to much on, there is always a line for tray of watermelon wedges. It is as refreshing as a red solo cup of lemonade, or the sprinkler watering the green grass and mischievous children before the sparklers sprinkle the night sky.
2. Thank you for the blockade, parade.
GiphyParades, parades, parades. Americans love to celebrate with parades. Although most people cozy up in their home and watch the Thanksgiving parade from the comfort of their home, the beautiful July weather brings a whole new meaning to the definition of parade. Not only do communites come together and march down Main Street, but people flood the path and sidewalks, until there is no absolutely no space. The super fans even put chairs out the night before to make sure they have a front row seat for all the craziness.
3. Finally break out the fireworks you bought almost a year ago.
No one knows how to properly use them, but all we want to do is fill the sky with stars just like our star-spangled banner. The lucky ones thank the South for providing gigantic, borderline ill-EAGLE ones to celebrate even more enthusiastically. Sparklers are a staple, but they do not always satisfy the pyro interest of most kids, but every fire starts from a spark.
4. You may run, but you cannot hide from the pride
There is no way to survive this day without some pride. It explodes from every direction and everyone. Whether it is a hat, chubby shorts, a flag, necklaces, face paint, nails, matching outfits, or a staple in your wardrobe, you cannot escape supporting the holiday in some way or another. You may not even try, but you will show pride sometime. Let freedom ring as it sings country songs, Miley Cyrus, and, of course, the national anthem. Today, we represent everyone from "the land of the free and the home of the brave."
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