2014 in Review: July

Sandy Hook Beach at the Gateway National Park in New Jersey

A staple of summers since 1991.

Yes, Really

As June came winding to it's end, now safely back out East, along was coming our Independence Day. I enjoyed one of my most relaxing summer month's ever, spending some good, quality time at the Jersey Shore, in the ballpark, and cooking out. Lots happened in the world, and for that, we go to the highlights of July:

• Running water was shut off in Detroit. Yes, Americans were denied water.
• I returned to Point Pleasant, the beach town of my childhood.
• The U.S. was eliminated from the World Cup, as was host Brazil, as Germany beat Argentina.
• Teabilly extremists stopped buses full of undocumented immigrants from being processed into the system, yelling obscenities and other unacceptable rhetoric at them in California.
• Maine Governor Paul LePage was exposed to be meeting with the Aroostook Watchmen, a militia group. As an aside, he was re-elected with a minority of the vote.
• Pro-democracy protests broke out in Hong Kong.
• Luis Garcia was the lone IronPig All-Star for the International League.
• The Israelis and Palestinians exchanged murders to kick off the latest round of bombing of each other, complete with Hamas rockets into Israeli civilians, and Israeli bombings of Gaza citizens.
• The U.S. Navy commissioned Michelle Howard as an admiral.
• Novak Djokovic outlasted Roger Federer in a classic Wimbledon Final.
• John Brown brought back his PR contract in Northampton County.
• LeBron James sells out and goes back to Dan Gilbert and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
• San Antonio Mayor and rising Democratic Star Julian Castro was named Housing and Urban Development Secretary, joining the cabinet.
• County Executive Brown finally completed his cabinet.
• Alex Jones called First Lady Michelle Obama a "tranny."
• I took my first trip to the Sandy Hook National Seashore in the Gateway National Park in New Jersey.
• Derek Jeter plays in his final All-Star Game.
• Chase Utley again represents the Phillies in the All-Star Game.
• A Malaysian Airliner goes down over the Ukraine as the Russians and Ukrainians continue their struggle.
• Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa get together to form the BRICS Bank.
• The Lehigh Valley Teabillies protest at Kids Peace against housing undocumented youths. It's a sad display of sub-humanity.
• Rick Perry sends Texas National Guard members to the border to get in the way.
• Eddie Vedder releases a remake of John Lennon's "Imagine."
• Ray Rice was given a two game suspension by the NFL for a February domestic violence charge, sparking outrage. He was later suspended indefinitely, which was overturned, but he did not play this season.
• Congressman Curt Clawson mistakes American government officials for Indian government officials in a Congressional hearing.
• I went to the Statue of Liberty for the first time since I was a toddler.
• Tom Glassine lead a Hall-of-Fame class for baseball. He's my favorite non-Phillie.
• NFL Training Camp began. 
• Australia got rid of their anti-climate change program.
• The Phillies did nothing at the trade deadline on their way to last place.
• "Sharknado 2: The Second One" was released, and I saw it and the first one in the same night. It's awesome.