Welcome to the 287th edition of The Newsletter Leaf Journal, the official newsletter of the perennially virid online writing magazine, The New Leaf Journal ("NLJ") and its short-form writing sister publication, The Emu Café Social ("ECS").

Today will be a special edition of The Newsletter Leaf Journal. Not only does Newsletter Saturday coincide with Independence Day this year, but it also coincides with America's 250th anniversary. The last time Independence Day fell on July 4 was in 2020, which happened to be a few weeks before I mailed my first newsletter (not to mention the Newsletter was originally mailed on Sunday instead of Saturday). While I was not able to publish many articles last week, I have prepared a July 4 celebration.

Leaves from the week that was

In a reversal of the ordinary order of operations, I begin with my ECS posts since my two NLJ articles segue into my links from around the web section.

The Emu Café Social

In June, I joined a blogging project called Junited, wherein I, and other participants, shared interesting articles and blog posts from around the web. I did not share all of the posts on my list, but I finished June with a flurry. In Tatakiage Recruits in Sumo, I shared a blog post about lower-division sumo prospects, focusing on a new term I learned. Sticking with Japan, I shared Cabbage Sorter’s Review of Shiki (Anime), which I had some thoughts on since, like the reviewer, I watched Shiki many years after it aired. Next, I shared Cal Newport on Big AI “Doom Trolling”, wherein he touched on a topic I have noticed about AI marketing (I approached it from a different angle than he did). Finally, I turned to Jonathan Turley on “White Time” “Scholarship”, which allowed me to introduce a new term I am sure to reuse: "Scholarslop."

On July 1, I published daily Pook-Emu Bee: Links For 07-01-26. The links have not been daily lately, but I plan to get back on track. One day later, I shared what I learned about World Cup De-Branding.

Having enjoyed Junited, which is run by blogger Robert Birming (whose post helped inspire my May article Blogging and the Niche Question), I decided to join his JulyReply project. As the name suggests, JulyReply is specifically for replying to blog posts and articles from around the web. I fittingly started the project with a reply post: Joining Robert Birming’s JulyReply 2026. I replied to Rodrigo Ghedin's post on writing in markdown in On Markdown Editors and Fluff. Next, I replied to Chris Wiegman's article favoring DuckDuckGo proper over the "noai" subdomain in Settings in “No AI” DuckDuckGo. Finally, in Google Hardware Complaints Remind Me of BlackBerry Classic, I replied to a post cautioning people against buying Google hardware by noting that one of the Google hardware stories reminds me of the problems I had with my BlackBerry Classic.

Patriotic New Leaf Journal

I started July by announcing my summer season project: Summer Season 2026 at the NLJ America at 250. It was, of course, heavily foreshadowed in previous editions of this newsletter. Unfortunately, I was busy last week and my first seasonal article was research intensive, so my next post was published right before this newsletter. I usually count Saturday posts for the following Saturday's newsletter, but today I make an exception. The Living Signatories to the Declaration at the American Jubilee focuses on the three men who signed The Declaration of Independence and lived to see America's 50th anniversary: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Charles Carroll (who signed as Charles Carroll of Carrollton). Be sure to peruse my footnotes for further reading.

Patriot Leaves From Around the Web

This week's links from around the web are all Independence Day-themed.

The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence & Signers of the Declaration of Independence (National Archives.)

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

Proclamations

Presidential Proclamation: 250th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Declaration of Independence (Donald J. Trump. July 3, 2026.)

On this 250th anniversary of our glorious Independence, we once again acknowledge that our Nation was conceived in providence, born of the blood of heroes, and sustained through the generations of freedom-loving patriots who gave their lives, toil, and treasure to keep the American Spirit alive. We vow to remain ever watchful and vigilant so that this legacy of liberty will endure in the face of every challenge. We remember that our Republic was begotten in courage, and that only courage will ensure its survival. Above all, we give thanks to Almighty God for His abundant blessings upon our land, praising Him without ceasing for the grace that has guided us through every trial and triumph. In humble gratitude for the sacred trust handed down to us across the centuries, we commend to His care the heroes, dreamers, workers, and warriors who built and defended our Nation, and we pledge ourselves anew to be worthy of their sacrifices.

Checking in Our Party

This Is The Massive Aerial Armada That Is About To Fly Over The Capital (Joseph Trevithick for The War Zone. July 3, 2026.)

[T]omorrow’s flyovers look set to be completely unlike anything seen in years. It will be a far larger gathering of aircraft than what was present at the parade marking the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army last year. It will dwarf even what was put together to mark the Centennial of Naval Aviation in 2011.

They're going all out in the capital. The first and last images in this newsletter are screen captures from the airshow live-stream.

Galveston's tall ship Elissa has been wowing East Coast crowds (Charles Gray for Houston Chronicle. July 3, 2026)

Since leaving Galveston, Elissa has traveled nearly 2,300 nautical miles. The gravity of this moment is not lost on Wright, who wouldn't let it pass without saluting the countless GHF donors and volunteers who brought the ship almost literally back from the dead nearly 50 years ago and continue to maintain a vital piece of Galveston's maritime heritage.

I also saw it close-up yesterday evening moored in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Unfortunately, I had left my phone at home. But fear not, there is still time for a report.

Don't Forget the Grand Marshal

The Story of Uncle Sam, the Embodiment of the Fourth of July (Suzanne Spellen for Brownstoner. July 4, 2024.)

The tall, lanky figure with the white hair and goatee, the red and white striped pants, blue waistcoat, and white top hat with a blue ribbon band of stars has been the embodiment of the United States ... for over 200 years. But like most legendary figures, there is a real person behind the symbol. In this case, it was a New England-born brickmaker and meat-packer named Samuel Wilson, who lived and worked in Troy, N.Y.

Learn about the "real" Uncle Sam. I will have you know I published a less substantive Uncle Sam article on July 4, 2024.

Thinking About the Revolution

How to Think About the American Revolution (Christopher Flannery for Imprimis. June/July 2026.)

But [John] Adams also thought that we couldn’t understand the heroic deeds of the American Revolution—we couldn’t recognize their most essential lesson for us—without understanding the reason they were undertaken. As he wrote to Hezekiah Niles on February 13, 1818, the American Revolution took place 'in the Minds and Hearts of the People'—a 'radical Change in the Principles, Opinions Sentiments and Affection of the People,' he wrote, 'was the real American Revolution.'

My new article features another John Adams quote from this same essay.

Happy 250th Birthday America! (Dennis A. Mook at The Wandering Lensman. July 4, 2026.)

The men who signed the Declaration were not reckless young radicals with nothing to lose. Many were wealthy landowners, successful merchants, lawyers and respected leaders in their communities. By placing their names on that document, they knowingly risked their fortunes, their homes and their lives.

Indeed.

Gratitude (Scott Johnson at Power Line. July 3, 2026.)

To express our gratitude properly, we need to bring them to mind, recall their names, understand their cause, and learn more about them. We must seek to understand the risks they took as well as the sacrifices they made to deliver us to this day. We are in need of knowledge in order to give true thanks.

For example...

Revolutionary War soldier identified after 246 years (Nicholas Slayton for Task & Purpose. June 20, 2026.)

[Pvt. John] Pumphrey came from a well-off family in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, but joined the revolutionaries early. It’s not clear what caused him to join up with the revolution, but he stuck with it. Pumphrey reenlisted on Feb. 28, 1779 'for the war’s duration,' according to Maryland records, for $100.

Looking back at Past Celebrations

The Declaration of Independence, America at 250 and Past Centennials (Sterling Dudley for Internet Archive Blogs. June 29, 2026.)

As America celebrates its Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) this year, explore a curated list of materials preserved at the Internet Archive documenting the nation’s founding, the Declaration of Independence, past ephemera created for the nation’s anniversaries, and new efforts to capture and preserve the materials published by democracies.

The Internet Archive is also a great resource for more obscure American history books and documents, as I demonstrated in my new research article.

Four Presidents, One Bicentennial (Tevi Troy for City Journal. June 28, 2026.)

Nixon did not have a high opinion of his vice president, Spiro Agnew. 'I’m not sure he’s the one to succeed me in 1976,' Nixon said, 'but we may be stuck with him. He wants it, but we will not help him.' As if to give Agnew something else to do, Nixon wrote, 'Give Agnew the Bicentennial to look after.'

That's a good story.

Heritage, Horizon and Festival (Richard Baird at Logo Histories. February 28, 2023.)

"The symbol designed by Bruce Blackburn while working at Chermayeff & Geismar Associates is well-known and celebrated as a fine achievement in marque-making."

Learn about the history of the logo created for the 1976 bicentennial.

1926: A Look Back at America's 150th Birthday Celebration (Jenny Ashcraft for Fishwrap. June 30, 2026.)

A century ago, the nation was flocking to Philadelphia for the Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition. What did a massive 1926 birthday bash look like? We dug into our archives to find out.

Newspaper clippings about July 4, 1926. Say, did I publish anything about the 1926 festivities?

Calvin Coolidge On Why We Celebrate Independence Day (Nicholas A. Ferrell at The New Leaf Journal. July 2, 2021.)

The United States celebrated its 150th anniversary on July 4, 1926. To commemorate the occasion, then-President John Calvin Coolidge delivered a speech in Philadelphia. July 4th was also President Coolidge’s birthday, although that fact did not make the address. Coolidge delivered a remarkable Fourth of July speech that has garnered renewed interest in recent years.

Don't mind if I call my own number...

This controversial Union Square flagpole was created to honor America’s 150th birthday in 1926 (Ephemeral New York. June 29, 2026.)

The flagstaff was supposed to be dedicated to Charles Murphy, a recently deceased Tammany [Hall] president. But controversy arose, as the dedication was considered an insult to America’s founding fathers.

Nothing a change in phrasing could not fix.

Deaths of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson on July 4th (Amber Paranick for Library of Congress. July 6, 2022.)

The deaths of former U.S. Presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams on July 4, 1826–the day of the Jubilee–the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, was an extraordinary and eerie coincidence.

NLJ readers will know that the 5th President, James Monroe, died exactly five years later on July 4, 1831.

Recognizing Our International and Non-English-Speaking Friends

Tokyo Lights Up the Sky with Massive Fourth of July Fireworks Show (John Hayward for Breitbart. July 3, 2026.)

The party was held on Odaiba, an artificial island in Tokyo Bay that serves as a high-tech shopping and entertainment district for the city. The island is reached by a two-level bridge known as the Rainbow Bridge, which is beautifully illuminated at night.

It appears we have a kawaii 4th of July mascot. They did a good job. I should add a Japan celebration to my season project in gratitude.

Javier Milei Becomes Argentina's First President to Celebrate 4th of July (Christian K. Caruzo for Breitbart. July 1, 2026.)

Argentine outlets noted that Milei’s attendance at the United States embassy’s reception marked the first time that an Argentine head of state has participated in a Fourth of July diplomatic reception. According to Infobae, Milei did not deliver a speech during the event, but he took the stage to join Ambassador Lamelas in singing the national anthems of Argentina and the United States.

Argentina's libertarian moment continues.

Funeral for Iran's late Supreme Leader Khamenei to begin July 4, burial set for July 9 (Reuters. June 13, 2026.)

The funeral for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will begin in Tehran on July 4...

I spent about 15 seconds trying to figure out what they think they're accomplishing. I then concluded that I am not capable of such intellectual feats.

After the Founders Declared Independence, Printers Quickly Translated the Text for German-Speaking Americans (Christian Thorsberg for Smithsonian. June 29, 2026.)

On July 5, an announcement was made in the German newspaper Pennsylvanischer Staatsbote that the Declaration of Independence had been signed and was being printed. On July 8, the first German broadside was published. It differed from the original in its typeface: a gothic font was easier, at the time, for German readers.

Neat story but I suspect it reads much better in the original English.

Most-turned leaves of the newsletter week

I use a privacy-friendly and entirely local tool called Koko Analytics (see my 2025 article) to track page visits. In each issue of the newsletter, I list our five most-visited articles, according to Koko Analytics, for the one-week period beginning with Saturday and ending with Friday. Below, you will find our most-visited articles for the week of June 27-July 3 with notes on their cumulative ranking statistics going back to 2021.

1. Adding noai.duckduckgo.com as Custom Search Engine (NAF. Jan. 21, 2026.) 24 appearances and 8 top placements.

2. Catching 151 Pokémon in Google Search (NAF. April 17, 2025.) 27 appearances and 19 top placements in 2026; 54 appearances and 40 top placements overall.

3. Victory Chimes Schooner in Brooklyn Bridge Park (NAF. December 5, 2024.) First appearance in 2026; 6 appearances and 1 top placement overall.

4. The Story of Billy Possum, President Hoover's Pet Opossum (NAF. November 30, 2021.) 3 appearances in 2026; 8 appearances and 1 top placement overall.

5. Honey Lemon Soda – Anime Review (NAF. April 4, 2025.) Debut.

Analysis

We had one of our weaker weeks of 2026 beyond the regular top-two, but we saw the 2026 debut of my article on the Victory Chimes schooner (note it was moved from Brooklyn Bridge Park a couple of months ago, but the Alfred E. Smith is now in service as boat bar/restaurant) and my 2025 review of the anime adaptation of Honey Lemon Soda, which is quietly having a good year in the ranking. In 4th we see the return of The Story of Billy Possum, President Hoover's Pet Opossum, which made the first two newsletter week rankings of 2026 before taking a long break.

Taking leaf

Thank you as always for reading The Newsletter Leaf Journal. If you enjoyed this issue and have not done so already, you can follow this newsletter by signing up for our weekly email, adding our RSS feed to your favorite feed reader, or checking in on our archive page.

I take my leave with John Adams' proposed toast for Independence Day...

Independence forever!
Nicholas A. Ferrell.