DON'T WORRY. Be like Gene! Be happy. I'll explain why this isn't a traditional hiatus in just a moment.

For now, let's enjoy a matchbook from 1969. Or later. Maybe 1976. Space! Kennedy! Vietnam!

Rat-a-tat tat, America:

I mean it: RAT A TAT AMERICA.

Wait - let's build an old-fashioned birdhouse? Yes! Let's hang it up with dignity!

WE ARE THE BIRDS OF PROGRESS

So this is just what you'd expect on the Fourth, right? Like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Christmas Day, I take a break. And a few times during the year I just take a hiatus so the Bleat doesn't feel onerous. (Not that it ever feels onerous.) It's nice just to walk away for a week or two.

But really, how hard is it to do something? How tough could it be to just stop in now and then and say this and that? It's not.

Having said that, I won't. Instead I have prepared Hiatus Bleats and loaded 'em all up. You can ruin your week and read them all at once, or you can drop by daily as you normally would, and have a reduced experience that nevertheless provides some value for your dollar.

Happy Fourth! Just hit lileks.com/bleats as usual, and select your day. Cheat if you like; play games with the comments. It's yours for the duration - and I'll see you around.