To begin, let’s read some insightful words from one of America’s great leaders.

Mankind — that word should have new meaning for all of us today.

We can’t be consumed by our petty differences anymore.

We will be united in our common interests.

OK…so that was Bill Pullman’s presidential character in Independence Day, but regardless… It’s July 4th! One of my favorite holidays - the truly American celebration of America.

CNN.com presents this 10-question quiz. I scored 50 percent. Don’t judge just yet - you determine how many states declare fireworks as illegal. But others, there are no excuse to get wrong.

Let’s just see how you do. Feel free to share.

You’re given one answer above. I’m kind of disturbed that our national anthem is based off an English drinking song.

Apparently, Alex Rodriguez is getting a divorce.  Let’s not go there.

Instead, let’s go to his kids. He and his wife have two daughters, Natasha and Ella, who was just born in April.

But let’s not yet dwell on the children, either. Rather, let’s dwell on the egotistical, self-serving Alex Rodriguez.

It’s by reading this article that I learned of the Rodriguez children. The middle names of both of his daughters - note: daughters - is Alexander.  Not Alexandra.  Not simply Alex.  Alexander.

Since having a boy whom he could call Alex Jr. isn’t a possibility right now, he gave his daughters his very male name.

Get over yourself. And shame on your wife for going with it, too. It seems you’re too afraid of being forgotten that you need to remind everyone - through your daughters - the enormity of your success.

And that’s my Yankee rant of the day.

Poor Dan Gross. He must be bored.

The Daily News columnist recently posted a gossip blurb first reported by CityPaper.  The next stars of Eyewitness News of our Lives haven’t officially been separated yet.  At least, according to the Palm Restaurant.

The eatery, known for throwing caricatures of famous Philadelphians on its walls, has a pairing of Larry Mendte and Alycia Lane posing near each other.  Still no word on plans to either separate or remove altogether.

In the cell phone image on the left, I think we can make out CBS3 sportsguy Beasely Reece. And is that Kathy Orr on the right? Maybe Michael Colleran next to Larry?

In related news, rumors abounded that Mendte would be appearing in federal court today. But that’s the magic of gossip. Not all of it’s true.

In more related news, I find out in three weeks if I made the cut for Wheel of Fortune. That is not a rumor.

So, apparently, our beloved fruit known as watermelon has uplifting effects other than just tasting scrumptious.  I think that’s all I need to say.  The reporter and interviewees can say the rest.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2008/07/02/napp.watermelon.new.viagra.kens

The North Carolina DMV needs to get a clue.

More than 10,000 people in the state have license plates that begin with the letters WTF.

LOL, right?

I was ROFL when I heard this.  Because thanks to one little video that came about just a few years ago, those three simple letters can never be used in that order in a generic sense again.  All because of some damn Australian.

A woman’s grandkids tipped her off that the license plate on the back of her sedan had deeper social context.  And now, the DMV is offering free replacement of said license plates - if the drivers choose.

And…the sample license plate on North Carolina’s DMV Web site also included those first three infamous letters.

Maybe N.C. is more liberal than we originally thought…

L8R.

Thank you, philly.com.

The Web site that is Philadelphia assembled for us an archive.  An archive entitled “Alycia Lane in the News.”

Don’t worry.  Larry’s on there, too.  It might as well be called “CBS3 in the News.”

And the latest story comes from the columnist who is Philadelphia, who assembled for us her thoughts defending Alycia.

Jill Porter wrote a column that many people will laugh at.  Many people won’t take it seriously.  It’s questionable if she even takes it seriously.

In a nutshell, her column says that we, the news-crazed Philadelphia public, never gave Alycia a chance.  Maybe she’s not the ditzy diva the Philadelphia media has made her out to be.

We ought to believe that, Porter says.  But we probably won’t.

That’s because this long saga that began December 14 after an incident involving a news anchor, a New York City cop and a taxi cab (sounds like the setup for a joke) is finally coming to an end.  There are only two more milestones to come - the future of Mr. Mendte’s federal investigation and the outcome of Lane’s lawsuit against KYW.

Well, unless Mendte files a wrongful termination lawsuit.  But let’s pretend that’s not an option.

But these outcomes aren’t what we care about.  We cared about the public destruction of two beloved news anchors - those whom we loved to watch and who will likely not be on the Philadelphia airwaves anymore.

And you know what?  We’re going to miss them.  I already do.

Way to go, Philadelphia.

It’s payback.

First, England wouldn’t allow America’s sultry sweetheart Martha Stewart entrance into the country. Something about a criminal past…I don’t know.

Alas, karma kicks in. Now the U.S. won’t allow England’s sultry sweetheart (yeah, I said it) Boy George into the country. Aw, shucks.

Boy faces charges in London for false imprisonment. His trial is set for November.

This just goes to show foreign powers – don’t try to pull one on the big, bad United States, because we’ll shoot you down and shoot you down hard.

For every Martha, there is a Boy.

I credited a CNN producer for getting tased. And now, I credit the Upper Darby Police Superintendent, Michael Chitwood. I guess the purpose is to evoke feelings of empathy for those getting tased?

http://cbs3.com/video/?id=59139@kyw.dayport.com

Gas prices are outrageous.  It’s no secret.

Some people, however, believe some people think it is a secret.  Therefore, they want to let them know about it.  How do they do it?

Ride bikes. Naked.

It’s a great cause.  However, I have no idea how seeing a bunch of people riding naked would make me want to pull out my bike.

Granted, it’s a sight to see.  But I don’t think seeing all the [insert words of choice here] would necessarily encourage me to ride a bike.

But hey…that’s the beauty of America.  Freedom of speech, religion and dress.

It only took five dead husbands for police to question the common denominator.

Betty Johnson (sounds like a grandmother you’d love to have, doesn’t it?) has finally been arrested after police have questioned her involvement in at least one of her husbands’ deaths.

The 76-year-old has been charged with the 1986 murder of her fourth husband.

So a lessen for us all — if your spouse has had at least three other spouses in his or her life, track them down. Make sure they’re alive. Or run like hell.