THE POSTSCRIPT, Carrie Classon

Every day, I walk by dozens of beautiful houses.

I am an admirer of grand old houses. I live downtown, just blocks away from some of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, where lumber barons and early merchants built their houses when the city was young. I admire the tall and pointed windows, the large trees in front, the ornate brickwork, the pointy roofs and occasional turrets (I admire the turrets so much that I wrote a book called “The Turnip House” about a house with a turret that looks like an upside-down turnip.)

I walk down the sidewalks, admiring these lovely houses, often at night, and sometimes I even peep through the windows. It’s hard not to when the windows are large and the lights are on. (My friend Verne calls me a Peeping Tom, and he may be just a little bit right.)

MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron

Although fighting began at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, most colonists at that point hoped to reconcile and retain government by consent under the British crown. However, between 1763 and 1776, Britain and the colonies became trapped in self-fulfilling prophecies. British fears of losing control provoked colonial resistance that confirmed fears, convincing Britain domination was needed, which in turn pushed colonials closer together. Initially, there was no desire for full independence, but repeated crises destroyed mutual trust.

The Olive Branch Petition, sent to King George III on July 5, 1775, affirmed loyalty and pleaded for a "happy and permanent reconciliation". It reached London alongside news of the Battle of Bunker Hill, and he refused to even receive it, which strengthened the radicals' hand in Congress. On August 23, 1775, the king issued a Proclamation of Rebellion.

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

Estimates have the number of tourists coming to America to watch the World Cup at about 1 million.

That’s a lot of guests with most experiencing American culture for the first time.

One of the people sharing their experience with the world is a guy going by the name “Freddy” on social media. He has shared his experiences with first-time stops at the Waffle House, Buc-ee’s, Bass Pro Shop and others.

He also shared a ride from his hotel to the stadium from the receptionist so he didn’t have to pay for an Uber.

THE POSTSCRIPT, Carrie Classon

My husband, Peter’s, birthday is this week.

Peter does not celebrate his birthday. Peter doesn’t think the day of his birth is anything to celebrate. He’s happy to celebrate my birthday, but he says he should get to do what he wants to do on his birthday. And what he wants to do is not celebrate. So that’s what we do.

“Can I send Peter a card?” my mother asks, as if she needs permission to do a thing like that.

“Of course! You just shouldn’t feel like you have to,” I explain.