As I was off the grid yesterday, July 4, I would like to wish everybody a belated yet no less Happy Independence Day!

After a relatively quiet day, I got home and caught up on the local news. During the newscast, the anchor said they were conducting a survey asking viewers if they felt they were patriotic. Where this query did not diminish my reflections on the freedoms we have in the US, it was sad this question keeps coming up in the media.

One thought on patriotism that came to me yesterday was what I did on my 18th birthday, many years ago. After having a great breakfast at home from my Mom, I hopped in the car and made 2 stops. First I went to my hometown’s town hall and registered to vote. From there, I went to the post office and registered for the draft. Where both of these actions are vital to being an American, I felt doing these in this order important, especially if I had any feelings or reservations over the draft. Through my active participation in the democracy that is the US, I could help make a difference.

Happy 232nd birthday to the United States of America, and here’s to many, many more.

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If you are a regular reader of The Hot Iron, you may have picked up I am a fan of the New England Patriots, as I have mentioned it a few times. Ok, 18 times, but who’s counting?

Today I am launching a new blog to accompany the Patriots fan Web site I have been involved with for the past 12 years, GoPats.com. Out In The Loop will features thoughts and opinions from me, a Patriots and Boston sports fan in Chicago. It will also be the RSS feed for the Web site, with posts on updates to the site and information passed along from our readers, as well as a platform for conversation among fans and readers in the form of comments to posts.

This is my third blog, along with The Hot Iron and sourcegate, where I post technical tips and resources. Each have a different but unique purpose. It will take time to write for all of them, but as I am passionate on all of their topics, it will be a labor of love.

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The next likemind coffee will be next Friday, April 18 in dozens of cities around the world. In Chicago, it will be at Gallery 37 Cafe, 66 E. Randolph, at the corner of Wabash in the Loop in the Gallery 37 building. Note it opens at 8, and is right across the street from where it was last month at Intelligentsia.

I call likemind a gathering of creative-minded people, from various disciplines including Internet, advertising, art, et. al.

We will experiment again with some form of social networking. You can follow us on Twitter @likemindchicago. No RSVP is required but is always welcome, and you can by commenting to this post or at the likemind Chicago Facebook group. Announcements • Business • (2) Comments • Permalink

Congratulations to me and my little blog, The Hot Iron, for being an SOB! And it’s not what you think – it stands for Successful and Outstanding Blogger. I recently received this designation by Liz Strauss, a business relationship consultant and blogging expert. As that description doesn’t begin to do her justice, read her bio at her blog, Successful Blog.

Liz is also the founder of the SOBCon conference, and the second annual event will be held on May 2-4 in Chicago. Visit the Web site for more information and to register.

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A recent article on cigars was published in UR Chicago, a great lifestyle magazine in Chicago by an even greater journalist, Daniel B. Honigman. Following the statewide smoking ban in Illinois, Daniel introduces cigars to some - reaffirming them to others - and how smoking a stogie adds to an experience, rather than just getting a quick drag on a cigarette in the cold outside of a bar. He interviewed me for the article, and my quote is at the end of the article. You can download a PDF of the January 10-30, 2008 edition and read the full article.

I enjoy an occasional cigar, and it usually compliments an event or get-together with friends. There’s nothing like a cigar during a Patriots game tailgate party!

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