Fourth Of July

Today is Independence Day, the 221st anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. It is observed as a federal holiday. * Closed: All government offices, courts, banks, post offices, stock and commodity exchanges, libraries and many businesses. MTA buses will follow Sunday schedules and Metrolink trains will be closed. * Trash: Los Angeles City residents whose trash collection day falls today will have their trash collected on Saturday.

A fiery crash on the 110 Freeway and several other traffic accidents have claimed the lives of five people on Los Angeles County streets and highways so far over the Labor Day weekend, authorities said. In the 110 Freeway accident, a man died early Sunday when he was trapped under a flaming 1971 Chevy Monte Carlo that was struck after it had stopped on the shoulder of the southbound lanes near 52nd Street. The 18-year-old driver of a 2008 Smart car apparently swerved to avoid rear-ending a vehicle directly ahead, hitting the Monte Carlo.

A variety of events to celebrate Independence Day are planned for today. Among the offerings: * A Fourth of July celebration will begin at 9 a.m. at Forest Lawn Memorial-Park, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Hollywood Hills. The event will feature the Southern California Mormon Choir, the Primary Children's Chorus and the Glendale Center Theater Players. Admission is free. Information: (818) 984-1711. * A Musical and Fireworks Extravaganza is planned from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The heat has cooled between Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic leaders of the Legislature. But for a while, there seemed to be a pending explosion. Brown quickly vetoed the Legislature's gimmicky state budget — no California governor apparently had ever dared that — and the leaders angrily countered that he was ineffective and confused. All's calm again, however, now that the Democrats have produced a more honest spending plan and Brown has signed it, praising them for "a hell of a job. " But what does the public flare-up between a governor and legislative leaders of his own party say about Brown's leadership skills?

Say you're British and don't really look at July 4 -- America's Independence Day -- as something to celebrate. Or maybe you just don't like fireworks. Humorist Martin Lewis has an alternative. He's producing a British-themed party at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood featuring performances by Spencer Davis, Denny Laine and Gordon Waller and screenings of two films: "Go-Go Mania," with many of the British Invasion bands of the 1960s, and "Goal!

Burbank: The Horace Heidt Jr. Orchestra headlines the "Bursting Out With Red, White and Blue" fireworks show, which includes a performance by the All-American Boys Chorus, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Starlight Bowl, 1249 Lockheed View Drive. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. Always a sellout, only $15 tickets are still available. Information: (818) 525-3721. Castaic: Fireworks will be reflected off the water beginning at 9 p.m.

Independence Day 2011 dawns amid a resurgence of interest in our nation's Founding Fathers. "Tea party" conservatives in particular like to invoke them as an inspiration. Yet while it is certainly possible to find writings by individual founders that adhere closely to modern right-wing principles, this group of mostly white Anglo-Saxon Protestant property owners had profoundly differing opinions about governance — differing not only among themselves but often from the views of today's conservatives.

Kim Kardashian's butt is real. Some haters said it was fake. To prove them wrong, she had a doctor take X-rays to show that it was implant-free. Odd as it sounds, when a symbol of trumped-up celebrity has a part of her anatomy authenticated, it's a perfect expression of Americanness. So, on this Fourth of July, I'm adding Kim Kardashian's butt to the list of the things I celebrate. Americans have a complicated relationship with authenticity. We celebrate our national ability to reinvent our lives, to leave the past behind or get a makeover , but we simultaneously bemoan the absence of an authentic American culture.

Americans are getting ready to celebrate Independence Day with the usual parades, barbecues and fireworks. But for the field of GOP presidential hopefuls it will be a chance to supply their own fireworks and bring their best pitches to, well, you guessed it, parades and barbecues. On July 4, New Hampshire, the first primary in the nation, will be thick with candidates, while some contestants will be in Iowa and even Philadelphia, where the second Continental Congress met and formally adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

For those of you checking to see if your city allows fireworks for this Fourth of July weekend: Not to rain on the fireworks plans, but take note -- Long Beach, Los Angeles and other cities banning fireworks, including the 'safe and sane' variety, have the right idea. Researchers say that the tougher the fireworks laws, the fewer kids who get hurt. According to a July 1996 study in the journal Pediatrics, children who live in communities with more lenient fireworks laws are seven times more likely to be injured than kids living where the laws are stricter.

Maybe you're not traveling to the Cradle of Democracy this Independence Day . (And, by the way, no one agrees on where that is. Some say it's Philadelphia, others Massachusetts, others Jamestown, Va., and let us not forget Greece.) Wherever it is and wherever you are, it's a good idea to stop and remember the vast geography of our country, the genius of its founders and all the people and symbols that go with it. Here’s a quick quiz to help you contemplate all of the above. Why, you may ask, do you need to know any of this stuff?

Some Southern California communities have scaled back or canceled their July 4 celebrations this year — Marina del Rey and Inglewood have canceled — but the skies over L.A. will still bloom with plenty of colorful explosions when dusk hits Monday. Most of the shows in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura and Riverside counties are free or inexpensive, but if you're looking for a more elaborate affair and are willing to spend extra money, head to the Hollywood Bowl to see Hall and Oates, or to the Newport Dunes resort, or to the Rose Bowl, where families can experience an all-day food and music celebration finished off by a pyrotechnic display.

Winter sports this season started with a bang in the autumn and cruised through one big storm after another during winter and spring, leaving several Western mountain resorts to conclude that the Fourth of July is more than beaches, picnics and fireworks. You can hit snowy slopes too. Just be prepared for limited terrain and shortened hours, in many cases. Weather permitting, here are some snow-meets-sun options for Independence Day weekend: -- Mammoth Mountain in California sometimes seizes the confused calendar to keep some lifts humming through Independence Day. With heaps of fresh snow, the Sierra Nevada snowpack looks more like its mid-winter self - a “June-uary” as the month has been renamed at the resort.

Here's a last-minute Fourth of July getaway for those who love the outdoors : Book Mammoth Mountain’s " Freedom of Choice " package for this weekend and get a $200 gift card. The card is good year-round for activities, such as skiing and snowboarding (available through Monday at Mammoth), golf, mountain biking and zip-lining; dining; nightlife; shopping; and more. The deal:   Book a minimum three-night stay at the Juniper Springs Resort, Mammoth Mountain Inn, Tamarack Lodge or Village Lodge and receive one $200 gift card for each adult on the reservation.