Hannah Bowman: Second, @mattdpearce.bsky.social’s masterpiece of an essay on people setting palm trees on fire on July 4 in LA: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-07-01/4th-july-flaming-palm-tree

I have to share two of my favorite (non-political but joy-bringing) 4th of July pieces. First, Malcolm Gladwell’s article on why Heinz ketchup is unparalleled, one of the best pieces of food writing I know of: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2004/09/06/the-ketchup-conundrum

The Ketchup Conundrumwww.newyorker.com Mustard now comes in dozens of varieties. Why has ketchup stayed the same?

Second, @mattdpearce.bsky.social’s masterpiece of an essay on people setting palm trees on fire on July 4 in LA: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-07-01/4th-july-flaming-palm-tree

Every July 4th gives us one of Los Angeles' most important symbols: the flaming palm treewww.latimes.com Los Angeles has a love-hate relationship with palm trees. It reaches its fiery apex every Fourth of July.

This was incredibly kind of you, Hannah.

I love this piece and your palm tree posts every year!

Learning that palm trees are essentially an overgrown grass was a moment for me.

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