We hope you will forgive the spottiness of TWEAH recently, but it is likely to be a regular occurrence during the summer months. Nevertheless, here are some links for you this Independence Day holiday weekend…First, let’s recap the past week on The Junto itself. First, we published Jonathan Wilson’s piece describing the history being dished out at historical sites in Philadelphia, “Varieties of Heritage Interpretation.” Then, we had two very interesting interviews, one with Peter Onuf by Michael Blaakman entitled ““Let a thousand MOOCs bloom”: An Interview with Peter Onuf” and one by yours truly entitled, “The First Year of Founders Online: An Interview with Kathleen Williams.”

In other history blog news, this past week saw the launch date of the brand new “African American Intellectual History Society” blog and its first post on“’What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?’ and African American Secularism.” The group blog has nine contributors including Chris Cameron, Patrick Rael, Lauren Keitz Anderson, Christopher Bonner, and Emily Owens. Also, the University of Cambridge’s “Cycle of Songs” has posted a song called “Freedom,” inspired by Olaudah Equiano’s writings and experience.

In The Atlantic, Yoni Applebaum writes about the inordinately large bonfires of Gallows Hill.

In the Los Angeles Review of Books, Sasha Archibald tells the story of the origins of the Smithsonian Institution.

In holiday-related stuff, PolitiFact compiled some of its founding father fact checking.  

Over at the Oxford University Press blog, Kyle G. Volk looks back to a time when independence had to be celebrated without alcohol.

At Kuyperian Commentary, Thomas Kidd lists his “top five forgotten founders.” (Two words, Thomas: William Livingston)

Buzzfeed shared “The American Revolution, As Told By Sloths.” Seriously.

Finally, at The Boston Globe, Robert Tsai writes about how declaring independence has become an American habit.

Have a safe and happy conclusion to this most early American holiday!