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Hey, everyone. It's the anniversary of our independence and the day where everyone watches fireworks (or their terrified dogs hide under the bed), eats hot dogs, waves the flag and gets outside. Happy Independence Day. I'm writing that in the same tone I feel. No exclamation point, no smiley, no little emoji.

LONDON — British voters are picking a new government Thursday in a parliamentary election that is widely expected to bring the Labour Party to power against a gloomy backdrop of economic malaise, mounting distrust in institutions and a fraying social fabric. A jaded electorate is delivering its verdict on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party, which has been in power since 2010.

This Fourth of July, with the clock ticking down to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, the United States once again confronts an anguished question: Why did the founders of the nation, supposedly enlightened demi-gods, perpetuate the horror and hypocrisy of slavery rather than banish it outright?

Dear Eric: I’m a self-published fiction author. I’m really struggling with jealousy and despair. Every time I see a published book or step into a bookstore, I feel this wave of sadness. I’m trying to get my books out there, get whatever reviews I can, and promote myself on social media but it feels impossible. A friend just told me she won’t try out a new author unless they have thousands of good reviews on Amazon or GoodReads.

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. EDT today (1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Gemini into Cancer. Happy Birthday for Thursday, July 4, 2024: You identify with like-minded people working for a common goal. You find this fellowship to be reassuring and rewarding.

Today is Thursday, July 4, the 186th day of 2024. There are 180 days left in the year. This is Independence Day. Today’s Highlight in History: On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by delegates to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Also on this date: In 1802, the United States Military Academy officially opened at West Point, New York. In 1817, construction of the Erie Canal began in Rome, New York. Related Articles Rockies, dominated by Brewers’ Colin Rea, shut out at Coors Field Tribes have rights to a quarter of Colorado River’s water but have been excluded from decision-making.