Tim Phillips Show, 7/3/26

If you have some international travel on your agenda this summer, you may get to discover how other people see Americans. A Reddit post asking "What's an obvious sign that someone is American?" has drawn more than 35,000 responses, with many international commenters saying Americans are easy to spot because of their friendliness and willingness to chat. 

Based on their responses, here are the 15 most obvious signs that someone is American:

They're confident.
They're friendly.
If someone asks how far away something is, an American will tell how you long it takes to get there as opposed to a physical distance.
They flash a friendly grin at strangers.
They like their personal space.
They look for something to lean on while standing still.
They don't have an indoor voice.
They'll eat dessert for breakfast.
They wear things differently — like a baseball cap backwards.
They'll sit with one leg across the other with the sole of their shoe exposed, which other countries find rude.
They wear certain items described as "tactical," like tactical sunglasses.
They love small talk.
They like to point.
They are optimistic and enthusiastic.
They eat while walking.

What’s on your ideal July 4th BBQ plate? According to a YouGov poll, these are the mains and sides people say are a must for the ideal barbecue plate:

Burger/cheeseburger – 65%
Hot dog – 49%
Ribs – 48%
Potato salad – 62%
Corn on the cob – 55%
Baked beans – 52%
Watermelon – 48%

Friday Flashback - HAVE YOU EVER REALLY LOVED A WOMAN    BRYAN ADAMS    1995

DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL, TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART, WATERFALLS

1995
The American Space Shuttle Atlantis docks with the Russian Mir Space Station for the first time.
The online auction website Ebay was founded.
The Java Programming Language was released.
The first Trans-Pacific hot air balloon solo flight is completed by Steve Fossett.
The English Channel opened, joining England to France for the first time
Tonya Harding won the national Figure Skating championship title but is stripped of her title following an attack on her rival Nancy Kerrigan.
Loaf of Bread $1.59
Dozen Eggs 86 cents
lay-Doh Cookie Lovin' Oven
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Costumes
Worlds First Satellite Digital Television Service Launched
Popular Films
The Shawshank Redemption
Forrest Gump
The Lion King (Disney)
True Lies
The Santa Clause
The Flintstones
Dumb & Dumber
Clear and Present Danger
Speed
The Mask
Pulp Fiction
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Miracle on 34th Street
Muriels Wedding
Star Trek: Generations
Popular TV Shows
Law & Order
America's Funniest Home Videos
One Foot in the Grave (UK)
Rugrats
The Jerry Springer Show
The Ren & Stimpy Show
Absolutely Fabulous
Beavis and Butt-head
Frasier
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
NYPD Blue
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
The Late Show with David Letterman
The X-Files

America’s food scene is as bold and diverse as the country itself. Shaped by 250 years of immigration, culture, and expansion, our cuisine blends flavors from around the world — creating regional favorites and national classics along the way. So, in celebration of the country's semiquincentennial, The Takeout has ranked the 250 all-time best American foods — from hamburgers all the way down to circus peanuts. 

Here are the 10 best:

Hamburgers
Chocolate chip cookies
Doughnuts
New York-style pizza
Southern-fried chicken
Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
Grilled cheese
Pumpkin pie
Macaroni and cheese
Ketchup

ABC says Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks show will be live on NBC and will feature Post Malone, Blake Shelton, Salt-N-Pepa, Noah Kahan, Bebe Rexha and Shaboozey. Pyrotechs will fire 85,000 fireworks in 30 colors from six barges
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Aptos, California is holding the world's shortest Fourth of July parade. The annual parade is just 6/10 of a mile long. The parade used to be longer, but was shortened. Classic cars, floats, bands, walkers, dancers and dogs are usually part of the parade.
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The William Hill betting agency has listed competitive eater Joey Chestnut as a 1 to 20 favorite to win tomorrow's Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Joey needs to eat 77 hot dogs to break his record. He has won the contest 17 times 
ESPN says Joey Chestnut Has begun preparing for Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4th. He holds over 50 world records in other food eating contests. They include … 
Apple pie, 4.375 3-pound pies, 8 minutes
Asparagus, 12 lbs. 8.75 oz., 10 minutes
Bologna, slices, 15.75 lbs., 8 minutes
Boysenberry pie, 14.5 lbs., 8 minutes
Brain tacos, 54, 8 minutes
Burritos, long form, 14.5 lbs., 10 minutes
Canteen sandwiches, 28.5, 10 minutes
Carnitas tacos, 82 2-ounce tacos, 8 minutes
Cheesesteak egg rolls, 46, 8 minutes
Cherry pie, 17.5 lbs., 8 minutes
Chicken wings, long form, 182, 30 minutes
Corned beef sandwiches, 20 8-ounce sandwiches, 10 minutes
Croquetas, 185, 8 minutes
Eggs, 141 hard boiled, 8 minutes
Fish tacos, 30 6-ounce tacos, 5 minutes
Funnel cake, 5.9 lbs., 10 minutes
Grilled cheese sandwiches, 47, 10 minutes
Gumbo, 15 16-ounce bowls, 8 minutes
Gyros, 30 8-ounce gyros, 10 minutes
Gyoza, 384, 10 minutes
H-E-B True Texas beef brisket BBQ sandwiches, 27, 10 minutes
Hamburgers, Krystals, 103, 8 minutes
Horseshoe sandwiches, 6 lbs., 5 oz. of sandwiches, 12 minutes
Hostess Donettes, 257, 6 minutes
Hot dogs, 76, 10 minutes
Ice cream sandwiches, 25.5, 6 minutes
Jalapeno poppers, 118, 10 minutes
Kolache Factory Kolaches, 56, 8 minutes
Meat pies, 23, 10 minutes
Mutton sandwiches, 81, 10 minutes
Pastrami, 25 sandwiches, 10 minutes
Pepperoni rolls, 43, 10 minutes
Philly cheesesteaks, 23, 10 minutes
Pierogi, 165, 8 minutes
Pizza Hut P'Zones, 7.5, 10 minutes
Pork ribs, 13.76 lbs., 12 minutes
Pork roll sandwiches, 4 oz., 61.5 10 minutes
Pork, pulled 9 lbs., 6 oz. smoked, 10 minutes
Pork, pulled sandwiches, 45, 10 minutes
Pork, pulled sliders, 62, 10 minutes
Poutine, 28 lbs., 10 minutes
Ramen noodles (short form), 10 cups, 1 minute, 50 seconds
Salt potatoes, 13 lbs., 10 minutes
San Pedro Fish Market shrimp, 7 lbs., 8 minutes
Shrimp cocktail, 21 lbs., 8 minutes
Shrimp wontons, 390, 8 minutes
Tacos, 53 soft beef tacos, 10 minutes
Tacos, 126 traditional tortilla tacos, 8 minutes
Tamales, 102, 12 minutes
Turkey (whole), 9.35 lbs., 10 minutes
Twinkies, 121, 6 minutes
Two-foot pizza slice, 6.5, 10 minutes
Waffles, Eggo-style, 81, 8 minutes
White Hut Cheeseburgers, 52, 10 minutes
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LAist says the city of Anaheim, California plans to use drones to monitor illegal fireworks this Fourth of July. The drone’s real-time view will help officers see problems faster and send the right help. The city is expecting 300 calls related to fireworks this Independence Day
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KTVI says the St Louis Police recently found one and a half tons of July 4th fireworks in a vacant St Louis home. Most of the fireworks are commercial grade and were stacked from the ceiling to the floor in every room of the house. Detectives think someone was planning to sell the explosives prior to next weekend's holiday. Police say had the fireworks ignited it would have caused a catastrophic explosion possibly big enough to blow up a block 
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Cowboy State Daily says a 61 year-old Colorado woman was recently arrested for stealing $2,000 worth of fireworks from a Cheyenne, Wyoming fireworks stand.   Sandra May Bafia and her friend loaded fireworks into a gray Honda Odyssey and tried to drive away. Employees say the women drove toward them at a high rate of speed as they tried to stop the theft. The employees called 911 before the Police stopped Sandra and her friend a short while later. 
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The Daily Star says a Monterrey, Mexico woman was recently rescued by a crane after getting stuck on a 13 ft. fence. She was trying to sneak into a sold-out World Cup fan zone. A telescopic crane was brought in to lift her from the barrier. The woman was allowed to leave after medical checks.
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The Daily Mail says the FBI is looking for a missing scientist from Los Alamos, New Mexico.  Anthony Chavez was last seen leaving his home.  He was working with a quantum physicist on teleportation and the idea of being in two places at once. Investigators have not found him.  Chavez does not own a cell phone. 
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Guessing Headlights says a Las Vegas woman recently faked a bomb threat to dodge a $14 parking fee in a downtown garage. Jessica Vazquez told the garage attendant there was a bomb in the area. Police cordoned off the area for five  hours. Jessica was booked on two felony counts of communicating a bomb threat.