Four-score and 149 years ago, a couple thousand rag-tag rebels took on a big superpower and forced King George to say "Uncle." If the historians have it right, the whole revolt was a clever con by George Washington and the Continental Army. You know: if you act like you're a powerful force worthy of respect, even a king might believe you.

Thus was the United States of America born. For 229 years since, we've been bluffing our way through thick and thin. Amazingly, now and then we seem to live up to our bluster. Funny how that works. Sometimes people call your bluff, and it's put up or shut up. We've been lucky, we Americans. More often than not, we show that we can walk our talk.

Sometimes we even live up to our ideals. Well, heck, lots of times. Shame America for not being perfect, and we'll hang our heads low — and then change what's wrong. Slave owners? OK, abolish slavery. Deny women the vote? Amend the constitution, and elect women senators.

So this week's Best Bet? What else? The Fourth of July. From small town parades to community picnics, celebrate freedom and the ideals of democracy. It's a long weekend, though, with days to go before Monday, so get cracking and try some of these other Best Bets:

BEST THE BIG ONE BET: That's The Big One as in the First Amendment, all that stuff about freedom of expression and stuff. Artists exercise that right daily, and you can see some of those efforts Friday with the local First Friday openings. We're talking everyone from K-Bay Star Alex Combs to ... Well, visit the gallery receptions on Friday and see. For a full review, see page 13A.

BEST HE'S BACK IN TOWN: Mack, that is. Knife, Mack the Knife. Shaken, not stirred. The classic musical continues today through July 3 at Pier One Theatre, with performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Sunday, and 8:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

BEST SOUNDS LIKE A SQUEEZE TOY BET: If you have middle age vision, that little brown bird flittering in the alders looks like a little brown bird. Learn bird songs, though, and you can distinguish a golden-crowned sparrow ("Three more beers!") from an olive-sided flycatcher ("Quick! More beer."). Want to learn more? Join ornithologist Betsy Webb from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday with a "Birding by Ear" walk on the Calvin Coyle trail. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Paul Banks Elementary School. There's a $10 fee for adults, $5 for children, with proceeds to Kachemak Heritage Land Trust.

BEST ROVING ROMANIANS BET: Visiting from the Three Barons Fair, the Wild Rovers visit Homer Saturday to Monday for the Open Air Gypsy Fair from noon-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and noon-5:30 p.m. Monday at Timeless Toys. With games, juggling, singing, dancing, storytelling, face painting and more, it'll be a fun time.