Every year, Independence Day means taking the D train to Coney Island to catch the  hotdog eating contest, that flamboyant epitome of American culture.  For those who don’t know: The contest is an annual pop art spectacle held on the beach, which features mountains of buns and sausages forcibly disappearing into the gullets of pumped up contestants, cheered on by a crowd of fascinated spectators, journalists and beach goers.

Happy birthday, America!