My dad has said this to me since I was a kid (about 30 years ago). In all that time drinking tea, hot or cold, I can say nope-no discernable effect.
And the "Don't fan yourself in the heat, it actually makes you hotter"? Not true either.

I have mixed feelings about saying "we are the best country in the world" whether or not we are (which is impossible to objectively determine). It sounds so prideful and dismissive of other countries/cultures (I'm thinking of how it must sound to some of my friends overseas) but I don't think people mean it to be that way, they are just being patriotic which is not evil IMHO. It's just kind of like "Let's go team!"

What I have a problem with is spoiled, petulant Americans hurling stones at the (imperfect) system that gives them so much. I've been overseas, and have met a lot of people who look longlingly at all we have here.

The Grand Experiment that started so many July 4ths ago is still going strong.

Looks like fun. I assume it doesn't have any more impact on the aquatic wildlife than a jet ski?

In Soviet Russia, cake eats YOU!
Sorry couldn't resist.

I think I could overlook the geekiness for those rocks.

This is the proverbial "pride goes before a fall". Certain people feel that they are "special" because they have an "understanding" with certain dangerous animals. It's very appealing, but tigers maul their handlers, orcas kill their trainers. You got away with this today lady, but let's not encourage anyone else to go out there and see if they have a "special relationship" with a great white too. Wild animals are meant to be wild.