Fireworks? Bah, Humbug!

Official campaign warns of amputations, mangled hands

(NEWSER) - Officials in the Philippines tried to curb the usual tide of injuries this New Year's Eve and even had some success, the New York Times reports. Hundreds of people are injured there every New Year's by fireworks, fighting, and celebratory gunfire—so officials recently mounted a campaign, running off posters of mangled hands and having a doctor appear on television to warn of the inevitable amputations. One official even danced onstage to offer people a new way to celebrate. More»

Community will get free show to make up for awesome, but brief, display

(NEWSER) - It may not have gone exactly as planned, but a Scotland community fireworks display was pretty spectacular nonetheless. Due to a technical glitch, a show that was scheduled to be about 30 minutes long was instead over in less than one, as every single firework was set off simultaneously on Friday night. The Oban Times notes that the fireworks company will offer a free show later this month to make up for it. More»

Network showed images that couldn't really exist

(NEWSER) - Something was off about the broadcast of Boston's Fourth of July celebration—a few miles off. CBS aired footage of fireworks exploding behind the State House, Quincy Market, and Fenway Stadium, but astute viewers soon realized such views would have been physically impossible from where the fireworks were launched. Turns out the footage of the locations was shot in May and superimposed below images of the fireworks show, reports the Boston Globe . More»

Really, is there anything more American than 'The Situation'?

(NEWSER) - While celebrating our nation's birthday, pause and raise your beer can and toast these famous Americans, born on the fourth of July. Highlights from the Daily Beast's list:

• Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino: Which news do you find most surprising? That "The Situation" turns 30 today, or that his reality TV earnings were second only to Kim Kardashian's last year.
• Calvin Coolidge: Our country's 30th president is the only commander in chief to have had this patriotic birthday.

Spy cam gives rocket-eye view in this viral video

(NEWSER) - Ever wondered what July 4 looks like from a firework's perspective? Well wonder no longer. Just watch this clip from 19-year-old videographer Jeremiah Warren, who strapped a tiny spy camera onto a series of fireworks. The little 808 #11 camera miraculously survived multiple flights, and provided some pretty high-quality video—though it might make you a bit dizzy. More»