In the United States, we celebrate Independence Day, a federal holiday that commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. On July 4, 1776, the United States officially declared independence from the UK. We call it the 4th of July and commonly celebrate it with fireworks. For some, this includes going to some public location where the “professionals” shoot off the fireworks when it gets dark. But for the more adventurous, we light fireworks off ourselves in our backyards, whether they are legal or not.

First and foremost, we need to point out that it is illegal (meaning that you will get a fine) in many locations in the United States to possess or light fireworks. Not only are the State laws, there are even local ordinances that dictate whether or not you can light or even possess fireworks. In Texas, for example, it’s okay to purchase fireworks from June 20th to July 4th, and there are lots of people who set up temporary buildings in order to sell them. It’s perfectly okay to purchase them and light them off in certain locations: but there are local ordinances where you cannot even possess them (or even have them in your car), and the local city officials (the fire marshall or other public officer) will confiscate them. You might even get a fine and have to appear in court. So, make sure that you check the local laws if you plan on buying, possessing, or lighting fireworks.

That said, here is how to buy fireworks and what you need to know.

First, I would check out your local newspaper. Typically, the local newspaper, just before the 4th of July, will post information about where you can see fireworks in your area (public professional displays) and they may print the local laws and regulations in your area. Here in Texas, many of the local fireworks vendors actually take out full page ads in the local newspaper advertising that they’re selling them, and offer discounts and coupons. But, in any case, you can also check out the American Pyrotechnics Association, and search their directory of state laws.

Secondly, decide on what type of fireworks you want to purchase. Some fireworks can legally be sold in your area and some kinds of fireworks cannot be sold in your area. They’re typically put into several different “classes” of fireworks. The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) categorizes explosive devices into Class A, B, or C:

– Class C common fireworks, now known as consumer fireworks, include fireworks intended for general public use.

– Class B special fireworks are now classified as 1.3G explosives and are intended for use only as display fireworks.

– Class A consists of solid explosives, such as TNT and dynamite.

Class C Common Fireworks
The Class C Common Fireworks, or ‘consumer’ fireworks, is the type of fireworks that you can I can purchase. You can mention them by saying “consumer fireworks” or even 1.4G fireworks. Keep in mind that the “G” in 1.4G fireworks does NOT refer to the word “gram”, though. The “G” does not have anything to do with grams. The numbers and letters come from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “Hazardous Materials Table” which is a huge and complex set of regulations.

High speed photo of firecracker exploding courtesy of nebarnix on Flickr.

The most common type of fireworks (perhaps the most safe, other than sparklers) is the firecracker. You can buy firecrackers in packs or in a brick or a gross. There are many brands of firecrackers, including Black Cat and many other brands. They come in various assorted packs, so shop around. A firecracker, when lit, will make a single blast or “pop” sound, and it is when you string many firecrackers together and fire them off all at once when they make a “pow, pow, pow”, repeating sound. Firecrackers have a fuse and only takes a few seconds (or even less) before they explode.

Sparklers or sparkling fireworks that remain on the ground are typically called “ground displays” or “ground effects”. They remain on the ground when you light them and they typically shoot out a lot of colorful sparks. This includes fountains and cones, and tanks and other ground effects. If you just want to have some basic fireworks that are fairly safe to light in your driveway then I would buy ground displays. A few examples of ground displays are shown below, and you can buy them online here:

The next type of class c common fireworks is what I would call the “aerials”. This includes anything that you light and stand back…and it shoots up into the air. Aerials need a lot of room and the area where they could possibly land needs to be an area that can’t easily light on fire. Don’t point them near anyone or near any building, as they could easily catch on fire. That said, aerials are always great fun, and can include reloadable shells and mortars (they shoot up high and then explode with sparks in the air), repeaters and cakes, roman candles, and tubes, mines, and shells. Bottle rockets are very popular, and there are many different types of bottle rockets, some even whistle when they fly through the air. A few samples of aerial fireworks are shown below:

Class B Special Fireworks
The Class B Fireworks, or 1.3G fireworks, are the Display Fireworks that you will typically see when you go to a public event that has very large fireworks displays. They typically will have the fire department stationed nearby, and it takes a while for them to set it all up. According to Bob Weaver, “In the United States, buyers of 1.3G display fireworks must have a permit from the ATFE (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) in order to buy these large fireworks. Anyone can apply to get the permit, but it is up to the ATFE to decide whether to grant the permit or not.”

Class A Fireworks
Class A fireworks are typically things like TNT and dynamite. You’re probably not going to be able to legally purchase this, so I wouldn’t bother even thinking about it. These typically require a permit and special training to handle properly (and a license), so you should probably leave it up to the professionals.

For more information about the different classifications of fireworks, Bob Weaver has a great explanation here on this site, along with links to other information about being “safe and sane” when shooting fireworks.

Photo courtesy BuySparklers.com.

Our local Walmart store has class C fireworks, but really are novelty items. These include sparklers, snakes, snappers, tanks, and poppers. You can get a package that has several different items in it, and those are typically okay for kids to use (with adult supervision, of course). If you buy them, they’re going to ask you to prove that you’re over 18.

Photo courtesy Eli the Bearded
on Flickr.

If you decide you want to purchase fireworks and there are fireworks stands in your local area, then you’ll need to go to the ATM and get a bunch of cash (for an evening’s worth of entertainment you’ll probably need at least $100 to $500 on up). Some of the more well established businesses that sell fireworks will accept your credit or debit card, but don’t count on it. Cash is always best.

Don’t buy at the first fireworks stand that you come to. It pays to shop around a bit, and many of the fireworks sellers are willing to haggle a bit. Tell them that you’re looking to spend $500 on fireworks and they’ll typically throw in a bunch of extra stuff that you typically wouldn’t get if you were to pick and choose certain fireworks, one at a time. You might even try to find a location where there are several fireworks stands nearby. You can typically go to one stand, ask they what they’ll give you for your $500, and then try another stand: tell them that you were just over at the other stand and they were willing to make you a great deal.

Whatever you do, whether you decide to buy fireworks at your local stand or go see a public display, play it safe and have a great Fourth of July.

So, why all the fuss about buying a rug? If you ask anyone who has a sense of style and design (not me, of course, I’m the typical guy who will just get any old rug for the floor), there is a method for buying a rug. There are many steps to go through when you purchase the perfect rug or area rug for your home. And once you’ve done your homework so to speak, there are literally thousands upon thousands of rugs out there to choose from. Just ask our buddies over at Natural Area Rugs. There are rugs and then there are rugs. And there are expensive rugs. Here is how to buy a rug.

1. Decide How Much to Spend. The first and foremost question that you have to ask yourself is, “how much do I really want to spend on a rug?”. Believe me, you could spend a LOT of money on a rug. In fact, what about the world’s most expensive rugs? Someone actually paid $4.45 million dollars for a persian rug (pictured below):

Christie’s in New York reported sold the rug pictured above at an auction. This silk Persian rug, dating from the 16th or 17th century, sold for $4.45 million at a Christie’s auction. Can you believe that that’s about $729.87 per square inch? Alright, so you don’t want to spend a million bucks for something you’re going to walk all over. But you do certainly need a budget for your rug. Decide what you need to spend and how much you can afford to spend before you even go rug shopping.

2. Decide on the Size. Go get a tape measure and measure the room where the rug is going to go. Then, if it’s going to cover most of the room, then decide how many feet around the rug you want: how much space between the edge of the run and the wall. In my mother’s house, for example, in her dining room, she has a hardwood floor but has a great looking area rug under the dining room table: and it extends to about 2-3 feet from the walls.

3. Decide on the style. Most likely the room where you’re going to put the rug already has some sort of style or theme: old fashioned, contemporary, western, modern, the 70s look (as in 1970s), whatever. You probably already have decided on the furniture in the room, the color of the walls, and the color of the floor (if it’s a hardwood floor). You might see if you can “match” the style of the rug you’re looking for and decide on possible colors.

4. Take a Picture. Take a photo of the room where you are going to put the rug. If you carry a cell phone (most of us do nowadays), it might be easier to take a picture on your cell phone of your room. That way, when you’re in the store looking at rugs you can compare the colors, furniture, and see if it will fit. I know you can remember what the room looks like, but if you have a photo that’s going to make it a lot easier on you and possibly on the salesman or saleswoman you’re dealing with.

5. Shop Around. Shop around for your rug. Don’t just buy the first one you see and like, consider that there are always going to be other rugs that you can compare it to. And if you’re in a store and see a rug that you’re interested in, take a picture of it with your cell phone. Compare that one with others that you might see at other retailers. Save some photos on your cell phone of rugs that you might have seen on the internet. Jot down prices and sizes.

6. Don’t fall for Deals. If it’s too good to be true, then it probably is. I’m sure you’ve heard that phrase before. But, in the rug business, there are dealers and then there are “dealers”. Some may have “going out of business sales” (most ‘going out of business’ sales are regulated now by city, or local government entities), and you might even see promotions in your local newspaper, on television, or even local signs at intersections near a shopping mall. Don’t fall for those deals, deal with a reputable rug retailer.

Rug buying certainly can be an interesting experience and it doesn’t have to be that expensive to find the perfect rug for you home. Follow these pretty simple steps then you may be able to find that perfect rug for your living room.

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about the Swine Flu in the news. The Swine flu is a type of Influenza (flu virus) that normally effects pigs. But, lately, it has been effecting people in Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. 

Health officials in many countries are on high alert for the Swine Flu, mainly to whether or not people have this virus. They’re preparing to battle an outbreak and getting ready in case it turns into an epidemic. But how do you really know if you have or someone you know has been infected with the Swine Flu? Here is how to know if you have the Swine Flu.

According to officials, there really is only one way to know for certain whether or not someone is infected with the Swine Flu: you have to get tested. Officials need to determine if you have the virus by looking at it under a microsope. But that does not mean that there are not symptoms that you can identify.

What is the Swine Flu?

According to the CDC, Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus. It regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930.

The CDC has some additional helpful information about the Swine Flu:

What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans?

The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?

No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You can not get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.

How does swine flu spread?

Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs. Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can also occur. This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

The CDC recommends routine precautions to prevent the spread of infectious diseases: wash your hands often, cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, avoid close contact with sick people. If you are sick, stay at home and limit contact with others.

So, what are the symptoms of the Swine Flu:

1. Fever

2. Lethargy (in other words, having fatigue (also called exhaustion, lethargy, languidness, languor, lassitude, and listlessness). You’re tired.

3. Lack of appetite. You’re not really interesting in eating much.

4. Cough. You’ve got a cough that you just can’t seem to get rid of.

5. Runny nose

6. Sore throat

7. Nausea and feeling dizzy. Many people who have the Swine Flu have reportedly been feeling dizzy.

8. Vomiting

9. Diarrhea

What do you need to do if you think you have the Swine Flu? You need to see a doctor.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the Mexican virus samples match the U.S. virus. The Swine Fl virus is a mix of human virus, bird virus from North America and pig viruses from North America, Europe and Asia.  Apparently there are four different drugs approved in the USA to treat the flu, but the new Swine Flu virus has shown resistance to the two oldest. The CDC recommends the use of the flu drugs Tamiflu and Relenza.

Currently, the best prevention for the Swine Flu is to take routine precautions to prevent the spread of infectious diseases: wash your hands often, cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, avoid close contact with sick people. If you are sick, stay at home and limit contact with others.