A Nebraska family caught this crazy scene on their SimpliSafe home cam last year — I’ve never seen anything like it. Thankfully, no one was injured. Be very careful this Fourth of July!
Bye-bye fireworks? The drones are here
They’re mesmerizing, a little magical and … pretty dangerous. That’s why a handful of cities are going high-tech this year, replacing their Fourth of July fireworks with drone shows.
Look to the sky
In California, Lake Tahoe, La Jolla and Ocean Beach are going the drone route this year. The same goes for Salt Lake City, Utah, and Boulder, Colorado. That is not surprising, given how dry those states are. Utah is one of the states most prone to wildfires, with 800 to 1,000 yearly.
It’s not just fire
In 2022, about 10,200 people went to the ER with fireworks-related injuries; 11 died. So sad.
- 38% of injuries were burns, and 29% of those were to the hands and fingers. Legs and the head/face/ears accounted for another 19% each.
Then there’s the matter of where fireworks come from
Surprise, surprise: The vast majority of bottle rockets, Roman candles, firecrackers, sparklers and all the rest come from China. In 2020, Americans spent $370 million on Chinese fireworks. The next biggest source? Spain, which we spent a collective $3.61 million on.
With drones, there are no huge booms! No debris or smoke to deal with, either.
Once you get past the tradition of it all, drone shows make a lot of sense. Have you ever seen one in person? They’re beautiful, too!
Use these codewords to create secret iMessage effects
If you’re not Zooming, you’re calling. And if you’re not calling, you’re messaging to stay in touch with friends, family and coworkers.
Texting makes staying in contact easy, whether you and your recipients are across the globe or across town. But it can also get pretty boring to have the same “How are you?” conversation day after day. Tap or click to reveal 12 iPhone texting tips you’ll wish you knew sooner.
How to take the best fireworks pics
They’re dazzling, but capturing them on your phone can be tricky — follow my top tips to get stunning shots.
Watch New Year celebrations around the world
Do you have big plans for New Year’s Eve? There will be massive celebrations ringing in the New Year all across the globe. If you’re not one of the lucky ones traveling to an exotic destination, you don’t have to miss out on all the fun. This cool site allows you to watch all the action as it happens live.
Why you never see brilliant blue fireworks
What’s in a firework? I’m sure you know some of it at least — a bit of gunpowder, a dash of color-changing chemicals, and a propellant to launch them into the air, right? Well, the chemistry behind fireworks is a lot more complex. Even tiny details like color are fragile enough to restrict firework makers. Now, see why blue varieties of fireworks are a rare breed to see.
Celebrate the Fourth of July online
Beyond fireworks and parties, the Fourth of July is a celebration of the Declaration of Independence. Here’s how you can celebrate it in just one minute.
Drones are in the sky
This Fourth of July, you’ll see more than just fireworks in the sky. You might also see drones. Here’s why, in 60 seconds.
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