Independence day

When my husband, Earl, left his job as a national accounts manager for book publisher John Wiley & Sons, the very last email he sent from his corporate account carried the subject line "Independence Day." Like many people who leave a job, Earl (shown at right, and above with me) used his...

If you're considering declaring yourself independent of municipal fireworks displays this weekend and sending up a few red, glaring rockets of your own, question number two on your mind should be "How can I get the most bang for my buck?" We've consulted with the fireworks pros for advice.

Making the rockets red glare and bombs burst in air isn't cheap. Fourth of July displays can cost up to several million dollars. Find out where the most awe-inspiring (and most expensive) fireworks can be seen this July 4.

Across the U.S., lots of Americans won't see the rockets red glare or the bombs burst in air this year. That's because their towns can no longer afford to celebrate the anniversary of our nation's independence with the typical fireworks display.

Even before the decade began, there was a rich market for armageddon. Like the year 999, the end of the 20th century came with a glut of apocalyptic prophesy in America's popular culture.

We Ohioans eagerly look forward to the Fourth of July. We love fireworks displays -- actually, we have a fondness for anything that blows up. But this year, the skies of the Buckeye State will be considerably less festive than usual. Some Ohio towns have been forced to severely cut back their...

Welcome to the finger detachment holiday, when emergency rooms are full of people (mostly young people) with fireworks injuries. I always figured these were accidents of carelessness, but a recent Consumer Product Safety Commission Report changed my mind; it reported that half of the imported...

Time once again to unfurl the flag and celebrate Independence Day. Dollar stores have everything you need for your picnic or barbecue, from flags to red, white and blue dinner ware. Dollar Tree has a selection of solid red, white and blue party supplies including paper plates, cups, napkins,...

Over the past few years, the Fourth of July has evolved into a significant measure of the nation's economic mood. Most children are out of school, and most parents have the day off, so millions hit the highway for short vacations that reveal changes in consumer optimism, disposable income, and the...