Some Safety Tips for the holiday weekend.

Fireworks safety tips:
• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.
• Avoid buying fireworks that come in brown paper packaging, as this can be a sign that the     fireworks were made for professional displays and could pose a danger to consumers.
• Adults should always supervise fireworks activities. Parents often don’t realize that there are many injuries from sparklers to children under five. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals.
• Um, never have any portion of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Move back a safe distance immediately after lighting.
• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not fully detonated.
•Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
•Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire.
•Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers

7 Tips To Ease Your Pets’ Fireworks Fears
1. Leave Your pets at home and indoors.  Most pets are afraid of fireworks and may try to run away
2. Close all doors and windows and put on background music to muffle the sound.
3. Close curtains and blinds to block the flashing lights.
4. Be sure your pets are wearing identification tags or have microchips in case they do run away or get lost.
5. Try to distract your pet with chew toys and games, or play with another pet that does not share his fear.
6. If you have time, desensitization techniques with appropriate sound CD’s, such as thunder, fireworks, trains, sirens, etc. may help pets get used to the sounds at a lower volume, then as they become more comfortable, gradually increase the volume.
7. If your pet has noise phobias, speak to your vet about a natural homeopathic, non-sedating remedy such as HomeoPet Storm Stress to keep your pet calm during storm and fireworks seasons.  For more info, check out www.homeopet.com

Paul McCartney To Sing Happy Birthday To Quebec
Quebec will receive a visit from Sir Paul McCartney on July 20th to mark the Canadian city’s 400th birthday. McCartney will perform a free concert on the Plains of Abraham.

BBC Airs Lost Beatles Interview Tape
A Beatles interview from the 1960s in which John Lennon and Paul McCartney discussed the way they composed songs together was broadcast on British radio yesterday after it was found in a film can in a damp garage in south London. The April 30, 1964, interview was only broadcast in Scotland and sat in a film canister until it was discovered by film historian Richard Jeffs. It was not immediately clear who owned the garage or why the film was there.

Musicians Hall Of Fame Reveals Inductees
The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum announced its second class of inductees yesterday in Nashville. Booker T. and the MGs, the Memphis Horns, the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and Friends, the Crickets, Al Kooper and producer Billy Sherrill will be formally inducted at a Nashville ceremony and concert on October 28th. George Jones and Peter Frampton announced the inductees at a press conference.

Christie Brinkley Divorce Trial Ready To Rock
Christie Brinkley’s divorce from her fourth husband, Peter Cook, begins today on Long Island. In a rare twist, the divorce trial will be open to the public. Brinkley opposed a move by a legal guardian for her children that would have closed the proceedings to the public, apparently feeling comfortable with the prospect that Cook’s alleged affair with an 18-year-old employee and other intimate details of their 10-year marriage will be ripe for public consumption. The couple had a prenup, so money will not be the focus of the trial. The children and belongings are another story.

LeBron James Helping Kids Save Planet
As part of Nickelodeon’s “Big Green Help” campaign, LeBron James is teaching kids how to save the planet and lead healthier lives. James says part of the effort is to get kids to exercise more by riding bikes and playing hoops. He recently filmed a PSA to raise awareness about the environment. LeBron is also featured on Nickelodeon’s Web site in a game where kids navigate an image of James riding a bike down an obstacle-filled dirt road. His character delivers “green” tips along the way.

Vintage Bicycle Worth Big Bucks
Tom Mault found a rare 1963 red Sting-Ray leaning in a corner at a Virginia Beach bike shop. It’s one of the first made, with the distinctive “banana seat.” Mault paid $350 for the Sting-Ray – and now he’s getting offers of up to $100,000 for the bike. But the Virginia contractor says his Schwinn isn’t for sale. Mault started collecting bikes because as a kid his parents couldn’t afford to buy him one.