the buzz log

Of all the politicians to put a damper on fireworks, who knew it'd be Arnold?

Governor Schwarzenegger, as Californians say with a straight face, recently pled with residents to abstain from pyrotechnics because of wildfires plaguing the Golden State.

Maybe that'll dissuade a few do-it-yourselfers who have been looking online for ways to fire up the Fourth. Besides checking out brands like “phantom” and “tnt," people have been pondering "how to make fireworks," "how to transport fireworks," "fireworks laws" and, whew, "fireworks safety". (Feeling indestructible? Watch the Consumer Product Safety Commission re-enact fireworks accidents by abusing fruit and decapitating mannequins.)

For those who prefer to leave the sky show to the professionals, “july 4th fireworks” queries have climbed 116% in the past 7 days. Californians may want to catch a flight to Motor City, which puts on the most popular spectacle in the U.S. of A: Searches for “detroit fireworks 2008” have skyrocketed 483%, surpassing online enthusiasm for Chicago’s “navy pier fireworks.”