TresSugar

Weddings Make a Bang With Fireworks

Tara Block — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 03:05:51 PDT

If you're going to do a holiday wedding on the Fourth of July, it's gotta have fireworks! But the bursting brights make a wedding extra special no matter what time of year it is. See some of my favorite explosive big days featuring fireworks that light up the night with their patriotic and romantic beauty.

Enjoy Fireworks - Save Your Ears

FitSugar — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 00:29:05 PDT

Fourth of July is right around the corner, and that means fireworks! Like a kid, I look forward to the colorful starbursts streaming across the sky. I do, however, hate to rain on your Independence Day parade: as spectacular as they are, the booming sounds that accompany the sparkling visuals can really damage your ears. Noise-induced hearing loss is as real as your mama's cherry pie. Once damaged, the sensitive hair cells of the inner ear never regenerate and can't be repaired, creating permanent hearing loss here.

For a point of reference, here are some common Summer sounds and their decibel (dB) levels:

Rustling leaves: 10 decibels
A whisper: 20 dB
Humming of a fridge: 40 dB
A conversation: 60 dB
Busy street traffic: 70 dB
Vacuum cleaner: 80 dB
Lawn mower: 90 dB
A large orchestra: 98 dB

See how fireworks and other loud noises measure up.

Do You Think Cities Should Spend Money on Fireworks?

Emily Co — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 00:15:57 PDT

Fireworks, just like barbecue and American flags, are synonymous with the celebration of the Fourth of July. But since the country has just emerged from a recession, state and city budgets are looking worse for wear, and the light display doesn't come cheap - Chicago's 2010 fireworks show cost a pretty penny of $750,000, and Austin raised $150,000 for its display this year, which they unfortunately had to cancel because of extreme drought. Although cities like Chicago are downsizing their fireworks show this year, or in some cases doing without them completely, I'm wondering if you think this is a good move.

Do you think cities should spend money on fireworks for the sake of tradition or should they save the money for other uses?

To the Rescue: Fireworks Are Scary

PetSugar — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 04:00:00 PDT

Fireworks can be very frightening to a dog. Since it's the season of sparklers, I'm offering some quick tips to help your pets cope with these scary sounds.

While it's fun to include dogs in your activities, this is one they should definitely sit out! Please keep your animals inside during the noisemaking. If you've got a pet that goes out, make sure he does his business before the display or can wait until after it's done.
Close all doors, windows, curtains, and blinds. Turn on the television or radio to drown out the noise (as best as possible).
Try to distract your pet with special guests, brand-new toys, or rare treats right before the display starts, if possible in a room furthest away from the noises like a basement.
If your pet takes off into hiding, let him be. Trying to lure out a frightened creature while the scary stuff's still happening is not a good idea . . . and extra stressful!

If you're looking to build up your pup's ability to cope with the loud blasts, consider these free downloads (when you right-click). To use these audio effects with a pet, start playing at a low volume and build up to normal volume over time. If you play repeatedly, furry friends can get desensitized to the noise (at a level from inside the house).

Remember, if it's loud to you, it's definitely too loud for your dog - canines can hear sounds at an ultra-high frequency (like those "silent" dog whistles) and can register sounds three times greater than your ear can - keep your pets safe!

Love Fireworks: Monaco's New Royal Couple Celebrate With Concert

Tara Block — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 22:27:29 PDT

Earlier today Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco married at a civil ceremony, and tonight they celebrated with a concert at Port Hercule. Get in the romantic Fourth of July spirit early with these stunning images of French electropop artist Jean Michel Jarre's sound and light show and the explosive fireworks over the water.

Roundup: New Year's Eve Around the World

CasaSugar — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:30:05 PST

While every city and country has its own unique way of celebrating the new year, fireworks and sparkling lights seem to be universal. I thought it would be fun to take a virtual world tour of some of the lights and sights of New Year's Eve. So, even if you're hunkered down at home this evening, you can still say that you've celebrated internationally.

Fireworks and Your Delicate Ears

FitSugar — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:31:20 PDT

I'm ready to celebrate the Fourth of July, but must admit I am not a fan of the noise that accompanies fireworks - lovely as they may be. Those booming sounds can really damage the delicate structures in your ears; once they're damaged, they never regenerate and can't be repaired. This condition is known as noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The loss is permanent and may cause impaired hearing or total loss of hearing down the road.

NIHL can be caused by one exposure to a loud noise such as an explosion, or by regular exposure over an extended period of time. If you continuously experience sounds over 85 decibels (dB) then a hearing aid may be in your future. Check out how some common sounds compare:

Rustling leaves: 10 dB
A whisper: 20 dB
Humming of a fridge: 40 dB
A conversation: 60 dB
Busy street traffic: 70 dB
Vacuum cleaner: 80 dB
Lawn mower: 90 dB
A large orchestra: 98 dB

To see how fireworks measure up

Fireworks for spectators 800 feet away: 88 to 126 dB
Fireworks for spectators 10 feet away: 155 dB
Front row of a rock concert: 110 dB
Military jet takeoff: 140 dB
Motorcycles, firecrackers, small firearms: 120 to 150 dB

So when it comes to ear safety, it's best to enjoy a fireworks display from far away. If you're serious about preventing ear damage, pick up some foam or silicone earplugs. They sell them at most drug stores for less than $5. I know they're not exactly the most fashionable things to sport, but I'd rather wear these for 20 minutes than hearing aids for the rest of my life.

Roundup: Fireworks

CasaSugar — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:00:16 PDT

I've shown you stars, I've shown you stripes, and now I'm back with some fireworks to celebrate Independence Day. As usual, I've rounded up some cool Fourth of July-inspired home decor elements that will look good in your casa year-round. This Goldfinger Pendant ($2,385) resembles a gorgeous exploding firework, but would look lovely hanging over your dining room table on any holiday.

For my other firework finds,

Citizen Fireworks! Happy Birthday America the Beautiful!

LibertySugar — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:00:50 PDT

The Fourth of July is my favorite holiday of the year! It's also my mom's birthday, so every year we go all sorts of red-white-and-blue crazy at our family barbecue.

A firework show is the only way to finish a day of sun, fun, family, friends, flags, and food! So here is your very own CitizenSugar fireworks display. And tell us - what did you do today to celebrate America the beautiful?

Are Your Pets Scared of Fireworks?

PetSugar — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 05:00:03 PDT

Happy Fourth of July! I've shared my tips to prep pets for firecrackers, but for those of you who can hear them from your homes, are your pets ever affected?

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