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It's that time of year when we have to tell people to not hold lit fireworks.

Every year, people are betrayed by their optimism. "Fireworks have exploded in other people's hands, but surely they will not explode in mine. My hands are different."

Friend, to a firework, your hands are the same. To a firework, your hands are bones and gelatin to be ripped through with incredible ease. Don't hold that lit firework, friend. Lite it safely and follow the manufacturer's instructions. That's how you have a safe and happy 4th.

You've got to think about that famous scene from 'The Rock' (1996). Stanley Goodspeed is holding the "string of pearls" virus container that he's just removed from its housing. He looks Sean Connery dead in the eye and says, "The second you don't respect this, it kills you." That's the energy.

This is a tremendous disrespect to 'The Rock' (1996) as Stanley Goodspeed was holding VX nerve gas. What kind of safety officers are you?

Are you sure? Roland Emmerich seemed pretty confident it was a virus in the DVD commentary.

I mean, entirely possible that the science is... questionable, but from SG himself: "It's a cholinesterase inhibitor. Stops the brain from sending nerve messages down the spinal cord within thirty seconds. ... A twinge at the small of your back as the poison seizes your nervous system..."

How could you overlook the 1998 American science fiction disaster film Armageddon (directed by Michael Bay) wherein Dr Ronald Quincy (played by Jason Isaacs) literally describes blowing one's hand off with a firecracker...

Doesn't he also imply it is ok if the firework goes off in your hand as long as your hand is not closed?