The CPSC has teamed up with the Justice Department to enforce the legal sale and distribution of fireworks. Last month, a federal judge sentenced Jon Cea and Vincent Cea to 24 months and 36 months in federal prison, after they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing in explosive materials, involving the illegal sale of more than 1,000 pounds of explosives. The defendants and their customers were not licensed, yet they purchased and sold professional display fireworks.

While the federal and state government remain committed to stopping the manufacture and sale of illegal fireworks, the CPSC has issued a press release encouraging consumers who decide to purchase legal fireworks to:

• 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 often 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.

• 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 functioned.

• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.

• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.

• Light one item at a time, then move back quickly.

• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.

• After fireworks fully complete their functioning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding to prevent a trash fire.

Of course, the safest way to celebrate the festivities is by going to your local fireworks display. If you live in Los Angeles county follow the link below to find out where and when they are showing.

Sited Articles:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission | Press Release
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission | Press Release [video]

Helpful Links:
Fireworks Shows in LA County [schedule]
Safe July 4th

So if you want your kid to get a jump on next year’s testing or needs to play catch-up, check out his tests, he covers all the bases. At the end of each section he offers summer reading for that grade level, as well as other helpful sites with quizzes and tips.

He  frequently adds new activities, so check back often. Please check the keyboarding section- it’s new!

Henry Anker’s Tests

Planning on going camping? Or maybe you just need night light where there is not plug to be found, these LED Mood Cubes with colors flowing from one to the other soothingly may be the answer.

2.75″ x 2.75″, battery powered lights

$6.50 each [+ shipping] at Glow Source

BPA’s or Bisphenol A as it is commonly known is an organic compound used to make certain types of plastics. What makes this stuff so nasty is the fact that it’s an endocrine disruptor. This means when you are exposed to enough of it it starts to sending your hormones misinformation and wreaking havoc & causing irreversible damage throughout your body.

So, yes, BPA-free toys are good things and these are some pretty fun looking ones that don’t cost much. You can find them lots of places now, like Target & Amazon for $10-15 bucks plus shipping.

1.) Shave and a haircut- get him a gift certificate to his favorite barbershop or coiffeur. To make it extra special, get him the Works complete with a barber shave- find a place that gives the old-school hot towel & straight blade service, there’s nothing better.

Here in LA, there is Denver-based Floyd’s Barbershop is a solid option. The shop is wrapped in Rock n’ roll posters, the haircuts are straight-forward and the shaves & 30 second shoulder massages are memorable.

2.) Rejuvenate- maybe dad will appreciate a good massage or yoga class. The key is to find a place that comes close to fitting his sensibility, the key is to give him an experience he will be open too. Not every dad will appreciate being thrown into a two-hour yoga class, if so- it is a wonderful way for him to re-boot.

Locally, my preference is Burke Williams Spa for massage in Santa Monica, or Exhale in Venice for yoga.

3.) Give him the Gift of Food- Maybe the guy appreciates a good BBQ, most do. Introduce him to different type of BBQ. Get him a gift certificate to a Korean BBQ restaurant, Southern BBQ or Brazilian BBQ.

4.) A Night Out- Maybe he likes bowling, or likes to shoot pool or maybe catch the game on the big screen. Package a night out with a (handmade) coupons to the local bowling lanes, that auto show coming to town or find the place with the best pool tables in town and pre-pay a night out for him. The idea is to treat him to a night he may not normally indulge in.

5.) Booty Bucks- Wives can take advantage of my article from last year and download printable ‘Booty Bucks’. They only come in denominations of ‘10′ so you will have to be creative when giving change.

Related Articles;
Unique Father’s Day gift ideas from a Dad
Free money for Father’s Day

This diceptively simple tub design was born by husband and wife designers Ben & Katie of PUJbaby.Com. There light-hearted bio reads like a modern version of ‘When Harry Met Sally’ but their designs are born from a Designers need to make parenting one step easier, and for that we thank you Ben & Katie.

$99bucks [+shipping] at PUJbaby.Com

It’s very inexpensive [under $20 bucks], clear easy to follow instructions, a great self-contained take-home project, challenges young people to be technically precise with miniature parts and hours of fun experimenting with solar energy.

$16.95 [+shipping] via Carl’s Electronics

Father’s Day is coming up and here is a list of fresh links for decent free Father’s Day coloring pages. Use the back of some old documents and recycle a bit. This will give them an opportunity to create something nice for day without spending a dime.

Granted this image caters to a dad comfortable with his internal (or external) ‘geek’. Geek or no geek, every dad will appreciate this outstanding collection of free Star Wars Coloring Pages available, or perhaps Star Trek or even a coloring book of Gangsta Rap Stars. If you Pop is a republican, here’s a fantastic John McCain or for the Obama Pappa there are plenty of printable sheets, alongside wonderful coloring pages of Salvador Dali, Ghandi and many others famous people.

There is also a small selection of puzzles can print for their ‘Old Man’ so he can have something to do with all that spare time you give him on his special day. For those dad’s more into other sports, cars and other more traditional things, scan the list below and see if anything sparks interest.

[*The image above is perfect for printing on standard sized paper, just right-click and save to you computer or send right to the printer.]

Father’s Day Coloring Books;
Star Wars Coloring Pages
Star Trek Coloring Pages
Famous People Coloring Pages
Skateboard Coloring Pages
Basketball Coloring Pages
Baseball Coloring Pages
Football Coloring Pages
Football Coloring Pages

Father’s Day Puzzles;
Football Word Puzzles
Free Printable Word Puzzles

Related Articles:
The best kids activity and coloring pages ever
Great coloring pages online
Great free educational coloring pages
Mod coloring books for your lil’ Picasso
Gansta Rap Coloring Book

Strangely, I see Father’s Day as a distinctly ‘grown up’ holiday. Sure, it is a great photo ‘op for the kids to pile on the bed and watch him drink that bad coffee they made and eat the best darn burnt toast he’s ever experienced, but for adults -especially those who are parents themselves- it is a chance to meditate on the dads in their life, and by dad, I mean the guy who was there for them, the guy who helped shape who they are today. Family tends to be complicated so I realize that guy may be Dad or an Uncle, a Grandfather, a Step Father or just some close to the family. So whoever was that father-figure in their life, now is the time to recognize their efforts.

Father’s Day is typified by a card and a gift, the real challenge is to find something or do something that reaches beyond cliche and says, “I saw this gift and I know you will love it.” This is a tall order, I know, but it is the goal. In other words, get the gift for the ‘Man’ not the title (of ‘Dad’). Parents are very elusive when it comes to gifts, this we know. So whether it’s a practical gift or an artful one or a funny one, get him something that speaks to him, thank him for trying to put his best foot forward and give the guy a hug.

Unique Father’s Day gift ideas from Etsy:
Rains on the Plain | Hoop Print
A Cagey Bee | Baseball Painting
By the Wayside | Vintage 70’s Japanese Frosted Drinking Mugs
Emmie Bean’s Shop | Custom Father’s Day Print
Xoelle’s Shop | Big Top Freestyle Tie
Brief Moments | Instrument Landscape Photos
Beautiful Bridget’s Shop | Lambs Wool Neckwarmer
Etsy Finds; 48 Hours of Deals for Dads

Related Articles;
5 more great Father’s Day gift ideas
Free money for Father’s Day

VGL are touring all over the world, and are hitting the Los Angeles area on June 4th, right on the cusp of video game extravaganza known as E3. They are doing pre-sales for their LA show (password HALO) taking place at the historic Greek Theater. In the next six months, they also are touring throughout Canada, Singapore, Romania and of course the U.S.

For more info:
Video Games Live | Ticketmaster
Video Games Live

Full E3 Coverage:
Los Angeles Examiner | Games & Hobbies
E3 Insider
G4 | E3 2009 Headquarters
IGN | E3 Liver Press Conference
Gamespot | E3 Coverage