Friday Snippets and Soundbites—A day late

• Happy July 4, ec fans! Need a little info about the holiday to wow your family and friends with? Independence Day commemorates the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted. The Continental Congress declared independence on July 2, 1776, adopted the final draft on July 4, 1776, and started signing the document in August of 1776.

• Check out this video about a guy who gave up his day job to become a full-time fire-eating magician. His hairstyle also deserves an honorable mention!

• Popular reality show "American Idol," a fave of ec editor Mandy, recently announced the audition cities and dates for the next season. They are: San Francisco: July 17,; Louisville, Ky.: July 21; Phoenix: July 25 ; Salt Lake City: July 29; San Juan, Puerto Rico: Aug. 2 ; Kansas City, Mo.: Aug. 8; Jacksonville, Fla.: Aug. 13; and East Rutherford, N.J.: Aug. 19. The show will audition outside the U.S. for the first time this year with the stop in San Juan. Auditions are open to singers ages 16-18. Need more info? Go here.

• And the ugliest dog title goes to. . . Gus! The Chinese crested with three legs, one eye, and not a lot of hair claimed the title last week at a fair in northern California. Gus is actually a pedigree dog, meaning he's pure-blooded Chinese crested. He won $500 for his "beauty," and celebrated with a much needed nap.