The Fourth of July turned from fun to tragedy in Custer, South Dakota when a man participating in a hot dog eating contest choked to death. Walter Eagle Tail, age 47, lost consciousness during the competition and could not be revived when he was taken to the hospital.

A Florida man celebrating the Fourth of July with his friends and family on New Smyrna Beach noticed two middle-aged women trying to make off with his tent canopy, beach chairs, boogie boards, and kids' toys. So he confronted them, with a cameraphone, and got an unexpected fireworks show.

This Fourth of July, while revelers were distracted by a fireworks display over the East River in New York City, smart bank robbers took the opportunity to saw a giant hole in a bank roof on the Lower East Side and steal some cash. After all, no one was watching.

Two boats in the Dinner Key Marina in Miami, Fl. collided late Friday while boaters were out celebrating the Fourth of July, reports say. The collision has resulted in the deaths of four and injuring several others.

It may come as a surprise, as we pummel hot dogs to the dome on this hallowed day, that other countries also celebrate the Fourth of July—but on different days of the year. Quelle surprise.

Jeb Lund, the friend of Gawker also known as Mobute, has posted an Independence Day-related meditation on the sandwichness of hot dogs at that most American of publications, The Guardian. Lund arrives at the right conclusion for the wrong reasons. Here is why hot dogs are sandwiches.

Look at this spectacular video of fireworks, sparklers, and contained explosives in all their slow-motion, fiery, explosive glory. Although, I harbor a seasonal pet peeve about setting off fireworks and sparklers during the daytime, this is really fantastic looking.

Independence Day is the worst of America's joyless national celebrations, the day when everyone will predictably act like a buffoon and nobody has the decency to Opt Out. From Park Slope to Silver Lake, from Phoenix to Saint Paul, the whole nation of grudge-laden bores will wrap themselves in the old Red, White and Blue in another futile attempt to out-patriot their enemies.

How much does a Stinger missile cost?

Whether or not you think we need a Spider-Man reboot, a significant chunk of people obviously do. The Amazing Spider-Man, which retells the superhero's origin story, broke Tuesday records with a $35 million opening.

Tonight, the 35th annual Macy's Fourth of July fireworks display lit up New York City as 40,000 shells were fired off from half a dozen barges in the Hudson River. NBC aired the show live for those not in Manhattan. But because nobody watches NBC, here's video of the grand finale for your visual pleasure.

Happy Independence Day, America! And what better way to celebrate President Whitmore's famous speech than with fireworks? But please, be safe! We've collected some important fireworks safety tips here. Print out several copies and bring them to your barbecue! It's a great way to make friends.

The America-hating buzzkills at the NYPD confiscated some 5,000 pounds of fireworks this year (everything "from sparklers to professional pyrotechnics"), leaving many New Yorkers without even the chance to injure themselves or set their apartments on fire. But at least the department had the decency to film the destruction, which took place yesterday in the Bronx. Next year, guys, maybe you can spring for HD? [NYT]

This weekend when you're setting off Roman candles and other such contraptions in the backyard, take a minute to stop and think of what the firework itself goes through on its flight. It soars in the air, explodes, and then crashes to earth. Let's show you!

Remember, remember the ... 21st of June? That's the day a 33-year-old fireworks tent employee from Orlando, Fl., went a little bonkers, detonating everything in the tent after an altercation with his pregnant girlfriend. His name is Guy Fowlkes.

Happy July Fifth! As you nurse your Independence Day hangover, take a minute to remember whose responsible for this in the first place. Presenting: Kids Reenact The American Revolution!

[U.S. Army Sgt. Richard Hamburg crushes a friend during an Independence Day BBQ sumo wrestling match at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Image via Getty]

This is the greatest food recall since Kellogg's stinky cereal fiasco: 66,000 pounds of bison meat were recalled because they may contain a deadly strain of E. coli. Add bison meat to the list of ungrillable things. [CNN]

New York's first major Fourth of July fireworks-related casualty: A man on Long Island yesterday blew his arm off using a mortar tube. His friends packed the limb into a cooler with ice, and doctors are trying to reattach it.

Attention Mark Bittman: Your list of 101 recipes for grilling has been floating around the New York Times's "most e-mailed" list for a while. Many suggestions seem just the ticket for a 4th of July cookout. But some are gross.