Crash Course: We asked experts how they make fireworks that explode into shapes

Known as pattern shells, shape-inspired fireworks have been around since the 1990s Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgpis8B2wWJW2k3-Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) We asked experts how they make fireworks that explode into shapes Today, firework shows are quite the spectacle. And the fireworks themselves don't always look like wilting willow trees or shooting stars in the sky. Instead, they come in various shapes and sizes— from animals to flowers to written text. Known as "patterned fireworks," these types of fireworks are relatively new to the fireworks world. We asked pyrotechnician Mike Tockstein, a licensed pyrotechnic operator in California, and owner and operator of [Pyrotechnic Innovations](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0QbaHR0cDovL3B5cm9pbm5vdmF0aW9ucy5jb20vVwNzcGNCCmKzwHbBYlbaTf5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~), more about how these fireworks work. [Read the rest from Nicole Karlis.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0RjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMDIvd2UtYXNrZWQtZXhwZXJ0cy1ob3ctdGhleS1tYWtlLWZpcmV3b3Jrcy10aGF0LWV4cGxvZGUtaW50by1zaGFwZXMvVwNzcGNCCmKzwHbBYlbaTf5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) (Netflix) The lure of "Stranger Things"? It’s not the '80s – it’s forgotten childhood freedom Anyone who writes or reads stories involving children knows a key component: get the parents out of the way. Growing up, my favorite stories were about orphans. From "[Anne of Green Gables](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0RSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMTkvMDcvMTMvc3RyYW5nZXItdGhpbmdzLWFuZC10aGUtaGVhcnRicmVhay1vZi1ncm93aW5nLXVwL1cDc3BjQgpis8B2wWJW2k3-Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)" to "Jane Eyre," children can't get in trouble, an essential part of fiction, if parents are there, solving everything. Or, if Google is there. Or, cell phones. "[Stranger Things](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0RHaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMzAvc3RyYW5nZXItdGhpbmdzLXNlYXNvbi00LW1vcmFsLWluanVyeS9XA3NwY0IKYrPAdsFiVtpN_lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo)," the beloved Netflix hit now wrapping up its fourth season, circumvents these issues easily by setting the stories of Hawkins, Indiana in the 1980s. And initially, the time period seemed to be an aspect that viewers adored most of all. The synthesizer soundtrack! The Starcourt Mall! Eleven's scrunchies! Will's bowl cut! Even the elements of the age that were less than pleasant (see: bowl cut) felt endearing, doted over in thinkpieces, replicated in [fashion lines](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0QraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucXVpa3NpbHZlci5jb20vc3RyYW5nZXItdGhpbmdzL1cDc3BjQgpis8B2wWJW2k3-Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) where everything old became new or at least briefly cool again — so endearing, some critics began to wonder if the story relied too heavily on [nostalgia](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0RkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDUvMjcvc3RyYW5nZXItdGhpbmdzLWFuZC10aGUtZnJ1c3RyYXRpb25zLW9mLWdlbi14cy04MHMtbm9zdGFsZ2lhLWhhYml0L1cDc3BjQgpis8B2wWJW2k3-Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). [Read the rest from Alison Stine.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0RDaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMDEvc3RyYW5nZXItdGhpbmdzLWNoaWxkaG9vZC1mcmVlZG9tL1cDc3BjQgpis8B2wWJW2k3-Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - Aunt Audrey's cobbler is the [ultimate throw-it-together summer dessert](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0RnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMDIvYXVudC1hdWRyZXlzLWNvYmJsZXItaXMtdGhlLXVsdGltYXRlLXRocm93LWl0LXRvZ2V0aGVyLXN1bW1lci1kZXNzZXJ0L1cDc3BjQgpis8B2wWJW2k3-Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - 12 summery [4th of July cocktails](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0RKaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMDIvMTItc3VtbWVyeS00dGgtb2YtanVseS1jb2NrdGFpbHNfcGFydG5lci9XA3NwY0IKYrPAdsFiVtpN_lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - Is Chris Pratt really [The Worst Chris](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0RTaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMDIvY2hyaXMtcHJhdHQtdGhlLXdvcnN0LWNocmlzLWF2ZXJhZ2UtdGVybWluYWwtbGlzdC9XA3NwY0IKYrPAdsFiVtpN_lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), or are we penalizing his averageness? - Is [Austin Butler](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0RcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMDIvaXMtYXVzdGluLWJ1dGxlci1yZWFsbHktc2luZ2luZy1pbi10aGUtbW92aWUtZWx2aXNfcGFydG5lci9XA3NwY0IKYrPAdsFiVtpN_lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) really singing in the movie "Elvis"? - The "Stranger Things" season 4 finale gives [Metallica's "Master of Puppets"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0R7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMDIvdGhlLXN0cmFuZ2VyLXRoaW5ncy1zZWFzb24tNC1maW5hbGUtZ2l2ZXMtbWV0YWxsaWNhcy1tYXN0ZXItb2YtcHVwcGV0cy10aGUta2F0ZS1idXNoLXB1c2gvVwNzcGNCCmKzwHbBYlbaTf5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) the Kate Bush push - How to make [homemade pizza muffins](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMDIvaG93LXRvLW1ha2UtaG9tZW1hZGUtcGl6emEtbXVmZmlucy1hLXN1cGVyLWtpZC1hcHByb3ZlZC1kaXNoX3BhcnRuZXIvVwNzcGNCCmKzwHbBYlbaTf5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~), a super kid-approved dish - Why are there so many [ancient fountains featuring little boys peeing](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0RuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMDIvd2h5LWFyZS10aGVyZS1zby1tYW55LWFuY2llbnQtZm91bnRhaW5zLWZlYXR1cmluZy1saXR0bGUtYm95cy1wZWVpbmdfcGFydG5lci9XA3NwY0IKYrPAdsFiVtpN_lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo)? - Younger voters agree with Democrats — [but don't trust them](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0RpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMDIveW91bmdlci1hZ3JlZS13aXRoLWRlbW9jcmF0cy0tYnV0LWRvbnQtdHJ1c3QtdGhlbS1oZXJlcy1ob3ctdG8tZml4LXRoYXQvVwNzcGNCCmKzwHbBYlbaTf5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~). Here's how to fix that - [Summer Movies](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0RoaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMDIvc3VtbWVyLW1vdmllcy0xMS1tb3ZpZXMtaW4tdGhlYXRlcnMtYW5kLXN0cmVhbWluZy1pbi1qdWx5LTIwMjJfcGFydG5lci9XA3NwY0IKYrPAdsFiVtpN_lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo): 11 movies in theaters and streaming in July 2022 - It's the perfect moment for a [clean-energy future](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0R3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMDIvaXRzLXRoZS1wZXJmZWN0LW1vbWVudC1mb3ItYS1jbGVhbi1lbmVyZ3ktZnV0dXJlLWJ1dC1hbmQtZ3JlZWQtYXJlLWdldHRpbmctaW4tdGhlLXdheS9XA3NwY0IKYrPAdsFiVtpN_lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo): But war and greed are getting in the way - Biden administration advances [offshore oil and gas drilling](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0RlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMDIvYmlkZW4tYWRtaW5pc3RyYXRpb24tYWR2YW5jZXMtb2Zmc2hvcmUtb2lsLWFuZC1nYXMtZHJpbGxpbmdfcGFydG5lci9XA3NwY0IKYrPAdsFiVtpN_lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - [Facebook swift to respond to Roe fallout](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0RjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMDIvZmFjZWJvb2stc3dpZnQtdG8tcmVzcG9uZC10by1yb2UtZmFsbG91dC13aXRoLWFib3J0aW9uLWNlbnNvcnNoaXAvVwNzcGNCCmKzwHbBYlbaTf5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) with abortion censorship - Watergate prosecutor explains statute that could [keep Trump from running for office](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0R3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMDIvd2F0ZXJnYXRlLXByb3NlY3V0b3ItZXhwbGFpbnMtc3RhdHV0ZS10aGF0LWNvdWxkLWtlZXAtZnJvbS1ydW5uaW5nLWZvci1vZmZpY2VfcGFydG5lci9XA3NwY0IKYrPAdsFiVtpN_lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0RVaHR0cHM6Ly9zYWxvbi51czgubGlzdC1tYW5hZ2UuY29tL3N1YnNjcmliZT91PTcxY2IzZThhNmU5NjM5YzgxMDIzY2Q0MjcmaWQ9NWRlZGEyYWFhN1cDc3BjQgpis8B2wWJW2k3-Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) to receive Crash Course. (Seth Herald/Getty Images) Donald J. Trump, meanest of mean girls: He so doesn't want to be our friend anymore Testimony before the House Jan. 6 committee has often been cringeworthy, primarily because what Donald Trump was actively trying to do — his steadfast intent, in the face of all evidence and most of the advice from the approximately sane people around him — is abundantly clear to anyone who has an open mind. But it gets especially excruciating when we have to hear accounts of Trump getting all hissy and hurt, his tantrums turning to vindictiveness, like an immature, petulant high school student. (Most likely a ninth-grader with emotional problems.) [Read the rest from Kirk Swearingen.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0RzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMDIvZG9uYWxkLWotdHJ1bXAtbWVhbmVzdC1vZi1tZWFuLWdpcmxzLWhlLWlzb2ktZG9lc250LXdhbnQtdG8tYmUtb3VyLWZyaWVuZC1hbnltb3JlL1cDc3BjQgpis8B2wWJW2k3-Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "A League of Their Own" turns 30: Catching up with mighty Marla Hooch," [The Athletic](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0RlaHR0cHM6Ly90aGVhdGhsZXRpYy5jb20vMzM4NDY0OC8yMDIyLzA2LzMwL2xlYWd1ZS1vZi10aGVpci1vd24tYW5uaXZlcnNhcnkvP3NtaWQ9dHctbnl0aW1lcyZzbXR5cD1jdXJXA3NwY0IKYrPAdsFiVtpN_lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’: Inside its wild journey from rejected song to ‘unstoppable’ classic," [NY Post](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0RraHR0cHM6Ly9ueXBvc3QuY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMzAvbGVvbmFyZC1jb2hlbnMtaGFsbGVsdWphaC1mcm9tLXJlamVjdC10by1jb3Zlci1jbGFzc2ljLz91dG1fc291cmNlPXJlZGRpdC5jb21XA3NwY0IKYrPAdsFiVtpN_lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Man arrested after taking ‘Star Wars’ R2-D2 droid at Disney, police say," [The Washington Post](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0SDaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25hdGlvbi8yMDIyLzA3LzAxL2Rpc25leS13b3JsZC1yMmQyLXRoZWZ0Lz91dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249d3BfbWFpbiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPXNvY2lhbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPXR3aXR0ZXJXA3NwY0IKYrPAdsFiVtpN_lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) (Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty Images) Seals, the chunky Einsteins of the ocean, are dying painfully due to plastic pollution While this kind of animal cruelty would be upsetting even if it happened to a simpler species, it is particularly notable here because pinnipeds — i.e., semi-aquatic and fin-footed carnivores like walruses, seals and sea lions — are very smart. One might even call them the chunky Einsteins of the ocean. [Read the rest from Matthew Rozsa.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0Q-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMDIvc2VhbHMtcGxhc3RpYy1wb2xsdXRpb24taGFybS9XA3NwY0IKYrPAdsFiVtpN_lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) Have a tip for Salon? Feedback on this newsletter? [Let us know](mailto:brett.bachman@salon.com). Our mailing address: 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200 Wilmington, DE 19801 [Unsubscribe from this list](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPUAzNTQzOTUyVwNzcGNCCmKzwHbBYlbaTf5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Copyright © 2022 Crash Course, All rights reserved. [Made with Letterhead [Letterhead logo]](~/AASU4wA~/RgRko_u_P0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbmVwbm83czh5c1cDc3BjQgpis8B2wWJW2k3-Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)