Happy Snooze Year II

The Lunar New Year traditions are alive and well in Singapore. Sort of. Fireworks have been banned there since 1972, and anyone caught with them faces S$10,000 (US$5,715) in fines or two years in jail. Enter the TechnoCracker. Patented in 126 countries, the artificial firework comes in 10 foot strips with 200 cells that generate bangs and spew confetti for up to 25 seconds. The strips are then recycled for use again, but cost S$900 (US$514) — S$1700 (US$975) at the new year — to rent. (Reuters) ...Which pretty much explains the popularity of the recordings.