n Small-town celebrity birthplace of the week: Diamond, in southwestern Missouri (current population about 800). Botanist/educator George Washington Carver was born there in 1864.

n The venerable Sporting News has published an annual baseball record book for about 100 years. In an ominous sign for the future of sports reference publishing, for the past two years, it has been published in a Web-only edition that anyone can access free of charge. The newest edition’s URL is www.sportingnews.com/books/baseball/2008baseballrecordbook/.

During what month of the year is Earth farthest from the sun?

A) January

B) April

C) July

D) October

Wednsday’s answer: Cakes, dragon eggs, salutes, palm trees and willows are all varieties of fireworks.