So stupidity is an international phenomenon . . .

"A man was rushed to hospital in Britain with severe internal injuries after trying to launch a powerful firework from his bottom, an ambulance service spokesman said.

"It is thought that the 22-year-old could have been trying to imitate a scene from "Jackass: The Movie", a controversial film featuring a series of edgy pranks. Footage of the incident in Sunderland, north-east England, was captured on a mobile phone by a gang of youths and shows a white flash followed by hysterical laughter and a youth shouting: "Ha ha ha ha," followed by an expletive.

"A spokesman for the North East ambulance service said: "We received a call stating there was a male who had a firework in his bottom and it was bleeding." He is now recovering in a Sunderland hospital after sustaining internal injuries including a scorched colon.

"The incident took place on November 5, when Britons light bonfires and let off fireworks to commemorate a 17th century plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament."

Some where, Guy Fawkes is rolling over in his grave.