Celebrating the end of tyranny in the American colonies is certainly a reason for taking a few days off this July Fourth weekend. But even a lazy holiday of fireworks and hot-dog-eating contests can't keep news from buzzing across the free world. Whether you were a head of state, a head of the household, or a head of wax, this weekend gave us all plenty to scratch our noggins about.

Summer staycations
For household decision makers, all feeling the pinch of higher gas prices, the resounding tune this weekend wasn't "The Star Spangled Banner" but rather "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" The staycation has moved from newspaper lifestyle articles to real life and the Buzz, underlining the economic woes that keep families closer to home in their quest for summer fun.

Avoiding the Olympic affront
President Bush didn't take much time off this weekend. The U.S. head of state traveled to Japan to attend the Group of Eight summit, where he did some work in the Buzz explaining why he has no plans to miss the commencement of the Olympic Games in Beijing. Despite pressure from the home front to avoid the opening ceremonies because of China's human rights record, Bush said he'd rather not insult the Olympic hosts. "Not going to the opening ceremony," said Bush, "would be an affront to the Chinese people."

Tearing the head off history
Someone at the new Madame Tussauds wax museum in Germany decided to add injury to the insult of Adolf Hitler's memory by ripping the head off the statue of the WWII dictator. The attack occurred on the opening day of the famed wax museum in Berlin, lending a bizarre aura to the already controversial display.

Also spiking in the Buzz...
• The celebrated Declaration of Independence says that "all men are created equal," but sisterhood is an equal if not greater force in the Buzz this weekend. Kylie Minogue received an honor from the British crown, while her sister, Dannii, stirred up controversy in her reality TV gig.
• Meanwhile sisters Venus and Serena Williams played together, as well as against each other, to dominate the Wimbledon courts and headlines.

Following in the high-heeled footsteps of "Sex and the City: The Movie" comes another film that's sure to make boyfriends around the world run for cover. Prepare thyself for "Friends: The Movie." Mwa ha ha!

That's right, kids. Rumor has it that there is renewed interest in bringing the six fabulously perky and quirky New Yorkers to the big screen. You can either thank or blame "Sex and the City" for this news. The success of that franchise's recent flick reportedly inspired the cast to bring their beloved sitcom back from the dead.

According to Current, Jennifer Aniston "is believed to have dragged her heels" on the project, but has since changed her mind. Filming should start within the next 18 months. Or will it? Another blog reports that Warner Bros. denied the "Friends" movie rumor, "and there's no confirmation from anyone around town that anything is even being considered."

So, is there hope for all the haters who thought they'd seen the last of Ross, Rachel, and that stupid monkey? Maybe, but remember: When it comes to rumors, they're often denied, but usually true. Sorry.

"Rain Man" was an Oscar-winning film about an autistic man and his self-absorbed brother getting to know each other. Now, in an acknowledgement that the theatrical community is just as starved for ideas as Hollywood, the film is being adapted for an on-stage production at London's West End.

Near as we can tell, it's not a musical. So, you needn't worry about a ballad dedicated to Judge Wapner or a rousing refrain on "excellent drivers." Phew! Here's what we do know: Entertainment Weekly reports that former "it-boy" Josh Hartnett will play Tom Cruise's role. The part of Raymond (aka Rain Man) will be tackled by Adam Godley best known for his work in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and the upcoming "X-Files" film. The curtain goes up this September.

For many, the 1988 movie with Cruise and Dustin Hoffman marked the first time they'd ever heard of autism. The disability is still very much in the news due to concerns that childhood vaccines may somehow cause autism. Could that anxiety have played a part in bringing the film to the stage? We're not sure, but terms like "autism causes," "what is autism," and "autism symptoms" continue to be big in Search.