Althouse: Fireworks.

July 4, 2011

Fireworks.

Did you take 4th of July festivities into your own hands?

55 comments:

Curious George said...: Nope. Wauwatosa fireworks. Nice job 'tosa. Much better than Obama's May 1st display.; 7/4/11, 10:06 PM
Almost Ali said...: This year things were very quiet around here. "Subdued" is the word I'd use.; 7/4/11, 10:08 PM
edutcher said...: Bad idea. Leave it to the pros or the guys who bet their lives on them - the military.

I can think of few things less advisable than handing a youngster something loaded with gunpowder, the object of which is to make it explode. Given the number of adults who show even less sense than the average six year old, I can't see the sudden push to make consumer fireworks the hot new consumer good.

I know the Libertarians are all for it, but, having seen a few hands nearly blown off, some things are best left regulated.; 7/4/11, 10:08 PM
Fritz said...: Some of the photos I took at our local "unofficial" fireworks display tonight:

http://fritz-aviewfromthebeach.blogspot.com/2011/07/fireworks-at-beach-july-4-2011.html; 7/4/11, 10:22 PM
Conserve Liberty said...: I just stepped back inside after listening to several hours of widespread civil disobedience. I also disobeyed rather frequently. Afterward I watched fireworks barrages of four nearby communities from my rooftop. Widespread civil disobedience, indeed.

I had the honor yesterday to serve as color bearer in a ceremony recognizing the recent grant of American citizenship to a member of our church. He qualified for citizenship by following the General Path after 5 years of permanent resident status and other qualifications.; 7/4/11, 10:23 PM
Mary Beth said...: Yes. The law in Kentucky just changed to make it legal to buy class C fireworks so I bought a bunch and blew them up. It was lots of fun.

My son's friend was home on leave and he came by so we did have a soldier helping set them off, if that counts.; 7/4/11, 10:24 PM
Anonymous said...: There were quite a few fireworks going off in the 'hood earlier this evening, but not to the same extent as in past years (some of which were like the Battle of Stalingrad). Although fireworks aren't legal in New York State, in past years people would drive into the city and buy them in Chinatown, where they were sold more or less openly. Because of stepped-up police enforcement that market has more or less dried up, and now it's necessary to drive into another state (IINM Pennsylvania is the closest). Not as many people can be bothered.

Peter; 7/4/11, 10:25 PM
Scott M said...: Absoflogginlutely. We try to come up with better ways to fire off the standard fireworks fare each year. This year was uneventful, but we started talking about next year and a device that would allow the electronic firing of as many regular bottle rockets as possible.; 7/4/11, 10:32 PM
bagoh20 said...: After reading all the hand wringing around here lately, my new motto is:

"If it's not at least a little dangerous, it's not worth doing."

Today, I can't decide between having sex with a stranger, running with scissors or lighting up a sparkler.

You gotta love the irony of "Happy Independence Day" combined with "is that celebration legal?"; 7/4/11, 10:45 PM
DADvocate said...: Just finished making big booms and sparks in my backyard after watching the local fireworks in town. We bought some of the good stuff in Tennessee.; 7/4/11, 10:46 PM
DADvocate said...: I just read about this horrible affect of 4th of July celebrations.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/07/july-4th-july-fourth-parade-fireworks-republicans.html; 7/4/11, 10:51 PM
JAL said...: Saturday went to a cookout complete with guitar pickin' and fire works.

Our friend has a cannon he fires off. Fireworks handled by the adults. Nothing huge. Bottle rockets, some bigger.

Kids had supervised sparklers. And a couple adult supervised Roman candles.

Tonight we watched the Washington fireworks, (Steep Canyon Rangers are a local group), caught some of NYC, and finished with Boston Pops, Different styles. All lovely, even on TV.

We live in an exceptional country.; 7/4/11, 11:08 PM
JAL said...: bago --

The mantra of the left is that life has to be risk free.

Utopia is like that.; 7/4/11, 11:10 PM
glenn said...: Just got back from an elevated observation point near my house. Surprising how much professional grade fireworks was being set off all over my community. Had about a 160 degree view of the skyline and there were large skyrockets going up all over the place. I kinda think the blue meanies have lost control.; 7/4/11, 11:53 PM
gail said...: 5 fireworks stores less than 3 miles from the farm, parking lots packed with MN cars.

More development neighbors are making for noisy 4th of July weekend nights...even now, at midnight, for cryin' out loud.

Best spot to watch neighbors blow money into the air...from the barnyard, but not this year,... damn mosquitoes....

2nd best spot is from top of the 70' silo, but PIA to climb up/down; 7/5/11, 12:16 AM
Trooper York said...: No fireworks in Brooklyn tonight.

Although I did have beans. I don't think that counts.; 7/5/11, 12:32 AM
William said...: Shouldn't there be a "No Smoking" sign prominently displayed at a fireworks stand.; 7/5/11, 12:54 AM
Methadras said...: In the Marxists/socialist state of California, this is verboten.; 7/5/11, 12:59 AM
Methadras said...: By the way, I saw the NYC fireworks display on TV and it was awesome and because I live here in San Diego which has the unfortunate distinction of now being a city that is owned by leftards, we had a judicial decision that requires the city to now seek an environmental impact study to be made and handed in to prevent fireworks from 'polluting' the Mission Bay/San Diego bay water ways. And I thought to myself if these very leftards asked NYC to do the same to get their ginormous fireworks display on hand.

What a shame.; 7/5/11, 1:02 AM
The Crack Emcee said...: That bottom photo is a keeper.; 7/5/11, 1:10 AM
Donna B. said...: Too dry and too many wildfires already, so no fireworks this year.

edutcher - surely you posted tongue-in-cheek! Just in case you didn't, the military doesn't have a display fireworks MOS.; 7/5/11, 1:55 AM
jamboree said...: They're outlawed here. I vaguely remember doing them as a small child - piccolo petes and such. Very very exciting for a kid. It was like they outlawed Christmas or Halloween when we could no longer go to the stand and have our pick. (Foreshadowing...)

Went to some friends' house across the street from the beach. A private party rents are barge and puts on a wonderful display at sea. The city fireworks can also be seen from the same point. The private display wins hands down.; 7/5/11, 2:33 AM
Michael K said...: Here at Lake Arrowhead, the locals enjoyed the fireworks on July 3, then snickered as tourists asked what time they would be fired off today.; 7/5/11, 2:41 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Did you take 4th of July festivities into your own hands?

The yutes where I live found a way.. and the local police found a way to leave them alone.

We were not alone with the fireworks.

I think that's the way its supposed to go down.. with a wink and a nod.; 7/5/11, 4:53 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: ..yo pellizque una mujer, que hace mucho no lo acia ;); 7/5/11, 4:58 AM
Anonymous said...: First year I didn't celebrate with "questionable" fireworks. In fact, it was a very subdued 4th. Perhaps - it is because I feel the Spirit of America has been lost. We are headed towards complete economic collapse - now killing people in: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Somalia, Libya and indirectly, Bahrain (5th Fleet) through Saudia Arabia. It is the LAST oil war - and will eventually go NUCLEAR - pitting the East vs. West. I look to the Chinese as my liberators.

The "PRIZE" - The EPIC quest for Oil, Money and Power.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qspu35JG59Q&feature=fvsr; 7/5/11, 5:02 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: La montaña - Roberto Carlos; 7/5/11, 5:03 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Yo no tengo felicidad en ningún sentido.. no lo demuestro a nadie, (mi infelicidad) pero no soy feliz.

El Trooper, es como si me conociera.

Este puesto aquí me causa algo que (look forward to). La idea de que yo pueda contribuir a una discusión importante me da mucho animo.. y me ayuda a pensar que a lo mejor yo sirva para algo.

Yo les agradezco una ves mas.

Yo escribo esto en español porque en English me daría vergüenza decir tanta vaina.. ya que ustedes no toleran llorones así como yo.

wv - ingsts - no se ve bien de un hombre.; 7/5/11, 5:29 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: I want to stay and continue to live here.. its becoming more difficult day to day.. not finding work. living practically of work that people should be paying me for but they know they dont have to.

I want to go and live in the Dominican Republic but even my mother says waht I know to be treu.. I would not fear well there.

I never had children.. that may mean that nobody may.. be there in the end?

do people buy a headstone at 45?

i dont want ot leave behind any debts.; 7/5/11, 5:58 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: I dont think I'm the only one living like this.. of the charity of my family.

whoever is responsible for the fdup situation we are living under may God strike him.them down so that when I go prematurely at least I know there was some justice done.

I pray for the destruction and hellish punishment of the people that destryed this country.

I watched Inside Job 2010 and it seems to me they did a good job investigating what went wrong.

Yo maldigo los hijos de putas que jodieron el pais y a los que le cosidieron el poder de joder el pais.; 7/5/11, 6:25 AM
Steve in Toronto said...: Nothing beats setting fire to you own dock!; 7/5/11, 6:29 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: This is fucked up..; 7/5/11, 6:30 AM
Toad Trend said...: "Given the number of adults who show even less sense than the average six year old, I can't see the sudden push to make consumer fireworks the hot new consumer good."

This.

Last evening was sitting with our neighbors enjoying conversation and a cold one when the moron neighbors that live behind lit off what must have been 1/4 stick of dynamite in a tree...there was no warning, no 'fire in the hole' audible announcement.

There were 3 seasoned citizens sitting with us that all were at least 90 years of age and 3 small dogs too. All 15 or so of us must have jumped 3 feet when this 'bomb' went off...freaking morons.

I have no problem with regular run-of-the-mill fireworks but this was just obnoxious.

I made sure I let the moron neighbors know that I hoped their freaking windows were blown out and that it was really a shitty thing they did what with scaring all the old folks without as much as a warning.

Idiots.; 7/5/11, 6:32 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: There are people in high places that have done irreparable damage to our country and we are rewarding them for it.

I dont think there has ever been anything like it in historry.

We keep (to use Obamas own words) giving the keys to the very people responsible for driving us into the ditch... as if a dith even began to describe the fup situation we are mired in.; 7/5/11, 6:40 AM
rhhardin said...: You can save cherry bombs to use in experimental pipe cannons through the year.

A good shot can drive a marble far into a tree.

Kids don't celebrate much; they're more into science.; 7/5/11, 6:54 AM
Tank said...: Although I like to play with guns, I admit I'm not that interested in fireworks, plus don't trust them (not worth losing one of my guitar picken fingers).

I did go to a great show put on by the town next door. First a pool party, then vodka, then walk to the park for fireworks. Kept me from getting depressed about how badly we've f****d up this once great country.; 7/5/11, 7:40 AM
Roux said...: Even though it's been raining every third or fourth day we are under a burn ban. No fireworks this year although I did hear some last night around 10 pm.

Our drought conditions are gone but our parish officials would rather have control of us on Independence Day.; 7/5/11, 7:49 AM
Anonymous said...: Lem, I have seen this before, thank God for family to lean on that's what family is for.

I have been through 2-3 times like this in my life.

This nation is strong, there will be a turn around.

Hang in there Lem....; 7/5/11, 7:50 AM
Fred4Pres said...: Oh yes. Oh yes indeed.; 7/5/11, 8:11 AM
Fred4Pres said...: Lem, hang in there. Do what you need to do, but hang in there emotionally.; 7/5/11, 8:16 AM
Fred4Pres said...: I like fireworks from reservation stands with names like "Ill Eagle." You get the best fireworks there.; 7/5/11, 8:17 AM
The Dude said...: Those pictures are even worse than the hackneyed images that Instapundit so proudly posts on his blog. They are truly substandard - not even close to the usual Althouse "eye". Have you been on an Insty-style bender or something?

His alcoholism is a reasonable excuse for his inability to see what he is photographing, but usually you do much better than those tilted pics you have there.; 7/5/11, 8:20 AM
ndspinelli said...: I tire of white trash spending a months salary on fireworks and blowing them off all night for a week before and after the 4th. It's devolved into a fireworks season, not just a day, or even a weekend. After the 4th these white trash stand owners send out word into every trailer park that the fireworks are half price and it's another week of loud noise.; 7/5/11, 8:27 AM
Christy said...: Fireworks make me incredibly happy, not sure why. The city put on a very nice display. After the symphony stopped playing backup, the John Adams song from 1776, Does Anybody See What I See? with that line "I see fireworks!" began running through my head. (Musicals have the only songs I hear the words to.)

Driving home afterwards we saw more than a dozen private fireworks displays, including on either side of Police HQ.

We did fireworks from my Mom's hilltop last year, with an experienced (and military) family memeber setting up and doing most of the work. After having been scared to death by idiot friends shooting off fireworks in the past, I was surprised to see how unscary and fun it could be.; 7/5/11, 8:32 AM
The Dude said...: ndspinelli, you are a racist. Take your hatred of white people elsewhere.; 7/5/11, 8:47 AM
Fred4Pres said...: I remember doing fireworks with a friend (the kids were watching) and some cranky lady a street over drove up yelling at us and threatening to call the cops. It was July 3 so there was little chance the cops would come. Still we wanted to save some for the fourth.

So we went in the house, had a few beers, waited till about three in the morning and set off a giant strip of black cats in front of her home. We did a timed fuse with a cigarette (you put the fuse through a cigarette and let the ash burn down to set it off).

We got home in time to save the sound of them going off for about five minutes. Good times. Good times.; 7/5/11, 9:53 AM
Fred4Pres said...: ndspinelli, you can't stand other people having fun when you are not, can you?; 7/5/11, 9:55 AM
caseym54 said...: Here in Los Angeles, fireworks have been outlawed. So, of course, only outlaws have fireworks.

Spent the better part of last night indoors, due to the barrage of exploding mortar rounds into my residential neighborhood. It does seem like things were saner back when fireworks were legal.; 7/5/11, 10:08 AM
Edgehopper said...: I can't think of a better way to celebrate Independence Day than breaking a stupid law, like Ohio's fireworks law--you can buy anything you want, but you can't set them off in the state, but the police never enforce the law (especially around July 4).

I picked up a nice set of strong roman candles (with exploding balls!) and mini-shells for this year; the fountains I got were a little disappointing.

And as for morons injuring themselves...well, there's no shortage of other stupid things they can buy to their own detriment. Even accepting gun bans in some places, they can always buy chainsaws, swords, lighter fluid, and hard liquor, all of which I'm sure cause more serious injuries annually than consumer fireworks.; 7/5/11, 11:07 AM
Fred4Pres said...: caseym54, I totally honor bans if they are based on legitimate fire safety. I am not going to start some wild fire. If the landscape is bone dry, setting off anything may be a huge mistake.

And you should not be firing them off on public lands not geared for it.; 7/5/11, 11:49 AM
Freeman Hunt said...: Everyone does fireworks here. If you drive around town, nearly every neighborhood street is full of smoke.; 7/5/11, 12:40 PM
Anonymous said...: No crabbiness for me today. Yesterday, I spent 13 hours of hard work as a volunteer to help put on a city fireworks show. Friend of a friend thing. The reward: The wife and kids got the best view in the house, and I got to hand-light about 20 shells. Yowza what fun.

Fourth of July, two years ago, my 80-yr-old ma went to visit my bro's family who lives in what is perceived to be a reliably leftist part of the country. But he lives in an unincorporated area. The neighbors put on a block party. They blocked off the streets, the ladies cooked up heaping helpings of everything. There were moonwalks for the kiddies. The menfolk went down to the fireworks store and bought thousands of dollars of the good stuff. Not just the safe and sane sits on the ground fountains, but aerials, in large quantities. The kids got sparklers and got to light the safe and sane stuff on the street, supervised by all the adults. The men went out back and launched the big stuff.

My ma told me it was the grandest 4th of July celebration she has ever seen.; 7/5/11, 12:57 PM
richard mcenroe said...: Did my own fireworks: 100 rounds of .44 Mag at Firing Line at Burbank, then the Studio City fireworks show from the corner of Colfax and Moorpark. A good weekend for noise.; 7/5/11, 2:35 PM
richard mcenroe said...: Best fireworks weekend I ever had was a couple years back with the family on Long Island, sitting out on a pier on the South Shore and looking out over the Great South Bay at ALL the town fireworks shows going off at once. Looked like a happy Bagdhad...; 7/5/11, 2:37 PM
Anonymous said...: There's always a few killjoys who pipe up right away to warn us about the dangers of children and fireworks. So nobody should have them, because a child might get hurt. In other words, the government should protect children from their neanderthal parents, a bunch of slack-jawed cretins who let their children run like wild urchins. Nice opinion of your fellow citizens you have there.

I don't know, maybe what we need is more lurid examples of human tragedy to warn our children with. Perhaps, the maimed child, instead of being a never-noticed, instantly-forgotten droplet in the sweeping tide of humanity, has now risen above it to achieve a personal destiny: personally securing the safety of untold thousands of children to come. Both by direct learning as the children tell each other campfire stories, and by putting mortal fear in their parents.; 7/5/11, 4:53 PM