And right now I am torn between hoping nobody gets hurt, and hoping that the moron(s) setting off endless number of firecrackers in the backyard two doors down get second degree burns, at least.
I loathe firecrackers with the flaming passion of a thousand doomed suns, and I have zero compunction about wanting Darwinism to work. Look! I have small bomb in my hand! I'm going to set it off and make a really loud noise and scare all the - BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
I love firecrackers -- when handled by trained professionals. Many years ago, at my hometown's 4th of July celebration, a backspark set off the entire pile of fireworks that hadn't been set off yet. Major boom. Major ugly boom.
The fireworks were run by the local firefighters, and they knew how to set things up, and how to take precautions, and how to handle any potential problems. And it was due to that -- and excellent crowd management -- that nobody was hurt. But it could have been very very Bad.
People who think nothing of setting off firecrackers in their back yward, without having a first aid kit to hand, and at least some basic preparations (making sure there's nothing flamable where you're rossing them, for instance) are morons. Even the allegedly smart ones. Maybe especially the smart ones, because they should know better.
But fireworks - big colourful visual things about a bazillion feet up - are NOT firecrackers.
I'm talking about stupid people who like to set off cherry bombs. I dislike loud sudden noises just about as much as I dislike the people who set them off thinking they're funny.
From past experience, I avoid (and make my kids avoid) any non-public fireworks.
While growing up, a good friend of mine accidently set off his stockpile of July 4th fireworks while they were inside the front entry of his family's brownstone. The entire building went up in flames.
An old friend from Penguin saw his cousin get killed when a rocket he was lighting launched and exploded against his head.
When Austin was a baby in my arms, we were in front of the house when some kids lit off a huge pile of fireworks, and several were ejected in our direction. One went off right next to Austin's head as I tried to get back inside.
Nope. Nothing but sparklers in a wide-open concrete space for my kids. If that.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-23 12:39 am (UTC)My Beloved Spouse (tm) thought up that one, which is one of the many reasons I love her so!
no subject
Date: 2006-06-23 01:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-23 01:23 am (UTC)The fireworks were run by the local firefighters, and they knew how to set things up, and how to take precautions, and how to handle any potential problems. And it was due to that -- and excellent crowd management -- that nobody was hurt. But it could have been very very Bad.
People who think nothing of setting off firecrackers in their back yward, without having a first aid kit to hand, and at least some basic preparations (making sure there's nothing flamable where you're rossing them, for instance) are morons. Even the allegedly smart ones. Maybe especially the smart ones, because they should know better.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-23 01:25 am (UTC)I'm talking about stupid people who like to set off cherry bombs. I dislike loud sudden noises just about as much as I dislike the people who set them off thinking they're funny.
Feh.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-23 01:52 pm (UTC)While growing up, a good friend of mine accidently set off his stockpile of July 4th fireworks while they were inside the front entry of his family's brownstone. The entire building went up in flames.
An old friend from Penguin saw his cousin get killed when a rocket he was lighting launched and exploded against his head.
When Austin was a baby in my arms, we were in front of the house when some kids lit off a huge pile of fireworks, and several were ejected in our direction. One went off right next to Austin's head as I tried to get back inside.
Nope. Nothing but sparklers in a wide-open concrete space for my kids. If that.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-23 04:42 pm (UTC)