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You are here: Home / Open Threads / The War on Women at the Fireworks Stand

The War on Women at the Fireworks Stand

by Four Seasons Total Landscaping mistermix|  July 4, 20126:23 pm| 106 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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Fireworks art has never been a tribute to the supposed enlightenment of the human race, but this year’s crop seems to be a lot more misogynist than usual. Click on the picture to see a few more examples. Here’s an open thread to discuss the efforts in your part of the world to blow your fingers off, or anything else you might be doing.

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106Comments

  1. 1.

    Hunter Gathers

    July 4, 2012 at 6:28 pm

    Way too dry for exploders, missiles and whatnot. Kiddie stuff only. Damn global warming. Don’t want to set my lawn on fire.

  2. 2.

    Linda Featheringill

    July 4, 2012 at 6:29 pm

    Shotgun Wedding is interesting. It’s totally her fault that they’re having such a wedding, right? He had nothing to do with it.

    But you’re right. High art it ain’t.

  3. 3.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    July 4, 2012 at 6:32 pm

    Not of interest to anyone but hard core British Comedy lovers but Eric Sykes died today. He was “the beethoven” of comedy, almost completely deaf and blind by the end of his life, he wrote scripts to make people laugh when he could never hear the laughter.

    http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/07/04/manager-uk-comic-actor-eric-sykes-has-died/

  4. 4.

    SiubhanDuinne

    July 4, 2012 at 6:35 pm

    “WARNING: Shoots Flaming Balls” made me laugh.

  5. 5.

    Wag

    July 4, 2012 at 6:36 pm

    Way too dry in Colorado for any kind of fireworks, not even professional displays.

  6. 6.

    Kristine

    July 4, 2012 at 6:39 pm

    Baked cookies. Grilled salmon. It was 100F in the shade today in far NE Illinois. I’ve heard rumors of a wind change and subsequent cool down near the lake, but I ain’t seeing it.

    Not looking forward to the town’s fireworks tonight, because King gets all upset and wants to revert to lapdog status. He’s pushing 120 lbs. I don’t have that much lap.

  7. 7.

    Violet

    July 4, 2012 at 6:40 pm

    That Blond Joke one–are those 80’s stock photos? The haircuts don’t look current.

    Edit, Blond Joke, not Blond Moment.

  8. 8.

    Linda Featheringill

    July 4, 2012 at 6:43 pm

    Perhaps the most significant story on the front page of the NYT:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/05/us/for-midwest-corn-crop-the-pressure-rises-like-the-heat.html?_r=1&hp

    These heat waves are reducing our grain production. This particular story is about corn, with some talk about soybeans. Another story, from GOS, is more general and talks about photosynthesis itself stopping at higher temps.

    http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/07/02/1105470/-Farenheit-104-40-degrees-C-is-a-number-everyone-should-know

    Welcome to the new world.

    Edited because I’m a klutz.

  9. 9.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    July 4, 2012 at 6:45 pm

    @Kristine:
    I have that problem with Cueball, he HATES thunderstorms and fireworks. Luckily for me Daddy is home so he will more than likely try to sit on his lap on the recliner instead of on mine on the computer chair.

  10. 10.

    karen

    July 4, 2012 at 6:47 pm

    In DC fireworks are legal. In Maryland they are not. I don’t know about Virginia.

  11. 11.

    Jewish Steel

    July 4, 2012 at 6:48 pm

    That is super bizarre.

    What is the Baby Boomer’s graphic meant to be putting us in mind of? I’m baffled by that one.

  12. 12.

    Xecky Gilchrist

    July 4, 2012 at 6:51 pm

    @Jewish Steel: Maybe the guy is a Boomer saying to someone from another – any other – generation: “ghaaaah, your music sucks.”

    ETA: or to himself, “Did we *really* say ‘don’t trust anyone over 30’?” which would explain the “Too Old” verbiage up in the corner.

  13. 13.

    Jewish Steel

    July 4, 2012 at 6:53 pm

    @Xecky Gilchrist:

    And then shooting a flaming ball in your face to prove it.

  14. 14.

    Phylllis

    July 4, 2012 at 6:55 pm

    Here in Tinytown the City partners with two local industries to put on the fireworks. It’s a pretty good show. The hubs has to go back to work tomorrow, so we’ve kept the celebrating low key.

  15. 15.

    srv

    July 4, 2012 at 7:02 pm

    Made in China. Maybe you should take it up with them.

  16. 16.

    Joseph Nobles

    July 4, 2012 at 7:07 pm

    @Jewish Steel: I think it’s a “You Are The Father” kind of boom. Nice that it’s a black male on the package, right?

  17. 17.

    Nellcote

    July 4, 2012 at 7:12 pm

    @Linda Featheringill:

    These heat waves are reducing our grain production.

    That should make the lack of farmworkers not such a problem.

  18. 18.

    gogol's wife

    July 4, 2012 at 7:18 pm

    I hate fireworks. Windows closed, A/C on, all fans on, I will turn on “Dallas” at top volume to drown out whatever’s going on outside.

  19. 19.

    PeakVT

    July 4, 2012 at 7:23 pm

    Nice little thunderstorm rolling through right now. There’s shredded tree leaves all over the windows. The power is still on, though to be fair I live less than a mile from the city’s plant.

  20. 20.

    Comradde PhysioProffe

    July 4, 2012 at 7:24 pm

    I had no idea this kind of thing even exists, living as I do in a coastal elitist city that completely outlaws personal fireworks.

  21. 21.

    Linda Featheringill

    July 4, 2012 at 7:25 pm

    @Nellcote: #17

    You have a twisted brain. :-)

  22. 22.

    MikeBoyScout

    July 4, 2012 at 7:26 pm

    Best 4th fireworks display anywhere is always Pittsburgh, PA.

    This year designed by Pyrotecnico. Other years designed by Zambelli.

    Those Italians. Always putting on a show.

  23. 23.

    Southern Beale

    July 4, 2012 at 7:27 pm

    Hey all. Here’s a nice little thing: a Florida lifeguard employed by a private contractor was fired after he left his station and saved a man drowning outside the contracted area. When 6 other lifeguards stood up for him and said they’d do the same thing, they got fired, too.

    Freedom! Ain’t it grand?

  24. 24.

    N M

    July 4, 2012 at 7:32 pm

    So I have been reading and lurking via iPhone and the mobile layout a lot lately, and is it bad that I click through all the mittens ads to cost him money? Amusingly I now almost always get mittens ads, except the gardening threads :).

    Anyone have an idea how much I am costing him per impression and per click through?

    Npm

  25. 25.

    Violet

    July 4, 2012 at 7:35 pm

    @N M: Heh. Great idea. I’ve been clicking on a ad here or there on Balloon Juice to give John a bit of cash. I’ll click on some Mittens ads when I see them.

  26. 26.

    lamh35

    July 4, 2012 at 7:35 pm

    deleted…duplicate? I”m not sure how can edit this one but not the other? oh well. I will just say that “Latter Day” regardless of the fact that it’s a “gay romance” is one of the best romance movies I”ve seen gay or not.

  27. 27.

    lamh35

    July 4, 2012 at 7:35 pm

    Well I was watching the Superman marathon on Encore Action Network, now I’m watching one of my fav lil indy movie called “Latter Day” Hmm, I’m betting Romney is not a fan of this movie. Too bad, it’s a pretty good movie.

    Aaron Davis (Steve Sandvoss) and Christian Markelli (Wes Ramsey) are the two most opposite people in the world. Aaron is a young Elder (or a Mormon missionary) who wants to do his family proud and is quite passionate about his religion and film. Christian is a shallow WeHo waiter/party boy who only looks forward to bedding a new guy every night. After Aaron and three other missionaries move into the apartment across from Christian, his friends bet him $50 that he can’t get one of them to jump into the sack, so he instantly latches onto Aaron. There are two problems, though – Christian is falling in love with Aaron and the Mormons are not the biggest fans of the homosexual community. Once Aaron is discovered, the two have to go through trials of regret, loss, perseverance, and forgiveness if they both want to get to the thing that matters to them most: each other.

  28. 28.

    quannlace

    July 4, 2012 at 7:35 pm

    Glad there’s a general ban on fireworks here in New Jersey- Not fond memories of kids rolling cherry bombs under your bicycle.
    But I do miss sparklers. Were they really that big a danger?

  29. 29.

    ouidcom

    July 4, 2012 at 7:36 pm

    It’s only fireworks. I don’t think there is any reason to get bent out of shape about it.

  30. 30.

    Southern Beale

    July 4, 2012 at 7:39 pm

    @quannlace:

    We haven’t had rain in middle Tennessee in like, 2 months. And it’s been 100+ so needless to say, we are crispy and ready to combust here. So of course NPR did a nice little segment on the asshole fireworks seller in LaVergne (wingnut town south of Nashville) who proudly says “FUCK THAT SHIT I’M SELLING! It’s MY July Fourth!” He said if “they” can’t catch him then so what.

    I was secretly hoping he sparked a massive wildfire and major lawsuits would result. But that would make me a very mean person, I know. I’m trying to be better.

  31. 31.

    Culture of Truth

    July 4, 2012 at 7:46 pm

    this just in – it’s hot

  32. 32.

    Roger Moore

    July 4, 2012 at 7:47 pm

    @Southern Beale:
    I’ve never been a huge believer in the “corporations are sociopaths” business, but I’m changing my tune.

  33. 33.

    BillyGibbonsBeard

    July 4, 2012 at 7:49 pm

    What a bunch of pussies

  34. 34.

    Downpuppy

    July 4, 2012 at 7:51 pm

    I made salmon & blogged about comics to fill in the time before it gets dark & the flaming balls start going boom.

    No drought in Boston, but family in Columbus has been suffering heat. They finally got their power back.

    The weak response to the multiple small disasters of the last weeks is something to think about – later.

  35. 35.

    Violet

    July 4, 2012 at 7:53 pm

    @Southern Beale:

    We haven’t had rain in middle Tennessee in like, 2 months. And it’s been 100+ so needless to say, we are crispy and ready to combust here.

    I sympathize as that was us last summer. It was miserable. I hope you guys get some rain soon. And cooler weather.

  36. 36.

    Jewish Steel

    July 4, 2012 at 7:57 pm

    @Joseph Nobles:

    Ohhhhh! Yes, I get it now. I couldn’t imagine there wasn’t something racist lurking here.

  37. 37.

    khead

    July 4, 2012 at 8:00 pm

    Here’s an open thread to discuss the efforts in your part of the world to blow your fingers off, or anything else you might be doing.

    We used to throw M-80’s into the fishing hole/creek where I grew up.

    Glad I did not end up like this kid.

  38. 38.

    realbtl

    July 4, 2012 at 8:04 pm

    Here in Montana you can still buy the old fashioned “unsafe and insane” fireworks. I started hearing them about 4 nights ago and will probably hear them for another couple. Luckily the 2nd and 3rd were rainy. A few years were a bit worrisome.

  39. 39.

    jeffreyw

    July 4, 2012 at 8:07 pm

    @Linda Featheringill: Read that NYT article, decided to check the corn my farmer guy has planted on some acres he rents from us. Ugly.

  40. 40.

    Jamey

    July 4, 2012 at 8:10 pm

    @Southern Beale: Something-something “free market” something …

  41. 41.

    Linda Featheringill

    July 4, 2012 at 8:13 pm

    ACA supporters:

    In The Daily Oklahoman, an article about a representative answering questions from his constituents about Obamacare.

    The really interesting thing is the comments. We have comrades in the Sooner State. Really.

    http://newsok.com/rep.-james-lankford-answers-constituent-questions-about-health-care/article/3689687

  42. 42.

    Southern Beale

    July 4, 2012 at 8:15 pm

    Husband refuses to watch The Capitol Fourth thing, and was pushing for the New Girl marathon. I said over my dead body. So we’re watching the new Dallas for the first time.

    When I lived in Copenhagen back in the ’80s they got Dallas reruns which we watched religiously. It was a taste of home.

  43. 43.

    JGabriel, Statist Minded Ideologue of the Left

    July 4, 2012 at 8:16 pm

    @Jewish Steel:

    What is the Baby Boomer’s graphic meant to be putting us in mind of? I’m baffled by that one.

    Things that go “Boom!”

    I’m utterly puzzled by the Blond(sic)/Fireworks jokes, though. I suspect they’re supposed to be double entendres, but I’m not even getting a single entendre from them. Maybe the manufacturers just think blondes sell.

    ETA: Oops, for some reason I thought you meant the title, not the graphics. My bad.

    .

  44. 44.

    Linda Featheringill

    July 4, 2012 at 8:16 pm

    @jeffreyw: #41

    Corn field:

    In June/July? Geez! That’s terrible!

  45. 45.

    Jewish Steel

    July 4, 2012 at 8:16 pm

    @jeffreyw: My father in law’s corn only looks a little better than that. It’s real bad up here in IL.

  46. 46.

    Linda Featheringill

    July 4, 2012 at 8:18 pm

    @efgoldman:

    I know I probably sound like a spokesperson for The Progressive Farmer, but any society really depends on its ability to produce food.

    And yes, I realize I’m preaching to the choir.

  47. 47.

    gogol's wife

    July 4, 2012 at 8:19 pm

    @Southern Beale:

    It’s really not as bad as I expected. The new John Ross is pretty good, and Larry Hagman is still great. I found myself actually feeling hooked about halfway through the second one.

  48. 48.

    Jewish Steel

    July 4, 2012 at 8:19 pm

    @JGabriel, Statist Minded Ideologue of the Left:

    Blondes are, sometimes, bombshells?

    Whence your new nym, btw? You have appropriated what was meant to be an insult, I think.

  49. 49.

    jeffreyw

    July 4, 2012 at 8:25 pm

    @Linda Featheringill: That was this afternoon, an hour ago.

  50. 50.

    Violet

    July 4, 2012 at 8:27 pm

    @Linda Featheringill: When I turned on the TV here in my red state the other day and the local news was showing panel of people sitting at a table. Turned out they were folks that you could phone to ask questions about the ACA. This was our local news sponsoring a panel to answer questions about Obamacare and how affects people. In a red state. I think my jaw hit the floor. There has to be some kind of groundswell of requests for it or the news wouldn’t have assembled the group and kept mentioning it.

    The talk has turned from “repeal Obamacare” to “how will it affect me?” When that happens it’s a win for the ACA.

  51. 51.

    urlhix

    July 4, 2012 at 8:29 pm

    F this weather. I lost most of my heirloom tomato crop over the weekend to sun scald. Many thousands of dollars. Been trying to figure out what I’m going to do to replace the lost farmers market income. Maybe I’ll get lucky and a stray firework will burn the whole place down and I can finally get out of the hellhole that is Georgia.

  52. 52.

    kwallio

    July 4, 2012 at 8:30 pm

    I think the blonde is referring to the color of the sparks. Yellow is easiest to make, I think.

  53. 53.

    different-church-lady

    July 4, 2012 at 8:32 pm

    The existence of “Dance Moms” in our world concerns me far more than any bad-pun based illustration on a fireworks box ever will.

  54. 54.

    Culture of Truth

    July 4, 2012 at 8:33 pm

    boom goes the dynamite

  55. 55.

    suzanne

    July 4, 2012 at 8:34 pm

    I will be trying to keep Luna, my 70-pound pit bull, from pissing herself in fear tonight. Here in Phoenix, we actually got a really nice soaking today, and I think any major celebrations will be canceled, but that never stops a few of my neighbors.

    Two New Year’s Eves ago, Luna tore a hole in her brand-new doggie bed trying to crawl into it to hide from the noise.

  56. 56.

    Linda Featheringill

    July 4, 2012 at 8:34 pm

    @Violet:

    I agree. It looks like the ACA won.

  57. 57.

    Linda Featheringill

    July 4, 2012 at 8:36 pm

    @urlhix:

    I lost most of my heirloom tomato crop over the weekend to sun scald.

    I’m sorry for your financial blow.

    Hang in there.

  58. 58.

    Villago Delenda Est

    July 4, 2012 at 8:36 pm

    @Jewish Steel:

    You have appropriated what was meant to be an insult, I think.

    Hardly the first time. I was part of the “Lying Socialist Weasels” on USENET back in the 90’s.

  59. 59.

    Linda Featheringill

    July 4, 2012 at 8:38 pm

    @suzanne:

    Would Luna like to be stationed in a chair next to Mommy?

  60. 60.

    urlhix

    July 4, 2012 at 8:42 pm

    @Linda Featheringill: Thanks, I’m trying to stay positive but let’s just say I’m not the best person to be around right now.

  61. 61.

    SiubhanDuinne

    July 4, 2012 at 8:44 pm

    @Southern Beale:
    Heard that on NPR tonight, except the reporter said the other lifeguards quit in protest.

  62. 62.

    Southern Beale

    July 4, 2012 at 8:47 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Ah well maybe it was one of those “you can’t fire me, I quit!” scenarios.

  63. 63.

    Southern Beale

    July 4, 2012 at 8:48 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Ah well maybe it was one of those “you can’t fire me, I quit!” scenarios.

  64. 64.

    SiubhanDuinne

    July 4, 2012 at 8:50 pm

    @jeffreyw: Wow. Not exactly as high as an elephant’s eye, is it?

  65. 65.

    SiubhanDuinne

    July 4, 2012 at 8:51 pm

    @jeffreyw: Wow. Not exactly as high as an elephant’s eye, is it?

  66. 66.

    Jewish Steel

    July 4, 2012 at 8:52 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    Lying Socialist Weasels

    Dissembling collectivist weasels? Things have come to a pretty pass. I blame Pelosi.

  67. 67.

    JGabriel, Statist Minded Ideologue of the Left

    July 4, 2012 at 8:57 pm

    @Jewish Steel:

    You have appropriated what was meant to be an insult, I think.

    Yes, I have. It made me laugh, even though it was directed towards my beliefs.

    ETA: I am getting a little tired of it though, and may revert to original just “JGabriel” soon.

    .

  68. 68.

    Jewish Steel

    July 4, 2012 at 9:00 pm

    @JGabriel, Statist Minded Ideologue of the Left: I dig it. Nothing takes the wind out of their sails (whoever they may be) like rhetorical ju-jitsu.

  69. 69.

    Anne Laurie

    July 4, 2012 at 9:01 pm

    @jeffreyw: Don’t think that qualifies as “knee high by the Fourth of July”. Bad news for poor people around the globe, but maybe cane sugar will end up competitive with HFCS?

  70. 70.

    JGabriel, Statist Minded Ideologue of the Left

    July 4, 2012 at 9:06 pm

    @Jewish Steel:

    Nothing takes the wind out of their sails (whoever they may be) like rhetorical ju-jitsu.

    It was General Stuck, whose posts I like; no mocking of the General was intended.
    .

  71. 71.

    Raven

    July 4, 2012 at 9:06 pm

    @urlhix: Kinda nice over here in Athens tonight.

  72. 72.

    urlhix

    July 4, 2012 at 9:13 pm

    @Raven: It’s nice for old people and students.

  73. 73.

    Jewish Steel

    July 4, 2012 at 9:14 pm

    @JGabriel, Statist Minded Ideologue of the Left: Gottcha. Now I have the context and am fully up to speed.

  74. 74.

    MazeDancer

    July 4, 2012 at 9:17 pm

    Fireworks that do nothing but make loud noise and scare pets and contribute to the misery of 99% of the neighborhood are not an expression of patriotism or freedom, they’re stupid.

    Really don’t like them. Don’t understand why anyone does.

  75. 75.

    JPL

    July 4, 2012 at 9:19 pm

    I’m watching PBS and the White House fireworks with my back door open and watching Roswell’s fireworks at the same time. I will say the local bands are okay but sweet caroline was questionable.

  76. 76.

    Raven

    July 4, 2012 at 9:20 pm

    @urlhix: Grumpy fuck aren’t you? Delta is ready when you are.

  77. 77.

    JPL

    July 4, 2012 at 9:21 pm

    @MazeDancer: My pup’s hearing is going.. She went up to the back fence earlier and sat so she could hear the bands. Now she just went to bed. She loves the bands and is not selective.

  78. 78.

    jeffreyw

    July 4, 2012 at 9:26 pm

    @Anne Laurie: To be fair, I “nutpicked” that particular stand. The rest of the field is taller but not really any better looking. I’m worried that this drought is just the sort of thing that a warming earth will bring again and again, broken only by floods and tornadoes. Fucking Al Gore.

  79. 79.

    urlhix

    July 4, 2012 at 9:30 pm

    @Raven: Hit a nerve, huh? You didn’t have to comment in the first place, I’m just replying. Fact is that Athens, GA has one of the lowest average wages in the country. It’s a great place to retire, or be a student, like I said, but for the working man it is a crap place to try and make a living.

  80. 80.

    JPL

    July 4, 2012 at 9:33 pm

    From my back yard I can only see a patchwork of colors but even though I feel like I’m four and seeing my first fireworks. It is magical.

  81. 81.

    SiubhanDuinne

    July 4, 2012 at 9:37 pm

    @Raven: When do you leave for Maui? Safe and happy travels!

  82. 82.

    Raven

    July 4, 2012 at 9:38 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: Monday early, thanks.

  83. 83.

    Jewish Steel

    July 4, 2012 at 9:40 pm

    @Raven: Work or pleasure?

  84. 84.

    Raven

    July 4, 2012 at 9:43 pm

    @Jewish Steel: Niece’s wedding. Hoping to challenge the deep blue on an extreme fishing trip but the project 20-25 mph winds with 35 mph gusts are not encouraging.

  85. 85.

    urlhix

    July 4, 2012 at 9:46 pm

    @Raven: Flying Delta?

  86. 86.

    burnspbesq

    July 4, 2012 at 9:47 pm

    @different-church-lady:

    The existence of “Dance Moms” in our world concerns me far more than any bad-pun based illustration on a fireworks box ever will.

    No shit. As the parent of a male dancer, I’ve had a front-row seat for some of the most bizarre behavior you could possibly imagine.

  87. 87.

    Jewish Steel

    July 4, 2012 at 9:47 pm

    @Raven:

    That sounds splendid. At least it will be nice to cool off in the tropics(?)

  88. 88.

    Raven

    July 4, 2012 at 9:49 pm

    @Jewish Steel: We’re looking at it as a really special trip.

  89. 89.

    burnspbesq

    July 4, 2012 at 9:50 pm

    @Raven:

    It’s a tourist trap, but Cheeseburger in Paradise really does have great burgers, and it’s reasonably convenient to all the main resort areas (right in the middle of downtown Lahaina).

  90. 90.

    JGabriel

    July 4, 2012 at 9:50 pm

    I am no longer a statist minded ideologue of the left.

    Well, actually, I still am, but I am no longer using the title. It’s just such a slog to read every time someone quotes me.

    .

  91. 91.

    Raven

    July 4, 2012 at 9:51 pm

    @burnspbesq: I don’t eat that stuff. I’ll be cooking quite a bit, surf fishing and checkin the volcano.

  92. 92.

    SiubhanDuinne

    July 4, 2012 at 9:52 pm

    @JPL: Up here it is very overcast. I can hear the booms but can’t see a thing. But I know what you mean, I’m always like a little kid when there’s a good fireworks display. Maybe next year. . .

  93. 93.

    kideni

    July 4, 2012 at 9:53 pm

    The Baby Boomer packaging stumped me, so I’m glad others had theories. The only good thing about the heat is that there have been almost no neighborhood firecrackers — I’m pleasantly surprised that people are being sane about that.

    Otherwise, yay, here in Madison we went over 100 for the first time since 1995. I’d hoped it would never happen. I’m such a heat wimp that for the past two weeks I’ve had headaches every night because well, the dog still needs a walk between 5 and 6, and even though most times I just walk her a couple of blocks to the river and throw sticks for her to swim after, it’s still too much for my system when I get back to the third-floor walk-up where all we have are a couple of window units, and once or twice an evening it overtaxes a circuit, so I have to go three flights down to the basement and flip the switch (at least it’s not like the old place, which was on fuses and even more sensitive — we couldn’t use the toaster and the microwave at the same time). The place just can’t get cool. Today I managed to avoid the headache and some of the heat through the grace of a friend who had me over to hang out in her central air while our dogs played together.

    Oh well. At least the manuscript I’m editing is a translation of a Danish woman’s account of life among the Sami of northern Sweden. Snow. Ice. Reindeer. Joiking. Birch trees.

  94. 94.

    Jewish Steel

    July 4, 2012 at 9:54 pm

    @JGabriel: My wife has appended my name to hers on FB and now takes up eight syllables. It’s an eyeful.

  95. 95.

    JPL

    July 4, 2012 at 9:55 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: You are always welcome here. I’d love to do a B.J bbq for those in the Atlanta area. We’d have to convince Raven to drive over.

  96. 96.

    urlhix

    July 4, 2012 at 9:56 pm

    From the sounds of it, the drug dealers up the road, who are GREAT neighbors, are going through with their annual fireworks war, weather be damned.

    /dogs under the desk

  97. 97.

    urlhix

    July 4, 2012 at 10:05 pm

    And just to be clear, beer is the only thing I partake. As long as you don’t mess with me, I don’t care what you do. Party on, dude.

  98. 98.

    Gretchen

    July 4, 2012 at 10:55 pm

    I went to the local 4th celebration here in Kansas, and all the politicians were Republicans. Our only choices are insane, or less insane, Republicans.

  99. 99.

    dr. luba

    July 4, 2012 at 11:14 pm

    The MIchigan state legislature, in its drive to turn us into a red state, decided to legalize fireworks this year. Previously, only sparklers, bottle rockets and the like were allowed. Now it seems anyone can buy pretty much anything they want. I feel like I’m living in a combat zone, and have the past week.

    Local communities are not allowed to ban fireworks for the day before, day of, and day after a holiday. Not sure which holidays are covered. Arbor Day? Columbus Day?

    And the rationale is why should we let neighboring states make all that money on fireworks, when local businessmen could? Never mind safety or peace and quiet.

    Luckily, my neighborhood has had massive showers in-between 100 degree heat the past two days. So the pyrotechnomaniacs haven’t set anything on fire here yet. I did have fireworks going off over my house, even though there is a perfectly fine lake 100 feet away that the morons could have launched them over safely.

  100. 100.

    shortstop

    July 5, 2012 at 12:11 am

    I am bewildered by all you denizens of other blue states and cities expressing thanks that fireworks are illegal in your locales. Do y’all mean that people observe these statutes and ordinances? Here in Chicago, fireworks are banned except for professional displays, and yet it’s been life during wartime outside my window for seven nights.

  101. 101.

    pseudonymous in nc

    July 5, 2012 at 12:33 am

    All the firework fetishists here head down to SC, purveyor of big-boom pyrotechnics to all surrounding states. It’s not quite tindersticks weather here, but I wouldn’t want to be shooting off big rockets near vegetation.

    @shortstop:

    Do y’all mean that people observe these statutes and ordinances?

    In a way, I’d like an everything-goes attitude just to take away the thrill of driving back across the state line with a car full of recreational explosives, but the potential for harm is probably too great.

  102. 102.

    Bago

    July 5, 2012 at 1:48 am

    @N M: Ah, another ad industry vet. At least you know that Romney, he’ll be able to pay his CPM and clickthrough rates.

  103. 103.

    bjacques

    July 5, 2012 at 9:29 am

    This is why I’m glad the big fireworks holiday in the Netherlands is New Year’s Eve. In the dead of winter, things are less likely to catch fire.

    Except that grand canal house that took a rocket in the attic five years ago and lost the top two stories.

    There’s also that illegal fireworks warehouse that took out a few blocks in Enschede about 10 years ago.

    People seem to have gotten a bit saner over the years, though.

  104. 104.

    Herbal Infusion Bagger

    July 5, 2012 at 11:19 am

    Not of interest to anyone but hard core British Comedy lovers but Eric Sykes died today.

    Sykes was a fantastic comic. His film “The Plank” is a classic of no-dialog comedy. His BBC series with him and Hattie Jacques was also very funny.

  105. 105.

    dr. luba

    July 5, 2012 at 4:34 pm

    @shortstop: I’ve noticed a huge difference between last year, when most fireworks were illegal, and this year, when most are legal. In the past it was roman candles, firecrackers and bottle rockets for the most part, noisy but minor. Some people would go out of state and buy bigger stuff, but there wasn’t that much of it around. My brother joked that my neighborhood was like Saigon during the fall on he 4th–we’re near a lake, and everyone has big parties and the population increases about 10x.

    This year, there were major fireworks, light-up-the-sky kind everywhere. They were gong off constantly in my parents’ yard in a (formerly) quiet suburb. It was as noisy around my brother’s house a week before the 4th as it was at my house on the 4th in years past.

    So yes, there were always scofflaws, and not much enforcement, but there’s a huge difference between having to travel out of state to get the fireworks and picking some up from bubba in a tent on the corner.

    A house did burn down last week–not sure if we’ve had any more since. I’ll have to ask my friends in the ER how the holidays have been for them.

  106. 106.

    Greyjoy

    July 5, 2012 at 5:22 pm

    I think a lot of people were just too damn hot and tired to go outside and add more heat, plus noise, to the situation. Not to mention that Colorado’s been on fire for a few weeks, and a few million more people have been without electricity for a week, and that kind of takes the fun out of it.

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