Perhaps those people should take a lesson from the woman in the Detroit area who got her face blown off by a mortar...in front of at least one of her kids. :(
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070704/METRO/707040375
(While I feel terrible for her family...especially her children...I must admit also that it popped into my mind that this woman is a good candidate for the Darwin Awards. Who bends their face over a lit mortar? Yikes.)
posted by mom2 at 09:42 A.M. EST on Wed Jul 04, 2007 #
Whoa... how tragic and stupid, mom2. You hear about these senseless deaths and maimings every year, yet people still feel compelled to purchase the most powerful fireworks they can find.
Add alcohol to that mix - as my neighbors routinely do - and you have youself one volatile mix.
I'd make a wisecrack about gene pools and natural selection, but this story is just too depressing. Imagine three kids who no longer have a mom because some idiot decided that the over-the-counter fireworks were just not good enough for THEIR impromptu show.
posted by historymike at 09:56 A.M. EST on Wed Jul 04, 2007 #
some idiot decided that the over-the-counter fireworks were just not good enough for THEIR impromptu show
Apparently she is the one who arranged the show.
(Or, at least, she's the one who took up the collection from co-workers to purchase the fireworks...its not yet clear who exactly purchased them or who they were purchased from. ATF is investigating, and I think its safe to say that there will be some serious trouble for whoever sold those fireworks.)
It is tragic for those children though. Especially since they were there for it, and at least the 8 year old saw the whole thing.
posted by mom2 at 10:01 A.M. EST on Wed Jul 04, 2007 #
Tragic, undoubtedly. Illegal, too. These people should also be arrested for violating fireworks laws.
posted by toledojim at 11:09 A.M. EST on Wed Jul 04, 2007 #
These people should also be arrested for violating fireworks laws.
No doubt [wink, wink] The Blade will devote a large column to the 'arrests' for illegal fireworks.
posted by Man_with_the_muck_rake at 11:19 A.M. EST on Wed Jul 04, 2007 #
I attended one of these amateur pyrotechnic displays in Toledo a few years back. Fire control consisted of the home owner's alarming cry, "Holy shit! Hey Patty, where's the hose?!".
Sometime after the dust settled the show resumed. A few minutes later some type of multiple missile launcher fell over and sprayed flaming balls around the backyard and into side of the neighbor's garage.
I'll give credit where it's due, however. The show was over by 11:00 PM. I would have called the police long before 2:30 AM, and if the racket didn't stop I'd be planning some very serious long term, hard wearing revenge.
posted by madjack at 11:48 A.M. EST on Wed Jul 04, 2007 #
Coming down Eleanor last night at about 10:30, there were two guys setting off small fireworks in the front yard of their house. Given that Eleanor isn't exactly a lightly traveled road, it seems pretty stupid to be setting stuff off so close to traffic.
We always have an assortment of people lighting fireworks in our neighborhood, but it does seem that the explosions have gotten bigger this year.
posted by valbee at 11:55 A.M. EST on Wed Jul 04, 2007 #
Neighborhood fireworks displays should wrap up by midnight at the latest and probably by 11. And, limited to one night a year, not the entire week of the 4th, which oftens seems to be the case.
HM, I'd have a quiet conversation with your neighbors today about last night, and kindly tell them if if goes past midnight tonight you're calling the cops. Round up some neighbors who no doubt feel like you do and go as a group. Strength in numbers.
posted by McCaskey at 12:55 P.M. EST on Wed Jul 04, 2007 #
I was entertained, but my dog was not.
Man, you all are a bunch of grumps today.
posted by jdmsbyrd at 02:00 P.M. EST on Wed Jul 04, 2007 #
Personally, I don't launch past 11pm (230am is way too late).
Our "shows" are organized and safe. Fire extiguishers are with in reach, and children are kept a safe distance away.
Also, I guess "excessive" is open to the individual's interpretation.
"Man, you all are a bunch of grumps today."
I second that emotion. :-)
posted by micah at 04:10 P.M. EST on Wed Jul 04, 2007 #
I'll just repost my July 5, 2006 comment about this subject:
-----
The insurgency was quite active in and around my West Toledo hood until 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. It was a non-stop, constant barrage of fireworks, starting before dinner time. Quite impressive in a stupid way.
I'd like to know how much money was spent. I didn't realize I lived in such a wealthy neighborhood when that many people have that much money to send up on smoke. And I don't understand how all those people are impressed by that stuff.
Why not make a CD recording of gunfire or exploding fireworks or bombs, and then setup some giant speakers, and blare the exploding sounds for hours, along with big, multi-colored strobelights? It would be cheaper than buying fireworks, and the setup could be used anytime.
These neighborhood fireworks are not impressive at all, even the ones that go up in the air and flash colors. So boring.
One summer, many years ago in my hometown in eastern Ohio, this is what us rednecks did. We filled white, kitchen garbage bags with acetylene, which is a gas fuel used for welding.
These acetylene-filled balloon-like bags were impressive "bombs." We'd set one on the ground or on top of a bush or in a cast iron kettle, then attach a long piece of masking tape to the bag. This tape of three or four feet long was our fuse.
We'd light the tape, then drive away. The tape burned real slow, so it might be 10-15 minutes later before the thing exploded. By then we'd be on the other end of town, but the explosion was so loud, that everyone in town heard it.
People who somehow found out that our little group was responsible for the big, booming sounds would ask if we had dynamite.
We had a police scanner in the pickup truck, of course, so as to keep track of those wanting to spoil our fun.
After we set one of these acetylene bag bombs on top of a big bush, all that was left after the explosion was stubble. The one placed into the cast iron kettle blew the kettle to pieces. At night, the bomb gave off a blinding, blue-white flash, and it would rattle the windows of nearby houses.
Once, I was riding in the back of the pickup truck with four of these bombs under a blanket. Finally, some sense kicked in when I thought, "Gee, if one ignited, they'd all blow, probably rendering the truck and all of its human occupants to pieces."
When I visited my folks around the 4th of July, during the first few years after I moved away, I still got to hear those deep, booming sounds thunder through town, as someone from our group continued to carry on the acetylene holiday tradition.
So these puny fireworks that people like to shoot off in the neighborhood don't measure up to my standards. Big yawners.
Naturally, at real fireworks shows, my favorite is the simple, big white flash firework followed by the chest-pounding sound.
In a Simpsons episode, the person selling Homer some fireworks said something like, "Celebrate the independence of your country by blowing up a piece of it." We accomplished that with kitchen garbage bags, masking tape, and acetylene. And luck.
Lucky we didn't get injured or worse. Ahh, the joy of being young, stupid, and fearless. Now I'm afraid to light the gas grill.
----
posted by jr at 06:44 P.M. EST on Wed Jul 04, 2007 #
Entire week of the 4th here. All times of day and night.
More this year than every before.
posted by katie82640 at 08:05 P.M. EST on Wed Jul 04, 2007 #
Well, I just came back from the annual, amateur fireworks display at Heatherdowns Park. Unfortunately, this year the TFD and TPD shut us down, allegedly from a Carty phone call (the initial "complaint"). (The police officer only said it was a complaint, but a lady claimed (note: there were many people on their cellphones) her TFD contact said it was Carty.)
The 2 police I saw there were doing some excellent crowd control, despite being subjected to raised voices, booing, shaken fists, numerous insults, and perhaps even a thrown piece of something (I don't know what it was; the officer picked it up off the ground after being allegedly struck by it). Despite being rousted out by these uniformed authority figures, you've just gotta admire their ability to remain calm and collected in the face of such popular adversity.
We counted 16 police cruisers, 1 paddy wagon, and 1 firetruck around the park by the time we left. Whoo! It's a good thing that the TPD can spare so many officers to shut down an annual event, since on a hot summer's night there's bound to be no actual crime happening in the inner city. {sarcasm}
Still, it's only a matter of chance that I chose not to bring fireworks there this year, and if I had done so, I'd have shot them off no matter what they said.
Anyone there might remember a minivan slowly leaving the park area, and then some crazy guy leaning out of a window yelling "RECALL CARTY! CARTY SHUT US DOWN! RECALL CARTY DOT COM! LET'S GET RID OF HIM!" and other primordial screams. Yeah, that was ME. As was pointed out to the male officer by the public restroom, this kind of crap is why people are leaving Toledo. My private estimation is that the more economic control that slips through the fingers of Carty and the Council, the more they become "law and order" retards in the mistaken feeling that that will give them back control.
Anyway, next year, I'm showing up, I'm bringing fireworks, and I'm lighting 'em off. DEAL WITH IT.
P.S. You know, this Fourth, I got to see what the holiday is REALLY all about: citizens standing around having a heated argument with authority figures. W00t!
posted by GuestZero at 10:19 P.M. EST on Wed Jul 04, 2007 #
At any rate, I fall into the category of people who are perfectly willing to flout the law about fireworks displays, as long as I obey the Two Unwritten Laws about it:
1. Only on the night of July 4th. If rained out, then the next night.
2. Amateur or not, be safe with your materials.
These multi-night displays are growing beyond what the above codes provide for us. The codes exist as a metastable social agreement, as a compromise between technical law enforcement and what's actually possible to achieve. It's a balance between the tolerance of the anti-fireworks public, and the restraint of the launchers. We launchers can push the codes, but the price to pay for that will be their recision. That the strength and weakness of all social contracts.
posted by GuestZero at 10:31 P.M. EST on Wed Jul 04, 2007 #
I don't even have so much of a problem with the multi-night displays, if they'd knock it off no later than midnight! I was jolted awake early this morning at about 2:15 by some moron who felt the need to show off his firepower.
I'm lucky that I don't have to work until this afternoon, but most of my neighbors have typical working hours - I'm certain they didn't appreciate it much either.
While we're on the subject of fireworks, for the second year in a row, my boyfriend and I headed down to a friend's party held on Main St., right near the High Level. We have a perfect view of Toledo's fireworks there. They started off really cool, but the finale? Sucked big time. Basically just a lot of white flashes and loud booms, hardly any colorful fireworks.
They also started about 10 minutes late. Unfortunately, the music that WIOT plays along with them started on time. Not one of Toledo's best years, that's for sure.
But on the way home, we avoided most of the traffic and headed back home across the new bridge. So, that was cool.
posted by valbee at 08:50 A.M. EST on Thu Jul 05, 2007 #
I saw 2 and 3 year old children with sparklers last night downtown. Does that seem wrong to anyone else??
posted by allcan at 08:57 A.M. EST on Thu Jul 05, 2007 #
I saw this link article and thought of some of you:
http://www.wlwt.com/news/13624274/detail.html
"The shooter apparently was upset about loud noise from fireworks and opened fire, killing two men and a woman, all in their early to mid 20s."
Please don't let a few shenanigans take it to this extreme :)
posted by jdmsbyrd at 09:38 A.M. EST on Thu Jul 05, 2007 #
I don't light off fireworks. I had a family friend who died during a fireworks display and since then I refrain from being a part of amateur displays.
Personally I feel any amateur display in a urban area as needlessly reckless. Most of these displays can easily get out of hand as alcohol and "hey guys watch this" mentalities take over.
Last night I was driving home and a man was kneeling in the middle of the road. He was lighting a firework. He refused to move as I approached in my car. Apparently his need to have a fireworks display trumped my privileges to drive on a public road. The worst of it was his children were standing five feet away. I pray they don't follow his example and begin standing in the middle of the road at night.
posted by MikeyA at 10:01 A.M. EST on Thu Jul 05, 2007 #
As a kid, my friends and I would shoot shoot the cheap bottle rockets at each other. We would split into two teams, bunker down, aim and fire. My younger brother and I also discovered that the apple tree in our back yard worked well for making grenades. (stick a firecracker in the apple and whip the thing at you enemy). That had great accuracy, and definitely pissed a couple kids off. There is nothing like getting smoked with an apple, and then having it blow up in your face. Ah the joy of being a latchkey kid in a neighborhood full of other unmonitored delinquents. I am cracking up just thinking about it.
Now that I am older, I can't stand the noise, but what are you going to do. Just don't shoot them at my house, and end it before midnight. I might not come armed with a loaded whiffle ball bat at this age, but don't put it past me to connect all of my hoses together and ruin your fun.
posted by nick44 at 11:26 A.M. EST on Thu Jul 05, 2007 #
I posted this on Swampbubbles but thought I would share it here as well as it speaks to GZ comment on the Heatherdowns Park show.
Heatherdowns Park Show interupted by TPD and TFD
Submitted by KraZyKat on Thu, 2007-07-05 11:52.
I avoided all the commercial shows this year (and the accompanying crowds) and instead opted to view the neighboorhood show put on by the residents around Heatherdowns park.
When 2 Police cruisers and a Fire engine arrived on the scene I felt comforted in the knowledge that we had Fire prevention and troops on the ground to ward off any unruliness by the medium size crowd that had gather to watch the spectacular.
That is until the 2 police cars grew to 12 and 1 paddy wagon by my count. Then a systematic assult by the TPD took place. Attacking all four corners of the park at the same time, it was a classic pincer move, taking names and confiscating fireworks. This only infuriated the crowd who responded with chants of "Bull-Shit", "TPD GO Home", and a host of more colorful phrases.
After succesfully shuttling the crowd off the park property because of the "Park closes at sundown" provision, the audience retreatd to public sidewalks and private properties just across the street from the park to wait it out.
Then just as quickly as the Police appeared, they climbed in their metal chariots and left. Whether they had more urgent matters to attend to or just felt that they were performing a exercise in futility is questionable.
Anyhow, even as the Police cars were still in sight during their retreat, the throng of spectators returned to the park like cockroaches scurrying about when the lights are turned on. The Party and show continued.
I found it interesting that this area of town is very near the same area which has been in the news of late for the lack of Police patrols. If the city cannot afford to have at least 1 regular patrol during regular times how is it they could afford to bless the area with no less then 13 units at this time?
posted by KraZyKat at 02:03 P.M. EST on Thu Jul 05, 2007 #
"Man, you all are a bunch of grumps today."
I second that emotion. :-)
Ouch!!! posted by micah at 05:10 P.M. EST on Wed Jul 04, 2007 #
I'll third it. ;^)
posted by Darkseid at 04:29 P.M. EST on Thu Jul 05, 2007 #
I spent some time this morning gathering up spent bottle rockets and other fireworks debris from the yard. The neighbors on both sides had a good ole' time last night. It sounded like alcohol might have been involved too. Whew! No accidents that I know of. I could have called the police but I chose not too. It's the USA. It's the 4th. It's dangerous and it's fun. It's part of who we are, or at least who we used to be.
posted by holland at 06:45 P.M. EST on Thu Jul 05, 2007 #
The shooter apparently was upset about loud noise from fireworks
What the article doesn't go into is the conversation leading up to the gun fight.
posted by madjack at 07:09 P.M. EST on Thu Jul 05, 2007 #
I honestly don't have a problem with people lighting off their own fireworks. My only problem is my yard was completely littered 2 mornings in a row with the "left overs" of the fireworks. It just would've been nice to see the people who shot them off coming over and helping clean up my property.
Other then that...I do like shooting them off myself but I have always been pragmatic about it.
posted by avinsurer at 10:53 P.M. EST on Fri Jul 06, 2007 #
It's part of who we are, or at least who we used to be.
I know what you're saying. Of course, time was, the neighbors on either side of you might have picked up the debris out of your yard from their fireworks.
posted by McCaskey at 10:55 A.M. EST on Sat Jul 07, 2007 #
Still going off over here last night. Christ, I don't know how they could have any left after the last two months of deviltry.
posted by Darkseid at 01:10 P.M. EST on Sat Jul 07, 2007 #
On our street some people were launching skyrockets from the street. Seems to me that's a dumb thing to do because they risk getting struck by a vehicle. They would move out of the way to let a car pass, and then resume with the pyrotechnics.
posted by flinty at 10:34 A.M. EST on Mon Jul 09, 2007 #
You know, I still hear fireworks being lit off. This all DOES seem rather excessive. I only say that since I have to bow to the reality that fireworks are illegalized in too many ways (from possession, to use, to use after 9pm, to causing a public disturbance, etc.), so we're just left with the police looking the other way for 2 nights a year (New Year's Eve and the Fourth).
posted by GuestZero at 12:24 P.M. EST on Mon Jul 09, 2007 #
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