I Hope Everyone

... had a safe and happy Independence Day celebration.
I learned that a friend of mine is a pyrotechnics hobbyist. Loads his own mortars, thousands of them. Programs/controls the sequence through a laptop and bluetooth. The receiver at the center is a hub/spiderweb of wires stretching out to thousands of rounds of handmade aerial explosives.
It was absolutely amazing AND LOUD!

Everyone for a half mile radius stopped what they were doing while this 20 minute show was in process. After it was over, there was nothing but silence for about 5 or 6 minutes. Then everyone else started back up with their own fireworks.

I normally wouldn't write about such a thing except this was the first time I have ever seen such a display from a private individual.

I hope everyone else here enjoyed their day.

Just out of curiosity, how many of his original fingers does your friend still possess?

The festivities part was dead this year for us. We went to a family picnic and the maga faction seemed awfully quiet. We didn't stay for the aerial display this year, wasn't really an appropriate choice for us celebrating the last free birthday of the republic. I hope we're wrong about that.

I can't say for other places, but around the radio ranch it seems quieter. We aren't allowed fireworks that fly in Oregon so that's not what I'm referring to. Longview/Kelso was going full tilt with the private aerial shows on Friday and the towns around here (allowed aerial shows) had their displays much like any year.

The one big difference around my place this 4th is the distinct lack of small arms fire, tannerite experiments and two liter oxy/acetylene 'firecrackers'. All the other things that go boom around here. Automatic weapons bursts aren't uncommon around the 4th and New Years here. It can get aurally interesting at times.

Perhaps people are hoarding those sorts of things for the attempted maga takeover. Out in the Oregon sticks, contrary to popular opinion about Oregon politics, maga is alive and well.
Until all the leopards come to dinner.

Professional grade fireworks are an art and a science. If you act accordingly, odds are you will be ok. But like anything in life, one oh shit changes everything. I hope you had your hearing protection deployed Ash.

OK, this guy, he rivaled the professional displays. The only difference was that he loaded for 100 to 120 feet launch height. The pros I've seen around here load for a minimum of 200 feet with most extending well past 300 feet.

No one, not a soul ... was wearing hearing protection. Yes, he has all his fingers and a rather fat bank account.

And he likes cats.

it was kinda quiet here, tbh. kitty didn't notice.

I'm lucky enough to be high off the ground so the boomy stuff is less so, but we do get a great view of. aerial fireworks across the city (even if my apt faces away from the professional shows).

No family picnic(s) this year. My in-laws have been relocated to a senior care facility (FIL is 90, MIL is 89, and time has, sadly, finally caught up with them) so no picnic at their place. My stepson had other plans with his dad's side of the family... again. Little Miss Field Day aka The Unwilting Tatianna had a show, followed by time with her boyfriend.

We ended up going to Dormont (next town over) and watching their display. Fantastic, as always.
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Only fireworks here old/new years day allowed, this year last one consumers can buy and light fireworks from next year private fireworks are banned, sale and lighting off, my cat will be happy, luckily not so affraid of it but i haven't lighted anything since my son was 10, 27 years back, i am weekly on the shooting range though, firing large caliber pistol, revolver or carbine rounds...

Just a few days before the 4th, there was an explosion in a fireworks warehouse near here that killed a number of people and forced many cities to cancel their fireworks as their supplies were destroyed in the explosion. My city got its fireworks from another source and they put on their display as scheduled.

we're lucky enough (!) to have professional *and*, uh, amateur fireworks shows.

this year, though, the noise actually seemed down.

noisy fireworks aren't legal in NYS but somehow they will drive hours to buy them out of state.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by n6hcm

we're lucky enough (!) to have professional *and*, uh, amateur fireworks shows.

this year, though, the noise actually seemed down.

noisy fireworks aren't legal in NYS but somehow they will drive hours to buy them out of state.

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Before the laws changed a few years back, Pa State Police used to camp out in undercover cars at nearly every major fireworks stand or store on the other side of the state line in OH, WV, and probably elsewhere. They'd (allegedly) make a note of any vehicle with Pa plates that came and bought fireworks, then called ahead to have them busted once they crossed back into the state. Hefty fines and confiscated fireworks immediately.

There were some questions on the legality of this, and some of the people busted who fought it in court often (but not always) won. Of course, that all came later.

Something happened to my algorithm starting July 5th.
I watch a few YouTubers nightly. Car and Bike stuff, GTA IV role play servers, searches for instructional how to videos on various topics/tasks that I need guidance on. On July 5th I was suddenly flooded with suggestions for channels that focus on ... fireworks.

First one was a guy out West that buys, tests, compares and gives opinions on fireworks that he has either bought at a fireworks retailer or has shipped to him from online sources. Next channel was another guy in another part of the desert out West who basically does the same thing. Third was a guy in Ohio on a farm. Every video is a show, preceded by a discussion of what was bought, country of origin, weight in grams and the effect expected of each piece. These guys make these videos year round.

I watched and enjoyed the videos. Found them rather relaxing if I'm being honest with myself. The observation today? My algorithm.