Well, it's that time of year again. Time to maim & blind yourselves doing stupid schit with fireworks. Wifey had a 16-year-old kid in her office yesterday. Fawkin' around with fireworks, thing blew up in his face. He's gonna have massive scarring (may need skin grafts) and they're doubtful he'll ever have use of both eyes again.

I'm one of the lucky ones to have survived my youth w/o major injuries from fireworks (do have a small scar on one arm). Everyone I know knows SOMEONE who's been seriously hurt fawkin' around with 'em. Bottom line is this, used correctly they are only marginally safe. I've seen enough short fuses & premature explosions that I refuse to light another one again. Treated like toys, well you'd better hope the insurance is paid up. So, if you're planning to blow an entire paycheck on a couple gross of bottle rockets, do yourself a favor. Save your money & go see a professional show. They're free in most towns & they're a lot more spectacular than anything you can do at home.




TEX

Damn tex tell us how ya really feel! :eek: :flipoff2:

yup, I second this motion! be careful!!!

I know i've told the story before but....

I lost an uncle to a fireworks explosion. home-made bottle rocket didn't go off and he went to check it and it blew his leg off. he bled to death before help could get there. he was 16.

LOL...another dumbass statistic (firework-related statistics)

If you figure out the number of people hurt and the number of people NOT hurt vs the number of people USING fireworks, you'll find the number surprisingly low.

It's like alcohol-related injuries/deaths. If a guy has had a few drinks and is walking home and gets run over by a SOBER driver, they consider that an alcohol-related death. Another statistic!!

Originally posted by Damage, Inc.
If a guy has had a few drinks and is walking home and gets run over by a SOBER driver, they consider that an alcohol-related death. Another statistic!!

Ummm, that actually happened less than a week ago in my area. It's an "alcohol related death" 'cause the fool staggered out into traffic - on the Interstate no less :flipoff2:


TEX

How to safely deal with a dud mortor.
DO NOT LOOK DOWN THE TUBE!! Stand clear and get that buddy you barely tollerate to do it.

When lighting M-80's, throw the M-80 not the lighter.


:D

Originally posted by TEX
Save your money & go see a professional show. They're free in most towns & they're a lot more spectacular than anything you can do at home.
TEX

Problem is, last I heard, the trains are refusing to transport show-grade fireworks, because of the heavy restrictions on "explosives" in our new terrorism-addled country. There's a good chance that small towns will have to cancel because they ain't got no sparklies!

Of course, that makes no difference out here, where fireworks shows are cancelled 80% of the time anyways because of extreme drought...

Originally posted by Pazuzu


Problem is, last I heard, the trains are refusing to transport show-grade fireworks, because of the heavy restrictions on "explosives" in our new terrorism-addled country. There's a good chance that small towns will have to cancel because they ain't got no sparklies!

Of course, that makes no difference out here, where fireworks shows are cancelled 80% of the time anyways because of extreme drought...

Until they stop transporting ANFO and dynamite by truck, this doesn't make any sense, does it. No, your class C explosives are dangerous, but that semi-truck load of dynamite is safe. Don't even get me going about railcars!

Ben Franklin had it right-he who gives up freedom for security deserves neither.

Peace,
Paul

Originally posted by PTSchram

Unti they stop transporting ANFO and dynamite by truck, this doesn't make any sense, does it. No, your class C explosives are dangerous, but that semi-truck load of dynamite is safe. Don't even get me going about railcars!
Paul

I didn't say it made sense, but the fact is, someone is preventing fireworks from going by train to cities. I can't remember all of the details, I can't remember who (but I *think* it was the train companies themselves), and it was an insurance thing. Basically, they didn't want to transport until the government could guarantee that they would not get hassled if something went wrong.

be careful!!!!

4th of July at the lake when I was a kid, I had a drunk arse uncle jam a M-80 in a beer can and when he drew back to throw it *BOOM* I was far enough away that I didn't get hurt but my brother was right beside him and got 30 stitches in his nose and lost partial sight in one eye for the rest of his life:eek:

Only thing I worry about is the drought, and fires..... If used properly fireworks are fine... If you get hurt by one then there are propably many factors the concluded into the outcome... I been using m-80's sence I was 8. Dad would bring them back from Mexico and they were waterproof. We would tie them to horseshoes and sink them in a 55gl drum and watch a 30foot rain of water...

Use your head.....Don't drink.... Have plenty of light to see where you light... DON'T use a lighter, use a long "punk". Lighter flames will burn 1/2 fuse before you see anything...

And if the fuse is short................DON'T LIGHT IT...stupid!

fawk fireworks.... oxy-acetilyne bags baby

mothafawka BOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!:flipoff2:

Originally posted by YotaRunner
Only thing I worry about is the drought, and fires..... If used properly fireworks are fine... If you get hurt by one then there are propably many factors the concluded into the outcome... I been using m-80's sence I was 8. Dad would bring them back from Mexico and they were waterproof. We would tie them to horseshoes and sink them in a 55gl drum and watch a 30foot rain of water...

Use your head.....Don't drink.... Have plenty of light to see where you light... DON'T use a lighter, use a long "punk". Lighter flames will burn 1/2 fuse before you see anything...

And if the fuse is short................DON'T LIGHT IT...stupid!

I always preferred cigarettes when lighting fireworks, but I don't smoke anymore.

My Dad and I use to chuck M-80s out the windows when I was a kid. Fun times...

Was just launching some the weekend before last with a slingshot. I was lighting... light and launch... gotta love small explosives.

Fireworks are cool... heh heh Fire Fire heh heh

Originally posted by Pazuzu


I didn't say it made sense, but the fact is, someone is preventing fireworks from going by train to cities. I can't remember all of the details, I can't remember who (but I *think* it was the train companies themselves), and it was an insurance thing. Basically, they didn't want to transport until the government could guarantee that they would not get hassled if something went wrong.

Na, the problem is the RR company exec and employees can't pass the new background requirements. Anyone that handles the stuff (1.3g) must have a background check (basically the same as a firearms purchase) and the company execs must submit fingerprints and background checks. However, many of the exec's have federal convictions, and most of the fireworks stuff come thru Canada, so the trains are manned by Canadian crew (non US citizens). Not to mention how many dock workers that can't pass the background check (besides the hassle of submitting all that crap on ANYONE that touches the containers).

Yea, the US is much safer now that the stuff is sitting in truck stops all around the country!

I help a buddy do a community show every year. You may find that a lot of little shows don't go on because there was only about a 4 week window to get the paperwork done in time to get your ATF permit.

However, you'll be pleased to know that the local community volunteer fire department is exempt! After doing this stuff for several years, I can tell you. THOSE GUYS ARE SCARY!!!

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/05/31/holidays/main556377.shtml

This is going to be (hopefully) the first year in the last 4 that we can even have fireworks legally. PLEASE BE CAREFULL WITH THE FIRE! I'm tired of watching our favorite forests burn. :(

Originally posted by Entropy
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/05/31/holidays/main556377.shtml

Thanks, I knew I wasn't making this up, but I couldn't remember the details I had read.

Originally posted by sceep
This is going to be (hopefully) the first year in the last 4 that we can even have fireworks legally. PLEASE BE CAREFULL WITH THE FIRE! I'm tired of watching our favorite forests burn. :(

AMEN brotha' !

Originally posted by Pazuzu


Thanks, I knew I wasn't making this up, but I couldn't remember the details I had read.

Actually, I just sent an e-mail to this guy I know that is really into trains... chases 'em around the country and whatnot.

He sent me a link that says the rules were dropped and there are no longer restrictions. If I can get this stupid link to work then I will be posting momentarily.

Alright, I had him e-mail me the text.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration


Federal Railroad Administration

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration

[Docket No. RSPA-2003-14982, Notice No. 03-7]

Hazardous Materials: Transportation of Explosives by Rail

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration and Federal
Railroad Administration, Department of Transportation; and
Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland
Security.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Research and Special Programs Administration, the Federal
Railroad Administration, and the Transportation Security Administration
are publishing this document to describe the application of Federal
laws to the transportation of explosives by rail. In particular, this
document explains that, in light of the extensive regulation of the
rail transportation of hazardous materials, including explosives, by
the Department of Transportation, the protections inherent in railroad
operations against improper use of those materials by railroad
employees, and the security safeguards taken by the railroads, the
transportation of explosives via rail by certain persons described
under the Safe Explosives Act does not pose a sufficient security risk
warranting further regulation at this time. Based on the determinations
made by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department
of Transportation that are detailed in this document, certain federal
criminal provisions described below do not apply to persons while they
are engaged in the commercial transportation of explosives by rail.

DATES: Effective Date: June 4, 2003.

ADDRESSES: You may review the public docket containing this document in
person at the Department of Transportation Dockets Management System
office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Dockets Management System office is on the plaza level of
the NASSIF Building at the Department of Transportation, Room PL 401,
400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Also, you

[[Page 34471]]

may review public dockets on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Machado, Office of Chief
Counsel, Research and Special Programs Administration, 400 Seventh
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001; telephone (202) 366-4440;
facsimile (202) 366-7041; e-mail Nancy.Machado@rspa.dot.gov. David
Kasminoff, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration,
1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, 20590-0001; telephone: (202)
493-6043; David.Kasminoff@fra.dot.gov. Christine Beyer, Office of Chief
Counsel, Transportation Security Administration, 400 Seventh Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001; telephone (571) 227-2657; e-mail
Christine.Beyer@dhs.gov.