We came across this intelligent bit of urban planning on our way home from vacation this year. Thoughts of giant fireballs made even more giant by the reservoirs of gasoline a mere basketball toss away from quite literally many tons of consumer-grade explosives raced through my head.
Your turn: What's the deal with America's obsession with fireworks? I know it's embedded in the national anthem, and I mean no disrespect. But come on, building on top of a gas station? Am I the only one who believes this to be the height of stupidity?
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23 comments:
Carmi, you are 100% right, of course. I am NO fan of fireworks; they are too dangerous in non-professional hands.
Putting a fireworks store so close to a gas station is pure suicide. How could the city planners have allowed that to happen is beyond me!
Michele sent me back!
Americans like fireworks...but we generally try not to build them next to gas stations! I have never before seen a firework stand right next to a gas station before. YIKES!!!
Here via Michele and going to add a link to your blog on my blog.
I have so many memories of stopping at Stuckeys' during family road trips.
I don't know what it is about the fireworks, actually. I hope someone has a good explanation for you.
no carmi, that is right at the pinnacle!
not a clue on the fascination with fireworks. i enjoy a good show and spend each year in st. louis on the 4th. never been into blowing things up on my own though.
from micheles today.
Hey.. are we neighbours?
Here fom Michele's blog.
What a small world.
I'm came...How about this...I grew up east Adelaide, went to Beal and Fanshawe, drank at the Ceeps, shopped at Novaks, but now a lakeside resident.
Hey Carmi! OK, I confess I LOVE a good fireworks show. Call me sentimental, but it always reminds me of the intro to LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE! Remember that old TV show? BUTTTTT, I think small scale at-home shows are just plain dumb! (Except for sprinklers, which are pretty fun in a goofy, harmless, retro kind of way.) I just like the big, over-the-top shows that go on and on and everyone ooohs and aahhhhs!
Anyhow, Michele made me say that. Hope you are having a great weekend.
I think it's a lot like taking a walk on the wild side.
Hi this evening via Michele's.
Carmi, my very dear...
I am going to address what you said in a comment on my post tonight...Hope that's okay...
I agree with you and so does Stephen Colbert!!! THAT's the point.
"Truthiness" is NOT the truth...it's "some version of the truth"....and as Nancy Meyers wrote in her movie that I quoted, 'There Truth Has No Versions...'
The word "truthiness" is as fake as James Frey's lies that he wrote in his book. And that is the brilliance of Stephen Colbert's writers and Stephen Colbert, himself. Perhaps I wasn't clear...(I can't believe that! (lol))....This word...a totally made up word...describes how far we have digresssed from "the Truth"..
Hope this is clear, my very dear dear Carmi...
I LOVE that you have such deep integrity....It's what I could see from the first time I ever read your blog, and from all the comments I've ever read of yours.
About Fireworks...They have always scared me. I like seeing them under very controled conditions, but other than that...There needs to be stronger laws about thse extremely dangerous things.
It isn't just America, although it might seem that way to you. Plenty of other countries are fireworks crazy. The thing is, Americans have huge fireworks factories here, and we have ridiculously lax laws about them in some, but not all, states. In my state they're illegal, but you wouldn't believe how many morons cross the state line into New Hampster to buy them during July 4th.
Via Michele, again.
That is so scary. I hope that no residential area is nearby. I lived just one house aways behind two gas stations last year...it made me nervous.
Jeez, I wish I knew the answer to that question. Here in Wisconsin, you can't drive 5 miles on the highway without seeing a giant fireworks store. I like fireworks, but I wouldn't buy any for the life of me, and I know very few people who do. For me, it's hearing the stories every year of people blowing their hands off in stupid accidents. No thanks!
Hilarious photo, Carmi! Well done!
Gotta agree that is pretty stupid. Hey is that picture taken In TN? I think I have been to that palce before...;)
almost forgot here via Michele's today.
whoa! gives a new meaning to the phrase "playing with fire", huh? which idiot gave the go-ahead for this marvelous example of zoning?
in relation to this, in our country, the other thing i'm riled up about is how fireworks manufacturers are allowed to have children working in their factories. we hear so many accounts time and again of children getting "accidentally" injured, maimed, or even worse, killed, while working with gunpowder or just being "unfortunately" around when the place exploded...
Heh... yeah, makes about as much sense as selling beer and other liquor at gas stations as well. Let's pop a top on the way home! NOT.
Visiting from Michele's today.
BEANHEAD: You've got a great eye! It was taken in Jellico, TN, just off the I-75. We stopped there last year, too, so when the kids announced they needed to go (ah, kids and their small bladders) and this sign came up, I remembered last year's stop, and smiled.
This is no doubt in the south?? (south of the Mason-Dixon line) I never got it either... I guess I'm just a Yankee at heart!
I do like a safe & professionally done fireworks show though!
here from Michele's...
Kind of reminds me of a bad fart. Dont light a match!
That is just crazy. I wonder if it is even legal.
Michele sent me back :)
I have seen this set up once before somewhere down south and I think its worth the a good laugh and nostalgic image of out culture.
Personally I loved fireworks as a kid and cant imagine any kid today who wouldn't agree. There loud, dangerous and the neighbors hate them. In a deviant mind of a child that makes up for a years worth of torment and misbehaving possible in one big bang.
Michele sent me back. I like to watch professional fireworks displays...its a pretty lights and things that go "boom" kinda thing for me.
great image.......
I really love this.. very funny.
I think the obsession is selling the fireworks, you can make a lot of money on them......
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