Sciencemadness Discussion Board - Happy July 4 everyone!

Happy July 4 everyone!

Metacelsus - 4-7-2021 at 02:36

Since I can't get any decent fireworks in MA (and don't feel comfortable making any in my small apartment), I'll be doing a few small colored fire demos at a picnic this afternoon. (Don't worry, I won't be an idiot and pour methanol onto a flame.)

I'll post pictures later once it's done.

Americans of SM, what are your July 4 plans?

(Also Bert, I miss doing pyro with you! I'll be wearing my Hollywood T-shirt if it's warm enough, which it probably won't be.)

SWIM - 4-7-2021 at 03:30

They cancelled the fireworks show in my city.
A real pity since I just moved to about 400 meters from where they fire them off and would've been able to watch from home.

Not really up to public gatherings at this time.

Probably get a cheese and mushroom pizza delivered.
Maybe watch 1776 and try to spot Button Gwinnett.

violet sin - 4-7-2021 at 08:33

We get to light off safe and sane fireworks in our yard in town. It's a small town of course. Today is my daughters 4th birthday, on the 4th, I always liked the matching day/year birthday's.

I hope everyone has a wonderful independence day

later we are going to dual with the neighbors. As always seems to happen, everyone takes turns setting off a few in the street and it keeps the fun going. We are on a corner lot of a 4 way intersection, lots to see.

Fireworks were in shorter supply at all the local TNT and Phantom booths. The deal fireworks were sold out quick, and the place we like to buy from had no sales under 50$ left. The buy one get one was 50$ and up. TNT still had a few on sale but was cleaned out before noon. I thought it was bad last year when someone went around and bought all the cheap/sale fireworks for resale on the streets. Good thing my better half was out taking our son to summer school and noticed some open booths, we got a few sale items. Ground blooms were >7$ a pack of 6pc. and sparklers were buy one get one for a 6 pack of boxes( 2x box red, green, yellow) or something but 15$. The small stuff is pretty pricey.

I know we get to have more fun than many others in the states, even if we are in crispy California. So I'm not bitching. Have fun out there, be safe, water your lawn and keep a hose handy. Happy 4th all

Texium - 4-7-2021 at 08:50

Fireworks are banned in Salt Lake City this year due to an intense drought, but of course people will still be setting them off anyway. Normally restrictions are actually extremely lax here for a city. I’m gonna water my crispy yard in case a rogue shell should land on my property. Not doing any pyrotechnics myself this year. Just gonna have the neighbors over for burgers this evening.

karlos³ - 4-7-2021 at 09:47

Happy brit-be-gone day dear americans

SWIM - 4-7-2021 at 10:07

I wonder how many times more gunpowder has been used celebrating American independence than was used winning it in the first place?

Seems to me we were always pretty short of the stuff during the actual war for independence.

karlos³ - 4-7-2021 at 13:15

Maybe its not actually a celebration, but a ritualistic sort of showing off how much gunpowder you guys can afford to use just for fireworks, which keeps the brits away?

Maybe it started like this actually, and now its just a bbq+beer holiday with colorful fireworks because the true meaning got lost?

Anyway, I hope all you amis had a nice and enjoyable holiday

mayko - 4-7-2021 at 18:19

"Remember those snake fireworks that seemed to disappear a while ago? Man, I wish they'd make a comeback!"

*a finger curls on a desiccated monkey's paw*

photos, as promised

Metacelsus - 5-7-2021 at 05:03

I did the colored fire demo with sodium, lithium, copper, and boron. I got some pictures but some of the colors (especially Li) were hard to see in the sunlight.

I also had some magnesium shavings but they burned in a flash before I could get a photo.

And my girlfriend made some delicious cheesecake bites.

zed - 5-7-2021 at 16:58

Yup! At the last minute, they suspended fireworks sales in Portland.

Too bad. I might have purchased some, for a Winter visit to the SF Bay Area.

Fireworks have been banned there for decades, but to my way of thinking, should be safe on New Years Eve...

Provided it is cold and wet, there should be no safety problems.

SWIM - 5-7-2021 at 20:20

Quote: Originally posted by zed

Yup! At the last minute, they suspended fireworks sales in Portland.

Too bad. I might have purchased some, for a Winter visit to the SF Bay Area.

Fireworks have been banned there for decades, but to my way of thinking, should be safe on New Years Eve...

Provided it is cold and wet, there should be no safety problems.

Actually, they still sell them in San Bruno, which is about mid way between San Francisco and Redwood city.(climate best by government test!)

I think San Bruno still has legal card houses as well.
Poker and pai gow mostly.

Artichoke Joe's was a big one back when I lived there, I don't know if they ever outlawed those card places.

Addendum: just googled it, and Artichoke Joe's card club is still doing business in San Bruno.
And lots of fireworks booths were doing business for the 4th.

I do believe San Bruno would have legal brothels if State law didn't forbid it.

[Edited on 6-7-2021 by SWIM]

zed - 6-7-2021 at 12:22

Argggh. From my youth... I can recall older men in Petaluma, grumbling about the demise of small-town whorehouses. Kept young men out of trouble, and gave young women a way to build up a little capitol.

In Stienbeck's small-town California, it was a "fact of life", that didn't trouble folks very much.

Such establishments, were often "just" outside of city limits.

arkoma - 7-7-2021 at 09:55

Quote:

now its just a bbq+beer holiday with colorful fireworks

heck yes! no drought here in Ark-In-Saw so it was quite "boomie" on the Brit-Be-Gone day

*edit* spelling

[Edited on 7-7-2021 by arkoma]