When I was a kid sparklers were a lot longer and sparks didn’t hit you. (Except the time my sister set her hair on fire!) Now they don’t even last very long.
I got hit in the face with the hot end of a sparkler when I was a kid. About an inch away from my eye. It hurt and all that but I did not advertise the 4th of July injury at all. I mean being burnt by a Black Cat or something like that is painful but kid socially acceptable. Being dinged by a lady finger or burned by a sparkler is just not cool.
And restraint was shown after all. Then again, the boys may not be back from the fireworks stand in the next state. We may have to tune in tomorrow to see the carnage.
When I was a teenager, and my dad was teaching at a tech school for ADULTS (mostly 18-25, some older), he invited his students out for the 4th of July. He had sparklers for everyone, and they all went out in the back to play with sparklers.
We had a very large tree back there. It wasn’t next to the house, but it was large enough to still have branches over the roof.
It had been fairly dry for a couple weeks.
Yes, these RESPONSIBLE ADULTS set the tree on fire, while I was inside avoiding the firey idiocy.
They got the fire out before it spread, but I HATE FIREWORKS. Of all kinds.
In some ways plain old firecrackers are less dangerous. A whole lot less damage to the hand if it goes off. Sparkler burns are guaranteed 2nd degree and often 3rd degree.
RE: “Since when does Katy cite metric measurements?” I didn’t notice on first reading but the Wikipedia article on sparklers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparkler) does quote the temps as 1,000 to 1,600 centigrade depending on the fuel and oxidizer (solid fuel rockets anyone?). But for real fun see the Christmas tree with burning sparkler at the top of the article. I’ll bet the silver coated globes make great shrapnel when the whole thing goes up in a whoosh.
Things were tough that year on the farm in Kansas. With the 4th of July approaching, Dad announced that there would be no money for fireworks that year.But…we still had the best, most memorable 4th ever. Dad found a piece of lead pipe about yea long and filled it with black powder (used for blasting stumps out of the ground). He jammed the pipe (bomb) into the ground good and hard and lit the fuse.I can still see it in my mind: that piece of pipe spinning though the air out over the cornfield. It was a beautiful thing.
rekam Premium Member over 5 years ago
HAPPY 4TH, EVERYBODY!
Lucy Rudy over 5 years ago
When I was a kid sparklers were a lot longer and sparks didn’t hit you. (Except the time my sister set her hair on fire!) Now they don’t even last very long.
pcolli over 5 years ago
Last time I held a sparkler I got quite a few burns… not so much sparkling as spitting fire!
Doctor Toon over 5 years ago
Isn’t danger always fun?
Stevefk over 5 years ago
She should wait until it gets dark out, much more effective then!
jpayne4040 over 5 years ago
She does have a good point.
well-i-never over 5 years ago
They are hot enough to ignite thermite.
Nighthawks Premium Member over 5 years ago
hey y’all!
WATCH THIS!nosirrom over 5 years ago
Since when does Katy cite metric measurements?
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 5 years ago
I got hit in the face with the hot end of a sparkler when I was a kid. About an inch away from my eye. It hurt and all that but I did not advertise the 4th of July injury at all. I mean being burnt by a Black Cat or something like that is painful but kid socially acceptable. Being dinged by a lady finger or burned by a sparkler is just not cool.
cuzinron47 over 5 years ago
And restraint was shown after all. Then again, the boys may not be back from the fireworks stand in the next state. We may have to tune in tomorrow to see the carnage.
sew-so over 5 years ago
When I was a teenager, and my dad was teaching at a tech school for ADULTS (mostly 18-25, some older), he invited his students out for the 4th of July. He had sparklers for everyone, and they all went out in the back to play with sparklers.
We had a very large tree back there. It wasn’t next to the house, but it was large enough to still have branches over the roof.
It had been fairly dry for a couple weeks.
Yes, these RESPONSIBLE ADULTS set the tree on fire, while I was inside avoiding the firey idiocy.
They got the fire out before it spread, but I HATE FIREWORKS. Of all kinds.
WCraft Premium Member over 5 years ago
Stick it in the ground and wait for Dad to mow the lawn – you get sparks all over again!
Andylit Premium Member over 5 years ago
In some ways plain old firecrackers are less dangerous. A whole lot less damage to the hand if it goes off. Sparkler burns are guaranteed 2nd degree and often 3rd degree.
John Mason Premium Member over 5 years ago
RE: “Since when does Katy cite metric measurements?” I didn’t notice on first reading but the Wikipedia article on sparklers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparkler) does quote the temps as 1,000 to 1,600 centigrade depending on the fuel and oxidizer (solid fuel rockets anyone?). But for real fun see the Christmas tree with burning sparkler at the top of the article. I’ll bet the silver coated globes make great shrapnel when the whole thing goes up in a whoosh.
cheap_day_return over 5 years ago
Things were tough that year on the farm in Kansas. With the 4th of July approaching, Dad announced that there would be no money for fireworks that year.But…we still had the best, most memorable 4th ever. Dad found a piece of lead pipe about yea long and filled it with black powder (used for blasting stumps out of the ground). He jammed the pipe (bomb) into the ground good and hard and lit the fuse.I can still see it in my mind: that piece of pipe spinning though the air out over the cornfield. It was a beautiful thing.
Prey over 5 years ago
I hate to admit but when I was about 12 we used to launch “flying bombs” from a tree house into the crowd.
poopsypoo Premium Member over 5 years ago
New Years! The name of the other holiday is, New Years!!!!