Speedy's Cafe - General Chat about anything you like!

[Artemis]

 

 

[Fantasy Lover]

https://youtu.be/O8VR1RvdjOo

[Carol the Dabbler]

On 12/24/2022 at 11:16 PM, Artemis said:

The issue with Season 4 is that John Watson stopped being John Watson at some point and became an anger-infested, twisted creature....

That's not John, that's his evil twin Pierre.

And Happy New Year, everybody!  Couple hours to go, here, but I guess you folks on the other side of the Pond are already snoozing away after your celebrations.

 

[besleybean]

If only  I had snoozed ...Italian fireworks and a 3 year old grandson!

[Fantasy Lover]

I didn't snooze, how could I with the fireworks going off? Or with the cars driving through the street? We were lucky we had fireworks this year, because there was a lot lot of wind.

[Artemis]

I wish we could do fireworks here for New Year's, but it's far too cold and often snowing.  I wonder if it's more common in any of the southern U.S. states.

 

[besleybean]

I wish they didn't here. I hate them!

[Carol the Dabbler]

On 1/1/2023 at 6:03 AM, Artemis said:

I wish we could do fireworks here for New Year's, but it's far too cold and often snowing.  I wonder if it's more common in any of the southern U.S. states.

I guess compared to Minnesota just about any state except Alaska is more southern!  I did see New Year's fireworks (from my bathroom window) once in western New York State, where I lived for about 8 years.  Dunno if that was unusual or if they had it every year and I just didn't notice.

 

[Artemis]

On 1/2/2023 at 10:28 AM, Carol the Dabbler said:

I guess compared to Minnesota just about any state except Alaska is more southern!

That's true, lol.  I suppose that's what I meant, but more specifically, states far south enough that they're normally well above freezing and without snow on NYE.

On 1/1/2023 at 9:56 AM, besleybean said:

I wish they didn't here. I hate them!

Why is that?  Just curious.  Personally I enjoy fireworks and encourage jubilation.  I feel like people need more reasons to celebrate life, not less.

 

[Caya]

If you're a pet owner (or simply worried about wildlife) there's very little to celebrate about them, especially the extra stupid ones that don't produce a light show, just as much of a senseless racket as possible. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

15 hours ago, Artemis said:

I enjoy fireworks and encourage jubilation.  I feel like people need more reasons to celebrate life, not less.

10 hours ago, Caya said:

If you're a pet owner (or simply worried about wildlife) there's very little to celebrate about them, especially the extra stupid ones that don't produce a light show, just as much of a senseless racket as possible. 

I agree with both of you.  *sigh*

 

[Fantasy Lover]

Personally, I feel firework should only be bought by the city Council and only for new year, not used for private use. It was on the news here that there was a increase of burn victims by private use of firework, and on new year a lot of people launched firework in the direction of the police, and the guy they interviewed asked for a ban both in stores as well online. I doubt it will happen but it will be good news for pet owners 

[Carol the Dabbler]

15 hours ago, Fantasy Lover said:

... the guy they interviewed asked for a ban both in stores as well online. I doubt it will happen but it will be good news for pet owners.

I share your doubt.

For one thing, as long as it's easy to travel between states (here in the US) or countries (in the EU), it'll be very hard to keep fireworks from being brought into jurisdictions where they can't be sold.

Here in Indiana the law is kind of odd:  It's perfectly legal to sell fireworks and to buy them.  But it's illegal for an unauthorized person to set them off.  I conjecture that that came about as follows:  Fireworks used to be legal here, so there were stores that sold them (mostly in June and July, because we associate fireworks with Independence Day, July 4th).  When the legislature started talking about banning most of them, the store owners pointed out that people would simply cross the state line to buy them (which of course they would, since one state line or another is within about 75 miles -- 125 km -- of any point in the state).  Thus the current law.  When you buy fireworks in Indiana, you're required to sign a statement that you will not light the fuse within this state, but of course just about everyone ignores that.

I assume that if anyone were being truly obnoxious with their unofficial firework display, or if they were blatantly ignoring safety recommendations (especially if anyone was hurt or a neighbor's property was damaged), the law would be enforced.  But otherwise it seems to be pretty much ignored.

 

[Artemis]

On 1/4/2023 at 12:36 AM, Caya said:

If you're a pet owner (or simply worried about wildlife) there's very little to celebrate about them, especially the extra stupid ones that don't produce a light show, just as much of a senseless racket as possible.

Yeah, as a pet owner I do understand.  This last summer my dog was having serious health problems around the 4th of July, and the fireworks were exacerbating his issue.  I turned the TV volume up loud and that seemed to help somewhat.

Everyone just needs to be more considerate of each other.  Here, I think a concession can be made for fireworks on the 4th of July, in the evening hours at the very least.  What I don't like is when people treat Independence Day like Independence Month, or Independence Season.  It's not uncommon for me to hear fireworks every night starting in mid-June, and continuing well past July 4th, even into August sometimes.  And not only that, but in the middle of the night.  That's not fair to your neighbors and that's where people need to stop being selfish.  Have your fun on the 4th, and if you want to continue with quiet fireworks like sparklers, by all means do so; but don't make families with animals, sleeping babies, and war veterans, suffer every night for months.

 

[besleybean]

I was thinking fireworks should only be acceptable for New Year...

but of course that was very much a UK perspective.

I completely forgot about your 4th July...damn colonials.  Ha!

Seriously, does any great celebration HAVE to involve firworks?

Athough I realise historically, gun powder may very much have been a part of the actual events now commemorated.

[Artemis]

2 minutes ago, besleybean said:

Athough I realise historically, gun powder may very much have been a part of the actual events now commemorated.

Yeah, that's actually the main reason Independence Day is celebrated with fireworks.  It's not just 'cause they're pretty, it's supposed to serve as a more serious reminder of the reality of war.

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

2 hours ago, Artemis said:

What I don't like is when people treat Independence Day like Independence Month....

Good heavens -- I guess I'd better stop griping about people who set off fireworks for *only* a week or two!

 

[Van Buren Supernova]

On 1/4/2023 at 2:36 PM, Caya said:

If you're a pet owner (or simply worried about wildlife) there's very little to celebrate about them, especially the extra stupid ones that don't produce a light show, just as much of a senseless racket as possible. 

It's very common for dogs to run away or stressed out because of this. I can only imagine the impact on their sensitive hearing. 

I once lived in a questionable neighborhood, where kids thought it would be funny to light a firecracker and throw it under unsuspecting passing cars. I don't know if that is dangerous, but it's a f around and find out situation. It terrified me as a kid, imagining being in the car and hearing loud bangs around you.

I'm fine with celebrations at appropriate times with responsibility. I spent my younger years hunting for fireworks videos on New Year Eves.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I just came across this web page, entitled "Prehensile Feet: People With Feet Similar to Monkeys."

I am wondering whether some people's feet are like that due to genes or due to experience.  I suspect it's a bit of both.  For example, someone who went barefoot a lot (especially as a kid) would be more likely to have better use of their feet, compared to someone who had always worn shoes.  And if the barefoot kid started out with prehensile-foot genes, their feet would likely be even more flexible and usable.

In areas where I've lived, shoes are the norm, so if I met someone with prehensile feet, how would I know?  But I used to have a friend who could (and often did) pick things up with his feet -- and not by curling his toes around them, as I might try to do, but by pinching them between his big and second toes.  This fellow had grown up in Hawaii, and up till eighth grade had never worn anything on his feet except beach sandals (the rubber kind with a thong between the toes).  So he had a good strong pinch!