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12 comments:
Looked to me like they had a little bit of a problem at the end - seemed like some of the rounds were going off in the tubes. I don't believe that you are supposed to see visible sustained flames coming from the tubes.
And aren't those fireworks supposed to be exploding about 500 feet higher than they were, the height the other ones were (1000/2000 feet).
I was glad to be on the side road that runs by the stadium. Those fiery suckers at the end were too low for my comfort.
It wasn't how low they were (although that was of concern) as much as the visible yellow flames in the launching area. It looked like they had a couple of rounds actually going off in the tubes and then being propelled out like Roman Candles.
I wonder if they had something burning that started cooking off the rest of the rounds. Didn't look good. Didn't look good at all...
Something was definitely off. I noticed the same issues - where the control over the fireworks appeared to be less than complete. I'm sitting farther back next year.
This must have been a different fireworks contractor than last year, as that production was much better.
All the smoke was a bit thick too. It was a nice display, but I wonder about the health of breathing all that firewerx dust.
Why doesn't Amherst have organic, environmentally friendly fireworks?
http://climate.weather.com/articles/julyfireworks2008.html?from=pif_locallinker_travel
What happened to the bigger and longer display that was announced in the newspaper because Amherst and Hadley merged? I guess, maybe, the problems that you discussed, shortened them? LOL
I thought they sucked. I would have much rather been at Manadnock Speedway, watching a full hour of great fireworks, but, being on the parade committee, did not give me much time to get there to enjoy the races and display of magic. Maybe Amherst will get it right before I die.
Until later......................
Maybe Amherst will get it right before I die.
The thing that bothered me the most was that if there was a working fire at the launch site (and it sorta looked like there could have been at least the beginnings of one, smokeless powder burns with the color I was seeing), would the launch tubes pointed slightly toward the crowd fall over and shoot directly across the lawn and into the crowd?
That, itself, probably wouldn't kill anyone (although there would be bad burns). The ensuing panic, on the other hand, would have a level of carnage similar to the Coconut Grove and for similar reasons. Injured people screaming in the dark, terrifing everyone else in a mad stampede through the dark, it would not be pretty.
There should be a UM electrician with a radio and orders to punch on every one of those stadium lights, along with all the practice field lights, if anything goes wrong. I believe that any UMPD officer's hand radio can access the PPlant frequency (I know they have the housing and parking frequencies) and it could be as simple as "Joe, we need all the lights on NOW."
Even better, this could be done from the steam plant. They would loose the red airplane lights, but there all ready is a FAA advisory about fireworks -- turn all the lights on and turn the main 8700 volt breaker off. Restore that circuit with a computer command in the steam plant and all the lights instantly go on.
Yes the lights are designed to illuminate the inside of the stadium - to HDTV quality at the highest (of 3) settings - but there is a LOT of spillover. More with the smoke from the fireworks. (It would be a whole lot better than the well-meaning police officer's high beams & spotlight...)
And the same thing should be done when people are exiting. It is only a matter of time until something bad happens - luck does not prevail forever.
Now I suspect that it is union rules that is precluding this from happening - four hour callback overtime on holiday pay for multiple guys is expensive.
And this is where someone would need to go to the SEIU local and say "guys, we are talking about your wives, your children and your grandchildren here. Besides, it is the Fourth of July fireworks. Can we work something out?" (Plant guys are *very* patriotic, many are also veterans.)
IF they were told that they (both the union and a UMass union) would get publicly thanked, I would not be surprised to see them possibly even find volunteers to turn those lights on. (Do not confuse the tradesmen with the faculty....)
But you have one round come anywhere near that crowd in the dark, you would have mass panic. Yes there are people like me (a UM student) who knows of other ways out of there (coming out by Stadium Storage, or even hiking through the swampy woods out to 116) but most folks don't... It wouldn't be pretty...
Like I said, Ed, maybe Amherst will get it right before I die. I did not stutter. Did not ask for a who expose on the electrical problem, as I sort of knew what was going on.
Jesus, Larry, Rosenberg being gay must have been the worst kept secret in history. Who didn't already know?
This just in...Liberace was gay.
Yeah, you're pretty freakin astute for an Anon.
Jesus, Larry, Rosenberg being gay must have been the worst kept secret in history. Who didn't already know?
In all honestly, I didn't. Not that I care either way, my issues with him is his left-of-center views and his anti-student bigotry.
Does it matter what Rosenberg is? Are you jealous because yiu asre afraid to come out of the closet?
Anon 7:37, beint gay can be a blessing, sometimes, when sealing with people who are not sensitive to other peoples feelings.
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