The climate is great though ....

Folks in San Diego witnessed what was either the worst Fourth of July fireworks celebration — or the absolute best — when a technical malfunction caused all of their pyrotechnics to go off at the same time.

The annual Big Bay Boom celebration began and ended in spectacular fashion when an inadvertent signal set off the explosion about five minutes early and caused the entire 18 minute show to take place in about 15 seconds.

 Confused spectators waited around for what they thought was going to be the rest of the show, but were sent home and told the show (that was supposed to be choreographed to music) was canceled.

4th of July

The FOURTH of July

Maybe it's my age, but the holiday has lost some meaning for me. I think, yesterday, when I posted that foto of the bridge in China, on the news last night, their high speed rail travel system, their size, their wealth, I am just not sure we are the same country we used to be. Perhaps not Number One anymore, but we just don't want to admit it.

Our jobs are gone, unemployment is high, many are living on the street, homeless, hungry. Our country gives away billions to other countries, yet we have no money. I have to wonder what out "founding Fathers" would think if they visited this country today.

I remember years ago, a high school teacher made this comment in class, "An American never visits a foreign country." Arrogant and proud, but that is diminishing.

Like many of our "holidays" have degenerated to, it is just a day to "celebrate" shoot off fireworks, have picnics and parties, and never consider the "reason" for the holiday. Just think what has been accomplished since then, yet, we are no longer the leaders or the originators of that progress. We can take credit for some, but we are now being outdistanced by other nations. We just don't like to admit it. We don't even own much of our country anymore.

If we were not supplied many products by other countries, we would have nothing to celebrate the day with. Check your fireworks, your food, your clothes, maybe your car, all made overseas, somewhere.

Many years ago, my Dad made a small, about an 8" barrel, cannon, he made it out of brass, turned it on his metal lathe. Made some strapping with his forge, used my erector set wheels on it. I remember vividly, throughout the 1940's, he would announce the Fourth of July, early in the morning, and throughout the day, by firing his cannon, and it was a BIG boom. The neighbors loved it.

Another great memory, Northern Michigan, Burt Lake, in one of Pauline Everhard's cabin rentals, my Dad, lounging in front of the cabin, looking out over the lake, the Jessiedean tied up at the dock, a boat he made, quiet serene setting, and then, out of nowhere, my Brother Bud would somehow sneak up, light a big firecracker, and have it go off, directly behind his canvas lounge chair. You no idea how fast he reacted, until that moment.

Wonder how many more years we will be able to celebrate this Holiday?

Who Pays For Red, White & BOOM!?

by Marshall McPeek

Many people have written to NBC 4 and nbc4i.com to ask why, in a difficult economy, the city is spending tax dollars to put on such a lavish fireworks display and celebration.

The good news for taxpayers is: There are no tax dollars being spent on Red, White & BOOM!

The entire cost is picked up by corporate sponsors, fees charged for concession spaces, beverage sales and private-party site rentals.

"I think Red, White & Boom is a shameful waste of money," wrote NBC 4 viewer Vickie Martin. "I'm sure it costs $100s of thousands of dollars to put on this show."

Red, White & BOOM! has a budget of nearly $500,000. That covers the cost of the huge fireworks display plus all the extra police, firefighters and cleanup.

"We pay for those police that are special duty as overtime -- and it's a significant number within the budget," says BOOM! Executive Director Mike Collins. "The police that are normally on duty anyway, or assigned to be on duty, that is picked up by the city because it's part of their direct assignment. It's everything over that that the event pays for."

Collins says the event actually generates tax dollars for the city because it is a huge draw for visitors and tourists. It's the largest one-day event in Ohio.

"It brings in between $8 million to $9 million in economic impact in a one-day proposition," Collins points out. "So, if you just take taxes and bed taxes and put other things on top of this, this is an extremely valuable commodity to the operations of the community."

I see some communities have cancelled, or changed their festivities for this year due to the economy. It appears that the display in Columbus, Ohio is subsidized by sponsors. I would rather see them take that half-million and put on a BIG picnic and day long celebration of our Independence, and invite the homeless and the hungry in Central Ohio. I have always wondered how many homeless and hungry are looking up at the fireworks display, and what is going through thier minds.?

I can imagine nothing worse than some poor child, living in a park or under a bridge, hungry, looking up and watching, as the brilliant fireworks explode in the sky. What thoughts must run through such a child's mind?