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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Thursday, July 05, 2018

Can Drones Replace Fireworks?



Listen, I like blowing things up just as much as anyone. I was in an artillery unit, for Christ sake. But thanks to relaxed state laws that cater to the pyromaniac in all of us, there have been a lot of amateur fireworks over the past few evenings here in Nazareth. I know it drives some pets, and even some people, crazy. There have been so many complaints at Complainers of Bethlehem that there are even complaints about the complaints. And no one is paying much attention to the 150' rule. Out west, where wildfires rage, fireworks events are being canceled for something else - an aerial drone show.

Above is one over Mt. Fuji in Japan.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I personally cant stand anyone setting off personal fireworks in a neighborhood. By the time the police arrive its over. 150 foot rule my ass! Plus who really wants to start anything with their already braindead neighbors. I don't want that crap landing on my house. I will be at the township meetings to try to get it banned completely without a permit.

Anonymous said...

No

Anonymous said...

I used to dismiss the complainers as complainers. Then, I hosted a good friend who'd returned from Afghanistan a month earlier. His head was still on a swivel and it sucked to be him. Our neighbor's yellow lab was so distraught last night, it wedged in behind a toilet and dislodged the thing. The dog nearly had a stroke and they're getting quotes for the cleanup and floor/ceiling replacement. Our problem is lack of self control. Tannerite isn't good enough. We need two tons of Tannerite so the boom can be heard in another state. We always go to far.

Anonymous said...

I know a house burned in the West End of Allentown (UT Elementary) a few years ago as the result of someone using illegal fireworks. Luckily I don't think that anybody died.

Anonymous said...

JPP

Anonymous said...

The issue of fireworks being set off by inexperienced people in a residential neighborhood aside, I think the intent of the post was aimed at replacing commercial, professionally done pyrotechnic displays with drones displays. I, for one, think it would be sad to deprive future children the thrill and joy of a fireworks display. A display that you can feel in your chest with each explosion cannot be replaced by a drone display. Keep the professionals, ban the amateurs who start their house on fire or blow their fingers off!

Anonymous said...

I saw a drone show down at Disney a couple years ago, they are very cool. It was also fun during the show watching a few of them crash into Lake Disney due to battery failure.

But I agree with Anon 457pm, and even though I love blowing things up too, let's get a ban on the amateurs and keep the professionals.

The Banker

Bernie O'Hare said...

I agree with a ban on amateurs.

Anonymous said...

Stupid people do stupid things. Spending your money on things that go "boom" is one of those things.

sezary said...

Fireworks are quite ingrained into the American celebration of the Fourth of July. The Fourth of July is uniquely an American holiday. Fireworks themselves would be more connected with the American celebration and therefore, would be more of a hurdle to replace as it might be elsewhere. I cannot disagree with any of the comments so far. The confluence of need and the entrepreneurial spirit will always find a way to address an ever changing and evolving world. The technology involving drones and light shows will only get better and better and more amazing.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Jeff, Independence Day is uniquely American,?as you wisely observe. But there is nothing uniquely American about fireworks celebrations. They have gone on much longer in China, where they were invented. Not sure about Japan. They have also been used in European celebrations for centuries. Google. japanese fireworks. Can’t say how common they are there, but I do agree that their fireworks shows surpass any I have seen on video.