Minding Everyone's Business Dept.: In 2010, Anchorage passed a law allowing residents to use fireworks on New Year's Eve - which everyone does already. This ordinance allowed the police to concentrate on non-pyrotechnical matters.
Now, a group of "concerned citizens" (read liberal/Progressive nanny-state Big Government supporter airheads) are petitioning the Municipal Assembly to let the ordinance expire. Heaven forbid that anyone use fireworks on a holiday GASP! because you MIGHT PUT AN EYE OUT or - heaven forbid! - start a wildfire.
Yeah, because wildfires are so common with a foot-and-a-half of snow on the ground.
Nevertheless, one member of the Assembly (a retired cop, who obviously doesn't think APD is busy enough) is sorta-kinda siding with the protesters. He wants the renewed ordinance to include additional prohibitions against use in mobile home parks. The ordinance also removed the absolute prohibition against even owning fireworks. He wants a 20-day window, outside of which it would remain illegal to buy, sell, use or even possess a firecracker.
This, in a state where we have Constitutional carry of firearms. He probably doesn't like that, either, but - fortunately for Alaskans - that clause in the Constitution prohibits political subdivisions from placing restrictions on that.
Because people aren't safe unless someone else is telling them what to do and how to behave, don'tcha know.
NOT.
Let's Talk About the Weather Dept.: It's 4 degrees this morning, which is 15 degrees warmer than yesterday at this time. It's amazing how warm it actually feels, though. Yesterday afternoon, I replaced the battery in my wife's car; the temp had risen to -1, and other than needing work gloves for hanging onto the metal tool handles, I felt quite comfortable. Even after all these years in Alaska, I still marvel at the human body's ability to acclimate to temps that sound extreme.
On the other, folks in Fairbanks and North Pole, where it was -41 and -49, respectively on Thursday morning, think we're soft ... down here in the banana belt of Alaska. Folks in Anchorage, however, think that about those in Juneau, where it's even more temperate.
People are funny critters, no?
John 12:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."
4 comments:
Maroons! They're all maroons!
Fireworks are illegal where we live, unless of course you go to the city and buy a permit - more hidden taxes. And how does a flammable piece of paper suddenly make them safer?
Our neighborhood has a slightly different approach. It is pretty much an unspoken agreement between neighbors, that if they don't accidentally light our house on fire with fireworks, then we won't report them to the police for lighting them. We stand outside and enjoy the show without having to pay for any fireworks ourselves - win-win.
Ninnys...er nannys is right...
I hear ya. This morning was down-right "warm" comparatively :-)
John in Alaska (Anchorage)
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