Fireworks, Fires and Floods

I find it a little arrogant and disgusting, actually, that so much print is devoted to fireworks while the country is on fire and underwater.

Fits in with the theme of my first post of the day, no?

"While Hub is set to sparkle ... fiscal gloom spoils towns' fun" by Keith O'Brien, Globe Staff | July 3, 2008

ABINGTON - In the latest sign of troubled economic times, some communities across the Commonwealth are struggling to cobble together the private donations necessary to throw Fourth of July celebrations.

Fourth of July fireworks displays, by and large, are financed by private donations, not taxpayer dollars. Take Boston, for example. Tomorrow night's show is organized by Boston 4 Celebrations, a private, nonprofit company that, with sponsorship from Liberty Mutual, is able to produce a fireworks display for 500,000 people, with 6 to 8 million watching on television

Yeah, while they have "security" up the wazoo, other towns have NO FIREWORKS at all!

Without Liberty Mutual, the show would not be possible.

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Well that figures: it's not the country and its ideals behind the "celebration" -- its a CORPORATION!

And just compare the print for this article: At heart of Boston's 4th, a team with the amount devoted to California burning down (conveniently placed in the lower-left corner of page A14 -- so you just might miss it).

"More residents told to leave as Calif. coastal fire spreads" by Amanda Fehd, Associated Press | July 3, 2008

BIG SUR, Calif. - Authorities ordered most of the remaining residents of this scenic coastal community to leave yesterday because an out-of-control wildfire, one of hundreds in California, had jumped a fire line and was threatening more homes.

New mandatory evacuation notices were issued for a 10-mile stretch along the eastern side of state Highway 1, bringing the total length of the evacuated area to more than 25 miles, emergency officials said. The evacuation affects roughly 850 residents.

"The fire is just a big raging animal right now," said Darby Marshall, spokesman for the Monterey County Office of Emergency Services.

The blaze had destroyed 16 homes and charred about 82 square miles of forest since it was started by lightning on June 21 in the Los Padres National Forest. It was only about 3 percent contained."

And lest you forget the floods:

"Mosquitoes invade after Midwest floods" by Lindsey Tanner, Associated Press | July 3, 2008

CHICAGO - First the floods came, and then the mosquitoes. An explosion of the pesky insects is pestering cleanup crews and just about anyone venturing outside in the waterlogged Midwest.

In some parts of Iowa there are 20 times the normal number, and in Chicago up to five times more than usual. The good news is these are mostly flood water mosquitoes, not the kind that usually carry West Nile virus and other diseases.

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Heck, even the local lightning strikes got more press!!!

"Lightning sets fires, injuring 2 as storms roam area; Power outages affect 39,000" by Ryan Kost and Maddie Hanna, Globe Correspondents | July 3, 2008

Thunderstorms rumbled across Massachusetts yesterday afternoon, hitting the state with high winds, lightning, rain and hail and disrupting electrical service for at least 39,000 residents, officials said.

By yesterday evening, the skies seemed to have calmed down, and utility companies were working to get power back for affected customers. Hail fell in a number of areas, including Medway, Woburn, Wellesley, Arlington, Cambridge, Somerville, and Belmont. Wind damage was reported in Cambridge and Watertown.

Watertown also was hit hard by power outages, according to an NStar spokesman. According to the National Weather Service website, showers and thunderstorms may return after 3 this afternoon, possibly with hail and strong winds. There is a 20 percent chance of rain.

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Since when did the Globe (and MSM for that matter) become the weather channel?

Don't they already have a page for that?