[The_Media_never_lie]

Did you know that possession of a M80 is a felony?

Why no, I didn't.

Why do you ask?

FYI, we used to play with them as kids. They had wonderfully reliable fuses. I never threw them since I knew if one went off in my hand it would blow off fingers. When exploded in just the right depth of water, would blow a plume of water 25 feet high. Just one M80 explosion would truly wake the neighborhood.

Just life's simple pleasures as a teenager. Glad I still have my fingers. Woundn't want to possess a M80 today; would be felonious.

[Myrddin]

I worked around the San Diego tuna seiner fleet from 1977 to 1980. The seiners employed "seal bombs" that were essentially an M80 with waterproofing to scare seals away from the nets. Invariably, there were accidents that damaged hands of the boat crews. My co-worker was working a boat at the 10th Ave pier when the Nuttall-Styris rep called the crew out to the deck to demonstrate a new seal bomb that launches from a flare pistol. The rep fired the bomb out over the water. Just as the bomb hit the surface, a brown pelican scooped it up. Bang! A flash of feathers. Oops.