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In the late '60's we did light shows--and not pyrotechnics.

In various clubs and concerts, projectors, be they banks of Kodak Carousels with synchronizers, or overheads with Petri dishes of dyed gel, strobes, or 16mm animations, there was no open flame.

I've seen the video by the WPRI reporter from the floor several times--as soon as the pyrotechnics went off, the backdrop went up in flames--and the dancers were too stoned to do anything but wave their arms.

In the 'seventies' concerts had light effects (the semis worth for Steve Miller or Grand Funk) but the pyrotechnics I saw ('69) were limited to Jimi Hendrix pissing some lighter fluid onstage in a huge building (State Fairgrounds Coliseum).

Apparently (per owner of Stone Pony) Great White had done this effect without asking earlier--and where were their extinguishers?

I do the "check the exits" thing on planes.

Anyone who hasn't been in a fire needs to understand:

1) It's black--you can't see sh!t;
2) You take a breath and it's like getting a sledge hammer in your chest.

As for the saving someone from a fire--we were headed back to college on a rainy night and got passed by Speedball Tucker who then hit the bridge abutment.

We got him out of his burning car but he never regained consciousness and I watched his last bloody bubble form on his lips.

But even though his car was hot and flaming we opened the door and got him out.

I've seen enough of friends burning down cabins and teepees with candles--it's worse than tragic--it's outrageous.

Look for the exits; look for the extinguishers--have one in your home and car.

And don't go into a freakin' death trap and be so stoned you can't get out.

I never expected to be so old and serious--the second leads to the first.

Fire is a hazard we are all subject to in evry building we enter. I have made it ahbit to have a flashlight on my keychains. Almost twenty years ago I was on the 19th floor of a building that had a fire in the emergency lighting system. I did not have a flashlight and as it was very late in the day the floor fire warden was not there and his desk was locked. At the time I was a smoker and the xippo lighter I had in my pocket was what got the five of us on the floor down eight flights of stairs with no other light until we met firemen coming up the stairs who lit out way down.

I learned my lesson that day. I always check for emergency exits and ways of getting out any building I am in. I also learned when traveling on business it is a good idea when the fire alarm goes off in your hotel in the middle of thenight grab your keyon the way out otherwise you might have a ong wait for the hotel staff to get you a second key or let you back in your room. If it is winter keep something warm to put on for whenyou are outside.