Yes, I'm sure everyone's having fun celebrating the last few hours of 2007, and waiting for the arrival of the new year. Honestly, I don't like New Year... Well, New Year's Eve, at least. No, wait. Let me rephrase that. I don't like the New Year celebration. And it's true. I dislike fireworks: they are deafening, especially to animals; they can cause asthma attacks, they worsen the air pollution; and they're just plain annoying. I may sound like a kill-joy--as I normally do--but it's true. The sound and smoke of these 'pieces of entertainment' can really cause harm. Sure, we only do this once a year, but why take the chances of worsening both our healths and the environment? Yes, I know I sound all high and mighty, talking about caring for the earth and blah. But really, I'm totally serious. Who invented fireworks anyway? And why can't we celebrate quietly? Oh, yes. That's why. We want to welcome the new year with a blast... People made it so literal, didn't they?

I might just be the only person I know who doesn't enjoy fireworks. I'm not afraid of them, of course. I just don't like using them. Oh, well. If people really want to risk using fireworks improperly and endangering their lives, then who am I to contradict? Let them have fun; they just might regret it in the end.