This is an easy one -- my roommate pointed out that because of the Great Recession, people are taking fewer and shorter vacations. There are FAR more people at home this year around SE Michigan, and what better way to blow off steam [[and in some cases, the cessation of unemployment benefits) than with a bang?

People are frustrated and angry, and even starting to get a bit nihilistic. I'm happy that we saw more fireworks displays -- with the general state of mind out there, it could have been firearms.