Casualty Figures

Today the government released the fireworks casualty figures for the week-long Lunar New Year holiday in Beijing: 1 dead, 434 injured, and 143 fires started. A friend and I almost made it onto that list the other night.  It was the 5th night of the new year, which I guess is another particularly auspicious night for blowing things up; nevertheless my friend and I decided we wanted some Peking Duck at a nearby restaurant within walking distance of my house.  Going over wasn't so bad, but coming home we were the ones ducking and running from the explosions in the streets, on the sidewalks, in the alleyways, and in the parking lot of my complex.  One of the historical/cultural reasons for the fireworks at the new year was to scare away the ghosts.  My guess is that after a week of explosions all the ghosts have been chased out of town, and those that haven't are not bothered by the noise.   Actually, it's a lot quieter tonight--kind of like there's been a cease-fire.  Lots of people went back to work today, so I guess they are just too tired to blow things up tonight.  No protest from me, that's for sure!