Time for fireworks

Almost a full month later, video of the New Year's madness is finally up.   I didn't mean to keep everyone in suspense for so long, but it was taking me hours to upload each video (most of which will play for you in under two minutes!).  Also, I have to apologize for the video quality, but will explain/forewarn you that: (a) I shot this with my dinky point-and-shoot camera, (b) it was the first time I'd used the video function on said camera, and (c) as you'll see, I had a hard time breaking the still-photography habit of being able to switch from portrait to landscape (vertical/horiz) and back, but (d) attempting to edit nearly crashed my computer.  So sorry about that.  It shouldn't make you dizzy or anything...  :)

One more note -- I didn't use flash for any of these, there was no lightning going on, no other source of brightness... all of the flashes of light you see in the sky, reflecting off buildings, etc. are from the fireworks. Anyway, without further ado:

1. This is how it starts -- around 7:30pm, on the corner.  There were a lot of little displays like this from about 5pm on; I captured this one because it was so close to my window.  I think I actually had the window open for this one, so if you adjust your file volume and speakers to full blast (and your speakers are really good), you might *start* to get an idea of what it sounded like.  And if you listen carefully, you can hear a couple car alarms going off.  Thankfully, these were easily drowned out later in the evening.  (<2 min)

2. This is at maybe 10pm, to the right of my apartment block.  Notice the flash of light in the street -- the source of the 'works, and the car that just drives by like nothing's going on. (~30sec)

3. Some sparklies, enh.  I just stuck these in because they were a little different. (<10sec)

4. These were the displays right in front of me; some of the fallout embers hit my window.  (Windows are definitely closed by this point, by the way.)  Again, you can see the boxes left in the street and a car making its way between them. (~45 sec)

This is where things start ratcheting up, probably just about 11:45.

5. Nice big tower of light.  (< 2 min -- sadly, I used up too much memory on this one.  I didn't know!)  

6. In addition to the displays that are clearly closest, I count at least five viewable in the distance.  (~30sec) 

Are you ready yet?  I don't think you're ready.  Volume up?   Oh, you think you're ready... well, welcome to the Big Show. 

7. Gaah, where to look?  Semi-panorama view.  (~30 sec) 

8. Now we're talking. (~45 sec)

9. Right, left, everywhere, but mostly distant.  Keep in mind that my windows are firmly shut at this point, and my crappy little camera *still* picked up this much noise (is your volume up?  That won't make sense unless your volume's turned up).  (~40 sec)

10. View to the right. (~30 sec)