] A huge fire engulfed a Rhode Island nightclub during a
] rock concert's pyrotechnics display, causing at least 10
] deaths and dozens of injuries, authorities said.
]
] Fire Capt. Russell McGillivray said an estimated 10 to 20
] people died. More were likely trapped inside.
]
] Great White is a 1980s heavy metal band whose hits include
] "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" and "Rock Me." The concert also
] featured the Canadian group Fathead.

Great White. Ok.

Now, this is one of those stories that at first glance would normally really get to me. I'm in clubs and at shows all the time. That being able to identify with the victims thing should instantally kick in.. But there is something I just can't get past..

Great White.

I feel really sorry for everyone there.. I hate to hear about people getting hurt and killed. I truly feel sorry for these folks.. Not only because they were at a concert where a fire broke out, but because they were at a Great White concert.

Picture their poor reletives.. Having to explain that.. Billy died at the Great White concert. That sounds horrible! And if you survived, and wound up horribly burned or something.. Having to tell folks where/how it happened. So sad..

On the other side of things, if you heard someone you knew died at, lets say, and Neil Young concert. It just sounds . . less tragic. Like, it might have been a worthy place to meet your end.. Of course, Neil Young wouldn't have fireworks blowing up behind him, its not his style really. Metallica has had problems with this. Michael Jackson too. Again, same thing kicks in.. There may be a connection.. Or natural selection in play. A signal from powers beyond our knowledge.

Now there is a good way to judge which shows you go to.. "Would it be ok if I died at this show?" If the answer is no, you skip.. Good filter.

So sad. Just heard on the news that the death toll is over 24. [U: 39 now..] [U: !!! +50!]

] The fire comes four days after 21 people were killed and
] more than 50 injured during a stampede in a Chicago
] nightclub that began when a security guard used pepper
] spray to break up a fight.

Just you watch... New fire code and search restrictions will start to be proposed for clubs. They will seem like really good ideas to the bulk of the population at a glance. But if by nothing other then botched implementations and enforcement, will wind up being a great blow to civil liberties, and somehow manage to force many places out of business. And by extension, wind up effecting the over all big picture of free speech in America.. People often forget the importance of venues.

Cock Rock Kills