Killer Kites

Lawmakers in Northwestern Pakistan have approved a ban on kite-flying. While it sounds kind of weird on the surface, it turns out there is a rather good reason. Last year seven people were killed by metal and glass coated kite strings.

"Many of the deaths due occurred in Lahore, where metal-coated strings often cause electricity outrages when they fall on power lines."

It seems that some competitive types in the kite flying community use the metal and glass coated strings to cut other kite-flyer’s kite strings.

Well, that ranks right up there in intelligence with the custom of shooting live ammunition into the air to celebrate.