Because someone didn't do their shackle up tight enough and the sun had gone down.

Aside: maybe a shaking limp hand, as a communication gesture.
-- wjt, Aug 07 2017

Ah yes. This is exactly what I was thinking.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Aug 07 2017


So ... is this a sort of dating app for pairing up unrelated paragraphs?

I think there's a pineapple of bewilderment for you somewhere.
-- pertinax, Aug 07 2017


I find myself unable to disagree with this idea
-- hippo, Aug 07 2017


I literally can't even...
-- 21 Quest, Aug 07 2017


[marked-for-explanation]
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Aug 07 2017


It's all quite clear if you've read "Godel, Escher, Bach" in the original Welsh.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Aug 07 2017


Well, at least it's not in product:trailer:safety
-- normzone, Aug 07 2017


// if you've read "Godel, Escher, Bach" in the original Welsh //

Since the welsh apparently lack any form of comprehensible language, written or spoken, how is that possible ?
-- 8th of 7, Aug 07 2017


The Welsh edition of GEB comes as a 34 square mile arrangement of standing stones. Chapter headings are marked by sheep. Footnotes are sung by a male voice choir. Only one copy is known to have been sold, and is being used as Milton Keynes.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Aug 07 2017


That neatly resolves a large number of obscure, puzzling and indeed downright frightening questions. Thankyou.
-- 8th of 7, Aug 07 2017


Wow, I'm so glad I checked in today...gives me something to think about all day...(waves shaking hand to communicate).

D'OH
-- xandram, Aug 08 2017


OK, I've looked up what a drag chain is. And I've noted that the category is "fireworks", so, from the title, I'm thinking "sparklers". Then, from the first paragraph, I'm inferring a story where you're driving along in the dark, and there's a chain dragging along behind you, making coloured sparks as it scrapes along the tarmac. And this is because your load has fallen off. Which you're celebrating by ... No, it's warning you, because ... And then your hand goes limp as a sign of something ... Which is connected with the drag and the coloured sparks by ... mardi gras? No. I'm stuck.
-- pertinax, Aug 08 2017


I've got it now - the chain is coated in metal salts (same as the compounds in fireworks) so that as the chain drags on the road behind your car is makes brightly-coloured sparks. This is only really evident at night (hence "...and the sun had gone down"). Other drivers on the road alert you to this dragging chain (like you're unable to hear it?) by shaking a limp hand from their car windows as they pass you.
-- hippo, Aug 08 2017


This whole idea tastes of stone soup to me.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Aug 08 2017


[hippo] The guy was in a truck and I was not mentally fast enough to think up the gesture before passing by. This was probably due to the fact that I was imagining the colours the sparks could have been. The chain wasn't hurting anyone (too short) and it was quite pretty, so I wasn't that worried.

[Max] People pay a lot of money for the old old school supplements.

The metallic salts would have to be chosen carefully as heat in dry areas, even at night, might be a risk.

[xandram] <looks behind oneself> "am I dragging something" </looks behind oneself>

Oh, I did think about when the use of the dangly hand could be used in human relations. And not just in a toilet paper moment.
-- wjt, Aug 09 2017


Wow! - I correctly guessed what this idea was about! - either that or [wjt] has now decided on my explanation as what this idea was supposed to mean
-- hippo, Aug 09 2017


If I were you, hippo, I'd worry about being able to correctly guess what any halfbaker were on about.
-- RayfordSteele, Aug 09 2017


I got to vote for it, because with [WJT]'s further explanation I like it!

Also, many vehicles have a grounding thing that drags the ground, these could also be sparkly.
-- beanangel, Aug 10 2017


// many vehicles have a grounding thing that drags the ground //

In the Southern USA, that's usually known as an uppitty nigg ... ah, no, let's not go there. We don't want to get into more trouble than we are already ... and that's a LOT ...
-- 8th of 7, Aug 10 2017


More trouble than spelling "uppity" incorrectly ?
-- FlyingToaster, Aug 11 2017


Oh yes ... loads more.
-- 8th of 7, Aug 11 2017


Magnesium and aluminium for the nuptual getaway? Or copper cholride if it was missed.
-- wjt, Aug 12 2017


I got it first time. says a lot about me I suppose.
-- po, Aug 12 2017


Your Galactic Institute Award for Extreme Cleverness awaits you.
-- pertinax, Aug 13 2017


Sorry, I can't beat the Marvins.
-- wjt, Aug 13 2017


If there was an index of these compiled for some sort of statistical purpose, would this be called "chinkler's list"? That's all I have to say on the matter of salty danglings.
-- xenzag, Aug 13 2017



random, halfbakery