The historic downtown mall has one of these fancy standing ash trays every 50 feet or so along the entire mall. Maybe there are as many of them as trash cans. People are supposed to throw their stubs in these so they don’t litter the sidewalk or clog the sewer systems.

Now, as people pitch their lit cigs in to a pile of chemically treated papers, bad things often happen. About once every month one of these fancy ash trays ignite. Smoke often rolls out for an hour or so. Someone had kicked this one over, but the smoke kept rolling. Even a few flames were licking the tip of this for about ten minutes.

It almost looks like it has turned in to a big metal cigarette out enjoying the afternoon as reaches out and tries to touch the people passing by.

After taking a few shots it was off to lunch. When I came back it was standing up at full attention awaiting the next cigarette. It was obvious someone had given it a nice shower, since it was surrounded by a glistening circle of water. It will be standing strong for whatever comes at it tomorrow.