(no subject)
FenSheaParkway wouldn't exist without a special sort of mania revolving around the world of sports. It's a mania that assumes observing sports without actually participating in them, thinking about sports even when not observing them and writing about sports without getting paid for it are pastimes that are verifiably NOT insane. The mania does not go so far as to fail to recognize times when insanity does creep into what should otherwise be a fun and unique way to experience the full spectrum of civilization.
This, from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, is one of those times.
To recap:
Snohomish High School has traditionally fired a cannon at the start of their home football games. When that cannon became irreparable in the 80's, the school's metal shop students built a new one.
School spirit aside, this seems like a dubious decision. One perhaps with repurcussions that might not be felt until, say, a couple decades later. Many things are accomplished in the wood and metal shops of high schools. Making artillary might not be one of the best examples though.
An ROTC student, Brett Karch, had his leg almost blown off when this student-made cannon blew up upon firing this season. In a reversal of what normally happens when someone in a community is seriously injured during a community event, Brett started receiving THREATS at the hospital in which he was having a titanium rod installed in his leg and beginning rehab.
Threats? Come on - so much can get lost in translation when interpreting Get Well cards.
The threats included "mak(ing) sure his other leg got blown off" and having his family "banned from the town" if his injury resulted in the cannon firing being discontinued from the pre-game festivities.
Well there are always going to be some local yahoos who get a little carried away with things because they don't understand what to do with the tingling feeling at the base of their neck that other folks interpret as "emotions". I'm sure he's still got a good, solid base of friends and well-wishers to get him through this ordeal.
The only people to visit Brett were his ROTC leader and the other cadet who was manning the cannon with him. And no one came to his birthday party!
Christ, people, it's a bloomin' cannon! Can't you get over yourselves for the length of one visit to this kid who can't currently walk? What would these people have done if they were in College Station, Texas when the Texas A&M bonfire fell and killed 12 students? Thrown their bodies in the river?
As easy as it is to get drawn into, and even obsessed with, things that aren't really in our control, it should be easier to tell where the boundary between real life and its surrogates is than the people in this town are letting on.
For their sake, I hope someone does get them a new cannon, instead of having the metal shop kids make a new one. Perhaps they can name it the Brett Karch Cannon of Triumph Over This Dismal Town.
This, from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, is one of those times.
To recap:
Snohomish High School has traditionally fired a cannon at the start of their home football games. When that cannon became irreparable in the 80's, the school's metal shop students built a new one.
School spirit aside, this seems like a dubious decision. One perhaps with repurcussions that might not be felt until, say, a couple decades later. Many things are accomplished in the wood and metal shops of high schools. Making artillary might not be one of the best examples though.
An ROTC student, Brett Karch, had his leg almost blown off when this student-made cannon blew up upon firing this season. In a reversal of what normally happens when someone in a community is seriously injured during a community event, Brett started receiving THREATS at the hospital in which he was having a titanium rod installed in his leg and beginning rehab.
Threats? Come on - so much can get lost in translation when interpreting Get Well cards.
The threats included "mak(ing) sure his other leg got blown off" and having his family "banned from the town" if his injury resulted in the cannon firing being discontinued from the pre-game festivities.
Well there are always going to be some local yahoos who get a little carried away with things because they don't understand what to do with the tingling feeling at the base of their neck that other folks interpret as "emotions". I'm sure he's still got a good, solid base of friends and well-wishers to get him through this ordeal.
The only people to visit Brett were his ROTC leader and the other cadet who was manning the cannon with him. And no one came to his birthday party!
Christ, people, it's a bloomin' cannon! Can't you get over yourselves for the length of one visit to this kid who can't currently walk? What would these people have done if they were in College Station, Texas when the Texas A&M bonfire fell and killed 12 students? Thrown their bodies in the river?
As easy as it is to get drawn into, and even obsessed with, things that aren't really in our control, it should be easier to tell where the boundary between real life and its surrogates is than the people in this town are letting on.
For their sake, I hope someone does get them a new cannon, instead of having the metal shop kids make a new one. Perhaps they can name it the Brett Karch Cannon of Triumph Over This Dismal Town.