Message-ID: <16190115.1075842244082.JavaMail.evans@thyme> Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 07:26:00 -0700 (PDT) From: dan.hyvl@enron.com To: stacy.dickson@enron.com, becky.spencer@enron.com, nbutler@susmangodfrey.com Subject: Fw: Stupid is as Stupid Does Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-From: Dan J Hyvl X-To: Stacy E Dickson, Becky Spencer, "Noel Butler" X-cc: X-bcc: X-Folder: \Dan_Hyvl_Dec2000_June2001\Notes Folders\All documents X-Origin: HYVL-D X-FileName: dhyvl.nsf Don't know if this is true but it's still funny! Subject: Stupid is as Stupid Does > This could be possibly the funniest story in a long while. This is a > bricklayer's accident report, which was printed in the newsletter of the > Australian equivalent of the Workers' Compensation board. This is a true > story. Had this guy died, he'd have received a Darwin Award for sure.... > > Dear Sir > > "I am writing in response to your request for additional information in > Block 3 of the accident report form. I put "poor planning" as the cause of > my accident. You asked for a fuller explanation and I trust the following > details will be sufficient. > > I am a bricklayer by trade. On the day of the accident, I was working alone > on the roof of a new six-story building. When I completed my work, I found > that I had some bricks left over which, when weighed later were found to be > slightly in excess of 500 lbs. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I > decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley, which was attached to > the side of the building on the sixth floor. > > Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the barrel > out and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went down and untied the rope, > holding it tightly to ensure a slow descent of the bricks. You will note in > Block 11 of the accident report form that I weigh 135lbs. > > Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my > presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I > proceeded at a rapid rate up the side of the building. In the vicinity of > the third floor, I met the barrel, which was now proceeding downward at an > equal, impressive speed. This explained the fractured skull, minor > abrasions and the broken collar bone, as listed in section 3 of the accident > report form. > > Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the > fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley. > Fortunately by this time I had regained my presence of mind and was able to > hold tightly to the rope, in spite of beginning to experience a great deal > of pain. > > At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the > ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Now devoid of the weight of > the bricks, that barrel weighed approximately 50 lbs. I refer you again to > my weight. As you can imagine, I began a rapid descent, down the side of the > building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up. > This accounts for the two fractured ankles, broken tooth and several > lacerations of my legs and lower body. > > Here my luck began to change slightly. The encounter with the barrel seemed > to slow me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell into the pile of bricks > and fortunately only three vertebrae were cracked. I am sorry to report, > however, as I lay there on the pile of bricks, in pain, unable to move, I > again lost my composure and presence of mind and let go of the rope and I > lay there watching the empty barrel begin its journey back down onto me. > This explains the two broken legs. > > I hope this answers your inquiry." > Tony C. > >