From zb@doc.ic.ac.uk Wed Feb 10 12:22:44 1993 From: Zacharias Bobolakis Date: Wed, 10 Feb 93 12:24:12 GMT To: dbh@doc.ic.ac.uk Subject: Re: Please Repost "Bricks" ! - alt.best.of.internet #546 In article , milliken@athena.cs.uga.edu (Brewmeister) writes: > In article <1993Feb6.180305.16012@msuinfo.cl.msu.edu> 22587AMB@MSU writes: > >The story,"Bricks", about the insurance claim and misfortunes of a bricklayer > >who had trouble controlling a barrel of bricks, would make a great teaching too > >l for helping 7th grade physics students learn about forces and responses. I c > >an't seem to find a copy of it any more, though. > > There are several similar versions. Here is the one I had, as best as I can > remember it: > > > > >If anyone has a copy, please repost it, or send it to me by Email. It may also > >be in an archive somewhere, so I'd appreciate some direction along those lines, > >if possible. > > > >Thanks for the help. Sorry if this is the wrong place for this request. > > Nah, I think it's good enough for alt.best.of.internet. > > Here it is: > > > _The Bricklayer Explains His Accident_ > > Gentlemen: > > I am writing in response to your request for additional information concerning > my accident. In block 8 of the accident report, please note that I wrote > "poor planning" as the cause; I trust the following details will be sufficient. > > I am a bricklayer by trade and, on the day of the accident, I was working alone > on the roof of a new 10 story building. When I completed my work, I discovered > that I had about 500 pounds of bricks left over. Rather than carry them down > by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel connected by rope and pulley to > the side of the building at the top floor. > > Having secured the rope at ground level, I returned to the 10th floor, and > untied the rope, holding it tightly to ensure a slow descent of the 500 pounds > of bricks. You will note in block 11 of the accident report that I weigh 135 > pounds. Due to my surprise at being jerked off of 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 rather rapid rate up the side of the building. Somewhere in > the vicinity of the fifth floor, I met the barrel coming down. This explains > my fractured skull and broken collarbone. 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 onto the rope in spite of tremendous pain. At approximately the same > time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground, breaking the bottom out of > the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel now weighed > approximately 50 pounds. I refer you again to my weight in block 11 of the > accident report. As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side > of the building. Again, in the vicinity of the fifth floor, I met the barrel, > this time, coming up. This accounts for the two fractured legs and lacerations > on the lower side of my body. The second encounter with the barrel slowed me > enough to lessen my injuries when I fell into the pile of bricks on the ground, > and fortunately, only three vertebrae were cracked. I am sorry to report, > however, as I lay there on the bricks, in pain, unable to stand, and watching > the empty barrel 10 stories above me, I once again lost my presence of mind > and let go of the rope. This resulted in the additional injuries listed on > the accident report. > > I trust this explains why I have not come into your office to complete a > detailed report as you requested in your letter. > > Very truly yours. > > -- > Copy this .sig and just say noe to big-brother's monitoring of public bandwidth > *Bush Quayle conspiracy JFK cocaine LSD heroin marijuana AK-47 Iran Iraq Libya* > *Sandinista Contras Panama Noriega FBI CIA NSA Secret Service fixed-elections * > *Neil Bush S&L coverup potatoe wiretaps search & seizure bill of rights dead *