In Heavens Name...

       I was watching the tail end of  World's Most Amazing Videos this morning when I saw this. It's a scout leader teaching the troops how to light a barrel fire, whatever that is (it doesn't appear to be a very good idea). You'd think he'd have a little better sense but like the quote says, "There's nothing as uncommon as common sense..."

    This clip isn't very long  but he ran off kind off disoriented into the woods, furiously patting out his hair fire. He was OK but did receive second degree burns to his face. Of course they had to play the clip over and over in slo-mo and it's hard not to laugh at such stupidity. A couple of the scouts were interviewed afterwards and even they couldn't believe what he was doing.

    It reminded me of something my Dad did years ago when I was working with him. It was early one  winter morning and he had gone up to the Ford Ranch Wagon to pour hot water on the frosted windows and warm up the engine. 

      The Ranch Wagon. This picture was taken out front of Nana's house, we had to visit her on Saturdays when I wanted to be playing ball hockey with my friends-- massive resentment...

       Anyway, the car wouldn't start so Dad had lifted the hood to prime the carburator with a little gas from the gerry can. After removing the air filter and pouring a little fuel into the carb he dropped the wing nut. It was dark and my Dad is one of the smartest guys I know but here's where he had a major brain cramp. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his Bic lighter, sparks it and leans his face into the engine well to try and find the wing nut when he realizes, "In heavens name, what am I doing?"

     No crazy ending. He was lucky, doused the lighter in time, found the wing nut and we left for work but that incident always makes me think of this Road Runner/Wile E. Coyote episode--one of the best...