When Words Collide, Sentences Form

Really? Is this a good idea?

This article is too funny. I guess the situation isn't...but this article is from the AP about the sisters that were hit by a balloon during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade yesterday. This just cracks me up. (My thoughts.)

Macy's to Host Family of Injured Sisters
By LARRY McSHANE, AP


NEW YORK (Nov. 25) - NEW YORK (AP) - The Albany sisters struck by a falling street lamp knocked loose by a wayward balloon accepted an offer Friday to attend the 2006 Thanksgiving parade and sit in the VIP section. (Is this really a good idea? Go sit CLOSER to the action next year? I would request seats about 30 rows back. Behind some tall, annoying people with big fuzzy hats.)

"We're looking forward to having them here next year, them and their family," said Macy's spokeswoman Elina Kazan. "They are remarkable young ladies. We're very sad they were injured." (Unsaid - "They are remarkable because they are dumb enough to not sue us in this litigious society where they would have a clear cut case of negligence considering how much we screwed up running these balloons down the parade route in 1997. We're sad they were hurt - but ecstatic that they don't want to sue." Not that I support the over-zealous people who sue anything and everything because they were "injured" - but come on...this would probably be easy cash in an out-of-court settlement for this family!)

Sarah Chamberlain, 11, and her sister Mary, 26, were struck by the falling 30-pound light after the tethers from the "M&M's Chocolate Candies" balloon became entangled with the lamppost along Times Square. (Wait, I thought they were the Albany sisters. Hmmmm.)

Sarah took nine stitches to her head, while her older sister - who uses a wheelchair - suffered a bump on her forehead. Their father, Stephen Chamberlain, said the family had accepted the invitation to return next year and sit in the bleachers near the Herald Square flagship store. (Why is it important to point out that her sister uses a wheelchair? Why aren't groups that protect the rights of disabled individuals shouting out in anger? You know that they could never say "her older sister, who is black" or "her older sister, who is gay." Who cares if she is in a wheelchair or not - isn't she really just a person who was injured? Does the wheelchair make that bump on her head that much worse?)

"We just count our blessings that they weren't seriously injured," Chamberlain told The Associated Press earlier in a telephone interview. "Sarah is upset because she's worried about the balloon. It ripped and she wants to make sure that the balloons stay in the parade, and she wants that one fixed." (And this girl is supposedly 11?? Doesn't the age of attachment to giant balloons end at about 7? That dad could be counting a huge payday if he played his cards right.)

He said the family won't sue because it was "a freak accident," and "accidents just happen." He also praised rescue workers and said Macy's had sent its Santa Claus to see the younger sister. (Yes, accidents happen. But they just went through this a few years ago - and they haven't figured out how to keep balloons from attacking lights yet?? Once again, this girl is 11, right? Does she really still believe in Santa? That light must have hit her a lot harder than we all thought.)

"We're all planning on going down again," Chamberlain told Channel 9 in Albany. "I told the president of Macy's, when he called this morning to see how everyone was doing, that we're going to take him up on that." (OK, now you're just name dropping.)

The second Thanksgiving Day Parade accident involving a balloon and a lamppost since 1997 prompted city officials to launch an investigation.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg issued a statement announcing a task force that will work with Macy's to find out what if anything about the Thursday accident was preventable. The investigative group will be co-chaired by Corporation Counsel Michael Cardozo and city Office of Emergency Management head Joseph Bruno. (Can we bring Brown in from FEMA, too? This catastrophe seems like it might be at a level of management that even he can handle. I mean, he has a full year before the next parade.)

Bloomberg said that while the city was grateful there were no serious injuries, "our good fortune should not stop us from determining what went wrong and how similar incidents can be prevented in the future."
Macy's pledged its full cooperation. ('Cause the family was stupid enough not to sue.)

The lamppost involved in Thursday's accident was among those replaced following the 1997 crash of the "Cat in the Hat" balloon into a post on Central Park West, seriously injuring two people. (Appears like the replacement plan worked well.)

The old lampposts had arms that extended over the parade route, creating more possibility of a tangle with the balloon tethers; the new posts are lighter and smaller. (Does the weight of a lamp really have an impact on whether the balloon tangles in it? Yes, it will hurt less when it falls on its victims - but doesn't the issue seem to be entanglement? How does the light being lighter -hahaha- help that issue??)

Kay Sarlin, spokeswoman for the city Department of Transportation, said the problem was not linked to the size of the balloons, which has remained constant over the years. (What is the DOT doing in this? Can I get to work on a giant, inflatable version of my truck, walked along by 95 people in matching red sweatsuits and white gloves? Stupid.)

posted by Steph @ 4:36 PM