55 thoughts on “How to know when to contact the authorities

      • Thanks for the sweet root beer memories, George. Brings back a tv commercial I wrote for the “rootin’-tootin’ sweeeet root beer: Rudy Root Beer, targeting kids. The brand’s mascot, a bear. A kid walks into an old western saloon, bellies up to the bar and orders Rudy Root Beer. the music and din stop when he orders Rudy Root Beer at the bar, riffraff in the saloon laugh at the kid.

      • That is awesome E Sum. I wonder if it is on youtube. I remember visiting a state park in NY in 1977 that had the remains of an original settlement from the 17th century. The park ranger explained to me how they had root beer and pretzels back then, and I how I looked around and thought, I could have totally lived here then. What more do I need? Thanks, again, E Sum.
        PS – the other barrel I have been thinking about is the proverbial barrelful of monkeys, but I’ll save that one for the day I ever post it.

      • Sorry, George, that last comment got away from me. So, of course, the bear cleans out the salloon with all the cowboys that laughed at the kid, while the jingle sings about the “rootin’-tootiin’ sweeeet root beer!”
        Btw, Wikipedia tells the world that Root Beer Barrels candy was invented in the early 1900s by pharmacist Charles Hines, and that in 1901, school teacher Annie Edson Taylor became the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel and still celebrate more birthdays. No one would ever make that connection, but for Trefology.

    • First they roll out the red carpet for you and then they roll out the barrel, which knocks you down onto the carpet. And just as you are regaining your senses, they roll up the red carpet, and with you in it. But, ahhh, such is life. Thanks, Pam.

    • I remember the story of one reporter who took a note pad with him and strapped his arm in the barrel so he could write about the experience. They never saw him again, but they did find the barrel, as well as his arm still strapped in. The notepad was, of course, blank. And I think I learned that story from reading one of those Wallechinsky/Wallace Book of Lists that were so popular in the 70s.

    • You would think that, yes, especially after looking at a few photos of the falls. And yet, it was apparently the thing to do back in the early 20th century. Thanks!

  1. An accident would need to be eliminated from the list of possible causes.
    I can imagine a lake-side wine tasting stop concluding in an inebriated nap in a barrel that ends up in the water heading towards the sea.
    The doubt is reasonable.

  2. I hate to be a party pooper
    But you likely did’t pay the cooper
    (He’s the guy who makes the barrel
    which will be your last apparel,
    After you go over in a wet stupor).

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