http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oaSZxd9jOYstephen davis wrote:Just so everybody knows, these are product testing lab rescue monkeys. They are usually in pretty bad shape, and with awful rashes, so most of them don't even live long enough to hit the pavement.Jim O'Bryan wrote:They deliver that afternoon, tranquilized.
What we do is not only a kindness, but a celebration to bring in the new year with hope for testing lab monkeys and all primates, including us.
.
Time To Light The Monkey?
Moderator: Jim O'Bryan
-
Stephen Eisel
- Posts: 3281
- Joined: Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:36 pm
-
Jim O'Bryan
- Posts: 14196
- Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 10:12 pm
- Location: Lakewood
- Contact:
Re: Um, what?
Heather
3 years ago, long before Lakewood had been dubbed, "The Paris of Cleveland's Inner Ring Suburbs,sm" some of us were sitting at Sinagra Park noticing them putting up the scrolling ticker at First Federal of Lakewood.
Someone commented that that sure made Lakewood seem more metropolitan and "big cityesque" and that we should look to other ways to celebrate the season.
One idea was to drop a tin foil ball from the Detroit Cook Arts Building, home of Observer, Inc.. Now we realized that we could never compete with New York (the Big Apple) nor even Cleveland (a Plum), but with the right amount of tin foil and laser pointers we could still make a statement, that would be warm, friendly and newsworthy.
So a small group got together night after night planning the celebration. Steve would comment, "Maybe we could use three rolls of foil..." another would say, "What about three-and-a-half..." and on and on. When we finally finished the dream, we realized that with help, we could make a tin foil ball out of almost ten rolls, and that would not just be a great statement of the state of Lakewood but give us room to grow into ten full rolls, or maybe even eleven.
As we were getting ready to call it a night, Mark Timieski, said, "Why not put a monkey with cymbals on the top?" He then pointed out that outside of the drunk bartender toy, the next most loved is certainly "Jolly, the monkey with cymbals."
As Mark is an engineer, he was sure that he could figure out a way to mount the monkey onto the reflecting surface of the tin foil ball. As is the Observer way, Mark took ownership of this end of the project and started on it with full support. After a couple days he asked the group, "What about sky rockets and fire shooting out of the monkey. Well to be honest the thought took the breath away of everyone in the room, and we started to cheer.
As the magic night drew near, we proceeded to cut the padlock to Rozi's roof. We started to load up the tin foil ball, whew! and the cast of characters to launch the ball from a pocket fisherman we had secured through a Christmas ad on TV.
The nearly ten rolls of foil was far heavier than we every thought, but our new blue pocket fisherman was up to the task as was the fishing line that came with it. I think Ryan Costa could probably add something to the value and good construction of the Ronco Pocket Fisherman®. As a test we held the tin foil ball aloft in the air and hit it with a couple laser pointers. Honestly we were a tad disappointed that the reflection was not nearly enough to blind people, or even be seen from space, what along compete with
the ball at Times Square.
At that point Steve Davis an aficionado of back yard barbecues and burning chocolate homes said, "Lighter Fluid or White Gas." We all nodded and smiled. For the honor of the city, we would carry gallons of white gas to the roof of the Detroit Cook Arts Building, soak the foil ball in it and light it. To be honest we never even considered the fishing line, as you will read later. So while we were waiting for Mark and Jolly the chimp we let it soak, and to be honest we started to soak up some of Rozi's finest vintages. One thing lead to another until we were pretty well feeling no pain when Mark showed up with a cloth bag that was moving.
As the magic hour approached we turned to Mark and asked if he was ready, and he said he was but there were some small problems that he corrected at the last second. So as one person got strapped into the fighting chair that had been secured to the roof with bolts, and handed the pocket fisherman, Steve got ready to light the white gas soaked ball, and I readied to push it over the edge so that the crowd of tens of ones sitting over in Sinagra Park could enjoy.
Suddenly Mark pulled a live monkey out of the bag, mumbling about the logisitics of creating Jolly with fire and rockets, and said, "I think a live monkey would be better anyway." Well Mark never realized we had soaked the ball in white gas, because we never thought, he would bring a real monkey. What alone a monkey that needed to be returned to his friend! So while I was distracted, Mark tied the monkey to the ball I was holding, and telling everyone to hurry it was Midnight! As I turned and saw the little monkey fighting to get off the gas covered ball I jumped and that pushed the ball over to Steve's torch, and the entire thing went up in flame. Ball, monkey, fishing line everything. Burning my hands, and I let go.
Over the ball went and in seconds crashed to the ground as the fishing line had melted. The bad news is, the spectacle only lasted seconds, not minutes. The good news is the monkey only suffered for a short time before being crushed under the weight of a aluminum foil ball made up of nearly ten rolls. It was not really the way any of us wanted to celebrate the New Year, and to be honest Mark was more than a little upset, wondering what he would tell his friend about the monkey.
As we all stood on the roof of Rozi's in shock, looking over the edge, down at the fiery mess. All of a sudden we heard one person cheer then clap, then another, and another soon all 23 people were applauding and clapping, blowing whistles and those hand crank things. Couples, well both of them kissed in the light of the fire, and other shook hands that this was certainly some sort of signal for a good year.
Those of us on the roof settled down and started to congratulate each other on a job well done, and for kicking off the New Year on such a positive note. Over the course of the next year it was decided that we would try to get our monkey from a lab that had put them through a terrible life, so that while bringing in the New Year, we could free a monkey from the terrible life he was suffering. As I mentioned earlier, we never thought that these test monkeys could be so nasty.
So as you can see, we started a great Lakewood New Year's tradition, and found a great way to recycle tortured monkeys.
Something I am sure you can understand and be very proud of.
We should all recycle when we can, especially to serve a higher cause.
Well that is the short story.
peace
happy new years.
.
3 years ago, long before Lakewood had been dubbed, "The Paris of Cleveland's Inner Ring Suburbs,sm" some of us were sitting at Sinagra Park noticing them putting up the scrolling ticker at First Federal of Lakewood.
Someone commented that that sure made Lakewood seem more metropolitan and "big cityesque" and that we should look to other ways to celebrate the season.
One idea was to drop a tin foil ball from the Detroit Cook Arts Building, home of Observer, Inc.. Now we realized that we could never compete with New York (the Big Apple) nor even Cleveland (a Plum), but with the right amount of tin foil and laser pointers we could still make a statement, that would be warm, friendly and newsworthy.
So a small group got together night after night planning the celebration. Steve would comment, "Maybe we could use three rolls of foil..." another would say, "What about three-and-a-half..." and on and on. When we finally finished the dream, we realized that with help, we could make a tin foil ball out of almost ten rolls, and that would not just be a great statement of the state of Lakewood but give us room to grow into ten full rolls, or maybe even eleven.
As we were getting ready to call it a night, Mark Timieski, said, "Why not put a monkey with cymbals on the top?" He then pointed out that outside of the drunk bartender toy, the next most loved is certainly "Jolly, the monkey with cymbals."
As Mark is an engineer, he was sure that he could figure out a way to mount the monkey onto the reflecting surface of the tin foil ball. As is the Observer way, Mark took ownership of this end of the project and started on it with full support. After a couple days he asked the group, "What about sky rockets and fire shooting out of the monkey. Well to be honest the thought took the breath away of everyone in the room, and we started to cheer.
As the magic night drew near, we proceeded to cut the padlock to Rozi's roof. We started to load up the tin foil ball, whew! and the cast of characters to launch the ball from a pocket fisherman we had secured through a Christmas ad on TV.
The nearly ten rolls of foil was far heavier than we every thought, but our new blue pocket fisherman was up to the task as was the fishing line that came with it. I think Ryan Costa could probably add something to the value and good construction of the Ronco Pocket Fisherman®. As a test we held the tin foil ball aloft in the air and hit it with a couple laser pointers. Honestly we were a tad disappointed that the reflection was not nearly enough to blind people, or even be seen from space, what along compete with
the ball at Times Square.
At that point Steve Davis an aficionado of back yard barbecues and burning chocolate homes said, "Lighter Fluid or White Gas." We all nodded and smiled. For the honor of the city, we would carry gallons of white gas to the roof of the Detroit Cook Arts Building, soak the foil ball in it and light it. To be honest we never even considered the fishing line, as you will read later. So while we were waiting for Mark and Jolly the chimp we let it soak, and to be honest we started to soak up some of Rozi's finest vintages. One thing lead to another until we were pretty well feeling no pain when Mark showed up with a cloth bag that was moving.
As the magic hour approached we turned to Mark and asked if he was ready, and he said he was but there were some small problems that he corrected at the last second. So as one person got strapped into the fighting chair that had been secured to the roof with bolts, and handed the pocket fisherman, Steve got ready to light the white gas soaked ball, and I readied to push it over the edge so that the crowd of tens of ones sitting over in Sinagra Park could enjoy.
Suddenly Mark pulled a live monkey out of the bag, mumbling about the logisitics of creating Jolly with fire and rockets, and said, "I think a live monkey would be better anyway." Well Mark never realized we had soaked the ball in white gas, because we never thought, he would bring a real monkey. What alone a monkey that needed to be returned to his friend! So while I was distracted, Mark tied the monkey to the ball I was holding, and telling everyone to hurry it was Midnight! As I turned and saw the little monkey fighting to get off the gas covered ball I jumped and that pushed the ball over to Steve's torch, and the entire thing went up in flame. Ball, monkey, fishing line everything. Burning my hands, and I let go.
Over the ball went and in seconds crashed to the ground as the fishing line had melted. The bad news is, the spectacle only lasted seconds, not minutes. The good news is the monkey only suffered for a short time before being crushed under the weight of a aluminum foil ball made up of nearly ten rolls. It was not really the way any of us wanted to celebrate the New Year, and to be honest Mark was more than a little upset, wondering what he would tell his friend about the monkey.
As we all stood on the roof of Rozi's in shock, looking over the edge, down at the fiery mess. All of a sudden we heard one person cheer then clap, then another, and another soon all 23 people were applauding and clapping, blowing whistles and those hand crank things. Couples, well both of them kissed in the light of the fire, and other shook hands that this was certainly some sort of signal for a good year.
Those of us on the roof settled down and started to congratulate each other on a job well done, and for kicking off the New Year on such a positive note. Over the course of the next year it was decided that we would try to get our monkey from a lab that had put them through a terrible life, so that while bringing in the New Year, we could free a monkey from the terrible life he was suffering. As I mentioned earlier, we never thought that these test monkeys could be so nasty.
So as you can see, we started a great Lakewood New Year's tradition, and found a great way to recycle tortured monkeys.
Something I am sure you can understand and be very proud of.
We should all recycle when we can, especially to serve a higher cause.
Well that is the short story.
peace
happy new years.
.
Jim O'Bryan
Lakewood Resident
"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg
"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama
Lakewood Resident
"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg
"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama
-
dl meckes
- Posts: 1475
- Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2005 6:29 pm
- Location: Lakewood
-
Bill Grulich
- Posts: 91
- Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2005 12:21 pm
- Location: Lakewood, Ohio
Rumor has that Pamela Anderson, Honorary Director of P.E.T.A. (People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals) was seen checking-in at The Days Inn on Lake Ave. in Lakewood.
Recent photo of Pamela Anderson.
According to P.E.T.A.'s website, "You never can tell where PETA's bombshell BFF—and honorary director—Pamela Anderson might pop up. Could be Finland. Or France. Or Oz. Or even a Vegas homeless shelter." http://blog.peta.org/archives/pamela_anderson/
Could Ms. Anderson be in Lakewood for our fabulous New Years Eve celebration?
Jim O'Bryan, Did I see you on top of the world famous Lakewood Public Library?
So many questions, so little time left in 2008.
Bill Grulich
Recent photo of Pamela Anderson.
According to P.E.T.A.'s website, "You never can tell where PETA's bombshell BFF—and honorary director—Pamela Anderson might pop up. Could be Finland. Or France. Or Oz. Or even a Vegas homeless shelter." http://blog.peta.org/archives/pamela_anderson/
Could Ms. Anderson be in Lakewood for our fabulous New Years Eve celebration?
Jim O'Bryan, Did I see you on top of the world famous Lakewood Public Library?
So many questions, so little time left in 2008.
Bill Grulich
-
Carol Krumreig
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2008 12:35 pm
-
stephen davis
- Posts: 600
- Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2005 9:49 pm
- Location: lakewood, ohio
I guess you just have to be there to see how darned funny it is.Carol Krumreig wrote:...I think it's all disturbing and not funny at all.
Few events really express the whole alpha and omega essence of New Year's Eve like the annual Lakewood Burning Monkey Drop.
Great comedy and a great message, all in one.
See you there!
Bring the kids.
.
Nothin' shakin' on Shakedown Street.
Used to be the heart of town.
Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart.
You just gotta poke around.
Robert Hunter/Sometimes attributed to Ezra Pound.
Used to be the heart of town.
Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart.
You just gotta poke around.
Robert Hunter/Sometimes attributed to Ezra Pound.
-
Diane Helbig
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:46 am
- Location: Ward 3
- Contact:
I'm with you Carol. If this is true it's disgusting. I'm hoping it's a tale - a whale of a tale - the product of an overactive imagination or two (along with some rozi's best)Carol Krumreig wrote:I've been reading this thread and have found it hard to decide what is true and what isn't but I think it's all disturbing and not funny at all.
Diane Hope Helbig
-
stephen davis
- Posts: 600
- Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2005 9:49 pm
- Location: lakewood, ohio
Diane,Diane Helbig wrote:'m with you Carol. If this is true it's disgusting. I'm hoping it's a tale - a whale of a tale - the product of an overactive imagination or two (along with some rozi's best)
You might enjoy this link to last year's event.
http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewt ... ght=monkey
Steve
.
Nothin' shakin' on Shakedown Street.
Used to be the heart of town.
Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart.
You just gotta poke around.
Robert Hunter/Sometimes attributed to Ezra Pound.
Used to be the heart of town.
Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart.
You just gotta poke around.
Robert Hunter/Sometimes attributed to Ezra Pound.
-
stephen davis
- Posts: 600
- Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2005 9:49 pm
- Location: lakewood, ohio
Jim,
Just drove by the spot.
Nobody’s really there yet except somebody setting up a table for hot dogs and hot chocolate. Who is that? I couldn’t tell in the dark.
Without the wine, it will probably be more subdued this year.
Steve
.
Just drove by the spot.
Nobody’s really there yet except somebody setting up a table for hot dogs and hot chocolate. Who is that? I couldn’t tell in the dark.
Without the wine, it will probably be more subdued this year.
Steve
.
Nothin' shakin' on Shakedown Street.
Used to be the heart of town.
Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart.
You just gotta poke around.
Robert Hunter/Sometimes attributed to Ezra Pound.
Used to be the heart of town.
Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart.
You just gotta poke around.
Robert Hunter/Sometimes attributed to Ezra Pound.
-
Stephen Eisel
- Posts: 3281
- Joined: Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:36 pm
C'mon.. Stephen Davis, JOB, Stan and crew are very special group of people. I do not always (never) agree with them but even I recognize that they are good hearted group of human beings..Carol Krumreig wrote:I've been reading this thread and have found it hard to decide what is true and what isn't but I think it's all disturbing and not funny at all.
-
Jim O'Bryan
- Posts: 14196
- Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 10:12 pm
- Location: Lakewood
- Contact:
Steve
Thanks, that was was great! Just got back, thanks as always for the help and the lighter. Yes it was nice having the Boy Scouts selling hot chocolate. It is always great to let them sell food at events so that they can raise money for their program.
I nearly died, when we when to get the little fellow. The crowd was larger by alas the monkey smaller. Still I got a feisty little critter, not the one they tried to sell me. This one still had some spunk left.
That was a great idea of the St. Edwards jersey, to keep the little guy warm. I was ready to wrap him in a Rangers scarf, when wife mentioned it would not be good burning a Lakewood Rangers scarf or anything with the logo on it! Whew!
Great event, more later, want to upload my photos.
I can't believe my friend has keys to all of the school buildings! Sure better than that cold bridge.
.
Thanks, that was was great! Just got back, thanks as always for the help and the lighter. Yes it was nice having the Boy Scouts selling hot chocolate. It is always great to let them sell food at events so that they can raise money for their program.
I nearly died, when we when to get the little fellow. The crowd was larger by alas the monkey smaller. Still I got a feisty little critter, not the one they tried to sell me. This one still had some spunk left.
That was a great idea of the St. Edwards jersey, to keep the little guy warm. I was ready to wrap him in a Rangers scarf, when wife mentioned it would not be good burning a Lakewood Rangers scarf or anything with the logo on it! Whew!
Great event, more later, want to upload my photos.
I can't believe my friend has keys to all of the school buildings! Sure better than that cold bridge.
.
Jim O'Bryan
Lakewood Resident
"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg
"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama
Lakewood Resident
"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg
"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama
-
stephen davis
- Posts: 600
- Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2005 9:49 pm
- Location: lakewood, ohio
Jim,
Another success.
We should apply for a grant for next year. There is nothing like this anywhere. It’s truly a homegrown community event.
It sure was cold, but worth it.
Did you copy the keys?
Steve
.
Another success.
We should apply for a grant for next year. There is nothing like this anywhere. It’s truly a homegrown community event.
It sure was cold, but worth it.
Did you copy the keys?
Steve
.
Nothin' shakin' on Shakedown Street.
Used to be the heart of town.
Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart.
You just gotta poke around.
Robert Hunter/Sometimes attributed to Ezra Pound.
Used to be the heart of town.
Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart.
You just gotta poke around.
Robert Hunter/Sometimes attributed to Ezra Pound.
-
Jim O'Bryan
- Posts: 14196
- Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 10:12 pm
- Location: Lakewood
- Contact:
No need, he has a set, and haad as much fun as we did. I could not believe, that he thought just because he got us in the building and to the tower that he should get to light the little fellow up!stephen davis wrote:Did you copy the keys?
Steve
.
You have to be in the Ancient Academy of the Observers of the Royal Stonecutters to be a 32nd degree squared time pi, plus one.
Photos next!
I had the camera set up too far away but got some good stuff.
Grants, or, maybe part of the license of the Observer.
.
Jim O'Bryan
Lakewood Resident
"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg
"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama
Lakewood Resident
"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg
"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama
-
Jim O'Bryan
- Posts: 14196
- Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 10:12 pm
- Location: Lakewood
- Contact:
We wanted to stay near the ticker on First Federal of Lakewood, trying
to keep the New York feel to the Burning Monkey Drop, the heart of the
Burning Monkey Festival, I was lucky to find someone with a "master key"
to all of the schools, and Board of Education.
The impromptu crowd gathered while we waited to get in.
We got the little guy, and put him in a St. Edwards jersey as my wife
pointed out that it would be wrong to burn him in a Rangers sweater,
and we had already thrown away all of our Brown's gear.
Once at the top we got a little fire going, and as the hour appraoched...
...we lit and threw the ball and monkey out. He slid down the slate
roof and over the edge.
The crowd watched anxiously to see how it would land. Foil ball up
monkey down, or the other way around! A sign for the coming year.
What we never considered! He fell next to the spruce tree, that promptly
went up like something out of the Burning Man Festival, the inspiration for
Burning Monkey. The crowd then proceed to chant and dance around the
flames, as they felt the warmth on their faces and souls.
Monkey Down!
It will be a good year for Lakewood.
Well, that is what the legend tells us.
Happy New Year
Good Health to all, the rest will take care of itself.
Thank you for another wonderful year in a town I love.
*very few monkeys were actually harmed in this event.
.
Jim O'Bryan
Lakewood Resident
"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg
"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama
Lakewood Resident
"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg
"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama
-
Diane Helbig
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:46 am
- Location: Ward 3
- Contact:
ahhh . . . I thought as much. The creativity of this group is truly remarkable.stephen davis wrote:Diane,Diane Helbig wrote:'m with you Carol. If this is true it's disgusting. I'm hoping it's a tale - a whale of a tale - the product of an overactive imagination or two (along with some rozi's best)
You might enjoy this link to last year's event.
http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewt ... ght=monkey
Steve
.
You should be writing children's books!
Happy new year all - 2009 promises to be outstanding.
Diane Hope Helbig