February 19, 2001
Quote to remember:
I didn't realize what a 1.) small town I live in and 2.) the popularity of NASCAR in it. I was standing in line when I heard about Dale Earnhardt's fatal crash during the final lap of the Daytona 500. Everyone was talking about it ~ whenever someone walked by someone else would say, "Hey, _________, did you hear what happened??" Everyone was talking about how they couldn't believe that he was gone ~ and how he had died happy, doing what he loved to do.
Personally, although I am somewhat saddened by the fact that a person died, I just don't see the appeal of a something where all the contestants drive in circles for hundreds of miles. I wonder if any of the drivers ever develop a adversion to left turns?
Death seemed to be the theme for the day. Even This American Life's entire show was about it.
Do you know that there is a guy who put together a book composed of nothing but the last recordings on the black box of plane crashes? There was one incident mentioned where you could hear the automated system saying, "Please put out your cigarettes, this is an emergency dive!" long after everyone was dead. That is a bit creepy. |