[CCTALK] pitching stuff off rooftops

From: Innfogra_at_aol.com <(Innfogra_at_aol.com)>
Date: Thu May 16 15:06:36 2002

In a message dated 5/16/02 12:22:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
mythtech_at_mac.com writes:


> (I am still a little leary to toss a monitor off the top of my office
> building... I'm afraid I'll damage the asphalt... the landlord would kick
> my ass if I did that. But it is only 2 stories so I am thinking about
> it... I don't think a 14" monitor could build up enough energy to damage
> the parking lot on a 30 foot drop... I just haven't gotten the guts up to
> try it and find out)
>

The problem with throwing stuff off rooftops is containing the debris, which,
with a monitor, is considerable. We have had lots of fun pitching stuff into
a 30 yard dumpster when we had one delivered. The first time we were in a
seven story warehouse with stuff on the 7th and 4th floors.

A stereo system dropped from the seventh floor can literally jump out of the
dumpster upon impact. This was the first we tried. Containment works better
when there is a little debris in the bottom. The first few items jumped right
out of the dumpster, bouncing off the metal bottom. Of course they shatter
when hitting the bottom making a mess to clean up when they jumped into the
street.

We did this on a Sunday morning, I recommend checking when your local
authorities are not available. It makes a lot of noise and can attract
attention. In NW Portland Oregon no one came by.

After cleaning the street up of the first items we moved to the 4th floor
where we had 60 Wang Terminal tubes to dispose of. These did not jump out of
the dumpster. The fall from the 4th floor was not as great. They made a great
pop when they hit the dumpster. It was a noisy morning.

The Wang 2200 tubes were over 10 years old so it fits the criteria of the
list, not to mention this was also in 1989, more than 10 years ago. It was
before we realized the potential toxic hazard we were unleashing.

Another time we had to despool several pallets of spooled wire. We took them
up to the roof and dropped the spools into the neighboring parking lot. If
you dropped them just right the spool would come apart and the coil of wire
would rise up about 6 or 8 feet off the ground. Did not damage the parking
lot. Lots of fun for work.

A heavy aluminum or steel chassis will make marks in both concrete or
asphalt. Plastic shatters making a big mess. We preferred to restrain
ourselves until we had a dumpster to toss things into. Properly contained it
can be a lot of fun.

Paxton
Astoria, OR
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