part i-don't-know-how-many-and-two

a few weeks back i wrote a couple pieces on the bizarre way the ultra-selfish (i.e. private plane owners who fly over other people's private lands) treat others and are treated in the way that they pilot their little pleasure domes aka private planes out and about in the public world. anyway, this past monday on a beach in hilton head, sc, while jogging, a 38-year-old father of two was run down from behind by a (insert derogatory adjective here) pilot whose propeller had flown off, and whose windshield, he says, was so covered with oil that he could not see he was about to presume to end someone else's life in the pursuit of his little private personal hobby.

in order, and i quote, when asked by reporters, edward i. smith listed two of the issues he "has going on right now" that would prompt him to be reticent with the press: "i've got a plane that's all torn up". "and i've got a young man that i killed".

um, edward, i think mrs. robert jones (the deceased) and her bereaved children might be a little bit less concerned about your primary concern, and i, for one, am just about over the edge that this is the way mr. smith still thinks and would be so insensitive as to choose this way to talk about not talking about his situation.

oh, and in case you're interested to try to find some sort of "well, it was a public beach" rationalization for some sort of "accidental" explanation for the tragedy, i should add that the ap has identified the craft which has caused fatality as an "experimental lancair IV-P".

yep, that's right. some asshole was floating around public recreation areas in an experimental aircraft, and is concerned right now about his plane "that's all torn up".

i can tell you that the mind suggests a few other items that ought to be torn up right about now, and they're not an asshole's airplane.

unbelievable.