I was there, with a neighborhood pal disguised as a "media
photographer". It was a struggle to wake up that early but we both
thought it worth the bother. We each compared the experience to that of
going fishing. Building implosions beat trout expeditions because big
blasts are complicated and costly, but pretty reliable and cheap and
don't last long. They are rare events, though.
As a temporary Big Shot, I'm glad they set up the observers' tent upwind
of the explosion, rather than downwind, as Craig is complaining they
should have done. Perhaps he's right -- the button-pushers should get
the first whiff of their deed -- but it wasn't my deed, still I had to
be there to earn my daily bread. Craig can stand downwind if he wants
to. If I had to set up a hierarchy of Participants Who Don't Deserve to
Die, I would list people like me high. And I bet Craig takes home more
at the end of each workday than I do. So go sniff implosion dust if you
want to, Craig, but don't impose it on others.
I witnessed a large-scale City operation to minimize impact of a
colossal explosion while most of the neighborhood still lay sleeping. We
enjoyed bagels and shmiers, fresh fruit salad and croissants. Doughnuts
also, but I am not allowed to eat doughnuts. Coffee of course, glug glug
glug.
Several governmental creatures orated while we noted their utterances,
once every 60 seconds or so. On each side, if truth be told, we cared
little if we got the words right at the photo-opp, because the official
text can always be emailed later. Implosions are chiefly visual, not
verbal events.
In the end, it was both fun and true. The neighborhood is slowly
improving and the native Black West Philadelphian political leadership
is happy to take the credit. In doing so, it is not wholly dishonest.
-- Tony West
Yes, having neither hunted game nor shot an implosion, we went for simple
proximity. There was a representative from Pennoni on our corner who was
operating two air-quality meters--one for asbestos and the other for
particulates--that must have been pretty heavily overloaded once the cloud of
dust came over. We retreated to the car and closed the vents just in time.
Pennoni, according to this guy, handled the Vet demolition as well.
As for the tenants, obviously they've already been dispersed. Are their impacts
being felt on the other accessible nearby neighborhoods so far?
Andrew
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