On using one's face as an airbag
I've mentioned my grandfather and his large garden before.

One of the lawns was on a slope. At the top end, there were some trees. Towards the bottom, there was a telegraph pole. During summer holidays at his house, we would occasionally rig a rope and pulley system between one of the trees and the telegraph pole. (He'd make the pulley himself using his lathe.) We - my brother and I, and whatever cousins and (on occasion) parents were about - would then use this as a death-slide, and spend hours happily hurtling down the line.

Usually, I remembered to let go of the pulley to land roughly but safely on the grass at the end of the ride.

Usually.

Except for that one occasion when I decided to try an innovative braking system that relied on the interaction of the telegraph pole and my cherubic little face.

In fairness, the brake worked. I stopped very suddenly.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Mon 16 Feb 2009, 11:48, Reply)