4/5/2006: Amusement ride in poverty
 

http://cellar.org/2006/ferriswheel.jpg

Pakistani children ride a ferris wheel over a heap of garbage in a slum area of Karachi, Pakistan, reads the official WaPo caption on this one.

What a strange statement on humanity - that in the midst of this living condition, it's worthwhile to spend a little effort to put together something to entertain the young ones for a few minutes.

Of course if that thing falls there'll be a lawsuit, and then... uh...

It looks like he's spinning it by hand. What a workout that would be. I wonder if he charges the kids? :confused:

I think they have something like that at the Pennsylvania Rennaissance Faire.

Really? That's weird. How come they don't . . .


Oh, you mean the ride, not the trash heap. Never mind.

Dude, it's Pakistan. The only way there will be a lawsuit is if they sell that thing to a rich American amusement park ride collector, and the crane drops it on his neighbor's Porsche.

No lawsuit. They'd just get a group of men together to gang rape the mother/sister/daughter of the man who built the thing and-voila!-Allah is mighty pleased and justice is done. What a great country!

And lookit how fast it's going! No leisurly twirl would make the seats swing that far out.

Makes me laugh, have a look at the kids in the carriage on the right, typical kids no matter where they are in the world, no matter how rich or poor, they all try their hardest to make the ride rock even more. Nice to see the simple things in life can put smiles on children's faces.:D

Or, they could just be rocking.

I got 'asked to exit' a ferris wheel once for rocking it too much. Alcohol had absolutely no influence whatsoever. I don't think I'd be cahonified enough to test this one.

And oh yeah... the smiles. To this day I always head straight to the wheel every time I go to the fair. While you ride, if you try not to smile, it makes your face hurt. Try it next time.

This is one of many new rides that are to be featured at Micheal Jackson's brand new Neverwealthy Ranch located in one of the richest parts Pakistan.

About 15 years ago, 2 of my sons joined a boy scout troop that had been in the neighborhood continuously for about 80 years. They were really into traditional boy scout stuff like pioneering projects where you lash things together. Every year there was a big display from all troop around the city where they show all their scout knowledge. Over the years I saw them build a ferris wheel, 2 towers with a zip line between them and a merry go round, all out of pine tree logs and rope. This kind of reminds me of one of their projects.

I guess the interesting thing is that the kids pictured here are all smiles. They may live in squallor and have empty stomachs but you got to give them credit for having a good time when the opportunity offers it.

This one looks more like a scout project than it does the wheel of fortune. :right:

Just found this picture on a random live journal page. Looked familiar.

Interesting style juxtaposition, with the nicely shaped spokes, and the the rough log uprights.