Some types of ignorance I just don't get.
Some types of ignorance I just don't get. I've seen people allowed to bring guitars on planes and take up an entire overhead bin on a huge aircraft and not have to pay for an extra seat for the instrument, which cellists often do. And I don't get the nonsense about no you can't rearrange the overhead bin, either, since I see that happening all the time without anyone asking an attendant first. It's just stupid. You'd think by now American would have given her some kind of status thing for being a frequent flier where there wouldn't even be a question about the violin going in the overhead bin.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/04/30/violin-carry-on-crisis/83750264/
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/04/30/violin-carry-on-crisis/83750264
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/04/30/violin-carry-on-crisis/83750264/
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/04/30/violin-carry-on-crisis/83750264
Well, at least it was American and not United (of the "United breaks guitars" fame.)
ReplyDeleteI fully expected it to be United.
ReplyDeleteWait, what was that last line thrown in like an afterthought that said she lost her leg in a violin related accident?? I am reading that correctly, right?
ReplyDelete"Oh and also once she was dragged by a train for 300 feet. She lost a leg. Whatevs."
Allyson Williamson She was carrying a violin in a case over her shoulder in 1995 and the doors of the Metra train closed on the strap (the doors didn't have safety sensors and were remotely controlled). Other passengers managed to throw the emergency brake and apply tourniquets, and she ended up suing Metra, who argued that she chose not to let go of the case due to the value of the instrument (an Amati valued at about $500,000), but the jury ruled in her favor.
ReplyDeleteAs you might expect she didn't perform for a few years after in order to have surgeries and rehab and otherwise recover from her injuries.
Amanda Rose - yeah, that's basically how I read it. It sounds fucking horrifying beyond imagination. And maybe deserved a little better segue than, "oh yeah this also happened". O.o
ReplyDeleteYeah, that was a stupid way to casually mention what was kind of a major thing. P.S. iirc she actually couldn't get her arm out of the strap, so, you know. It was a very big deal and the case should never have gone to trial but Metra was stupid, so now she has a charitable foundation.
ReplyDeleteBy which I do not mean isn't she lucky she lost her leg and got rich. I mean the jury trial awarded her a deservedly big settlement which she is using to benefit other people, which is pretty awesome of her considering that I think she continued to have medical problems and pain for a long time.
ReplyDeleteF-L Silver continue*s*, apparently. And as I understand it the settlement money is kept separately in case she relapses (and in case her husband goes away), in which case she can expect to have to live a long life in an expensive care home.
ReplyDeleteThe foundation is presumably run without much financial input directly from her, mainly time and effort, which makes it even more impressive imho.