mzokc
05-21-2003, 06:07 AM
With the Dixie Chicks concert occurring tonight, I felt that some patriotism was in order. I applied for and got an Activity Permit with the city to display the American flag on the Segway. Attaching the rolled flag and pole to the control shaft with 3 bungee cords worked well while traveling. It was easy to use the same cords to mount the pole against the shaft for the flag that flew above.
Photos: http://homepage.mac.com/mzokc/segway/PhotoAlbum77.html
My Quicktime: http://homepage.mac.com/mzokc/segway/iMovieTheater78.html
Their RealVideo link: http://www.newsok.com/cgi-bin/show_article?ID=1028128# click on "No major protest led against Dixie Chicks" link. Yup, that Segway video is in the archives!
(Update: Newspaper article mentions a different protester, it WASN'T me!!! http://www.newsok.com/cgi-bin/show_article?ID=1028128# Channel 9 went real negative with their "Farmer's chickens lay red, white, and blue eggs." That report followed the other piece. That's Oklahoma!)
I glided for about 2 hours anywhere on the blocked street and sidewalks in front of the Ford Center, a 20,000+ arena. Crowds entered on both sides and police were everywhere. I would glide from end to end occasionally so everyone saw the Segway with the American flag. Spinning the flag round and round worked great when the wind wasn't strong. NO negative comments were shouted or said from anyone and everyone was having a great time. One radio station had a huge flag draped behind their audio equipment at the far end of the street while they handed out small American flags. I glided in circles as the radio announcer said, "There's Evil Knievel." I soon left that area and did not return (as it wasn't where the largest crowds were.)
At one point a policeman approached. "They want your picture, come on over!" Two lovely fans posed with me standing on the Segway next to the arena wall while another took the photo. Returning to the street, the channel 9 (CBS locally owned station) news interviewed me and I was very specific that I was there to show my patriotism and was not there to protest. The police were aware of my activity permit and I continued to answer questions about the Segway.
On the way home after dark I glided past the Ford Center on the 'closed" street again. I saw the Channel 4 video van and decided to take a second look. I turned left and surprise, a police car was coming toward me! I moved out of the way with plenty of room, but my immediate reaction was, "I could have been the first to be hit by a police car!" I slowly glided up to the police car. They said, "We are so sorry." I responded, "Nothing like that has happened, I am always so careful." I mentioned to another officer (who had glided on the HT weeks ago) that it was a good learning lesson, never trust a blocked off street to be free of traffic.
I ran low on power half way home and immediately took it slow so I could view the 10:00 news. A short generating push was all it took to charge enough to creep into the driveway in time to watch the channel 9 newscast. The reporter seemed pleased to "twist" my activity permit into a protest request. Oh well, it's just a bit of training for the real protests when we have to fight for our rights to glide when necessary.
Photos: http://homepage.mac.com/mzokc/segway/PhotoAlbum77.html
My Quicktime: http://homepage.mac.com/mzokc/segway/iMovieTheater78.html
Their RealVideo link: http://www.newsok.com/cgi-bin/show_article?ID=1028128# click on "No major protest led against Dixie Chicks" link. Yup, that Segway video is in the archives!
(Update: Newspaper article mentions a different protester, it WASN'T me!!! http://www.newsok.com/cgi-bin/show_article?ID=1028128# Channel 9 went real negative with their "Farmer's chickens lay red, white, and blue eggs." That report followed the other piece. That's Oklahoma!)
I glided for about 2 hours anywhere on the blocked street and sidewalks in front of the Ford Center, a 20,000+ arena. Crowds entered on both sides and police were everywhere. I would glide from end to end occasionally so everyone saw the Segway with the American flag. Spinning the flag round and round worked great when the wind wasn't strong. NO negative comments were shouted or said from anyone and everyone was having a great time. One radio station had a huge flag draped behind their audio equipment at the far end of the street while they handed out small American flags. I glided in circles as the radio announcer said, "There's Evil Knievel." I soon left that area and did not return (as it wasn't where the largest crowds were.)
At one point a policeman approached. "They want your picture, come on over!" Two lovely fans posed with me standing on the Segway next to the arena wall while another took the photo. Returning to the street, the channel 9 (CBS locally owned station) news interviewed me and I was very specific that I was there to show my patriotism and was not there to protest. The police were aware of my activity permit and I continued to answer questions about the Segway.
On the way home after dark I glided past the Ford Center on the 'closed" street again. I saw the Channel 4 video van and decided to take a second look. I turned left and surprise, a police car was coming toward me! I moved out of the way with plenty of room, but my immediate reaction was, "I could have been the first to be hit by a police car!" I slowly glided up to the police car. They said, "We are so sorry." I responded, "Nothing like that has happened, I am always so careful." I mentioned to another officer (who had glided on the HT weeks ago) that it was a good learning lesson, never trust a blocked off street to be free of traffic.
I ran low on power half way home and immediately took it slow so I could view the 10:00 news. A short generating push was all it took to charge enough to creep into the driveway in time to watch the channel 9 newscast. The reporter seemed pleased to "twist" my activity permit into a protest request. Oh well, it's just a bit of training for the real protests when we have to fight for our rights to glide when necessary.