[Flumper Barflusterbutt]

This reminds me of when the bonfire collapsed at Texas A&M. Man, that tradition had deep roots and so much support and was such a big deal to the university.

But it was dangerous as hell. I mean seriously dangerous. We had some accidents over the years but never anything that brought attention to how dangerous it was. I mean we were cutting down huge trees, so big it would take 40 or 50 guys to haul them out of the woods by hand. And then trying to load them on a flatbed, with people between the truck and the log as they tried to lift it high enough to roll it onto the bed.

Then building the stack itself. That thing was 90 feet tall. People up there on swings tied to ropes to the top of the pole. Sitting on 2x6's nailed to the pole sideways. Cutting the tops of each tier with chain saws. It was crazy. And all done while drinking beer and whiskey.

I knew the night it fell that they would never build another one. Not like the old ones anyway. I knew once the experts got involved, and saw the dangers and realized there is no real way to overcome them. And if you scaled it down to where it wasn't dangerous, no one would want to do it. Although, there was huge talk and push from people wanting to continue it, I just knew that they would never agree on a way to do it and do it safely. There was just no way to justify 12 lives for the purpose of burning a stack of wood every year. No matter how much it meant to anyone.

I kind of think this is going to end the same way. I wouldn't be surprised if there is never another well drilled in the Gulf.