Sat Oct 19, 2013 at 07:39 AM PDT
attribution: None Specified
The large man seen toppling a nearly 200 million year old rock formation in the now
viral video? That's Glenn Taylor. Last month, he filed a lawsuit against a (then) 16-year-old driver who rear-ended him in 2009, claiming he has endured
great pain and suffering, disability, impairment, loss of joy of life:
Taylor, the man who is seen actually shoving the rock to the ground, had filed a personal injury lawsuit against a woman and her father for injuries he says he suffered in a 2009 car crash. Taylor filed the lawsuit at the beginning of September saying that after that accident he injured his back and had to "endure great pain and suffering, disability, impairment, loss of joy of life." Taylor also says in the lawsuit that the accident was "debilitating."Alan Macdonald says he was surprised when he saw the lawsuit come across his desk. He says his daughter rear-ended several cars during that accident, Taylor, he says, was one of them. Macdonald says no one went to the hospital after the crash.
He says after watching the video that has taken off across the Internet, he thinks Taylor doesn't look debilitated at all, "he's climbing over other rocks," says Macdonald, after watching the tape, "then he lines up, gets leverage and pushes that big old rock several times before he finally pushes it over," Macdonald continues, "then he turns and twists and high fives and yucks it up and flexes his muscles he just doesn't look like a terribly disabled person to me."
As anyone who's been in a car accident can attest, sometimes these pains do linger. But, it seems the defendants, and potential jurors, might have some serious questions about the validity of Glenn Taylor's claims.
Video report on the latest twist in this case, including a brief interview with Glenn Taylor, can be found
here.
This video of rock vandals is, well ... disturbing ... http://nbcnews.to/1grhAaR
The reality is that vandalism is not terribly uncommon on our public lands--yet another reason we need Congress to restore full funding to our public lands so that park rangers and law enforcement are fully staffed.
Fri Oct 18, 2013 at 01:31 PM PDT
Three Boy Scout Leaders earned their Idiot Badges by toppling over a 165 million year-old rock formation at Goblin Valley State Park.
$1,000 says these guys think
this rock formation is no more than 6,000 years old.
Oh, did I tell you they're also LDS "Youth Leaders" ?
History
Goblin Valley shows evidence that local Native American tribes, such as the Ute, Paiute and Fremont, traveled there to make elaborate pictograph and petroglyph panels; in fact, they are the second-best known feature of the park. The valley was discovered later by cowboys searching for lost cattle, but it was not until the 1950s that it became a state park in an attempt to protect its natural and historical treasures from vandalism.
A group of Boy Scout leaders is potentially facing felony charges for destroying a rock formation millions of years old in Emery County.The trio of men was adventuring in Goblin Valley State Park when they decided to film themselves knocking over one of the formations, known as "goblins."
They said later it appeared to them that it was ready to fall and might hurt someone.
"Some little kid was about ready to walk down here and die and Glenn saved his life by getting the boulder out of the way," the cameraman is heard saying. "So it’s all about saving lives here at Goblin Valley."After the rock falls, the three men laugh, cheer and high five each other.
Watch the video, and tell me if these guys were "saving lives"
Utah State Parks officials Thursday were not so amused."It is not only wrong, but there will be consequences," said spokesman Eugene Swalberg, noting that a criminal investigation is underway by State Parks authorities.
UPDATE: Statement from the BSA
We are shocked and disappointed by this reprehensible behavior. For more than a century, the Boy Scouts of America has been a leader in conservation from stewardship to sustainability. We teach our 2.6 million youth members and 1.1 million adult members, who collectively spend more than 5.5 million nights outdoors, the principles of Leave No Trace. These principles stress a commitment to maintaining the integrity and character of the outdoors and all living things. The isolated actions of these individuals are absolutely counter to our beliefs and what we teach. We are reviewing this matter and will take appropriate action.
Well said, BSA. Now, allow gay men to be scout leaders.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/18/1248696/-Three-Boy-Scout-Leaders-Vandalize-170-Million-Year-Old-Rock-Formation?detail=facebook#
