screwups

My Screw Ups

photos all by me, Jeff Opal. This page was created 14DEC-2003

    This photo shows a plastic container I poured hot stew into. This amazing accident occurred sometime around Summer of 2001.
    The container was standing upright on the bottom of my kitchen's sink, with the lid off. I had just cooked a big pot of stew. It had been boiling.
    I ignorantly assumed that this mere-plastic container wouldn't be damaged by such heat. I didn't even consider the possibility.
    When I poured the stew into the container, nothing happened at first. After about five seconds of pouring the container was around half full. Suddenly it began melting. I didn't understand what was happening at first. It was tilting to one side, but I couldn't see any reason why it would do that. Then I noticed it "wrinkling". I quickly picked it up and turned it upside down, emptying it into the pot I had cooked the stew in.
    I'm glad this accident happened because this container now makes a great conversation piece...one that is well worth the $2.50 (thereabouts) that I originally paid for it when I bought it at a Wal-Mart store.

This photo shows the damage that was caused to this red shopping bag when it was dragged under my car for a distance of around eight miles.
The bag is made from "jute" (a primary export of the very poor nation Bangladesh). Jute is also used to make things like "Binder's Twine" and rugs.
I had been using this bag frequently (every day), ever since I bought it (around 8 months before

This photo shows bent metal of my car's driver's door -- a result of an accident I caused this last July 4th, as I was leaving a fireworks show.

     I learned something very interesting on 10-DEC-2003: if I stand next to my wall heater when it is lit my pants catch on fire.
       This photo shows the burn that happened.
       I was using a cell phone at the time. My friend talking with me heard me suddenly interrupt what he was saying with the words "WOW. SOMETHING IS BURNING."

I make lots of mistakes, so
THERE WILL BE MANY MORE PHOTOS HERE LATER