The rabbit confesses to not having ever heard of the Vancouver Canucks or the Boston Bruins until a day or so ago. They are ice hockey teams and played in the final of something called the Stanley Cup this week. The Bruins won 4-0 whereupon the Canucks fans rioted. This strikes the rabbit as distinctively Un-Canadian behaviour. The rabbit is familar with - and largely in favour of - Canada, and Canadians do not generally riot. All very odd. The rabbit also pronounces himself in favour of the Bruins winning for reasons not to be gone into at this very moment (Hi Carol!).
In any event, a Canadian photojournalist named Richard Lam took the above photo in the middle of the riot. It looks as if a pair of young lovers are engaged in a passionate embrace, oblivious of the mayhem around them. Too good to be true?
'Fraid so...
Here is a second image, showing people gathering round. Are they concerned? Or simply preternaturally nosy? It's the former. The young couple are Scott Jones, a 29-year-old Australian and his girlfriend Alex Thomas, a Canadian. A police line had rushed the crowd and the couple tried to stay together but couldn't react in time and were knocked over my two riot police officers. Alex Thomas was knocked over and landed head first on the pavement with her boyfriend landing partially on top of her. She was in visible pain, crying, but the two officers gave them a parting shove and moved on. Bystanders went to go make sure she was all right.
So that's it. No passionate embrace - just human concern. But the posting title is plainly cue for a song..
And on a completely different (again) topic, there hasn't been too much music on rabbit central of late. Regular readers will know of the rabbit's partiality to sixties stuff and here is something for the weekend - Northern Soul classic from The Flirtations - Nothing But A Heartache - enjoy!
You want some more sixties soul? oh okay then. If you insist.
8 comments:
There was public outcry here in the US about the couple making woopie in the middle of a riot. But often there is more to be said than just what the eyes see. Mr. Jones was quoted saying that he thought the photo was quite artistic despite the erroneous interpretation.
Nothing like good 60's soul to make a weekend great. Thank you, Mr. Rabbit.
i didnt' hear any outcry about the image, more like wtf was going on? was it performance art int he streets? but i did hear the couples story. i think i was more bugged that the riot took away the bruins thunder over a win 39 years in the making, sugar! i loved the clip re the lioness and the baby. the parents were interviewed on tv and were really good sports about the whole thing! xoxoxoxo
p.s. Go Bruins!!! (yeah, i won a bet!!)
I am enjoying the music. The riots were ridiculous and surprising.
Happy weekend, Rabbit!
Let me be perfectly clear: Anarchists and other criminal/shady characters planned this riot, whether the Canucks won or lost. The cops determined that right away. The outpouring of help cleaning up from the Canucks fans and Vancouver residents has been huge. They have made a wall of apology. BTW, I am a Canucks fan first and a Boston fan second.
I Remember Elland Road in the 70's.I dont remember much snogging there/then....especially when Sheffield United came acalling......
I knew you were a romantic!
Catchy/Savannah/Sybil/JoJo - It did strike me taht I was not on home ground with this story - often the rabbit is about introducing British and European things to North Americans. This time it was sendinga story back far better known in North America than here. Still, the 'kiss' thing fascinated me...
Tony - I remember Elland Road in the 70s too.
Nope.
Not much snogging.
SB - Well maybe a little on the sly ;)
Yay Bruins!
Yes, Hockey fans are among the craziest out there... I know this to be true.
Thanks for the Wilson Pickett.
Hope you are well and hopping about!
Peace,
pf
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