Tales of the flying laptop at Dylan Concert, Philly, 11/18/06

Before I explain what happened, let me say that my opinion has changed about how I feel about the incident. And if someone named Bethy (or Ryan) is reading this, it was me who got hit with your laptop. Your laptop is safe. It's broken, but it's safe. Actually, only the screen is broken, but the hard drive still works. I was able to hook it up to an LCD projector. Someone said you left, and at the time I was pretty pissed I was hit by your flying laptop. I'm lucky I wasn't injured. You're lucky I wasn't injured. I guess that's the reason you left. That and why would someone bring a laptop to a Dylan concert?

What changed my mind about you is what I saw when I fired this bad boy up. The whole thing was devoted to Dylan. Tons of songs, and even the desktop had a recent live shot. I also saw several photos where it appeared you were setting up shots with your video camera. I shoot vidoes as well. So I've changed my mind and want to return you're laptop to you. Bethy (the laptop's profile name) or Ryan (another name on the computer), if you're out there, it was me who got hit with your laptop. And now, finally, an explaination of what happened, at least from my persepective:

Sitting at the concert in section 204, row 14 seat 5. All was well. Having a good time. The Raconteurs are jamming a way (BTW jaw droppingly good cover of Bang, Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) Really amazing stuff (I have to get their album this week). Anyway, sitting there, enjoying the music and from above comes flying on a diagnol this big black thing. I only saw it for a split second and it was dark so I didn't see what it was. It hit my knee, then the back of the chair in front of me, finally landing under that chair. I quickly stood up and looked around thinking I'd see...something. But I didn't. No snickering teens and no upset Bethy. I felt my lap, bone dry, so it wasn't a large cup with beer. But what was it. Throughout the rest of the set I looked up and around. Myself and people around me were speculating exactly what it was and where it came from. Finally, after the Raconteurs' set, the lights came on. I reached down under the chair in front of me, and pulled up (to my and everyone around me's surprise) an IBM Thinkpad. What?!? Did it come from one of the light or sound techinicians in the rafters. Maybe someone kicked it from there. That was really all I thought it could be. If someone threw it, people around them would have seen it happen.

So I tried turning it on, but the screen is broken, yet the hard drive still seemed to be in working order. So I continued to look around, someone said they saw it fly right over my head. Which leads me to the point of thankfully it didn't hit my head. It weighs like 10 pounds. I can't even begin to think what would have happened if it me. All I knew was I was glad it didn't. And that someone is saying, "where the hell is my laptop." I knew where it was. It even had a wireless card in it (that's not really relevant, I just thought it sounded good. Now that I wrote that, I realized it didn't sound good, but I've invested this much time about writing about that statement so it all stays in). I was waiting for someone to come by looking for, but it never happened. You'd think someone would realize they lost a laptop. And I wanted to meet this person. This thing nearly killed me.
So we all wondered and wondered. People around me were taking photos of the thing. Then word came that someone found out. Could this be what happened. I still don't know if this is true, but maybe. The guy sitting next to me said his wife talked to someone who said (wow that's a mouthful) some one was walking next to the ledge in the section above me. Their laptop case flew open, thus almost killing me upon its arrival. They said that person looked for it, but (I'm guessing, Bethy tell me if I'm right) fearing it injured someone, they just left the area. Well, I wasn't injured and am no longer that pissed. It's actually a pretty funny story to tell, especially when you say I went to see Dylan and got hit by a flying laptop. Seriously, that's the last thing I thought it was.

So, Bethy or Ryan, if you're out there, let me know. I have you're laptop. Please contact me if you want it back, and be prepared to describe exactly what's on it (for your security). I tried posting this same message at Expecting Rain and the Dylan Pool websites but both gave me an error when I tried to register. So that brought me here.

Get the serial number, call the manufacturer, and tell them you found it and would like to return it to the owner.

I don't know about IBM, but Apple's really good about contacting people and reuniting them with their missing gear.

Those people must be sick about losing their Thinkpad. I hope they had all that stuff backed up. I wonder why they had it with them, and why it had all that bootleg goodness on it.

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My art site: Marcia's Art Pages

You're lucky that the blueboat didn't sink and they are lucky that you're trying to return it. And IBM can also be lucky, only the screen broken: good quality (no kidding, my wife has also a Thinkpad.

Good suggestion, Marcia, it must be registered.

'Lost time is not found again'

I would sue! Go on Judge Judy!!

No thanks. I hate Judge Judy. Actually, I just got a message from somone and based on the information he gave me he seems like the owner. I'll post a final message once this message is completely resolved.

I would have sold! I can't wait to hear the story of why the laptop went flying at you.

For those following my story, the tale of the flying laptop has been solved. Sort of. FIrst off, let me say how much of a wonderful tool the internet it. 10 years ago I was saying, "what the hell is email?" Now I don't know how anyone can get through without it. Same with cell phones. Anyway, back to the stor:
I don't know how or why a laptop was hurled in my direction. I guess you could say, there was "no direction home" (sorry I couldn't resist). But the laptop has been returned to its rightful owner. He completely checkout out by verifying specific descriptions about the contents of the laptop. Here is the email I recieved by him. It has been edited not to reveal any personal information:

"i am the owner of the flying laptop. i cannot believe that this is what happened to it. my name is _____ and i live in _____. while visiting my parents for thanksgiving, i decided to go to dylan while i was here. as i entered the spectrum, my bags were checked and they asked me to take out my laptop. i kept it out as i went in. the first step was the bathroom. i entered in the opposite side of the stadium from where i was at which was Section 210. when i left the bathroom and went to my seat i sat down and realized that i left the computer in the bathroom. i rushed back and of course, it was gone. i went to lost and found and no one had any clue. i went back to my seat, fearing the worst. it was gone. til now. i was excited and horrified as i read your post. it sounded like the computer landed on you without its case or power cord. which makes me think whomever had my computer lost it and did not care to get it. trust me. if that were me, i would have gotten it no matter what. when you turned it on, you saw why. i worked long and hard on that stuff. i am SO glad that you were not hurt. i am also SO glad that you knew where to post. i hope i can get it back. i am so sorry for the whole incident. anyway, let me know what you want to do. thanks so much."

Well, as of 1pm today, the laptop is back in his hands. I personally met him (actually a friend of his) and gave it back. Honestly, even though I was almost killed, I can't help feel sorry for him. The laptop is destroyed, but he will be able to get the information off of it if he hooks it up to a projector. Though, he might have to purchase a new power cord since the battery is almost dead (I used at least an hour of it up looking through the hard drive, desperately trying to find some information about the owner), and the person who chucked it at me didn't throw that along with it. So there you have it, the laptop is back with it's owner.
As for who chucked it. That mystery is still left in the air. I know before I posted that someone told me someone saw it "fall" out of a case from above, but the more I think about, that can't be. I was least 7-10 rows away from the ledge where it allegedly dropped. And that's exactly what it didn't do. Drop! It came flying at me from the side and on a diagonal. And it had force. I really am lucky it didn't hit me. So someone had to throw it. And that makes perfect sense. If it was stolen they probably thought it would funny to throw it and try to hit someone. Well, I'm here to say that's not so funny. I'll tell you what's funny. That person being tortured by hanging upside down, with their eyelids clamped open, forced to watch hundreds of hours of men's competitve ice dancing, while listening to recordings of bad country music, played backwards. If anyone saw anything or knows anything about this incident, I'd really love to know.

And now, that I've been a glutton and filled my belly full of goodness this Thanksgiving, I'm going to listen to the live recording of the concert that night that I downloaded, and think about the good of that evening, Saturday, November 18, 2006. The night of my first Dylan concert as well when I was almost killed. Thank you and hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

All's well that end's well.

What a fascinating tale!

"Sitting at the concert in section 204, row 14 seat 5."


Note to self...

If I'm ever in Philly I must avoid this seat....

Great story. Alias, it seems like that would be a great seat. Computers are unlikey to strike the same place twice.

n/t

WHAAAATCH OUT!....KATHUNK!

Thanks for letting us know.

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My art site: Marcia's Art Pages