Orlando Sentinel

[Dix]

In the words of Mark Twain:

"The rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated."


My appologies to Norrym and Irena for an apparent abrupt departure from our discussion in the Politics forum, I will get back to it as soon as possible.

On Sunday I received a phone call from an old friend who is now down south. And in honoring a request have been for the last few days even busier than normal. I have been adding to the flood of e-mail and phone calls to Florida.

As many of you likely know the Orlando Sentinel under Fla.'s "Sunshine Law" has requested the autopsy photos of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt. Also, as many of you may or may not know, I'm a former stock-car driver/owner myself. For those of us in the racing community our problems with the Orlando Sentinel are basically two:

1. To have the Orlando Sentinel and whatever "experts" it decides to use in it's "investigation" is akin to having a Forest Ranger go into New York City to investigate a building fire. There ARE qualified doctors and engineering personnel, with Motorsports experience, who work in conjunction with NASCAR. A stock-car racing wreck has no correlation to a highway accident. It's an apples to oranges comparison. Besides, without being able to physically inspect the car, Dale's helmet, AND the autopsy reports and photos all at the same time, how can ANYONE expect to come up with a definitive reason for Earhardt's death?

It's not likely┘ which leads to point #2┘ which is more likely the prime reason for their "request"┘

2. The likelihood of these photos being publicly published in an effort to sell papers (and winding up on the Internet at someplace like rotten.com) once out of the hands of the coroner's office is extremely likely. It's time to let the healing of the Earnhardt family begin.

For anyone willing to lend a quick hand, there are a few online petitions to the Orlando Sentinel, the Fla. Legislature, and to Fla. Courts (they HAVE granted a temporary injunction). It's a very quick and simple thing to do, and would be appreciated by Teresa Earnhardt, and myself.

Links to the petitions can be found at: http://www.pivot.net/~dix/

Also there, are links to e-mails for the Orlando Sentinel and Fla. Legislative leaders should you care to go beyond a simple online petition.

Florida's "Sunshine Law" while good in theory, goes a bit too far. Not just in this case, but in general.

[Nonson]

Dix,

As has been stated: "FAT HYPOCRITE"

Nonson
03.09.01

[Dix]

Another "pearl of wisdom" from the president of "virtual reality"

psst... I'm 6'0" & 175... hardly "fat".

& what hypocracy???

Come out of the desert & into civilization Nons(ense).