The Song Fight Bulletin Board

Some of you may have heard about this story.

http://www.komotv.com/stories/37235.htm

Well, my cousin Jeff (a.k.a. 'J Mase' of the Frontalittle Squad) is Brian's father.

I was one of the 3 friends/family members who went with Jeff to HarborView in Seattle. I figured that my role was to try to keep things as light-hearted as possible under the circumstances. I was glad that I had the opportunity to be there with him, but there was this certain feeling of helplessness that I am sure each of us felt.

Then: our friend Lanelle came up with this great idea. "Glenn, you are in a band. Why not put together a benefit show to help pay for the medical and travel expenses that are going to come from this."

She created a monster, really.

I am in the early stages of setting up that benefit show. I am going to see about setting up a benefit CD that will not be unlike the Indie Pop Cares a Lot disc.

I have no details about any of these projects yet, but I wanted to make this announcement. Things WILL be happening in the near future that are related to this.

Thank you for your time, fellow songfighters!

ROCK!

Glenn (DR FUNK)

New bit of information that I have heard, and it helps this make a little more sense.

The boys had poured gasoline down the plastic slide thinking "This should make us able to slide faster!"

I am not sure who left the gas can out, but my understanding was a nearby lawn had been mowed, and it was left out.

regardless of how it happened, it's a very sad story glenn, and i hope the kids are ok.

it's really nice that you've stepped up to help your cousin out, and only further reinforces what a stand up guy you really are in real life, as many folks here only know you in sort of a virtual way.

Glenn, anything us right-coasters can do will be acted on. I have some lighthearted songs and would love to contribute along those lines as well.

As a dad with two young boys and (somewhat foggy) memories of youth, I spend a good part of my day worrying about exactly this kind of stuff and what messages help kids tread the thin line between what's fun and what's dangerous.

wow, that's scary stuff.
let us know how they are doing, ok?
4 years old... that's awful.
-bill

OK, folks:

Rachael just sent me this info:
--------------------------------

Hey babe, i set up an e-mail and paypal account for Brian, (using my name of course.)

It is : helpforbrian@yahoo.com

Could you post that wherever you have posted about Brian?

If people have Paypal accounts they can donate through the paypal website useing that e-mail address... it'll show it is going to me when they send it so just make a note that i am the custodian arranging these accounts (as a family member of Brian.)

Thanks lovey!

*MWAH*
Wifey
-------------------------------------
More news to come.

There is a CD in the works, very similar to what was put together for http://www.indiepopcaresalot.com

Paypal donations of $10 or more will probably be getting a copy of that CD, but it is too early for me to know the exact details at this time. I have to find a way that makes the costs of making such a disc... minimal.

ROCK!

Glenn (DR FUNK)

HeuristicsInc wrote:wow, that's scary stuff.
let us know how they are doing, ok?

From the last I have heard, Brian (Jeff's son) is touch and go. It's day to day with him. I believe that Alex has moved from critical to stable condition.

I will give updates when I have heard them. I work for a news/talk radio station, so one would think I will find out the information when it becomes available.

ROCK!

Glenn (DR FUNK)

You guys are AWESOME!

I will not mention names, but songfighters have already been supporting this cause via paypal. Thank you very much for your generous nature. You guys ROCK!

Seriously. Thank you.

ROCK!

Glenn (DR FUNK)

GlennCase wrote:I have to find a way that makes the costs of making such a disc... minimal.

Bryan Baker of blind mime runs a CD duplicating company, and he has a plan for minimal-packaging CDs at http://www.dollarcd.com.
That's about as cheap as I've ever seen. Thin cardboard sleeve, black and white artwork, good-enough CD quality. Or $2 for one in a slimline case.
-bill

GlennCase wrote:OK, folks:

Rachael just sent me this info:
--------------------------------

Hey babe, i set up an e-mail and paypal account for Brian, (using my name of course.)

It is : helpforbrian@yahoo.com

Could you post that wherever you have posted about Brian?

If people have Paypal accounts they can donate through the paypal website useing that e-mail address... it'll show it is going to me when they send it so just make a note that i am the custodian arranging these accounts (as a family member of Brian.)

Thanks lovey!

*MWAH*
Wifey
-------------------------------------
More news to come.

There is a CD in the works, very similar to what was put together for http://www.indiepopcaresalot.com

Paypal donations of $10 or more will probably be getting a copy of that CD, but it is too early for me to know the exact details at this time. I have to find a way that makes the costs of making such a disc... minimal.

ROCK!

Glenn (DR FUNK)

Just to note, if people donating wish to have their donation split between Brian and Alex please make that notation in the comments section for your paypal donation or in an e-mail to helpforbrian@yahoo.com I can divide the donations easily enough... Thanks so much to all of you wonderful people!!!

Rachael Layne

Other stories related to this:

http://www.kptv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3442862

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8135928/

AND:

A Spokesman Review Article you would have had to sign up for to get:

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/local/story.asp?ID=73553
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boys may have poured gas on slide
Authorities theorize kids trying to go faster; static electricity possible

Grandmother reacts to fire

Lo-Band | Hi-Band

Thomas Clouse
Staff writer
June 7, 2005

Fire investigators believe two 4-year-old boys poured gasoline on a plastic jungle gym Saturday so they would go faster down the slide.

However, plastic slides create a tremendous amount of static electricity, which apparently ignited the gas fumes, burning both boys over much of their bodies, Spokane Fire Department investigator Lt. Chris Phillips said.

Brian Ashmore, 4, and another 4-year-old, who has not yet been named, both remained in critical condition Monday at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

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"They maybe saw somebody pour water on the slide," Phillips said. "That's one of our theories, that they poured (gas) on there innocently, trying to make themselves slide faster. Then they slid a couple times on the gasoline."

The boys were burned in a neighbor's back yard at 7515 N. Napa Court.

A different fire investigator found gasoline residue on the slide, on the kids' clothes and inside a flower pot at the base of the slide. The boys may have poured gasoline from a gas can, which was nearby because the lawn had just been mowed, into the flower pot and then poured the gasoline from the flower pot onto the slide, Phillips said.

"We had fuel there but no source of ignition," Phillips said.

When he got the call, Phillips said, he expected investigators to learn that the boys had been burning up Hot Wheels cars or plastic Army men and somehow splashed gas on themselves.

"The guys and police did a search of the whole area. They couldn't find any lighters or matches," Phillips said. "There was only one possible source of ignition and that's a common source."

Phillips recalled a case within the last year when a man suffered serious burns at a gas station. The man was filling a plastic gas can in the back of a Nissan pickup that had a plastic bed liner. The man slid the gas can over the bed liner and the resulting static electricity sparked the fire that burned him.

"Static and gas don't mix, unfortunately," Phillips said.

Gasoline creates combustible vapors at temperatures as low as 50 degrees below zero. The boys couldn't have known the danger the gasoline posed on Saturday, with the temperatures in the 60s, Phillips said.

"It's not their fault," he said of the boys. "It's disgustingly tragic. Who wants to try to place the blame on this one? It's improper storage of the fuel. It's improper supervision of the kids."

Phillips said he does not expect charges to be filed in connection with the case.

"Nobody saw them doing it. Nobody saw them pouring the gas," he said. "We won't know until we can talk to them because they were the only two who were there."

Spokane Police Sgt. Joe Peterson said major crimes investigators assisted the fire investigator at the scene, searching for any clues about how the boys burned themselves. He agreed with Phillips that he does not expect a charge to be filed.

Brian Ashmore's grandmother, Shannon Ward, said in a previous interview that one of the boys was wearing "nylon or polyester" which may have caused static electricity by rubbing on the plastic slide. One boy had burns over 75 percent of his body and the other was burned on more than half of his body, she said.

Ward, who could not be reached Monday, had planned to set up accounts at local branches of Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank for community members who wanted to donate to help with the families' medical expenses.

OK, Songfolk. Listen up:

EDIT: AN ANONYMOUS DONOR IS PICKING UP THE COST FOR MAKING THESE CDS! PRE-ORDERS ARE NO LONGER NECESSARY!

We have been offered a VERY reasonable deal to help us out with the creation of 500 benefit discs. They will be very high quality, and will come with 4-page booklets ready to sell.

Even at the reasonable rate, it is going to cost $660 to make those 500 discs. I wish I could pay it on my own.

That price is really a steal, but the money that creates the CD MUST NOT come from money that is meant for those 2 boys, and their families. It would not be right, even if it generates more money in the long run.

Here is my plan:

1. There are 500 discs
2. We need $660 to even make the disc EXIST
3. The discs are going to be selling for $10 a piece

I need 66 pre-orders to even cover the COST of making these! Worse yet? Those 66 discs don't directly benefit the cause!

Or DO they?

Let's make it WORSE by saying that 44 other discs will be given to people who contributed tracks/helped out in some way. It is only right to do SOMETHING nice for the people that are helping to make this happen. That makes 100 discs that aren't DIRECTLY helping the cause.

But if I can get those 66 pre-orders? There is a potential for 400 of them to sell at $10 a piece. That is $4,000 from CD sales alone. $2,000 for Brian's cause, and $2,000 for Alex's cause.

$2,000 for each kid beats the heck out of $0 for each child.

SO: Here is my request.

66 Pre orders. This can be done. $10 a piece (pop in a couple of dollars for shipping and handling, please. Eating up the expense for 66 people's mailings might break me.)

Paypal my personal account, because that's the account that is going to be paying for the making of these:

ollyfan@yahoo.com

I am hoping that we will have room to thank the 66 people who make the disc possible, in the booklet.

PLEASE SEND ME A MAILING ADDRESS IF YOU ORDER THIS! I NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO MAIL YOUR DISC WHEN IT IS READY!

Thanks again, folks.

WE CURRENTLY NEED 0 MORE PRE-ORDERS
(I will update this periodically with the current info)

ROCK!

Glenn (DR FUNK)

UPDATE: An anonymous donor has agreed to cover the $660 cost of making the discs!

We are still searching to see if we can find a better deal, but the worst case scenario of 500 discs at $660 is covered now. No more pre-orders are necessary!

Will have more information in this thread soon.



ROCK!

Glenn (DR FUNK)

Thank you mr/mrs A. Nonymous.

The concert will be happening on Friday, July 15th. This is certain now.

What we need now is a name for the concert.

The boys names are Brian Ashmore and Alex Brown.

Brainstorming + Songfight! = Suggestions?

ROCK!

Glenn (DR FUNK)

Lemme know the bands and I'll make up some flyers...

We will need the name of the show too, but I will provide you with that info soon, Senor Combustion

ROCK!

Glenn (DR FUNK)

Friday July 15th, at the Big Easy

The Half Racks
Kite
Vertigo Bliss
10 Minutes Down

Tickets are $10. All proceeds being split between bank accounts that have been set up for Alex and Brian.

My understanding is that there will be donated prizes, so hold on to your ticket stub!

The CD will be available for sale at the show for $10. The proceeds from the disc will also go to those bank accounts (Cash Only Please)

Sincerest thanks to all who have been willing to help with the CD and the show.

Tickets available through Ticketswest
1-800-325-7328
1-800-325-SEAT

ROCK!

Glenn (DR FUNK)
http://glenncase.songhole.org

Doors open at 6 pm. Show begins at 7 pm.

(Forgot to mention that...)

ROCK!

Glenn (DR FUNK)
http://glenncase.songhole.org

We just got news today that it is not looking good for Brian. He has an infection in his stomach, and they do not expect him to make it. His little body appears to be giving up.

Jeff (Brian's dad) is going to Seattle with his mom and grandmother to see him in the hospital, for what hopefully will not be the last time.

I will post information here when I know more, but please send your positive energy and prayers (for those who do) to the family.

rock.

glenn (dr funk)

Glenn, STRONG VIBES heading his way. I hope he can pull through.

alright, I'll do some praying then.