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Author Topic: The Giant Ball of Garbage... Is Real!  (Read 1339 times)
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Spineless

Delivery Boy
**
« on: 10-12-2004 14:28 »

OK, I know it probably sounds crazy...  But the barge mentioned in the Giant Ball of Garbage episode is based on truth.  In fact, there was an actual barge carrying trash from port, to port, to port in the 1980s.

Thanks to New York, 62,000 pounds of trash had no home.  Hunter S. Thompson describes it as such, "The carge--62,000 pounds of rotten meat, human excrement and unspecified toxic wastes--is so foul that it can't even be sunk in the deepest holes of the ocean" (Thompson, 237).

Also true to the episode, "It has been turned away from prots in North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Cuba, and Mexico...Not even Haiti will allow the monstrous thing near its shorline, for any amount of money" (Thompson, 237).

So Haiti seems to be the really nasty country that wouldn't accept it.  Admit it, you thought it was FRANCE!

If you want more information, the New York Times archive lists articles from April 25, 1987 and several dates after that.  If you have access to digital archives, look for Harvey Gulf International, since they were dragging the thing with one of their tugboats.

The NYT also states that the trash was burned
on August 11, 1987.  Sad that it had to go out that way.

Also, the name of the barge is Mobro, similar to Morbo's name...  Interesting to note too, I suppose.  I wonder if that's the inspiration?

Hopefully, no one's posted this yet.  I'd love to be the one to discover this.  :p

Sources:
Thompson, Hunter S.  Generation of Swine: Gonzo Papers Volume 2: Tales of Shame and Degradation in the 80s.  Simon and Schuster, 1988.

NYT Digital Archives

Yeah... I'm an English major so I have to at least informally cite my sources...  Sorry...
Hedonism Bot

Bending Unit
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« Reply #1 on: 10-12-2004 15:45 »

I heard that there are loads of so-called "leper ships" carrying toxic waste around because no country will accept the stuf, but it could just be an urban legend.
laroquettespine

Bending Unit
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« Reply #2 on: 10-12-2004 16:39 »

The Giant Ball of Garbage is real, all right.

It's known as the FOX NETWORK!*  HEY-OHHHH!


*(With the exception of The Simpsons and the occasional episode of King of the Hill, Malcom in the Middle, or Malcom's two clones, Arrested Development and Oliver Beene.)
Futurama Nerd

Professor
*
« Reply #3 on: 10-12-2004 18:52 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by laroquettespine:
The Giant Ball of Garbage is real, all right.

It's known as the FOX NETWORK!*  HEY-OHHHH!


Nice.
B.B.R

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #4 on: 10-12-2004 20:33 »

Gosh, I would have never known, although I did somewhere in the back of my mind think that did happen, but I figured I was crazy, well  that's good news for me.  And as far as I know you are the first one to talk about it Spineless.
elf

Delivery Boy
**
« Reply #5 on: 10-12-2004 20:44 »

I knew it happened, I just didn't know it happened. Ya get it???
canned eggs

Space Pope
****
« Reply #6 on: 10-13-2004 01:01 »

in 1987, the mayor of NYC was Ed Koch.  But the barge in the show is clearly kicked off the pier by Rudy Giuliani.

Interesting side note: I met Hunter S. Thompson once, at a panel discussion.

He called me a pigfucker.
Cyberman

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #7 on: 10-20-2004 12:28 »

Hmm? Coincidence?
LoveForFry

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #8 on: 10-20-2004 16:39 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by laroquettespine:
The Giant Ball of Garbage is real, all right.

It's known as the FOX NETWORK!*  HEY-OHHHH!


*(With the exception of The Simpsons and the occasional episode of King of the Hill, Malcom in the Middle, or Malcom's two clones, Arrested Development and Oliver Beene.)


So true, So true (and funny!)
Cyberman

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #9 on: 10-20-2004 19:51 »

For once, I also agree. lol.

kiffan

Bending Unit
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« Reply #10 on: 10-25-2004 12:47 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by laroquettespine:and Oliver Beene

You like Oliver Beene?  That is so wrong.  :(
Idan_Aharoni

Professor
*
« Reply #11 on: 10-25-2004 13:57 »

Why did he call you a pigfucker?
TheLampIncident

Urban Legend
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« Reply #12 on: 10-25-2004 14:44 »

I think the question on everyone's mind is...why don't we create a second garbage ball and launch it into space, and hopefully we can hit a race of evil alien mutant slime.
Nerd-o-rama

Urban Legend
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« Reply #13 on: 10-25-2004 16:27 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by Idan_Aharoni:
Why did he call you a pigfucker?

[Terence]Well, first of all, because he fucks pigs.[/Terence]

I'm sorry.  I just saw the South Park movie again last night.  Also, I apologize to SP fans if it was Phillip who said that.  I can never remember which is which.
laroquettespine

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #14 on: 10-25-2004 17:34 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by kiffan:
 You like Oliver Beene?  That is so wrong.   :(

Well, I wouldn't say I like it so much as I consider an occasional episode of it...not horrible.  In other words, not part of the regular giant garbage ball that is FOX programming.
Squeaky

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #15 on: 10-26-2004 00:34 »
« Last Edit on: 10-26-2004 00:34 »

Well, FOX does have "Arrested Devolopment" thats not too bad.

On topic: good info Spineless... I always knew they did something to that trash than just give it to Boston.
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