'Star Wars Kid' cuts a deal with his tormentors

the globe and mail dot com ^ | 7-2006 | TU THANH HA

[SoldierDad]

The torment I endured drove me from school. Having three to five people on nearly a daily basis attempting to beat me up was more that I could handle. I dropped out of high school three months into my Junior year. As a result I lost 10 years of potential employment opportunities, and wound up drifting from job to job. I finally pulled my self up, went to a Jr. College and then a University. I now have a Master's degree and work as a School Psychologist. Now I am trying to help other students to avoid the life altering events I endured. Funny how life turns out.

[stinkerpot65]

One of these days we will have a major war like WWII where we need every man available, expcept we won't have many men, just fat little twerps like this one.

[packrat35]

Sad thing,most of the people posting today seem to want that.

[Jaysun]

Got me stumped. Wish you were nearby (Penna) so I could send you a 2lb container and you could taste it for yourself, or watch you make it and figure out what the heck happened...

Chicken broth, cream, and I think it was butternut squash. As for the shell, I liquefied it with everything else. After reading over your page again I saw that I was to discard it. Oh well. I'm trying to keep my wife and I from starving to death.

We just had a baby girl and she's (wife) running on fumes. So for tonight I decided to stick with what I know - I've been smoking a 15 pound beef brisket since early this morning. I grew up in Texas and learned how to cook a brisket that'll make you slap your Momma.

Here's me and the culprit. Her name's Marion, shown here at 2 days old.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

Did you clean out all the seeds and stringy stuff before roasting and pureeing, J?

I sent your comments to a half-dozen chefs I used to work with in NYC, and they're aghast at your results and comments. Got us all stunned...

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

He said the situation left him feeling drained of energy, and that he let himself go and no longer lifted weights to keep fit.

please.. he was lifting bigmacs more than he was weights

[eyespysomething]

Drunken Boxing.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

"poutine"? What's that, b?

[doug from upland]

Thanks for sharing your story. Bullies are despicable.

[SoldierDad]

That is a very precious gift. Enjoy your daughter every minute.

[SoldierDad]

I'm sure my story is not unique. I wish parents wouldn't tolerate their children becoming bullies in the first place.

[doug from upland]

The antidote to bullies --

[billorites]

"poutine"? What's that, b?

It's a very popular French-Canadian dish. You see it on every menu in Quebec.
French fries, gravy and cheese curds.
Actually, it's pretty good if not exactly heart healthy.
I won't be putting the recipe on my homepage though.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

What a little cutie! No, NOT you, J!

"As for the shell, I liquefied it with everything else"

There's the problem, J. The shell is coated with a waxy substance to get it to market without damage or bruising. It'd be like frying a waxy candle for a hot dog bun. YUK!

And here's what butternut squash look like (scroll down):

http://www.whatscookingamerica.net/squash.htm

Next time, PLEASE don't eat the shell; just the wonderful meat inside. You don't eat watermelon or cantelope rinds, do you?

What state are you in? Maybe I could express a 2-3lb tub to you for sampling...

[freedumb2003]

I've been scr*wed! I was called much worst than this when I was a child, and I received no compensation from my tormentors.

I was thinking the same thing. If my Mom had sued for what I suffered, based on this case, I would be almost as rich as Gates.

I still don't like bullies but at least I learned how to deal with them.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> "poutine"? What's that, b?

It's a uniquely French Canadian abomination (thank God!)

French fries, covered in cheese curds and sometimes gravy. Mega-cholesterol, guaranteed to clog up your arteries.

Outside Quebec, Canadians skip the cheese curds and go with just the fries and gravy as the national Ice Hockey snack -- MMMMMMmm-mmmm!

(Belgians skip both, and go with French Fries and mayonnaise. I don't know where they learned *that* trick from).

[butternut_squash_bisque]

I don't know about the 'cheese curds', but I'd go for the fries and gravy. Yum, b. I eat that dish all the time here in Penna. Waffles and turkey gravy, biscuits and beef gravy, stuffing and gravy... ANYTHING and gravy!

[DieHard the Hunter]

> I disagree, I asked them for more. Sad, that some people feel that they should be paid if their feelings get hurt.

Ever been bullied?

Some of us are strong enough to overcome, either by beating their bully to a fine pulp (like I did) or rising above it and prospering anyway (I've heard of this done in Legend, never met anyone who has done it).

And some commit suicide. I know of two people who took this way out.

This kid has chosen a Third Way, which is to sue the b*stards. Goodon'im, if that works it is a salutory lesson to encourage the others.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

"...French Fries and mayonnaise..."

I gotta try that, sometime, D.

It took me almost a year to get used to mayo on my cheeseburgers, and now I love it, as an aside from ketchup or mustard.

[SoldierDad]

Plus, I have never allowed them to control my life or cause me to not become successful. I could have used my experiences as an excuse. Instead I allowed them to inspire me to help others.