Grease and gravity

I like Independence Day, which is August 17. It's very community-oriented; every neighborhood gets together to play games. Greased-pole climbing is one of the signature events.


The strongest guys on the block form teams and try to build a human ladder to the prizes at the top.


Typically things go okay until the fourth or fifth climber.


Then the combined weight of people gets too high, and everybody slides down in a heap.

The pole is greased with motor oil, which can't feel too good when it gets all over you!