Timing is key

So many things in our day-to-day lives come down to good timing. Whether it be avoiding a traffic jam on the way to work, or just happening to get to the microwave before someone else reheats salmon, timing is crucial. When timing is thrown off for one reason or another, the results can be dangerous. For further proof of this, just look back the Super Bowl, and think of New England.

Another example of the timing not quite working can be found in the story of a Georgia-Pacific, Corp. tissue mill. After all, the building recently caught fire, forcing firefighters to spend three hours putting out the blaze. Why do we say that the timing was off?

The building is scheduled for demolition.

On the outside, this may actually have seen like a cosmic joining of purposes. After all, if the building has to come down anyway, why not let fire take it out. Doing so could certainly save on costs, even if it wouldn't carry the excitement of an implosion. But remember that, once a building is properly prepared to be demolished, people are all clear of it. Sure, someone has to set the charges, but they should be safe before the button is pushed. Not so in the case of a fire. And really, in cases like this, the human cost does have to be weighed.

On the plus side, the three-hour fire has probably weakened the structure considerably, which should make the demolition easier. And, with the chance of some workers remaining home due to smoke inhalation, we could even argue that there's a smaller risk for injury. Even so, we almost wonder if the Georgia-Pacific people were cursing their luck, wishing that the fire could have come a month or so later.

But hey, it could be worse. They could have tried to steal a car within view of a police-reporter interview. Or they could be trying to stop a program to phase out incandescent light bulbs.

So, you know, they can't hang their heads too much.