Inflation Hits New York!

Onion rings, Ron?
The night before the Macy Thanksgiving Day Parade, the parade balloons, up to 60ft tall and 40ft wide, are inflated. This, of course, is an event in itself. Thousands, at an average age barely above zero, thronged the streets, in temperatures barely above zero, around The Natural History Museum, to watch their favourite characters get gassed. We managed to spot Dora the Explorer, Scooby Doo, Charlie Brown, Super Grover, Pikachu, Sponge Bob, Mr Potato Head and several other characters we're too old to recognise. Ronald McDonald had some problems inflating.

Melts in Your Mouth, Falls on Your Head!
The following day during the parade the giant M&M balloon was blown off course on 44th street and tangled with a light pole, causing the lamp to rip off and crash on 2 sisters. They suffered minor injuries.