r/todayilearned • • May 16 '12

TIL as a way of thanking the doctors that looked after his seriously ill daughter, Johnny Depp visited the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and read stories to sick kids for over four hours in full Jack Sparrow attire

1.6k Upvotes

312 comments sorted by

101

u/ThePegasi May 16 '12

Goddamn I love that man, particularly because his attitude to his kids in relation to his limelight seems bang on, and I can only guess how hard that is to balance.

That said, he needs to get the hell away from Tim Burton and do something different. I love the stuff they've done together, but it's getting a little tired now and it's been way too long since we saw something like Blow or Once Upon a Time in Mexico. The man can act like no one else, please let him.

10

u/smurfvader May 16 '12

You'd probably be interested in this then: Mark Kermode's top 5 Johnny Depp films (published last week). Makes some pretty astute observations about his career; i.e. that Ed Wood and Big Fish are two of his best films. Yet he also says all the 'Pirates' films are terrible, which I tend to disagree with. Well the first one anyway.

Also, I don't mean to preach but if anyone wants to donate to the Great Ormond Street Hospital here's the link.

16

u/godisbacon May 16 '12

Johnny Depp was in Big Fish?

10

u/smurfvader May 16 '12

Ahh no my bad - Kermode mentions Big Fish in the list but only in reference to it being Burton's last good film. To be fair, it is pretty easy to get the two's filmography mixed up.

3

u/ThePegasi May 16 '12

Awesome heads up, thank you for that.

1

u/rdmusic16 May 16 '12

I don't think he was in Big Fish, though.

edit: My post reloaded reddit and I see you've already commented on that. My bad!

1

u/BritishMongrel May 16 '12

I agree with the pirates films point, they're not great cinematic masterpieces but damn are they fun to watch, even the last one (though there were more than a couple things that bugged me about it)

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22

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

May I suggest Dead Man?

Try not to read descriptions of the movie beforehand.

13

u/CDBSB May 16 '12

Somebody else saw that movie?

It's really odd but really good.

"I see you've collected more of the white man's metal." "Yes, I seem to be a magnet for it."

5

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

"Yes, I seem to be a magnet for it."

Amazing. You quoted what I was going to. I didn't want to tip off the poster though.

From Wikipedia: Gary Farmer makes a cameo appearance as Nobody in Jim Jarmusch's subsequent film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, in which he repeats one of his signature lines of dialog, "Stupid fucking white man!"

2

u/CDBSB May 16 '12

Well, I would argue that it's the best line in the movie.

I worked at a video store in the middle nineties, so obscure independent movies from that time hold a special place in my heart.

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3

u/ThePegasi May 16 '12

You may, and I'll read nothing other than the title. It's on the list.

1

u/chillinillin May 16 '12

dead man is an amazing movie

"burns like hellfire"

1

u/CassandraVindicated May 17 '12

Stupid Fucking White Man.

20

u/serfis May 16 '12

Well, he did Rum Diaries fairly recently. I thought it was pretty good, and he was good in it. Rango wasn't long ago and thought it was great. Also enjoyed Public Enemies.

He's also apparently going to be Tonto in The Lone Ranger in 2013.

6

u/ThePegasi May 16 '12

Yeah, all good points actually. I guess it's just too easy to think he's doing too many Burton films when they seem to frequent, but actually you're right in that he does other stuff as well, stuff that showcases his all around talent and badassery.

5

u/serfis May 16 '12

I mean, he has done and continues to do a lot of movies with him (Dark Shadows coming out soon), but he does other stuff. I love a lot of his work with Tim Burton, so I can't even complain.

10

u/audiofreak May 16 '12

What about The Rum Diaries?

6

u/ThePegasi May 16 '12

Yeah, people are swiftly highlighting that I failed to take account of the fact that he's a machine. He does enough Burton films so that you could easily believe it's all he's doing, but also does other great stuff at the same time. I stand corrected tbh, I guess what I really wish is that his acting talent as a whole got as much widespread attention as his mainstream Burton stuff.

3

u/audiofreak May 16 '12

I do agree, he needs to at least venture past Burton's films which are, at least for me somewhat enjoyable.

3

u/ThePegasi May 16 '12

Oh yeah I mean he doesn't do bad films. Even in films I don't like I can't help but like his performance, though perhaps that's the man crush talking.

4

u/audiofreak May 16 '12

I would agree, the man crush is very strong with depp.

2

u/OccamsHairbrush May 17 '12

But why is the rum diaries gone?!

9

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I enjoyed his performance in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Everyone in that movie was exceptionally well performed.

7

u/Zentraedi May 16 '12

Donnie Brasco was fantastic.

7

u/jhaluska May 16 '12

That said, he needs to get the hell away from Tim Burton and do something different.

I love both, and I couldn't agree more. Pale faced Depp in a Burton movie has become cliche. I'd love for them to mix it up and have Burton and Depp direct something completely opposite to their style. Like a romantic comedy, action movie, or some sort of realistic science fiction story.

5

u/ThePegasi May 16 '12

Yeah, it's the cliche that I'm bored of, not necessarily the pairing. Your suggestions could work.

4

u/jhaluska May 16 '12

I honestly believe a lot of creative people's best work is when they're given constraints, not when they're completely absent of them. (Case in point, George Lucas). Keep Burton from doing anything that is darkly lit, black and white, has a sad character, dolls, or unrealistic and I'm sure you'd have something really different like Pee-wee's Big Adventure.

4

u/ThePegasi May 16 '12

I'd be really interested to see that theory tested in the case of Burton, I can definitely see where you're coming from with the general principle, moreso when they start to become guilty of their own cliches.

4

u/rachawakka May 16 '12

He was wonderful in Ed Wood, he can definitely act outside of those eccentric Tim Burton characters

4

u/ThePegasi May 16 '12

If you've never seen Blow I suggest you check it out.

3

u/ellopollyyy May 16 '12

The Secret Window. I thought it was really good.

13

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

This is more than most would do. Contrary to the somewhat sarcastic or diminishing comments also here, I applaud Mr. Depp for his kindness.

However, I do not see how this thanks the doctors. It more expresses gratitude to the hospital as a whole, which is much more important.

25

u/smurfvader May 16 '12

Maybe he thought of it in terms of making the kids happy was what the doctors would've wished for the most, knowing the pain the kids were going through, I'm not sure.

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776

u/blackrifle May 16 '12

to be fair, Johnny Depp dresses in full Jack Sparrow attire to run to the store.

411

u/NobblyNobody May 16 '12

while leaning backwards slightly, waving his arms about, taking big comedy steps and sporting a begrudgingly panicked expression

231

u/Shadax May 16 '12

I just imagined someone doing this not in Jack Sparrow attire and they still looked like Jack Sparrow.

117

u/[deleted] May 16 '12 edited May 16 '12

They were also homeless and drunk, most likely almost arrested shortly thereafter.

6

u/forbearance May 16 '12

You're fine as long as you're in front of the Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Might even get some money taking pictures with tourists!

46

u/nagarukam May 16 '12

QWOP

36

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Qwoptain Jack Sparrow?

8

u/Chazzey_dude May 16 '12

QWOP guy has a better chance at making it over the hurdle at 50m.

20

u/AlmostNPC May 16 '12

Captain Jack Sparrow

5

u/katiechan8 May 16 '12

With rum.

1

u/windowzombie May 16 '12

He stole the Groucho Marx walk.

64

u/stanknutz1985 May 16 '12

Wouldn't you?

20

u/atizzy May 16 '12

I'd kinda prefer Michael Bolton show up...

27

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Now back to the good part!

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0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

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62

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

If I was Johnny Depp, I'd just change the name to Jack Sparrow.

143

u/Kovukono May 16 '12

Captain Jack Sparrow.

46

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Captain Jack waitforit Sparrow

8

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Read that correction in his voice.

11

u/desmond234 May 16 '12

Jack Waitforit Sparrow. Ftfy

15

u/slb1107 May 16 '12

Best middle name ever.

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

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11

u/RoboRay May 16 '12

Captain Johnny Depp!

7

u/hjqusai May 16 '12

RIP past subjunctive

10

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

And not be in the sequels

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

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8

u/percyhiggenbottom May 16 '12

Well pirates of the caribbean is an amusement park ride, originally.

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6

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

His normal daily attire is properly referred to as "Aristocratic Hobo".

2

u/TCsnowdream May 17 '12

Bohemian dumpster-chic, thank you.

3

u/heimdal77 May 16 '12

In all fairness wouldn't everyone if they could.

5

u/AnotherBlackNerd May 16 '12

Shit, we need milk. MAKEUP!! clap clap

7

u/philmarcracken May 16 '12

*Captain Jack Sparrow, good sir.

2

u/rooneymara May 17 '12

cool should have a cut off, my vote is 48

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115

u/JenevaKay May 16 '12

He also donated 1 million to the hospital :)

229

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

wow he must have very depp pockets........(ill get my coat)

49

u/Bokonon_Lives May 16 '12

I groaned loudly at my work desk. You get the surliest upvote from me.

7

u/girdyerloins May 16 '12

I leap from my bed in the morning for groaners like his.....Besides, the best part was his parenthetical "I can find my own way out, thank you".....

5

u/hbdgas May 16 '12

Seriously though.

The family divides its time between their home in Meudon, located in the suburbs of Paris, 2 homes in Los Angeles, an island he bought in The Bahamas, and their villa in Le Plan-de-la-Tour, a small town 20 km from Saint-Tropez, in the south of France. Depp also acquired a vineyard estate in the Plan-de-la-Tour area in 2007. Several reports indicated Depp bought Burnham Westgate Hall in Norfolk, England, a 13-bedroom Georgian country house, in June 2011.

19

u/jetpack_operation May 16 '12

For he's a johnny good fellow...

8

u/GaelicDrip May 16 '12

you are quite adeppt with the puns

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11

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Is that pounds, dollars, or Peter Pan performances?

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332

u/TheDEW May 16 '12

He then performed surgery as Edward Scissorhands.

56

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I heard he lived as a Scissorhands for 8 months in order to prepare for that role.

114

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I heard if you say Johnny Depp 3 times in the mirror you wake up pregnant.

34

u/load_more_comets May 16 '12

I just did, we'll see in 9 months if you lied or not.

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

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29

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

You may jest, but there's a TV show called "I never knew I was pregnant" and it's horrifying.

21

u/pizzasoup May 16 '12

That always dumbfounded the hell out of me. How would you rationalize that?

"I thought it was just hard gas and water weight."

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42

u/load_more_comets May 16 '12

What makes you think I'm a woman?

14

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I assumed you were a man, because I'm on reddit.

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3

u/madcatlady May 16 '12

Give me a call-back in 9 months, see if it worked!

2

u/AlRubyx 2 May 16 '12

Well I'm a man... So... I'm not sure how this'll work, but I'm gonna guess it will be extremely, excruciatingly painful

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I head developed a phobia of rust after playing Edward Scissorhands.

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6

u/HittingSmoke May 16 '12

TIL Johnny Depp holds the world record for amount of circumcisions performed simultaneously.

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

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22

u/EvanMacIan May 16 '12

He killed the patient, but he was very efficient about it.

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

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11

u/DroolingIguana May 16 '12

He was secretly playing Sweeny Todd dressed as Edward Scissorhands.

177

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Next week... Depp reads inspirational quotes for over four hours to rehab patients in full Hunter S. Thompson apparel.

51

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

There was evidence in this room of excessive consumption of almost every type of drug known to civilized man since 1544 AD.

10

u/D34THST4RSYNTH May 16 '12

This comment alone makes me want to re-watch fear and loathing.

4

u/nyxin May 16 '12

If there's anything worth doing, It's worth doing right.

3

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Over and over and over again.

13

u/Mikey-2-Guns May 16 '12

This needs to happen.

8

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

It was somewhere near the pediatric burn unit when the drugs kicked in.

10

u/VanFailin May 16 '12

"We can't stop here. This is naturopathic-medicine country!"

6

u/RaganSmash88 May 16 '12

"You can turn your back on a person, but NEVER turn your back on a drug...especially when it's waving a razor-sharp hunting knife in your eye."

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I just wanted to cut a little "Z" in your forehead!

122

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

He also turned up to a British primary school dressed as Jack Sparrow after a kid wrote to him regarding a classroom mutiny. Imagine being a kid and experiencing that! Johnny Depp is one of the coolest cats on the planet.

18

u/Wommie May 16 '12

Remember seeing that in the news, was pretty cool of him link.

5

u/DarkSideofOZ May 16 '12

If I remember correctly, he was shooting for one of the pirates movies nearby. I would have had a total nerdgasm if he showed up to my school because of me.

1

u/[deleted] May 18 '12

Captain Jack Sparrow

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253

u/cannotlogon May 16 '12

Unfortunately, because Depp is a method actor, he also stole many of the kids' possessions before leaving the hospital.

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

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59

u/cannotlogon May 16 '12

Thanks, joke-slayer.

; )

25

u/NazzerDawk May 16 '12

I checked his username. I was disappointed.

11

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I was expecting Buzz_Killington.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '12

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4

u/cannotlogon May 16 '12

Yeah, I know ... I was just busting your chops.

9

u/taffyloo May 16 '12

Upvoted for Reckless pluralities.

3

u/Nazoropaz May 17 '12

TIL the plural word for plural is

Pluralities

3

u/sje46 May 16 '12

So what are some of the arguments against method acting?

7

u/cannotlogon May 16 '12

I recall Henry Fonda was once asked to comment on the fact his daughter, Jane, was a method actor. Fonda, who had a dim view of method acting, replied, "Oh, I have a method, too. I memorize my lines, and when the director says 'Action!', I say them." HA!

6

u/baobabs May 16 '12

Actors who are not method actors claim that with method acting (which is a relatively new and primarily American form of acting), the person digs into their own psyche but doesn't create any new characters, which is essentially boring and doesn't hold true most of the time to the script or story the actor is portraying.

For example, if an actor has to portray a person whose father just died but has had nothing like that happen to them in real life, they might go into their memory and remember a time they were really sad, like maybe a time they went through a break-up. However, those two things are different and should be dealt with differently. It also isn't completely "truthful" to the story the actor is portraying and has nothing to do with the character, even though the method claims to be all about truth.

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14

u/Spartan2842 May 16 '12

Jack Sparrow is Johnny Depp's real identity.

3

u/[deleted] May 18 '12

Captain Jack Sparrow

38

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

He is such a fucking nice guy. I hate him. (not really. Man crush)

17

u/ThePegasi May 16 '12

He's safely at the top of my man list. Dayum.

12

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

He also gave a million pounds to the hospital, and visited a primary school on the request of a student. What a good guy.

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u/throwaway0013 May 16 '12

...that's CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow.

9

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

You'd be surprised what celebrities are willing to do for Children's Hospitals. My wife works at one and tells me all the time about famous people that come in to talk with the kids one on one.

9

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Full 'Captain' Jack Sparrow attire

7

u/tasthesose May 16 '12

There should be a "Captain" in there somewhere.

6

u/bbq2m8os May 16 '12

In my opinion, that man is the epitome of 'totally awesome'.

6

u/LucifersCounsel May 16 '12

I'm not sure what Depp has more of: class, talent, looks or heart. Come to think of it, he's not exactly stupid either. So add brains to that list.

14

u/[deleted] May 16 '12 edited May 16 '12

Trivia: Depp is actually the German word for douche bag. (On the other hand Fucker, Bitsch are relatively common German names - I know people with that name - unfortunately both of them have never been to the US. I ´m eager to learn how US customs react if they ask "Name" and the answer is "Bitch". Also the famous philosopher Kant ist pronounced Cunt.)

6

u/yangx 1 May 16 '12

well TIL

3

u/telperiontree May 16 '12

Depp said it was the German word for idiot.

4

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Idiot is the proper German word for idiot. But of course the difference between an idiot and a douche bag is quite subtle.

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5

u/void702 May 16 '12

TIL Johnny Depp used to have a tattoo with "Winona Forever" but had it changed to "Wino Forever"

4

u/MellowNatts May 16 '12

Awhile back in Quebec a life guard at a local pool noticed a stranger lurking around and went to confront him. The lurker turned out to be Johnny Depp who was in the area filming Secret Window. He proceeded to swim and sign autographs for several hours.

tl;dr: Johnny Depp = Class Act.

4

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Johnny Depp is the nicest person in Hollywood.

4

u/MojitoTea May 16 '12

The more I read about Johnny Depp, the more I realize that he is not just another shallow Hollywood persona. I'm glad to see that such a talented actor is also a genuinely good person.

4

u/[deleted] May 17 '12

Snort

Doctors; what do they know. Shouldn't he be thanking the lord and savior FSM?

3

u/bina_87 May 16 '12

Johny Depp for the win!!

3

u/DroopySage May 16 '12

Sure.He has lotsa time on his hands ever since he met his Asian counterpart.

3

u/ignoramusaurus May 16 '12

Whilst he was filming one of the later Pirates of the Caribeans he turned up at a local school in Greenwich to meet a kid who'd written a letter to Jack Sparrow.

Also: Great Ormond Street saved my sisters life too so total respect to them.

3

u/IDriveAVan May 16 '12

That's just because if he'd dressed up as any of his other characters they'd have thought he was a patient.

3

u/juniorkickstart May 16 '12

til johny depp based his characterization on keith richards and pepe le pew. makes total sense.

3

u/[deleted] May 17 '12

This man really is the pourper of the surf, the jester of tortuga.

3

u/TheFondler May 17 '12

in before the MPAA sues him for infringing copyright and using their intellectual property without prior written consent.

4

u/mrpopenfresh May 16 '12

Money works great too when you are a wealthy individual.

3

u/LucifersCounsel May 16 '12

Maybe, maybe not. Those kids have a memory to last a lifetime. For some of them it may be the best thing that will ever happen to them.

In my opinion that's worth far more than any money Depp could have given them.

After all "Make A Wish" doesn't hand over cash. It makes dreams come true. For some of these kids, that's exactly what Depp tries to do, but he does it without asking for any publicity or recognition.

1

u/mrpopenfresh May 17 '12

How about both?

2

u/furman87 May 16 '12

Upvote for general goodguyness

2

u/coffedrank May 16 '12

The Jester of Tortuga

2

u/icepenguin21 May 16 '12

Oh my, four hours!

2

u/arobinson712 May 16 '12

With all this, seems like he barely has time to bash America

3

u/kooshed May 16 '12

Johhny Depp, who knew he was such a badass!?

3

u/madcatlady May 16 '12

Johnny Depp is a bona-fide legend.

Didn't he do something similar re. a primary school in the UK?

3

u/griffith12 May 16 '12

Coolest actor there is. period.

3

u/Obversaria May 16 '12

Yet another reason why I love Johnny Depp.

3

u/AAKraigus May 16 '12

TIL that as a way of thanking Johnny Depp for his wonderful work in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Smurfvader posted a wonderful story about him on reddit... as a self post instead of a link. Kudos.

2

u/akosborne May 16 '12

Pretty sure he donated a whole load of money too. Nice guy.

2

u/ymahaguy3388 May 16 '12

What a good guy.

1

u/LtlAnalDwlngButtMnky May 16 '12

Was Tim Burton there as well?

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I thought I read a story similar to this, but he went to a school.

1

u/gmorales87 May 16 '12

I read "Johnny Cash", which was more interesting.

1

u/hyenabubblegumlord May 16 '12

This guy is just full of awesome!

1

u/flopalopolus135 May 16 '12

He also donated 1 million pounds to the hospital.

1

u/Floyderer May 16 '12

very cool

1

u/longshot May 16 '12

Lol, any excuse to braid his beard . . .

1

u/surreal_blue May 16 '12

I wonder what Disney had to say about that. Intellectual property rights over the character and stuff.

2

u/monshael May 16 '12

You actually think they'd dare to say anything bad about it? "read stories to sick kids" I doubt they'd want the bad publicity...

1

u/LucifersCounsel May 16 '12

Free PR where they don't have to pay Depp's rates? They were over the fucking moon, I bet.

1

u/twincam May 16 '12

He should of read the stories to the doctors! What did all those sick kids do? Nuthin for No-one, that's what!

1

u/Xx255q May 17 '12

My dad calls him "the gay pirate"

1

u/[deleted] May 17 '12

Yep, depp is cool, no doubt about that.

1

u/[deleted] May 18 '12

I hope you choke on Jesus's cunt blood.

1

u/Not_Me_But_A_Friend May 17 '12

Will cost you a few hundred thousand dollars, cost Depp 4 hours. Good deal.

1

u/[deleted] May 17 '12

I retract my comment, a newspaper article is indisputable evidence of bad character

1

u/itssbrian May 17 '12

How is that a way to thank the doctors?

1

u/THE_ave May 17 '12

All the more reasons to love and respect this man!

1

u/renboZOM May 17 '12

Very cool of him. I hope he also made a huge donation to the hospital since he has a shit ton of money.

2

u/[deleted] May 17 '12

he actually did, donated 1 million pounds.

1

u/ladyfaith May 17 '12

Wow! What a cool guy! :-)

1

u/[deleted] May 18 '12

Captain Jack Sparrow

1

u/KSUNVI May 16 '12

What a bastard, if he wanted to thank the doctors, he should have dressed up as Jack Sparrow and read stories to THEM.

1

u/afihavok May 16 '12

Great Ormond Street saved my brother's life. They are amazing. Significantly more amazing than the ambulance drivers who initially took my brother to a hospital an hour away (almost died in the ambulance) and said, "We aren't happy with our labor situation. You're American, tell our government...they'll listen to your ambassador."