Issue 17 : July 2002
Wasaga Beach Colour
Ontario Skies
Simcoe County Museum
Kayak View
Horses
Anmals other than horses
Mixed subjects
scribbling more than writing:
Pause Control 17
Numbers and other Stuff : a column of sorts
- William Gibson -
a little digital darkroom prestidigitation, moi sans beard
I hesitate to call this anything other than a mild, musing rant, but it
is intended as a regular column of whatever crosses my radar screen of
concern, amusement, and stupefaction. There will be numbers but there
will be no quiz. Warning complete. On with the show, Mr. Sitz.
Pegasus Bridge by Stephen E. Ambrose has a rather chilling
number in it. Regarding the glider troop part of the invasion of Sicily,
in World War II:
"On the day of the invasion of Sicily, Jim [Wallwork] flew a WACO [glider]
with a lieutenant, ten riflemen, and a hand trailer full of ammunition.
The tug pilots were Americans, flying Dakotas [C-47 twin engine transports
known in civilian terminology as the DC-3], which had no self-sealing
tanks [aircraft without self sealing fuel tanks were likely to burst into
flames when struck by flak or tracer also known as incendiary machinegun
or cannon rounds - the only real weakness of Japan's superb single engine
fighter of WWII, the "Zero" was the lack of self sealing fuel tanks],
and no armored plate [some aircraft had armour plate built in behind the
pilots seat to protect the pilot]. Their orders were to avoid flak [anti-aircraft
artillery fire] at all costs. When they approached the coastline and flak
began to appear, most of the American pilots cast off their gliders and
turned back to sea. As a consequence of being let go too far out, twenty
of the twenty-four gliders never made it to shore. Many of the men
were drowned." p. 54, Pegasus Bridge, Stephen E. Ambrose, Touchstone Books,
Simon and Schuster, Inc. 1988.
Jim Wallwork survived Sicily and was the first glider pilot
to land at Pegasus Bridge, the first touchdown of airborne troops on June
6, 1944. His landing was in the precise spot required to capture a key
bridge on the east flank of the British Army's landings at Normandy. People
who have seen THE LONGEST DAY, Darryl F. Zanuck's 1960s D-Day movie will
be familiar with this first step in the battle on June 6th.
Watched Band of Brothers 10 part series by HBO on TMN, repeated
a little earlier this spring. Based on another book by Ambrose. Recommended.
I suspect that many of the actors featured in this series, most unknown
or nearly unknown before, will begin appearing in starring roles. Tom
Cruise's assistant precrime cop in Minority Report is one example,
fellow by the name of Neil McDonough.
Speaking of World.com, ENRON, and Martha Stewart's future, to look
at just a few business stories of late, it is enough to make people join
the French Foreign Legion or the Mouseketeers. Who would have ever thought
accountants would become bandits of note on the news? What is next, a
world wide conspiracy involving insurance agents? The news is full of
people who used to be the wallpaper to conventional movies out of the
old Hollywood tradition. I suppose we won't be seeing a remake of Boystown
any time soon. I can't write any more about that criminal conspiracy.
Of course, if you go back in movie time, BULLITT was all about a Mafia
accountant trying to run for it. McQueen got him and of course got Jacqueline
Bisset. But I digress.
Elsewhere in the news. In Formula 1 racing, there was a US$ 1 million fine to Ferrari for their team "strategy" of having their number two driver give way to Schumacher, driver number one win the Austrian Gran Prix. At the time the drivers' points competition for the season was in doubt. It isn't now, Schumacher is going to win no matter what and so numero deux got to take the win at the last race. Nice of the team strategists. Saw a news report where an expert on Formula One called the fine a wrist slap. Pause for a moment and look at your wrist.
I was thinking over Dominic Hasek's decision to retire.
He would have been paid US$8 million by the Red Wings next
season. Let us all pause to consider that number for a moment, possibly
eight moments, in honour of each million. I hope his investment
people stayed away from World.com and Enron.
Visited the Simcoe County Museum at Midhurst near Barrie on Canada
Day and had a brief chat regarding humidity in the museum…it was 30 celsius
outside and probably 90 percent humidity, while inside where it
felt like a meat locker, it was 72 Fahrenheit and 50 percent
humidity. Reminds me of a stint at the Nortel, Northern Telecom still
in those days, Toronto Lab at University and Dundas, where some one complained
about air quality in the closed office space and a study was done and
found the office humidity was about 22 percent. By way of reference,
the Sahara is 29 per cent. To make you feel even drier, most airliners
run at 2 percent humidity. They could make it a little more humid
but it would cost fuel, so hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate some more when
you fly.
Speaking of HtwoO, my residence after 32 years of existence
on Georgian Bay got hooked up to the Township water line (just put in
on my road last fall, made for interesting driving in the mornings, since
they dug up 20 yard sections of the whole road width at certain
points). No more drilled well water. We always tested close to potable,
but …. two tests good, and each test had three parts, and
the third test we would be one number over the safety limit on one part.
So many million 4 litre bottles of spring water got consumed here
by my late mom, my sis, the cat, the dogs, and moi. Tends to make you
think twice about cooking pasta. So water is good and comes now from the
tap. Great water pressure in the shower. To be completely fair to the
old pump and well, it was a lot more than the trickle I remember from
B and Bs in England, where I would stand at my 6 foot 2 inch height
and peer down at the shower head aiming a trickle at my chest. Breakfast
was usually pretty nice. And then Mr. Murphy said hi. About 6 days
after connection to the Township water line (interesting excavation process),
the I will admit "antique" water hoses from the back of the washer to
the shut off valves in the utility room said enough is enough. Actually
just one of them. One held. About a one and a half inch long split
announced itself in one of the hoses. Around 6 a.m. I trudged along
to find the water accumulating in the utility room, corner of the kitchen
(there is a good reason after all for having a non level kitchen floor),
and starting along the hallway to the bathroom. Managed to get water shut
off after some minor slapstick humour. The one position from which I could
reach the shut off valves with my slip wrench put my face directly in
front of the high pressure water shooting out of the hose. My glasses
helped a bit with that part. And they needed a good wipe anyway. Exciting
way to start the day.
The Baseball All Star Game 11th inning work stoppage was interesting,
but the introduction of the Ted Williams MVP award for the All Star Game
and the decision not to award it was breath-taking in the scale of its
monumental stupidity. Cut the bats up for kindling and let the millionaires
go home and bake bread.
Men in Black II - go see, I did, the train station
locker......my favourite bit.
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Text and image copyright
© William Joseph Gibson 2002
bluetyger is Made in Canada