Virtually Everything?

    The other day, I was watching several young people being interviewed on TV. They were asked what they wanted most for Christmas. The age demographic of those questioned ranged somewhere between 9 and 14. All their replies placed various video games, I-pads, I-phones etc. as the preferred choice. Not one even mentioned any of the hitherto traditional choices such as sportswear, skateboards, bikes, musical instruments -or even clothes. I found this to be rather distressing and sadly in line with much of the younger population and increasingly amongst those not in the first flush of youth. More and more people are moving away from real experiences in favour of easy-to-access substitutes. As an example this has escalated to the point where it is not unusual to see groups of young people although in close proximity to each other are engaged in electronic communication with others who are not. The texting phenomenon in particular seems to have become preferable to direct conversation. These items of social media hardware it appears have now reached “must have” essential status.

  " I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots"
Albert Einstein

      Similarly with sporting activities, despite dire warnings on the   alarming incidence of obesity, there are increasing inducements to participate in indoor electronic simulations, which although without question provide enjoyable entertainment, do relatively little for musculature or cardio-vascular health. There is certainly a place for all the foregoing but it all comes down to a question of keeping it in perspective. Many modern day parents, with the necessity of holding down two jobs, live stressful lives in an uncertain work environment. Arriving home in the evening, in order to get some restful relaxation, they are only too pleased to provide distractions for their children which do not require their active participation. 
    The insidious nature of habit-forming, particularly on young and malleable minds, this could lead to the distinct possibility that video game representation of outdoor sports -such as for example tennis or golf, will become (-as they would have it) the default setting with indoor venues replacing those of outdoors. Extreme games featuring violence, war and associated mayhem can well imprint negative and undesirable effects on character development and at their worst, dull sense of compassion and skew perceptions of reality, right and wrong. As I write this, unbelievably a local school has decided to ban balls on school property in case somebody gets injured! By extension maybe pens and pencils should get the same treatment as they could be used as weapons!
    Where will it all end? With the exponential advance of technology there will be no limit as to what is possible. As an example, there could be no necessity to eat. It would be quite simple to introduce some form of union into the stomach which would be attached to a delivery hose from which would discharge a perfectly balanced mixture of nutritional substances at “meal times “or maybe by continuous “drip feed”. Maybe this facility could be integrated into gas station equipment so that human refueling can take place at the same time!
    On a more general level, this synthesizing of activities could ultimately result in a situation where to the young, actually being indoors becomes preferable to the outdoors -totally unheard of in my youth, In other words instead of a joyful immersion in the magnificent and wondrous world in which we live, the intention becomes one of providing insulation from it. 
    Everything which exists comes from the earth and will ultimately return to it. In this respect there exists within all of us a latent spiritual affinity which in our current circumstances may need a bit of a nudge to reactivate. To ignore, bypass or suppress such fundamental feelings cannot be positive or productive on any level.
    Then there is the phenomenon of “virtual sex”. I’m not sure quite how this works; but the traditional, original form, being essentially multifaceted, must be sadly absent in the electronic version. Two-dimensional cyber images, being purely visual cannot reproduce the scope of emotions associated with the old school, time-honored conventional method with its fusion of affection, touch, closeness, tenderness, love, passion, peace, relaxation -choose your own noun. To be sure there are copious quantities of material intended to stimulate, but much of this involves gross graphic gynecological images which surely cannot in any way be considered as erotically uplifting.

    In my far off youth, growing up in England, the subject of sex was taboo and kept under wraps. Perversely, for those doing the wrapping, mainly due to the “forbidden fruit” syndrome, this had the opposite effect of greatly heightening the erotic responses of any sexual contact -however mild in nature. At the time, Saturday evening community dances were common place from which many relationships evolved. Indeed these functions were considered the place to form liaisons with the opposite sex. Not surprisingly after an evening’s activities which by definition involved close physical contact, there was perchance a growing affinity towards a particular partner. This being the case, proceedings often drew to a close with a (fairly innocent) amount of consensual grappling behind the dance hall prior to dispersal to our respective homes. Despite being very mild by contemporary standards, the substantial hormonal disarray which resulted was commonly referred to by the youthful male intelligentsia as “Saturday night knee tremblers!” 

   I believe that the “in your face” nature of pornography is similar to extreme video games in that it has a desensitizing affect and in the process cheapens, demystifies and de-romanticizes the entire experience. Could this be the reason for the huge market in the upsurge of medications and other aids to overcome what appears to be a burgeoning epidemic of impotence? Could this be due to the fact that these products were not yet available in the pre-computer era or that there was no market for them? In the case of my confreres and myself, without question it was certainly the latter. In fact bromide, the medication supplied to inductee military personnel of the time (and with good reason), was aimed at achieving just the opposite!

Thanks to our Throw-away Society!

I had enjoyed refurbishing the two folding Raleigh Twenty bicycles I acquired earlier in the year (-see April and August blogs). Being of sound and rugged design, the process had been most satisfying. It had resulted in two classic vintage bicycles in excellent condition and ready for another thirty years of use!
However, this design although extremely successful, was somewhat specialised with its small wheels and folding hinge. I was interested in how the Twenty would compare with its contemporary, the conventionally configured, iconic Raleigh “Sports”. Sheldon Brown, the sadly-missed bicycle guru described them thus:
“For many years, in many parts of the world, the Raleigh "Sports" three-speed bicycle was considered the ultimate in human-powered transportation. These bicycles were not toys, and, despite the model name, they were not sporting equipment...they were serious vehicles. The men and women who built them, by and large, also rode them, as their primary means of transportation. They were designed to provide solid, dependable transportation for the British public, at a time when only the upper classes had motorcars. These bikes were built to last 100 years, with reasonable care.”

http://sheldonbrown.com/raleigh.html

Raleigh promotional literature

Indeed in England I had used a very similar design to convey myself to and from my first ever job. This was a “Robin Hood Sports”, one of several badge-engineered products from one of several companies bought out by the Raleigh Group. This was my father’s primary means of transport. It was made available to me on an “as required basis” -a status which rapidly evolved from “as required” into “permanent”! Equipped with generator/battery lighting, it was totally reliable and as Sheldon said was -a complete transportation system. Looking back through my rheumy old eyes I had often wondered what progress has been made in bicycle design over the past 50+years. How would such designs compare with the current plethora of types being produced?

In August a neighbour, knowing of my interest in bicycles, informed me that an acquaintance of his had asked him to dispose of a couple of bikes in which he had no further interest nor even required any payment!! Having a garage already overfull with bicycles, my initial interest was somewhat lukewarm. However, I agreed to take a look. To my amazement I was confronted by not one -but two vintage Raleigh Sports, one made in 1973 and the other in 1979! They both had a yellowish hue and looked decidedly sorry for themselves. However, having rubbed an exploratory finger over their frames I immediately discovered that their unappealing jaundiced appearance was due to sawdust! The 1973 men’s model had been given a rich brown burgundy colour and the 1979 ladies model sported a light blue finish. My neighbour informed me that they had been stored in a saw mill! My interest temperature index now rapidly elevated from lukewarm towards a state approaching incandescence! I agreed to take them both off his hands and consigned them both to the garden shed for future consideration -which turned out to be the following day!.
Neither had been used much. This was evidenced by the brake blocks which showed little wear as did the rubber pedal surfaces. Both had been set up poorly and most of the components needed readjusting. I also discovered that the 1979 ladies model had been assembled in Canada at the Raleigh plant in Quebec.
I stripped both bikes down to their principle component parts. As I expected at the time, a good cleaning plus a generous chunk of TLC and polishing was necessary. After the initial cleaning, oiling the chromed components prior to using a combination of crumpled up aluminum foil and metal polish, was sufficient to remove virtually all the rust even on the wheel rims Similarly, the paintwork responded to thorough cleaning plus Turtlewax car polish. In fact I used Turtlewax to finish up the bright parts as well to deter future rust. I removed all the ball bearing surfaces (apart from the 3-speed unit). They were all in need of attention. 30+ year old oil and grease does not make a pretty sight. All were thoroughly cleaned, new ball bearings fitted and packed with grease. Two of the cotters that retain the crank arms onto the pedal spindles were damaged during removal and replaced. This part of the process was the most troublesome. These cotters (particularly after 30+ years in situe) are notoriously difficult to shift –even with a special tool!

Cotter pin removal tool. Destroyed cotter pin left; new cotter right.

Due to sidewall cracking I replaced the original Kenda 26 x 1 3/8" tyres on the 1973 men’s model with new Kendas and tubes surprisingly available from the local Canadian Tire -plus new rim tape. The tyres on the 1979 model were in much better shape and remain for now. I suspect that they had been already replaced sometime.

Both bicycles were then carefully reassembled, brakes and chains adjusted to nominal, the three-speed shifters set up carefully and all that remained prior to a test ride was to replace the much too short seat post with a longer one already in my possession. This also required the temporary replacement of the original Brooks saddle on the brown men’s bike which was incompatible with the seat post. The latter has now been modified and the original Brooks saddle replaced.

I did a 10km "shake down" ride on the brown bicycle and was surprised initially at how heavy and sluggish it felt compared with modern chromoly and carbon-fibre frames, However I soon realised that the gearing was much too high and with it the years rolled back and I recalled slogging up some of the Chiltern Hills on my 8 mile commute to my work at Booker airfield. Now with over 50 years more life experience I did not accept the situation and very soon had replaced the original 17 tooth rear sprocket with one of 21 teeth. This was a great improvement and it did not take long to adapt to the extra weight and to pedal accordingly. Apart from the foregoing, everything was just fine. It is easy to ride and very comfortable thanks to the springy Brooks saddle and. In fact it was like riding a new bike.

Finished 1973 men's Raleigh Sport with temporary saddle.

Left crank secured by its cotter pin!

Right crank, chain wheel and chain guard.

Rear shot showing the shiny wheel rims.

3-speed Sturmey-Archer hub.

The 1979 ladies model has lower gearing as standard which solves that problem. Because the frame is smaller, my rides have been of short duration but again everything feels fine. In fact the brakes are slightly better than the men’s bike. My daughter who is also a cyclist, carried out a short ride and gave it her seal of approval.

1979 ladies Raleigh Sport

Right side showing transmission

Simple steel rear brake; heavy but effective.

Paint and chrome are slightly better than on the brown bike.

The restoration work has been particularly rewarding in that the results of both bikes have exceeded expectations. Both had had limited use and are now in virtually as-new condition.
The cost of the brown men’s bike -including new tyres, tubes, ball bearings, a new 21 tooth sprocket a new brake cable and a new cotter pin was $70, whilst the blue ladies model -including one new cotter pin and ball bearings was $10.

In conclusion, my comparative assessment of the two bikes against those of contemporary design is that whilst they are not the best choice for rides of several hours or in very hilly terrain, for local round town riding or for transportation to and from work involving distances up to 10km or so each way, they are still difficult to beat. Moreover, being equipped with mudguards and chain guard gives extra protection for inclement weather and trouser legs from oily chains. There is no need to dress up. Just get on and go! These factors, plus their extreme sturdiness and reliability make them a very desirable possession. I never cease to be amazed at what some people throw away.
P.S.
There is now a video of the project:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FogQEptThG8

2011 - 2012; then what?

          The dire warnings surrounding the date of December 21^st 2012 are frequently associated with the predictions of the Mayans relating to the Precession of the Equinox. This involves the effects of the lining up of the winter solstice sun with the centre or so called “Dark Rift” of the Milky Way which marks the end of their Long Count calendar. This Galactic Alignment only occurs every 26000 years. The actual window during which this is predicted to take place is between the years 1998 – 2016. However, contrary to the widespread and dramatic outpourings from the sensationalists and purveyors of hyperbolae, the Mayan prognosis was never intended to be irrevocably associated with an apocalyptic termination of civilization as we know it. Rather, although considered likely to involve a period of uncertainty, danger and peril it could also present an opportunity to reassess the current state of human aspirations and achievements to enter a new age with a renewed, refreshed and transformed reality.     

The effects of this phenomenon have been widely predicted to be at their maximum in 2012. However there is an alternative school of thought which believes that its peak would occur a year earlier –late in 2011. In general, for many years, diverse races and cultures, particularly aboriginal, throughout the world have independently identified this “2012 era” date as being critical and considered pivotal to future human well being and spiritual evolution. However, forecasting of this kind is now redundant since the first symptoms of what is likely to come have already made themselves apparent. Astonishingly there has been a reluctance or unwillingness to accept  this reality that these difficult times are here now and that whatever the eventual outcome might be, the next few years will be challenging at best and catastrophic at worst.

In the following list of subjects, there is ample evidence that things are spinning out of control and that in some cases may be doing so exponentially. They may be broken down into two significant groups:-

Group 1.

1.1. Astronomic

1.2. Tectonic

1.3. Meteorological

Group 2.

2.1. Political

2.2. Societal/religious

2.3. Economic

1.  The first three are those over which we have little control other than to perhaps mitigate their effects;

- and

2.  The second three comprises things over which we collectively, given the resolve, have the power to totally restructure.

Group1 can be considered collectively since already it has given ample evidence of its awesome presence. Astronomically we are now already well within the 1998-2016 window of the Precession. The expected increase in solar flares has not had really major adverse effects (-thus far!). However, simultaneous with this there has been a massive increase in catastrophic geophysical activity which could be connected -at least in part. The effect of some of these earthquakes has been greatly augmented in some cases with attendant devastating tsunamis.  The so called “Ring of Fire” has been particularly active from New Zealand through Sri Lanka and SE Asia and earlier this year in Fukoshima, Japan.  The west has not escaped either, typically as witnessed by the devastating Haiti earthquake of January 2010 and now as I write this in late October, there is breaking news of a large (7.3 Richter) earthquake in Turkey.

As far as weather is concerned, who can argue that the extremes experienced around the world are as severe as or more so than at any time in recorded history. In some cases, particularly in North America, there have been extraordinary local anomalies; so much in fact that in some regions some parts seem to be on fire whilst others are under water.

The succession of hurricanes has wrought appalling devastation and suffering. Katrina, one of the deadliest in the history of the United States which virtually decimated the New Orleans area was the worst but just one of a seemingly endless series. Tornadoes in 2011 are occurring at record pace. Worldwide, at least 566 people have perished due to tornadoes including an astounding 550 in the United States compared with 564 US deaths in the previous 10 years -combined! 

Rain deluges have become commonplace in 2011 and many parts of the world; floods have resulted in total misery and the ruination of the local inhabitants. In Bangkok in particular, the current flooding is horrendous, whilst in other parts of the world, particularly in Africa the complete opposite is occurring with extreme drought conditions and with it acute water shortage, famine and starvation.

Another major consideration concerns the ongoing melting of polar ice. Should the melting be sufficient to expose the heat-absorbing tundra beneath, there will be a corresponding acceleration in the rate of ice melt. The consequent rise in sea level will pose an increasing threat to low lying regions of the world.  These climate changes being experienced are unlikely to moderate in the short term. In addition to human influences there seems to be evidence of an unrelated increase in temperatures due to solar variations.  Nevertheless, everything possible must be done to reduce the trend.  As has already been loudly proclaimed, we must stop the incredibly inefficient and damaging practice of burning things to get energy.  It is now more than ever essential to fully develop every existing alternative and particularly to establish once and for all the feasibility of the exotic and elusive Zero Point Energy .

Group 2, despite the fact that it is fully manageable there continues to be an escalation in all three of the individual factors. All are the results of power grabbing, mind control of the population or insatiable greed –sometimes all three!

There seems to be an escalation in the rattling of significantly more deadly weapons than sabres in certain countries such as North Korea and Iran with India and Pakistan not far behind..

 Attempts to introduce some form of democracy in many Islamic states seems doomed to failure since the basic tenets of their doctrine are not consistent with the notion in which all the people have an equal say in decisions that affect their lives. It should encompass social, economic and cultural conditions that enable the free and equal practice of political self-determination. The deadly and seemingly insatiable appetite for extreme violence by the Taliban continues unabated. Suicide bombing continues, fuelled in the main by willing participants spawned from the pathetic ignorance and life-long mind control of uneducated young followers. Now we hear the U.S. is withdrawing its troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.What then? 

Even when considering the current “Arab Spring” uprisings across the Middle East, a successful outcome based upon past experience is likely to result in a revised form of population control -different faces, -same oppression.  Sadly there are signs that this seems to be occurring already in recently liberated Egypt. It will be interesting to follow the fortunes of Libya following the uprising there and the death of Gaddafi  with Syria and Yemen amongst others waiting in the wings.  In other faith-based groups too, there has been an unfortunate escalation in fundamentalism, presumably due to feelings of powerlessness and insecurity.

The current state of world economics is front and centre in current news. Even when faced with impending financial meltdown there is still reluctance to bite the bullet. Current demonstrations in Greece and elsewhere against proposed austerity measures are responded to with strident demands for increases in social spending from non-existing financial resources. Their frustration is understandable since the current debacles were not directly of their making.

The current “Occupy” demonstrations and sit-ins worldwide, whilst being effective in raising public awareness, in general seems to lack focus with several unconnected groups using some protests to air their own particular disparate agendas. All this noise is unlikely to faze the wealthy and powerful 5% who it is claimed control the distribution of wealth with the ultimate objective of creating a New World Order. Should the other 95% develop a cohesive strategy utilising a rifle rather than a shotgun approach, it is likely to become (-hopefully without literally resorting to the means implied by the preceding metaphor!), less peaceful and benign. Across the vastness of China, regional inequities are on the increase, but now with greatly improved communications, it is becoming increasingly difficult to conceal this from the masses. The notion of up to one billion unhappy people taking issue with the status quo is too mindboggling to envisage.  

Whatever the catalyst for change might be, global stability and ongoing development requires a quantum change in perception with a resetting of all behavioural datums to those solely beneficial to the world in general and to the human predicament in particular.

Is all this the manifestation of arcane prophesy or merely an extraordinary coincidence? Whatever the reason, the period from now until the end of 2012 (and for some time thereafter), is likely to be one for the history books.

 

Holy Millinery and other Musings!

I have often wondered what the reason could be for adherents of many of the world’s religions to wear such a variety of headgear? The shape, colour configuration or construction method all seem to play a significant role. Amongst the plethora of fez’s, turbans, berets, skullcaps, cowls, homburgs, hijabs, mitres and many others there is no discernable similarity amongst them. What then exactly is the objective?

Is it a visible demonstration of their piety to their particular God that by so doing enhance their standing with him/her/it? Does God have a favorite hat? All would agree that deities in general are expected to possess the omnipotence, wisdom and insight to see inside each individual’s mind and soul. Therefore, since nothing can be hidden and every thought like an open book, on this basis, the choice of headgear seems redundant. The only logical reason must be a desire to advertize or flaunt their specific faith set to each other. This exacerbates existing schisms between them, each holding the fervent belief that the millinery mandate of each religion is (-like their faith) the only one acceptable to the Almighty. 

The origins of some are equally puzzling. In the case of Orthodox Jews, what could possibly be the connection between their large brimmed black fedoras and Abraham or Moses? Their hair ringlets pose the same enigma. The conventions of the Anglican Church in which I was immersed at an early age decreed, with a novel example of sexism, that whilst women are required to wear hats in church, men must take theirs off! The notion that God would be sensitive to the relative merits and configurations of various pieces cloth headgear seems ludicrous. 

This argument can be extended to other items of attire. The range of sartorial elegance across the faith groups is also varied but -and here is an element of logic. In many cases it is not practical whilst in formal religious attire to fulfill the multifarious job commitments of today’s modern society and hence the wearing of hats provides a visual if superficial identification of each group.        

To honestly confront their Maker in a state of pure humility and supplication, surely the sole configuration would be to appear as God made us -“au natural” or completely naked, thus removing any inequalities in social status or relative affluence. However, for various reasons of culture, convention, tradition or to be subjected to sex-obsessed moralizing, this is clearly a non-starter. Some compromise would be required.

Ideally, a simple, loose but all-embracing garment similar to those worn by those visiting Mecca for the Hajj would be a step in the right direction. In addition to satisfying the moral imperatives of the non-nudists, it would also camouflage the effects on many who have over the years indulged in abundant living, hence becoming progressively less (-more likely more!) than God had made them! It could be argued that now, apart from variations in skin tone and bone structure it would introduce an sizeable element of uncertainty in identification of religious or racial background. The general acceptance of this “uniform” garment would perhaps help to reduce the exercising of much of the cross-cultural prejudices and intolerant attitudes of one national or religious group over another.

Raleigh 20 Number 2 - finished at last!

Finally, after several delays I have finally finished Raleigh #2 to my satisfaction. It is now shod with Schwalbe Maratthon 1.75"'s mounted on Alex DM24 rims. It now proudly possesses a Brooks B17 saddle with matching honey brown bag. I have also removed the mudguards and added a waterbottle cage to the headtube. Total weight saved on the conversion 2.75kg (6 lb).

The alloy rims give a noticeable improvement in acceleration but the stopping power has not improved as much as I would have thought. I am now fiddling around with various brake levers. So far however, the originals seem as good as any. 

Overall the bike is more sprightly and handles very well with the new "Marathons". 

 It is now quite suitable for longer rides although its performance will not equal my lighter and much more sporty Dawes Kingpin. However the ride should be a little more relaxed and  plush!

How Much?

          Growing up in England I was fully immersed in or (or perplexed by) the subtleties and complexities of the Imperial Units of Measurement. Many of these had had their origins in the myriad trades and professions most of which had been in existence for centuries. This was fine for those directly involved in these arcane pursuits, but for others, without considerable mental dexterity these relationships of Distance, Area, Volume and Mass (-or Weight) remained cloaked in mystery. For distances or length we continued happily along with inches, feet, yards, chains, furlongs, miles and rods (also referred to as poles or perches). For maritime applications; fathoms, cables and nautical miles were added for good measure(?). To discover the size or area of something we added square perches, roods and acres to the mix. Volumes were determined by multiples of fluid ounces, gills, pints, quarts and gallons.

            For Mass and Weight we come to the piece de resistances. Here there were no fewer than three systems: Troy, Avoirdupois and Apothecaries Weights. These introduced us to grains, drachms, scruples, ounces, pounds, stones, quarters, hundredweights and tons.  

            Nevertheless, despite all the incomprehension and bewilderment, there was peace in the land. Maybe things were as they were intended to be. After all, it could be argued that if the Good Lord had intended us to be fully conversant with these unitary conundrums, we would probably all have been born with a pocket calculator dangling from an earlobe.

            Nevertheless, as the end of the Twentieth Century approached, things began to unravel.  With the development of closer ties between Britain and the foreign devils in the rest of Europe, the Imperial System came under increasing pressure. The inscrutability and obscurity that had been its main endearing feature became increasingly threatened by the profane Metric System. With this arrangement, distances and areas would simply be expressed as multiples of metres or hectares respectively, volumes by litres and weights by multiples of Grams. Little or no consideration was given to the poor Apothecary. It fact it might be said that he had no scruples!

            My own introduction to this heretical system was sudden, rapid and without any option. As indicated by the image at the head of these meanderings, I was a member of the development team of the Concorde supersonic airliner. Right at the outset it was decreed that all measurements and dimensions would exclusively use the Metric System. After some initial frustration and confusion, to my amazement I progressively discovered how straightforward it all was. By forcing myself to think metric without instinctively converting to Imperial to get some sense of familiarity, the metric units were much simpler and far easier to use. Everything was standardized. To even consider the inanities of four gills to an ounce, sixteen ounces to the pound, fourteen pound to a stone, one hundred and sixty stones to a ton and so on were quite ludicrous.

            Despite all this simplicity, in the world at large, old habits have been slow to die. Although by 2011, all countries have formally adopted the system, its implementation has varied from country to country. The USA, although being in the forefront of technological development, has, (certainly as far as the general rank and file is concerned) been reluctant to embrace it and still stubbornly clings to its own (slightly different in places) version of the Imperial System. Although not exclusive to the USA, such is the insistence in the “dumbing down” of anything requiring a modicum of thought, that a new system has been developed that everyone can relate to even though it is imprecise. Within this marvel of ambiguity, distances and sometimes areas are related typically to multiples of “football pitches” without specifying whether or not they include the end zone or indeed even the code of football. Heights are related to “stories” with no indication of a datum story height. 8 – 12 feet probably brackets a likely range. Volumes are on occasion related to swimming pools and weights to “numbers of loaded 747 aircraft”. There are many other regional examples of this but perhaps the most obscure is related to nutrition and food preparation. Weights and volumes are represented by a mishmash of cups, spoonfuls, sometimes fluid ounces and millilitres but with no conversion data from  weight to volume. With all these opportunities for culinary disaster it’s a marvel that any meal ever turns out right! However, these pale into significance when compared with my own personal favourite, “the serving”. What the heck is that supposed to mean and how does one item relate to another? Exactly how much is it? How does a serving of meat relate to a serving of vegetables? What meat and what vegetable? Can a serving of steak relate to a serving of chicken or a serving of broccoli to one of potato. How does a serving of fruit relate to a serving of bread? If so, upon what is the implied relationship between them based? At the end of the day how can any of the above possibly be considered preferable to the use of globally accepted precise units of measurements?

            In conclusion, the measure of temperature should be mentioned. In the grand Imperial days our good old ”British system” (-developed by the Dutch-German-Polish physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit!) was employed. Its origins are of interest. Using this scale, the zero point was determined by placing the thermometer in a just freezing mixture of brine and ammonium chloride. Somewhat higher up the scale, 32 degrees was the temperature at which fresh water froze. The hundred degree point was based on the body temperature of a horse! An additional point, 96 degrees approximated to body or “blood heat”. Finally stuck out on its own, the unlikely figure of 212 degrees defined the temperature of boiling water, 180 degrees above the freezing point of fresh water. .

            However, by the 1970’s, the common usage of brine was falling out of favour as was the ready availability of horses to bleed. The Celsius scale, which recognised the formation of freshwater ice at zero degrees on the one hand and the boiling point of water at 100 degrees* sounded the death knell of the Farenheit scale. Despite that, its universal acceptance was not immediate with again the USA dragging its feet. Apparently the greater possibility of having to use decimals to obtain an accurate temperature value has been considered too onerous.

            As for me this entire exercise has become too onerous. I’m going for a brisk bike ride for some fresh air. With a bit of effort I’m hoping to complete my ride at an average speed of 53760 furlongs per fortnight –no need for any decimals there!    

* at standard atmospheric conditions.

Afghanistan; -far too high a price!

            For some time I have been trying to come up with something that expresses my increasing concern at our ongoing involvement in Afghanistan. I accept (I think) that the main thrust as far as Canada is concerned is to aid in an evolving transition to a more democratic society. However every time I hear of yet another young soldier being killed I wonder if, even with the good intentions it’s all worth the effort. The ruined lives, the incalculable grief and loss which results, even if it had some positive effect, can never come remotely close to justifying the appalling price.  Nothing can be worse than this, yet there exists an increasing impression (-to me at any rate)  that by and large the Afghan populous fails to acknowledge the sacrifices or appreciates the efforts made.

            I have been trying to understand the mindset of the people. Why is there no apparent shortage in the supply of willing suicide bombers and why is there a perception that the Afghan effort seems half-hearted at best and duplicitous at worst?  The recent debacle where nearly 500 high risk prisoners tunneled their way to freedom under the noses of the guards is an example. Moreover, this wasn’t the first time. On a previous occasion nearly 1000 escaped.  What do they want and what’s more to the point, what do they really think?

Thankfully, I have been let off the hook. The subject has been addressed recently in a dynamic TED lecture on Empathy by sociologist Sam Richards. Given in front of an American audience at Penn State, he pulls no punches. Although he specifically aims his comments at the situation in Iraq, much of what he says can be read across to Afghanistan, where to the locals little distinction exists between any of the Western armed forces.

http://www.cmn.tv/videos/sam-richards-a-radical-experiment-in-empathy/

Polling polemics!

            Like most people I am appalled at the pre-election vandalism  involving the slashing of car tires and other damage to signs etc. However this whole debacle would be less of a factor if there were no election signs on the property of the victim(s) advertising the incumbents’ party of choice.

            During the run-up to any election, a plethora of these ugly signs suddenly blossom, defacing every neighborhood where they appear. What exactly are they supposed to achieve? Surely citizens who care about the outcome and are caring participants in the choices afforded by the democratic process, need no additional encouragement. Indeed the print and electronic media is choc-a-bloc with views, debates and associated commentary on the subject weeks before Election Day. Those whom I would refer to as “quality voters” use the foregoing to stimulate thought which will assist in shaping their views and maybe even change their political stripe.  Forests of tacky wood and cardboard signs are unlikely to have much if any effect..

            Perhaps worst of all are those who make frenetic attempts to persuade people to exercise their democratic right even though the entire subject is of little or no interest to them. Why? How much worth can be  placed on a vote made under duress merely to appease a family member or to get some political busybody off their backs. The ongoing obsession with “the size of the poll” is meaningless if a sizable chunk of the voters falls into this category. Provided that the final electorate is comprised of all voters who are genuinely involved, regardless of percentage, the ensuing government will truly represent the views of a diverse but thoughtful populous.

            Those not wishing to participate can then continue to follow their own stars; be it the Royal Wedding, Justin Beiber or the latest exploits of one Mr. Charles Sheen.   

More on the Raleigh Twenty

            I purchased the green 1973 Raleigh Twenty Folder (as shown in my post of March 3^rd ) from Africycle, a charitable organization dedicated to acquiring and transporting doner bicycles to Malawi where they are making a huge impact towards improving the lifestyle of the inhabitants. Some of the donated bicycles which are considered less than ideal for the Malawi environment are offered for sale to the Canadian public. Such was the green Raleigh Twenty.

The folding hinge. Note the dent in front mudguard!

            As can be seen in the pictures in my previous post, after the application of a considerable amount of TLC; underneath all the dust, bat shit and cobwebs emerged a remarkably nice bicycle. Indeed apart from some nasty dents in the mudguards and unsightly patches of rear wheel rim where the chrome had flaked off, it seemed that with a little more effort it would be possible to restore the bike to its original 1973 condition.

            At this time I noticed that Africycle had a second 1973 Raleigh Twenty for sale, so without further ado I returned to their premises in Uxbridge and snapped it up. It was of considerable satisfaction to me that not only had I made two sizeable contributions to their cause but that by way of receipt I had received two desirable pieces of cycling hardware.

            The second (brown) bike, although showing the results of wear and tear on its paintwork was fitted with a pair of excellent chrome mudguards and featured a rear wheel with all its chrome still in place! I therefore swapped these components with those on the green bike and hey presto -just like new! I overhauled the wheeI hubs, bottom bracket, head set, re-lubed the 3-speed hub and fitted some new tyres. At its conclusion I now had an excellent Raleigh Twenty in original 1973 configuration (apart from the tyres) which exceeded my expectations.

                                 The completed green 1973 Raleigh Twenty  







  I now turned my attention to the second bike and have begun a programme of weight saving (the original is no lightweight!). Stage One has replaced the steel stem, handlebars, and seat post with alloy units. The original Brooks saddle and heavy pedals have also been replaced with modern lightweight versions. So far this saved 1.2kg. Details of Stage Two will be forthcoming in due course. This will include alloy rims and new tyres. 

 Brown Raleigh before mods. 

Here is the link for Africycle. It's quite an impressive organisation run by a group of admirable young people.  

http://africycle.org/

All Creatures Great and Small

          Spring is upon us; the annual spring seal hunt is in progress and with it the predictable anti-seal protests. The arguments both for and against will no doubt continue; some based upon reasoned arguments and at the other extreme on sentimental, media and often pop-culture fuelled reactions to the soft-eyed cuddly appeal of the victims. Unfortunately, an increasing number of animals are drowning due to a lack of sea ice. This could well affect the situation and will serve to limit the annual quotas. Perhaps the protesters should consider supplying fleets of rescue boats to pluck the pups from an icy demise!

            My own view is one of dismay at the illogical inconsistency of the protesters who seem oblivious of more egregious examples of cruelty which exist across all sectors of the animal kingdom. The most obvious example is of course the huge animal food empire which on a continuing basis, subjects animals to a horrendous few weeks or months of cramped, shackled or restrained existence, many without seeing the light of day before being mercifully put out of their misery. Other than serious humane attempts to improve the quality of the short lives of the “crop” it’s difficult to see a change any time soon so long as we continue to eat meat and eggs (-myself included). However distressing the seal hunt might be, at least it is for the most part justified on the basis of commercial gain or economic necessity. This is particularly true in indigenous communities where hunting forms the essential (-in many cases the only) access to fresh meat and fish as well as providing income from the pelts. A similar argument can be made for farmers and others living in remote rural areas. Finally if  sadly, the argument for culling can be made in some cases.

            Apart from these exceptions, there exists an area of totally unjustified bloodletting which for some reason continues to be accepted. I refer to the activities of the hunting community which for some inexplicable reason basically continues its massacres unquestioned and above criticism. Indeed such activities are generally approved of and “blood sports” regarded as acceptable despite the fact that its sole justification appears to be merely satisfying a lust to kill or maybe just to appear machismo. The British Royal Family sets a particularly distressing example.

            Arguments to the effect that the hunting impulse forms part of the human psyche are all bogus. It is to be hoped that cultural development over the millennia would have reduced the barbarous and less civilized aspects of behavior. In the developed world we no longer need to be hunter gatherers. One assumes that the intrepid “sportsmen” no longer feel the necessity at days’ end to drag their wives by the hair into the matrimonial cave!

            I have experienced both sides of this. For the first twenty years of my life, I was fully immersed in gun culture. My father was the head gamekeeper of a large estate in rural England. I was taught gun culture at an early age and even had a .410 gauge shotgun at my disposal. Later on I graduated to the ubiquitous 12 gauge weapon.

            During the shooting season as a young lad, I found lucrative employment as a “beater”. My duties involved flushing pheasants from the undergrowth to meet their destiny at the hands of a number of wealthy members of the aristocracy who had paid handsomely to slaughter them -or anything else that moved! Since many of the feathered victims had been reared by my father specifically for the purpose, many of the unsuspecting and essentially tame birds, thinking that food was in the offing, ran towards rather than away from the beaters. They then had to be noisily encouraged to fly or run towards their executioners where they were dispatched -often at point blank range!

            At school I was a member of the cadet corps and taught to shoot Enfield .303 rifles. I was even successful enough to achieve the exalted status of “First Class Shot”. Later I became one of the very last of the RAF’s Air Gunners and my artillery education was expanded to include the aircraft-mounted Browning .5 machine gun and 20mm Hispano cannon as well as Bren and Sten machine guns. Target and skeet (clay pigeon) shooting also formed a part of ongoing training. As aircrew, a .38 Smith and Wesson revolver formed part of my equipment.

            All these pieces of machinery (the Sten excepted!) were beautifully designed and manufactured pieces of hardware. However, I could not help but reflect that they were all produced with the express intent to kill and maim. This chilling realization was something that caused me increasing discomfort. Prior to my militarization, somewhat to my father’s disappointment, I had already developed an aversion to the shooting fraternity. After returning to civilian life my distaste for guns in general and blood sports in particular escalated to one of abhorrence.

            As an alternative to hunting, target or skeet shooting require great skill -and are mainly benign. The only real difference in the target  -is life. I wonder why a clay facsimile of a bird is not an acceptable substitute for a sentient creature. To witness the beauty of any creature happily living its allotted span in its natural habitat is truly a joyful and uplifting experience. In contrast, how anyone for some form of personal gratification can willfully snuff out of the life of a deer, duck or whatever crosses their line of sight is entirely beyond my comprehension. Killing for fun is not only morally wrong; it says little for a society that accepts or is apathetic towards it.

    

   

How are the mighty fallen!

          As most followers will be aware, the grand old game of cricket had its origins in England. I played the game myself for a number of teams at a progressively deteriorating level for over twenty years. At this time, the international game was a much simpler affair than it is today. There were only four “premium” teams: England, Australia, West Indies and South Africa. Five, five-day Test matches were scheduled between them on a rotating basis. Of these, the “Ashes” series between England and Australia was the blue riband event. However, in addition to the above, somewhat patronizingly New Zealand was also granted their own Test series but with a total population somewhat less than that of a medium sized city, little was expected of them. Finally India, like the premium teams above, had a colonial history which the custodians of cricketing tradition and folklore conceded was sufficient to give them a crack at the big time. However, (-against England at any rate) the Test series were limited to three matches instead of the normal five, presumably to limit the degree of humiliation which India were expected to suffer. Pakistan had only recently achieved partition from India and Sri Lanka (previously Ceylon), like Pakistan and Bangladesh (previously East Pakistan) were fully occupied with providing the bare essentials of life and were not in the international cricketing firmament at all.

          Then came the phenomenon of the limited overs game. This, if nothing else, ensured that a complete game could be enjoyed in one day rather than the traditional five allocated to Test Matches. Not surprisingly this new excitement gave the game an enormous boost both in spectator turn out and in attracting a youthful following. This ultimately resulted in the introduction of the “One Day International” (ODI).Many more countries threw their cricket caps onto the pitch, including some as unlikely as Ireland. Ultimately, this led to the establishment of a World Cricket Cup Tournament, similar in format to the World Cup of Soccer and like it, to be held every four years. Each team would be limited to 300 balls (50 overs of 6 balls each over) in which to amass their score. The opposing team would then attempt to better this total, run out of balls -or lose all their wickets.

          Fast forward to February 2011 and the start of the latest World Cup Tournament, held this year in India. The results have been most illuminating. To say that the four erstwhile cricketing superpowers fared badly would be a gross understatement. None advanced beyond the quarterfinals. Indeed England was fortunate to make it this far with losses against Ireland (-the shame!) and Bangladesh (-who?) on the way! Finally they were put out of their misery; crushed by Sri Lanka, who surpassed the England total of 231 without losing even one wicket. West Indies suffered a similar fate being thrashed by Pakistan who passed their pathetic score of 111 without loss. South Africa went out at the hands of New Zealand and Australia (the existing World Cup holder) was dispatched by India.  Can you see the pattern?

The semi-finals boiled down to four teams once considered as rabbits by the cricketing intelligentsia -including for the first time, three from the Indian sub-continent. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka - plus New Zealand.

The riveting semi-finals eliminated Pakistan and New Zealand leaving India and tiny Sri Lanka to do battle for the trophy; Sri Lanka having only 6.5% of India’s population base from whom to draw their team.

April 2nd 2011.     What a steely nerve game!  After a classic final, India’s captain delivered the coup de gras with a huge six into the stands with just 10 balls to spare. Superb tournament - cricket played with great skill, athleticism and spirit, -congratulations to all! No doubt that India and Sri Lanka were the class of the field with Pakistan not far behind.

After a period of mourning and wound licking, hopefully the “big four” will take stock of their predicament and then consider what the heck they have to do to become competitive again.

Armageddon or Apocalypse?

            Like many others, I find the appalling situation in North-East Japan impossible to get off my mind. In the final years of my career I was fortunate enough to visit the country over 30 times. Before my initial trip, I confess to feeling a certain reluctance in visiting a place whose reputation  had hitherto been associated with World War 2. However I would quickly discover that there was a total disconnect between the Japanese people that I came to know and the nationalistic monsters who would ultimately provoke the carnage and devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Reassuringly even after all the years, there continues to be an ongoing recognition of the sins of their fathers and a determination to purge themselves of their inherited guilt.When assessed against my  previous assumptions it seemed that the nation had completely reinvented itself.

 I discovered that the Japanese people to be the kindest, most compassionate I have ever encountered, always concerned enough to ensure that visitors from overseas are happy and comfortable in their immediate predicament. I also found out that to reach out to them rather than expecting them to do the reaching, has the effect of  breaking down their initial reserve and to become accepted as a true friend. Indeed on the mornings after a few boisterous evenings in the karaoke bars of Akasaka,Tokyo and elsewhere, I wondered if perhaps they were overdoing it a bit!

Their well developed social structure including their innate teamwork abilities, perhaps too formal and stultifying for the Western psyche, gives them the best possible combination of attributes to finally overcome and recover from this truly appalling series of catastrophes. Just where does one start? The task appears to be totally overwhelming. As if this were not enough, this morning’s news revealed that in addition to the nightmarish scenario which confronts them, the weather has deteriorated with snow, mud and cold augmenting the misery.

Although this may seem trite I feel bound to refer back to my previous post and wonder -where God is when you need him? Where is his infinite mercy? Perhaps he is busy working miracles in saving the handful of people who have been discovered alive beneath the debris!

How will it end? Happily, as in the many examples of the restoration and rebuilding that has taken place since 1945. They will rise again.

The exquisite Shukkeien Gardens, Hiroshima. Only the bridge remained in 1945.

Mysterious Ways indeed!

I was recently flicking through the TV channels en route to the evening news, when I stumbled across the religious channel,100 Huntley Street. I was sufficiently incensed by the outpourings of the speaker to write down something that has been bugging me for some time. 

I was solemnly informed that God loves us all unconditionally, shows limitless mercy and only has our best interests at heart. Looking around the world I find this oft-repeated bit of religious doggerel totally absurd.

This was evident following the recent earthquake in New Zealand where God’s “best interests at heart” involved the destruction of the very church from which the city gets its name! I can well understand the relief and joy felt by survivors. I can also understand their impulse to give thanks to something or someone for their continuing existence. Indeed this is to be expected if they have been recipients of a diet of religious pablum over the years. However what I take issue with (-apart from the fact that they believe it!) is how cruel and insensitive this must have appeared to the friends and families of those who were less fortunate.  Where did they go wrong? Why did they fail to make the cut? Could they define any shortcoming in their lives which had offended God and resulted in such a distressing outcome? Of course not!

This brings me to my point.  Why is it that God gets all the credit for the good things but none of the blame for the bad? Either God is omnipotent or he is not.

Countless variations of this anomaly exist throughout the world. One obvious example is the seemingly limitless suffering of the millions of African children, many of whom are starving, sick, homeless, orphans or (and) victims of the most appalling abuse. Where is the unconditional love, limitless mercy and any evidence of having their best interests at heart?

Similarly, many admirable people dedicated to doing good works and whose life is conducted fully in accord with the concept of the “Golden Rule”, are without warning laid low by terminal cancer or other life ending tragedies.  Why? Didn’t they pray long, loud or fast enough -or heaven forefend; maybe not at all! Certainly it cannot be justified as divine retribution for unsatisfactory conduct. In the case of the African children, they’ve simply not had the time.

How can this dispenser of unconditional love be so capricious and illogically selective? Maybe it’s as some would insist “God moving in mysterious ways his wonders to perform!”

Indeed the notion of a bearded old man wearing a long dress, sitting on a cloud with his celestial lap top, carrying out periodic performance updates on over 6 million souls is no more ridiculous.

I am not an atheist. Indeed I believe that we have a spirit (-some people might be more comfortable with the word conscience) and that a divine spark exists within all of us. As Lance Armstrong once said in a Suburu commercial “We are driven by what’s inside”.

Ongoing research conducted by quantum physicists has revealed the mysterious, weird and unpredictable nature of sub-atomic particles. This has made clear that we know far less than we thought. However, having discovered the existence of the electromagnetic matrix, field, flux or plenum (-choose one) which comprises the cosmos, hopefully we will progressively draw closer to a true, more mature understanding of the origins, wonders and evolution of the universe(s).

Bizarre sense of priorities

I was just watching the recently released helicopter video of the 911 World Trade Centre attack. Why this justified a mention in this morning's news bulletins in not clear. The quality of the filming and the video itself is of poor quality and shows nothing that has not already been seen before. Moreover, although we were witnessing a truly appalling event with thousands of people losing their lives, it was thought appropriate to warn viewers that the video contains cursing!

Raleigh Twenty

I have recently acquired a vintage 1973 Raleigh Shopper bike (top two pictures). It will be interesting to compare it to my 1975 Dawes Kingpin Shopper even though the latter has been extensively modified. Even though they nominally both feature 20" wheels, they differ in that the Raleigh features 406mm rims whilst  the Raleigh's are of 451mm. This can make the choice of tyres confusing!

The Raleigh has a three-speed Sturmey-Archer rear hub and is virtually as it left the factory, whilst the Dawes, which also had a similar hub when new, now boasts a six-speed Campagnola Victory rear derailleur.Other component updates have made it about 10lb lighter than the Raleigh! The latter was Raleigh's top seller for some years. The production in 1977 was no fewer than 140000units!

Putting the fix in!

Here's a video giving details of a conversion of a 12 speed Nishiki bicycle to Fixed Gear.
For some reason the duration is given as 14!!  It's only 7 min.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv9o-RW89UU