Minime

At 0241 BST on 29 May 2008 Samuel Aidan Streeter was dragged kicking and screaming into the world after a marathon 16 hours of labour. Actually, that number belies the longevity of the whole process: Lisa's waters broke at 0345 on Tuesday 27 May. She was induced after more than 24 hours of no progress. Unsurprisingly after such a long labour, the birth was anything but standard and the doctor to pull him out with a big pair of tongs. Afterwards we realised why: he weighed in at 8lbs 9oz! The ordeal was slightly more traumatic than expected, but everyone involved is happy and healthy. (It was really tough on me: drinking all those cups of coffee and yelling "push!" all the time! :-p )

I have attached a picture for the girls to coo over. To me he looks just like every other miniature-sized person (photos of which I have been receiving with increasing regularity from my extended family). Actually he looks a bit evil, like Stewy on Family Guy ("victory is mine!"). It was probably just hunger: this picture was taken an hour after the birth.

But I must now go and wet the baby's head. This is an important English tradition, which does not require a baby, or a head. But it does involve water. And hops. And barley. Mmmm..beer.

The Falkirk Wheel

I love a good engineering problem, whether it's tinkering with gadgets around the house or studying the complexities of bigger projects such as the London Eye, Sydney Opera House, the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth. Or the whole of Venice. I can't drive past a simple damn without stopping to have a look. I enjoy driving over bridges of any size, from the Europabrücke in Austria to the toll bridge in Southampton. My wife has term she uses for this affliction - in fact, she uses many different words, none intended as compliments (though I often take them as such, just to wind her up).

So naturally I was intrigued when I found out about this amazing feat of modern engineering. Faced with the problem of connecting two canals, one of which was 35m higher than the other, the Brits came up with this ingenious solution: an elevator for boats!

But since I know very little about it, here is some information from their website, www.thefalkirkwheel.co.uk:

The Millennium Link was an ambitious £84.5m project with the objective of restoring navigability across Scotland on the historic Forth & Clyde Canal and the Union Canal, providing a corridor of regenerative activity through central Scotland. One major challenge in this objective was the fact that the Forth and Clyde Canal lay 35m (115ft) below the level of the Union Canal.

Historically, the two canals had been joined at Falkirk by a flight of 11 locks that stepped down across a distance of 1.5km, but these has been dismantled in 1933, breaking the link. What was required was a method of connecting the two canals by some means of lifting two boats down the 35m drop as quickly and simply as possible. The resultant, perfectly balanced structure that is the world’s first rotating boat lift.

The Falkirk Wheel lies at the end of a reinforced concrete aqueduct that connects, via the Roughcastle tunnel and a double staircase lock, to the Union Canal. Boats entering the Wheel’s upper gondola are lowered, along with the water that they float in, to the basin below. At the same time, an equal weight rises up, lifted in the other gondola. This works on the Archimedes principle of displacement. That is, the mass of the boat sailing into the gondola will displace an exactly proportional volume of water so that the final combination of ‘boat plus water’ balances the original total mass.

Each gondola runs on small wheels that fit into a single curved rail fixed on the inner edge of the opening on each arm. In theory, this should be sufficient to ensure that they always remain horizontal, but any friction or sudden movement could cause the gondola to stick or tilt. To ensure that this could never happen and that the water and boats always remain perfectly level throughout the whole cycle, a series of linked cogs acts as a back up.

Enough, already

On 14 March 2008, in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, ethnic-Chinese (Han) shopkeepers boarded-up their shops and ran, fleeing a fleeing a mob of angry Tibetans. The protests, the largest anti-Chinese demonstrations for many years, soon turned violent as Tibetans rampaged through the streets, smashing into non-Tibetan shops and lighting them on fire. 13 people are reported to have been killed, mostly in the fires, as many Hans live above their shops.

The Communist Government was slow to respond, perhaps cautious of the diplomatic implications of a violent suppression. But by the next day, tear gas was in use as the authorities moved to bring order to the town. Rumours spread of the shooting and beating of Tibetans by security forces. At least 105 rioters were arrested.

A month earlier, across the Indian Ocean in the quiet seaside town of Terrigal, Australia, on 13 February a young Dominican was praying that the racing on the last day of the Laser World Championships would be cancelled, so that the previous day's results would be final. By midday the final Olympic Qualification event for the Laser class had come to an end, and the Dominican realised his lifelong dream of qualifying for the Olympics, becoming the first person from his country to do so in the sport of sailing and the only sailor from the Caribbean this time around.

I do not wish to debate China's human rights record, as this is not the forum for such discussion. Neither do I want to talk about China's role in Sudan, Taiwan or North Korea. It is also too late to be questioning the merits of the decision to award the 2008 Olympics to Beijing: that ship has sailed. And although I dislike people using the Olympic forum to air their grievances, protest is an inalienable right of democracy, though I do condemn violence or any attempt to disrupt the journey of the Olympic Torch.

I am also saddened that accomplished sportsmen should be forced to reconsider their association with the Games. The Olympics are not about China, and any misgivings one has about China should not be transferred to the event it is hosting. The Games are about competing on the world stage, friendly combat between nations, realising dreams and pushing oneself to achieve the impossible. It is also sad that the companies which are supporting this amazing event, some of which have done so for decades, should now find themselves embarrassed, uncertain and under pressure to wade into political and other debates that they almost certainly wanted to stay out of. It is ridiculous that the CEO of Coca Cola, a company which has supported the Olympics for 80 years, should have to defend this support now.

Yet debate is good, although sensible debate is more productive that the rantings of hard liners, who have little interest in the middle ground. What is more worrying is calls for various levels of boycott of the Games. This type of action should be resisted - nay, struck down - and seen by the general public for the useless and selfish act that it is. A full boycott of the Olympic Games would benefit few, mainly politicians pandering to the populist vote, while at the same time inflict pain on many: the thousands of athletes who have dedicated years of their lives to their discipline; sports administrators who have toiled thanklessly to garner support for their athletes; the general public, who would be denied the "greatest show on earth". And it would not solve China's, Tibet's or Darfur's problems.

Politicians have a poor record when it comes to making hard decisions, preferring most often to take the politically expedient route, the one which wins the most votes, rather than encouraging any real change. So George W caves to the business lobby by rejecting Kyoto, or to the farming community by keeping trade distorting subsidies. Gordon Brown hikes up "Green Taxes" on air travel and petrol, rather than going after the real polluters. Around the world politicians and governments, with an eye on the next elections and maintaining public order, enforce price controls and export restrictions, which actually exacerbate the global food crises.

So it is easy for Nicholas Sarkozy to threaten to boycott the Opening Ceremony. That way he can say to the French people that he did something, took a stand, spoke out against China. Political posturing wins votes at home, but Sarkozy's proposed actions will have about as much effect on China as a candle in a hurricane. The same goes for any other world leaders. So, in 1980 when President Carter ordered US athletes to stay away from Moscow, the only thing he achieved was to destroy the hopes and dreams of hundreds of young men and women.

The only way to change attitudes is through open and direct dialogue, unity among persuaders, carrots and sticks, finding that middle ground. In the meantime, major sporting events allow cultures to mix, for Chinese to brush up against Americans, Israelis to discuss techniques with Arabs; for Jews and Christians, Hindus and Muslims to discover that they have a lot more in common than in difference.

And that must be a good thing.

Laser For Sale

BRAND NEW HULL, NEVER BEEN USED

Due to a warranty claim, this package includes a brand new hull, which has never been in the water (or touched the ground!).

Also includes the following equipment, 2 years old unless stated:
- Two sails (one new in Jan '08, the other Jan '07)
- All spars, foils, ropes, pulleys, battens and assorted spare parts for a Standard rig, GXD spec (bottom section new April '07)
- Rooster tiller (Jan '07) and Fatso tiller and extension
- Handy foil bags for storage and transport
- Launching trolley
- Road base for towing (bearings replaced in March 08)
- Lighting strip and extension cord for road use
- Nearly new SEA hikers (Jan '08)

£4,150 ONO

RACE READY & ROAD LEGAL - PERFECT PACKAGE IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO COMPETE AT REGIONAL/ NATIONAL/ EUROPEAN EVENTS

Lust

Research suggests that the average man thinks about sex every eight seconds. I say this is just the kind of steroetypical crap that publications such as Cosmo print in order to sell magazines. It trivialises our most basic instinct, lust, by equating it to a sweaty act. Cosmo would have women believe we think about them every eight seconds and then no doubt publish a long article misleading women into looking for non-existent signs, in the vain attempt to determine whether they are the focus of our attention.

However, the truth is that women do not have a monopoly on our day dreaming. Oh sure, I bet that a lady with blonde hair, a perfect body, tiny bikini, sultry pose and just the right amount of humidity will get a rise out of most (heterosexual) men. Men may have lustful thoughts frequently during the day, but we are not simply thinking about sex...there are also cars and boats! On that note, here are some things which get me going.

The TP52

My new favourite boat, these amazing creatures are sleek, sexy and extremely fast. Three of them were racing in the Solent this spring and I got my first close up look at these boats in action. Not quite a maxi, but definitely not your average round the cans racer either. Two coffee grinders attest to the massive loads the sails generate. It's wide open cockpit just looks like a fun place to be, and with the wheel well forward of the transom, there is ample room at the back for the tactician, and presumably the mainsheet/traveller trimmer. And a fat rich man to pay the bills.

None of that matters when the boat is slicing through the water at 15+ knots with a big kite in the air. We had the good fortune to be on a port layline for a windward mark when RAN (pictured) came tearing past us on a reach to the next mark, nearly everyone on the rail hiking out and spray flying everywhere. Oh, the envy.

The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione

The first rear-wheel drive Alfa for fifteen years, this car has gone down a storm...or it would, if they had made enough. In fact, only 500 of these beauties were made (along with another 500 of the soft-top version) and they were all pre-sold years ago, which means that, to get your hands on one, you will need to fork out a lot more than the list price of £111,000. But even that is a bargain, because it's not just an Alfa. It is the result of the ultimate collaboration of Italian supercar greatness: a Ferrari engine, Maserati platform and Alfa Romeo soul.

I have an Alfa on order (not this one, of course: a 159 sedan) and when I went to the dealer recently the 8C was on the forecourt. The pictures do not do it justice. Make no mistake, this is an impossibly pretty car (to borrow a phrase from Jeremy Clarkson). I can honestly say that no other car on the market today, be it Aston Martin, Jaguar, Lamborghini, TVR or Zonda, can match this one for pure sex appeal. I'd sooner spent an hour in this car than a night with Megan Fox (FHM's sexiest woman 2008). In fact, this is the whole FHM Top 20 rolled into one: it has a better voice than Rihanna, more impressive cleavage than Keeley, more grace and class than Keira and is rumoured to have the bisexuality and benevolence that made Angelina famous the world over. I am in love.

Lily Kozmian-Ledward (Oceans Watch)

I hope that Lily does not mind me using her as an example - I am not lusting after her specifically. Rather the type of person she is. Sure, there is no denying her sex appeal: cute face, great body, blue eyes and nice smile. But if all you want is a great body, you need look no further than your local tabloid. Lily is so much more.

She is a marine biologist (so she's smart), a diver, photographer and trustee of a charity called Oceans Watch (so she cares about the ocean). Most importantly, she is a sailor and in my rankings of most appealing women, sailors get more points than Page 3 girls. Best of all, she lives on a boat, a 38-foot cutter called AMADIS. From this paltform she runs a Project Amadis, a "voyage of coral coservation and education". Lord knows a lot of places in the world, including the Caribbean, could benefit from a little coral conservation and education. For more information on Lily's amazing endeavours, check out the following websites:
www.oceanswatch.com
http://tuskerfilms.co.uk/pages/the-amadis-project.php

So: a gorgeous, intelligent, multi-talented sailor, who lives on a boat and spends her life trying to save the oceans. Does it get any better?

Re: Fish and Dicks

The following post is my response to an article published in a Barbados newspaper by farmer and social commentator Richard Hoad. The article can be viewed at http://www.nationnews.com/story/302273915218924.php.

Dear Mr. Hoad,

Your recent article states that Barbados is in danger of making the "mistake of opening up Barbados to immigration from conflicting cultures". While I sympathise with your concerns generally on the issue of immigration, particularly as it relates to acquisition of property, I feel that in this case your views are, at best, off base and at worst discriminatory (xenophobic by your own admission). I therefore wish to present a different point of view.

Immigration is a controversial issue in most countries around the world. Due to its potential effect on population growth, it has implications for unemployment rates, pressure on infrastructure, welfare and ultimately the provision of scarce resources. Of course, there are pros and cons. It should be no surprise that populations turn a blind eye to the issue when immigrants provide skills and resources where there are shortages, but then rally against foreigners in harder times, when jobs are scarce or crime rates higher. However, there is no denying the contribution that foreign-born persons have made to Barbados over the years, from Clement Payne to Auntie Olga. Immigration has benefited Barbados not only due to the skills, ideas and experience that non-nationals bring to our society, but from the opportunities many Bajans have had over the years to live and work in other countries, bringing home new skills, ideas and experiences. So it works both ways. I firmly believe that, on balance, the benefits of immigration to the host country outweigh the pitfalls.

Countries around the world have handled immigration, as well as the inevitable introduction of foreign cultures, religions and practices, in different ways. Some require prospective citizens to study the culture of the host country and pass examinations to prove their knowledge on the subject. Most nations in Western Europe require non-nationals to integrate, as least partially, into the way of life of the country in which they wish to settle. Britain stands out in this regard, having allowed different immigrant groups freedom to retain their own practices and not adopt the values and practices prevalent in that country. Authorities may be rethinking this policy, given the perceived problems that have resulted from extending such liberties. Perhaps there is a lesson here as well for Barbados.

I disagree with your premise that immigration will "dilute us beyond recognition". Barbados is a small island with a relatively large population, and I therefore believe that it is unlikely (perhaps physically impossible) that there would ever be numbers of non-nationals sufficient to destroy the Bajan way of life, not least because most foreigners choose to remain here in part because of our way of life. Foreign films, TV, music and other forms of culture have had a much larger effect on the Bajan identity over the last several decades than immigration ever could, and the internet will continue this trend.

Nevertheless, I do share your concern that the Bajan identity not be lost due to foreign influence. The way to ensure that the Bajan culture, values and practices are not lost is by encouraging them to flourish, through events such as Crop Over, competitions such as NIFCA, by supporting groups such as the Royal Barbados Police Force Band and the Landship and by teaching local culture in schools.

There need to be controls on immigration. However, in an age where most developed countires have strict laws against discrimination on the basis of gender, age, race or religion, we should recognise that these controls are a form of discrimination (albeit a necessary one) on the basis of place of birth. We should welcome people who can make a contribution (however small) to our society, but we should encourage them to respect and adopt our own values and culture. We need also to recognise that our own identity is, and should be, ever-evolving, and that exposure to other ways of life, and even "conflicting cultures", is not necessarily a bad thing.