TAKE A KNEE

 

We received this in our E mail and don't know the origin but apparently it is making the rounds of the Internet. We presume it is not copyrighted, but if it is and anyone informs us we will pull it down immediately. But right now we assume the author wanted this to spread. We totally agree with the sentiment so here it is. To the Author's thoughts we add this one of our own:

Dear NFL players and league officials;

 When you chose to insult the flag that so many of our relatives and friends and former comrades in arms died under and were buried under, the flag that so many millions of us served under; we know on some intellectual plane that you are trying to alert us to some social message. We know that what you are doing is protected under the constitution. We know the definition of "Treason" is very limited legally in this nation and that disrespect to the flag doesn't qualify. But when you disrespect that flag, the symbol of our best aspirations and ideals for which so many Americans of every race, creed, color and religion died for in the deepest recesses of our hearts one word is screaming so loud it drowns out every intellectual consideration. That word is TREASON. Sorry, we know you have some other message but when you attack the flag TREASON is all we can hear. 

SIncerely

Legions of American Veterans, and their widows and orphans.

TAKE A KNEE

Take a little trip to Valley Forge in January. If you don't know where that is, just Google it from the sidelines. Hold a musket ball in your fingers and imagine it piercing your flesh and breaking a bone or two. There won't be a doctor or trainer to assist you until after the battle, so just wait your turn. Take your cleats and socks off to get a real experience. Then take a knee.

Then, take one at the beach in Normandy where man after American man [including Blacks who served] stormed the beach, even as the one in front of him was shot to pieces ... the very sea stained with American blood. The only blockers most had were the dead bodies in front of them, riddled with bullets from enemy fire.

Take a knee in the sweat soaked jungles of Vietnam. from Khe Sanh to Saigon ... Anywhere will do. REAL Americans died in all those jungles. There was no playbook that told them what was next, but they knew what flag they represented. When they came home, they were protested as well ... and spit on for reasons only cowards know.

Take another knee in the blood drenched sands of Fallujah in 110 degree heat ... Wear your Kevlar helmet and battle dress... Your number won't be printed on it unless your number is up! You'll need to stay hydrated but there won't be anyone to squirt Gatorade into your mouth. You're on your own.

There's a lot of places to take a knee. Real Americans have given their lives all over the world. When you use the banner under which they fought as a source for your displeasure, you dishonor the memories of those who bled for the very freedoms you have. That's what the red stripes mean. It represents the blood of those who spilled a sea of it defending your liberty.

While you're on your knee, pray for those that came before you, not on a manicured lawn striped and printed with numbers to announce every inch of ground taken ... but on nameless hills and bloodied beaches and sweltering forests and bitter cold mountains ... every inch marked by an American life lost serving that flag you protest.

No cheerleaders, no announcers, no coaches, no fans ... just American men and women ... delivering the real fight against those who chose to harm us ... blazing a path so you would have the right to "take a knee."

You haven't an inkling what it took to get you where you are; but your "protest" is duly noted. Not only is it disgraceful to a nation of real heroes, it serves the purpose of pointing to your ingratitude for those who chose to defend you under that banner that will still wave long after your jersey is issued to another.

If you really feel the need to take a knee, come with me to church on Sunday and we'll both kneel before Almighty God. We'll thank Him for preserving this country for as long as He has. We'll beg forgiveness for our ingratitude for all He has provided us. We'll appeal to Him for understanding and wisdom. We'll pray for liberty and justice for all ... because He is the one who provides those things.And there will be no protest. There will only be gratitude for His provision and a plea for His continued grace and mercy on the land of the free and the home of the brave. It goes like this ...

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

STANDARDS FOR TOW LINE STRENGTH ARE EVOLVING TOWARDS GREATER SAFETY FACTORS

Of Interest To Professional Mariners, Admiralty Expert Witnesses, and Lawyers

THE GREAT NAMAZU EXPLAINS RECENT EVOLUTION IN DETERMINING THE SAFETY FACTORS FOR TOW LINE (SYSTEM) STRENGTH 

The Great Namazu, 3,000 years of nautical experience in one analyst

GREETINGS SAILOR BIPEDS  
Back in the day when the Great Namazu was a pup mariners talked of "tow lines". Today with the advances in cordage technology and innovations in chafe protection, and winch technology several different types and sizes of line or wire might be utilized in a "towing system". Back in the day, Tow Masters, Mates, Boatswains often considered the "safety factor" when arranging for a tow. There was usually only one line, the "tow line" or hawser to consider, now "towing systems" rarely lend themselves to one size fits all "safety factors". Each system component line must be considered separately such as pendant, mainline, and backer"

 The towing systems we used to simply call the tow line or towing hawser or wire is perhaps the single most critical component in a towing operation. Once connected, the towing vessel, her officers and owners usually have responsibility for the towed vessel or vessels. Tows can result in disaster for a variety of reasons. Miscalculated stability resulting in the capsize of either the towing vessel or the towed vessel and failure of the "tow line" (towing system) are two of the most common causes of casualties in the marine towing industry. In this post we will deal with avoiding the broken towing line(s) (system). Such avoidance is tougher than it used to be and fixing liability in the wake of such a failure is more difficult than ever. The expert witness in admiralty who cites to the "custom of the Industry" is probably skating on thin ice today and may often be impeached by an expert who understands codes, standards, standards of instruction, and the ongoing evolution in standards in the towing game today. 




Image Courtesy French Ministry Of Defense / Marine Nationale

Back in the day we learned certain concepts like "breaking strain" and "safe working load". The key to safety in most marine operations involving "rigging" (line, wire, blocks and tackle , etc.) from mooring to towing, and working men aloft was insuring that you used the right strength of line for the job at hand. Most cordage and wire came with a labeled "breaking strength or strain" and a frequent rule of thumb in simpler applications such as mooring was to select cordage with a breaking strain half again the weight of the load,  For towing often twice the weight or "strain" of the load", for working with men aloft we never went up without a boatswains chair supported by a line that could bear seven times our weight and tools. Things have changed faster than the authoritative literature.

 When an American Merchant Marine Officer takes takes the various Coast Guard administered professional license exams the questions are based on certain publications considered classic and reliable such as KNIGHTS MODERN SEAMANSHIP,  and such works are also considered in determining the standards of instruction for nautical training institutions. But often such classics are twenty years or more behind the times in certain areas. Not all aspects of the nautical arts and sciences are classic and few are static. Applying an obsolete "rule of thumb" to a particular rigging problem and then losing your tow is not a legally acceptable excuse. When you suspect that the classic textbook computations and recommended safety factors may not apply we suggest that you look to the towing system's manufacturer's literature. If you are applying and operating a towing system within the designer's and manufacturer's safety parameters it will be difficult for a board of inquiry, or admiralty court to find liability or negligence in your action. Unfortunately an all too common "custom of the Industry" is to lose or never have delivered to the tug the manufacturers manuals. Fortunately it is becoming more common to have access to a computer or smart phone on board. Some of the best cordage manufacturers and distributors have their rigging manuals available on line. One Such is SAMSON ROPE USERS MANUAL: 
( http://www.samsonrope.com/Documents/Rope_Users_Manual_WEB.pdf  )

 Over the years as I have observed sailor biped behavior I've noted that many responsible bipeds such as Masters, Mates, and Boatswains have attempted to explain away accident causation with the equivalent of "there wasn't time to do it right", yet some how there always seems to be time to clean up the resulting mess and do it over. Maybe we should suggest a couple of twenty first century "Rules Of Thumb" while many of the standards of the nineteenth and twentieth century still around and all too uncritically followed. 

FIRST : If your "towing system" does not consist of some type of right laid three strand line of a single type from towing winch or deck fitting to towed vessel, suspect that the old rules of thumb are not going to work for you. Now think twice before you act. 

SECOND: If you do not know the manufacturer's breaking strain and safe working load, try to obtain it before proceeding. If the manuals are not on board and you have access to the internet, see if the information is posted on the manufacturers web site such as : SAMSON ROPE USERS MANUAL: 
( http://www.samsonrope.com/Documents/Rope_Users_Manual_WEB.pdf  )

THIRD: If you feel you must operate and you can't find the pertinent data to accurately calculate safe working load remember two all important things. (1) Required safe working loads as a ratio of load to breaking strain for the latest types of cordage are much higher than in the past. If in similar but older applications you were safe with a multiple of 1.7 times over bollard pull or weight to be moved consider that 2.2 to 2.5 is probably the recommended safety factor today. In the past prudent tug operators purchased their new towing hawsers with safety factors of at least 5:1 over their continuous ahead bollard pull rating. With some line today a 7:1 rating may be recommended. (2) In the past we always reduced safe working load by age and condition of the line based on known criteria of visual inspection. Some news cordage gives no reliable and predictable visual indication of wear. In the old days when safe working load was reduced based on visual inspection to 50% of original (which was often 5 times the breaking strain of the new line) we replaced the towing line and the old one became fenders . Today some hawsers must be replaced based on service times, and a 30% reduction in hawser strength is grounds for replacement. In short ,service times are becoming shorter and required retained line strength as a percentage of original breaking strain is becoming higher. It is probably asking for an accident and the subsequent liability to operate a towline assembly at less than 70% of original strength ratings.

 So in an industry where suits ashore buy the cordage and don't know what to ask for at delivery to assure that crews have the information to properly calculate towline assembly strength what do you do? First ask for the manufacturer's manuals and contact information. Second start your own note book on your rigging, I mean you Captain, Mate, or Boatswain. Don't assume that any notebook you create won't grow legs and walk away after the next crew change. Dig for the information and learn to do the calculations, get the help you need and write everything down. Be sure to write the authoritative source of your information. When the day comes to ask the suits to replace that towing system after only 30% of strength loss which comes much faster than budgets typically anticipate you will have to defend your position. Learn how to use and inspect and compute safe working loads of modern cordage. Remember if the tow system cordage components you are looking at aren't right laid three strand, it is more probable than not that anything you had to regurgitate on the seamanship or marlin spike seamanship portion of your Coast Guard license or rating exam actually applies. 

 When ordering new line ask for:
* The exact cordage composition, lay, manufacturer,usage requirements, breaking strain. safety factors, any inspection hints.

* Copies of certifications of approval by Classification societies, any test certificates, and manufacturer's handling, storage and maintenance requirements.

* Material Safety Data sheets, these should accompany the spools of line when they are delivered aboard and contain inspection tips to aid you in knowing when you should refuse delivery of aged, discolored, or damaged line. 

 Start educating the suits. High tech cordage has fewer indicators of wear and has to be replaced more often. It also will require more crew training and time to handle safely. 

NO MORE ST.MARTIN's DAY IN DUSSELDORF, WATCH FOR CHRISTMAS TO BE SUPPRESSED NEXT

 The Great Namazu, Retired Japanese Demigod, writer, analyst, commentator, rock album cover model

 Hey European Bipeds!

  Hows that multiculturalism working out for you? Have you ever wondered why multiculturalism doesn't include your culture, you know the one that is native to your nation, the one that built your nation? Ever ask yourself why embracing "multiculturalism" means insulting, demeaning, dumbing down, your own culture, the one that was there first. As a 3,000 year old giant catfish I was there for the European Recognizance by sea of the world. It was the cultures, particularly the maritime cultures of Great Britain,  Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands that literally helped the world discover itself and begin communication between and among cultures. Why is that not something to be proud of? Why do you feel in the Netherlands, Britain, France, Sweden, you must cease all celebration of your native cultures because it might offend the Muslims you have foolishly allowed among you.  News flash Euro Bipeds, the Muslims among you hate you and your very existence except as subservient cash cows for  their coming Sharia tax system to support Muslim welfare . 

 For crying out loud continue to celebrate your cultural traditions including and especially your Christian traditions. Will it offend the Muslims, yes of course. Will not celebrating that which you have a hard earned right to celebrate placate their anger in any way. Hell no, there are among you to conquer you. What should you do if they take offense? That depends on how they express their offense. Any breach of the peace and all participants should be kicked out of the country. This shouldn't be a difficult moral choice, you are under siege by agents of a devilish philosophy of conquest, when caught in the act such as civil disobedience and protest of your own culture and making demands that you conform to theirs they are caught being more than just boorish guests. This is sedition . Send them back to the hell holes they came from if they do not seek to integrate and become part of your society and culture. Here is a recent example of of Islamic social aggression and lefty Euro-biped acquiescence.

 A school in Oberkassel, which if memory serves is a suburb of Dusseldorf in Germany; has decided, in light of Islamic protest, to secularize their ancient traditional St. Martin Day celebration of November 11th and call it the "Festival of Light". In my memory of pre-Christian Europe there used to be a number of festivals of light. Most occurred between November 11th and December 26th. 

Children with lanterns on St. Martin's Day, 1949
Bundesarchiv, Bild 194-0273-38 / Lachmann, Hans / CC-BY-SA 3.0
Courtesy German National Archives 

 These "Festivals of light" were usually connected to the perceived end of Autumn, and the related shortening of the days or the start of winter and the perceived slight increase in daylight hours after the "longest night". Euro-bipeds had been doing these light festivals for centuries before the relevant nations adopted Christianity and the Christian Church simply organized a number of annual religious celebrations around these dates while adding rich tradition and refinement to what had been basically drunken bouts of over eating. Now, in fear of offending their Muslim over lord wannabes, the bipeds of Oberkassel, have decided to revert to their earlier pagan custom. Now if we were to believe the Muslims the one thing they hate more than Christians and Jews is Pagans. So Oberkassel how do you think the name change will work out for you in the long run?

 Supposedly, Christians and Jews according to the Koran are "Peoples of the Book" and are not required to be killed if they fail to convert to Islam. Of course they don't get off Scot free. They may be turned into the subjects of confiscatory taxes to support Islam and if they can't or won't pay then may be exiled or executed. But really this seeming loop hole is not really there. In 1995 the leading Imams of 58 Islamic nations or regions signed a Fatwa declaring that Christians and Jews are no longer to be considered peoples of the book and obligating all Muslims world wide to cooperate in their conversion or murder. 

 Now if Islam is somewhat gradually implemented in Europe the Muslims may bandy about this "people of the book" psudo exemption for a while to lull Christians and Jews into a less resistant state. But if you inadvertently re-paganize your Christian and Jewish festivals you leave your soon to be Muslim overlords with no choice. The Koran is very clear that pagans who fail to convert immediately get the "sword". 

Euro Christian Bipeds while you are still the majority why not avoid all this. Do what you have always done, celebrate your culture and invite those few Muslims who may be legitimately interested in actual integration into your national culture to join in. Some of them may be killed by their Jihadist "brethren". A sad price but necessary to sort out those who must be thrown out of your society before it is too late. Around the time of the end of the last Ice Age Euro-bipeds were having "Festivals of Light"and living in late stone age conditions. Do you really want to go retrograde? 

 Euro-bipeds lend me your ears! Cast off political correctness and the yoke of encroaching Islam now before it is too late. Celebrate St. Martin's day, Christmas, October fest, and anything else you have with a vengeance. If the Jihadist living among you resent it, observe how they express their discontent. If they come within a hair's breath of violating your law, crush their little rag bedecked heads immediately. Your individual and national lives depend on it. Ring out the Angelus, celebrate Christmas, Easter, St. Martin's day whatever. Be unabashed about being European and /or Christian. Your culture is at least as good as everyone else's and without your contribution in the form of the European Recognizance by Sea these strangers among you wouldn't know about the rest of the world. Unfortunately, because they can reach you by land and narrow seas they have been plaguing you for 14000 years.  

In the immortal words of BM1 Jesse C. Smith:

"I said it, I meant it, and I'm here to represent it"

Your Pal,

Namazu

UNDERSTANDING THE SPAGHETTI STORM TRACK MODELS

http://www.weathernerds.org/


Image Courtesy South Florida Water Management District

 If you have been following our coverage of Hurricane Irma  the last few days you may have noted that we based our prediction that the Central and Western Gulf Coast would be unscathed by the storm based on an analysis of "Spaghetti Tracks". If you are interested in learning how "Spaghetti Tracks" are assembled, used and interpreted we suggest clicking in to Weather Nerds.org .

 "Spaghetti Tracks" are just one of the things you can learn about with Weather Nerds.org . This is a great sight for learning how to better understand national and regional forecasts and using the information provided by these official forecasts for you own micro forecasts when you are trying to make those last minute decisions such as do I have time to get to the grocery and back before the street flooding hits here? Do I have time to get to the marina to secure the boat without getting stranded on the way back?  Weather affects all of our lives profoundly, the more outdoor elements in your occupation the more dramatic the potential effects. As always we remind everyone never drive through standing water of any height. If you occasionally have to chance a car or boat run as a storm is approaching, your life may depend on your personal micro cast. Some serious study in advance could save your life or property.  Weather Nerds.org . is a great place to start your studies.