I hope you all had a productive and stress free week, but in case you did not, chill out with me and let’s have a shoot the shit.
For readers not familiar with a shoot the shit, it’s a social interaction among coworkers, friends or family where participants don’t need to know anything about the subject being discussed, make any unsupported statement, use uncensored profanity, insult anyone they wish or change the subject altogether. A shoot the shit does not supplement anything; instead, it replaces fingering your smart device, social media and a trip to your therapist, who’s only reason for studying psychology was to understand himself or herself. So, let’s get started.
You’re all undoubtedly aware of the Climate Change outcry by individuals who wouldn’t know a carbon atom from a popsicle. These zealots, who offer no solutions, are calling for the end to fossil fuels, cow flatulence, etc. will soon see wind powered cargo ships. I kid you not, check it out!
This is the Neoliner, a 136 meter wind powered freighter. The ship was designed by MAURIC, a French naval architecture and marine engineering firm. They expect the ship to go into service in 2022 and have been signed transport agreements with RENAULT, MANITOU and BENETEAU. So, that new RENAULT you’ve been wanting my someday make its way to our shores via the Neoliner.
Now, I don’t want to sound like a total jackass but Blackbeard the pirate was a punk compared to my sailing skills. Step 1, I admit to not knowing Neoliner’s complete design, and I also assume it has a diesel power plant somewhere below decks . But, readers, sailboats can’t sail into the wind; doing so creates a condition called being in irons and as the name implies you don’t go anywhere. Secondly, sail boats heel in all points of sail, except when wind is blowing directly behind your vessel; this point of sail called running. The extent to which the vessel heels is a function of sail trim (the shape of the sail and angle of the sail to the relative wind) and the amount of sail you have up.
At sea, storms come up fast and I’ve personally experience going from a 20 mph breeze to 60 mph and rolling seas that were 15-30 feet high – in a matter of minutes. Preferably and prior to that happening, you must reduce the amount of sail as soon as possible, a procedure called reefing. If the winds are high enough, they may prevent your sail reefing mechanism from operating and you run the risk of being demasted.
Furthermore, in high seas, you must keep your bow pointed to the incoming seas, which usually requires deploying something called a sea anchor. If you fail to do that, your vessel will likely take a broadside and potentially suffer a knock down. Imagine what happens to its cargo, bummer!
So those are just a few of the concerns that I have but it should make Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez happy. Speaking of AOC…
Research institutes are still searching for AOC’s IQ.
Her latest effulgent comment was her desire to do away with the Department of Homeland Security. Folks, rest assured that Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez has no idea of the scope, depth and breath of DHS or what agencies comprise the Department.
Prior to DHS, government agencies responsible for national security did not know what the right hand and left hand were doing, there was no effective interagency communications. Since 9/11, DHS and the FBI have kept the citizens of this country safe; being from New York, you’d think she’d be a bit more astute, I guess she is too busy tweeting. But, what can you expect from an individual who announces the world will come to an end in 12 years and feels that Amazon locating its headquarters in New York City was bad for the community. Unbelievable!
Have a great weekend. Be safe, especially you guys in the New Orleans area. You can expect some heavy duty rain and stiff winds. The rest of you try to spend some quality time with your buds and family.
FOG HORN 