Clancy Tucker's Blog, page 59
February 5, 2021
4 March 2021 - LONDON'S FORGOTTEN MAIL TRAIN
LONDON'S FORGOTTEN MAIL TRAIN G'day folks,The Royal Mail’s underground ‘mini’ railway was used to take letters (and possibly workers) along the tracks to different station/sorting offices stretching from Paddington to Whitechapel. In 2002, it had become an uneconomical service, losing an estimated £1.2M a day, and quietly shut down.
For almost a decade, the abandoned stations and tracks have stood in silence; only empty mail trolleys creaking from the drafts, outdated telephones sitting on abandoned control desks, trains mid-track and frozen in time.
Clancy's comment: Wow, we just never know what is happening beneath our major cities.
I'm ...
February 1, 2021
2 March 2021 - THE COLLAPSE OF THE TECOMA NARROW BRIDGE
THE COLLAPSE OF THE
TECOMA NARROW BRIDGE
G'day folks,
Welcome to another bridge disaster.
The Tacoma Narrow Bridge in Washington was a suspension bridge, spanning the Puget Sound between Tacoma and the Kitsap Penninsula. Sleek and slender, it was the third-longest suspension bridge in the world at the time, spanning over 5,959 feet.
It was clear during construction that the deck moved vertically in windy conditions, so much so that construction workers nicknamed the bridge Galloping Gertie. Nevertheless, the bridge was opened to the public on July 1, 1940. On November 1 that same year, high winds caused the bridge to sway considerably.
At about 11 AM, the bridge's main span finally collapsed in the 40 mph (64 km/h) winds. The deck oscillated in an alternating twisting motion that gradually increased in amplitude until the deck tore apart. Fortunately, there were few people on the bridge at the time, and the only casualty was a dog named Tubby.
Clancy's comment: Wow. Poor Tubby!
I'm ...
January 28, 2021
28 February 2021 - Hidden Details Found in Everyday Objects
Hidden Details Found
in Everyday Objects
G'day folks,
How observant are you?
Just when everything seems painfully familiar and unsurprising, taking a closer look at things might change your whole perspective. In the photos below, people have documented little moments of joy and wonder, when they found a small hidden detail in an otherwise ordinary object or place. As it turns out, the world has more delightful secrets, stashed away from plain sight, than you could imagine.
Clancy's comment: Nice surprises, eh?
I'm ...
27 February 2021 - WHEN STAIRS BECOME ART
WHEN STAIRS
BECOME ART
G'day folks,
Abandoning the flat canvas of buildings, some street artists take to the stairs, transforming them into magnificent works of urban art.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s with paint, plants, mosaics or wallpapers – the end goal is beauty, shared and enjoyed by all. This phenomenon is not a localized. It's happening all around the world.
Clancy's comment: Very clever. Some of these would have taken a lot of work.I'm ...
January 27, 2021
21 February 2021 - WORLD STREET ART
WORLD STREET ART
G'day folks,
All of the artists depicted here are brilliant at their craft.
To quote a great man - I have a dream. In my dream, all the streets in all the world are covered by beautiful, colorful art, expressing anything beheld by the eye of imagination. I like this dream, just as I adore these creations of of art decorating the walls of many a street. I vote we cover more streets with beautiful art, who's with me?
Clancy's comment: Magnificent way to spruce up society.I'm ...
20 February 2021 - THE BEAUTY OF HANK CHENG’S DIORAMAS
THE BEAUTY OF
HANK CHENG’S DIORAMAS
G'day folks,
Some of the work seen on this post will stagger you.
Five years ago, Hank Cheng was inspired to make his first diorama, a tiny miniature model of a Japanese restaurant he visited as a student. Before long, he became a master of his craft, and today he creates dioramas full-time and even sells them all over the world.
Cheng’s success isn’t incidental. His work is so vivid and full of detail, you can almost see tiny people living in the miniature worlds he creates. Part of the realism is that many of Cheng’s dioramas depict run-down neighbourhoods, grocery stores, cluttered bedrooms, or back alleys. They are all real-life places from the artist’s memory; through his art, he pays a tribute to his community.
Cheng can create anything out of wood, metal, and other recycled materials. “When people ask me if there's anything that I can't make,” he says, “I jokingly say, ‘Only air and sunshine.’” Scroll down and immerse yourself in a miniature world.
Clancy's comment: Simply brilliant. Well done, Hank.
I'm ...
January 26, 2021
26 February 2021 - THE St. FRANCIS DAM FAILURE of 1928
THE St. FRANCIS
DAM FAILURE of 1928
G'day folks,
The St. Francis dam failure is considered one of the worst civil engineering catastrophes in American history. Built between 1924 and 1926, St. Francis Dam was a curved concrete gravity dam that was meant to help meet Los Angeles’ growing need for water regulation and storage. It was located about 30 miles (50 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Several cracks and leaks were observed in the dam and its abutments but they were dismissed as normal by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the general manager and chief engineer of the dam, William Mulholland.
On March 7, 1928, the reservoir was filled to capacity for the first time. After an inspection, Mulholland proclaimed it safe. Five days later, on March 12, the dam catastrophically failed. The resulting flood killed hundreds and swept away thousands of acres of fertile land. The disaster was largely blamed on poor design and the use of poor quality concrete, which allowed water to undermine the dam's foundations. It goes without saying that it also marked the end of Mulholland’s career.
Clancy's comment: A sad disaster for hundreds who probably didn't see it coming. I'm ...
19 February 2021 - Construction Failure At Charles De Gaulle Airport
Construction Failure At
Charles De Gaulle Airport
G'day folks,
Many countries have experienced great construction disasters, even Australia. Here is one that occurred in France, and it's a wonder more were not killed.
The structure was rebuilt with a metal framework and reopened in the spring of 2008.
Clancy's comment: Wow, it's a whopping structure. Happy travels, eh?I'm ...
27 January 2021 - GREAT QUOTES WORTH READING
GREAT QUOTES WORTH READING
G'day folks,
Welcome to some top quotes to inspire you.
Clancy's comment: Hope they have inspired you. Many of these are perfect for politicians, but they probably wouldn't understand them.
I'm ...
January 24, 2021
18 February 2021 - JACKIE KENNEDY - FACTS AND QUOTES
JACKIE KENNEDY
- FACTS AND QUOTES -
G'day folks,
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was born under the name Jacqueline Lee Bouvier, on July 28, 1929. Before becoming the wife of John F. Kennedy and the First Lady of the United States, she was a reporter-photographer at the Washington Times-Herald, and notably covered the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1952.
In 1952, Jacqueline met Kennedy who was then a popular congressman from Massachusetts, and two years later, on September 12, 1953, the couple got married.
When Kennedy was elected in 1960, Jacqueline became the youngest First Lady in 80 years, at the age of 31. But she wasn’t outstanding just because of her age. During her short time at the White House, Jackie Kennedy became one of the most popular first ladies. She was admired for her fashion sense, facility in language, and beauty. Parents named daughters after Jacqueline, and even the president once jokingly introduced himself to reporters as “the man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris” (alluding to the immense popularity of his wife during their tour in France in 1961).
Of course, one cannot talk about Jacqueline, and not mention the tragedy of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. She oversaw the late president’s funeral, using many of the details of Abraham Lincoln’s funeral a century earlier. Her quiet dignity and the sight of her two children standing beside her at the funeral are well remembered and brought a wave of appreciation from all over the world. Following Kennedy’s funeral, Jacqueline and her two children disappeared from the public eye.
She remarried in 1968, to Aristotle Onassis. On May 19, 1994, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died at the age of 64. Her elegance, grace, and inner strength are still an inspiration for many to this day. These are some of the former First Lady’s most memorable words.
Clancy's comment: She certainly had an interesting life.
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