Flag Ships

EDIT (22 September 2015)

IGNORE THE BELOW - OUR UNOFFICIAL FLAGSHIPS WERE OFFICIALLY DE-COMMISSIONED AFTER EPISODE 47... (discussion from 18'50")

In strange turn of events, it seems the Hello Internet podcast now has two "flag ships"?

They are Anthem of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas.

Anthem of the Seas (royalcarribbean.com)

Anthem of the Seas (royalcarribbean.com)

Majesty of the Seas (royalcarribbean.com)

Majesty of the Seas (royalcarribbean.com)

So how did this happen?

THE FOUNDATION

Well, for starters, Brady (that's me) has a view of the sea from his office and likes to use websites and apps (preferably Marine Traffic) to identify various cargo ships sailing by.

Co-host CGP Grey - normally sceptical about Brady's interests - admitted he too has a passion for ships!

A view from Brady's office

A view from Brady's office

Hear about it on episode 42 (at the start of the show)

JOHN THE BASS PLAYER

We received an email from John, a bass player on the ship Anthem of the Seas.

In part, his email said:

"You and Grey mentioned you were interested in ships and had been checking out a website where you can view the position of ships all over the world and get information about them. I am employed as a bassist on a cruise ship. So the next time you’re browsing marine traffic, look up my ship and you can see the exact position of someone who is likely listening to an episode of Hello Internet while at sea!"

Sure enough, we looked up John's ship. Hear about it on episode 43 (from 16'40")

INCREASING THE BASS

Next we heard from Gannon - believe it or not he is also Hello Internet listener and a bass player on a ship... And it's the sister ship to Anthem of the Seas.

Gannon works on Majesty of the Seas.

His email said, in part:

"I work primarily as a trombonist in the orchestra on the beautiful "Majesty of the Seas" and sometimes play bass for the Jazz sets. I am what is known as a seasonal musician though. During the school year I am actually a music professor at a university in central Texas."

Gannon even sent 'proof' in a later email

Gannon even sent 'proof' in a later email

Hear us check on Anthem and then discuss Gannon's email on episode 44 (22'45")

So now we have two ships to check on?

You can too - I recommend Marine Tracker because I like how it looks, but other good websites exist for doing this.

And here are the positions of Anthem and Majesty at the time I wrote this blog.

Bristol Balloon Fiesta

Some of my video and pictures from Saturday, 8 August, 2015.

And some crazy wing walkers!

Podcast chat about balloons on HI45 (pretty much at the start of the episode)

And the picture I mentioned of the University of Nottingham balloon:

And here are some extra pictures from that trip.

What were the odds?

Maybe the "White Gloves of Destiny" are more powerful than we realised!?

With eyes closed, it was essentially a "lucky dip" from the Royal Society card catalog.

But in the tradition of golfers who hit errant tee shots, I chose a second card as my "provisional".

The two cards selected by fate related to:

1) a letter about a mortgage

and

2) observations of a lunar eclipse.

Head librarian Keith Moore and I headed deep into the archives.

And we found them both, of course.

The mortgage letter, from 1891, was a little on the dry side?

Though it is worth noting a £15,000 mortgage back then is worth well into the millions these days.

And though I did not discuss it on camera, I was also amused by the phone number on the letter - just four-digits, 2604.

The second document was more interesting, dealing with James Short's observation of an eclipse in 1760.

BUT HERE IS THE BIT WE MISSED (a viewer named Simon pointed it out).

The letters - 131 years apart - originated from the same small London street!

Both the address of the accountants (Few and Co) in 1891 and the eclipse observations in 1760 were in Surrey Street, Strand.

(Short's home, instrument workshop and observatory were in Surrey St)

131 years apart - but joined by the White Gloves of Destiny!

I also noted Short spelled his street as "Surry" but it was changed to Surrey in the final published version in Philosophical Transactions.

PS: Of course I'm aware it's likely quite a few professional types were more concentrated back in the day - but still!?

There are LOTS of cards in that catalog.

STOP PRESS (added on 10 August)

Another obvious coincidence I completely omitted in the article above!

The first letter was written to Mr Long.... The second one was written by Mr Short.

I really am not very good at noticing this stuff!

WATCH MORE OBJECTIVITY VIDEOS

Hiroshima

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing.

I went to the city in 2007.

It was very impressive and the museum is one of the best I have been to.

But the most significant physical monument is the city's famous "Genbaku Dome", the only building left standing near the main blast point.

It's a pretty stark reminder of what happened in 1945.


Climbing Nui Dat

Nui Dat was the main headquarters for the Australian forces in the Vietnam War.

I've heard the name many times because my dad was based there for his two tours of duty.

But it became more than just a name when I finally visited, and Dad took me to the top of "Nui Dat" itself!

While the Australian forces were mainly spread under the shade of a surrounding rubber plantation, Nui Dat actually means "small hill" or "clay hill" or "small dirt hill" (depending on who you ask).

The hill itself was at the centre of the Australian base, but was only really used by SAS troops.

And by dad for training his tracking dog, Caesar!

Nui Dat's SAS Hill in 1971 (image: Australian War Memorial)

Nui Dat's SAS Hill in 1971 (image: Australian War Memorial)

Atop Nui Dat with dad

Atop Nui Dat with dad

I'm a bit biased, but I really recommend my dad's book Trackers.

And more videos with dad are here, including this one: