History Reversed: Scots rescue the French over Eurovision

From the desk of admin ·April 18, 2008 at 2:15 pm · Filed under All WW, Arts / Culture, Magazine, Media, Science, Video

Earlier this week I reported that some of the French are in a tizzy because their entry for the Eurovision song contest is in English. We have a new development.

Reversing the great dramatic acts of British history, where the French helped the Scots against the English - a Glasgow band The Ex-men have translated their song into French and are offering it as an entry for Eurovision.

Here’s the performance. It will be on the WW front page later on.

I wish them every success.

On this one occasion, I am not putting this down to a stunt by the Great Pretender.

Their website is at www.myspace.com/theexmen , but be warned that it eats web browsers for breakfast at present (I had to use Opera to read it). You are better off reading the blurb on Youtube.

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Invasion of the Yellow Ducks, Bath Toys, Coastal Defence, and Oceanographic Advances

From the desk of admin ·December 28, 2007 at 2:46 pm · Filed under Audio, Miscellaneous, News - Current Affairs, Relaxation, Science

Way back when in 1992, a container including 29,000 bath toys fell off a container ship in the Pacific Ocean. These ducks have drifted all over the world, and this article traces their paths and looks at some of the scientific data that have been provided.

Since then many of these have travelled on Ocean currents, including many being caught up and frozen in the Arctic ice-pack for some months. I’ve also posted a Radio Programme recorded by Clive Anderson first broadcast in June 2006 entitled “Invasion of the Yellow Ducks“. Enjoy.

Here’s a map from the International Marine Consultancy showing the drift over the years:

They have provided a comment, including a timeline:

While the ducks are undoubtedly a loss to the bath-time fun of thousands of children, their adventures at sea have proved an inn valuable aid to science.

The toys have helped researchers to chart the great ocean currents because when they are spotted bobbing on the waves they are much more likely to be reported to the authorities than the floats which scientists normally use.

And because the toys are made of durable plastic and are sealed watertight, they have been able to survive years adrift at the mercy of the elements.

The “Yellow Duck gaffer” is Curtis Ebbesmeyer of Beachcomber Alert, who reports how the ducks have provided information about ocean currents - especially in the North Pacific:

Twelve years and counting — the saga of the tots’ tub toys continues. On January 10, 1992, 28,800 turtles, ducks, beavers and frogs packed in a cargo container — called Floatees by the manufacturer — splashed into the mid-Pacific, where the 45th parallel intersects the International Date Line (44.7°N, 178.1°E). During August- September, 1992, after 2,200 miles adrift, hundreds beached near Sitka, Alaska. Twelve years later, in 2004, beachcombers were still ?nding the bath-time critters.

At Sitka’s second annual beachcomber fair held on 25 July 2004, Dean Orbison and son Tyler Orbison, 22, exhibited a hamper full of 111 toys they’d beachcombed nearby Sitka during 1993-2004. The basket held comparable numbers: 18% turtles, 35% ducks, 26% beavers, and 21% frogs. During years at sea, the ducks and beavers faded to white while the turtles and frogs remained original blue and green, respectively. Animal bites and the surf smashing them against rocks had ruptured many.

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