WHO WAS ROBERT FITZROY?
Sufis, Stealth Bombers, Alaska, & On This Day.
BOC#026
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WHO WAS ROBERT FITZROY?
Captain of the infamous Beagle, Vice-Admiral Fitzroy commanded the 10-gun Royal Navy vessel that, with Charles Darwin aboard, toured the waters of South America (Patagonia), the South Pacific, New Zealand, and the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa). Having risen through the ranks, Fitzroy made a name for himself mapping the intricate waters of Patagonia, Chile, the Falklands, and Tierra del Fuego to such a high degree of accuracy that only recent satellite imagery offered much in the way of improvement.
He was a pioneer in the field of weather forecasting, and held the post of second Governor of New Zealand (1843-1845) following a two year stint as the Tory MP for Durham (1841-1843). A species of dolphin that was collected by Darwin while aboard the Beagle was initially offered the scientific name Delphinus Fitzroyi in honour of the ship’s captain (this was later changed). On 30th April 1865, with much debt to his name, and suspected depression, Fitzroy took a razor to his throat terminating his life. A fantastic novel that tells of the adventures of Fitzroy and Darwin well worth the read is This Thing of Darkness by Harry Thompson.*
WHAT MAKES A STEALTH BOMBER ‘STEALTH’?
Radar (Radio Detection And Ranging) works by sending out radio waves and awaiting the return signals that bounce off the objects they encounter. The rounded surfaces of normal aircraft make them highly reflective in radar terms, allowing for radio waves to find their way back from whence they came. What makes stealth aircraft special, however, is that they’re built using flat/sharp surfaces that deflect the radio waves in different directions, causing them to lose their way. Additionally, stealth aircraft are made from discrete metals and carbon fibres that reduce radar visibility, and are painted with special wave absorbing paints that reduce wave reflection. ‘Iron ball paint’ converts radio waves into heat, helping the waves to dissipate into the environment. Matte black paint and night flying adds yet another layer of stealth, as do the top mounted exhausts and the enhanced cooling of hot exhaust gases that reduces their infrared footprint and overall visibility. High altitude flying helps to prevent contrails, keeping them even further out of sight.
WHY ARE SUFIS CALLED SUFIS?
The spiritual sect of Muslims famed for their whirling meditative practices get their name from the simple wool garments they once wore. The humble garment of uncarded wool is known as ‘suf’ in Arabic, hence the name Sufi.
#1 PASSAGE FROM 48 LAWS OF POWER BY ROBERT GREENE*:
On the importance of studying everyone indiscriminately, and trusting discriminately:
“Never discriminate as to whom you study and whom you trust. Never trust anyone completely and study everyone, including friends and loved ones.”
#2 PASSAGE FROM GONE WITH THE WIND BY MARGARET MITCHELL:
“Death, taxes and childbirth! There's never any convenient time for any of them.”
ON THIS DAY: 30th JUNE
Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind was published today in 1936 and was made into a feature film in 1939.
Brazil won the 2002 World Cup in Japan on this day having beaten Germany 2-0 with both goals having been scored by the legend Ronaldo.
London’s steam operated Tower Bridge was opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales today in 1894. The bridge switched to electrified hydraulics in 1976.
Today is Mike Tyson’s 59th birthday, and National Meteor Watch Day, so keep your eyes peeled!
WORDS: COMPEL VS IMPEL
To be compelled, like its cousin compulsion, implies the use of force, irresistible pressure, or coercion in influencing somebody’s behaviour. To impel, however, is to be less coercive, and more encouraging.
To be compelled is to lack choice, to be impelled is to have some willingness.
DID YOU KNOW: ALASKA WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED ‘ALAXSXAQ”
Pronounced Alak-sak; the name comes from the native Aleut word for mainland, or literally; ‘the object to which the action of the sea is directed.’ The Aleutian Islands stretch out into the Bering Sea (named after Vitus Bering), and were occupied by the native Aleut people who are thought to have arrived some 4,000 years ago. The Aleut suffered death and disease during Russian occupation in the 1700’s. The region was eventually sold to the U.S with Alaxsxaq becoming the anglicised, ‘Alaska’.
QUOTE: “ONE SHOULD NEVER MAKE ONE’S DEBUT WITH A SCANDAL…
…one should reserve that to give an interest to one’s old age.” - Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891)
MISSED LAST WEEK?: Wycliffe, The York Massacre, Hobson's Choice, and Paddington
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liked this, This Thing of Darkness is an amazing book
Interesting to note that Charles Darwin came to Port Jackson (Sydney) and apparently had an interesting time there. From memory, he also went to Tasmania. I must check that out in more detail.