Monday Miscellany . . . some odds, ends and personals.
Caution: risque content included
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From Martin, in respect of the post on Domes
Otto.
Otto.
Really,,,
You missed out on the famous Bini Domes that were inflicted on us High School Students in NSW.
You missed out on the famous Bini Domes that were inflicted on us High School Students in NSW.
As a Pittwater High boy, we were plagued by one of these monstrosities
https://failures.wikispaces.com/Binishell+Domes#Pittwater
This was no magic bullet, the building of fast and quick buildings that Dr Bini and his cabal promised.
1) The foundations, pounded in by Frankipile for months.
2) Inflation – 3 hours
3) Setting – 3 days
4) Months and months of preparation of the building
This was no magic bullet, the building of fast and quick buildings that Dr Bini and his cabal promised.
1) The foundations, pounded in by Frankipile for months.
2) Inflation – 3 hours
3) Setting – 3 days
4) Months and months of preparation of the building
And we ended up with a dome that had the acoustics of an echo chamber. What was the solution, from what I gather, sprayed asbestos fibre on the interior.
The round walls meant that nothing fitted inside it properly
Additional conventional wings were added to provide storage and facility space that the dome could not offer – so it was not really a dome after all
The Bini dome leaked, and so required constant repairs to the weatherproofing.
Heating and lighting was a nightmare. The mercury lights in the dome could be switched on or off from various points around the hall, and if some little grubby kid turned them off, it would take 15 to 20 minutes for the mercury lights to relight, leaving whoever was using the hall in the dark for that period.
The heaters were located (with the lights) in a “death star” above, in the centre, and would creak insistently when turned on. It was not possible to have exams and the heaters turned on at the same time.
Additional conventional wings were added to provide storage and facility space that the dome could not offer – so it was not really a dome after all
The Bini dome leaked, and so required constant repairs to the weatherproofing.
Heating and lighting was a nightmare. The mercury lights in the dome could be switched on or off from various points around the hall, and if some little grubby kid turned them off, it would take 15 to 20 minutes for the mercury lights to relight, leaving whoever was using the hall in the dark for that period.
The heaters were located (with the lights) in a “death star” above, in the centre, and would creak insistently when turned on. It was not possible to have exams and the heaters turned on at the same time.
Ugly, you bet..
Its failure, with others at other schools, prove that this particular building process was fraught with problems. I don’t know why the remaining schools still have them.
Its failure, with others at other schools, prove that this particular building process was fraught with problems. I don’t know why the remaining schools still have them.
I was not sorry to see it go..
Comment:
Martin doesn't go into detail but the failure of the Pittwater High School dome is one that could have been a major tragedy.
The promise of cheap, efficient school housing.
According to Wikipedia, in August 1986 the school was the site of an international architectural incident when its radical free standing "binishell" school hall collapsed, just minutes after the area had been occupied by students. A cleaner was seriously injured in the collapse, which led to the immediate closure of all similar structures across Australia. A more detailed examination of the collapse cane be read at:
https://failures.wikispaces.com/Binishell+Domes#Pittwater
According to Wikipedia, in August 1986 the school was the site of an international architectural incident when its radical free standing "binishell" school hall collapsed, just minutes after the area had been occupied by students. A cleaner was seriously injured in the collapse, which led to the immediate closure of all similar structures across Australia. A more detailed examination of the collapse cane be read at:
https://failures.wikispaces.com/Binishell+Domes#Pittwater
The Pittwater High School Binisihell dome
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From Alan in respect of the David Thorne item on creating a logo and pie charts:
“Bloody hilarious .......... please ... more.”
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From Kara in respect of Edgar A Guest's poem "It Couldn't Be Done":Hi Otto
I'm wondering if someone once said to E A Guest - I bet you couldn't write 11,000 poems.
In the words (almost) of Benny Hill
But he faced up to what could not be done...
And dammit, he bloody did it!
'Quantity not quality' comes to mind.
Happy Easter
Kara
Here's another of the 11,000 poems, Kara:
See It Through
When you’re up against a trouble,
Meet it squarely, face to face;
Lift your chin and set your shoulders,
Plant your feet and take a brace.
When it’s vain to try to dodge it,
Do the best that you can do;
You may fail, but you may conquer,
See it through!
Black may be the clouds about you
And your future may seem grim,
But don’t let your nerve desert you;
Keep yourself in fighting trim.
If the worst is bound to happen,
Spite of all that you can do,
Running from it will not save you,
See it through!
Even hope may seem but futile,
When with troubles you’re beset,
But remember you are facing
Just what other men have met.
You may fail, but fall still fighting;
Don’t give up, whate’er you do;
Eyes front, head high to the finish.
See it through!
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From Charlie Z in respect of Dorothy Parker, whose opinion on the poetry of Edgar A Guest I quoted:
Otto ... Re: Dorothy Parker.
When I am in New York, I usually wander in to the Algonquin Hotel, (right next to the Iroquois, by the way) to have a martini. The Algonquin was the watering hole for the Writers' group, which included Hemingway, Scott Fitzgerald, Robert Benchley AND Dorothy Parker. Your martini is served with complimentary mixed nuts and on a cocktail napkin with this poem written by Ms Parker.
Otto ... Re: Dorothy Parker.
When I am in New York, I usually wander in to the Algonquin Hotel, (right next to the Iroquois, by the way) to have a martini. The Algonquin was the watering hole for the Writers' group, which included Hemingway, Scott Fitzgerald, Robert Benchley AND Dorothy Parker. Your martini is served with complimentary mixed nuts and on a cocktail napkin with this poem written by Ms Parker.
One martini
Two at the most,
Three, I'm under the table,
Four, I'm under my host!
Comment:
Thanks Charles.
Two at the most,
Three, I'm under the table,
Four, I'm under my host!
Thanks Charles.
Dorothy Parker is known for many wry quotes and comments but I will confine myself to mentioning only one more, an anecdote I have posted previously. Sent a telegram by her editor, whilst she was on honeymoon, begging her for work that was overdue, he received her telegram in reply: “Too fucking busy, and vice versa.”
From Marn:
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From Marn:
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