Athot for the Day: Those Looks

Cats have the most expressive non-expressive faces. One can tell exactly what they're thinking... the good and the bad.

On the Goodwin Sands

In June of 2013 the Royal Air Force Museum London salvaged a Luftwaffe Dornier 17 aircraft from about 60 feet of water off the coast of Kent, England. After being shot down by RAF fighters, the WWII German 'level bomber' was left resting inverted on the "Goodwin Sands" for over 60 years — with its airframe being in good shape, overall.

The Goodwin Sands, located about four sea miles off the east coast, is a famous shipwreck park and it has held this status for centuries, tricking, often by snapping into high tide mode and disappearing below the water's surface, many a sailor to an unfortunate and premature death.

It has been estimated that over two thousand ships have been decommissioned by navigating in error — or uncontrollably during a storm or strong wind — over this famous "ship swallower".

One famous incident, from November of 1954, happened when the South Goodwin light vessel broke from her anchor chain during a severe storm, travelled about six miles and ended up on her side in the sands. All seven of her crew perished.

In geographical terms the sands, broken only by a deep gully, called the Kellet Gut, measure about twelve miles north-south and more than two miles at their widest point. Always in flux, as though a pair of giant hands is kneading, they shape-shift constantly — more radically during big storms. All this moving about occasionally reveals a long lost shipwreck, perhaps a few pieces of wood, only to disappear again into the sands of time.

Years ago I read a quote from a letter written by a sailor who witnessed events during the terrible storm (which sent four ships of the line to the sands) of November 26-27, 1703....

"These ships fired their guns all night and day long, poor souls, for help, but the storm being too fierce and raging, could have none to save them. The ship called the Shrewsberry that we are in, broke two anchors, and did run mighty fierce backwards, within sixty or eighty yards of the sands, and as God Almighty would have it, we flung our sheet anchor down, which is the biggest, and so stopped.... To see Admiral Beaumont that was next to us, and all the rest of his men, how they climbed up the main mast, hundreds at a time crying out for help, and thinking to save their lives, and in a twinkling of an eye were drowned.... I have not had my clothes off, nor a wink of sleep these four nights...."

Goodwin Sands reveals its crests by rising one or two metres above sea level during low tide. As a matter of fact you can play a quick game of cricket — just make sure you wrap up the match before the beaches submerge again, or a cricket bat may mark the spot.

(I guess this precludes certain famous rivalries from partaking in any matches in this venue.)

On Imminent Peril

Hot off the press:

"It is an incontrovertible truth that the civil institutions of the United States of America have been seriously affected, and that they now stand in imminent peril from the rapid and enormous increase of the body of residents of foreign birth, imbued with foreign feelings, and of an ignorant and immoral character, who receive, under the present lax and unreasonable laws of naturalization, the elective franchise and the right of eligibility to political office."

When was the above written? It was part of a speech given in Philadelphia at the first national convention of the Native American Party. The event was held in the year 1845.

While the quote may give one the impression it comes from the pen of Donald Trump, it reads as a little too articulate to be ascribed to such a simple guy... and there's punctuation.

A Quote from a Documentary on Joseph Goebbels

"Hitler correctly assessed that the most important activity for a political party was the control and influence of the mass media."

Interesting, eh?

A Forever Question: The Fur Flies

“Since before your sun burned hot in space and before your race was born, I have awaited a question."

Sir. Do cats obey traffic lights?

Book: Star Trek Blueprints (Joseph)

Star Trek Blueprints

Drawn by

Franz Joseph Designs

Ballantine Books

1975

***

Last September I wrote a series of pieces on the 58th anniversary of Star Trek, a television series that bewitched many of us as we warped through our youth. Actually, the age range wasn't limited: the original Trek's appeal ran right up to seniors.

Perhaps no fictional space vehicle is as beloved as the (original) Starship Enterprise.

("It's a beautiful lady and we love her.")

"I'd imagine myself walking around the ship", said a friend of mine after he and I realized that we both had the Star Trek Blueprints set in our teen years. "They were mounted on my wall."

I too mounted these detailed blueprints on my bedroom wall.

Franz Joseph, an aerospace design engineer, and whose real name was Franz Anton Joseph Schnaubelt, treated his subject as though it was a real vessel, and his draughtings reflect this... hence my buddy's imaginings. The question is, did I imagine the same? Was I a teenage geek?

Star Trek was — still is, really — a brilliant series, and one loaded with great talents: a key one being designer Walter 'Matt' Jefferies.

 

Postscript: The Star Trek Blueprints set currently in my possession was given to me by a friend of mine who had been walking down a Toronto street. He stumbled upon a box of books sitting by the curbside; inside was a certain 'book', one he imagined I might like.

Picturing: A Special Parade Down a German Street

I'm guessing I took this picture in Hügelsheim, which is just down the road from Iffezheim, the town my family was living in at the time. Perhaps this is Iffezheim. I can't remember, exactly.

One thing I am sure about is how much I love those Fanfarenzug (fanfare band) costumes. I loved living in Germany... actually West Germany at that time. East Germany, the GDR (German Democratic Republic), was something different.

My parents bought me a Kodak "Instamatic" 133 camera for my seventh birthday. They started me at a young age on my road to photography. This colourful parade would have been captured in the summer of 1969 or 1970.

Athot for the Day: Pets' Perspective (Petspective)

A dog's response to its owner leaving the house: "Woof! Woof!... Woof!"

A cat's response to its owner leaving the house: "Finally!... But don't forget to come back soon!"

Poster: Barren Ground Caribou Returning in 2026

Barren Ground Caribou by Joyce Wieland (1978)

As the poster says....

The City of Toronto Economic Development and Culture Division is collaborating with the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Montreal Museum of Fine Art to bring Barren Ground Caribou, the monumental public artwork by Joyce Wieland, out from behind glass! This remarkable textile will feature prominently in a celebration of the radical art-making of one of Canada's most influential and trail-blazing artists. Heart On is an ambitious retrospective exhibition of the works of Joyce Wieland that will travel between the Montreal Museum of Fine Art and the Art Gallery of Ontario throughout 2025.

Ms Wieland's quilt was showcased at the Toronto Transit Commission's "Spadina" subway station, more specifically, its Kendal Avenue entrance.

When I use that entrance I always at least give Barren Ground Caribou a glance. It's hard to miss the artwork due to its immense profile.

The glass display case looks so empty now. It is.

Micro Poem: Cardigans of Cordite

The human race knows not what it strives for

it seeks guidance but ignores reality

cowering blithely in waste its ultimate fate.

___

2025

Simon St. Laurent

NHL Gum Card: Rene Robert — Buffalo Sabres

During my preteen years, like many young men, the National Hockey League (NHL) was the most important thing. Ice hockey ruled our worlds, its players our sports heroes. O-Pee-Chee marketed player trading cards, and these would appear in our corner stores. For ten cents, one got a few cards and a stick of 'gum'. The convenience store on the "South Side" of CFB Borden was my go-to place for these little packets of goodness — yes, I actually liked that gum.

The above card is from the 1972 - 1973 season.

While the speedily-talented winger wore four different team uniforms, including that of the Toronto Maple Leafs, during his NHL career, René Robert (1948 - 2021) hit his peak when he played for the Buffalo Sabres. With "French Connection" teammates Gilbert Perreault and Richard Martin, he was a playmaking and scoring force, especially during the NHL's 1974/75 season when the Sabres eliminated my beloved Habs (Montreal Canadiens) from further playoff participation.

Screen Capture: Working in Adobe Lightroom

Working the ropes, pullies, pots, and sliders... but not to the point of over-processing the photo. At least that's my aim as I generally don't like photographs with colours too enhanced.

Like many photographers of my age, I started in a darkroom processing and manipulating photographic paper through development times, and 'dodging' and 'burning'. Wonderful tools like Lightroom make it almost too easy. (Those Cheezies look really orange! But really good!)

Will & Mist: Happy New Year 2025!

"A New Year's Resolution? I am perfect!"