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August 15, 2005 -- Vol. 5 Issue 33 Written by Jack R. Simpson (unless otherwise noted), owner of J.R. Simpson & Associates, Inc. and contributing editor to The Waterways Journal.
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 In This Newsletter:
Headline Errors
"Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft" A Personal Note From Jack
 While reading "Data Smog" by David Shenk, a book that was published in 1997 before the information glut had become as bad as it is today, I have been experiencing the satisfaction of knowing that the thoughts I am having today about the issue mirrored what Shenk wrote eight years ago and I had never read before. His book is about "surviving the information glut."
What is fascinating is to compare his forecasts with what has actually happened. He was writing before the Y2K issue arose and had no idea how it would turn out. He did predict major problems, far worse than the world encountered. My purpose of getting into the issue today is that most people who read B&B most likely are victims of the information glut just as I am. Even without spam and porn and all of the other categories of undesirable information that is thrown at us over the Internet, legitimate news can become a headache. I try very much to follow the scheme that I follow when reading newspapers. I scan headlines. If the headline doesn’t interest me, I skip over the story. If one attracts me, I read the lead graph or two to determine if I have additional interest. Often I scan page after page without reading a full story. Also there is the occurrence of running into a story that is of interest, but I already have a pretty broad background on it and know more about the issue than the story reveals. These I can weed out pretty fast. Using this method I can often get through a newspaper, clip an article or two, and be on to the only two cartoon strips I ever read. Many of you, I’m sure, read headlines in the same manner that I do. So it is nothing special. This takes us back to the Internet. Every day my mailbox is bulging with emails from well-intentioned people who find something interesting and want to share it. Frequently I am not the sole addressee but am one of many. This means the sender has grouped a bunch of people in one category and sends to all of them frequently. When this happens I feel no obligation to respond. SORRY? No, not really. Because reading all of the emails, especially if one attempts to respond to them, can take lots of time that I don’t have. My main interest in the Internet is gathering information for B&B. New readers may not know it yet, but the letter is dedicated to towing on the inland waterways of the U.S. Even as an ex-Navy man, I am not interested in reading about every blue-water mishap that occurs. So my advice is that emails bearing information should be relative to B&B. Naturally I am interested in personal emails from friends when they are about personal matters or the inland waterways. My efforts to block emails soliciting buyers for Rolex watch knockoffs, Viagra (and its ilk) and pretty housewives who supposedly live just around the corner and want to meet me have utterly failed. Although I believe EarthLink has successfully screened out virtually all of the porn emails with revealing pictures and emails in which they detect viruses. I am thankful for that. I am not a browser. My computer is only a tool. Like my hoe, I use it only when I have a use for it. I don’t wander around the Internet just to find interesting stuff. I also use it for compiling books for customers and for writing on my own book projects. Most of us can have far more enjoyable lives if we learn to handle news and Internet mail so that it does not control us. I delete a good share of emails when the subject lines are gibberish or simply written to arouse my interest. For example, why would I open one that asks me, "Why hasn’t Gerald called?" I don’t know any Geralds. And I don’t care why he hasn’t called. Usually these come on such solicitations as those designed to sell Viagra and like drugs. "Caroline wants to meet you" is another. And they come in all forms and fashions. Most of you receive the same thing. We owe these people nothing, as you will agree. So these emails are trashed as fast as I can get to the delete button. That leaves me with maybe 25 percent of the daily delivery left to examine. Even newsletters that tell me of foreign events get trashed. The airwaves are filled with the same thing. The morning paper carries identical stories. Television repeats them every hour of the day several times over. I can fall asleep and dream of the Aruba incident. But I wake up not knowing any more than I did after the first few days. And none of the new telecasts enlighten me further. So why waste the time. Then there are those people who send requests to "pass this along to at least six friends" if you really care. Of course I may care! But I do not make myself a mechanism to be used by people espousing the kind of causes these people are working on. I consider myself patriotic, but I do not pass along pictorial presentations of Iraq war pictures or religious tales that are obviously carefully written to make a point. Even though I may agree with the point being made, and I often do read them, I do not clutter up someone else’s computer with this stuff. My friends frequently give me a belly laugh by passing along humorous sayings about old age and other jokes they’ve heard. I enjoy many of them and mostly reply with one or two word replies like: "Funny!" or "Saw this last year." Very seldom do I pass them on. It isn’t that I do not appreciate them. Sometimes I get a good laugh. I just haven’t the time. And I do not always respond. Someone passed along the "headline" bloopers that I have been using in this newsletter. When jokes are clean enough to tell in front of a mixed audience, including children, I preserve them in a master file. If they are not clean enough, I do not respond, do not save and do not pass along. I started to talk about how much time we could save by ignoring junk material and other stuff that makes up the information glut. Ask yourself this, "What do I gain by reading letters to the editor?" Usually nothing. Letters to the editor is a buffer zone created by newspapers to let readers blow off steam. I have suggested on occasion that it would be advantageous to readers to know the occupation of the writers. In other words, when a person writes about technical matters, I want to know if he is a scientist, a lab technician, a doctor, a butcher or a baker. I do not want to read the letter from a butcher that discusses delicate foreign affairs. So generally I just do the headline bit and end up skipping most of the letters. That is not to say that I am not sorely tempted to fire off a pithy letter to the newspaper on occasion. But generally it serves no purpose. On occasion I write our local paper to explain incorrect statements the paper has made about the towing industry. Frequently I have tried to get the paper to stop putting a whistleblower against the Corps on a pedestal when he admitted later that he was actually the one at fault. But the paper has no intention of replying or changing its ways. I have been given my once-every-six-months opportunity to present a letter of no more than 250 words. I must assume that B&B readers are searching for river material, and it is my purpose to try to provide it. But even in this scheme of things, there are things I intentionally ignore because they are the kind of incidents that happen so frequently that they are more in the fender-bender category. If you spill a barrel of oil into the Gulf Intracoastal Water, I don’t need to hear about it. If you dump a barrel of sulfuric acid and endanger a community, I am interested. When the first robin of the spring arrives to Granny Johnson’s lawn, it is usually no longer considered news, although we still give thousands of inches of precious newspaper space to the famous Massachusetts wood chuck. But if a thousand robins suddenly take over the grass, that is news and grist for someone’s editorial mill. It is my conclusion that I cannot do much of anything about many things being reported. And if I cannot do anything about it, why clutter my mind with it. My mind is already hitting on a few cylinders too few. This brings us to the matter of waterway legislation and support for water resource development and towing. This, I believe I can do something about. I can encourage people to support waterways. That is the entire purpose behind this newsletter. Even my web site, www.littleriverbooks.com, where I sell books, is steeped in material mostly about the rivers. I figure with nearly 800 readers a week, I may reach someone who will be willing to take action, like writing a congressmen or a local newspaper to enlighten readers about the rivers. Critics have implied river traffic is on a steady decline. It is not. And I have explained in the past week or so why it is not. It is actually on the rise, and river business (as illustrated in "The Waterways Journal") is far from dead. New boats are being built. Businesses are flourishing. Perhaps not like in the late 70s, but better than they have in the recent past. Critics say the Corps is always wrong when it forecasts traffic growth on new projects. That, too, is wrong. In three-fours of the cases studied, the Corps was either accurate or conservative in its estimate. The myths go on and on.  So if you really want to get involved in something that you really, really, really can do something about, write those letters to your congressmen. When constituents in large numbers express their opinions on a subject, they listen. That is true no matter which side of an issue you are on. The environmental organizations have tremendous organizational skills. They can trigger a flow of letters objecting to Corps projects with a few clicks of the computer keys. It is more difficult for those of us who support these projects. We do not make it a practice of sending out campaign-type requests for letters. We occasionally remind people that writing their congressmen is a good idea.
Right now it is a good idea, because the Water Resource Development Act 2005 is soon to be up for final consideration. If you truly support the rivers and the Corps and the things that have been at the core of this electronic newsletter for years, take the time to write a letter. When those men and women in Congress sit down to evaluate the differences between the bills of the Senate and House, they may very will be influenced by the number of letters they have received saying that "such and such" is "good" or it is "bad." This letter distributes waterway news, much of which you may find useless but hopefully interesting. I am sure some is of no interest at all. But writing your congressmen is more important than anything else we can put in B&B. That is our purpose. B&B is an advocacy instrument. Having strained your eyes for so long on this matter, I hope some of you respond by following through with letters. This is kinda like one of those letters to the editors, isn’t it. Oh well! Newsletter News
This week we are able to include some human interest articles that I hope will improve the reading of B&B. For Those Inclined To Pray
 We have modified the steps for joining our Prayer Circle. If you visit the Prayer Circle link on at www.littleriverbooks.com, you will find that those who sign up are completely anonymous. We do not ask for first names nor states of residence. Joining is as simple as providing an email address to which we can send future prayer requests. Each prayer request list includes a link for including requests.
By joining our Prayer Circle, you can tap into the prayerful support of circle members wherever they are. Membership and prayer requests are open to everyone. Advertising
Your classified ad can go in this space for $10 for one week, $20 for two weeks, $25 for three weeks, and $30 for four weeks. For details click here. On The Waterfront
Mississippi River at Memphis Lowest in Four Years "The Commercial Appeal" reported on August 9 that the Mississippi River at Memphis was the lowest that day than it had been in four years. Despite this, the river has been relatively clear of navigational problems, the Coast Guard told "The Appeal." By the 9th, the river had dropped to 6.4 feet below zero on the Memphis gauge, down 1.6 feet from the 8th. Zero refers to the low-water mark from the 1800s. A Train Wreck and Memories When News Channel 5 in the Nashville, Tenn., area reported last week that a runaway train sped through four busy intersections in downtown Nashville on August 8 before crashing into the Cumberland River, it caught the attention of Capt. Jeffrey L. Yates, who couldn’t resist commenting on it to his Internet friends. "I don’t think this is quite how the rail to river transfer operation is supposed to be handled," he wrote. "Notice there is no mention of channel blockage by the rail car. Evidently, they’ve determined it’s laying flat on its side and is still low enough to allow loaded barges to pass." Well, this comment from Jeff brought back memories to Thomas Waller. "Back in October 1973," Tom wrote, "the bridge operator at Morley had a heart attack with the bridge in the open position. The warning system did not work and a freight train ran off into the creek with several box cars. On this particular bridge, the counterweight blocks the track when the bridge is in the up position. When the train hit it, it swung like a mega pendulum. It was lights out for the two guys in the engine. PARoute was closed for quite some time while the mess was cleaned up. The reason I remember the date is because Penny and I had just been married for a year; we took our runabout to Morgan City and had passed under that bridge earlier in the day before it happened." (Editor’s note: Who knows what memories lurk in the hearts of men? We now know one of them. While on a trip to the French Alps in the early 50s while serving in the Navy, we passed over a very high bridge by bus. The bridge spanned a huge gorge in the mountains. A few years later I learned that it had collapsed. Whew! Those close calls can get to a guy. Just a few years off.!) Boat in Delta Queen’s Wake Capsizes The Quad City Times reported recently that a tri-hull pleasure boat capsized after being swamped by the wake of the Delta Queen as it was passing Jackson County on its way to Davenport, Iowa. Following the mishap, the four passengers managed to reach shore, where one of them slipped on the rocks and suffered a head injury. The injured man was later reported in good condition. The wake of the DQ washed over the bow of the tri-hull, causing it to flip over about a mile below Bellevue, Iowa. Two of the passengers were wearing lifejackets. Two others donned them after entering the water. All’s well that ends well? Don’t know yet. An officer from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating to see if there are any appropriate charges to be filed. Against who? Why not just say, "Glad you folks weren’t hurt?" Or are thing thinking about charges against the DQ? Stay tuned! Sale of Memphis Marine Services, Inc.? A tipster reported late last week that Wepfer Marine of Greenville, LLC, Greenville, Miss., has purchased Memphis Marine Services, Inc., Memphis, Tenn. We’ve seen no official confirmation on it yet. Water Safety — A Truly Great Story According to "The Herald," Everett, Wash., Scott Redford may be alive today because he taught his children Destiny, 6, and Darren, 8, water safety. The three of them were on their sailboat Double D, pulling crab pots between Everett, Wash., and Hat Island when Scott was knocked into the water by a wave in near darkness. Though the children were scared as they called out to him, he calmly directed them to play roles they had rehearsed weekly on their boat. And he kept telling them not to worry. Darren piloted the boat in a circle to try to locate his father. Destiny dialed 911. An attempt to attract a passing boat failed; the flare gun finally worked but to no avail; but the phone call eventually brought aid. Scott, who had tried unsuccessfully to climb back aboard his boat, had been hindered by injury and cold. A tugboat, alerted by the Coast Guard, arrived from the Snohomish River and took Scott aboard. All turned out well. The 911 dispatcher who take the call commended the father on the way his children had handled the situation. (Editor’s note: Blue water or not, this story reminds us that boating is dangerous and that training such as that Scott Redford gave his children, is well worth it.) advertisement
The River School - Deck and engineer licenses, radar observer, tankerman, fire and water safety courses, video programs. Travel classes in convenient locations. (800) 238-7113 www.riverschool.com Recipe Box
If you are a towboat cook, home chef, backyard barbecuer, tailgater, or know anybody who is, please pass the word along to submit recipes!
CHEESY SCALLOPED POTATOES 1 small onion, chopped 2 Tbsp. butter 1 Tbsp. olive oil 3 Tbsp. flour 1-1/2 c. milk 1 c. grated cheddar cheese 1 c. grated monterey jack cheese Salt and pepper 5 potatoes, peeled and sliced thin Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sautee onion in butter and olive oil. Stir in flour. Whisk in milk and cook until thick and bubbly. Stir in half of the cheddar cheese and half of the montery jack cheese until melted. Salt and pepper to taste. Layer half of the potatoes in a baking dish and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover with half of the cheese sauce. Layer the rest of the potato slices on top of sauce. Salt and pepper. Top with remaining sauce. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Remove from oven and sprinkle the remaining cheddar and monterey jack cheese on top. Bake uncovered for 5-10 minutes or until golden brown. NOT a low calorie dish! Our Readers Write
Re: Boat Pictures Attached you will find some of the current pictures taken of our boat named Don Antonio (ex-named Toltec and Southern Cross). We also owned the Tendota (ex-named Southern King and Robin Mott) and Decatur Lady. Guillermo M. Lujan Naviera Chaco SA Commercial Manager A subsidiary of Archer Daniels Midland Company (Editor’s note: See Photo Center.) Re: Boat Pictures In the attachment, you will find some more interesting pictures from international towing which might be presented in your Boat Photo Center. Unfortunately I have no information on the Karen Renee Hamm. Do any of the readers know more about her? Thank you so far for the publication of some of my photos in the Boat Photo Center. I would like to keep in contact with you, but this might take a little while. Ingo Steller Duesseldorf, Germany. (Editor’s note: See Photo Center.) Re: West Virginia Belle and Celebration Belle   Ernie Wright reminds us that in his original email to B&B, he said, "I think" that the two [Celebration Belle and West Virginia Belle] were one and the same. Perhaps they were built by the same company or designed by the same company, he said.
Apparently the boats are very similar. Boat Photo Center
 We’re always pleased to receive boat pictures from our photographer friends around the globe, which means we have a treat for you this week — pictures taken in South America, France and Germany, plus a goodly number from the U.S. Not only do the European views show us some different boat designs, but they show us some busy waterways.
This week’s Photo Center includes the Claude R and Miss Juk, from Kathy Flippo, author of Tow Talkin’; four varying views of the Don Antonio (former Toltec and Southern Cross) from Guillermo M. Lujan of South America; and 11 dandies from Ingo Steller of Duesseldorf, Germany — the Bill Berry, Ed Renshaw, Emily B, EWT 106, Franz Haniel 16, Inca, Karen Renee Hamm, Mississippi Queen (perhaps a surprise to most of us), Pierre Brousse, Tom Sawer, and Zwabo 1. Needless to say, Ingo has traveled in the U.S. and kept his camera handy, as illustrated by his pictures. Book Beat
With the cruising season still going strong, we remind you that we have three nice cruising guides available:  "Quimby's 2006 Cruising Guide" - produced by The Waterways Journal, Inc. It's primary purpose is to provide a quick reference for recreational boaters planning river trips. If the river you plan to cruise is in the "Guide," the book will provide information about marina locations and available services such as fuel, dining, and overnight sleeping and dockage accommodations. The book uses an anchor rating system to rate marinas according to service quality. It includes a section on locking procedures, buoy recognition, etc. The editors also provide maps of each river system and note-taking space for the user. The book covers about 9,500 or more river miles. Not to be overlooked are hundreds of colorful marina ads, which allow the boater to know exactly what services are being offered by an advertiser. Specific contact material is provided for each marina and government installation as well. $35.00
 Cruising Guide From Lake Michigan to Kentucky Lake: The Heartland Rivers Route by Captain Rick Rhodes. This book covers the Chicago, Calumet, Des Plaines, Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee rivers and covers a span of more than 800 miles. Topics specific to inland cruising, such as negotiating floods safely and sharing rivers with commercial traffic, are addressed. The book also provides incites into the region’s past along with current restaurant and entertainment options. Copyrighted in 2002, the book contains thoroughly researched information about the area, including 5 NOAA chart excerpts, 21 sketch charts, 91 marinas, 53 fuel locations, more than 30 cities and towns, 33 GPS way points, 15 locks, more than 170 bridges, 140 launches and ramps, and hundreds of phone numbers. $28.95
 Discovering The Tidal Potomac: A Cruising Guide and Boating Reference by Capt. Rick Rhodes. A second edition, published in 2003. Contents include 35 NOAA chart extracts, 91 marinas including 38 dock sketches, 5 shore-side locality sketches, 47 boat haul-out yards, 53 gas and 27 diesel sites, 96 boat launch ramps, 46 useful GPS way points, 88 black and white photos, more than 60 restaurants, 180 phone numbers, and 45 website addresses. It also includes more than 200 miles of shoreline and 400 years of history. $26.95
Nautical Gift Shop
Steamboat Clock & Barometer - The hinged porthole-style case is solid brass with a lacquered antique finish. It has quartz movement for convenience and accuracy and runs on one AA battery. The matching Steamboat Barometer has visible aneroid barometer movement, and the antique brass case is hinged so that the movement is accessible from the front.280522 Steamboat Quartz Clock $136.49 280722 Steamboat Barometer $146.99 Tow Talkin'
August 15, 2005 By Kathy Flippo  The Corps of Engineers’ dredge William A Thompson has always been a part of my life, but I sure didn’t know it was a lot older than me! She was built in 1937 by Dravo Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. No wonder I can remember seeing her working around Mile 516 UMR when I was a kid.
Watching her traveling the river reminds us of the big steamboats like the Delta Queen. Small floating hotels is a pretty good description. The Thompson is 267 feet long, while the DQ is a tad more at 285 feet. Width-wise the DQ wins at 58.2 feet, and the Thompson is just 48 feet. But where the DQ carries 188 passengers plus…to continue reading this column, click here. See you on the Web, Jack Little River Books jacksimpson@littleriverbooks.com Don't forget to visit our website! |
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