[Alberg30] Scientific Lightning Pervention

[Ibby El-Raheb]

Roger,

You have a terrific start to real funny book. If you write it, I will
buy it. How about "Does it really work?" as a working title.

Regards, _____________________________
Ibby El-Raheb
elraheb at rogers.com
You cannot direct the wind but you can adjust your sails


-----Original Message-----
From: public-list-bounces at alberg30.org
[mailto:public-list-bounces at alberg30.org] On Behalf Of Roger L.
Kingsland
Sent: Friday, August 22, 2003 10:38 AM
To: Alberg30
Subject: [Alberg30] Scientific Lightning Pervention


Albergers;

I had a neighbor once with a big back yard and a mitt dog that would run
around the yard barking every time an airplane flew over.  This occurred
one day while I was talking with him over the fence so I said "Jack (his
name was Jack), isn't it funny how Ginger (the dog's name was ginger)
runs around the yard barking every time a plane flies over?"  His reply,
"Yes it is Roger (that's my name), but you know it's really working,
ever since we got that dog, not one airplane has landed in our yard."

Several years ago I bought bought this funny thing for the boat because
it clained to reduce the chance of lightning strikes and, lacking that,
protect the boat if lightning does strike.  Interesting proposition, if
it doesn't work the way we would like it to, at least it will help.  

It looks a little like a porcupine head on a stick at the top of the
mast but is a great conversation starter.  The exchange usually goes
like this; 
  Guy on dock, "Why do you have a porcupine head on the top of a little
stick on the top of that big stick (sailboats are fairly rare on
Pittsburgh's three rivers)."  

  Boat guy (that's me),  "The big stick holds these white things
(pointing to the sails on deck and boom).  When they get wet, I pull
them to the top of the big stick to dry them.  The porcupine head is
actually hundredes metal wires with very small ends.  The manufacturer
of the device, from whom I also bought a very nice bridge over the East
River, claims that, prior to a lightning strike, the ionization levels
in the air build up and lightning tends to strike where ionization is
highest.  Well, all of those small, pointy ended wires actually reduce
the ionization levels around the top of the stick, inviting Mr.
Lightning to find greener (ionization) pastures elsewhere.  Of course if
he still prefers my stick, the device acts as a plane old lightning rod
which hopes to direct the lightning to ground, or in this case, water.

  Dock Gun (asking perfectly reasonable question), "Well, does it work?"

  Boat Guy, "Of course it does, ever since I got it, not one bolt of
lightning has hit my boat."




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 |                This Old Boat by Don Casey                     |
 | http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071579931/alberg30-20 |
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 |                This Old Boat by Don Casey                     |
 | http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071579931/alberg30-20 |
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