Large Scale Central

Here She is!

General Discussion
#1

USS New York It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the WorldTrade Center . It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft. Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite , LA to cast the ship’s bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept. 9, 2003 , “those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence,” recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. “It was a spiritual moment for everybody there.” Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the “hair on my neck stood up.” “It had a big meaning to it for all of us,” he said. “They knocked us down. They can’t keep us down. We’re going to be back.” The ship’s motto? “Never Forget.”

#2

She’s a beautiful ship. I hope she gets a chance to show that “We will never forget”.

#3

Never forget!

That’s one sentiment I share, along with the hope that people’s memories won’t get “too selective”!

#4

I just hope the Gov lets it be used alot !

#5

USS New York, (LPD-21) is the seventh US Navy ship to bear the name of New York. The ship in the photo is USS San Antonio, (LPD-17), and earlier sister-ship.

Sadly, I’ve heard rumors that USS New York (LPD-21) is having problems. Hopefully, those will all get straightened out in the Post Commissioning Availability.

Gator Freighters such as this one will get a lot of use before she is retired. USS Duluth, (LPD-6), my son’s first ship was commissioned in 1965 and only retired last year.

#6

Thanks for the correction, Steve. I shoulda looked at the number. Duh! She’s still in the yards.

(http://lscdata.com/users/jebouck/correctussnewyork.jpg)

#7

May She always be remembered for the lives that were lost for her to get that name. I’d love to see her moored next to the Cole in a peaceful World. However, may she defend our freedoms with the loss of the souls She carries. Semper Paratus.

#8

It seems to me that it would be much more appropriate and beneficial for
world peace to convert that steel into bicycles for American persons.
That would produce 100.000 bicycles at least! With all the benefits which
go with it, better fitness, less coronary and other diseases, less overweight
and first of all, less consumption of oil which is one of the main reasons
which makes the world less and less safe place at an alarming rate.
Instead, another killing machine has been created…
With best new year’s wishes from Tokyo, Zubi

#9
Zbigniew Struzik said:
It seems to me that it would be much more appropriate and beneficial for world peace to convert that steel into bicycles for American persons. That would produce 100.000 bicycles at least! With all the benefits which go with it, better fitness, less coronary and other diseases, less overweight and first of all, less consumption of oil which is one of the main reasons which makes the world less and less safe place at an alarming rate. Instead, another killing machine has been created... With best new year's wishes from Tokyo, Zubi
I somewhat agree, Zubi. But then, how are you going to find folks who will do snow plowing done by skaters?

The key is to carry something that looks MEA*N, to spread them out a little. More boxes, more income

#10

Zubi, while I would like to ride a bike instead of driving…around here you have to have a death wish to get on a bike and ride on public roads. Just not enough people know how to drive.

#11
Warren Mumpower said:
Zubi, while I would like to ride a bike instead of driving...around here you have to have a death wish to get on a bike and ride on public roads. Just not enough people know how to drive.
Yes, Warren, I know we are often limited in what we want and what we can do. I am in this fortunate position that I can safely cycle a reasonable distance for work and fun. But this has not always been the case and perhaps not always will be. Plus, I am very fortunate to live in a place where (fast and very fast) trains carry millions of people everyday. Interestingly, and unfortunately, I cannot combine the two! That is taking a bicycle on a train in Japan is nearly impossible. Somewhat weird. I have not found a good solution to this yet, Best regards, Zubi
#12
Steve Featherkile said:
Zbigniew Struzik said:
It seems to me that it would be much more appropriate and beneficial for world peace to convert that steel into bicycles for American persons. That would produce 100.000 bicycles at least! With all the benefits which go with it, better fitness, less coronary and other diseases, less overweight and first of all, less consumption of oil which is one of the main reasons which makes the world less and less safe place at an alarming rate. Instead, another killing machine has been created... With best new year's wishes from Tokyo, Zubi
I somewhat agree, Zubi. But then, how are you going to find folks who will do snow plowing done by skaters?

The key is to carry something that looks MEA*N, to spread them out a little. More boxes, more income


Zubi, The biggest problem with this idea is that 60% of all commercially made bicycles, are made in the PRC, the other 35% are made in Taiwan with only about 5% custom made either domesticly or in Europe. As a cyclist I know this personally. Almost EVERYTHING come from one China or the other.

#13
Victor Smith said:
Zubi, The biggest problem with this idea is that 60% of all commercially made bicycles, are made in the PRC, the other 35% are made in Taiwan with only about 5% custom made either domesticly or in Europe. As a cyclist I know this personally. Almost EVERYTHING come from one China or the other.
Victor, thanks for the note. Yes, I sense some kind of a problem here but perhaps a solvable one. One easiest solution would be to provide the said scrap iron to a certain manufacturer abroad, be it in Europe - I lived in Europe, a very good place to be, full of history and such - recommended. Or, in Taiwan, a small but interesting place, the tallest building in the world is awsome and the visit to Alishan is a must for every train enthusiast. So why wait!? Take the scrap metal and find a manu facturer who will convert it there into bicycles. Besides, lots of history there, mainly in the National Palace Museum, you would not believe how advanced these people were 3000+ years before we in Europe even could manage to stand up more or less straight in order to hit one another with a stick. I particularly like pottery, which they have there dating some 2000+ to 3000+ years ago and which could easily sell in the ultra-posh Mitsukoshi shop in central Tokyo today - as modern art piece not antique;-)!! The list of things could go on, but for technically minded, I still do not understand how a set of perhaps ten hollow concentric spheres were hand carved in one solid block of ivory so that they can freely rotate... mind boggles, topology breaks down... OK, I cannot say much about mainland China, as I have not visited it yet. The National Palace Museum contains Chinese treasures from mainland mainly but the political system of Taiwan is somewhat different than that of PRC. Although some analysts prognose that PRC is moving towards fully free economy at such a rate and the political system will stretch and adjust so that Taiwan will join PRC. Why not, but before that happens and before we will all need to speak and publish in Chinese (which no doubt will happen in 100 years time), we are left with this 60% of the bicycles problem to be solved now, some other way than sending the metal to China for processing (for whatever reason, thats decided). Well, the alternative which begins to form in my brain is perhaps to sacrifice a part of this steel and make tools which in the USA could be used to make a somewhat smaller total number of bicycles. The 40% bicycles made in Europe and Taiwan (assuming I convinced you to include Taiwan in this project), could be used as patterns or models for the US workers to make similar designs.. I know that 90% of the parts on these European and Taiwanese bikes is probably made by the Japanese Miyata anyway;-) so thesse parts will not change but if the remaining 10% of the 60% bicycles, equaling to 6% of the total will be US made, that is only 6000 bicycles. A larger garage style manufacture could do that, I think. and if they use 10% of the available steel for the tooling - that leaves us with 5000 bicycles to be made in USA and possibly more since we now have a bicycle foundry equipped with tools!! The other bikes are waiting in Europe 5% and in Taiwan 35% so it seems like we are all set. Have I missed something? I would not be surprised if I did, since it is 2:30am... Best wishes from sleeping Tokyo,... Zubi
#14

5000 bikes would do nothing. We need 5 million…made in the US.

#15

Zubi,
the use of the ‘scrap’ metal from the Trade Centre is meant to represent a symbolic act to ensure that “we never forget”. The irony is that a tower purportedly brought down by terrorist action, is rebuilt as a transport ship to convey marines, responding to and acting on a terrorist threat. Maybe some of the ‘scrap’ from the Pentagon ‘strike?’ could be used as a ‘stealth’ ship, as the ‘hit’ on the Pentagon has been shrouded in secrecy for many years now.

   An interesting thing to ponder is the fate of the steel when the ship is decommissioned and scrapped in about thirty years from now.   Knowing full well the propensity of most humans to forgive and forget,  I see the ship passing into obscurity in a generation from now,  with those who will remember,  well into their sixties and seventies.  For the rest it will be merely an event in history and Al Qaeda will be an acceptable political party possibly running its own country.   Who would have believed that the then terrorist organisation, the PLO in the 70's,  would today have a major say in finally bringing peace to the middle east.   It may be the role of Al Qaeda in the period 2030/2040 who will finally bring peace to Afghanistan and Pakistan and will be regarded as a moderate government.  How would the British have viewed the 'terrorist' actions of the colonials at the Boston Harbour 'tea-party' in 1776 and the armed uprisings against British occupation of the American soil, prior to declaring independence.   Politics and terrorist acts always go hand in hand.  Emerging political parties view terrorist acts as a means to an end, with many countries today having their political power base built on a period of tryanny and terrorism against an occupying government.
#16

Can someone help with a history question, I remember seeing a documentary in which it was stated that scrap metal from ships sunk and later raised at Pearl Harbor was used to cast bomb casings that were later dropped on Japan. Is there any truth to this or is it another Urban Legend?

#17

As someone who spent many years dependent on a bike because I couldn’t afford a car, I can certify that bicycling is a wonderful mode of transportation – but only when compared to taking public transit, aka the Seventh Level of Hell. Compared to driving a car, bicycling sucks, big time.

Bicycling means that you always arrived drenched in sweat and smelling like a pig, which really doesn’t help you score points on the job or anywhere else. When it rains, you get soaked. When it stops raining, you get splattered with mud and road grime. And rain or shine, you can always depend on getting yourself and your clothing smudged with grease, dirt, tire marks and whatever else your bike gets on it.

Bicycle tires go flat at the slightest provocation, and usually just at the moment when you can least afford the extra time spent trying to fix it. Bumps and potholes screw up the wheels almost as often. Chains come off or jam in the gears or shred your pant leg.

Of course, cargo capacity is virtually nil on bike. Even with baskets, you’re very limited in the amount of stuff you can carry, so shopping can be problematic. Keeping any cargo clean and dry is an additional problem.

Dating when you only have a bike for transportation? Ain’t gonna happen!

Then there’s the jerks who think it’s funny to throw stuff at you as they drive by, or run you off the road. Or the ones who assault you with rocks and bottles because you’re the “wrong” color or happen to be in the “wrong” neighborhood.

I won’t even get into the subject of traffic hazards on a bike. Suffice to say, there are many and a bicyclist is always going to be on the losing end.

Bicycling is better than no transportation at all. But as a viable alternative to driving? Forget it!

#18

I don’t know about cargo capacity Ray. I saw alot of this in China !

http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/group142/photos/view/ba07?b=1

Ray Dunakin said:
As someone who spent many years dependent on a bike because I couldn't afford a car, I can certify that bicycling is a wonderful mode of transportation -- but only when compared to taking public transit, aka the Seventh Level of Hell. Compared to driving a car, bicycling sucks, big time.

Bicycling means that you always arrived drenched in sweat and smelling like a pig, which really doesn’t help you score points on the job or anywhere else. When it rains, you get soaked. When it stops raining, you get splattered with mud and road grime. And rain or shine, you can always depend on getting yourself and your clothing smudged with grease, dirt, tire marks and whatever else your bike gets on it.

Bicycle tires go flat at the slightest provocation, and usually just at the moment when you can least afford the extra time spent trying to fix it. Bumps and potholes screw up the wheels almost as often. Chains come off or jam in the gears or shred your pant leg.

Of course, cargo capacity is virtually nil on bike. Even with baskets, you’re very limited in the amount of stuff you can carry, so shopping can be problematic. Keeping any cargo clean and dry is an additional problem.

Dating when you only have a bike for transportation? Ain’t gonna happen!

Then there’s the jerks who think it’s funny to throw stuff at you as they drive by, or run you off the road. Or the ones who assault you with rocks and bottles because you’re the “wrong” color or happen to be in the “wrong” neighborhood.

I won’t even get into the subject of traffic hazards on a bike. Suffice to say, there are many and a bicyclist is always going to be on the losing end.

Bicycling is better than no transportation at all. But as a viable alternative to driving? Forget it!

#19

Sorry, but your link wants me to join a group etc.

#20

Sorry, stupid Yahoo groups !