Target Centermass

Day: October 12, 2004

  • Spaniard to Follow Magellan’s Wake

    A Spanish sailor has begun his attempt to recreate Magellan’s famed voyage using the same technology … sort of.

    Spanish sailor Jose Luis Ugarte on Sunday set sail from this southern Spanish city bound for Japan in a replica model of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan’s 16th Century galleon Victoria.

    The replica vessel was built for the 1992 Seville Expo and, if it reaches Japan without mishap, will be a part of the Spanish pavilion in the World Expo 2005 in the Japanese city of Aichi from March to September next year.

    The original Victoria left Seville on the Guadalquivir river in 1519, while the modern-day version, measuring 25.9 by 6.7 metres (87 by 23 feet), underwent six months of work ahead of its odyssey, which began on Spain’s national day.

    Ugarte, 75, told a news conference in Bilbao last week he wants to emulate Magellan and Juan Sebastian Del Cano, the Spanish captain who won his place in history by skippering the original Victoria back to Europe after Magellan was killed in the Philippines in 1521 without making it to Japan.

    Ugarte is using only the technology and instrumentation available, though his ship is equipped with a motor, presumably for emergencies. I would assume that it is also equipped with communications gear and, hopefully, better food than was carried at sea back in the day.

    The replica will head for the Panama Canal and hopes to reach the Mexican Pacific coast resort of Acapulco by year’s end.

    I don’t know off-hand the time the original voyage took to reach Japan. For pacing, I’m sure Ugarte can compare his passage of the Panama Canal with that of Magellan.

  • Iwo Jima, Covered by Today’s Media

    From Zell Miller, voicing an argument I’ve held repeatedly of the media and the Dems:

    What if today’s reporters had covered the Marines landing on Iwo Jima, a small island in the far away Pacific Ocean, in the same way they’re covering the war in Iraq? Here’s how it might have looked:

    DAY 1

    With the aid of satellite technology, Cutie Cudley interviews Marine Pfc. John Doe, who earlier came ashore with 30,000 other Marines.

    Cutie: “John, we have been told by the administration that this island has great strategic importance because if you’re successful, it could become a fueling stop for our bombers on the way to Japan. But, as you know, we can’t be sure this is the truth. What do you think?”

    Pfc. Doe: “Well, I’ve been pinned down by enemy fire almost ever since I got here and have had a couple of buddies killed right beside me. I’m a Marine and I go where they send me. One thing’s for sure, they are putting up a fight not to give up this island.”

    Cutie: “Our military analysts tell us that the Japanese are holed up in caves and miles of connecting tunnels they’ve built over the years. How will you ever get them out?”

    Pfc. Doe: “With flame throwers, ma’am.”

    Cutie (incredulously): “Flame throwers? You’ll burn them alive?”

    Pfc. Doe: “Yes ma’am, we’ll fry their asses. Excuse me, I shouldn’t have said that on TV.”

    Cutie (audible gasp): “How horrible!”

    Pfc. Doe (obviously wanting to move on): “We’re at war ma’am.”

    Go read the rest. It’s pathetically believable.