Welcome to INCOMING BYTES
Is that Incoming I hear?
We want you to THINK…YOUR opinion Matters.
WANT TO ADVERTISE HERE?
Contact us at :
rkmywest@gmail.comPlease Note:
All SPAM IS PROHIBITED.
Search This Blog for:
Check out the Archives
Raymond A Kukkee at:
Follow Us
-
Latest blog !
Recent Comments
-
Read these?
SEARCH This Category
Donate to IncomingBytes.com ?
Donations are much appreciated and used to offset the annual cost of web hosting. Donations are optional and are not required to subscribe to IncomingBytes.com Thank You!
Want YOUR Ad Here?
Contact IncomingBytes.com at rkmywest@gmail.com
Archives
- February 2024
- April 2023
- December 2022
- October 2019
- August 2019
- April 2019
- February 2019
- December 2018
- October 2018
- July 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
Sharing
Gardening with Uncle Mac
Check this out
Amanda Dcosta, views and reviews…
My Writing Life with MJ Logan
Julie Helms with peeps and sheep
Camping out with Jim Bessey
Up in Cloud Nine…
- #atoz
- #authors
- #book reviews
- #books
- #cdnpoli
- #The Fires of Waterland
- #writingLife
- A-Z challenge
- Alice in Wonderland
- AtoZ challenge
- Christmas
- Christy D Birmingham
- civilization
- corporateaucracy
- culture
- Donald Trump
- environment
- ethics
- fanaticism
- gardening
- Gold
- government
- Hillary Clinton
- humanity
- Incoming Bytes
- incomingbytes
- IncomingBytes.com
- ISIL
- Islam
- Justin Trudeau
- life
- Morgidoo's Christmas Carol
- Mother Nature
- politics
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
- Raymond Alexander Kukkee
- reality
- reflections
- Rocking Horse Publishing
- Stephen Harper
- terrorism
- Time is broken
- writer's block
- writers
- writing life
The Corner Office
Welcome to INCOMING BYTES
Is that Incoming I hear?
We want you to THINK…YOUR opinion Matters.
WANT TO ADVERTISE HERE?
Contact us at :
rkmywest@gmail.comPlease Note:
All SPAM IS PROHIBITED.
Search This Blog for:
Check out the Archives
Raymond A Kukkee at:
Follow Us
-
Latest blog !
Recent Comments
-
Read these?
SEARCH This Category
Donate to IncomingBytes.com ?
Donations are much appreciated and used to offset the annual cost of web hosting. Donations are optional and are not required to subscribe to IncomingBytes.com Thank You!
Morgidoo’s Christmas Carol: The Bells of Blister
A Timeless Christmas Legend
*For readers of all ages.
“What if bells no longer rang?
In this unique tale, bells do not ring. They have been silent since the Great Silver Bell disappeared hundreds of years earlier -and snow, once as warm as popcorn, turned cold. Villagers may scoff at the old bell ringer and his stories, but Morgidoo Morgan believes the legend, and offers hope as he follows in the footsteps of his father to search for the Great Silver Bell. Will bells ever ring again? Enjoy this unique, timeless classic written to be enjoyed by readers of all ages.https://www.amazon.com/Morgidoos-Christmas-Carol-Bells-Blister/dp/1523683821
Want YOUR Ad Here?
Contact IncomingBytes.com at rkmywest@gmail.com
Distractions
Archives
- February 2024
- April 2023
- December 2022
- October 2019
- August 2019
- April 2019
- February 2019
- December 2018
- October 2018
- July 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
Sharing
Glory Lennon on the gardening life
Gardening with Uncle Mac
Amanda Dcosta, views and reviews…
Do you read small ads?
Check this out
My Writing Life with MJ Logan
The exciting world of Momzinga with Kate Johns
Distractions…
Julie Helms with peeps and sheep
Camping out with Jim Bessey
Up in Cloud Nine…
- #atoz
- #authors
- #book reviews
- #books
- #cdnpoli
- #The Fires of Waterland
- #writingLife
- A-Z challenge
- Alice in Wonderland
- AtoZ challenge
- Christmas
- Christy D Birmingham
- civilization
- corporateaucracy
- culture
- Donald Trump
- environment
- ethics
- fanaticism
- gardening
- Gold
- government
- Hillary Clinton
- humanity
- Incoming Bytes
- incomingbytes
- IncomingBytes.com
- ISIL
- Islam
- Justin Trudeau
- life
- Morgidoo's Christmas Carol
- Mother Nature
- politics
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
- Raymond Alexander Kukkee
- reality
- reflections
- Rocking Horse Publishing
- Stephen Harper
- terrorism
- Time is broken
- writer's block
- writers
- writing life
The Corner Office
Monthly Archives: January 2016
Epic Failure Cut Canada in Half
©2016 by Raymond Alexander Kukkee
[caption id="attachment_3684" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The Nipigon River Bridge (rendering Credit MTO/MRC)[/caption]
*update: Single-lane traffic is now crossing the bridge slowly, alternating directions in turn, being led by a "pilot vehicle". Perfect. Traffic is delayed BOTH ways for an undetermined period of time while engineers and politicians alike scratch their heads to determine 'what went wrong' with this
"Why is there only one Trans-Canada route?"
An Epic Failure Cut Canada in half? Too Easy!
Unbelievable! No, this is not fiction. An epic failure cut Canada in half. For a short time, the failure of the brand new, Nipigon River Bridge cut Canada in half. Unbelievably, this bridge is the ONLY link between eastern and western Canada. The bridge transfers $100M in goods across the Nipigon River every day of the year, hauled by thousands of transport trucks and other vehicles in both directions. In addition, Canadians cross this bridge daily, emergency vehicles, tourists, every bit of traffic across Canada MUST use this bridge, so how could a project, critical infrastructure, so incredibly important to a nation —be allowed to fail?
Do politicians recognize how vulnerable this leaves Canada and Canadians? Does the increasingly-demonstrated-incompetent Wynne government even realize the implications of what has occurred?
Why is there only one Trans-Canada route? Let us ask that question again!
Why is there only one Trans-Canada route?
Bridge Design by Ego instead of Logic?
The EPIC failure of the new, ego-generated, 'state of the art' cable stay (suspension-type) bridge on the TransCanada Highway (Highway 17) just east of Nipigon, Ontario, cut Canada in half instantly on January 10th, 2016 without any prior notice. Get that?
People were stranded on both sides in sub-zero winter conditions. Emergencies were declared. Local c0mmunities responded by taking in travelers. Worth repeating, Highway 17, the TransCanada highway, is the ONLY highway link between east and west. It must be asked again, and again, if necessary, "Why is there only one Trans-Canada route?"
Was this bridge considered suitable for Canada's extreme climate? Wind? Was the bridge designed by ego and hot air instead of logic? The Nipigon suspension bridge is the only one of its design in Ontario. "It will be a major tourist attraction, blah, blah, blah, " is heard from politicians constantly.
How important. Political egos, apparently, are more important than safety, reliability and the transport of essential goods and services...
The Epic Failure: by bad design and Inept Engineering, or Failed, CHEAP IMPORTED materials?
The first half (with only two of the planned three pylons and one deck, presently consisting of two lanes, the future westbound lanes) of the bridge was in use. The bridge had only been opened to traffic (used temporarily for both directions) in November, 2015.
The disastrous, epic failure resulted in one end of the bridge being heaved up about 2 feet (60cm) unevenly above the roadway, leaving the bridge inaccessible and temporarily unstable. Huge structural bolts snapped.
The bridge deck reportedly raised about a half meter and settled back down, —but not back into place, leaving the bridge deck about 2' above the abutment ends and the highway grade.
So —questions MUST be asked:
- was this disastrous failure a result of bad design and inept engineers unfamiliar with the extreme weather in Northwestern Ontario
- was wind a factor?
- were improperly-tested, cheap imported materials from China used?
- Did the steel cables shorten in the extreme cold unevenly, putting undue pressure on the abutments, creating an upward slingshot effect when the bolts snapped?
- Why are the cable spans uneven (different lengths, on east and west?)
- Were the cable webs tensioned improperly or unevenly? Is the design unbalanced?
- Was it an on-site construction or engineering error?
- Even if the bridge is repaired, will the same thing occur with the substantially colder and more severe winter conditions of Northwestern Ontario?
- Why was the bridge designed with three pylons—to ultimately carry traffic both eastbound and westbound on the same vulnerable structure, —at the same vulnerable location —when completed? To save cost?
- Is the bridge even safe to use?
- Is public safety now to be a major, long-term issue with this construction at this essential river-crossing?
- Who will be held responsible for this epic failure? The Wynne government, which approved this project?
- Why is a complete twinning of the Trans-Canada highway NOT a major infrastructure project of the Federal government?
The severing of the Trans-Canada highway, the ONLY link across Canada is unacceptable by any stretch of the imagination. Action is required.
Here at IncomingBytes we suggest that the FEDERAL government must, of necessity, become involved in the construction of an all-weather, fully-accessible alternative bridge link across this POTENTIALLY-DISASTROUS choke point in Canada —and investigate the handling of the whole project.
#
*update: Single-lane traffic is now crossing the bridge slowly, alternating directions in turn, being led by a "pilot vehicle". Perfect. Traffic is delayed BOTH ways for an undetermined period of time while engineers and politicians alike scratch their heads to determine 'what went wrong' with this fancy piece of under-engineered ego...... and how to REPAIR the famous, failed bridge which cut Canada in half, —at a cost of $106 million dollars. Yes, $106M of taxpayer loot. Your loot.
How typical.
##
Is that Incoming I hear?
Posted in Business, Civilization, Economic issues, Life, Major Issues, Politics, Uncategorized
4 Comments
Blog This: SoWrite
©2016 Raymond Alexander Kukkee
[caption id="attachment_3658" align="alignnone" width="562"] SoWrite.us.com[/caption]
"In overview, SoWrite is almost a lifestyle"
SoWrite — a Writer's Sanctuary
What's a 'SoWrite' ? Perhaps the best definition is now "a successful website, no less than awesome". Certainly more than the average website, SoWrite.us.com, if such a concept is even possible online, the weary writer's sanctuary. A site which offers writers comfort and somehow, inexplicably, the 'feel' of a writer's sanctuary. Doesn't that sound a bit like a writing-escapist's-destiny? Just a bit? It is.
This amazing writing website was built from scratch with nothing less than absolute smarts and dedication of the man behind the screen— a knowledgeable editor, publisher, author, creator and brilliant writer, family man, a skilled, meticulous designer and tradesman, a trusted business owner—you get the idea, an all-around awesome dude.
For R& R with his family and better half out in the great outdoors, he heads down the road dragging a camping trailer equipped with firewood, cave-man fire tools, coffee pot, grub, the laptop, a great pup named Layla, —and plenty of books to read. Seen him? Yep...that's the guy. He's probably helped you at one time or the other, too. That's my friend Jim —Jim Bessey.
A Backgrounder
Jim Bessey and I plugged away together in a number of interesting forays. Meeting first as writers in 2007 at Helium, as many writers did, we naively generated articles for that once-popular content mill, —which subsequently failed miserably and disappeared, taking into the great unknown a lot of unpaid, copyrighted content, the work of many writers. For optimists and real writers, that disappointment and failure simply gave us more reason to persist, to grow, migrate, try blogging, and explore new prospects having genuine potential. One door closes, another opens, write on, Shakespeare —you know the routine.
Turning to blogging and other writing projects, we, in search of productive new ventures, got very busy. I started blogging on Incoming Bytes (Is that Incoming I hear?) and concentrated on literary fiction, getting my novels The Fires of Waterland and Morgidoo's Christmas Carol, a Christmas classic for all ages, completed. And eventually published. With Jim's encouragement to persist. What else?
It certainly wasn't long before Jim found new and greater challenges. He was already far ahead on the blogging curve, scribbling another website Just Camping Out. At his invitation, we became involved in writing, planning and management of niche custom freelancing content for another client. The paying kind. Wow. IN the writing life, it's not what you know, but who—the contacts you have.
We were soon exercising creative limits, hard at work making significant decisions on content for a specialized website. We became organized, creating lists of potential titles, taking original photographs for illustrations, writing and posting original articles, furiously trading edits —then after a few months, abruptly wondered what happened when the principal website owner stopped communicating, *disappearing* into the sunset. The project(s) stopped dead in their tracks.
( *Oops--one of the unknown perils of the writing life.
Jim didn't blink. He boldly constructed his new website SoWrite.Us.com. As if that challenge was not enough, he also accomplished some serious writing, co-authoring, editing and producing a novel, Beyond The Blue and the Gray by Tony Verna and Jim Bessey— including the detailed and intricate process of recording an audio version.
Back in the ordinary world, a spec post of mine inevitably and proudly ended up on SoWrite. I am delighted to say Freelancing Pitfalls: *The Perils of Writing for Niche Sites, inspired by the Helium disaster and other events, coexists today with amazing, professional, insightful pieces written by Jim and others; thoughtful stuff which helps all writers turn the grit of the writing life into the real deal. There 'ya go.
SoWrite Today
SoWrite is an attractive, friendly, well-designed, highly informative resource go-to reference for writing folk of all descriptions, ink-stained scribblers, editors, idealistic newbie dreamers, hard-bitten forgers of fiction, cautious experimenters needing mentoring, literary poetic-persons, and Jack and Jill freelancers, sharing skills and secrets with their colleagues. Independently-judged contests, new ideas, commentary, reviews, issues, advice. It's all there.
In overview, SoWrite is almost a lifestyle—a polished comfortable website which most admirably, welcomes everyone. Jim fields, addresses, acknowledges, and includes discussions on books, articles, challenges, reviews, and the amazing writing life, including the common inevitable problems we scribbling types encounter daily.
SoWrite offers a wonderful environment for writers. Endless encouragement from Jim, a plethora of resources and information, --virtually anything concerning the writing life — makes SoWrite pretty much perfect and a must-visit destination —a writing sanctuary. A lifestyle. You get the idea. Check it out, see for yourself.
Here at Incoming Bytes, for Great Websites, we think kudos and congratulations should be going out to Jim Bessey at SoWrite. Great stuff, bud! Best wishes for 2016 and beyond!
#
Is that Incoming I hear?
Posted in Great Websites, Writing Life
Tagged editor, Jim Bessey, lifestyle, publisher, SoWrite.us.com, writer's sanctuary, writing life
2 Comments