In this weeks Water Closet, Pike writes about the life and passing of Nelson Mandela. Although so much has already been written and said in the media about Nelson Mandela, Pike offers one more insight into the character and wisdom of the man by reminding us of how he championed education and science in South Africa which ultimately will be the determining factor in the ability of the country to raise the standard of living and the quality of life for the people.
Contributor to the Water Closet Art McKee from the other side of the continent has sent us another good story about how to raise kids as well as viewing wildlife from a vantage point that doesn’t intimidate. Alas, our Ipswich doesn’t tumble as clearly to the sea. Its sluggish somewhat turbid water drops on an average one-foot in 2000.
In this week’s Water Closet, Pike writes about his memories as an eight year old boy of that fateful day on Dec 7, 1941 when the United States was attacked by the Empire of Japan and of the ensuing war which was fought and won by the Greatest Generation. Those that have a living memory of that time are fast dying so it is important to chronicle their memories and particularly interesting to see how an eight year old boy viewed those momentous events.
A very appropriate Water Closet to print on the 72nd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
In this weeks Water Closet, Pike writes about the Atlantic White Cedars which are fast disappearing from the Middleton landscape. Their demise has been primarily the result of drowning from the rising water behind man made dams and beaver impoundments. Readers might be interested to learn that these cedars are the exclusive home to the Hessel’s Hairstreak butterfly. Also, the decay resistant cedars once fallen can be preserved by the acidic peaty swamp water in which they lie and have in some cases been mined decades later for their timber. Its an interesting story that reflects the cycle of life in ways that we don’t ordinarily think of.
In this weeks Water Closet, Pike reminisces about his time in the Philippines while serving in the Navy. The massive destruction that Typhoon Haiyan wreaked on the Philippines affects Pike in a personal way having been there and having seen the people and villages that would have suffered at the hands of this storm. Pike reminds us that there is a warning here for us also to prepare for storms of greater intensity as the Atlantic warms.
In this weeks Water Closet, Pike writes about one of the newer beaver dams that can be seen from the Middleton Stream Team’s Park at Logbridge Road. as well as other beaver dams in Middleton, including one impressive structure that is 250 feet long and six feet high in places that backs up water for one half mile.. Not only are these industrious creatures builders, but also engineers in that the Logbridge Rd. dam has been bowed upstream for strength.