Good morning, Whitewater

There are no public municipal meetings scheduled for the city today.

On this date in 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. The New York TImes website recalls the use of the weapon:

Washington, Aug. 6 — The White House and War Department announced today that an atomic bomb, possessing more power than 20,000 tons of TNT, a destructive force equal to the load of 2,000 B-29’s and more than 2,000 times the blast power of what previously was the world’s most devastating bomb, had been dropped on Japan.

The announcement, first given to the world in utmost solemnity by President Truman, made it plain that one of the scientific landmarks of the century had been passed, and that the “age of atomic energy,” which can be a tremendous force for the advancement of civilization as well as for destruction, was at hand.

At 10:45 o’clock this morning, a statement by the President was issued at the White House that sixteen hours earlier- about the time that citizens on the Eastern seaboard were sitting down to their Sunday suppers- an American plane had dropped the single atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, an important army center.

The New York Times observes that, before August 6th, Japan had been warned of the consequences of continued belligerence:

But in a statement vividly describing the results of the first test of the atomic bomb in New Mexico, the War Department told how an immense steel tower had been “vaporized” by the tremendous explosion, how a 40,000-foot cloud rushed into the sky, and two observers were knocked down at a point 10,000 yards away. And President Truman solemnly warned:

“It was to spare the Japanese people from utter destruction that the ultimatum of July 26, was issued at Potsdam. Their leaders promptly rejected that ultimatum. If they do not now accept our terms, they may expect a rain of ruin from the air the like of which has never been seen on this earth.”

Here’s today’s almanac:

more >>

Good morning, Whitewater

There is one municipal public meeting scheduled for the city today. At 5 p.m., there’s a scheduled meeting of the Landmarks Commission. The agenda for a meeting tonight is not yet online, as of this post.

On this date in 1861, the federal government levied an income tax for the first time. The tax was part of the federal Revenue Act of 1861: “Rates under the Act were 3% on income above $800 (adjusted for inflation: $17,679 in as of 2008 dollars [2]) and 5% on income of individuals living outside the country.”

Here’s today’s almanac:

more >>

Good morning, Whitewater

There are two municipal public meetings scheduled for the city today. At 6 p.m., there’s a meeting of the Alcohol Licensing Committee, with a request from Wal-Mart, and at 6:30 p.m. Common Council meets. The Common Council’s agenda is available online.

The Wisconsin Historical Society reports that on this day in August 1862,

1862 – War Department Order Prompts Riot

On this date the War Department issued General Order No.99, requesting by draft 300,000 troops to reinforce the Union armies in the Civil War. This action reinforced public sentiment against the draft and prompted the citizens in Port Washington, Ozaukee County to riot in protest.

More about the riots is available at the Wisconsin Historical Society’s website.

Here’s today’s almanac:

more >>

Good morning, Whitewater

There’s one municipal meeting scheduled for the city today: a 4:30 p.m. Park and Recreation Board meeting. The agenda for the meeting is available online.

On this day in 1958, the U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered Nautilus became the first submarine to cross the North Pole underwater.

From Free Whitewater

Here’s today’s almanac:

more >>

Good morning, Whitewater

Our small town’s week end, with a public municipal meeting: The Park and Rec Board’s Starin Park Playground Committee meets today at 1:30 p.m. The agenda is available online.

Wired recalls that on this day in 1971, a first: “Astronauts Drive on the Moon.”

1971: Apollo 15 astronauts David Scott and James Irwin drive the Lunar Roving Vehicle on the surface of the moon. It’s the first off-planet automobile ride.

Forty years after Neil Armstrong made his giant leap for mankind, the Apollo program remains a singular cultural and technological achievement. The application of so much technology to a single goal was nearly without precedent. Amongst all the gadgetry born of the Apollo program, the lunar rover ranks near the top of the cool scale.

The rover was the most famous electric vehicle until that slick little two-seater from Tesla Motors came along, and it remains a technological marvel. The amount of tech packed into that little buggy still boggles the mind….

Boeing built the rover and needed just 17 short months to develop it. Not only did the rover have to carry two men wearing space suits, but it also had to haul whatever rocks and dirt the astronauts found interesting. The main design concerns were, as always, weight and performance.

Cost was not a big concern. The original budget was $19 million for four rovers. Cost overruns — in a government program? I’m shocked, shocked! — doubled the final price tag to $38 mil (worth about $200 million in today’s cash).

The rover didn’t arrive on the moon ready to roll. It was folded like a Transformer and packed into a cargo hold. When the time came, the astronauts used a system of pulleys, reels and tapes to lower the vehicle from the payload bay. After that, the rover took over. Its wheels unfolded automatically and locked into place as the rover opened like an Autobot.

The LRV was 10 feet, 2 inches long with a 7.5-foot wheelbase and a 6-foot tread width. It was less than 45 inches high.

Enemy is the weight of all things that fly, especially those things flying into space. Boeing made the rover supermodel-light. It tipped the scales at a featherweight 463 pounds, a figure that must have made Colin Chapman swoon with envy.

The frame was made of welded 2219 aluminum-alloy tubing. Everything else was aluminum, magnesium or other exotic light alloys. Light, but strong: The little lunar runabout could carry a payload of 1,080 pounds.

The “tires” weren’t tires at all, but zinc-coated woven steel strands attached to the rim and discs of formed aluminum. On top of the zinc and steel mesh were titanium chevrons that covered 50 percent of the contact area to provide traction.

The electric motors — made by GM subsidiary Delco — mounted within the wheels. Each 54-amp DC series-wound motor cranked out 1.9 kilowatts at 10,000 rpm and was attached to its wheel by an 80:1 harmonic drive. The brakes were mechanically operated. Top speed on a smooth, level surface was about 8 mph.

The rover was controlled with a joystick-like T-shaped hand controller located between the two seats. It controlled the four drive motors, two steering motors and brakes. Push it forward and off you went. Pulling back slowed you down. Move the joystick in the direction you wanted to go and the rover turned. It was pretty much like using your Xbox….

On the other hand, it works out to $3.6 million per mile in 2009 dollars. MSRP = Moon Sure Rides Pricey.

Three rovers were left in place on the lunar surface. The fourth was intended for the Apollo 18 mission, which was cancelled. That LRV (one owner, never been used) now lives at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. The rig on display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle is an original Boeing mock-up.

But as much rocket science as the Lunar Roving Vehicle had packed in it, it still had an owners manual, which you, the taxpayer, can download here.

Source: Various

Photo: Astronaut David Scott in the Lunar Roving Vehicle.
Credit: NASA

Here’s today’s almanac:

more >>

Good morning, Whitewater

Thursday, like Wednesday before it, smiles kindly on our small town: there are no public municipal meetings listed for the City of Whitewater today.

On this date in 1863, American industrialist Henry Ford was born. The New York Times has posted his obituary, from the Associated Press, that offers a summary of Ford’s many achievements.

Here’s today’s almanac:

more >>