300 years ago in the Royal Navy, we would have been dragged through the ocean from a yardarm and nearly drowned.
Even today, in the United States Navy, we would have been obliged to drink and eat unspeakable concoctions in the service of Lord Neptune.
But we were not compelled to any of those fates.
Click here for the rest of the story: www.hackneys.com/travel/ecuador/polywogsnomore.pdf
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Best and good thoughts to you both from the temporary “One Armed Man”! (Hey, one week down with the sling, only 7 to go!)
Interesting questions and I shook the cobwebs out of the brain and will take a run at it.
1. The equator is the north south midpoint of the earth; not on the surface but on the center axis between the poles.
2. These two lines define the “Tropic” zone of the earth. It relates the the furthest north or south the sun goes between the soltice times. I think it is supposed to be an noon – the sun directly overhead.
3. This is a pure WAG (wild ass’d guess) but would think it would have to do with elevation. Maybe it was the highest known elevation along the equator at the time – maybe still is.
Lauren
#3 is the kicker. The measurements taken along the equator in Ecuador are the foundation for the metric system. Since the earth is oblate, Ecuador was chosen as the highest point on the earth that the equator passed through.
Lauren & Bruce,
The earth is indeed oblate, which was confirmed by the second half of the scientific mission who went to the artic circle. Their findings were known before the results of the equatorial team made it back to Europe.
And, the metric system is also indeed a result of the mission’s scientific work.
However, #3 is not about elevation.
Good attempts, but no cigar.
The contest remains open.
Doug
the equator is the dividing line around the earth which separates the northern and southern hemispheres. It is one of the latitudes lines around the earth.
The sun is directly over the latitude line Tropic of Cancer in June, thus the longest days in the northern hemisphere and shortest days in southern hemisphere. The sun is directly over the latitude line Tropic of Capricon in December,thus the shortest days in northern and longest days in southern hemispheres. This is due to the tilt of the earth on it’s axis which is not the same as the earth orbit. This gives us our seasons. I don’t have a clue about the Frenchmen.
Alright Doug/Steph…
I love a challenge like this. The first one is easy. The second one is familiar, so also easy. The third, however…….
Equator=dividing line between the northern and southern hemishere. (on the axis)
Tropic of cancer/capricorn=Solstes (soltices?) The farthest north and south re: the travel of the sun at noon. Been to both on a BMW, but alas, the equator must wait.
Equador=(pure guess) is the first place where the dateline changes from FRI to SAT (the sabbath, el Sabado begins for the world) It would be hard to ignore the similarity between EQUATOR/EQUADOR.
I was a troop leader for a number of years in Greendale WI (with my kids) and in the lower east side (with Nancy’s kids)and I can tell you that despite all the hype, they break the rules. Smoking (whatever) drinking (mostly beer, but not always) They were, however, pretty good kids. (Maybe because their leader had ‘been there, done that’) When do we get the real answers??
p.s. Common Ground is also a great album by the Paul Winters Consort.
Bob,
The international date line is actually out in the Pacific Ocean, so #3 remains unanswered.
Ecuador is indeed so named due to the international fame brought about by the French mission to the equator.
Doug
Tom,
#2: “The sun is directly over the latitude line Tropic of Cancer…” This would, of course, depend on your point of view, meaning your physical position relative to the sun.
As Einstein taught us, space and time are both relative to the position of the observer…
8^)
But you’re in the general area of the correct answer.
#3: The question is not about the Frenchmen. In fact, all the necessary clues for the correct answer to #3 are given in the text of the story and the question itself. Think “DaVinci Code” here… 8^)
Doug
ok here is my take:
1. ECUADOR = EQUIDISTANCE Or imaginary line that divides the north and the south the east and the west on the earth. And also establishes the exact amount of days for the seasons based on the relative angles of the sun in direct relationship and positions of the earth that have helped the development of the world clock and the science of land surveying.
2. Early believes of past habitants related to health based on were you were bornand their search for remedies.
3. It establishes the P.O.B. or point of begining for the curvature of the earth to adjust measurements for the north and south in relationship to east and west for navigational purposes.
oh well best wishes to you all.
Rich and fam