shoot, i bought the wrong bolts.

Check out the hangar to board width ratio on my waterski longboard...

Went to Canadian Tire today. As usual it was a classic demonstration of the paradox of choice. I have been reading (on wikipedia) about polyurethane varnishes. I want to clear coat my Mermaid waterski/longboard to protect the retro graphic pattern from all the grotty dirt and crud that lies on the streets of Toronto. Of course when I arrived it was a smorgasbord of gloss, semi-gloss, satin, matte, etc. wood finishes, none of which I really know anything about.

(Obviously different wheels/trucks in this pic)
Photo: S. Nuttall

I'm not sure if a polyurethane varnish is the way to go anyway, due to the flex of the board. I'm afraid the coat will delaminate. Paralyzed by the array of multiple finishes I went to get some bolts instead.

Machine screws, rather. A topic regarding which I know roughly the same as I do varnishes. When I clear coat the Mermaid I will be removing the trucks etc., and then switching out the bolts when I remount everything, with some washers to spread out the load because my current bolts are flat heads which are biting deep into the wood.

I got some 2 inch and 2.5 inch pan head Robertson screws (the ones with the squares in the head -- invented by a Canadian. The Phillips (the cross head ones) screws are around because GM started using them). Close, but no cigar! It turns out I bought #8-32 screws, instead of #10-32 screws. i.e. they are a little smaller in diameter. So the self-locking nuts I have are too large. Argh. I just want to get the Mermaid totally perfect forever!!
Ahh, ignorance. Where's the bliss?

*Olympia* re-imagined

Lacking a television I've fallen somewhat behind on the sporting extravaganza currently occupying the world's attention, namely the 2008 Olympics being held in Beijing. Nevertheless I finally got around to downloading a copy of the opening ceremonies.

What a stupendous display of nationalist puffery! I'm a huge fan of Leni Riefenstahl, and the whole thing felt like a modernist Asian homage to her. Tell me you didn't think the fireworks/lightshow over the Bird's nest stadium wasn't incredibly reminiscent of the closing 'cathedral of light' sequence in Olympia? And you could just as easily have substituted any of the rally montages from Triumph of the Will for the tai-chi, the dancing, the drumming, etc.

Cathedral of Light sequence from Olympia

Something looks familiar...

All you needed was a little goose stepping and it would be straight from Berlin 36. I read that the ceremonies were planned and coordinated by Zhang Yimou, (ooh! Raise the Red Lantern!) a director who clearly must have studied Riefenstahl's work carefully before embarking on his own cinematographic planning for the event.

I also watched Usain Bolt's demolition of the competition in the 100 meter final. It's fascinating to compare how it was shown on NBC with Riefenstahl's coverage of Jesse Owens' amazing 100m heats and finals (in Olympia). Riefenstahl was truly a pioneer of film (err, Nazi propaganda notwithstanding). Her influence on sport photography is undeniable.