This morning I mentioned to my Lady-love that most of the wierd-assed references I pull out of my poor demented brain are song references.  This morning it was Jonathon Coulton's "Re: Your brains" that spurred the whole thing.

The very first song I heard that truly struck an emotional chord with me above and beyond the actual song's content was Bachman-Turner Overdrive's classic, "Blue Collar."  (A sample from LastFM is here.)  I love the bluesy feel, the sauntering base line, the metronomic drums, but the lyrics themselves have always set me off to that other place where I can indulge myself in my "deep thinking" and re-sort my thoughts and priorities.  It's like the blogging without having to show off how shallow and pretentious I've become.

I've been very much in a "Blue Collar" frame of mind lately.  Rather than explain what that means to me, I'll display it by creating a new category.

One of the things over the past few weeks that's been eating up vast swaths of my free time has been rediscovering a column put out from Gwynne Dyer.  His name popped up in Google News and I found that the Hamilton Spectator carries his columns.

Who is Gwynne Dyer and why should anyone care?  Gwynne (or, if you prefer, Mr. Dyer) remains one of the smartest, most inciteful, outward looking pundits I've ever had the honour to read.  I grew up getting my news from The National on CBC - preferentially with Knowlton Nash.  One of the really-bright talking heads they had on was Gwynne Dyer who knew military strategy inside and out.

He's not always right.  He's ready to admit when he doesn't know.  He has always struck me as an honest guy with a lot of insight from genuinely looking at the world with a global view of historical perspective.

He's based in London now and he still sees the world at large.  National governments the world over would probably do well to listen to his thoughts.  He's always been as sharp with the whip as he was with a compliment.

So, one of the things I've been up to over the past couple weeks has been to re-calibrate my world view again.  You know the feeling you get when you're watching the news thinking, "There's got to be more than this."  There probably is more than what's getting presented.

Gwynne's thoughts have taken me to Africa, Great Britain, all over the Middle East, through some strange place called the White House, and this odd little country called Canada.  He's brought up some ideas I simply need to revisit.

And I shall.  "Blue Collar."  It stands for that four in the morning deep thinking.

I just want to let everyone know, you're doing GREAT. 

I'm pretty much certain that I account for 92.6% of my traffic. 

And 7.1% of my traffic are people lost on the information traffic jam.

That leaves precisely 3 visits I can't account for who haven't been forced to be here or who haven't been searching for "fuzzy orange fetish" or some such.

And I know that at least one of them came from Trever.  And Brian made a reference, so I suspect he's one of 'em.  And I discovered an old buddy's blog.  (Actually, Art, I was at your blog before I knew it was you...  Strange things, this world.)

I just want to say unequivalently that I have failed in my quest to achieve two readers by December.  My ego is in check!  I am the greatest blogger ever!!!!!!

Geez, I need that in annoying colours or something, don't I?

I have no life, and I must scream.

I've got about a thousand things worth mentioning. 

Let me start off by loudly cheering:  I got my Who concert CD's. 

This is a brilliant concept, one who's time should have come 30 years ago, really.  Put on a show, sell a copy of the show to the fans who want one.  Packaging can be minimal, overhead can be very small, fans are happy and it's the end of bootlegs when you can get a high quality copy straight from the sound board. 

Or so the theory goes.  Seems to me the music industry as a whole tends to be a little bit backwards.

Well, like they have for all these years, The Who HAVE got it right and they sell a copy of each and every concert through The Music.com.  Mmmm...  Had I unlimited cash, I'd be all over the roadcases.  Please, people, don't ever let me get that rich.  (snicker)

It's fabulous, I can remember the show, the thrill of being there, the joy of seeing the Who with my lady-love.  I'm even more convinced, it took Roger Daltrey a few songs just to warm up and start sounding really good.  Not that I'm complaining one bit - what an absolutely fabulous concert.

Even now I'm convinced.  Best straight-ahead Rock 'n' Roll show I've ever seen.

Looks official to me. 

I'm so happy.  Mr. Straczynski, please batter me about the head until I'm incoherent.

MORE incoherent.

ABS is one of my favourite rants ever.  I'm not a fan.  I don't believe they alone make a car one bit safer than a car not equipped with them.  Trever called me on it, I'm sharing the rant.  Please note, I am not an automotive engineer and I am strongly biased in my opinion.  It's also my blog - I don't have to be tactful, you can argue in the comments.  Do not cite me as authoritative, evaluate the arguments for yourself. 

A primer:  Anti-lock Brake Systems (hereafter "ABS") is a system put on vehicles which prevent the wheels from locking up or skidding.  It does this through a number of sensors which detect whether the wheels are moving relative to the other wheels of the car.  The precise way of doing it can vary from system to system.   Be wary - some vehicles with ABS (usually they are trucks) only function on the rear wheels, not all four wheels.  These vehicles will not react the same as ABS on passenger cars.

The reason ABS works is because of friction.  Maximum braking will happen when the friction on your brake pads is just a tiny bit less than the friction between your tires and the road.  Friction between your tires and the road changes frequently depending upon the conditions and it's hard to know that when you're driving - especially in an emergency.  When your brakes have too much friction, it releases your wheels until they find that perfect balance.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm going to cite from a number of sources for your review.  The first is Transport Canada's Road Safety web page.  I consider it authoritative, balanced and fairly describing road conditions and hazards in Canada.  The second is from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration so I can't be accused of being Canadi-centric, although I will primarily be discussing conditions I experience.  Canadian Driver has a brilliant article well worth reading.  I'll throw in a few others when a point needs to be raised.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

1.  When ABS first came out as standard equipment on passenger vehicles, it was marketed as a system that would assist you stop in much shorter distances to the point of being almost instantaneous.  That was misleading, deceptive advertising and it created much of the myth that ABS makes you safer all to itself.

Reality:  ABS will not reduce stopping distances at all unless you’re a piteously bad driver. ABS works by releasing your wheels briefly to prevent you from locking them up. The only scenario it will reduce your stopping distance is when you have your tires locked and you’re skidding along the pavement.  Sadly, I categorize the average driver as piteously bad.

The reason the claim is made that ABS will stop you more quickly MOST of the time is based on the assumption that the driver is using (or wants to use) all of the available braking power all of the time.  Good drivers think ahead of time and are looking ahead for hazards which may force them to brake.  Emergencies do happen, but they happen more often to drivers who drive at the edge of their vehicles capacity all the time.  Most of the time you are braking, you should not have your ABS engage at all.

A driver trained in threshold braking can match or improve stopping distances over a driver using ABS.  Remember that ABS will release the pressure on an individual tire's brakes momentarily.  It is counter-intuitive to think that turning your brakes off momentarily will slow you down faster.  It won't.  ABS equipped cars will always require more stopping distance until the circumstances are less than ideal.

The myth that ABS can only be outperformed in extraordinarily conditions persists.  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety states "It is even possible on some surfaces to stop sooner without antilocks than with them, although such instances are rare."  Conventional braking systems can outperform ABS in many circumstances.

2.  ABS is a liability while driving in certain road conditions.

Fortunately, both governmental websites get this correct.  From the NHTSA, "On very soft surfaces, such as gravel or unpacked snow, ABS may actually lengthen stopping distances."  Transport Canada's webpage explains why.  Basically, when your tires are allowed to lock up, they will push the snow or gravel ahead of them, forming a burm.  Your tires often will get more traction in this condition.  This is less important for people who drive on plowed city streets, but can be critical for unplowed or gravel roads.

One point that was not mentioned is that the use of ABS encourages drivers to press the brake pedal to the floor all the time.  You are causing your tires to lock and you are counting on the technology in ABS to unlock them for you.  Let me state that again, you are told to "micro-skid" every time you hit your brakes.  This helps to polish our intersections in front of our stop signs to a glossy finish.  You're safer the first time, but after a hundred cars have went by they have made the circumstances more dangerous and more hazardous than they were before - at least until the next time the sanding truck comes through.

3.  ABS is not prescient.  Your brakes do not have any foresight into what you're about to experience while driving.

  My first experience with ABS was in a relative's brand new SUV.  My cousin was driving at the time, he came up to an icy intersection and wanted to test how the ABS would perform.  There were no other cars around us and he approached the intersection at an average speed and began braking with plenty of time to stop fully.  The wheels locked and we slid three quarters of the way through the intersection.  I was, of course, dismayed with the response which was repeated at the next intersection.  The SUV subsequently went into the shop at least three times to have the brakes examined.

The interview in Canadian Driver is the first time I've seen support for my anecdotal story.  Cpl. Eric Brewer is an RCMP officer that reconstructs collisions.  "Brewer tells the story of an ABS-equipped vehicle that slid through a stop sign and across a busy highway, barely missing the high-speed cross traffic. 'The driver was braking on pebbly, rolling gravel and then hit black ice on the pavement. The conditions fooled the ABS computer. You've got to be aware that, in those kinds of conditions, the ABS will not be able to stop the vehicle quickly.'"  ABS cannot think ahead for you, and the system will not necessarily respond as it is supposed to.  Drive with a margin of error to ensure your safety.

From Transport Canada, "Road hazards that will cause the ABS to function unexpectedly are gravel, sand, ice, snow, mud, railway tracks, potholes, manhole covers, and even road markings when it is raining."

4.  ABS will abstract the road feel from the driver.  This is a terrible thing for a drivers who have been taught Threshold braking and eliminates the ability to perform Cadence braking (or 'pumping the brakes').

Almost every driver in Canada was taught to pump the brakes on ice or slippery surfaces to stop quicker.  This is ingrained so hard that we still are generally tempted to pump the brakes on cars equipped with ABS.  With ABS you should not pump the brakes, ever.  Press firmly on the pedal and don't let up.  ABS does the cadence braking for you, more quickly than you ever can.  If you pump the brakes, you are turning off your ABS.

Unfortunately, when you press the pedal on an ABS-equipped vehicle, you can have any of a number of strange effects.

Far and away, the most common is a “grinding” sound and / or a pulsation of the brake pedal.

Most people think that something’s wrong when they first experience it. Many, many drivers do not like the pulsation and will actively release the brake pedal to prevent the sensation.  The grinding noise is perfectly normal, and the pulsation on the pedal is part of the brake system doing what it is designed to do.  From NHTSA:  "More specifically, ABS automatically changes the brake fluid pressure at each wheel to maintain optimum brake performance—just short of locking up the wheels. There is an electronic control unit that regulates the brake fluid pressure in response to changing road conditions or impending wheel lockup."

An attentive driver can feel the wheels lock through the feedback from the brake pedal.  The pulsation from ABS will mask that feedback entirely and you lose a critical clue as to your present driving environment.  Exceptional drivers can tell precisely which wheel has locked (locked front wheels have different characteristic feel than locked rear wheels - right and left is determined by which direction the car slides.)

If you can’t feel it, you can’t correct for it.

5.  Durability and long-term reliability

This is not going to be an issue if you get a new vehicle every three or four years. I drive a 26 year old car. A lot can go wrong with a car after 5 years, let alone 26.

The sensors for ABS are critical.  They can sometimes collect metallic dust or other impurities and stop working properly.  Moreso, you must have a well-functioning suspension system - including shocks, struts, and springs - to ensure your wheels stay on the road and don't bounce into the air throwing off the ability for ABS to function.

The extra maintenance involved will make your mechanic very happy.  ABS is one more system that needs to be checked and maintained regularly. You do not want a system that you’re dependent upon to stop you to fail unexpectedly.

Never forget that it is possible for a broken ABS system to become TOO sensitive. You may release the braking pressure from your wheels when your tires are not skidding and you have no need to engage your ABS system. This increases your stopping distance at all times and is a severe braking hazard.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Nothing is all white or all black - unless you’re the New Zealand rugby team.

ABS gives two tremendous advantages:

1.  You can apply your brakes and steer at the same time.

In conventional brake systems, it’s not realistic to brake and steer together. Your wheels have a finite amount of traction to work with. This traction must be divided between the energy expended on braking and the energy expended on changing direction.

Finding the balance is difficult. If you run out of available traction, your front wheels will lock up. Remember this happens in a turn, so suddenly you’re skidding forward with your front wheels askew. It should go without saying, this is an extremely dangerous scenario to be in. Should you suddenly find traction (hitting a bare patch or slowing down enough that your front wheels suddenly “bite”) you will careen off in the direction your wheels were pointed in. Or suddenly roll the car if you’re driving horribly out of control.

An ABS system means you never have to try to find that balance - if your front tire locks, the ABS system will release it and continue to make maximum traction available to you for steering. With conventional brakes, you have to stay well within the limits of your traction. ABS gives you the ability to drive closer to the maximum limits of your traction.

I think this is what people refer to when they talk about ABS preventing loss of stability.  ABS prevents a vehicle from swinging side to side by balancing the braking on the left and right sides of the car.  If you're using Threshold braking or cadence braking (conventional brakes only, please!) you're only solution is in steering corrections which aren't a good option under braking.

2.  ABS prevents rear wheels from locking.

This is a marvelous thing, particularly in a vehicle such as a bus or a pickup truck.

It’s safer for the front wheels of a car to lock than the rear wheels. Most of the braking happens at the front brakes. When the front wheels lock up, the vehicle tends to “snowplow” - the nose dives, but the car slides more or less straight without veering left or right.

When the rear wheels lock, the vehicle tends to wildly swing to the left or the right - it wants to “swap ends.”

Think of your days on a bicycle.  Lock up the front wheel and you probably went over the handlebars.  Lock up the rear wheel and you skidded wildly in a fishtail.  Well, a car doesn't flip over very often, but it will fishtail when the rear brakes lock.

Buses and trucks are designed to carry varying weights in the back of the vehicle. Brake settings need to be firmer when they carry a full load, and softer when they are empty.  But we don't realistically want people changing their brake settings (you can do this on race cars, but you're probably not a race car driver) and ABS can mitigate the problem.  You can keep the brakes set to be more sensitive and let the ABS prevent them from locking and sending the truck into a fishtail.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The bottom line?  Snow tires and better driver education will do much more than a technowizical gadget.

Get your vehicles out there and practice.  Don't believe that having ABS on your car makes you safer - you still have to be a safe, attentive driver.

Thank you for making it this far down the rant.  The line up to call me a moron starts...  Here:

1.  I shall not teach others my vocabulary. 
2.  I shall not open the board to my lessers. 
3.  I shall examine my options and not lay the first word I see. 
4.  I shall not play games less than 30 minutes in duration. 
5.  I shall ensure that "ratsofrass" and "coner" make it into the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary.  

Idiots.  I hate them.

Brian: 264.
Me:  191.

All hail Brian.  Brian is good.

Remembrance Day matters to me.  The kids were talking about it all week with me, I know I've planted the seed that will make it matter to them, as well. 

The kids and I went down to the ceremony at the Jubilee again this year.  It's wonderful to get down there at 9:30 and worry about whether we'd find a seat at all.  We did, on the terrace, house right.  It was a good day again. 

There are a number of traditions we follow on Remembrance Day in our home.  We often stop for coffee and Timbits just before we go to the celebration.  That started when I picked up the kids at 9:00 and we had a bit of time to spare waiting in line at the Jube.  (No longer, I'm ecstatic to report.  Be there early, it's a great to see so many people there.)

We are always there early in order to watch the HMCS Tecumseh Naval Reserve Band play prior to the ceremonies.  When I first separated and I booked Remembrance Day as a special, reserved day to bring my children to the Jubilee, I worried my daughter was too young to appreciate it.  I stubbornly refused to accept anything less than bringing her along and she was enchanted by the band at once.  I'm very proud that she's shown an appreciation for Jazz and Big Band and Swing her entire life.  The band fits exceptionally well that the day, and our shared enjoyment makes it even more precious of a day to me.  Well done, Lt(N) Brian Thorlacius and band - you've helped to create a bond that cannot be broken.

The ceremony is oh-so-hard for a young child, I know it, how I know it.  It's with all my grace and gratitude that I thank the veterins, the war-brides, the Silver Cross mothers and my fellow observers for being accepting of the fussing, fidgiting, crying children in attendance.  For two years, my kids have been exceptional, I'd like to thank them as well.  And thanks to the others who bring their children and pass their own traditions along.

This year is particularly relevant in that the program had a fold, and on that was listed Canada's Honour Roll for Afghanistan from January through October 2006.  Thirty-four members of our armed forces are listed there who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  We will remember them.

Mayor Dave Bronconnier gave what I considered to be a significant address this morning.  Too often the speeches - especially speeches from politicians on holidays - become hollow or overly earnest or ringing of displaced passion.  I felt he spoke honestly and meaningfully as to Calgarians and our role in the events of our world.  He singled out the three Calgarians whom have died in Afghanistan trying to improve the world as best as they knew how.  He plainly addressed that we, as Calgarians, stand in support of our own.

Major Reg Newbury of the Salvation Army said the prayer today.  Significant to me was that he addressed the loss and the senseless violence that's brought to us through television nightly, and he prayed not only for those who have been lost, but also for those who have returned.  They have sought peace where peace was not possible.  I shared his prayer in my heart as well.

My five year old son drifted a bit at this point.  He asked that I give him a pen and set about scribbling on the program.  I obliged, thinking it would at least keep him occupied.  When I looked over, he was marking check marks beside the names.  A whispered exchange between us, and he mentioned that he only put the check marks beside the very important people.  Perhaps he didn't understand fully, perhaps he understands better than we can imagine.  Each and every name he checked off are on the Honour Role and are listed below.

We will remember them.

   In Flanders fields the poppies blow
   Between the crosses, row on row,
   That mark our place; and in the sky
   The larks, still bravely singing, fly
   Scarce heard amid the guns below.

   We are the Dead. Short days ago
   We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
   Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
   In Flanders Fields.

   Take up our quarrel with the foe:
    To you from failing hands we throw
    The torch; be yours to hold it high.
    If ye break faith with us who die
   We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
   In Flanders Fields.

        - John McCrae

 The last tradition worth noting is that I try to shake the hand of someone in a uniform each and every year with the kids.  I have no idea who it will be, I just find someone at random and introduce myself.  I know the soldier we met today is most unlikely to ever find this part of the internet, but thank you.  Shaking your hand is a symbolic gesture to all of our armed forces.  I hope you understand that.

 I'm going to make some personal remarks here to present and past members of the Armed Forces I know personally.

Les:  My kids have been asking about Aaron and Abrina's dad for a week.  They don't quite remember you, but they haven't forgotten you and your family either.  Cheers, mate, get in touch if you can.  You are one of my heros, you know.

Elliot:  A cheers to you as well, dear friend.  May the starlight guide you forever.  I think of you and Lori often, the two of you helped me grow up into being an actual man instead of getting lost in my boyishness forever, you know.  I know there's been a lot happened between those days and now, we should catch up too.  I hear Lori was back in Calgary.  I hope you've both done well for yourselves.

John:  Thanks for the help.  I haven't dug out yet, but I'm starting to get some traction.

The pilot who flow with the Snowbirds in the mid-70's:  I've long forgotten your name, but did you know I still remember you?  You gave me my interest in all things aeronautic.  Thanks, I've seemed to have passed some of that on as well.

Cam:  You count on this one too.  I'll call you next week.  Breakfast on me?

Dziadek:  I love you.

---
Let's call this my fold.  These are also my personal heros:

Cpl. Paul Davis
Master Cpl. Timothy Wilson
Pte. Robert Costall
Cpl. Matthew Dinning
Bombardier Myles Mansell
Lieut. William Turner
Cpl. Randy Payne
Cap. Nichola Goddard
Cpl. Anthony Boneca
Cpl. Francisco Gomez
Cpl. Jason Warren
Cpl. Christopher Reid
Sgt. Vaughan Ingram
Cpl. Bryce Keeler
Pte. Kevin Dallaire
Master Cpl. Raymond Arndt
Master Cpl. Jeffrey Walsh
Cpl. Andrew Eykelenboom
Cpl. David Braun
Sgt. Shane Stachnik
Warrent Officer Frank Robert Mellish
Pte. William Cushley
Warrent Officer Richard Francis Nolan
Pte. Mark Graham
Cpl. Glen Arnold
Cpl. Shane Keating
Cpl. Keith Morley
Pte. David Byers
Pte. Josh Klukie
Sgt. Craig Gilliam
Cpl. Robert Mitchell
Tpr. Mark Wilson
Sgt. Darcy Tedford
Pte. Blake Williamson

The rest of our men and woman serving past, present or future.

Peace, my friends.

"Honey, do you have suspenders?" 

"Uhh...  Yeah..." 

"Can I borrow them?" 

"Uhh... Yeah..." 
 
----- 
 
I think what frightens me the most is not that I have stuff she wants, but that stuff I wear on a daily, semi-regularly, or occasional basis gets amalgamated into "a costume."

"Dig through the ditches and 
Burn through the witches I 
Slam (the dog) in the back of my 
Dragula." 

C'mon.  Like you didn't know I had to do it sooner or later. 

Well, I have at least three people I know of that are considering buying / test driving the Murano.  I'm sure they're breathless awaiting an update.

Point Number One:  The dog loves it, but he wishes he had a window that opened.  Having said that, he's still getting out and about much more frequently now that he's got an easy access point and a space to his own.  Chalk one up for a happy puppy.

Point Number Two:  My mileage has been slipping ever since I got stuck on stupid city streets.  According to the Calgary Sun, there are 113.5 new cars added to the streets of Calgary each and every day.  That's absolutely stupid considering how bad traffic problems are already.  Hurray for a city that sprawls and doesn't do a thing to stem the tide until it's far beyond too late.  Mileage has dropped to 12.5 L / 100 km or 22.6 mpg or 18.8 miles-per-yankee-gallon.  This 'drop' in mileage is exclusively due to idling in bumper to bumper city traffic.

A side note:  This corresponds very well with the discrepancies between the EPA numbers and real life driving noted by FiveCentNickel here. 

Point Number Three:  I'm a more fuel-efficient driver than my lady-love.  Sorry, darling.  Onboard computers don't lie.  Try to corner more smoothly.  And start hitting your apexes!

Point Number Four:  I had my first scare with a mechanical failure.  Last week, the release on the inside of KA's door stopped working.  I had a small panicky moment thinking about taking it in to Nissan for servicing.  Crisis was fortunately averted.  Dad is unfamiliar with this newfangled technology known as Child Protection Locks.  Well, they sure as hell never put them on a 1980 Mustang!

Point Number Five:  Speaking of technology, I finally got my first feel of All Wheel Drive.  The snow came last Sunday and the roads turned to bedlam.  We've got the all-season tires on there (and I rather doubt that will change this year).  My experience with it was WONDERFUL.

I was following a guy in a rear-wheel drive car up the hill.  Granted, I would have had a hard time up the hill in the Mustang.  In the Murano, it really was, "Git 'er on up there and don't miss the corner when ya make the top."  The pick up in it is an incredible feeling - it grips where I'd have to tiptoe.  It slides a little back and forth when the wheels are adjusting to finding traction and I'm far from used to the finer nuances of driving an AWD vehicle.

What I don't like is the braking.  There's more mass to stop than I'm used to and it's substantially more difficult for me on ice.  For the love of ghod, people, stop doing stupid things in front of me like...  oh...  DRIVING WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS.

I remain a huge detractor of ABS.  My first experience of ABS was sliding through a four way stop.  My first winter experience with ABS on the Murano was sliding through a three way stop going down the hill I had just driving up without difficulty half an hour earlier.  And it's not a big hill by any means.  Three serious doubts remained heightened to me:  The extra stopping distance required, the complete abstraction of feel of the road, and the concerns about durability of the braking system as a whole.  I do not believe there are any compelling benefits to having ABS at all on most passenger cars.

All in all, I think we're both pleased with Dragula.  Now to get the Knight Rider lights embedded behind the grill....

Well grab me by the listening holes and whisk me straight to heaven. 

Two of my favourite musicians came back to the Bow Valley Music Club last night.  Kevin Welsh and Kieran Kane brought the absolutely amazing Fats Kaplin with them and together they denied they were a quartet with their drummer, Lucas.  Lucas Kane?  Kieran's son?  I suspect so, although I'll freely admit that I tend to need the road mapped out for me completely on occasion. 

Kieran came to my attention when John Prine recorded Kane's song, "In a Town This Size" with Dolores Keane  (a better link would be appreciated).  Having grown up in dinky prairie towns, it kinda struck a chord with me.  It remains one of my all time favourite songs.  You can at least get a feeling for their show compliments of youtube.

Simply an incredible show.  If you've never seen four friends on stage playing to their muse, I'd strongly suggest catching these four.  Nice guys, great songs, amazing playing.  It was a true honour to shake Fats' hand at the end of the night and thank him for coming out.

They will be playing in the area for a while still.  We'll test how the table copies and pastes.

Catch 'em if you can!