Tufty’s cute but deadly
QUESTION
Is it true that one in five power cuts in the U.S. is caused by squirrels?
ATTRACTIVE creatures though squirrels may be, the damage caused by them must never be underestimated.
Since their front teeth grow constantly throughout their lives, they need to chew in order to keep them at a manageable size. this is fine when a diet of acorns and walnuts is readily available, but urban squirrels will chew on sheds, doors, patio furniture and cars.
if they invade your home, they can nibble through the rubber or plastic coating of electrical wiring. this has led to many cases of electrocution and fires.
the American Public Power Association reports that squirrels cause up to 10 per cent of power cuts over the year. During peak squirrel activity in the autumn and spring, this can rise to 20 per cent, or one in five. these figures are based on reports by 277 U.S. public utility companies.
Worryingly, ground squirrels, or marmots, have triggered alarms at underground nuclear missile sites in Montana.
Grey squirrels, an invasive, non-native species, were introduced to Britain by the victorians in the 1870s and have increasingly caused issues due to our dependence on electricity and cabling.
However, the recent reintroduction of pine martens, a woodland predator, might lead to a reduction in the rural squirrel population.
Ian MacDonald, Billericay, Essex.
QUESTION
Did a chemical explosion similar to the Beirut blast occur in a port on the Gulf of Mexico?
YES, in 1947, the cargo ship Grandcamp was anchored in texas city port in Galveston Bay on the Gulf of Mexico when a fire broke out in the hold.
the ship was carrying 2,300 tons of ammonium nitrate, a fertiliser that is highly explosive under the right conditions. this is the same chemical that caused the Beirut explosion when 2,750 tons had been stored unsafely in a warehouse in the port.
Like Beirut, it was impossible to put out the fire on the Grandcamp and the ship exploded, killing 567 people, including firefighters, and causing much damage to the port. the explosion started fires in nearby ships, including the High Flyer, which was carrying 872 tons of fertiliser and exploded the next day. it was the worst industrial accident in U.S. history.
the explosives used in the Messines ridge mines in World War i contained ammonium nitrate, as did the IRA Baltic exchange bomb in 1992 and timothy Mcveigh’s Oklahoma city bombs in 1995.
experts have concluded ammonium nitrate behaves differently in bulk than in small amounts. there have been many accidents globally involving combinations of fertiliser in large bulk, fire and sometimes commercial explosives.
the Beirut explosion won’t be the last such disaster.
Despite the risks, ammonium nitrate will continue to be produced and stored. Without such fertilisers, the planet would not be able to support its more than seven billion people.
Phil Alexander, Farnborough, Hants.
QUESTION
Tuna fish is a tautology. What other examples are there?
Here are a few which, unfortunately, we hear often:
Safe haven — heard every day on the radio, tv and seen in newspaper reports of wars and investments. could people ever be heading for a dangerous haven?
Forward planning — office speak, a common source of linguistic rubbish devoid of all thinking.
reverse backwards — as used by driving instructors. Where else would reversing possibly take you?
Advance warning — often seen on road signs. could we be warned any other way?
Pre-book — total nonsense commonly seen on taxis.
False pretences — thank you, lawyers, magistrates, judges and police officers for this meaningless phrase. David Beake, Budock Water, Cornwall.
Here are my favourite examples: null and void, moments in time, work colleague, free gift, past history, deliberately targeted, pick and choose, raze to the ground, general consensus, brief sojourn, meaningless guff, added bonus, last vestige, general public, few in number, short in stature, a first introduction and mutual consent. Martin Mahoney, Cardiff.
QUESTION
What is the shortest place name in Britain? What is the shortest in the world?
FOLLOWING on from the previous answer about Britain’s shortest place name, the small village of Ae in Dumfriesshire, the Premier League football team with the world’s shortest name is Ba Fc in the Fiji national league.
Nicknamed the men in black because of their strip, Ba has been famous since the team’s six-in-a-row inter-district championship wins from 1975 to 1980.
the town of Ba is famous for its soccer ball cafe sporting a giant football.
it is the only town in Fiji where football, rather than rugby, is the most popular sport.
Ba Fc has never been relegated from the country’s premier league, which is amazing for a small township.
it has a large following among Fijian emigrants in Australia, canada, New Zealand and the U.S.
Kieran James, Paisley, Renfrewshire.
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