Thursday, December 22, 2005

Home Run Statistics – Going Going Gone.

This was written prior to the 2005 season
The home run. One of sports grandest sights. Whether it is a line drive that barely clears the wall or a pop up that glances off the foul pole. Or if it’s a shot that goes 40 rows back. It is still a home run. We love to see ‘em.
Here are some of the great home run hitters. I have categorized these home run hitters in a particular way that I thought you might like. These statistics include the 2004 season.
Most 50 or more home run seasons
Babe Ruth, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire – 4 seasons each Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Alex Rodriguez, Jimmy Foxx Ralph Kiner and Ken Griffey Jr – 2 season each
Most 40 or more home run seasons
Babe Ruth – 12 seasons Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Harmon Killabrew – 8 seasons each Ken Griffey Jr., Sammy Sosa – 7 seasons each Willie Mays, Mark McGwire, Alex Rodriguez 6 seasons each
Most 30 home runs seasons
Hank Aaron – 15 seasons Babe Ruth – 14 seasons Barry Bonds, Mike Schmidt – 13 seasons each Mark McGwire, Jimmy Foxx – 12 seasons each Frank Robinson, Willie Mays – 11 seasons each
The following four players had 10 seasons each: Harmon Killabrew, Lou Gehrig, Fred McGriff, Rafael Palmeiro
The following seven players had 9 seasons each: Mickey Mantle, Manny Ramirez, Mike Piazza, Eddie Mathews, Tony Perez, Jim Thome, Jeff Bagwell
The following five players had 8 seasons each: Alex Rodriguez, Ted Williams, Frank Thomas Mel Ott, Albert Belle
The following seven players had 7 seasons each: Ernie Banks, Joe DiMaggio, Juan Gonzalez Gary Sheffield, Dave Kingman, Willie McCovey Reggie Jackson
Some Home Run Facts
Between Ted Williams, Stan Musial and Joe Dimaggio 1357 home runs were hit. Between the three of them they had two 40 home run seasons.
When Joe DiMaggio hit 46 home runs in 1937 he struck out 37 times.
Fred Lynn hit 23 home runs four years in a row.
Duke Snider had five 40 home run seasons – all in a row.
Hank Aaron hit 44 home runs four different seasons, He wore uniform number 44.

Basketball - 8 Power-Dribbling Drills

Most children first learn to crawl, then walk, and finally to run. Basketball requires players to not only effectively move their feet, but also to maneuver a basketball. Basketball players first learn to dribble the basketball with one hand, then to alternate hands, and progressively to increase to more advanced dribbling. As a basketball player, a powerful and effective way to keep defenders on their toes and increase your threat as an offensive player is to develop an agile and quick dribbling technique. The power dribble can do this.
A basic power dribble is when you dribble the ball at a very intense rate. Maintain your normal form and posture. Use your muscles to thrust the ball forcefully down, and then expect the ball to quickly bounce back to your hand.
The drills described below will help you gain confidence and agility to handle a basketball in a power dribble. These drills will help you run a fast break, cut through the defensive, and outmaneuver your opponents.
1. Power crossovers - Power dribble in your right hand, then quickly bounce the ball to your left hand. Power dribble with your left for a few seconds before bouncing the ball back to your right hand.
2. Dribble blindfolded - Wrap a cloth around your head as a blindfold, or you could simply close your eyes...no peeking. Power dribble a ball for at least 60 seconds. This drill helps you enhance your tactile sense of the ball. You can enhance the drill by performing it in the center of a deserted basketball court, walking around while dribbling. To make the drill even more challenging, try power dribbling two balls, one in each hand, while being blindfolded and slowly walking around a deserted basketball court.
3. 10-5 repeats - This drill exercises power dribbling with one hand at a time. Choose which hand your would like to practice. Power dribble for 10 seconds, then soft dribble for 5 seconds. Repeat multiple times. This exercise teaches your arm muscles how to alternate between various dribbling speeds that occur during game play.
4. Dribble between legs while walking - In order to do this drill you will need a segment of floor, such as a basketball court floor, a street's sidewalk, or a wide hallway that is deserted. Power dribble while walking up and down the walkway. Power dribble the ball between your legs to practice fancy dribbling skills. To enhance the drill, perform the drill at a quicker walking pace, maybe at a light jogging pace.
5. Double ball power dribbling - Power dribble two balls, one in each hand. This will increase your arm strength for dribbling and enhance your dribbling control. Since you can't look at both hands at the same time, this drill will also practice your ability to power dribble without looking at the ball.
6. Power dribbling sprints - This drill requires you to power dribble for an extended period of time and run back and forth on the basketball court. Stand at one end of a basketball court. Dribble to the nearest foul line, then return to the baseline. Dribble to the middle of the court, then return to the baseline from which you started. Dribble to the farthest foul line, then return to the baseline from which you started. Finally, dribble the entire length of the court, and return to the baseline from which you started. This entire continuous power dribbling exercise counts as one complete cycle of the drill. Repeat multiple times to practice your dribbling, speed, and direction-changing abilities.
7. 3-chair dribbling - Set up 3 chairs or cones in a line, spacing each chair/cone 10 feet apart. Power dribble around the chairs/cones in different shapes, such as figure-eights, circles, or any shape. Use your imagination.
8. Dirt dribbling - This drill actually requires you to leave the basketball court and find a patch of dirt. Power dribble on the dirt for a minute or two. You will need to power dribble the ball even harder than usual in order to get the ball to bounce on the dirt. This drill is an extremely good arm workout with power dribbling.
Start with just a few of these exercises, and then expand your workouts to include more drills. You can also modify the drills to be more challenging by increasing the number of repetitions or slightly modifying the drill. The key is to vary your routines and have fun with them. By practicing the power dribble, you will greatly improve your dribbling.

Jujitsu: History, Philosophy And Methods

Brief History:
Jujitsu is a 2500 year old unarmed combat discipline that has its roots in ancient Japan. The exact date on the creation of this martial art form is hard to trace but techniques resembling that of Jujitsu had already been incorporated into the training methods of the Samurai, from the 8th to the 6th centuries. Earliest Japanese historical records such as the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) and the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan) also have passages related to unarmed combat systems.
Before this Japanese martial art developed into what we know as Jujitsu today, there were many other Japanese combat techniques such as Kogusoku, yawara, kumiuchi, and hakuda etc, also collectively known as Sengoku Jujutsu. Traditions finally gave rise to the modern Nihon Jujutsu we know today, which is classified under Edo Jujutsu – the true unarmed Japanese combat system.
Jujitsu gained prominence during the reign of Tokugawa in the 1600s but was soon alienated when Emperor Melse regained power. However, towards the mid-20th century, the ban on Jujitsu in Japan was lifted, following the Meiji restoration, and the combat art form began to be widely practiced.
The Philosophy:
Jujitsu revolves around three basic states of mind – Zanshin, Mushin and Fudoshin. The proper combination of these elements gave the power, preparation and potential to the practitioner to excel in the Jujitsu art.
1. Zanshin – “remaining spirit” – connotes the readiness for anything at any given time.
2. Mushin – “no mind” – Its spontaneity permits instantaneous action without conscious thought.
3. Fudoshin - "immovable mind" –during times of confrontation.
Basic Methods:
Jujitsu is a circular, hard and soft, external combat style. The basic techniques of attacks includes throws, locks, hitting and striking, thrusting and punching, pinning and immobilizing, strangling and joint-locking, with strong emphasis on throws, locks, and defensive techniques. In-fighting and close work are also focused upon.
Even though Jujitsu is basically an unarmed fighting system, small weapons like the Jitte (truncheon), Tanto (knife), or Kakushi Buki (hidden weapons), which include the Ryofundo Kusari (weighted chain) or the Bankokuchoki (a type of knuckle-duster) may also be used in combat.
Competition Systems:
Conventional Jujitsu can be dangerous, or maybe even fatal if its fundamental techniques were to be applied. So, in order to make the art a safer sport for the competitive arena, systems and rules have to be introduced. That is why most of the competition methods have incorporated “Half-contact”, which prohibits serious attempts to knock out an opponent.
1. The Fighting System: This is the most popular method, divided into three phases. The first is for striking only, the second for striking, grappling and throwing, and the third includes ground-fighting such as chokeholds.
2. The Practical System: According to this rule, two defenders are surrounded by four attackers from four corners. Highest points go to the best defender judged upon effectiveness, oversight and control of the situation.
3. The Duo System: In this system, contestants are randomly chosen and awarded points for effective defences. The attacks are divided into four groups of five attacks each.
4. Combat Jujitsu: The most recent system developed in the United States. Victory in the competition is based on submission. The combat round between the two opponents lasts for not more than two minutes.

Friday, December 16, 2005

Water-Distillers

They are the devices that are helpful in getting the purest form of waters in domestic and commercial usage. They are Ideal for allergy sufferer’s .The distillers are widely used in laboratories, pharmacies, hospitals, doctors and surgeries. When they are filled with distilled waters they make 4 liters of distilled water in approximately 5 hours.
Steam distilled water: These are the purest form of water. A water distiller takes in nature's process of evaporation and condensation in a chamber, leaving all impurities after such as inorganic minerals, chemicals etc.
The Distillation procedure takes off waterborne contaminants, which are furnished such as:
Viruses
Bacteria
Organic and inorganic chemicals
Toxic metals (including fluoride)
Volatile gases
Cysts and other contaminants

The distilled waters are free from inorganic minerals of any kind and hence they are the best cleansing agents the body can always have. Distilled water is always necessary for making colloidal silver.

Desalination

Under desalination, water flows through a membrane having salty side at one end and unsalted side at other end. Only giving pressure to can do this process the water at the membranes salty side. This is for two reasons. First, removal of natural osmotic pressure and second one is creating extra pressure on the water column then only water is pushed through the membrane.

The Requirement of pressure for desalination of seawater is 50-60 bars. Reverse osmosis a specific process, which is proved. Electro dialysis, distillation and ion exchange are some of the techniques are Used for water desalination.

Sunday, November 27, 2005

Grisaille Paintings

Grisaille is not a paintings type by its own but an initial step in oil painting. It is the step representing lighter shades of the image to be painted. This type grisaille grey is basically a painting in lighter grey shade (followed as per the rules of oil painting the darker painting section follows the lighter colors to be implemented in oil painting) before the whole painting is all done. This painting is executed entirely on monochrome in various shades of grey which can also be used for decorative purposes such as representing an object in relief.

Monday, October 03, 2005

Steve Gefvism

I was talking to my mate Clive about upgrading my Fox Micron SX Bite alarms to a set of three Delkim TXI’s, which is what Clive is using and he rates them highly. I have also heard about the new Delkim TXI Plus which comes in all the colours, red, green, blue, yellow, white and purple. I have called Delkim for a bit more information on these fishing bite alarms. I was given all the needed information about the bite alarms and the Delkim Pluses were also mentioned, a slightly cheaper alternative.
I am currently using Century NG 12ft 3.5tc fishing rods, so I really want a good set of bite alarms to go with these nice rods. I decided to go with the Delkim TXI Pluses. As it is going to be a nice weekend I’m off to my local fishery for 2 nights of Carp catching action. It will be the second time I’ve used my Trakker Armadillo Bivvy which I got at a very reasonable deal for www.sportsmanstackle.com
My last catch from my local fishery was a mirror carp of 28.4lb and a common carp of 25.10lb, my new common PB-UK. I caught these fish on Pro Gold (Terry Eustace) 12lb green Mainline to a Korda ready spliced lead core Leader, 3ox pear lead and blow back rig with a size 6 Gardiner Tallon Tip, with my favourite essential Shellfish B5 boilies.
As the weather is perfect today, I’m off for another session.

Steve Gefvism

Terry Gefvism

My friend has invited me to fish on his own personal fishing lake. He owns a fishery local, which is near to me; he stocks carp, tench & bream.
I went for the day so I didn’t need to take my Chub bivvy. Instead I took my Preston match brolly just in case it rained. The lake was of a fair size so I took my handy Fox Elite Barrow, as I struggle carrying all of my fishing tackle. I decided to leave the rods and reels at home and took my Fox Competition Match seat box and Shimano Technium 1250 Competition fishing pole, using size 14 elastic straight through to 5lb fishing line. The fishing bait I used was paste, pellet, corn and maggot. I took my new landing net and keep net which I bought from www.sportsmanstackle.com and also the weighing sling and scales to record my catch.
I had an excellent days fishing, I did catch some good size carp up to 14lb and some tench to 5lb mainly using maggots.

Terry Gefvism

Mary Gefvism

My son has decided to take up fishing with his dad. He has never shown an interest in fishing before so I was quite surprised when he wanted to go out with has dad to the local canal. He hasn’t got any of his own fishing tackle but he has decided he wants what his dad has got.
My son is 10 years old so I thought that buying new fishing tackle would make an excellent Christmas present. I’ve seen seat boxes, fishing rods, reels and all general tackle ideal for him at www.sportsmanstackle.com offering really good prices.
When they got back from fishing he had caught his first Perch of 1.2lb, a good size so I’m told. He was pleased with his catch. He was using ground bait and Maggots – Lovely.
So looks like someone is now sorted for Christmas, Fishing tackle. He will enjoy going to some of the local lakes with his dad. To catch more.

Mary Gefvism

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Ethernet

Ethernet (this name comes from the physical concept of ether) is a frame-based computer networking technology for local area networks (LANs). It defines wiring and signaling for the physical layer, and frame formats and protocols for the media access control (MAC)/data link layer of the OSI model. Ethernet is mostly standardized as IEEEs 802.3. It has become the most widespread LAN technology in use during the 1990s to the present, and has largely replaced all other LAN standards such as token ring, FDDI, and ARCNET.
Varieties of EthernetOther than the framing types mentioned above, most of the other differences between Ethernet varieties have all been variations on speed and wiring. Therefore, in general, network protocol stack software will work identically on most of the following types.
The following sections provide a brief summary of all the official Ethernet media types. In addition to these official standards, many vendors have implemented proprietary media types for various reasons—often to support longer distances over fiber optic cabling.
Many Ethernet cards and switch ports support multiple speeds, using auto-negotiation to set the speed and duplex for the best values supported by both connected devices. If auto-negotiation fails, a multiple speed device will sense the speed used by its partner, but will assume half-duplex. A 10/100 Ethernet port supports 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX. A 10/100/1000 Ethernet port supports 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, and 1000BASE-T.
Some early varieties of EthernetXerox Ethernet -- the original, 3-Mbit/s Ethernet implementation, which in turn had two versions, Version 1 and Version 2, during its development. The version 2 framing format is still in common use. 10BROAD36 -- Obsolete. An early standard supporting Ethernet over longer distances. It utilized broadband modulation techniques similar to those employed in cable modem systems, and operated over coaxial cable. 1BASE5 -- Also known as StarLAN, was the first implementation of Ethernet on twisted pair wiring. It operated at 1 Mbit/s and was a commercial failure.
10 Mbit/s Ethernet10BASE5 (also called Thickwire or Yellow Cable) -- This is the original 10 Mbit/s implementation of Ethernet. The early IEEE standard uses a single 50-ohm coaxial cable of a type designated RG-8, of maximum length 500 metres. Transceivers could be connected by a so-called "vampire tap", which was attached by drilling into the cable to connect to the core and screen, or using N connectors at the end of a cable segment. An AUI cable then connected the transceiver to the Ethernet device. Largely obsolete, though due to its widespread deployment in the early days, some systems may still be in use. It requires precise termination at each end of the cable. 10BASE2 (also called Thinwire or Cheapernet) -- 50 ohm RG-58 coaxial cable, of maximum length 200 metres, connects machines together, each machine using a T-adaptor to connect to its NIC, which has a BNC connector. Requires termination at each end. For many years this was the dominant 10 Mbit/s Ethernet standard. StarLAN 10 -- First implementation of Ethernet on twisted pair wiring at 10 Mbit/s. Later evolved into 10BASE-T. 10BASE-T -- Runs over 4 wires (two twisted pairs) on a cat-3 or cat-5 cable up to 100 metres in length. A hub or switch sits in the middle and has a port for each node. FOIRL -- Fiber-optic inter-repeater link. The original standard for Ethernet over fiber. 10BASE-F (also called 10BASE-FX) -- A generic term for the family of 10 Mbit/s Ethernet standards using fiber optic cable: 10BASE-FL, 10BASE-FB and 10BASE-FP. Of these only 10BASE-FL is in widespread use. 10BASE-FL -- An updated version of the FOIRL standard. 10BASE-FB -- Intended for backbones connecting a number of hubs or switches, it is now obsolete. 10BASE-FP -- A passive star network that required no repeater, it was never implemented
Fast Ethernet (100 Mbit/s)100BASE-T -- A term for any of the three standards for 100 Mbit/s Ethernet over twisted pair cable up to 100 meters long. Includes 100BASE-TX, 100BASE-T4 and 100BASE-T2. 100BASE-TX -- Similar star-shaped configuration to 10BASE-T. It also uses two pairs, but requires cat-5 cable to achieve 100Mbit/s. 100BASE-T4 -- 100 Mbit/s Ethernet over cat-3 cabling (as used for 10BASE-T installations). Uses all four pairs in the cable. Now obsolete, as cat-5 cabling is the norm. Limited to half-duplex. 100BASE-T2 -- No products exist. 100 Mbit/s Ethernet over cat-3 cabling. Supports full-duplex, and uses only two pairs. It is functionally equivalent to 100BASE-TX, but supports old telephone cable (cat-3). 100BASE-FX -- 100 Mbit/s Ethernet over multimode fibre. Maximum length is 400 meters for half-duplex connections (to ensure collisions are detected) or 2 kilometers for full-duplex. 100Base-VG -- Championed by only HP, VG was the earliest in the market. It needed four pair of cat-3 cables. It is however questionable whether VG was really Ethernet.
Gigabit Ethernet1000BASE-T -- 1 Gbit/s over cat-5e or cat-6 copper cabling. 1000BASE-SX -- 1 Gbit/s over multi-mode fiber (up to 550 m). 1000BASE-LX -- 1 Gbit/s over multi-mode fiber (up to 550 m). Optimized for longer distances (up to 10 km) over single-mode fiber. 1000BASE-LH -- 1 Gbit/s over single-mode fiber (up to 100 km). A long-haul solution. 1000BASE-CX -- A short-haul solution (up to 25 m) for running 1 Gbit/s Ethernet over special copper cable. Predates 1000BASE-T, and now obsolete.
10 Gigabit EthernetThe new 10 gigabit Ethernet standard encompasses seven different media types for LAN, MAN and WAN. It is currently specified by a supplementary standard, IEEE 802.3ae, and will be incorporated into a future revision of the IEEE 802.3 standard.
10GBASE-CX4 -- designed to support short distances over copper cabling, it uses InfiniBand 4x connectors and CX4 cabling and allows a cable length of up to 15 m. 10GBASE-SR -- designed to support short distances over deployed multi-mode fiber cabling, it has a range of between 26 m and 82 m depending on cable type. It also supports 300 m operation over a new 2000 MHz.km multi-mode fiber. 10GBASE-LX4 -- uses wavelength division multiplexing to support ranges of between 240 m and 300 m over deployed multi-mode cabling. Also supports 10 km over single-mode fiber. 10GBASE-LR and 10GBASE-ER -- these standards support 10 km and 40 km respectively over single-mode fiber. 10GBASE-SW, 10GBASE-LW and 10GBASE-EW. These varieties use the WAN PHY, designed to interoperate with OC-192 / STM-64 SONET/SDH equipment. They correspond at the physical layer to 10GBASE-SR, 10GBASE-LR and 10GBASE-ER respectively, and hence use the same types of fiber and support the same distances. (There is no WAN PHY standard corresponding to 10GBASE-LX4.) 10GBASE-T -- Uses unshielded twisted-pair wiring. 10GBASE-T should be ready by August 2006. 10 gigabit Ethernet is very new, and it remains to be seen which of the standards will gain commercial acceptance.

Friday, August 19, 2005

Talk-Brocard

The use of the term "brocard" in English is not really wrong, but it is very rare. Its use is far more common in French or Italian law. English would use the term "maxim" to mean just about the same thing. Even more precisely, "legal maxim" would distinguish these sayings from maxims which can arise in many other areas of knowledge. Maxims have no formal legal weight, but can be influential as representative of a society's accumulated wisdom. Eclecticology, Friday, July 12, 2002
Here we are again :-)) Another difference, then, on "Maxim". Or, better, a case of false friends: the corresponding word is in our system mainly related to the principle that a judge expresses in its interpretation of the law inside the sentence, while a brocard is a referring expression, a sort of motto or proverb mainly used by students (and teachers) to better learn and keep in mind some concepts. Our maxims do have a legal relevance (at least for the sentence which they are contained into), even if a following sentence can freely contain opposite concepts, thus reverting the previous principles. Do you think we need some redirecting? It seems that we are getting closer to the moment we'll have to list a few differences among legal systems... :-) Gianfranco If these questions about law were easy, the lawyers would be starving. I even had to pause over your use of the word "sentence" to make sure that you weren't talking about the prison term or fine that a judge levies after an accused has bee found guilty. It's the rarity of the word in English that makes the redirection advisable. Perhaps we can find a way of resolving the subtleties there. An article explaining the differences between the two main legal traditions is a great idea, but very difficult to write. We should only (!) identify the elements and the concepts which are different, the false friends, and whatever might deserve to be noted. ;-)
No, it won't be easy... but I believe we can make it, little by little.
Ah, our "sentence" is only the latin sententia, the response of the judge. It is a different concept from the latin poena, that I believe you call penalty, which is contained into the sentence, is a part of it (even if obviously it is its most evident concrete effect). Gianfranco
Your table looks beautiful, and it's an excellent proposal. I'll give some thought into what the article title should be. As to "sentence". The "sententia" usage is another one that's almost unknown here. When the "poena" interpretation didn't make sense I settled on the most commen english usage, the grammatical one, for which you would use "frase".

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Bad Ozonelayer

Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of health problems including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion. It can worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma. "Bad" ozone also can reduce lung function and inflame the linings of the lungs. Repeated exposure may permanently scar lung tissue.Healthy people also experience difficulty breathing when exposed to ozone pollution. Because ozone forms in hot weather, anyone who spends time outdoors in the summer may be affected, particularly children, outdoor workers and people exercising. Millions of Americans live in areas where the national ozone health standards are exceeded.
Ground-level or "bad" ozone also damages vegetation and ecosystems. It leads to reduced agricultural crop and commercial forest yields, reduced growth and survivability of tree seedlings, and increased susceptibility to diseases, pests and other stresses such as harsh weather. In the United States alone, ground-level ozone is responsible for an estimated $500 million in reduced crop production each year. Ground-level ozone also damages the foliage of trees and other plants, affecting the landscape of cities, national parks and forests, and recreation areas.

Friday, February 25, 2005

Turning the tide

Events of 1917 would prove decisive in ending the war, although their effects would not fully be felt until 1918. The Allied naval blockade of Germany began to have serious impact on morale and productivity on the German home-front. In response, in February 1917, the German General Staff (OHL) were able to convince Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg to declare unrestricted submarine warfare, with the goal of starving Britain out of the war. Tonnage sunk rose above 500,000 tonnes per month from February until July, peaking at 860,000 tonnes in April. After July, the newly introduced convoy system was extremely effective in neutralising the U-boat threat. Britain was safe from the threat of starvation. Even more importantly, April 1917 finally saw the formal entry of the United States into the war, in response to the U-boat attacks.
Indicator Nets were predominantly deployed by the British Royal Navy as a means—albeit generally unsuccessful—of discouraging enemy (usually German) submarines from entering Allied waters. Constructed using light steel nets these were anchored at various depths to the sea bed around key Allied naval bases and were intended to entangle enemy U-boat traffic, although even then submarines were often able to disentangle themselves and escape before they were blown up by depth charges. They were seldom used as the sole anti-submarine measure but were instead mixed with other defences, which usually included extensive minefields and patrolling warships. In time mines were actually attached to the nets, thereby reducing the survival chances of an entangled submarine.
Once a submarine became entangled a marker buoy attached to the net would drift along the surface indicating enemy activity below. The first example of indicator nets assisting in the destruction of a German U-boat occurred at Dover when the U-8 became entangled on 4 March 1915.
Indicator Nets were used extensively—dropped from light fishing craft—at both Dover and Otranto Barrages. Individual nets were sometimes as much as 100 metres in length. While these were ultimately of some benefit at Dover (where the barrage was constantly fine-tuned to produce results) they proved ineffective at Otranto, with gaps between the light steel nets sufficiently wide to allow enemy submarines through. Under cover of darkness U-boats could also thwart the nets by coasting along the surface, as happened at the Otranto Barrage.