I know how trainspotters feel when they spot their first train.
From a window at work we have view of one of the biggest building sites in Europe. A monster mall is being built. Four tower cranes make it all happen by shifting allo sorts of massive loads.
A couple of weeks ago an interesting question came to mind. What do crane operators do when they need to have a wee? Is there a portaloo next to their cabin or do the have to climb down 80 meters and piss on firm ground?
The answer came from a guy on Yahoo! Answers: "They / We climb down and go to the porta - potty." Fascinating stuff.
Before asking on Yahoo!, thought, I had googled it and come across a number of sites about cranes available on the market. Allow me enlighten you with a couple of interesting crane facts:
1. Like cakes, some tower cranes can self-raise
2. About 85% of all tower cranes in the world are deployed in Dubai
I ended up reading about different types of cranes on the market, their sizes and how they work. And cases when things went horribly wrong resulting in collapse.
So now I am curious about this subject matter and every time a see new one I am fascinated by it. I'm curious about its use, its size, type, it's erection (and how its eventual dismantling). I don't have note book to record my sightings nor do I own an anorak. But I am taking pics...
As a member of an adult website where beauty and sexuality are celebrated I am sure that there is some kind of subconscious thing going on where the crane is, in fact, a phallic symbol. Maybe my interest tower cranes can be intepreted as latent homosexuality? Are these giant structures really big cocks?
Dunno. For now I'll enjoy the engineering side of things. And yes, towers are cool.
From a window at work we have view of one of the biggest building sites in Europe. A monster mall is being built. Four tower cranes make it all happen by shifting allo sorts of massive loads.
A couple of weeks ago an interesting question came to mind. What do crane operators do when they need to have a wee? Is there a portaloo next to their cabin or do the have to climb down 80 meters and piss on firm ground?
The answer came from a guy on Yahoo! Answers: "They / We climb down and go to the porta - potty." Fascinating stuff.
Before asking on Yahoo!, thought, I had googled it and come across a number of sites about cranes available on the market. Allow me enlighten you with a couple of interesting crane facts:
1. Like cakes, some tower cranes can self-raise
2. About 85% of all tower cranes in the world are deployed in Dubai
I ended up reading about different types of cranes on the market, their sizes and how they work. And cases when things went horribly wrong resulting in collapse.
So now I am curious about this subject matter and every time a see new one I am fascinated by it. I'm curious about its use, its size, type, it's erection (and how its eventual dismantling). I don't have note book to record my sightings nor do I own an anorak. But I am taking pics...
As a member of an adult website where beauty and sexuality are celebrated I am sure that there is some kind of subconscious thing going on where the crane is, in fact, a phallic symbol. Maybe my interest tower cranes can be intepreted as latent homosexuality? Are these giant structures really big cocks?
Dunno. For now I'll enjoy the engineering side of things. And yes, towers are cool.