Rod, at 13:03 on May 10 1996, you wrote to Bill Grimsley...

BG> I doubt it was the massive amount of rain we'd had (even at that time),
BG> as that should have degraded the levels between us, not improved them.

RS> Not necessarily, that pronounced shift to better db levels
RS> can be due to it being wet. What Telstra call an HR joint, high
RS> resistance. High humidity levels can help them quite noticeably.

BG> True, the resistance can indeed become lower, although
BG> in my experience, it's still far more common for water
BG> to degrade bandwidth and line levels than improve them.

RS> Sure, but we arent interested in whats more common, you claimed that its
RS> unlikely that the higher moisture levels are the reason for the change
RS> we saw.

Not "claimed".  I said "I doubt it was...", which is
still quoted above.  And I also agreed that high humidity levels can indeed
improve the line, but I think you'll find that 44 INCHES of rain is a tad
more than just "high humidity".

RS> In fact its VERY likely. And its also not as likely that a
RS> change Telstra did would produce that particular change detail wise.

That may well have been the case here, but I was quite concerned with the
ringer sound on my phones - they all sounded like they were under water (no
joke), which MAY have been the ring voltage being attenuated by the water.

RS> Who'd be a fucking farmer, desperately short for years, then 10' under |-)

True, I feel quite sorry for the poor bastards.  Kicked in the guts year
after year, yet they still come back for more.  They're either very brave,
or mad.

BG> There were a couple of major benefits though.  The previously
BG> almost empty Lake Moogerah (supplies the Fassifern Valley)
BG> is now full, as is the North Pine dam, and the others are
BG> up to at least 85% of capacity. About time too.

RS> Have they lifted the odd/even watering restrictions ?

Nothing has been said yet, but I presume that if I was to water my lawn (as
if it fucking needs it!) on the wrong day, some fuckwitted council
bureaucrat would probably summons me for doing so.

BG> The other good thing is that the Maccas at Grafton
BG> was completely submerged - all you could see of it was
BG> the big M sign sticking out of the Clarence River.  :)

RS> Didnt see that. Did see they had called off the 75th anniversary airshow 
RS> tho. Bit sad given the flash hardware flown in for the occasion, B2 and 
RS> all.

Yeah, it was very unfortunate, and was not called off because of the rain,
which had essentially stopped by then, but because most of the access roads
to Amberley were impassable, and those that could have made it to the base
would have turned the airfield into a pretty good imitation of an Irish
bog.

As you say, very sad, and a damn shame too.

Regards, Bill

--- Msgedsq/2 3.20