The purchase of land cost $2.25 million (in 1943 dollars). The building itself cost c. $50 million, or $83 million with outside facilities. The Pentagon stands on 29 acres (=c. 120,000 sq.m.).

The center court alone occupies 5 acres (c. 20,000 sq.m.). The heating and refrigeration plant and the sewage structure sprawl on 1 acre each (c. 4,000 sq.m.). Fifty miles (=80 kilometers) of access highways were especially constructed, replete with 21 overpasses and bridges. The parking space is spread over 67 acres (c. 270,000 sq.m.) and can accommodate up to 8,800 vehicles.

Each wall of the Pentagon is more than 920 feet long (=300 meters). It is almost 78 feet high (or a little short of 25 meters). It should have been higher but the planners wanted to preserve the view of the neighboring Arlington National Cemetery. There are almost 18 miles (c. 29 kilometers) of corridors in the building, 131 stairways, 19 escalators, 13 elevators, 672 fire hose cabinets, 284 rest rooms (toilettes), 691 drinking fountains, 4200 electric clocks with sockets for another 2800, 16,250 light fixtures (250 bulbs are replaced daily), 7,754 windows, and 7 acres of glass – or c. 29,000 sq.m.

More than 23,000 people work in the Pentagon. It contains a heliport, huge restaurant and shopping mall, and bus and taxi terminals. The Pentagon has its own metro (subway) station.

This masterpiece of engineering was designed by George Edwin Bergstrom. Despite its gargantuan size, the distance between every two points in the complex never requires more than a 7 minutes walk. Plans to convert the Pentagon to a hospital after the second world war were abandoned with the outbreak of the Cold War.

The September 11 attack demolished 400,000 sq. feet of space and damaged another 1.6 million. To recover them would cost $700 million. About 1000 tons of limestone in 3700 separate pieces were quarried in Indiana to overhaul the facade. More than a 1000 laborers worked in three shifts for almost nine months until the facade was remade. Restoration will be completed in Spring 2003.

The State Department says that “a condolence book, a Presidential photo, and handmade sympathy cards written by children were included in a bronze box that was sealed into the limestone facade of the newly rebuilt section of the Pentagon. The capsule is not intended to be opened.”

Sam Vaknin ( samvak.tripod.com ) is the author of Malignant Self Love – Narcissism Revisited and After the Rain – How the West Lost the East. He served as a columnist for Global Politician, Central Europe Review, PopMatters, Bellaonline, and eBookWeb, a United Press International (UPI) Senior Business Correspondent, and the editor of mental health and Central East Europe categories in The Open Directory and Suite101.

Until recently, he served as the Economic Advisor to the Government of Macedonia.

Visit Sam’s Web site at samvak.tripod.com

Herbert Spencer named this process the “survival of the fittest,” and although the term may not be scientifically exact in the case of any given species in any given year, when we look at that the fight is going on constantly, during the entire duration of each species, we cannot doubt that overall those which survive are indeed the fittest. The fight for survival is so intense and so constant that the slightest flaw in any sense organ and any physical weakness will almost surely, sooner or later, be fatal.

This recurring weeding out of the less fit, in each generation will effect two different effects, which need to be clearly described. The first is the preservation of each species in the fullest state of adaptation to the circumstances of its existence. As long as these circumstances are unaltered, the result of natural selection is to maintain each well-adapted species unaltered.

The second of these effects occurs whenever the conditions change. The most fit individual will adapt more successfully, and the regular process of natural selection will evolve more rapidly, matching to the conditions. This process will finally bring about complete adjustment to the new conditions. Some scientists admit pure chance, but uphold that the process of natural selection in weeding out the genetically weaker and thus retaining every species in the highest state of efficiency.

The matter of natural selection and survival of the fittest does not figure into the current argument between the adherents of evolution theory, intelligent design theory, and creation theory. In the evolution, intelligent design, creationism debate the subject of natural selection is almost a dead end point of contention, given that evolution theory and intelligent design theory are in fair accord on the issue, while creation theory refuses it completely.

Polyester material is characterized by its power to withstand both fading and shrinking making it the most widely used material in the production of apparel since 1960. Polyester also became a standard alternative in the manufacturing of tablecloths, chair coverings, placemats, table skirting and aprons. As well accepted as it was for garments and home decoration, 100% polyester material was not the best option for napkins. Table napkins made of 100% polyester lacked absorption and did not have the feel of cotton fiber, which one associated with pricey table linen.

Along came spun polyester cloth. Initially, spun poly was produced for heavy-duty use and household furnishings. In an effort to make a boat covering from spun polyester, Johnston Industries unknowingly created a spun polyester that, compared to its predecessor, was lighter in weight with an improved feel. They also noticed that dying made the cloth even softer and determined that this was a material that would be ideal for table linens.

This find was thought to be so significant that Johnston Industries ceased their development of boat covers. Bob Pomeranz, an expert in textiles, took on the task of bettering spun poly material at Johnston Industries. Bob’s expert knowledge of spinning machines permitted him to spin a fabric free from pilling, the annoying fiber clusters that detract from a cloth’s appearance. Johnston Industries’ finished product was a durable table cloth resistant to shrinkage with the power to keep its colouring and release soil.

Table linens made of spun poly could now have the feel of cotton cloths and most importantly, unlike cotton, a spun poly table linen would not fade after numerous washings. As a rule, the more you laundered a spun poly table linen the softer and better it would feel to the touch.

The textile industry discovered that spun polyester was good, not only for table cloths, but in the production of chair coverings, placemats, skirting, aprons and even napkins. In fact, spun polyester napkins were quite absorbant, a feature that 100% polyester table napkins did not have.

So, the next time you touch a product made of polyester material, ask yourself, is it 100% polyester or spun polyester?