Gordy-
To answer one of your questions, that "Y" DEFINITELY looks FLAT to me at the bottom on the pics if you zoom in enough. It does not look pointed at all to me.
Also, the stage suggested/labeled as 'second', I also believe to be the THIRD stage, not the second.
Hope that helped some.

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When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, and HAVOC !