Shape recognition with numpy/scipy (perhaps watershed)?

Hooked has already answered most of your question, but I was in the middle of writing this up when he answered, so I'll post it in the hopes that it's still useful...

Use the ndimage library from scipy. The function label places a unique tag on each block of pixels that are within a threshold. This identifies the unique clusters (shapes).

Starting with your definition of a.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.