OK, maybe my commute isn't so bad.

EDIT-Video had dead link, it should be viewable now (sound might be a bit loud).

Getting across a metropolitan area is rather stressful (and dangerous at times) [EDIT-even when your alternator goes out on your truck like what happened the next day from this post], but I guess my commute isn't this bad:



RS

New way to rollerblade.

This week has been pretty busy, so I needed some Thursday levity.

EDIT - If nothing else, you have to watch the last video in the post.

Jean-Yves Blondeau is a French designer who came up with a sort of rollerblade suit. I had heard of this a while ago, but thought it was just some type of art project or something. (Don't see this being approved by any parental toy safet groups any time soon).
Sorry you'll just have to deal with the French narrative.



The suit might look a bit goofy, but it looks like it would be fun.



However, he has refined the suit and can do some pretty cool downhill things in it. I think it has 31 wheels total.

Can't embed this one, but you can see it at youtube. The Swiss Pass is amazingly steep and winding, and he does it in normal traffic. (Kids, don't try this at home ... or at the Swiss Pass!)

SWISSPASS 1 : FURKA

Not sure what is scarier, going downhill at this speed on winding roads, or having a car filming you right behind you at that speed. You can hear the car's tires squealing they are going so fast around some of those sharp turns!



Dang, that looks like fun!

RS

Kudos to msnbc host

Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC's morning show "refuses to cover the stupid imbecile we call Paris Hilton leaving jail. She tries to burn and shred the story too! Finally!"



The hardest part of this clip is dealing with the idiots making fun of her for being sick of this stupid story.

I love it! All the comments at the site I found this at were all cheering her on! Nobody cares about Paris Hilton anymore, you stupid media outlets!



RS

Prison culture

I just watched this series on a prison in California that focuses on hardcore gang members and leaders. Yet I always find the word "gang" to be rather misleading. Usually it just conjures up some image of a rag-tag group of thugs who just engage in street fights and turf wars. But these gangs are really more like super mafia or highly organized networks of crime. They are responsible for drug trafficing, high stakes robbery, violent crimes, assassinations, and the like.

Warning: Although it is a National Geographic show, it does have a bit of potentially graphic visuals.

Lockdown Gangland Pt 1


Lockdown Gangland Pt 2


Lockdown Gangland Pt 3


Lockdown Gangland Pt 4


Lockdown Gangland Pt 5


I found these videos pretty amazing. In spite of having this extremely tight security prison, with former Navy Seals acting as some of the guards, you have some of these inmates able to continue carrying on their work from within the prison itself.

Not only that, but the actual organization and discipline of some of these guys is actually amazing. Without wanting to sound too cliche, you wonder what these guys could do if they could use their powers for good instead of evil? That these guys would be able to be that ingenious and that disciplined to carry out not just crime outside the prison, but to have power struggles within the prison.

Even the "footsoldiers" who are just gang members have such discipline that they cannot get into a fight without permission from the upper ranks.

It eventually leads to the question of the death penalty. Much of the argumentation against it is that we now have prisons that attempt to reform the prisoner. But what about situations like this? When you have such hardened criminals, they not only resist reforming their lives, but actually go to prison to learn and hone their skills better, and continue to carry out extremely violent crimes from within the most secure parts of the prison.

A question is what happens to those who do leave their gangs. They are still serving life without parole. Still, those who have reformed have less of a case for the death penalty.

I won't go into costs, since I don't want to put a price on a man's life.

It is a difficult question. While I support the death penalty, on an emotional level I would never want to have to be on a jury deciding that myself. It is a difficult question in which you have to wonder if the concept of justice has been lost. What about the value of the life of the person who was murdered? From a religious standpoint: would it be better for a person to serve justice in this life so that they don't have to in the next? Difficult questions, but ones we need to look at intellectually rather than a strictly emotional level.

I would see the death penalty as being something only to be used in repeat murders or in cold blood. On the average, I don't think it would be necessary. However, what about these extreme cases, like those mentioned in the above, or those in the supermax prisons? And I especially ask this in light of the afterlife and God's justice.

RS

Why engines are tested

You might remember the airplane engine tests I had a while back. Here's a real life reason why they test engines by shooting birds into them. Two herons got sucked into a jet engine right at take-off.

(watch the whole thing, the detail is at the end)


Here's the news report:



RS

Go Away

This video just had to be made. I agree with it and support it.

Safe for work ... one of the only times I think you'll ever be able to say that in anything related to Paris Hilton.

"Go Away, Paris Hilton."


RS

More Plane Safety

It's an airplane extravaganza!
I've already shown some safety testing from Boeing at this post:

Is it the plane or the pilot?

I found some more interesting plane safety videos of engineers testing the limits of new engines and planes. Makes me feel a bit safer about flying.

Jet engines are pretty powerful ... but just how powerful?
[Huh, huh, hippie car, huh, huh]



So, with that in mind, can your brakes handle slamming them on at 210 mph with a full load and full throttle then continue to work for 5 minutes without catching on fire?



So what if a blade in the engine suddenly comes loose?



The high speed cameras used in this similar test are amazing.



What if a bird strikes the engine?



How do you like your poultry sliced? How about a flock of birds?



Finally, this is just neat. One of the most famous plane watching beaches in the world, Maho Beach at Saint Maartin. Ever play chicken with a Boeing 747?



Here's a cockpit view.



RS

Information the new weapon of mass destruction?

Living in the information age is very intimidating. Have you thought about how much you have to know just to function in modern society? You have to be able to operate a car, use a cell phone, be familiar with a computer, keep track of finances, etc. If you don't know something, you have to be able to know how to learn to teach yourself what you don't know. Think about all the details that go into being able to figure out financial things like loans, mortgages, insurance, investments, etc. And that is just the more necessary or practical information. Then think of how much leisure information we take in. Sports trivia, Hollywood news, TV story lines, best websites, trivia, etc. It's pretty overwhelming when you think about it. Man is becoming more inundated with the things of this world that he often forgets the bigger picture. Even though we are becoming more technologically advanced, we have to know more and more just to survive.

It is pretty amazing when looking at all the "predictions" of the future there was always the staple of hover cars, space craft, and video phones. But who would have predicted that it would ultimately be communications and information that would be so dominant and would grow so exponentially. Remember when the concept of a small communications device or a micro camera were strictly for James Bond? Now we have both of those together an not only that, they can access an almost limitless supply of information by being able to connect to the web.

Not only is money power, now information is. However, information is just that, merely information. There is a difference between accurate and false information. Accurate information gives you an advantage over those without it. And even false information can give you an advantage over those with it. Sort of puts the culture wars in more perspective. That is the danger of the information age. Although you can spread the truth with greater efficiency, you can also have lies spread to you as well.

I can't vouch for how factual the information is in these videos, but they start to make you think. If you are into conspiracy theories, you might want to turn back now. LOL.

SHIFT HAPPENS


WEB 2.0 ... THE MACHINE IS US/ING US


EPIC 2015
(Note: this was made in 2005, so the information "after" that is prediction)


GOOGLE MASTER PLAN


And to think ... Blogger is owned by Google ... if you have read this, you are now under watch ... by THEM! :o

Paranoid yet? :)

RS

Is it the plane or the pilot?

I've always enjoyed airplanes.

Wow, the Boeing 777 appears to be able to handle crosswinds rather well.

Some of these angles of approach are insane, yet in spite of the song's title "Boom!" there is not one crash.



It seems to pass the stress test rather well. I'd say if your wings are getting that much stress, you've got a bit more of a problem than turbulence.



RS

More on the Mount Everest Controversy

As the description of this blog says ...

"You never know what you'll find in a sacristy."

I have noticed recently that for some odd reason, my blog was listed about 5th on google for searches on "everest controversy," and have been getting several hits from people searching for that, and getting my previous post on the Everest Controversy.

So, I figured I would look into this more and found another article that seems to be pretty informative. There definitely is a lot of controversy surrounding the death of David Sharp and the actions of Russell Brice and his "Himex" crew.

For those seeking more information you can check this link out (be warned there is a bit of foul language in the article):

"Left to Die on Everest, No one came to David Sharp's aid on Everest. What happened?" by Nick Heil, et al.

RS

Nintendo Wii Safety

Since the Nintindo Wii is the big thing this year ... ;)

Christmas Tree Safety

Following the safety theme, here is a clip showing how dangerous it can be to let your Christmas tree get too dry.

I was told this weekend that one thing that can help is to make sure you don't use tap water to water your tree, since most tap water has chlorine which actually causes the tree to dry out more quickly. Only use spring water or purified water to water your Christmas Tree



RS

Computer safety

I think I'll ask Santa for a desktop computer.

Remember a "laptop's" is derived from the fact that you set it on "top" of your "lap."



RS

MRI Safety

Totally off the usual topics I thought I would post about Magnetic Resonance Imaging safety, prompted by a web site I came across.

If anyone has ever had an MRI, you are always told to remove all metal objects before you go into the imaging room where the machine is. Now we have all played with magnets and picked up paperclips, but I don't think many people realize how strong magnets can be.

I remember in our physics lab at college we had two industrial horseshoe magnets that were each about half the size of a shoebox. You had to be very careful when putting them together that your fingers did not get in between them, because they were very strong and were very difficult to get apart.

An MRI machine has an even more powerful magnet. I learned this first hand when I had an MRI done last year. They had me remove all metal objects, and I did ... except that I forgot to remove my belt which had a metal buckle on it. The technician also failed to notice it. Anyway, they prep me then she pushes me into the machine, which was one of those tight ones that claustrophobic people have touble with (thankfully I am not very claustrophobic). As she was pushing me in, I thought the opening was too small and my belt buckle had hooked onto the outside of the opening, but then I realized the pulling was in the opposite direction. By the time I had been pushed all the way in, my belt buckle was now hovering about 2 inches above my waist (I could put my hand between the buckle and my stomach). Obviously the belt kept the buckle from flying up to the magnet, but it made me realize how powerful those magnets are. Which is why MRI technitians have to be very vigilant about metal in the room for safety purposes.

Which brings us to a site which has a few pictures of when people weren't that vigilant in the imaging rooms.

Danger! Flying Objects! (MRI Physics and Safety)

If that doesn't convince you, see how difficult it is for these techs to get a light weight office chair from out of the magnetic field.


or how slowly a chunk of metal falls in the field.