Over at Bayou Reconnaissance Man, there's a fun video of some Swedes with their steam powered dogsled. The advantage of this is that you are no longer limited by the speed of a running dog. The obvious disadvantages are that first, steering seems a bit iffy, possibly limited to crude bending of the frame, similar to the ever-popular Flexible Flyer.
The second thing is the charging procedure, which seems to involve filling the attached pressure tank with water, then dropping the whole sled onto a briskly burning fire until the water reached some 400 degrees Celcius, according to the comments. Go here to see the original, with comments.
Superheated water will flash to steam and drop it's temperature almost immediately to 212 degrees, so the exhaust is (relatively) safe. Heating a steel container to 750 degrees (F) will reduce the heat-treatment properties of the metal, rendering the tank weaker that it was before. There are videos of steam locomotives suffering boiler failure out there.
Evidently there is an official record for powered sleds, which these fellows are looking to break. I'm thinking that if the thing ran on inline runners, with just a bit of rubber to provide suspension, it would ride much like a motorcycle, and the driver would be less likely to learn what it was like to slide across a frozen lake at 100 mph, on his butt.
I'm not discouraging the effort, just suggesting that a bit more thinking might be in order here. It's a fine line, sometimes between a gold medal on a platform, and a Darwin award on the Internet.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The Feast of Saint Mendeleyev
It has been announced, so let it be done! March 1st is the day.
I am still not sure that Dimitri has actually been canonized, but why let that stop you. According to the Periodic Table of Science Fiction,:
This is an officially recognized holiday of the Denver Mad Scientists Club, who swear they will have their formerly impressive website back up Any Day Now.
I am still not sure that Dimitri has actually been canonized, but why let that stop you. According to the Periodic Table of Science Fiction,:
Fasting all day doesn't have much appeal, but the drinking and carousing in the evening may make up for it. Unfortunately March 1st falls on a Monday, which will put a bit of a damper on the celebrations.In keeping with the solemnity of the occasion, the Feast of Saint Mendeleyev is a day of fasting and abstinence. Not a chemist anywhere in the world will touch more than a morsel of food or a few sips of water from sunup to sundown. Their mien is somber. They think serious thoughts.
After dark, of course, that all changes. Out come the picnic baskets and wine bottles. Toasts are made, and laughter sparkles to the sky. Then everybody goes outside, and they proceed to blow things up. They're chemists, after all—it's what they do for fun!
Mendeleyev could have predicted it.
This is an officially recognized holiday of the Denver Mad Scientists Club, who swear they will have their formerly impressive website back up Any Day Now.
More Global Warming
The north-east is up for another generous dose of the dreaded Gore effect:
They don't mince words on this map, do they? I hope Jeff has socked away plenty of cat food.
They don't mince words on this map, do they? I hope Jeff has socked away plenty of cat food.At its peak, the storm will deliver near hurricane-force wind gusts (74 mph) blinding snow falling at the rate of over an inch per hour. For some people in upstate New York and eastern and northern Pennsylvania, this may seem more like a "snow hurricane" rather than a blizzard.Senator Inhofe has called for Pope Al to be investigated and maybe even charged, presumably for fraud. Let's see, the A.G. is Eric Holder, who owes his job to the President, who has a Cap and Tax bill pending that assumes that all this global warming claptrap is gospel. Don't think I'll hold my breath on that one.
Monday, February 22, 2010
10.6% Unemployment
According to this compilation of BLS numbers, anyway. I've noted before that I don't trust the government to produce trustworthy statistics. Some agencies do, but others have an interest in making them support one cause or another, such as the continued flow of grants, or the continued re-election of some blowhard parasite.
Again, I believe there are accurate enough ways to actually determine the unemployment rate that anyone with XL and a bit of aptitude for ferreting numbers from the government could use. Traffic density, government tax revenues, which are available quarterly, or other bits of information for example.
Again, I believe there are accurate enough ways to actually determine the unemployment rate that anyone with XL and a bit of aptitude for ferreting numbers from the government could use. Traffic density, government tax revenues, which are available quarterly, or other bits of information for example.
Health Care - One More Time
The health care bill, like a B movie zombie, isn't quite dead enough although a lot of people are sounding the death knell for it. Frankly I don't trust the government not to reinstate slavery.
The bill's exact status even eludes the Gods Playing Poker:
Although it looks like Great Cthulhu has had some experience in Washington.
I like Gods Playing Poker. This panel is here.
The current thinking (?) is that the bill will lose the Cornhuckster amendment for Bill Nelson, but retain the Louisiana Purchase of Mary Landreau. The CBO currently says it's unable to estimate the costs for this latest version,as the necessary details have been omitted for clarity, or something.
The bill's exact status even eludes the Gods Playing Poker:
Although it looks like Great Cthulhu has had some experience in Washington.I like Gods Playing Poker. This panel is here.
The current thinking (?) is that the bill will lose the Cornhuckster amendment for Bill Nelson, but retain the Louisiana Purchase of Mary Landreau. The CBO currently says it's unable to estimate the costs for this latest version,as the necessary details have been omitted for clarity, or something.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
The Reign In Spain
Spanish president Zapatero is finding himself in a bit of hot water over the financial condition of the Republic, which seems to be only a high-yield bond of two from that of Greece. For those of you who find the topic boring, that means broke.
Zap, as he is locally known, is blaming this on a conspiracy against Spain by the Anglo media. Sure, Zap. Everybody knows that the Brits have had it in for you ever since the Spanish Armada lost what should have been an easy romp to Lord Nelson. Europeans know how to carry a grudge.
My take is that Zap may have hit on something here. After all Spain's imminent bankruptcy seems to be the result of an overly ambitious socialist government. Never heard of that happening, right? But wait! Maybe it is. And guess what? The Communist Manifesto was first published (in German) in London by a group of German political refugees in 1848. The bedrock blueprint for the whole fiasco.
So there you are: Spain's collapse is the fault of British media.
Zap, as he is locally known, is blaming this on a conspiracy against Spain by the Anglo media. Sure, Zap. Everybody knows that the Brits have had it in for you ever since the Spanish Armada lost what should have been an easy romp to Lord Nelson. Europeans know how to carry a grudge.
My take is that Zap may have hit on something here. After all Spain's imminent bankruptcy seems to be the result of an overly ambitious socialist government. Never heard of that happening, right? But wait! Maybe it is. And guess what? The Communist Manifesto was first published (in German) in London by a group of German political refugees in 1848. The bedrock blueprint for the whole fiasco.
So there you are: Spain's collapse is the fault of British media.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Assisted Suicide
Sen Michael Bennett plans to leave politics this November, but he wants to be absolutely sure that his campaign fund money will be completely wasted. To that end, he has decided to commit political suicide.
In town today to campaign for Sen Bennett, was president O'Bama, whose current record, campaigning in support of people is 0-3, having lost in S. Carolina, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. This mans endorsement is the kiss of death.
To secure the opinion everybody has of him, the Denver visit was timed so that the main arteries through town were shut down just at the peak of rush hour, so that SUV-1 could get to the airport on time.
In town today to campaign for Sen Bennett, was president O'Bama, whose current record, campaigning in support of people is 0-3, having lost in S. Carolina, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. This mans endorsement is the kiss of death.
To secure the opinion everybody has of him, the Denver visit was timed so that the main arteries through town were shut down just at the peak of rush hour, so that SUV-1 could get to the airport on time.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Nuclear Energy
Actually it's not about energy, nuclear or any other sort. It's about how the game is played.
El Presedente has offered up $8 billion in loan guarantees to allegedly build 2 nuclear power plants. Anyone who has followed nuclear power in this country knows that in spite of being cleaner and more efficient than coal, no one builds nuke plants because they take 3 times as long and cost 5 times as much to build, since 2/3 of the cost of the plant goes into lawsuits filed to try to stop them.
NRO has a bit on this new offer, including a clip of candidate O'Bama stating that he is "Not a proponent of nuclear power." What this is, is $8billion in loan guarantees which will be put toward defending lawsuits brought by the sort of people who usually adorn the back covers of phone books.
The lawyers, in turn, will kick back some percentage to the man who made the big paydays possible, to use on his re-election campaign. Or maybe a retirement villa in a country with lax extradition laws. 10% of 8 billion sounds like a pretty good retirement to me.
Power plants? Hah!
El Presedente has offered up $8 billion in loan guarantees to allegedly build 2 nuclear power plants. Anyone who has followed nuclear power in this country knows that in spite of being cleaner and more efficient than coal, no one builds nuke plants because they take 3 times as long and cost 5 times as much to build, since 2/3 of the cost of the plant goes into lawsuits filed to try to stop them.
NRO has a bit on this new offer, including a clip of candidate O'Bama stating that he is "Not a proponent of nuclear power." What this is, is $8billion in loan guarantees which will be put toward defending lawsuits brought by the sort of people who usually adorn the back covers of phone books.
The lawyers, in turn, will kick back some percentage to the man who made the big paydays possible, to use on his re-election campaign. Or maybe a retirement villa in a country with lax extradition laws. 10% of 8 billion sounds like a pretty good retirement to me.
Power plants? Hah!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Mikulski To Quit
Since Taranto made them famous, I thought I'd have a go at a bye-ku:
Barbra counts to ten
She cannot see eleven.
Mikulski Bayh Bayh.
Barbra counts to ten
She cannot see eleven.
Mikulski Bayh Bayh.
Global Warming - The Finale
Revelations this week now show that the Global Warming business has been based on snake oil, smoke, and mirrors. Phil Jones, in an interview with the BBC, pretty much admits that the whole thing has been a pack of lies, although he claims that he still believes. He sounds like the old doomsayers who predict the end of times, take all their followers worldly goods, and prepare for the apocolypse on top of a hill somewhere.
Most of those folks wound up badly when the sun came up, and the sky failed to open.
Here's my favorite illustration of the problem:
The lower graph is the basic data regarding temperatures over the last 1100 years. This data has been around for a while, and is backed up by things like wheat-farming colonies in Greenland around 1200 AD, and emigration from Scandinavia in the 1600s due to massive crop failures. Note carefully the evidence of the impending ice age in the 1970s.
The upper graph is the "after" picture, showing what can be done with otherwise good data with just a bit of carefully applied statistical analysis. Note that the Medieval Warm Period, and the Little Ice Age have both vanished, to be replaced with the destruction of humanity from overheating.
If I thought Al was down there, I'd suggest the area be surrounded by "crime scene" tape, and left until spring, when a more careful investigation could be carried out. Of course it might also make a good designated dump zone for excess snow being cleared.
Most of those folks wound up badly when the sun came up, and the sky failed to open.
Here's my favorite illustration of the problem:
The lower graph is the basic data regarding temperatures over the last 1100 years. This data has been around for a while, and is backed up by things like wheat-farming colonies in Greenland around 1200 AD, and emigration from Scandinavia in the 1600s due to massive crop failures. Note carefully the evidence of the impending ice age in the 1970s.The upper graph is the "after" picture, showing what can be done with otherwise good data with just a bit of carefully applied statistical analysis. Note that the Medieval Warm Period, and the Little Ice Age have both vanished, to be replaced with the destruction of humanity from overheating.
If I thought Al was down there, I'd suggest the area be surrounded by "crime scene" tape, and left until spring, when a more careful investigation could be carried out. Of course it might also make a good designated dump zone for excess snow being cleared.
Tea Party Backs Harry Reid!
In a not entirely unexpected move today the Nevada Tea Party registered as a third party, and announced it would field its own candidate against Senate Majority leader Harry Reid.
Reid, who currently has a 38% favorable rating among Nevadans, welcomes the introduction of a 3rd party candidate, as this will result in a final vote of Reid:38%, Republican 31% and Tea Party 31% allowing him to keep his seat another 6 years.
Reid is expected to send fruit baskets and flowers to the Tea Party headquarters immediately after the elections. He is not expected to answer any phone calls from them.
Reid, who currently has a 38% favorable rating among Nevadans, welcomes the introduction of a 3rd party candidate, as this will result in a final vote of Reid:38%, Republican 31% and Tea Party 31% allowing him to keep his seat another 6 years.
Reid is expected to send fruit baskets and flowers to the Tea Party headquarters immediately after the elections. He is not expected to answer any phone calls from them.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Postal Match, New and Improved!
Mr. Completely is announcing the first postal match of 2010 will be published at his site on or very near the 1st of March.
New and Improved: Cheaper Than Dirt has generously made available $50 gift certificates for the Postal Match series, to be awarded to a randomly drawn participant, one per match. You need not be present to win, but you must send in a shot-up target. If you want to do any bragging, you will aim carefully at the target before shooting it up.
Sometimes the targets are straightforward, Sometimes they are annoyingly complex and far more difficult to score well on than you would think. Trying to hit an arc-shaped area is exasperatingly difficult.
Mr. C is suggesting that you get one entry for the CTD swag for every entry to the match you send in in a unique class. So no shooting 25 targets full of holes with your .22 pistol and sending them all in. Your best effort with that gun is the only one that counts.
Categories include rim fire or centerfire, rifle or pistol, and iron or glass sights. there is usually a class for air guns or what-have-you.
New and Improved: Cheaper Than Dirt has generously made available $50 gift certificates for the Postal Match series, to be awarded to a randomly drawn participant, one per match. You need not be present to win, but you must send in a shot-up target. If you want to do any bragging, you will aim carefully at the target before shooting it up.
Sometimes the targets are straightforward, Sometimes they are annoyingly complex and far more difficult to score well on than you would think. Trying to hit an arc-shaped area is exasperatingly difficult.
Mr. C is suggesting that you get one entry for the CTD swag for every entry to the match you send in in a unique class. So no shooting 25 targets full of holes with your .22 pistol and sending them all in. Your best effort with that gun is the only one that counts.
Categories include rim fire or centerfire, rifle or pistol, and iron or glass sights. there is usually a class for air guns or what-have-you.
Improving The Olympics
I've been discussing the Olympics back an forth with a friend today, and have concluded that the whole thing could use some fixing up. First off, the opening ceremonies will be choreographed by Tam. See previous post, and this time click the links.
Second off, the sledding events just haven't been the same since the Jamaicans are not represented, and besides, they (everybody, not just the Jamaicans) look like a trip down the water slide at Water World, only with ice, so in my Olympics, all sledding events will be held on the same course as the mens giant slalom. Obviously the equipment will need a bit of updating as more maneuverability and better brakes are indicated.
The Biathlon will be modified to provide the same number of targets, but in the format of pop-ups, placed randomly along the trail. All targets will pop up, wait 5 seconds, then pop back down. 0 points for an "A" zone hit, 5 points for a "B" zone, and 10 points for a miss. Scores to be added to your time. Class B, rimfire, and class A, centerfire. Some of the targets will be out there a ways. Much as I think it would inprove the viewing, I've decided that holding the event inside a fenced preserve with 3-5 polar bears might be excessively complicated, what with having to catch and fly in the bears, then fly them back out again.
Next is snowmobile racing. I'm debating if this should be held indoors on a super-cross track, or outdoors on an SCCA sports car track.
Mens figure skating. The ladies love this one with its spray-on costumes and finely chiseled tushes, but let the men compete against each other in pairs, and add in pugil sticks, and the audience doubles. Not to mention beer sales.
Snowboarding and mogul skiing:
Nothing wrong with these events that a bit of work on the outfitting wouldn't largely cure. Go here for more. Try to remember to come back. Imagine womens mogul skiing with a athlete like Katerina Witt. (NSFW) Yowza!
I'm sure there's more room for improvements. Suggestions welcome.
Second off, the sledding events just haven't been the same since the Jamaicans are not represented, and besides, they (everybody, not just the Jamaicans) look like a trip down the water slide at Water World, only with ice, so in my Olympics, all sledding events will be held on the same course as the mens giant slalom. Obviously the equipment will need a bit of updating as more maneuverability and better brakes are indicated.
The Biathlon will be modified to provide the same number of targets, but in the format of pop-ups, placed randomly along the trail. All targets will pop up, wait 5 seconds, then pop back down. 0 points for an "A" zone hit, 5 points for a "B" zone, and 10 points for a miss. Scores to be added to your time. Class B, rimfire, and class A, centerfire. Some of the targets will be out there a ways. Much as I think it would inprove the viewing, I've decided that holding the event inside a fenced preserve with 3-5 polar bears might be excessively complicated, what with having to catch and fly in the bears, then fly them back out again.
Next is snowmobile racing. I'm debating if this should be held indoors on a super-cross track, or outdoors on an SCCA sports car track.
Mens figure skating. The ladies love this one with its spray-on costumes and finely chiseled tushes, but let the men compete against each other in pairs, and add in pugil sticks, and the audience doubles. Not to mention beer sales.
Snowboarding and mogul skiing:
Nothing wrong with these events that a bit of work on the outfitting wouldn't largely cure. Go here for more. Try to remember to come back. Imagine womens mogul skiing with a athlete like Katerina Witt. (NSFW) Yowza!I'm sure there's more room for improvements. Suggestions welcome.
Olympic Entertainment
Tam has some commentary on the quality of the entertainment being provided by the Olympics.
I am in complete agreement with her on this.
In fact, if more of the high-speed events involved multiple contestants, with close-quarters passing involved, I think they could compete favorably with NASCAR.
The biathlon is shaping up well too.
Check this action.
I am in complete agreement with her on this.
In fact, if more of the high-speed events involved multiple contestants, with close-quarters passing involved, I think they could compete favorably with NASCAR.
The biathlon is shaping up well too.
Check this action.
Friday, February 12, 2010
King, N.C. Gun Restrictions
In King, N.C. they have this on the books, in the event of a declared emergency:
I think I found it.
3. NO FIREARMS: No sale or purchase of any type of firearm, ammunition, explosive, or any possession of such items is allowed off a person's own premises. [underline and bold in original -ed]A lot of people wondered about this since the declared emergency resulting from the recent flurries of global warming triggered the ordinance. You wonder how some things wind up on the books, and think there must be some good stories behind some of them.
I think I found it.
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