In The News Today...

Quote: Fleastiff

Ever hear of a siesta? The problem is that a police report there is a dime a dozen, so ... who knows?

One tourist fell asleep watching these giant Monitor Lizards... they found his cane. Thats all.

I think they really can catch people who aren't asleep. There's actually quite a few videos of them getting many large animals, deer, wild dogs, leopards, baboons etc. Few videos of the actual attack -- just the strangulation or end result.

But there may be something about a human standing on two legs that throws them. The extra height and all.

...also 'cause those snakes only eat once a week or so, you have to have some bad luck to get eaten. Or stand there all week and poke it with a stick.

Quote: Fleastiff

The Navy showed how to do nuclear power cheaply and safely... no one wants to follow simple rules.

ONE system, no technology creep or individualized changes. No unique panels or even logos.

Sterile cockpit at all times. No conversation.

Whats so difficult?

I've heard of this back to the 1980s. Every country besides the USA had a standardized nuclear plant. You could maybe make it modular with more reactors, but once proven that was that. But in the USA it was always a custom job.

Quote: AZDuffman

But in the USA it was always a custom job.

Custom jobs have relays installed backwards, switches in unusual positions, varying annunciator panels, etc.
It is like that flight simulator that had a certain emergency switch setting all the way to the left, but this one aircraft had it three, not four, stops to the left. What do you think happens when it hits the fan?
Even with that Japanese tsunami the crew never realized ... once all the equipment was flooded, the plant was a piece of junk that would be decommissioned but the crew kept trying to save the reactor rather than save the situation. The crew wanted ultra pure cooling water; they could have used tap water ... it was a piece of junk but they did not realize that, so they let it get too hot while trying to use only the proper water to cool it.

Quote: Fleastiff

Custom jobs have relays installed backwards, switches in unusual positions, varying annunciator panels, etc.
It is like that flight simulator that had a certain emergency switch setting all the way to the left, but this one aircraft had it three, not four, stops to the left. What do you think happens when it hits the fan?

Exactly. You want it to be so if an operator comes from somewhere else they just sit down and use it. Even the men's room should be in the same place.

Quote:

Even with that Japanese tsunami the crew never realized ... once all the equipment was flooded, the plant was a piece of junk that would be decommissioned but the crew kept trying to save the reactor rather than save the situation. The crew wanted ultra pure cooling water; they could have used tap water ... it was a piece of junk but they did not realize that, so they let it get too hot while trying to use only the proper water to cool it.

I have to think or at least wonder if that is not a cultural thing. Japan is a Western Nation, but also an Asian Nation. These cultures are not the best when an emergency happens. To be sure, they can handle whatever is "in the book" since they memorize it all. But conformity is so valued they do not think as fast on their feet as Americans might. This happens from pilots all the way down to why the Indian call center can't solve your problem unless it is exactly in the checklist.

If you ever had trouble believing a fire can't bring down a reinforced concrete structure this will help convince you..

A fire started by transients brought down this bridge a couple days ago.

Found this video of a guy driving across the fire, before it collapsed. You can hear a massive boom not long after he clears it.

transients trying to keep warm or transients wanting to have some fun.

trash fires in burn barrels are often tolerated because otherwise transients will light candles in abandoned buildings or something.

Quote: Fleastiff

transients trying to keep warm or transients wanting to have some fun.

trash fires in burn barrels are often tolerated because otherwise transients will light candles in abandoned buildings or something.

Not sure, but how cold is it in Atlanta this time of year? They might cook with fires though.

Only 2 crewmembers found out of 22 on board large iron-ore bulk carrier lost in South Atlantic without warning and just a brief distress call about a sudden list.

Hundreds of Colombians dead in flood/avalanche. I just can't picture it happening. An entire town wiped out.