On Sun, Feb 22, 2004 at 02:09:59PM -0800, Paul Johnson wrote: > On Sun, Feb 22, 2004 at 04:43:33PM +0000, Pigeon wrote: > > That's a stupid advert. What it actually demonstrates is that the > > driver in the advert doesn't know how to brake in an emergency > > situation - the car slides to a halt with its front wheels locked. If > > the driver had avoided locking the wheels the car would have stopped > > in time. > > On the other hand, look how many people drive? Too many people fail > to pump disc brakes and do pump antilocks. Yeah, I know... same here, despite the fact that an emergency stop is part of the UK driving test and locking the wheels is a fail. > Or they drive a 4WD and > don't realize that anti-lock brakes operate as disc brakes except when > in 2WD. Don't get me started on 4WD drivers :-) > It's disappointing that it's simply not feasable to test > people on what's in their car's owner's manual. The UK test does at least nod in that direction these days, though. > > It also demonstrates that you shouldn't run out into the road without > > looking, and that parents whose kids lack road sense should keep them > > under control near roads. > > This applies to trains as well, including narrow-track trains. Just > because the tracks are (like many tourist and park railroads in the > US) 2'6" instead of 4'8.5" apart only means that 10 cars and an engine > weigh 300 tons instead of 900 tons or so, and still won't stop fast at > any speed. And I can safely say firsthand that engineers don't like > stopping two feet short of the 5-year-old you tried dragging against > the signal across the tracks, who locked up staring into headlights > anymore than you like watching it; you feel pretty sick for a couple > days afterwards from the scare of nearly hitting someone you can't > dodge. The flashing lights and bells apply to you even if you're > walking, folks. > </rant> Argh, yes, I remember you told me about that... It amazes me somewhat that UK steam lines have such a good safety record, given the number of people who wander about in places they shouldn't. > > The reason for having such a massive muscle is clearly shown by the > > beautiful slow-motion shot of a pigeon, in the foreground, taking > > off almost vertically, and generating thrust on the upstroke as well > > as on the downstroke. > > Locally, the pigeons with any sense of urgency tend to use them to > outrun light rail trains when the trains sneak up on them, flying only > centimeters off the ground. Given they tend to do this near the light > rail stations most, I'm surprised there's not more pedestrian/pigeon > collisions. Pigeons - and birds in general - seem to be very good at avoiding collisions, except in the case where their ability to outfly almost any animal leads them to think they can outfly a speeding vehicle. Not always, though... one of my mates, walking down the street in a daydream, managed to swing his foot into an equally dozy pigeon, and propelled it into a girl's backside... she couldn't work out who had patted her rear. -- Pigeon Be kind to pigeons Get my GPG key here: http://pgp.mit.edu:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0x21C61F7F
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