Random randomness

[Skinypupy]

Cracked sends a writer to North Korea, and he writes a fascinting summary. Kinda long, but definitely worth the read.

[The Meal]

I still am not sure why rapidly compressing and releasing the suspension would cause less damage to a suspension than multiple, mild and slow (relative to other example) compressions/expansions.

You may be correct (depending on how slow is slow and how fast is fast). The transmissibility curve is unity for a DC (zero velocity) event, which means no compression in the spring element. No compression means no forces which means the shock structure experiences no travel whatsoever. It also means the body of the car displaces by the exact amount of the size of the speed bump. If you're just inching along in your car, this is what applies.

At resonant speed, the body of the car experiences a large displacement — at low damping this displacement can be multiple times the height of the speed bump itself. This would clearly be the worst-case event on the car's shocks. At low speeds greater than 0 mph (but below the resonant speed), you're working your way up the multiplier effect (> 1) of the transmissibility curve. Just past resonance (up to roughly 1.5× the resonance speed), you're also in the amplification region.

At speeds greater than 1.5× resonance, the displacement of the body of the car is less than the height of the speed bump. This means the body of the car tends to not bounce as much — it keeps it's position relative to the roadway surface much better. However, at speeds much greater than 1.5× the resonant speed this value approaches 0, which means that the shocks have to absorb, momentarily, the full travel of the bump height. As you intuit, this seems like a rough time for the shocks.

So to go back to our transmissibility curve, if you compare two different speeds (along the x-axis), whichever event between the two is farther away from a y-value of 1 will be worse for your shocks. It doesn't matter whether this is a positive difference or negative difference (the event itself is going to set up a decaying oscillation which will approach both ends of travel within the shock — it's not as if positive excursions from 1 on the transmissibility curve lead to a fundamentally different response, in terms of shock damaging, than a negative excursion from 1).

All of this, of course, assumes our shock system is underdamped (zeta values below 1, as indicated on that curve). This is good assumption, as critical-or over-damped shock systems would not accomplish our goals of protecting the passenger cab from large responses due to roadway disturbances.

[tjg_marantz]

Cracked sends a writer to North Korea, and he writes a fascinting summary. Kinda long, but definitely worth the read.

Saving for later. Thanks!

[Daehawk]

I wish that every NK citizen could be removed from NK for 1 year, given food and entertainment and see what the world is outside their view. Then after a year offer them the chance to stay. Given help getting themselves set up in the world and finding them support and a chance at life. They have no idea what they are missing by allowing that government to run their lives.

Im not saying all would take it. Im sure most of them are happy with their lives with how they live or what they do. Its just normal for them. Im sure most would at least like enough food to be comfortable though if nothing else was provided. But Im sure many would also be surprised of whats out there and actually want it. Its like the Amish I imagine in a small way. Most people think their life must be awful yet also most return to live those lives and do so happily when they have the chance to see and stay in the outside world.

[Isgrimnur]

What's Korean for rumspringa?

[Daehawk]

What's Korean for rumspringa?

국경 통과

[Skinypupy]

I wish that every NK citizen could be removed from NK for 1 year, given food and entertainment and see what the world is outside their view. Then after a year offer them the chance to stay.

I'm sure there are many people around the world who would say the same thing about Americans.

[Default]

I wish that every NK citizen could be removed from NK for 1 year, given food and entertainment and see what the world is outside their view. Then after a year offer them the chance to stay. Given help getting themselves set up in the world and finding them support and a chance at life. They have no idea what they are missing by allowing that government to run their lives.

Im not saying all would take it. Im sure most of them are happy with their lives with how they live or what they do. Its just normal for them. Im sure most would at least like enough food to be comfortable though if nothing else was provided. But Im sure many would also be surprised of whats out there and actually want it. Its like the Amish I imagine in a small way. Most people think their life must be awful yet also most return to live those lives and do so happily when they have the chance to see and stay in the outside world.

You need to do a little "non-cable tv" research on the Amish. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumspringa

[Max Peck]

I wish that every NK citizen could be removed from NK for 1 year, given food and entertainment and see what the world is outside their view. Then after a year offer them the chance to stay.

I'm sure there are many people around the world who would say the same thing about Americans.

Well, except for the part about staying.

[gbasden]

I wish that every NK citizen could be removed from NK for 1 year, given food and entertainment and see what the world is outside their view. Then after a year offer them the chance to stay.

I'm sure there are many people around the world who would say the same thing about Americans.

Oh dear fucking god yes. If more Americans travelled and experienced other cultures, it would have to reduce xenophobia and expand their world view.

[hitbyambulance]

https://koryogroup.com/ does group tours to North Korea, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Mongolia and some seriously remote areas of Russia. (the author of the article went with them.) i have to admit i am interested.

[Daehawk]

Just watched Independence Day for the bajillionth time. If its on tv and we come across it we HAVE to watch it. It was on last night and we could not stay awake.....so we recorded it and watched it today

I myself cannot pass up Wing Commander. I need a shrink.

[Kasey Chang]

The legend of the blond blue-eyed slave: did a crashed WWII transport crew over "the Hump" got enslaved by natives, got taken away by the Communist government, and died in a strange land decades later?

http://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg ... story.html

[Daehawk]

I weigh 190 lbs. Nothing news worthy but Im happy. I haven't tried to lose weight but Ive lost a little bit at a time over the last 7 years. As a 17 year old I was at my peak health wise at 186 lbs and all muscle. Not a bit of fat other than normal stuff. I started getting sick from smoking and got down to 141 lbs. At 6 foot tall I looked like a scarecrow. Then when I got my PC in 1994 I started sitting here at it and stopped all exorcise. My back also got much worse so all i can do is sit. With no way to move a lot and eating what I want I got up to 214 lbs. I still just sit and still eat what I want but I am slowly losing weight. I eat pizza, cheeseburgers, you name it and all I want . All that muscle went to all fat. I dont look fat. Im normal proportioned. In fact I look like I go to the gym. So all in all I guess Im ok with my weight. 190 lbs is ok. Easier on my back and body.

I can wear clothes I could wear years and years ago. All my newer stuff is so baggy. Comfortable but ugly. Been trying to catch some pants / jeans in the thrift stores but no luck yet. Where I used to wear XL shirts I now use just L. Im kinda proud that when I order a shirt I dont order the typical gamer size any longer . I use my old shirts now for sleeping in and tooling around the home in...since thats all I do really.

So 190 lbs of shitty health but looking good doing it. Im a little curious as to why I lose weight and how long that will go on but for now Im ok.

[Paingod]

I weigh 190 lbs. ... I still just sit and still eat what I want but I am slowly losing weight. I eat pizza, cheeseburgers, you name it and all I want . All that muscle went to all fat.

Someday your tapeworm is going to die and you'll be in trouble.

I sat and ate whatever I wanted and crawled up to peak at 295lbs at 6'1" about 15 years ago. I'm fighting back down and am at 239 right now.

[stessier]

Where I used to wear XL shirts I now use just L.

I hate to break it to you, but that has nothing to do with you and everything to do with vanity sizing. Today's L is yesteryears XL.

[LordMortis]

Where I used to wear XL shirts I now use just L.

I hate to break it to you, but that has nothing to do with you and everything to do with vanity sizing. Today's L is yesteryears XL.

What are you trying to say about my 2XLT shirts?

[Zarathud]

We're not actually Tall. Just Biggie Sized.

[Rip]

[Biyobi]

Where I used to wear XL shirts I now use just L.

I hate to break it to you, but that has nothing to do with you and everything to do with vanity sizing. Today's L is yesteryears XL.

Heh. My aunt and uncle in Germany occasionally send me shirts and sweaters (I live in SoCal, enough with the sweaters already!) and they know I wear an "XL". The XLs they send are a wee bit snug.

[Bakhtosh]

Just watched Independence Day for the bajillionth time. If its on tv and we come across it we HAVE to watch it. It was on last night and we could not stay awake.....so we recorded it and watched it today

I myself cannot pass up Wing Commander. I need a shrink.

I had to watch The 13th Warrior. Love that movie.

[AWS260]

The Girls Scouts are not happy with the Boy Scouts.

I am writing on behalf of the Executive Committee of the National Board of Girl Scouts of the USA as a follow-up to our call of August 16 regarding the Boy Scouts of America’s covert campaign to recruit girls into programs run by the Boy Scouts.

Best sentence:

We are confused as to why, rather than working to appeal to the 90 percent of boys who are not involved in BSA programs, you would choose to target girls.

[Smutly]

The Girls Scouts are not happy with the Boy Scouts.

The Boy Scouts already has a co-ed program called Venturing which (roughly) covers ages 14 through 20. Presumably the new program (and this is just me guessing) would somehow involve girls younger than the above. Honestly, while my daughter does enjoy some of the Girl Scout meeting content (crafts), she has already seen Cub/Boy Scouts and would rather be tent camping several times a year instead of "dorm room" camping once or twice a year. While I'm sure both programs have their merits, wouldn't it be wonderful if young girls had more options to join whatever program worked best for them?

Locally, I was turned off by the Girl Scout leaders who essentially said that men weren't welcome. I know this is inconsistent with their national policy, but it's there nonetheless. Maybe their attitude (politics?) will change if the Boy Scouts offer a competing program.

TL;DR: Girl Scouts can get bent.

[Max Peck]

After firefighters saved some piglets from a blaze, a farmer promised them a thank-you gift

Way back in February, a band of English firefighters rescued 18 baby pigs and two sows from a burning barn. If Charlotte had been around, she'd probably have woven “Some Firefighter!” into her web.

She wasn't, but grateful farm manager Rachel Rivers promised she'd soon send along a little thank you gift.

Just about six months later, she followed through, offering up a collection of sausages made from the meat of the very pigs the firefighters had saved. The grateful public servants of the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service celebrated with a barbecue.

“Exactly six months and one day since firefighters rescued 18 piglets from a fire, we got to sample the fruits of our labors from that February night,” the crew wrote in a Facebook post. “Huge thank you to Rachel Rivers for dropping them off for us to sample.”

I'm conflicted as to whether this is a feel-good story, or an ironic feel-good story.

[Daehawk]

That would be horrible! Id eat them but not feel good about it.

[Default]

The Girls Scouts are not happy with the Boy Scouts.

I am writing on behalf of the Executive Committee of the National Board of Girl Scouts of the USA as a follow-up to our call of August 16 regarding the Boy Scouts of America’s covert campaign to recruit girls into programs run by the Boy Scouts.

Best sentence:

We are confused as to why, rather than working to appeal to the 90 percent of boys who are not involved in BSA programs, you would choose to target girls.

There are girls that want to participate with their brothers, at least from my non-scientific, anecdotal experiences. Also, the BSA has >50% female leadership, so that has something to do with it.

[Daehawk]

You'd think in the 21st century that we could simply have The Scouts and have everyone under 18 welcomed.

[Kraken]

I would think that in the 21st century we'd make drones do our scouting.

[Daehawk]

Drones you say?

[stessier]

The winning Powerball ticket was sold in my home town (not in Watertown as originally reported). Kinda cool.

[coopasonic]

The winning Powerball ticket was sold in my home town (not in Watertown as originally reported). Kinda cool.

My wife texted me a couple weeks back to ask if I had bought a lottery ticket at the Kroger near our house.

Yeah, like I would tell her!

[Skinypupy]

I binge watched "Ballers" on HBO Go this week. It's a surprisingly fun (if mindless) show, but I'm a little surprised the NFL lets them do it. Especially after they threw the epic hissy fit when "Playmakers" was on (which is basically a PG-13 version of Ballers).

The show has also made me realize that I'll watch Dwayne Johnson in pretty much anything. Dude just oozes charisma. I'm even looking forward to the "Big Trouble in Little China" remake. If anyone can pull off Jack Burton, it's him.

[tjg_marantz]

Hella fun show

[Pyperkub]

I binge watched "Ballers" on HBO Go this week. It's a surprisingly fun (if mindless) show, but I'm a little surprised the NFL lets them do it. Especially after they threw the epic hissy fit when "Playmakers" was on (which is basically a PG-13 version of Ballers).

The show has also made me realize that I'll watch Dwayne Johnson in pretty much anything. Dude just oozes charisma. I'm even looking forward to the "Big Trouble in Little China" remake. If anyone can pull off Jack Burton, it's him.

playmakers was ESPN, right? Very different market, I'd think.

[Skinypupy]

I binge watched "Ballers" on HBO Go this week. It's a surprisingly fun (if mindless) show, but I'm a little surprised the NFL lets them do it. Especially after they threw the epic hissy fit when "Playmakers" was on (which is basically a PG-13 version of Ballers).

The show has also made me realize that I'll watch Dwayne Johnson in pretty much anything. Dude just oozes charisma. I'm even looking forward to the "Big Trouble in Little China" remake. If anyone can pull off Jack Burton, it's him.

playmakers was ESPN, right? Very different market, I'd think.

Yep. It was also back before ESPN was as entrenched with the NFL as they are now. Aired in 2003...can't believe it was 14 years ago.

An interesting article about why it got the axe.

[Pyperkub]

Eli 16.0 is now driving. wow. Congrats to Eli, and Bill Harris as well!

[wonderpug]

Eli 16.0 is now driving. wow. Congrats to Eli, and Bill Harris as well!

It's such a weird thing to have watched that kid grow up in blog format. I seems like yesterday he was a toddler thrusting his fork in the air at the dining table shouting "fantastic!"

[Scuzz]

Where I used to wear XL shirts I now use just L.

I hate to break it to you, but that has nothing to do with you and everything to do with vanity sizing. Today's L is yesteryears XL.

A lot depends on the manufacturer, especially with pullover shirts. I have worked a golf tourney for 25 years and we get a shirt or windbreaker most years, a nice piece of clothing. It seems like the sizing on them changes every few years. I have worn everything from XL's to Med's.

[Daehawk]

Have to watch where I order from. If it comes from Asia then I have to order a XL or XXL. They run really small.

[Sectoid]

Asiago is just the best.