Comprehensive site on Thanksgiving!
http://www.history.com/minisites/thanksgiving
Cherry Tomato Tart with Burnt Scallion Ricotta
2 weeks ago
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Life Images Online
Google has just announced that the humongous Life magazine photo archive -- containing more than 10 million photos, some even dating back to the 1750s -- will be available through Google's "Image Search" feature online. Most of the photos in the collection were never published in the magazine and only exist as negatives, slides, and etchings. About 1/5 of the collection is already online and the rest is expected to be available within the next few months.
Life, begun in 1883, ceased publication in 2006. Thanks to Google, one can access the entire database of photos and purchase framed prints. Browse here: http://images.google.com/hosted/life.
Life, begun in 1883, ceased publication in 2006. Thanks to Google, one can access the entire database of photos and purchase framed prints. Browse here: http://images.google.com/hosted/life.
Monday, November 17, 2008
To Be Or Not To Be
On Saturday I attended an open-captioned performance of To Be Or Not To Be at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Broadway at 47th St. The play is based on the 1942 film (same title) directed by Ernst Lubitsch, which I saw a few years ago. It's set in Poland just before the Nazis' invasion in 1939, and then during their occupation. To Be Or Not To Be is about a troupe of actors at the Polski Theatre who get entangled in the middle of a Gestapo investigation and must use their wits and acting chops to survive. (The title comes from the famous line in Hamlet, and there are several reasons for its significance, but I don't have room to write about that here.)
The play stars David Rasche as leading man Josef Tura (I recognized Rasche from the film Delirious), in the role Jack Benny filled back in 1942. The show is running through the 23rd of November, so if you have a chance to go before it ends, you should! I enjoyed how the play closely follows the film's plot. While the movie felt a little long, the play is just the right length and doesn't include any extraneous scenes or characters. All of the actors did a fine job, and it was a real treat to see them perform live on stage.
The film/play is billed as a comedy, but after watching the movie I remember thinking its genre should have been labeled comedy-drama. What comedy was present in the film was basically overshadowed by the dark undertones (the seriousness and suffering associated with the war) most of the time. However, oddly enough, the play managed to strike me as a little less intense and more of a comedy than the movie. I mean that as a compliment, not insult, to the director and the actors in the play. There's less melodrama and, while still serious in the right places, the actors brought a more light-hearted spirit to their roles -- perhaps in part because (in real life) their lives are so removed from the time period in which the play occurs. The original actors, on the other hand, obviously made this film while WWII was still going on.
In both the film and the play, the humor lies in the sheer audacity of the characters' plots (such as impersonating Nazi officers while interacting with Nazis inside their headquarters), not to mention their successes, and in the giant egos of some of the stars. The characters' rambunctious actions are in some ways more humorous in the play compared to the film because of the more light-hearted climate in the play that I mentioned earlier. In the film, it's more evident that a pervasive evil lurks outside their little theatre, and so when the actors outwit Nazis, it's quite unbelievable and funny. But one can never shake off that dark atmosphere in the movie.
On the other hand, the play's mood is less of fighting for their lives and more of seeing how much they can get away with. That outside evil they must contend with is somewhat diminished in the play, and the actors play up the humor inherent to their characters. In doing so, it becomes startlingly evident in the play (more so than in the film) how ludicrous their plots are, and it's more funny as a result. As the play crescendos, it is more and more expected that the actors throw themselves into doing the unthinkable because of what they've gotten away with in prior scenes. In some scenes, judging from the way they sacrifice themselves and act so boldly, it almost as if they don't realize the enormous implications of their actions. But that's the trick of the actor. At the end of the play, they've convinced the audience that their actions are really not that ridiculous after all -- they are actors having embraced their greatest role yet, to fool the Nazis.
The open-captioned show was courtesy of TAP, a part of Theater Development Fund -- the organization that runs the TKTS booth for discounted Broadway and off-Broadway shows in Times Square. It's a nonprofit devoted to improving access to theater for disabled people, including those with hearing and vision problems. They usually provide captioning for a handful of the shows on Broadway during each season, but for only one performance of each particular show. The real-time captioning is visible on a small board that is erected above the stage on one side of the auditorium.
I've been fortunate to attend at least half a dozen or so OC shows through TAP over the past few years, including Mary Poppins, The 39 Steps, Little Mermaid, Light in the Piazza, and HAIR. The captioning typically follows along with the pace of the speech onstage, and while it's not easy, I've gotten used to quickly scanning the captioning board and also watching the action onstage. It is sort of like watching captioned TV, and it makes the theater experience 100 times more enjoyable. Until it becomes a government mandate that all theaters offer this type of captioning -- or captioning in the form of hand-held devices, which you can find at Wicked and Hairspray -- this nonprofit provides the only captioning access to NY theater. You can find out more about the organization here: http://www.tdf.org/TDF_ServicePage.aspx?id=71.
The play stars David Rasche as leading man Josef Tura (I recognized Rasche from the film Delirious), in the role Jack Benny filled back in 1942. The show is running through the 23rd of November, so if you have a chance to go before it ends, you should! I enjoyed how the play closely follows the film's plot. While the movie felt a little long, the play is just the right length and doesn't include any extraneous scenes or characters. All of the actors did a fine job, and it was a real treat to see them perform live on stage.
The film/play is billed as a comedy, but after watching the movie I remember thinking its genre should have been labeled comedy-drama. What comedy was present in the film was basically overshadowed by the dark undertones (the seriousness and suffering associated with the war) most of the time. However, oddly enough, the play managed to strike me as a little less intense and more of a comedy than the movie. I mean that as a compliment, not insult, to the director and the actors in the play. There's less melodrama and, while still serious in the right places, the actors brought a more light-hearted spirit to their roles -- perhaps in part because (in real life) their lives are so removed from the time period in which the play occurs. The original actors, on the other hand, obviously made this film while WWII was still going on.
In both the film and the play, the humor lies in the sheer audacity of the characters' plots (such as impersonating Nazi officers while interacting with Nazis inside their headquarters), not to mention their successes, and in the giant egos of some of the stars. The characters' rambunctious actions are in some ways more humorous in the play compared to the film because of the more light-hearted climate in the play that I mentioned earlier. In the film, it's more evident that a pervasive evil lurks outside their little theatre, and so when the actors outwit Nazis, it's quite unbelievable and funny. But one can never shake off that dark atmosphere in the movie.
On the other hand, the play's mood is less of fighting for their lives and more of seeing how much they can get away with. That outside evil they must contend with is somewhat diminished in the play, and the actors play up the humor inherent to their characters. In doing so, it becomes startlingly evident in the play (more so than in the film) how ludicrous their plots are, and it's more funny as a result. As the play crescendos, it is more and more expected that the actors throw themselves into doing the unthinkable because of what they've gotten away with in prior scenes. In some scenes, judging from the way they sacrifice themselves and act so boldly, it almost as if they don't realize the enormous implications of their actions. But that's the trick of the actor. At the end of the play, they've convinced the audience that their actions are really not that ridiculous after all -- they are actors having embraced their greatest role yet, to fool the Nazis.
The open-captioned show was courtesy of TAP, a part of Theater Development Fund -- the organization that runs the TKTS booth for discounted Broadway and off-Broadway shows in Times Square. It's a nonprofit devoted to improving access to theater for disabled people, including those with hearing and vision problems. They usually provide captioning for a handful of the shows on Broadway during each season, but for only one performance of each particular show. The real-time captioning is visible on a small board that is erected above the stage on one side of the auditorium.
I've been fortunate to attend at least half a dozen or so OC shows through TAP over the past few years, including Mary Poppins, The 39 Steps, Little Mermaid, Light in the Piazza, and HAIR. The captioning typically follows along with the pace of the speech onstage, and while it's not easy, I've gotten used to quickly scanning the captioning board and also watching the action onstage. It is sort of like watching captioned TV, and it makes the theater experience 100 times more enjoyable. Until it becomes a government mandate that all theaters offer this type of captioning -- or captioning in the form of hand-held devices, which you can find at Wicked and Hairspray -- this nonprofit provides the only captioning access to NY theater. You can find out more about the organization here: http://www.tdf.org/TDF_ServicePage.aspx?id=71.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Oh, for the love of Barbie!
According to various online news sources, Katie Holmes is not looking forward to returning to LA once she finishes her Broadway show All My Sons , because New York apparently has the best cafes and parks...and the kicker: because she doesn't have to go to "as many Scientology events" as when she's in L.A. This was too funny not to post.
In other news you could live without but enjoy nonetheless, Barbie turns 50 next year. In an effort to market Barbie as a fashion brand, Mattel will become a sponsor of New York Fashion Week (starting Feb. 2009) and is also partnering with Bloomingdale's, Vera Wang, and IMG.
At the fashion week, there will be a life-size Barbie runway show -- 50 designers will produce life-size outfits inspired by the iconic doll. (Zac Posen apparently already designed a dress, but for the doll to wear.)
It's really not that unexpected of a move, since Barbie is often girls' first association with fashion (dressing up and trying on clothes). While at most it should just leave people in stitches, the move is actually frustrating some people who don't want to see a Barbie clothing line (and stores for that Barbie clothing line) in the future. But such a line exists in Asia: Barbie Couture. More than 25 stores for Barbie clothes are established over there. So what's the problem, because when has designer clothing not been coveted by females? Apparently these opponents just don't want to answer "Barbie" when asked, "Who are you wearing?" Maybe they're afraid it will make them sound 6 years old?
Mattel also plans to create a makeup line and skin-care treatments. Again, it's hard to believe Mattel hasn't done such a thing before now in the U.S., or why anyone is taking any offense at this move. New York magazine asks, "Is this what women want to look like these days? As though they were made in a factory?" Umm, yeah, that's why a treatment called Botox and plastic surgery are so big. It's uncommon for a woman to want to "look her age" -- hence the billion-dollar industries of fashion and skin care and plastic surgery, et al.
Christian Devotionals
Here is a list of daily devotionals I really like. You can subscribe to them online:
http://www.adevotion.org/
http://www.christnotes.org/
http://christianity.com/newsletters/
http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/en-US/FreeTools/devotional/archivedDevos/DevoArchive.htm
Here is a daily devotional I really enjoy in book form: God Calling: A Devotional Diary. Edited by A.J. Russell.
Fence-sitters
No, not the politicians. I'm talking about words this time. Here are some words, courtesy of Wordsmith.org, known as fence-sitters (or self-antonyms, contranyms, janus words) because they can mean one thing or its opposite. Words with dual personalities include:
Sanction (approve and disapprove); oversight (watchful care and error or omission); tabled (brought forward for discussion and being laid aside); and cleave (split or divide and stick or cling).
Thankfully the context usually provides a clue as to which of the contradictory senses is appropriate in that situation.
Gobbling and Trotting
I've been gradually falling out of shape this year, so my new resolution for the remaining few months of 2008 is to remedy that by running on the weekends. I'm also determined to complete in at least two 5Ks by January 1. I haven't officially run a 5K (3.1 miles) race since junior high school, but at least I've run that distance (and longer) often, albeit leisurely, on my own since then.
Here's the perfect chance to run 3.1 miles during the upcoming holidays: the "Turkey Trot," so-called because it occurs (in many cities around the country) on Thanksgiving Day. You can find a race close to you by clicking here. In Melbourne, FL, there's one happening in Suntree; link here: http://www.suntreeturkeytrot.org.Some Turkey Trots actually involve the runner strapping on a backpack that contains a turkey, a heavy, awkward burden that must greatly reduce his/her running speed (reducing a run to a 'trot'). One of my friends participated in such a race last year with a team, whereby they shared the responsibility of carrying the turkey; her revenge on the annoying but unsuspecting turkey was cooking and eating it later that evening.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Mind Origins
During the past few weeks I worked on my first feature for Neurology Now magazine. I have done shorter articles and reviews for the magazine in the past, but this is my first longer feature. (I write both long and brief articles for Neurology Today frequently, but that publication goes to the physicians and Neurology Now is for the patients.)
I relished the change/challenge for several reasons, including the longer article length and the target audience specifications. Of course, the tone I use when writing for the two different audiences differs, and I find that I'm naturally stronger at writing with the tone/style appropriate for patients. But the primary reason I enjoyed writing this feature so much was because of the fascinating subject: psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES).
Ok, ok, some people may not find it very interesting. But I guarantee you patients with PNES and physicians do. And don't dismiss the topic before learning at least a little about it...which is why below, I'm presenting a brief summary of my article. Then, if you're so inclined, you can read the entire article that I am posting to the right under Neurology Now.
Epilepsy is diagnosed after someone has at least two seizures. While there are many types of seizures, basically they are all caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain. But PNES are not caused by these discharges. Instead, they have a psychological origin, usually caused by subconscious, traumatic stressors like sexual/physical abuse or death of a loved one. Their outward symptoms, however, resemble epileptic seizures.
Because it's not epilepsy, this disorder won't respond to typical epilepsy treatment. One of the obstacles patients face is simply getting diagnosed correctly, though; many patients are diagnosed with refractory epilepsy (a type that is uncontrolled by medicine), and it can take over 7 years for the correct diagnosis. But even then, many patients are at least initially resistant to the diagnosis because they can't accept that the problem is psychological rather than physical.
Treatment primarily includes forms of psychotherapy, and some patients do find that their seizures disappear. Yet there's still much unknown about the disorder, and there is currently ongoing research to determine ideal treatments.
I wish I could have written more in the article, but there is a word limit! I'll be eager to follow the research completed in this area. And this topic has also gotten me interested in other types of psychogenic disorders.
As it will be a while until the article is published and made available online, I'm attaching an uploaded Word document of the article to the right under the Neurology Now column. When the magazine Web site eventually uploads the article, I'll add that link.
I relished the change/challenge for several reasons, including the longer article length and the target audience specifications. Of course, the tone I use when writing for the two different audiences differs, and I find that I'm naturally stronger at writing with the tone/style appropriate for patients. But the primary reason I enjoyed writing this feature so much was because of the fascinating subject: psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES).
Ok, ok, some people may not find it very interesting. But I guarantee you patients with PNES and physicians do. And don't dismiss the topic before learning at least a little about it...which is why below, I'm presenting a brief summary of my article. Then, if you're so inclined, you can read the entire article that I am posting to the right under Neurology Now.
Epilepsy is diagnosed after someone has at least two seizures. While there are many types of seizures, basically they are all caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain. But PNES are not caused by these discharges. Instead, they have a psychological origin, usually caused by subconscious, traumatic stressors like sexual/physical abuse or death of a loved one. Their outward symptoms, however, resemble epileptic seizures.
Because it's not epilepsy, this disorder won't respond to typical epilepsy treatment. One of the obstacles patients face is simply getting diagnosed correctly, though; many patients are diagnosed with refractory epilepsy (a type that is uncontrolled by medicine), and it can take over 7 years for the correct diagnosis. But even then, many patients are at least initially resistant to the diagnosis because they can't accept that the problem is psychological rather than physical.
Treatment primarily includes forms of psychotherapy, and some patients do find that their seizures disappear. Yet there's still much unknown about the disorder, and there is currently ongoing research to determine ideal treatments.
I wish I could have written more in the article, but there is a word limit! I'll be eager to follow the research completed in this area. And this topic has also gotten me interested in other types of psychogenic disorders.
As it will be a while until the article is published and made available online, I'm attaching an uploaded Word document of the article to the right under the Neurology Now column. When the magazine Web site eventually uploads the article, I'll add that link.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Stunning and Strange Architecture
Great pictures of very odd-looking buildings throughout the world. One of my favorites on this list is the Kansas City Public Library -- the facade resembles, aptly, a stack of books. More libraries should follow suit!
I've driven past the upside-down building in Orlando many times, but never set foot inside. If not something related to baskets, I wonder what kind of business goes on in the Basket Building in Ohio?
I also really like the Crooked House in Poland (looks like something out of Alice's "Wonderland" or "Looking-Glass" world) and the beautiful Ideal Palace in France.
James Bond Travel Sites
In time for the new James Bond movie premiering tomorrow, here are some travel sites compiled by Budget Travel Online associated with Bond's adventures.
http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2008/05/15/AR2008051502899.html?wpisrc=newsletter
http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2008/05/15/AR2008051502899.html?wpisrc=newsletter
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
BallotPedia
I just discovered BallotPedia.org: a comprehensive site, from those Wikipedia people, devoted to legislation. Here is the link for the recent ballot measures (both the ones that passed and didn't) in the 2008 election:
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/2008_ballot_measure_election_results
While some are boring and mundane, some are kind of interesting (Massachusetts is eliminating greyhound racing for money by 2010) and some are news-breaking (like the ones prohibiting same-sex marriage in three states, especially notable in CA since that state just said it was legal months ago and now it's not, prompting many to protest).
The ones in the latter category include Michigan's decision to allow the medical use of marijuana for seriously ill patients (it's the 13th state to legalize it). Before he was ousted, Gov. Spitzer said he wanted it legalized for medical purposes in NY (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/14/nyregion/14pot.html) but it has not happened so far.
Another medical-related and newsworthy measure passed is also in Michigan, called the Stem Cell Initiative. It allows researchers to use embryos from fertility clinics that would otherwise be discarded for stem cell research, and also allows government funding of stem cell research. The idea is to use these stem cells to eventually cure such illnesses as Type 1 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, spinal cord injury, and ALS. Some opponents believe it allow unregulated and unrestricted experimentation on human embryos, and some opponents support stem cells taken from adults or umbilical cords but oppose the destruction of embryos.
And lastly, another measure that was passed, this time in Washington, is known as the Assisted Suicide initiative because it allows mentally competent but terminally ill adults -- with less than 6 months to live -- the right to request and then self-administer a lethal overdose of medicine. It is the second state to make this legal (Oregon has a similar law). It prohibits euthanasia, which is different from assisted suicide. If someone other than the patient performs the last act that intentionally causes a patient's death, euthanasia has occurred (e.g., giving a lethal injection). If the patient who dies performs the last act that causes death, like swallowing the overdose of drugs that was provided by a doctor for causing death, then assisted suicide occurred.
On a different note, here's another site from those clever Wikipedia people called JudgePedia.org, about judges and courts. I think it may be useful when I'm writing legal articles, at least as background information.
http://judgepedia.org/index.php/Main_Page
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/2008_ballot_measure_election_results
While some are boring and mundane, some are kind of interesting (Massachusetts is eliminating greyhound racing for money by 2010) and some are news-breaking (like the ones prohibiting same-sex marriage in three states, especially notable in CA since that state just said it was legal months ago and now it's not, prompting many to protest).
The ones in the latter category include Michigan's decision to allow the medical use of marijuana for seriously ill patients (it's the 13th state to legalize it). Before he was ousted, Gov. Spitzer said he wanted it legalized for medical purposes in NY (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/14/nyregion/14pot.html) but it has not happened so far.
Another medical-related and newsworthy measure passed is also in Michigan, called the Stem Cell Initiative. It allows researchers to use embryos from fertility clinics that would otherwise be discarded for stem cell research, and also allows government funding of stem cell research. The idea is to use these stem cells to eventually cure such illnesses as Type 1 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, spinal cord injury, and ALS. Some opponents believe it allow unregulated and unrestricted experimentation on human embryos, and some opponents support stem cells taken from adults or umbilical cords but oppose the destruction of embryos.
And lastly, another measure that was passed, this time in Washington, is known as the Assisted Suicide initiative because it allows mentally competent but terminally ill adults -- with less than 6 months to live -- the right to request and then self-administer a lethal overdose of medicine. It is the second state to make this legal (Oregon has a similar law). It prohibits euthanasia, which is different from assisted suicide. If someone other than the patient performs the last act that intentionally causes a patient's death, euthanasia has occurred (e.g., giving a lethal injection). If the patient who dies performs the last act that causes death, like swallowing the overdose of drugs that was provided by a doctor for causing death, then assisted suicide occurred.
On a different note, here's another site from those clever Wikipedia people called JudgePedia.org, about judges and courts. I think it may be useful when I'm writing legal articles, at least as background information.
http://judgepedia.org/index.php/Main_Page
Rollercoaster? Not really!
A pedal-powered rollercoaster, called Skycycle, exists at Washuzan Highland Park in Okayama. Click here for some photos of the odd "ride." Look at how unsafely one is buckled into the "vehicle." But it really isn't a true rollercoaster if you have to actually do more than scream.
For starters, having to pedal the rollercoaster like a bike detracts from the "fun" of the ride -- it's more like just exercising on hills. Sure, the curvy descent parts would be fun if you didn't have to pedal while descending, but who wants to pedal furiously UP the track?
And what about the speed maniac behind you or the slowpoke in front of you? Does it become a version of bumper cars?
Maybe it's not the worst ride ever, but it certainly ranks up there.
For more confusion, go here for the Japanese Web site touting Skycycle. It's "translated" into English.
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fdrkssk2.fc2web.com%2Fwashuzan%2Fskycycle%2Fcycle.html
Example sentence from site: "The first arrived here in his eyes, and voluntarily "go back muscles are cold," wholeheartedly see sense."
Did you understand that? No? I thought not. And I wholeheartedly agree.
For starters, having to pedal the rollercoaster like a bike detracts from the "fun" of the ride -- it's more like just exercising on hills. Sure, the curvy descent parts would be fun if you didn't have to pedal while descending, but who wants to pedal furiously UP the track?
And what about the speed maniac behind you or the slowpoke in front of you? Does it become a version of bumper cars?
Maybe it's not the worst ride ever, but it certainly ranks up there.
For more confusion, go here for the Japanese Web site touting Skycycle. It's "translated" into English.
http://translate.google.com/
Example sentence from site: "The first arrived here in his eyes, and voluntarily "go back muscles are cold," wholeheartedly see sense."
Did you understand that? No? I thought not. And I wholeheartedly agree.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Irritating Expressions
University of Oxford researchers maintain a database called the Oxford University Corpus, the world's largest language databank containing more than two billion words. Taking a cue from Letterman, recently they composed a Top 10 Most Irritating Expressions in the English language regarding overused and misused words/phrases.
I'm glad they included:
Fairly unique
At this moment in time
Shouldn't of
It's not rocket science
What should have been included: "irregardless" (mangled), "few and far between," "various and sundry," "going green," "free with admission," "now or never," "no question about it," and "____ is the new ____" (overused).
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Updated/Remade Classics
(To the original authors' horror?)
Here are some upcoming films that are based on classic books, oldies but goodies:
Gulliver's Travels
Several on Sherlock Holmes: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117988387.html?categoryid=13&cs=1
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7646463.stm
Here are some upcoming films that are based on classic books, oldies but goodies:
Gulliver's Travels
Several on Sherlock Holmes: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117988387.html?categoryid=13&cs=1
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7646463.stm
Criminal Minds
http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2008/05/26/AR2008052601374.html?wpisrc=newsletter
When in London, watch out for the minicabs. When in Philadelphia, remove your car's GPS after parking. Beware of 'friendly' huggers in Barcelona and pesky betters in New Orleans. What about New York? Surprisingly not listed, so just watch out for everything to be safe.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
Drive-Thru in the Sky
Flying cars: yes, please!
Picture a sort of world where for transportation, people walk and bike on land (and swim in water), but utilize flying cars in the air at one range of elevation (say, between 1,000 and 1,500 feet) and fly in jet planes in the air at another range of elevation (35,000 feet, the approximate average for airplanes today). No more roads on earth clogged by heavy traffic. Less pollution. More conservation of natural resources. More people exercising in the great outdoors.
But even if this flying car were to become more than a one-hit wonder once it premieres in two years or so, and manages to catch on with the general public and not just eccentrics and millionaires (for starters, after lowering its absurd price) -- there are a great deal of logistics to work out to ensure the feasibility and safety before it can oust regular automobiles as the primary mode of transport.
Just for fun, here are some questions: Will only those who passed a combination driver's education/pilot's training program be allowed to legally operate these vehicles? In terms of who is actually maneuvering these vehicles--will they be automated and as hands-free as a Disney ride, or require a pilot to navigate the skies and judge the proximity to other vehicles? In the latter's case particularly, I would hope the training is intense, given how even more dangerous driving a car aloft in the air is compared to driving it on the road. Even with auto-pilot, suppose something went wrong; you'd need to know what to do. And either way (auto-pilot or manual drive), what about safety policies inside the vehicle like the mandate of seat belts? Also, there should be annual renewal courses for holding a license to drive/fly.
One major impetus, in my opinion, behind flying cars is reducing road traffic and traffic snarls; you'd think that with so much open and 'empty' space up there this concern would fly out the window. But still, are we going to have numerous pilot-police squads patrolling the skies, on alert for those "changing lanes" without the proper signals, zig-zagging too much and too closely to other vehicles, accelerating too quickly, attempting to compete with the planes and fly at a higher and illegal elevation...?
(After all, the point isn't to train fighter jet pilots and military servicemen, but to teach regular citizens attempting to reach a suburban destination in peace.)
There would need to be a computerized regulation system built into all cars' operational systems, which automatically coordinates with and adjusts for other vehicles regarding places and times for take-off and touch-down (so that vehicles aren't crashing into one another).
And what about birds, by the way? With cars taking off and zooming up into the air en masse, it may disturb their natural habits (and habitats). Not to mention the much more hefty airplanes--the computerized regulation system inherent to each car would need to take into account not only the other flying cars around the car but the large planes above it.
Such fanciful concepts are appealing. But of course this only scratches the surface. Who knows where we'll be even 15 years from now?
Picture a sort of world where for transportation, people walk and bike on land (and swim in water), but utilize flying cars in the air at one range of elevation (say, between 1,000 and 1,500 feet) and fly in jet planes in the air at another range of elevation (35,000 feet, the approximate average for airplanes today). No more roads on earth clogged by heavy traffic. Less pollution. More conservation of natural resources. More people exercising in the great outdoors.
But even if this flying car were to become more than a one-hit wonder once it premieres in two years or so, and manages to catch on with the general public and not just eccentrics and millionaires (for starters, after lowering its absurd price) -- there are a great deal of logistics to work out to ensure the feasibility and safety before it can oust regular automobiles as the primary mode of transport.
Just for fun, here are some questions: Will only those who passed a combination driver's education/pilot's training program be allowed to legally operate these vehicles? In terms of who is actually maneuvering these vehicles--will they be automated and as hands-free as a Disney ride, or require a pilot to navigate the skies and judge the proximity to other vehicles? In the latter's case particularly, I would hope the training is intense, given how even more dangerous driving a car aloft in the air is compared to driving it on the road. Even with auto-pilot, suppose something went wrong; you'd need to know what to do. And either way (auto-pilot or manual drive), what about safety policies inside the vehicle like the mandate of seat belts? Also, there should be annual renewal courses for holding a license to drive/fly.
One major impetus, in my opinion, behind flying cars is reducing road traffic and traffic snarls; you'd think that with so much open and 'empty' space up there this concern would fly out the window. But still, are we going to have numerous pilot-police squads patrolling the skies, on alert for those "changing lanes" without the proper signals, zig-zagging too much and too closely to other vehicles, accelerating too quickly, attempting to compete with the planes and fly at a higher and illegal elevation...?
(After all, the point isn't to train fighter jet pilots and military servicemen, but to teach regular citizens attempting to reach a suburban destination in peace.)
There would need to be a computerized regulation system built into all cars' operational systems, which automatically coordinates with and adjusts for other vehicles regarding places and times for take-off and touch-down (so that vehicles aren't crashing into one another).
And what about birds, by the way? With cars taking off and zooming up into the air en masse, it may disturb their natural habits (and habitats). Not to mention the much more hefty airplanes--the computerized regulation system inherent to each car would need to take into account not only the other flying cars around the car but the large planes above it.
Such fanciful concepts are appealing. But of course this only scratches the surface. Who knows where we'll be even 15 years from now?
Bond, Baby Bond
James Bond and baby, too...I'm primarily posting this link so you can laugh at the photo accompanying the brief article!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
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