Talk It Up @ Now::Think::Now

What do you think are the Top 10 Speediest States?

Stephen Ciravolo — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 03:16:38 GMT

Being that i am probably the only person at CHS who went on vacation to Carmel, Indiana for spring break i have had a lot of time to do chores, chill and do other things. However, i came across this article about what the speediest states in the US. Before I read it i compiled a list of my own over which states had the most speeders or other traffic related citations. this whole survey/research was done via traffic citations mostly involving speeding. here is my list not based off of traffic citations.

10. North Dakota: Nothing there but highway, buffalo (if they still exist there), ranchers and the only 'major' city is Bismark, and the fact that the red river always floods so people are always in a rush to get out of there.

9. South Dakota: Same as N.D.

8. NYC/ NY state: home of the city that never sleeps and the place where traffic citations began, Nothing is going on in upstate NY so that means little populations.

7. Georgia: the Dukes of Hazard are from there and ATL is home to the hip-hop and R&B culture of 'dirty south' style cars.

6. D.C: The gov't is there and all those cute, cudly and warm agencies who drive big SUVs with 'authority'.

5. Florida: Spring break, hurricanes, Old people, what else can I say.

4. New Jersey: the sopranos, people always finding new ways to express their anger and disgust with how everyone else drives

3. Indiana: not to be hypercritical or anything, if the carmel police just sat on keystone and every roundabout exit off of it writing citations and tickets, they could pay the school budget, the ostentatious city center and the Keystone itself.

1. Texas: Everything is bigger in texas and someone with a Koenigsegg CC is attributed with being awarded the fastest ever speeding ticket, 242mph in Texas, during the Gumball 3000 rally race of 2003. The driver even talked his way out of a ticket (try doing that with any cop)! I tried to follow up on the rumor but since getting a 242 mph ticket is not something that Koenigsegg or the Gumball rally advertises on their websites, if you and I believe it then that's all that matters.

1. California: because of this person http://www.gtspirit.com/2009/07/10/worlds-fastest-speeding-ticket/ , Jay Leno and his car collection, Mullhulland drive

here is the article/findings http://www.driverside.com/auto-library/top_10_speediest_states-537 enjoy.

Ferris Bueler's Day Off

Stephen Ciravolo — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:34:07 GMT

If you had the oppurtunity to have a 'Ferris Bueler's Day Off' what kind of car would you drive around in and what would you see

By the way, if you want THE Ferrari 250GT Spyder California used in the movie, it is for sale. THIS IS NOT A JOKE! it will be put up for auction in the U.K. Start gathering your money to buy it, the auction is on April 19.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/7538543/Ferrari-replica-created-for-Ferris-Buellers-Day-Off-for-sale.html

Donald N. Frey, the designer of the Mustang dies at 86

Stephen Ciravolo — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:02:35 GMT

Like many people, I dream of owning a cool car one day. One of those cars is a Mustang. The mustang was a game changer in the fact that it was targeted at us Teenagers during a time when car companies built cars for adults. It was and still is one of the best cars ever made and it would never have happened had it not been for Donald N. Frey who designed the mustang. Yes Iaccoca was there but Mr. Frey is credited with coming up with the initial Mustang prototype. He died on March 5 because of a stroke.

here is a tribute article about him

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/29/us/29frey.html?ref=automobiles

Motorsports Tragedies lead to advances in safety

Stephen Ciravolo — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:57:53 GMT

It has been an exciting week for motorsports, while at the same time a remembrance of one the greats. Ayrton Senna. Senna is still talked about by many open wheel fans for being regarded as the best there ever was. He would have been 50 years old on March 21, 2010. He died in Imola, Italy. He never dominated F1, but he along with Alain Prost made F1 interesting. When Senna was gone and F1 moved into the Schumacher age, it lost that flare. Same thing with Dale Earnhardt Sr., he died almost a decade ago in 2001 in the final laps of the daytona 500. Dale was the people's driver, someone the common working class man could relate to. When he died to, so did the flare NASCAR had that atracted so many people to races. Both men came from nothing to become to polarizing figures of their respective motorsports. Tragically though, they are mostly remembered for their crashes. Senna losing control and going nose first into a barrier at 160+ mph and Dale crashing into the concrete wall at Daytona when Sterling Marlin fishtailed him at nearly 200mph. What did they both have in common besides crashing? Their necks were destroyed and caused the fatal blow. At the time impact when ever you crash or come to a hard stop our head always flies forward and put under intense strain. no matter what Dale or Senna could do. Because of their losses the automotive and racing world has realized a renewed sense of improving safety such as better chasis design and the Head and Neck restraint system or HANS device. Even though cars do no come with HANS, Cars today have better chasis and crash safety systems then they did only a couple of years ago. the results of improved safety regulations can be shown with a comparison of crashes. All of this technology has trickled down to cars you drive today (HANS is only for racing).

Senna's crash 1994 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRSBVgqVpq0

BMW F1 crash 2007 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZqBbLyp6oo&feature=related

Yes, in the second crash he survived and is alive today functioning perfectly. It's just sad that the world had to lose two great men in order to make the world we drive in safer. if you also want to know more about the HANS device, use wikipedia.

What safety features would you like to see in the future

Stephen Ciravolo — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:28:54 GMT

Seems like everyday, we hear about how the car is becoming more fuel efficient and more everything. One thing I never hear about that often are new safety features. It seems as if the auto industry has hit the wall on developing radical new safety features. That begs the question, if you were to design safety technologies for a car what would they be and how would it make the car safer. Here are some of my ideas.

- Have four point seat belts in every car instead of the common three point. a seat belt with more contact points means less stress on a person in a crash.

- Make cars deadzones for cell phone use with in the car. The only way a person would be able to make a car is through the car's integrated sat nav and display system.

- More rigorous driver's ed, more seat time in extreme and adverse conditions.

Is NASCAR legalized road rage?

Stephen Ciravolo — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:10:08 GMT

for many of you who have no interest in NASCAR, NASCAR has adopted a new policy of 'let the boys have at it'. so what have they gotten, more tv ratings, money... no. What they got was a massive crash that sort of defies the laws of physics. I am not a NASCAR fan, I would rather watch F1 or sports car racing yet they are able to control themselves unlike NASCAR. So after watching the crash, is NASCAR legalized road rage? or is it something else?

Pimp my tow truck

Stephen Ciravolo — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:58:55 GMT

In America we have tow trucks, in India they have this

http://jalopnik.com/5473656/one-horsepower-to-tow-them-all

I feel the need, the need for speed skiing

Stephen Ciravolo — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:43:08 GMT

Being that the winter olympics are going on. I find it appropriate to share some knowledge on how people used to train for the olympics. When many people think of training the first image that comes to mind is running and lifting wieghts. but what about using the roof of the car? If you don't believe me use this link. I am just happy texting wasn't invented yet.

http://jalopnik.com/5475725/before-wind-tunnels-this-is-how-they-practiced-speed-skiing

Re: Ford Recalls 2010 Mustang For Being Too Cool

Stephen Ciravolo — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:20:23 GMT

LOVE The Onion.

Taxi please... what the?

Stephen Ciravolo — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:36:29 GMT

If anyone has ever been to chicago, NYC or any other major city there are always taxis. Recently Ford has launched a Ford Transit van as a taxi cab with alternate fuel capablilty. yet, I can't ever see this happen because a taxi to me will and always be a crown vic or a sedan. Yet, if people buy into it, what can i do about it. the main article is here.

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/17/you-call-that-a-taxi/?ref=automobiles

Ford Recalls 2010 Mustang For Being Too Cool

Stephen Ciravolo — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:08:27 GMT

go to the link and read

http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/ford_recalls_2010_mustang

Favorite superbowl commercial

Stephen Ciravolo — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:45:15 GMT

Yes, yes, I know, the colts lost and Brett Favre decided to show up in a Peyton Manning costume at the end. At least, there was something worth watching, the commercials. They have been an institution of the great game. Some were hits, misses and the huh? ones. So what was your favorite? Mine was the Dodge 'Last Stand' one but it had one flaw. They advertised the wrong car, the charger will still exist but my beloved viper is going to be discontinued soon after the year is out. If dodge had put viper in it would have been the best, but at least the Charger had a V8.

Steve Wozniak

Stephen Ciravolo — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:18:53 GMT

Steve Wozniak if you don't know already was the co-founder of apple computers. He knows a lot about software. He owns a toyota prius and claims that the accelerator pedal is derived from a glitch in the software. I don't know much about software but when i hear that the co-founder of a major computer and software company says there is something wrong with someone's software, then you know that there is a problem. here is the link http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/apple-co-founder-my-prius-has-a-problem-too/

Re: What would you do with 1700 PS3's?

Stephen Ciravolo — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:05:50 GMT

It's still a LOT cheaper than buying "regular" supercomputers :) The PS3 is basically a personal supercomputer for $299 + tax :)

What would you do with 1700 PS3's?

Stephen Ciravolo — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:37:26 GMT

Recently the US Air force has purchased 1700-2000 PS3's with tax dollars so that they could build a supercomputer that will be attempting to simulate the way the human brain processes information and how it pulls off the remarkably difficult task of recognizing the content of images. Personally that sounds like the worst cover up in the world! Just use your imagination and you'll see what I mean. Anyways, the total cost assuming that each PS3 is the top model costing $300 each that is roughly $510,000-$600,000! to put that into perspective, you could buy roughly 3 Ferrari F430's or 12 fully loaded new BMW 3 series! So if you had the choice, what you do with PS3's? what you do if you kept them? Or sold them? info from http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/u-s-air-force-building-supercomputer-from-ps3s/1387199.

Re: The First Topic - Tobacco

Patrick McAlexander — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:56:40 GMT

If you are going to look at constitutionality, then ask yourself this: how can it be unconstitutional to ban tobacco when it is fine to ban drugs like marijuana and cocaine? It bothers me when people hide behind the Constitution and ignore the fact that this is a serious public health issue. Tobacco is definitely an American tradition and a major reason our economy succeeded for a while, but now we know the dangers, we know how much it hurts society, and there's no reason to keep it legal.

recalls

Stephen Ciravolo — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:54:44 GMT

with all these recalls going on. Would you buy a product from these car companies even after they had already fixed the problems with their products?

Drunk driving convo

Stephen Ciravolo — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:07:58 GMT

I'm not sure if every pilot school had this but at carmel the other day, we had a convo about druck driving and its impact on this one woman who was a all-american volleyball player in high school and lost her arm. she also said it was a real life changing event for her and it was very moving. for anyone who was at the convo what did you think of it?

Random names for cars, car technology etc.

Stephen Ciravolo — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 04:18:06 GMT

What are the most random names you have ever seen given to cars or car technologies? One I heard was a "Emotion control sensor" on some german car to get the car started.

Toyota Recalls

Stephen Ciravolo — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 21:02:44 GMT

with the recent recalls of toyota cars with defective gas pedals, I wonder is toyota going to suffer in the sales department or is it not going to effect the company at all?

Dangerous Driving conditions

Stephen Ciravolo — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 02:51:06 GMT

Seeing that almost all of Hamilton county except CARMEL had the day off due to ice, I have had a lot of time in class to wonder to myself why we were not cancelled and other schools were. It always came back to the ice, which made me think, is Ice the most dangerous driving condition a person can drive in? Personally I say yes, because ice can takeaway any modern safety feature like traction control, stability control and the average american is in a load of trouble. What do think is the most dangerous driving condition someone can drive in?

Troubled car makers

Stephen Ciravolo — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:29:19 GMT

If you were head of a troubled car maker, what would you do to turn it around like what is going on at GM and Chrysler? Personally, I would clean 'The House' and bring in new blood. Secondly, I would sell what the customer wants, not what I want them to buy. So on and so forth. But what would you do?

Re: The Physics of Seatbelts

Jacob Scherb — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 06:08:50 GMT

What's the real difference between 3+ point seat belts in a situation like a car crash, I know when ever I go Karting you have to wear at least a 4 point seatbelt and it lessens the effects of blows but by how much does it reduce the damage done to a human body?

Re: Someone passed out and unresponsive

Beth A. Gehlhausen — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 06:00:12 GMT

I would call someone to help. Better safe than be sorry.

What are your top ten cars?

Stephen Ciravolo — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 05:56:03 GMT

Cars are like an expression. they show many things in a person whether they like the dramatic or dull. personally I love cars with a passion because i have grown up in a car mad house so it is proper that I have a top ten cars I love. so here are my top ten.

10. Acura NSX: This car was truly a game changer in the fact that you did not have to pay zillions of dollars to get hyper performance and pay a hyper price for reliability

9. BMW 3 series/ M series: What a german car should be, solid, reliable, HANDLES and FEELS great.

8. Jeep Wrangler: One of the all time classic 4X4's

7. Corvette C-5, C-6: I do not like old vettes, i think that they are nothing more than good looking lead sleds, these though are not lead sleds, they are proper sport cars.

6. Honda accord: a good honest car that is indestructable

5. Ford Mustang: simple formula that works well, V8 + good looks + great sound + charisma= a Mustang

4. Volvo station wagon/sedan: One of the great innovaters in safety, easy drive

3. Mitsubishi Evo 9 MR: best looking of the Evo's, bends the laws of physics when ever driven hard

2. Mazda miata: small, simple, lightweight, fun to drive, CHEAP

1. Porsche 911: Because there is no substitute

Re: The First Topic - Tobacco

Patrick McAlexander — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:22:09 GMT

I agree with your thoughts, but before we take the step of making it illegal or not, you have to remember the constitutionality of one's choice to smoke or not. My thought is, as yours may as well be, that smoking should be a private and not a public matter... but it would be a better idea to think of more ways to get people involved with anti-tobacco sights (as promoted by this website). I would like to throw the idea out there of teaching the young children the atrocities of smoking for they are very naïve and impressionable. Just saying...

Re: Someone passed out and unresponsive

Beth A. Gehlhausen — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:28:36 GMT

This is a very scary situation. I was at a concert years ago where there was a lot of drinking and drug usage. One girl outside was very wobbly, so I kept an eye on her. Her friends were wasted, and hardly noticed. Maybe an hour later she was unresponsive, but her friends did nothing. They were too wasted. Yeah, they were worried, but were in no mental state to help. I called the police on my cell phone, and an ambulance took the girl away. To this today, I don't know who she was or whether she survived. This is one reason I like to be the DD (designated driver). It also goes to show that your actions can also affect others - if you can't help them, and they can't help themselves, who will?

The Physics of Seatbelts

Jacob Scherb — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:36:58 GMT

A force is an outside something that causes an object to accelerate. Common, everyday forces include car motors, friction, and gravity. Another, more abstract force is the force the earth applies to to our feet to balance gravity. A similar force is the force a car steering wheel, or hopefully the airbag and seatbelt, applies to ones chest. Forces are measured in Newtons, and a large number of Newtons causes a greater acceleration.

Forces are applied by a term called an "impulse." This impulse is a force applied over a certain time. In order for your body to stop moving from the speed you're driving, an impulse must be applied. An "Impulse is equal to Force x Time Force Applied." An impulse of 1000 could be comprised of 1000 Newtons and 1 second, or 500 Newtons and 2 seconds (1000x1=500x2=1000). If a seatbelt is worn, your body is brought to rest over a longer period of time, perhaps .01 seconds instead of .0001 seconds that just the airbag would have caused. Maybe this illustration will help:

Force x Seconds = Impulse

Force x Seconds = Impulse

The bold is supposed to signify large. The impulse of a large force and small seconds is the same as a small force and a lot of seconds. The small force is much more comfortable on your body. This is why you should always wear seatbelts!

Also, they're cool. Like this guy

Friends that get involved with drugs

Austin Rader — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:40:31 GMT

Ok, so I have a good friend that used to not do drugs at all. He was an extremely nice kid who was involved in sports, choir, and was doing well in school. Somehow, unbeknownst to me, he was introduced to pot. He started using it more and more often, until it became unbearable for any of his friends to be around him. He smoked nearly every time we hung out and his clothes reeked of the smell. He became so enveloped by this habit that his entire life eventually became revolved around it. He now only hangs out with people who smoke, he works so he can make money to buy weed, and he tries to get other people to do it with him. Needless to say, I have not been hanging with him in a long time, but i feel pretty sad every time I think of what his life will be like when he is on his own. What employer would want to hire someone that is a complete stoner? I sure can't think of one. Me and some other friends have tried to intervene but nothing works. He is just too addicted. The only thing that I can think would help is if he had mandatory rehab, or even was arrested. Anybody else have other stories like this?

Someone passed out and unresponsive

Beth A. Gehlhausen — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:10:27 GMT

I am curious about everyone's feelings on leaving someone who is passed out by themselves. If someone is passed out and not responding, should you call someone to help or is it too risky if people are drinking and are underage and might get caught?

Re: The First Topic - Tobacco

Patrick McAlexander — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:45:57 GMT

I think that tobacco should be illegal, but i have no idea how we would go about this, i hate the awful smell of it, and it bothers me.

maybe we could do something like make it illegal in more public places, such as this summer i signed a petition to make concerts smoke free.

Re: The First Topic - Tobacco

Patrick McAlexander — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 11:06:30 GMT

Ahh, this is why we do the soft launch. I'll be talking a look and getting that fixed! :)

Re: The First Topic - Tobacco

Patrick McAlexander — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:01:46 GMT

Oh and the guest was me I didn't realize I could reply without signing in and it would be put in as a guest.

Re: The First Topic - Tobacco

Patrick McAlexander — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:00:20 GMT

I agree I hate the smell of cigarettes! I just try to constantly breathe out my nose when I'm walking by someone smoking. And I agree with your idea of public use being banned but private use being permitted. And you led me to another question - Which one does more damage to the body/civilization/pretty much everything - tobacco or marijuana? Is it justified to say that tobacco does more damage to the smoker and to those around him/her?

Re: The First Topic - Tobacco

Patrick McAlexander — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:01:15 GMT

I think smoking tobacco, not chewing tobacco, should be legal for home use, but not in public. The same goes for marijuana. Is it because both are "bad for you"? Yes. But that's not my main reason for wanting both banned.

With alcohol, you can drink that anywhere, and nobody's physically affected by it. True, drinking and driving, physical abuse, those are consequences of drinking alcohol. But alcohol by itself doesn't cause addiction or death. Just like the saying "guns don't kill people - people kill people."

Smoking, on the other hand, forces affects everyone around you. Whether you're smoking a cigar, cigarette, or pot, those around you have to breathe it in. Really, and I'm not sure how many people believe this, but people need air to breathe. Try not breathing. It hurts. Seriously.

This is why, at least for myself as an adult, I find it tough to want to "go out to the bars." I go to bars to socialize, and sure, have some frothy beverages. However, when that guy sitting next to you lights up, he blows smoke everywhere. He doesn't care that it smells wretched. He doesn't care that it's bothering the non-smokers around him. If he had a drinking problem, I probably wouldn't know. But if he has a smoking problem, I sure can't miss it - he just doesn't stop smoking the darn things. By sitting next to him, I'm breathing in all the crap that's in his cigarettes - and he's the one addicted, not I. So the people around him are punished by his addiction.

The same thing goes for pot, and why I'm against legalizing pot. If you're smoking it in a public place, I can't avoid breathing it in. I have no choice but to breathe in what's bad for me.

So, yes, I think tobacco smoking should be banned in public places. Chewing tobacco need not be.

The First Topic - Tobacco

Patrick McAlexander — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:46:46 GMT

Should tobacco be illegal?

If you think it should be, say why and how you would go about making it illegal and preventing people from doing it.

If you don't think it should be illegal, say why and give an alternate solution to the problem.