Now Boarding.....

Though I do love travelling and the excitement that it brings...many things about travelling is a hassle. Boarding the plane is one of them. Here's what one smart guy thought of.....it's quite logical really!

When you think of all the ways an astrophysicist might make life easier, you probably think of things like cold fusion and extraterrestrial colonization. But Jason Steffen, a postdoctoral fellow at Fermilab Center for Particle Astrophysics, has more earthly aims. He wants to make getting on an airplane less of a hassle.

His idea: Have 10 passengers at a time board in alternating rows. He says it's at least four times faster than what most airlines are doing because it lets everyone stow their luggage and take their seats without getting in one another's way. People get seated sooner, which means planes take off sooner. And that means it will get a lot of attention from the airlines -- planes only make money when they're in the air, as they are able to take off and land more flights on a given day.

"It's no secret that efficiency, productivity and high utilization are keys to any successful airline," said Steve Lott of the International Air Transport Association, which represents 240 airlines. "There will be many airlines and operational people interested in reading his study."

An airliner typically spends 30 to 60 minutes or more on the ground, and airline executives spend a lot of time thinking about boarding efficiency because it's the best way to reduce that wasted time. A 1998 Boeing study found that the boarding rate has fallen more than 50 percent since 1970 to as little as nine people per minute.

Steffen was boarding a flight out of Seattle at about that pace a few years ago. As he crept down the jetway, he wondered why getting on a plane takes so damn long. He mulled it over for 18 months and finally resolved to solve the problem or quit obsessing over it. He wrote a program using C++ and a sampling algorithm to model boarding behavior and started crunching numbers. His results will appear in the Journal of Air Transport Management, which isn't high on Steffen's reading list, but is popular with airline bosses.

Modeling and common sense said filling a plane from front to back is the worst way to go because everyone's waiting for the people in front of them to sit down. That's why most airlines fill planes from back to front. But Steffen was surprised to find that such a method doesn't save much time. It fills the plane in a hurry, but no one's got room to stash their stuff. You spend 15 minutes standing in the aisle while the woman in 17A fumbles through her backpack for her headphones, the guy in 22D struggles to get his suitcase into the overhead bin and the kids in row 14 argue over the window seat. That's why it takes 25 minutes or more to fill a plane. Give people enough room to get their bags stashed and you really speed things up.

So how much room do people need? Steffen's simulations found that boarding is most efficient when you give them two rows of space to stash their stuff. On a plane with 20 rows, that means having no more than 10 people boarding simultaneously (a 40-row plane can handle 20 people), filling every other row down one side of the plane -- 1A, 3A, 5A and so on -- then the other. Try to get any more than that aboard and things start slowing down quickly.

"The most people I modeled was 240 people," Steffen said, "and it was eight times faster than boarding from front to back and four to five times faster than back to front."

That may be, but not everyone will want to hopscotch down the plane. People traveling together usually sit together and want to board together, and an airline's not going to risk ticking off customers no matter how much time it might save. No problem, Steffen said. Fill the even-numbered rows first, alternating from the left side of the plane to the right. Repeat the process for the odd-numbered rows.

"It's twice as slow as the optimal method," he said, "but it's twice as fast as the back-to-front method."

Steffen is undoubtedly the first astrophysicist to study boarding efficiency, but US Airways and other airlines have made a science out of it. They've developed boarding schemes with names like "rotating zone" and "reverse pyramid," often with good results. But Steffen says his idea is two to three times faster than even these less conventional methods. (US Airways officials could not be reached for comment.)

Lott isn't so sure. The fastest way to fill a puddle-jumper with 19 seats may not work on a jumbo jet with room for 550, and even the best algorithms can't simulate the behavior of several dozen hurried passengers struggling with suitcases, laptops, backpacks and kids.

"That said," he added, "any airline that is continually trying to be more efficient would be open to proposals, whether they're from inside the industry or outside the industry."

Steffen is ready to show the industry what he's found, and eager to do some real-world testing. But no one in the industry has called.

He isn't surprised. "When they come across a problem," he said, "I don't think their first thought is, Let's go talk to an astrophysicist. Oh look -- here's one that's studied extra-solar planets. He's our guy!"

Source: Wired.com
By Chuck Squatriglia

He sells Sanctuary

Selling Salvation? The next "Messiah"?
There is no better path to success than getting people to buy a free commodity. Like to genius who thought to bottle regular water and sell it (ok, it is slightly reprocessed water, big whoop). And now we have a smooth operator if a freshman senator who has found a way to sell hope. All you need to do is put an X beside his name when you vote. Amazing. This kind of sale is not new. Organized religion has been offering a similar commodity - salvation - for ions. Which is maybe why Barack's campaign kind of feels like a religious revival. And he's already brought in the choirs. "We are the hope of the future", he states. We can "remake this world as it should be". And people are licking it up - and still can't get enough. Presently Barack is leading or tied in electoral votes. He brings a lot of razzle dazzle. Obama's Super Tuesday victory speech was electric with such statements as, "We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek". As a said in my original post about the Obama phenomenon - it is like a cult. The media is catching on and people are starting to question it all. It's a bit overwhelming, and a bit scary. Canada has only come close once to having a similar mass political seduction. Trudeau. But Pierre brought a lot to the table. He already had a lot of experience as a law professor and justice minister before he became Prime Minister. He had both written and lectured about his country and its future. Barack is somewhat of a clean slate. There's not much to see on the page, and yet, he makes huge promises. He makes promises and has visions about issues he can't possibly know much about due to his lack of experience. At this point, I do believe that Obama will become the next President of the United States. But soon thereafter there will come an awakening. And it will be a rude one.

Sources: National Post

Snow Job

I was NOT amused to be woken up last night from a continuous “beep, beep, beep, beep”, then a “bang”, then a “rumble”, at about 1:30am this morning. I knew what it was, but got up anyway to look out my window, just to make sure I wasn’t having a bad dream. Indeed, it was the snow trucks et al, trying to hack away at the high snow piles (now ice) almost blocking ½ lane on the main street outside my condo. WTF? Also, yesterday evening at around 6pm, while visiting the folks, my mom was amazed at the snow removal that was going on not far from the house. She couldn’t believe the disorganization and the utter waste of money that was going on. The main street had about 15….yes, FIFTEEN dump trucks lined on in the one lane. ALL with their lights on and engines ready just waiting. Each truck had 2 people inside. Right there, you are looking at 30 people getting paid overtime on a Sunday night just sitting on their behinds waiting for their turn for snow…all the while burning fuel which is so expensive. And you know what? That’s our tax money….right there. There was also a police cruiser on site, I guess to ensure the oncoming cars could see the FIFTEEN LARGE DUMP TRUCKS LINED UP. Then there was one machine that was actually hacking at the ice and snow. This was the ONLY PERSON ACTUALLY WORKING. It was an amazing site, needless to say. The local government is ass backwards. They cut back on snow removal earlier in order to save money. Did they not THINK that the snow may possibly NOT MELT THE NEXT DAY and that we could actually get MORE SNOW on top of the old snow. Did they not realize that the SNOW MAY TURN INTO ICE and then be MORE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE????? I mean REALLY.
Getting back to the irritating noises of early this morning….I mean I know they have got to clean the snow at some point. But from 1:30am till almost 3am is a bit ridiculous. They need to plan this stuff out better. How much are our politicians and their advisors getting paid? You’d think they’d have better planning skills and forethought. It’s going to snow tomorrow…let’s see how well they do at clearing that up. Wishful thinking that they could possibly learn from their mistakes…….

Being a Raw Foodist

A new friend of mine is a raw foodist. I had heard about this diet beforehand, however now through knowing someone who actively practices it, I have gained some great insight into this way of eating. T this is for you!
By definition, Raw foodism is a lifestyle promoting the consumption of uncooked, unprocessed, and often organic foods as a large percentage of the diet.
The consumption of raw foods dates back to days before the invention of cooking with fire. It is also the universal practice amongst animal species. Those who follow this way of eating do it with the belief that raw foods contain enzymes which aid digestion, meaning that the body's own enzymes may work unimpeded in regulating the body's metabolic processes. They hold with the fact that heating food above 110 - 120 degrees Fahrenheit degrades or destroys these enzymes in food.
Raw foodists think that eating food without enzymes makes digestion more difficult, which could lead to toxicity in the body and cause excess consumption of food, obesity and chronic disease. This goes against the accepted medical definition of toxicity.
They also suggest that raw foods contain bacteria and other micro-organisms that affect the immune system and digestion by populating the digestive tract with gut flora. Those following this diet also believe that raw foods have higher nutrient values than foods which have been cooked. Though the practice seems to be beneficial to health, there has been a study that that a raw food vegetarian diet is associated with lower bone density. Also a study by the University of Toronto and another published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggest that ingesting cooked or pasteurized dairy products may increase risk of colon cancer.
Many foods in raw food diets are simple to prepare, such as fruits, salads, meat, and dairy. Other foods can require considerable advanced planning to prepare for eating. Rice and some other grains, for example, require sprouting or overnight soaking to become digestible. Many raw foodists believe it is best to soak nuts before eating them, in order to activate their enzymes. Preparation of more complex raw food recipes usually call for a blender, food processor, juicer, and dehydrator.
This type of eating does sound interesting. T told me today that the concept is more to eat food as a "fuel" source rather than as entertainment. Though she has made me think about up-ping the level of the fairly healthy diet I now have, I still couldn't imagine never having a a juicy steak on the BBQ again! I have to admit that T does have gorgeous skin, a wonderful complexion and looks so healthy. This way of eating may be for you, and maybe not. But it is interesting to learn about the various eating practices out there. It seems to be working well for T. But it isn't for everyone!
Thanks again for the wheatgrass and lemon juice, buddy! Be well.

source: http://www.living-foods.com; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raw_foodism
additional links: http://www.rawfoodlife.com; http://rawfoodnetwork.com; http://www.rawchef.com/

Attention, this is your captain sp...zzzzz

It can happen...no turbulence....clear skies....smooth ride....zzzzzzzzz

HONOLULU -- The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating whether two go! Airlines pilots fell asleep during an inter-island flight.

The incident involves a Feb. 13 flight that did not land when scheduled and was out of contact for an extended period of time, KITV in Honolulu reported.

Flight 1002 took off from Honolulu at 9:20 a.m. and was scheduled to land in Hilo at 10:05 a.m.

The plane reportedly flew beyond Hilo for several miles and was out of contact with air traffic controllers for more than 20 minutes, officials said.

"I can confirm that the FAA is investigating whether the pilot and co-pilot of a Feb. 13 go! Airlines flight fell asleep while the aircraft was in the air between Honolulu and Hilo," FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said.

The company issued a statement.

Airlines counsel Brian Gillman said in a written statement, "We are aware of the incident, and an internal investigation is under way."

A pilot told KITV that one possibility is that the crew could have had a radio problem and were unable to receive their assignment by air traffic controllers, so they stayed on course until communications were restored.

If the pilots were in error, evidence may be found in the cockpit voice recorder, which could indicate if the pilots were sleeping when they should have been talking.

source: kitv.com

So on your next flight...it may be worth a trip to the cockpit to make sure everyone's had enough caffeine to ensure they don't miss the landing!

Shadow over the Moon

Tomorrow's total eclipse of the moon will be visible across the country, starting at 8:43 p.m. EST.
In the East, the spectacle will take place relatively high in the sky while, in the West, the moon will be low on the horizon as it begins to move into Earth's shadow.

WHERE IT'S VISIBLE: Most of North America, all of South America, plus Western Europe and West Africa will be able to see the lunar eclipse in its entirety.

HOW IT HAPPENS: A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes entirely through the Earth's shadow.

UMBRA: Direct sunlight is completely blocked within Earth's inner shadow.

ATMOSPHERIC REFRACTION: A thin sliver of sunlight, filtered and bent by the Earth's atmosphere, gives the moon a reddish glow.

HOW IT WILL UNFOLD: Tomorrow's will be the last eclipse visible from Canada for almost three years.
The next one will be Dec. 20, 2010.

THE LATE SHOW: The lunar eclipse will last about three hours and 26 minutes.
The moon will be completely immersed within the Earth's dark umbral shadow for just under 50 minutes.

Wednesday night (Feb 20), skywatchers across Canada will be treated to an astronomical spectacle - a total eclipse of the moon. The long shadow of the Earth will sweep across the full moon and transform the normally bright lunar surface into an eerie red or rusty brown colour. For a lunar eclipse to occur, the Earth must be precisely aligned between the sun and the moon in order to block the solar rays from striking the lunar surface. Provided the weather is good and the skies are clear, it promises to be an awesome sight. Anyone who is interested in this kind of phenomenon, should definitely make the effort to take at least a peek! I know I'll be one of the spectators for certain.

sources: NASA, space.com, sky & telescope, terence dickenson

Men and V-Day

I was in a flower shop yesterday and was quite amused, while watching the male patrons trying to choose flowers for Valentine's Day. Some looked like they had never seen flowers before. Others looked sad, some frustrated. It was clear that none of these males were enjoying this. How come? I mean, I know there are many people who don't like Valentine's Day. Obviously if one is single, it doesn't really mean much and for some, can be a sad day. Others say, that love should not only be shown on a day that is "dictated" but rather one should show love every day. True. But does that really always happen? I mean, the day is there, whether we like it or not. And if you do have someone "special" in your life, especially, if that someone is female, there will be some expectation to recognize the day, somehow. Now guys, even if your gal says not to get her anything, that DOES NOT mean you should not get her anything. But depending on the girl, you don't need to go overboard. Are we women so difficult? I was almost feeling the pain of one of the guys in the flower shop today. He didn't have a clue of what to get. "Something nice", he told the florist. Either this guy just started dating this girl, or he hasn't really bothered to get to know her. Buying flowers should NOT be painful!!! He should have a smile on his face, knowing he's going to make someone happy! I would be happy to get flowers, no matter what kind of flowers. It is the thought that counts. I feel really sorry for those guys who have girlfriends or wives who are so nit-picky, that they actually have to dictate what type of flowers they want their men to buy. For heavens' sake - those chicks need to get their priorities straight. Guys, society puts a lot of pressure on you, come Valentine's Day. My advice is, have fun with it. Try to remember what she likes. Be thoughtful. Do what you feel. Speak from the heart. It's should really be that simple. Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Meet Barack Obama

Makes me want to get my pom-pom's out and cheer along! I especially do love the first two statements. Let's just hope this is real, he is real and a promising future for the USA is real.

Ten Women's Fashion Essentials

In response to a fellow bloggers top 10 clothing essentials for 30 somethings.....(and the article was for men), here is my own personal top ten essentials for women.

1) Basic Black Dress (can be dressed up formally or a little less depending on accessories and shoes)
2) Good quality white dress shirt
3) Classic dress pants (black or charcoal grey)
4) Fitted jacket (black)
5) Jeans (a good fitting pair - and I'd suggest one for more casual and one for wearing out)
6) Classic clutch purse
7) Black High Heel Shoes (good quality and classic design)
8) Classic skirt (pencil, or A-line depending on what flatters your figure)
9) White T-shirt (good quality that can be worn out or just kickin' with a pair of jeans)
10) Sexy Bra (something that fits well and makes you feel pretty and naughty) ;)

Of course there are several other things like a trench coat, cashmere sweater, wristwatch, basic jewelry etc., but I wanted to keep it down to 10 (so the guys didn't think we really needed more than they do!)

Hilary and Barack

OK - this is for mature viewers only! It's all in good fun (not necessarily good taste - ahem!)

Fake Sugar Could Make You Fat

Artificial sweeteners don't have any calories, but they might make you fatter than real sugar.

In a study recently published by Purdue University psychologists in Behavioral Neuroscience, rats given saccharin-sweetened yogurt actually ate more and gained more weight than rats given regularly-sugared yogurt.

Rodent studies should always be taken with a grain of salt, but the findings strike a potentially disturbing note for the millions of people whose hopes of a shortcut to slimness have fueled a billion-dollar artificial sweetener industry.

The problem appears to be one of metabolic regulation: when rats ate sugary yogurt, their core body temperature rose, ostensibly to take advantage of a calorie-rich nutrient source. But when rats ate the saccharin-sweetened yogurt, their body temperatures rose only slightly, and they ate more and gained more weight than their counterparts.

How could this be? The mechanisms aren't entirely clear: perhaps the rats, confused by false sweetness, became artificially sluggish, and thus less able to burn calories. Perhaps they were primed by the sweetness to expect a burst of calories, and when that didn't follow, they kept eating and eating. Perhaps both.

The findings, note the researchers, seem counterintuitive -- but they could hint at why diet sodas have been tied to metabolic disorders.

Source: Wired Magazine; article by Brandon Keim

Shower Adventures

Some of you may already know that I have been without hot water in my shower for about two weeks. Once the cartridge goes on this Moen masterpiece, the hot water output diminishes to a trickle. This has made my morning showers a misery for the last little while. Cold shower on a cold winter morn anyone? It took so long to get the darn cartridge replaced because the company had first sent the wrong one to me. I finally got the "right" one (I was so praying that this was the right one!) on Tuesday. So last night after work I decided to go for it. Now I've never really had to fix a lot of things on my own before. I was always fortunate to have someone help me out here and there. But I was determined to try and do this on my own. Got the tools (yes, finally!) and stood in the shower with the instructions. YES, I WAS READING INSTRUCTIONS!!!!! However, it wasn't that difficult as a friend was over the week prior to install the cartridge (which we then realized was the wrong one and wouldn't fit), and I had watched how the shower handle etc., had been dismantled. I learn well by watching, so this part wasn't a problem. Getting the darn cartridge out was, however. The old one wouldn't come out. I even pinched my hand with the plyers (oh poor me). I was almost ready to give up because I'm too impatient. But, I stopped myself and quietly told myself to calm down and really look at the shower and look at the instruction diagram. And you know what? It worked...that old thang came out like a charm! Now I was all excited, already looking forward to a hot shower.....but wait...still had to install the new cartridge. Ok, so it seemed easy enough. New one went in, no problem. But the wee thingy that looks like a "wishbone" was. It wouldn't go all the way down in the 2 slots provided for it. This meant that none of the other mechanisms that needed to be put back could fit. I looked and looked and it seemed that there was no way further for the wishbone to go. The ends of it, hit the metal of the other thingy. So I decided...maybe I don't need the wishbone. After all, I have put together some furniture before (yes, Ikea almighty) and I normally always have extra of something (and yes, the furniture is still in one piece!). So I reassembled everything back, sans the wishbone. Big smile on my face. I then turn the water back on. All of a sudden, my head still in the cupboard, I hear a WHOOSH and BANG. I look up to see the whole shower handle had come off and water was ejecting from the wall. There was water all over, albeit, I was able to turn it off pretty quick, so the clean up wasn't bad. I guess, I needed that wishbone thing after all! I now realized it held the cartridge in place. So with a sigh, as it was getting late and my back was starting to ache, I disassembled everything again. It was me and wishbone again - face to face - ready for battle. After a few minutes of really looking at how that thing could possibly go in any further...I finally saw that the holes it was supposed to into were not properly alligned. All I needed to do was turn the cartridge ever so slightly. Voila...wishbone was happy and I was thrilled that I had managed this! So abracadabra, everything was put back again, hot water is running and Bean is proud of her achievement! Only one minor thing....hot and cold are reversed and I can't adjust the amount of water that comes out. So I may decide to tinker around when I have some spare time and/or cave in and call a friend for advice. Mike Holmes would be proud!

Obama

There’s been a lot of hype lately about this man. Ever since Oprah started talking about Obama and his ideals on her show….he hasn’t looked back. I’m a skeptic when it comes to politics and all politicians. I am a firm believer that though morally correct, empathetic and kind hearted people run for political positions with the best intentions in mind, the higher the position, the higher the likelihood that 1) they won’t get the job because they are too decent 2) they’ll get the job based on their good character but will soon turn to the “dark side’ in order to “fit in” and ultimately keep their jobs. 3) They’ll get the job but soon succumb to greed, and the good things they originally believed in will be chucked out the window.
So all the putting Obama on a pedestal, saying he is the next JFK or Martin Luther King is wishful thinking – at best. I do hope that this is true. REALLY I do. What happens in the States, ultimately affects us here in Canada. I wish Americans a president that will move the country forward, make positive changes and show everyone what the true meaning of democracy is.
Here’s some things about Obama that have not been widely publicized (for obvious reasons):
- his natural father was a member of a Kenyan tribe. He drank too much and loved women too much. He was married three times and had children with all his wives.
When Obama was 21, Obama Sr. ended up dieing in a car crash because he had had too much to drink. Source: UK Daily Mail
- Obama had experimented with cocaine and marijuana. Source: UK Daily Mail
- Obama’s middle name is Hussein, a Muslim name, given to him by his Kenyan father who was muslim. Source: Insight Magazine
- Obama’s stepfather, Lolo Soetoro was Indonesian. He was an official of the Director General's office in the TNI Topography division of the Indonesian Army and later an oil company executive. Soetoro was also Muslim. Source: Chicago Sun-Times
- Obama always stated that he is a member of the United Church. However, if his father is Muslim, he is in fact Muslim –so goes the religion. He went to a Muslim school and studied the teachings of Islam. Source: CBS News

Let me first state, I have nothing against Muslims whatsoever. I just don't think the States is ready for a Muslim president, and frankly, I don't think they would want it. There is a fear for things we don't understand. There is a fear of Islam and extremists. I am also not trying to say that Obama is a bad guy. I can't judge that at this point. However, these are just a few points I'm bringing to light, because I don’t believe the American voters have really been made privy to in an open manner. And they should be. Sure, if you want to do your research, it’s all there. But the news is not freely giving out any of this information. I always hesitate when all the cards aren't put on the table. And just to play devil’s advocate, can you imagine what would happen if the U.S. had a Muslim president who believed in Islam? Not sure if anyone recalls the controversial claim that Princess Diana was “killed” due to suspicions that she was carrying Dodi Fahed’s child. That child would have been Muslim and thus Islam would have been one step closer to the opportunity of taking over the British monarchy. So what lies ahead for the U.S. race for president? The winds of change are in the air. It is time. Let’s hope that the changes voters wish for, are indeed the ones that will come true. And let's hope all the truth is revealed before it's too late. I’m pessimistic about the whole darn thing.

Black and White

Ontario's Liberal government won't prevent Canada's largest school board from establishing a controversial new black-focused school – a position critics say flies in the face of the party's much-touted opposition to funding religious schools, which helped propel it to victory in the last election.

Premier Dalton McGuinty frowned today on the Toronto District School Board's plans for the black-focused school, but said it wouldn't be up to the province to take action against the publicly funded board.

"I am disappointed with the board's decision," McGuinty said.

"I don't support it and we won't fund it. I continue to believe that the best way for us to educate our children is to bring them together so they can come together, learn together and grow together."

Source - The Canadian Press Jan 31, 2008

Now I don't know about you, but I am totally against having these kinds of schools. It makes me feel that our society is going backwards instead of forwards. Many of you may not agree with me (and that is fine), but I believe that the only parents who are going to send their kids to a black-focused school, are those who really don't like white people in the first place. Because, really, all kids should be educated the same. Their foundation in education should not be ethnically based.
Cultural learning should come from the parents and the family. Once the child grows up and goes to high school and possibly onwards to college, this is the time when I feel courses about different cultures should be offered. There is nothing wrong with being true to your roots, learning about them and helping others to understand the similarities and differences. This can be done without the need to "segregate".
In Canada, we are a "tossed salad" not just a tomato salad. It is important that all the ingredients get mixed around, blend, be harmonious with one another. With having black-focused schools, soon enough there will be muslim schools, islamic schools, asian schools....Is this really where we want to go in a first world country, with such a diversity that the world looks upon with admiration? I surely hope not. This is not the answer.

A Star does good

She's not only Canadian, but lived in Toronto for a while. And now she is giving back to the Dovercourt Boys' and Girls' Club - which is located in the area of the city that Nelly spend much time in and has many good memories from. She will become the honorary children's ambassador. Nelly is assisting in the launch and contribution towards expanding the school and making its facilities available for more children and teens in the area. Good on you Nelly!!! You make Canada proud!