Archive for June, 2004
Tri Update
I set a new record for my mile time. Now I just need to double the distance without my heart exploding.
1 Mile Run Time - 8:06
No CommentsThe World’s Largest Truck
Weighing in at 224 tons and over 47 feet high this is one big mother. It is capable of carrying 400 tons of cargo (let’s see your SUV do that) and going almost 40 mph — which is pretty fast considering this thing is the size of a small building. The interesting thing is that it is powered by a 3650 hp diesel engine that generates power for the two electric engines (one for each back tire). All I can say is — what no 4 wheel drive?! ;)
No CommentsTri Update
I have stepped up to full distance training for biking. I need to shave about 6 minutes off this time before race day.
9 Mile Bike Time - 36:14
No CommentsNano Flowers
You have probably heard of the term nano-technology (even if you aren’t sure what it is), but Nano Flowers is probably a new one. Developed by Cambridge University PhD student Ghim Wei Ho, these crysaline flowers have been created in an effort to create a new type of water repelant as well as a more effectient solar cell. The important thing though, is that they look cool.
No CommentsNT In The Navy
Speaking of the Navy, the Swedish Navy is testing out a new stealth ship that will be all but invisible to radar. An interesting thing is that the “state of the art” computers on this new ship are running Windows NT. Asked about the all of the recent security flaws in Windows, spokesman Mr Nilsson said: “I am not an expert in computer security but we have… a lot of firewalls and clever ways of avoiding [being hacked].” — right.
Guest Writer Matt: Konichiwa Or Something Like That
This is from a friend of mine in Navy Intelligence. For security reasons, I have edited out a few details.
For those of you that don’t know, I’m now stationed on the USS XXXXXXX which is currently docked in Yokosuka, Japan. It’s 6:36 p.m. on Tuesday, here in Japan. For all of you in the eastern time zone it is 5:36a.m. on Tuesday. If you sleep on anything larger than a cot, you should fall to your knees in praise right now. My bed is roughly 6 ft long and 2 ft wide. If I make a 90 degree angle with my arm and put my tricep on my bed, my fingers touch the bed above me.
Steve Young doesn’t know anything about getting concussions until he spends one day on a ship. I hit my head on a variety of bars and pipes, which I believe are there for no other purpose than bodily harm, at least five times a day. You must be thinking, how hard can it be to dodge an object that doesn’t move. However, when you duck to avoid object A, object B cracks into the other side of you head. If you ever want to get me a gift, a helmet would be a wonderful idea. The weather is basically the same as it is in TN/MD right now. On a clear day I can see Mt. Fuji from the ship even though it’s three hours away. Traffic in Japan makes D.C. or Atlanta look like an open road. I’ve only been here since Satuday so I’ll spend my next few months doing qualifications and learning how to be a “real sailor”. I hope this email finds you in good health and good spirits. If any of you want to start a black market electronics underground railroad, just let me know. On a more serious note if there is anything Japanese under 100 bucks just say the word, and I’ll see what I can do. I’ve met a few people that are pretty cool, but most people aren’t exactly my “peers”.
I’d love to hear from you guys, at XXXXXX@hotmail.com. May God richly bless you all.
Tri Update
As I’m sure many are wondering where I am at in my training thus far… I am currently training at half distances for the biking and running portions so as to be able to keep the pace needed for my time goal. As I progress, I will increase the distance to full and then 150% (since I won’t be doing only one event during the race). I have not been able to get a swim time yet as my pool access is limited.
1 Mile Run Time - 8:24
4.5 Mile Bike Time - 19:21
.25 Mile Swim Time - NA
Robotic Lawn Mower
If you enjoy your robotic vacuum, why not extend it to the yard? Sharper Image has a robotic lawn mower sure to scare the crap out of your neighbors with kids — I mean save you the time of mowing your yard. I don’t know, the idea of a robot armed with sharp spinning blades scares me. Not in a Terminator sort of way but in the lawsuit-waiting-to-happen kinda way.
Besides why not just pay a person to cut your grass for you? Then you get your grass cut (probably better job too) and remove any personal liablity you might run into. AND at $500 thats probably 2 summers of cutting from the neighborhood kid.
Thanks Sarah
No CommentsSprint Triathlons
As some of you may be aware, I am currently training for a Sprint Triathlon. A Sprint Triathlon, in general, is half the distance of Triathlon which in turn is half the distance of a Sprint/Half Iron Man which is also half the distance of an Iron Man. Let that boggle your mind a bit: Iron Men are CRAZY! At least crazy in shape. An Iron Man event is a 2.4 mile swim followed by an 112 mile bike ride followed by a full marathon of 26.2 miles. These are rounder numbers in KM, but who really has any idea how long a KM is? — I mean in THIS country.
Anyway, I digress. An iron man is too Olympian for me. The meer mortals like myself will stick with the Triathlons, sprint or otherwise. My first forray into this event will be a short .25 mile swim followed by a 9 mile bike ride and a 2 mile run. While these are much smaller distances, I will be competing against veteran Triathaletes that will be setting a speedy pace. My goal is to complete the race in under 1 hour. This is both a nice round number and should give me a respectable finish “with the pack”. Below are the times from last year’s Sprint.
285 people out of 289 finished the race
285th place was 1:35:24
280th place was 1:18:59
270th place was 1:12:35
250th place was 1:07:30
200th place was 1:01:41
150th place was 57:34
100th place was 54:40
50th place was 50:57
eVac
Now the Sharper Image has it’s own robot vac. A little scan on actual details it does have some nice pics of it. I personally think they should make some orange “vacuuming next 25 feet” or “vacuum at work” or “room closed due to vacuuming” construction signs to go with the little orange cones that come with it.
No Comments