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Shark repellent in space (2)
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Apr 13, 2011
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It's claimed that Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, packed shark repellent with him on his historic voyage. Not for space sharks with lasers, as Boing Boing commenters suggest, but for his possible landing in the ocean. #science
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Mechanical devices fail
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Apr 13, 2011
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It occurred to me on one of my many trips to the car mechanic that certain physical components in mechanical systems routinely wear down and fail. Such is the case with tires, brake pads, windshield wipers, engines, and really anything that makes physical contact with something else while moving. It's not a design flaw or a mistake. That's what's supposed to happen. I guess the alternative would be to buy a new car every 5000 miles instead of simply getting an oil change.
This is an especially helpful thing for me to remember, because I tend to think of car repairs as a penalty for driving a certain way or for owning a car for too long. Needing new tires makes me feel like I did something wrong. Needing new shocks and struts feels like punishment for driving too fast over speed bumps. And while that may be true, it's also true that tires, shocks, and struts are some of the components that move and simply wear down over time. They need to be replaced. It's not my fault.
Technically this idea can be carried over into house repairs as well. Light switches, water pumps, valves, and fans are all mechanical devices. They won't last forever. Heck, even roofs, windows, and floors are technically in the same category, since they experience wear and need to be routinely replaced. If I had known this before buying a house, maybe I wouldn't think home ownership sucks. #technology
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