Cymek Perceived Power Corrupts Absolutely

5Aug/100

Rich Dogs Breathe Easy



Pull Mask to Initiate Flow of Oxygen, originally uploaded by Craig Damlo.

From my in-depth study of modern society—through TV reality shows—I know that it's the children of the rich that live the easiest lives with the most comfort. And now their pets get the safest travel (they are already getting the most luxurious travel). I've talked here about Pet Airways and asked if pets get oxygen in the event of the loss of cabin pressure, and they didn't. Now 4 Paws Aviation is offering supplemental oxygen hoods for dogs; well, dogs that fly on private jets anyway! These hoods still won't help my dogs who are down in the cargo area because you can only carry this onto a private jet at this point. Then, you would need to don it on the dog (after you have donned your own mask first) after a loss of cabin pressure. I've only flown with my dogs once in the cargo hold, but I still wish there was some way of ensuring that they would be able to continue to breathe in the event of a loss of cabin pressure.

22Dec/090

787 First Flight and Mob Mentality



Takeoff to the Crowds Delight, originally uploaded by Craig Damlo.

I know I'm about a week behind on this post as far as coverage of the first flight of The Boeing Company's 787, but I'm sure everyone has read enough and seen enough pictures of it already. I want to talk about the crowd and the fun of going to see the first flight. I had some what of a vested interest in seeing this plane fly because I have been working on parts for it for the better part of the last four years. I had fun watching it fly. My wife, Sherri, also came with me and she had fun, too, despite not being into aerospace. So what is it that can make watching an empty airplane take off in the cold drizzle so much fun? For me, it could easily have been that I am an aerospace nerd and had a vested interested in seeing it fly, but that doesn't explain why Sherri had a good time. It could have also been the incredible spot we got to watch it from. But, I think it really was the same reason people gather torches and storm the castle: good ol' fashioned mob mentality.

29Apr/092

Do Animals Get Oxygen?

PetAirwaysHere is an interesting company, Pet Airways, that is starting in these questionable economic times. If they succeed, they could prove out two economic principles: 1) people will pay for a service that they desire, and 2) the rich are never affected by down economic times. Though, on this second one, I have a feeling the rich that are unaffected by the down economy fly on private jets and bring their pets on their planes. But that wasn't actually my interest in this company; my question is, do they provide the animals protection in the event of loss of cabin pressure, i.e., do the pets get oxygen? And so I asked them.