105 Percent Rule Confusing

How many of you out there found the INDY Car 105% rule confusing?   Am I the only one? We were all taught in grade school that 100%  is all there is.  You can have a glass of milk that is anywhere from 1% to 99% full and still have room for more. But once it reaches 100% full there is no more you can add.  I eat 100% of a raspberry pie, guess what you aren’t getting any.  There is none left. Because the 105% mostly applies to the slower cars in the race, one would have to assume the slowest cars on the track would have to run 105%, of the lead car.  Example say the leader has a lap speed of 220 mph.  This would mean the slowest car, in order to maintain the 105% rule would have to be traveling a speed of 231 mph. (220=100%)  (22o x .05 [ 5%]  = 231.) That would be 5% faster than the leader.  WAIT A MINUTE !!!! If the slowest car is running 11 mph faster than the leader then the leader can not be leading, at least not for long.  Now I realize we aren’t all engineers, Thus the 105% rule was not meant to be understood by us mere mortals. Now, let me put it this way.  And I think this really makes more sense, as the apparent reason behind the rule is to keep the slower cars in a safer operating range with the average race speed.   So would it not make more sense to say…call it a 95%  RULE. Again let us use the 220 mph model as before.  220 x .95 (95%) = 209.  An 11 mph  difference.  Slower still but you must admit more obtainable for the LOTUS than 231 mph. Like I have said before I am no mathematician.  But 105% can’t make sense in any ones mind when it comes to racing speed (except an engineer).  Especially when you are talking of slower cars.  But a 95% rule holds water. Is there anyone out there who can explain a car going 105% faster that the fastest car (let alone the average speed) can be the slowest car. I can see the government taxing us 105% by the time all taxes are applied to my dollar.  Perhaps this is how INDY Racing came up with that percentage. That Is How I See It Views: 192

College Campus Basketball Games

Recently it was announced the Rivalry Between INDIANA UNIVERSITY, and their cross river Rival, the UNIVERSITY of  KENTUCKY, will cease to be in the upcoming 2012-2013 Season. What?  Say it  isn’t so.  ……But, alas it is. How did this happen? The way I understand it the University of Kentucky,( AKA, know as the minor league of the NBA), in it’s usual fashion of believing Basketball at UK is a business, only, situation.  They see $$$$ ,(dollar signs), in this long enduring confrontation.  Indiana University doesn’t. Yes folks, it all comes down to money, as so many things do.  The University of Kentucky Wildcats, want to move the games from the home gyms, to an off Campus site which seats, more people, thus, more money to line the schools pockets. Indiana University, says, NO!!!  The way the Hoosiers, of IU look at it is….This is a SCHOOL team.  It should be played on the campuses, to allow all students the opportunity to watch and participate.  By moving to an off Campus arena would require those students to drive or by some other means go arrive at the playing site, and thereby limiting overall school participation by those students who cannot travel. As for me I must take the Hurryin Hoosiers side on this.  It is a school event and should therefore be played on campus.  Yes the extra money would be nice…..but let us not lose sight of  the fact. of which has been lost for some time in College, and some cases High School,  SPORTS  are   intended merely to be an extension of the class room.  There, believe it or not, are things that can only be learned in a sports setting. BUSINESS,or LEARNING experience? That Is How I See It What Do You Think? Take Our Poll [poll id=’1′]   Views: 151

Ah! The Perfect Boat

Finding Your Perfect Boat Finding the perfect boat is an undertaking for an experienced boater.  For the first time boater, it can be a very difficult task to accomplish.  To help you with your quest for the perfect boat, there are a few things you should know. Deciding what’s important Choosing the right boat is all about knowing what’s really important to you.  You need to decide whether you’ll be using the boat for your own private use, fishing, or cruising.  You should also consider your families feelings, as buying a boat for your own personal needs without consulting your family will probably lead to disappointing experiences or less time spent on the water. Types of boats Typically, boats will fall into five categories –fishing boats, power boats, sailboats, personal watercraft, and self powered boats.  To help you find the perfect boat, we’ll take a look at what each one offers. Fishing boats The designs for fishing boats will vary quite a bit, as are the places you can use them.  The boats that are meant for shallow waters of inland lakes and rivers aren’t the same boats meant for deep seas and great lakes.  There are many different designs, even boats that serve no other purpose besides fishing. These types of boats normally have stowage and holders for bait, fishing poles, tackle, and even special tanks to hold live fish.  Other types of fishing only boats feature an open platform where anglers can fight fish from all sides of the boat. Power boats Power boats are the most popular boats sold.  The designs with power boats are as varied as their uses.  Boats with seating in the front are called bowriders, which are mainly used for towing skiers or rafts.  Most boats can also be used for fishing as well.  If you want to do both,  there are ski and fish combinations available. Sailboats When you first learn to pilot a sailboat, it can be very challenging, although very rewarding as well.  A sailboat requires more skill and knowledge to operate than boats, although they are considered more rewarding once mastered. With all available sailboats, the single masted sloop is the most popular design.  For those who only boat on occasion, catboats, daysailers, and dinghys are small and easily trailerable. When you finally decide on the perfect boat for you, look at what each one offers and how you plan to use it.  The perfect boat for you is out there, all you have do is find the one that best matches your needs. Views: 252

Tornado Public Service Announcement

Safety Emergency Preparation Tips When There is a Tornado From March to May of every year, the southern states are occasionally plagued by disastrous weather phenomenon known as tornadoes. For northern states, the risk comes during spring to the onset of summer. Tornadoes are considered as storms. And you know that no storm is not violent. The dangers caused by tornadoes are not due to the gustiness of the winds but by sudden and unanticipated occurrence. Unlike hurricanes, which are comparatively more powerful, the onset of a tornado can not be easily tracked. Satellite weather systems can not easily spot them because of their sudden development and their relatively smaller scale. Thus, people can only tell that there is a tornado when they actually see one. Tornadoes are massive and destructive mass of air accumulating rapidly is a circular manner. The wind is so strong that almost everything that comes to the way of the tornado is easily flown into it. How to tell if a tornado is approaching Before any safety measure, it is imperative that you be knowledgeable about the appearance and the indicators of the presence of the violent weather phenomenon. Take note that before a tornado hits an area, the wind may not be destructive minutes before the tornado hits the place. Often, before a tornado is observed, the wind may be very still. There may or may not be presence of rain. Usually, tornadoes occur at the trailing end of a thunderstorm. Thus, if there is strong thunderstorm, be prepared on the possibility that a tornado may come anytime during of before the thunderstorm ends. Because tornadoes are made up basically of strong and whirling winds, one can not easily see them. Often, reported cases indicate that the tornado appears like a cloud-like structure. Tornadoes can be seen due to the debris and dust they have accumulated while tracking their courses. You may see the debris rotating in the air in circular, whirling motion. Before a tornado hits an area, you can also hear loud roaring sound that is almost similar to an approaching freight train. The wind will also become turbulent and destructive. Safety measures before a tornado One indicator that a tornado will possibly hit an area is dark and often violet to greenish sky, which is prevalent during destructive thunderstorms. When you see and feel the indications of an approaching tornado, find a safe shelter right away. Remember, tornadoes are destructive and fatal not merely because of the strong winds but because of the debris they have accumulated. These debris vary from roof, to large rocks, to large chunks of trees. When people are hit by such debris, that is the time the tornado becomes fatal. So make sure the shelter you find would protect you from any such debris. Safety measures during a tornado Homes located in areas that are often hit by tornadoes almost always have basements. Basements offer reliable protection to people during tornadoes, so find one during an attack of a tornado. If you are in your car, just get out and find a safe shelter. Or simply lie down on sturdy structure. Lie flat and cover the head with hands. Be alert and look out for falling debris coming from the tornado. After the tornado, make sure any structure in your home is not significantly damaged. Otherwise, seek professional help all at once to ensure your safety. Tornadoes are phenomenal that one can not prevent it from occurring.  However, if you know the how-to’s of being safe during such weather disturbances, you would avoid being one of the many casualties arising from such a weather turbulence. Views: 651

Down To Four

Down To Four.  We started with Seventy Two  Teams and now there is only Four.   We have seen Sixteen Upsets.  (Ironically the same number as in SWEET SIXTEEN).   We have but one number One SEED team remaining.  U. Kentucky.  Two number  two seeds, and One fourth seeded team. We have three teams in a conference named “BIG…..”.  Odd man out is …….Kentucky, representing the SEC (South Eastern Conference).  Their Opponent, Louisville, represents the BIG EAST CONFERENCE.   While Ohio St. is appearing under the BIG TEN CONFERENCE.  With their opponent, Kansas, is with the BIG TWELVE CONFERENCE.  Side note the Big Ten Conference has twelve teams.  The Big Twelve Conference has but ten teams.  Go Figure. For all intents you could say all four teams are from the midwest. The  distance between Kentucky, and Louisville is a mere 77.56 miles.  In contrast the difference between Kansas and Ohio St.  is 696.8 miles. Now let us see whom according to distance would be the closest to HOME team.  Care to guess………..?  Which team will have to  travel the farthest………….? With Sixteen upsets if you had played your bracket with the upper seed all the way this is what your brackets would look like. To this point. Just a little bit of trivia, I guess, after all who really cares, about these little tidbits. Oh yes.  Before I go, here is the answer, to the Home, (closest to New Orleans) would be LOUISVILLE, to travel 706.22 miles.  U.Kentucky, will travel 743.97 miles.  So we know these two are the closest.  Thus giving Louisville, the “HOME COURT” advantage. Which means we now have Kansas, and Ohio State University.  Ohio State, will travel 909.4  miles.  Kansas a mere 874.12 miles.   Thereby giving Kansas the “HOME COURT” advantage. I’ll bet most of you thought Kansas would have the longest trip to New Orleans. Louisville thusly will have “home court advantage”  as long as they last in the tournament. Remember the higher seed team is usually billed as the “home team”. That Is How I See It.   Views: 189

Peyton Manning To Denver

Just in. Jeff Saturday, Peyton Manning’s long time snapper. Will break up the duo and head to Green Bay Today it was announced that the former COLTS quarterback has decided to move to Denver. As it appears to me the Bronco fans seem so immersed in having Tim Tebow lead their team.   One must wonder what their reaction will be.  Will they welcome an aging. up the (and somewhat questionable health quarterback), or will they be Tebooing, the future hall of famer Peyton Manning. Their is talk of Colts snapper Jeff Saturday following Manning to Denver.  Why break up a successful team? I question Manning’s decision to continue to play football and risk his health and possibly his life,  to follow his wish to extend his playing career.  After all of his surgeries he must think of himself as the “Six Million Dollar Man”.  Better, Stronger, etc.   But even though the doctors may say he is good to go….well we all know the fact a repair is not always as good as the original. I know during my later  years I knew the time had come for me to retire from sports I really enjoyed.  I made some money.  (Less a year, than Manning gets probably from one play on the football field).  But I had become a single parent and realized I owed my time to my children.   I do not think Peyton Manning has given this much thought.  What happens if he takes a severe hit and either ends up paralyzed or worse.  What about his quality time with his children.  I guess you could say I am just looking at this from  a negative point of view.  I think of it as a realistic point of view.  For me money is a secondary, third concern.  Family first.  I would much rather have the memories of raising my children than the money I could have amassed.  I wish him well with his career and his health. One last comment before I close.  It is Peyton’s choice.  I hope it is the correct one.  Remember it took the Colts a few years to learn to play “Peyton Manning Offense”.  Will he be able to play at Denver long enough to teach them to play “Peyton Manning Offense”?  If he can will he be around long enough to capitalize on it? Good Luck Peyton. That Is How I See It. Views: 189

My 2012 March Madness Picks

I rarely won our office pool.  It usually was won by a woman (65 +).  How?  I don’t know her secret, she wouldn’t tell me.   But she does love sports.  I Still see her at our monthly get together of those of us who were at our place of employment for nearly 20 years until they shut the place down.  Like I said, she loves sports.  How many women in their mid 70’s (Shh.  I didn’t tell you),  still subscribes to SportsIllustrated. March 24,2012:  How is  your bracket looking now HOW MANY OF YOU STILL HAVE A TEAM LEFT IN THE WEST REGION? Any way here are my picks.  No rhyme or reason.  Just gut feeling. MY PICKS   I know, I know.  What are the odds of two teams from the same conference playing for the NCAA championship.    But that is where the fun comes in. RESULTS UPSETS   Good Luck everyone.  Enjoy the games. That Is How I See It. As you know we experienced an on going down time from our old host server of in excess of 70 hours.  Finally got access to allow us to recover our Database.  It appears we were able salvage most everything.  Thanks for your patience. Wayne Lawrence   Views: 518

NCAA Tournament Picks Night Two

So, as I said yesterday, I will now give my picks for Wednesday’s games.  But First let me say I didn’t do too well yesterday.  Who would think a team could shoot 30%, have 28 turnovers and still win.   Oh well,  Isn’t that why it is called “March Madness” ?  Anything can happen. WEDNESDAY MARCH 14,2012. 6:30 pm Tonight we begin with  a game of basketball featuring LAMAR UNIVERSITY, CARDINALS.  Representing the Southland (east) Conference.  Out of Beaumont Texas. This will be Lanar University’s first appearance in March Madness since the year 2000. The Cardinals come into tournament play with a 23-11 record.   A schedule that is stronger than weak but less than a medium toughness schedule.  Lamar will meet Vermont. University of Vermont.  The CATAMOUNTS from Burlington,Vermont, and representing the American East Conference.  With a 23-11 record comes in with a similar schedule difficulty, similar to their opponent Lamar.  This will be their first appearance since 2010.  This is a difficult pick, two quite similar teams.  My pick is…(drum roll)  Vermont by 3 points or less. WEDNESDAY MARCH 14,2012 9 pm Our final play in game of the year brings us from the Pacific 12 Conference  the University California, Berkley  Golden Bears, from Berkley California.  Entering  with a 24-9 record,   Had an impressive strong schedule this year.  The Golden Bears will meet  University South Florida, Bulls.  The Bulls represent the Big East Conference with a 20-13 record.  They too had a very strong schedule.  This game I will have to give the edge to South Florida, by 2 points. Recap: Vermont moving on to the Midwest Region as a number 16 seed facing number 1 seed North Carolina. South Florida also enters the Midwest Region as a number 12 seed against number 3 seeded Marquette. That Is How I See It,     Views: 452

My NCAA Picks Play In Games

Many of you play your office NCAA Pool.  As I no longer have anyone but myself in my office, I’m just going to share my first four picks with you. So be this a short post here goes. TUESDAY MARCH 13, 2012  7 pm Mississippi Valley State, (20-12),  Located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  Known as the “Delta Devils”  The Southwestern Athletic Conference Champs.  Take on the Western Kentucky “Hilltoppers” of Bowling Green Kentucky. Represent Sun Belt (East) Conference, made their last NCAA Tournament appearance in 2009 I see all the games as being close and highly competitive.  But looking at the quality of schedule I will have to give the nod to Mississippi Valley State .  Most likely by less than 5 points. UM!!!  Can I rewrite this?  Great game. Great comeback WKU. TUESDAY MARCH 13,2012  9 ish BYU (Brigham University), Cougars coming out of Provo Utah, appears to have a relatively weak schedule, (compared to the majority of schools in the tournament). Representing the West Coast Conference, and SWEET SIXTEEN appearance last year.  Face off with Iona, “Gaels” from New Rochelle, New York.  Representing the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference also has a weak schedule.  So this should make up an interesting match up.  My pick Iona by 4 points or less. Good Luck to all four teams. To Recap I have: Mississippi Valley State moving on as 16 seed in  the SOUTH Region to face Overall Number One seed Kentucky . Iona College to a 14 seed in the West Region facing Number 3 Marquette’ Tomorrow I will post my other two game picks.  Then my entire tournament picks will before the first game of the 64 is played. I really need to rewrite this. That Is How I See It.     Views: 284