Jayruss

Traffic-Signal Change Devices a Concern By TRAVIS REED, Associated Press Writer MINNEAPOLIS - It's every motorist's fantasy to be able to make a red traffic light turn green without so much as easing off the accelerator. That naughty dream may now be coming true, with perilous implications. The very technology that has for years allowed fire trucks, ambulances and police cars to reach emergencies faster — a remote control that changes traffic signals — is now much cheaper and potentially accessible to civilians. No bigger than a dashtop radar detector, the device is known as a mobile infrared transmitter, or MIRT, and can be had for about $300. The possibility of its proliferation is unnerving public safety and transportation officials. "It has the potential to be a huge problem," said Steve Misgen, a Minnesota Department of Transportation signal operations engineer. MIRTs are the triggers in so-called "traffic pre-emption systems," which are comprised of two parts: a receiving device mounted on a stoplight and an infrared transmitter normally placed in emergency vehicles that has a range of about 1,500 feet. The technology has been used for about three decades and is widely deployed. A U.S. Department of Transportation survey of the nation's 78 largest metropolitan areas last year found them at about 26,500 intersections across the nation. A cheaper MIRT available since January from FAC of America, which is based in Fridley, Minn., costs less than half the previous price of other devices that go from $650 to $1,000. The company's president, Tim Gow, insists he has strict safeguards against MIRTs falling into unauthorized hands and that its affordability helps public safety officials with tight budgets. "We get requests from individuals, but the answer is no," he said. "This is a lifesaving piece of equipment." So far, law enforcement agencies report no problems from the devices. But traffic engineers and some politicians are concerned, and a check of eBay found some of the cheaper devices for sale on the Internet. Last month, they caught the eye of a committee of traffic engineers from the Minnesota Department of Transportation and communities around the Twin Cities. Though many cities and states have laws against interfering with traffic lights, Misgen said the committee likely would recommend that the state legislature specifically outlaw the devices for unauthorized users. In Michigan, a state legislator has promised legislation to make the devices illegal. Gow, an electrical designer, has been in business for about 20 years. He said his company would sue any unauthorized person who uses its devices. But a handful of MIRTs were being offered for sale on eBay when The Associated Press checked Monday. And kits for building similar devices are also available online. One of the eBay sellers first indicated the device could be sold to anyone. However, in response to a follow-up query, the person said it would be sold only to authorized users. The seller declined an interview. The primary makers of traffic pre-emption systems, 3M Co. and Tomar Electronics Inc., offer encryption technology that can lock out unauthorized devices — but it is far more expensive than systems that operate in the clear. Systems that offer encryption run roughly $2,500 per unit higher than those that don't — a considerable expense for any cash-strapped municipality if it was forced to retrofit traffic signals. It's not clear just how many cities have the encryptable devices. The Institute of Transportation Engineers in Washington, D.C., said there's no way to tell, and a 3M spokeswoman wouldn't comment on how many cities bought devices before encryption was available. If transport officials became locked in a technology arms race with infrared transmitter outlaws, the costs could be high. Most major cities don't put pre-emption devices at every intersection, but there are plenty: Minneapolis, for example, has about 900 traffic lights, of which city traffic officials say about 40 percent are pre-empted. Misgen, the state engineer, said only a handful of the 640 traffic lights he oversees in the Twin Cities area are fitted with the module that allows encryption. "This might be a huge expense for cities, counties and states," he said __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

fixed clicky __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

I don't think it's comfortable, do whatever you like best

if it were machine washable it might be worth it __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

good luck lori __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

that's a great story. We were boarding the skyvan one day at perris and saw that the door was closed, thus someone was still on the plane. As the door opens two jumpmasters walk off this huge, 200lb, 6ft tall tattooed tough guy who was crying like a baby. the back story was that this guy wasn't listening and acting all macho during the first jump course. But when he got to the door he couldn't jump. The instructors love when macho jerks like that fall from grace. __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

It wasn't worth that much __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

attachments NSFW __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

Attachments NSFW __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

this is yet another reason why some schools don't allow kids to wear costumes __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

Boy's Costume Catches Fire at School ELLSWORTH, Maine - A high school student suffered severe burns after his Army sniper costume of leaves and a grass-like material was set on fire by a classmate during a Halloween assembly Thursday, police said. A 15-year-old at Ellsworth High School was charged with starting the fire with a lighter after allegedly saying, "I wonder if this will burn," police Lt. Harold Page said. Donald Awalt, 14, of Ellsworth, was airlifted to a Boston hospital with third-degree burns. He suffered burns to his back, legs and head, Page said. His condition was not immediately released. "This is just a prank gone horrifically wrong," Page said. The entire school — about 500 students, many in costume — was at the "Spook Day" assembly in the school gymnasium when the flames broke out at the top of the bleachers. Some people initially thought it was a joke when they saw the flames. Then students bolted for the exits in a panic. The victim ran down to the floor, where students and a school worker used a fire extinguisher and a coat to smother the flames. The 15-year-old was charged with reckless conduct, aggravated assault and arson and taken to a youth detention center in Charleston, Page said. The boy was remorseful and said he never intended for anyone to be hurt, Page said. __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

I'm dopey from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Our whole department is dressing up and acting out the movie. __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

I suggest a moment of silence __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

ROFL! That was my question. Eh, maybe he's a freeflier. let's just be assured that his belly flying days are over. __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

Yeah Perris still has the skyvan for the tunnel click here __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

I agree, I’m no Bill Clinton fan but the man was smart and I can admit that. Its naïve of people to think George Bush is an idiot because they disagree with his decisions. __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

I don’t remember the author but the last line of his poem was something like, “cause when we turn out the lights, we’re all the same color.” I believe skydiving really lays this metaphor our perfectly. When we step out the door of the plane, we’re al the same color. __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

well there will be some cheap land in San Diego or Lake Arrowhead soon so I'd aim for California. __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

if you spoke english maybe they'd understand you __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

I though cuddling was when you bring another girl in . . . __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

[soap box] gather 'round ATTENTION gather round, I've got some first class high value LOW priced BEACH front property right here in AZ, you'd better act now before its all GONE. Imagine beach dives on the last round of your Airspeed 4 way camp, every night!!! [/soap box] __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

just got my starbucks for the day now I'm thinking about actually doing some work . . . oh and IM'ing Mouth __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

Sure!, now that it will heal your heart and lungs, you might even find that it will help get those pesky cigarettes burns out of your shirts __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

I'm always nice enough to let them right on exit so as to let the team behind me enjoy while jamming up in the door __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

Red Wine Could Be Good for Your Lungs, Doctors Say By Alexandra Hudson LONDON (Reuters) - Red wine, already thought to be good for your heart, may be good for your lungs too, doctors say. A compound found naturally in red wine could help fight chronic bronchitis and emphysema, a study has found, although scientists say there is probably not enough of the stuff in a glass for chronic sufferers to drink their way to good health. The study found that the substance, resveratrol, which is found in the skin of red grapes, could reduce the amount of harmful chemicals in the lungs that cause the diseases. The illnesses, known together as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kill an estimated 2.9 million people a year worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. And smokers are 10 times as likely as non-smokers to die of COPD. "It seems that drinking red wine in moderation as part of a healthy, balanced diet can reduce lung inflammation," Dr John Harvey, chairman of the Communications Committee of the British Thoracic Society, said. Resveratrol is already thought to be one of the reasons why people in wine-drinking countries such as France have low rates of heart disease, Dr Louise Donnelly, one of the report's authors, told Reuters. Her team wanted to test whether those benefits could extend to lung disease as well. The research was published in the international medical journal Thorax on Tuesday. In the study, lung fluid samples were taken from 15 smokers and 15 COPD patients. When resveratrol was added to the samples, it cut production of interleukin 8, a chemical that causes inflammation of the lungs. Production of the chemical was cut by 94 percent in smokers and by 88 percent in COPD patients. COPD is now commonly treated with steroids, but resveratrol might prove more effective, Donnelly said. It would not reverse the damage which has occurred to the lungs, but could help stop it from getting any worse, she said. Although there is probably not enough resveratrol in a wine glass for casual drinking to stop chronic lung disease, the substance could be administered directly with an inhaler, she said. __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes