How do subs collide? They have sonar, no? Do we need an Ocean Traffic Controller now?
Well. There are two types of sonar: active and passive. Active is when the sonar emits "pings" and then listens for echos. Subs generally don't use active sonar because it would give away the sub's location to other ships or subs. Passive sonar is when they just listen for the sounds of other ships and subs. It works well, unless the ship or sub they're listening for is very quiet. Modern subs are very quiet themselves, especially when traveling slowly, like the two subs in the collision were.
So the moral of the story is that a sub that wants to be stealthy can still find and avoid other ships and subs, except when the other sub is being stealthy too.
Does anyone know where to find a picture of Deputy Sacks from Veronica Mars quickly? I am trying to send someone a picture of his haircut.
Oh thank goodness we're back!! I was all withdrawal-y. It's not nice to take the crack away, people!!!
Sigh.
We may even brave the wet to go watch Lance Armstrong ride by.
Oh, do report back if you do! My friend who is having a really sucky year is obsessed with that race right now and would love a first-hand report.
Emmett's simultaneously playing Nintendo and having an Avatar marathon.
Does he not have school today? Curse our no-holiday-having school division!
Fun quotes o' the day:
George Will:
According to the University of Illinois' Arctic Climate Research Center, global sea ice levels now equal those of 1979.
The University of Illinois' Arctic Climate Research Center:
We do not know where George Will is getting his information, but our data shows that on February 15, 1979, global sea ice area was 16.79 million sq. km and on February 15, 2009, global sea ice area was 15.45 million sq. km. Therefore, global sea ice levels are 1.34 million sq. km less in February 2009 than in February 1979. This decrease in sea ice area is roughly equal to the area of Texas, California, and Oklahoma combined.
It is disturbing that the Washington Post would publish such information without first checking the facts.
