Comments on: For once, news about why we're safer than we used to be http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 14:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: xopl http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-380420 xopl Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-380420 Boing Boing CLEARLY forgot to knock on wood. Way to go guys. Boing Boing CLEARLY forgot to knock on wood.

Way to go guys.

]]> By: Xopher http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-379404 Xopher Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-379404 Arkizzle, no, but like most functions of the gay community, hot pursuit* of the wicked is handled by volunteers, and the bear was off at IML. ___ *Not to be confused with <em>In Hot Pursuit</em>, which is a porn movie starring Jeff Stryker. Arkizzle, no, but like most functions of the gay community, hot pursuit* of the wicked is handled by volunteers, and the bear was off at IML.

___
*Not to be confused with In Hot Pursuit, which is a porn movie starring Jeff Stryker.

]]> By: andrewm http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-379408 andrewm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-379408 @Merreborn: there's also Comair Flight 5191 which crashed on August 27, 2006. 49 of the 50 passengers aboard the CRJ-100 died but apparently a 50-seat plan isn't "full size". @Merreborn: there’s also Comair Flight 5191 which crashed on August 27, 2006. 49 of the 50 passengers aboard the CRJ-100 died but apparently a 50-seat plan isn’t “full size”.

]]> By: airshowfan http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-379927 airshowfan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-379927 As for the elected-president statistic: There are almost 1 billion passengers in US flights per year. Between the one or two small-airliner accidents per year and the one big-airliner accident every few year, say that on average some dozens of passengers die per year, out of that almost-one-billion. That means that when you get on a flight, the chance of you not surviving it is something like one in some tens of millions ("some tens of millions" times "some dozens" equaling "almost one billion"). Now, each time an election comes around, how many people are eligible to become president? If it's "some tens of millions", then the odds are certainly comparable to dying in any one particular flight. But I think it's more like "over one hundred million". So the odds of dying in a particular flight are probably less than the odds of becoming president, but they're within one order of magnitude or so, according to my quick estimate here. And if you TRY to become president, you are more likely to succeed than you are of dying in any one particular flight, since the number of people who try to become president is far smaller than the number of people who are theoretically eligible. As for the elected-president statistic: There are almost 1 billion passengers in US flights per year. Between the one or two small-airliner accidents per year and the one big-airliner accident every few year, say that on average some dozens of passengers die per year, out of that almost-one-billion. That means that when you get on a flight, the chance of you not surviving it is something like one in some tens of millions (“some tens of millions” times “some dozens” equaling “almost one billion”). Now, each time an election comes around, how many people are eligible to become president? If it’s “some tens of millions”, then the odds are certainly comparable to dying in any one particular flight. But I think it’s more like “over one hundred million”. So the odds of dying in a particular flight are probably less than the odds of becoming president, but they’re within one order of magnitude or so, according to my quick estimate here. And if you TRY to become president, you are more likely to succeed than you are of dying in any one particular flight, since the number of people who try to become president is far smaller than the number of people who are theoretically eligible.

]]> By: Banksynergy http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-379416 Banksynergy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-379416 @ the first 7 posts: Geeeeeze, tough crowd! *tugs comically at Steven's collar for him* @ the first 7 posts:
Geeeeeze, tough crowd!
*tugs comically at Steven’s collar for him*

]]> By: skeeto http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-380185 skeeto Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-380185 Dice have no memory. Dice have no memory.

]]> By: grimc http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-379418 grimc Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-379418 @andrewm What plane <i>is</i> "full size" anymore? Airlines should just rip out all the seats, install subway hang-on straps and get it over with. @andrewm

What plane is “full size” anymore? Airlines should just rip out all the seats, install subway hang-on straps and get it over with.

]]> By: Ari B. http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-380444 Ari B. Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-380444 To quote the Woody Allen play Don't Drink the Water: "Be thankful nobody died. Wonderful, we're thinking about making that our new slogan." To quote the Woody Allen play Don’t Drink the Water:

“Be thankful nobody died. Wonderful, we’re thinking about making that our new slogan.”

]]> By: js7a http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-381469 js7a Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-381469 If you want to thank someone for reduced accident rates, thank your local actuary. And offer them a job, too, because AIG stopped hiring after NOAA admitted that greenhouse gases cause increased storm strength during the tail end of the 2004-2008 hurricane seasons. If you want to thank someone for reduced accident rates, thank your local actuary. And offer them a job, too, because AIG stopped hiring after NOAA admitted that greenhouse gases cause increased storm strength during the tail end of the 2004-2008 hurricane seasons.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-379422 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-379422 Working at Boeing as a structural engineer here in Seattle has taught me the almost insane lengths we go to to make planes safe. Thanks for the props! When Chinese planes start coming out we'll see. Working at Boeing as a structural engineer here in Seattle has taught me the almost insane lengths we go to to make planes safe. Thanks for the props!

When Chinese planes start coming out we’ll see.

]]> By: TheChickenAndTheRice http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-380446 TheChickenAndTheRice Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-380446 That's what we call an "auspicious beginning." That’s what we call an “auspicious beginning.”

]]> By: Beedie http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-380702 Beedie Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-380702 @ GREGLONDON: "How shallow is the Hudson River anyway?" In the 50+ foot range, based on a comparison of news maps and a nautical chart layer in Google Earth. So, not very shallow. @ GREGLONDON:

“How shallow is the Hudson River anyway?”

In the 50+ foot range, based on a comparison of news maps and a nautical chart layer in Google Earth.

So, not very shallow.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-396063 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-396063 Whats greater? Chances of me hiiting the big one on the lottery or dying in a plane crash? I swear theres a tie-in promotion for either/and/or planes lottery tickets somewhere in there. Whats greater? Chances of me hiiting the big one on the lottery or dying in a plane crash? I swear theres a tie-in promotion for either/and/or planes lottery tickets somewhere in there.

]]> By: Tirjasdyn http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-379935 Tirjasdyn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-379935 Um...people die on US airlines all the time. However in order to keep people from panicking and to record proper place of death it's not reported until they land, and they don't acknowledge it until all the passengers are off the plane. My aunt's a flight attendant. As for accidents...while there are not many planes that tend to fall out of the sky...it does happen...though the major US carriers have been lucky...it's only been a month since a Continental 737 burst into flames during take off...in Denver. Safe...yeah, more inconvenient, stupid and still has problems and people still die...yes. Bring back trains for domestic transport please. Um…people die on US airlines all the time. However in order to keep people from panicking and to record proper place of death it’s not reported until they land, and they don’t acknowledge it until all the passengers are off the plane.

My aunt’s a flight attendant.

As for accidents…while there are not many planes that tend to fall out of the sky…it does happen…though the major US carriers have been lucky…it’s only been a month since a Continental 737 burst into flames during take off…in Denver.

Safe…yeah, more inconvenient, stupid and still has problems and people still die…yes.

Bring back trains for domestic transport please.

]]> By: wegerje http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-379426 wegerje Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-379426 <b>There is a very good reason why there are fewer fatalities.</b> Read the book <i>Outliers</i> by Macolm Gladstone. The reason is that airplane accidents happen when serveral things go wrong at the same time or in a series. Three four five or seven or nine things often have gone wrong before the accident. So it is no accident, no pun intended, that very conscious efforts by airlines led to specific pilot and more specifically flight crew training that is responsible for fewer accidents. One airline showed an especially significant turn-around and that's Korean Air. When they began training their co-pilots and first engineers to be more assertive with their captains and trained the captains to be more egalitarian with the rest of the crew they began their turn around from almost being de-certified from flying into the U.S. to getting an award for being one of the safest airlines around. Having more eyes and minds paying attention is a huge help, but if those eyes and minds are too timid about their concerns then it does little good. Gladstone does a better job than I, so find the book and read it. -Jeff Wegerson There is a very good reason why there are fewer fatalities.
Read the book Outliers by Macolm Gladstone. The reason is that airplane accidents happen when serveral things go wrong at the same time or in a series. Three four five or seven or nine things often have gone wrong before the accident. So it is no accident, no pun intended, that very conscious efforts by airlines led to specific pilot and more specifically flight crew training that is responsible for fewer accidents.

One airline showed an especially significant turn-around and that’s Korean Air. When they began training their co-pilots and first engineers to be more assertive with their captains and trained the captains to be more egalitarian with the rest of the crew they began their turn around from almost being de-certified from flying into the U.S. to getting an award for being one of the safest airlines around.

Having more eyes and minds paying attention is a huge help, but if those eyes and minds are too timid about their concerns then it does little good.

Gladstone does a better job than I, so find the book and read it.

-Jeff Wegerson

]]> By: arkizzle http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-379428 arkizzle Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-379428 IML, well I never :) <i>And I don't mean the Illinois Municipal League</i>. IML, well I never :)

And I don’t mean the Illinois Municipal League.

]]> By: Bray_beast http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-379942 Bray_beast Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-379942 It may be a bit nit-picky, but there was the December, 2005 incident in which Southwest jet slid off the end of the runway and ran over a parked car containing a child, killing him. http://publicsafety.com/article/article.jsp?id=2578&siteSection=4 Midway can be a scary landing in the winter. The runways are quite short. It may be a bit nit-picky, but there was the December, 2005 incident in which Southwest jet slid off the end of the runway and ran over a parked car containing a child, killing him.

http://publicsafety.com/article/article.jsp?id=2578&siteSection=4

Midway can be a scary landing in the winter. The runways are quite short.

]]> By: Tirjasdyn http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-379943 Tirjasdyn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-379943 Oh if mean just terrorist related...okay...except there doesn't seem to be a lot of people who've actually tried since the shoe bomber. Oh if mean just terrorist related…okay…except there doesn’t seem to be a lot of people who’ve actually tried since the shoe bomber.

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-379438 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-379438 NCK, that's hilarious. Dbarak, good eye. Anon and all working to keep us safe: keep on grinding, we appreciate it! NCK, that’s hilarious.
Dbarak, good eye.
Anon and all working to keep us safe: keep on grinding, we appreciate it!

]]> By: jphilby http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-379696 jphilby Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-379696 I'd noticed the lack of air accidents since 911, but wasn't aware of Flight 587. I DO recall the American Airlines plane that went down near L.A. because the mechanics *failed to grease the jackscrew* ... and 88 people died. Good news is welcome ... *any* good news. I think it's news that, since we've had the internet, the quality and depth of discussion and awareness on some public forums has noticeably increased. Also, the election of Obama evidenced some political acuity in the young for the first time since the 60s. That's *very* good news. Because it's time for the corrupt geezers to retire. I’d noticed the lack of air accidents since 911, but wasn’t aware of Flight 587. I DO recall the American Airlines plane that went down near L.A. because the mechanics *failed to grease the jackscrew* … and 88 people died.

Good news is welcome … *any* good news. I think it’s news that, since we’ve had the internet, the quality and depth of discussion and awareness on some public forums has noticeably increased. Also, the election of Obama evidenced some political acuity in the young for the first time since the 60s. That’s *very* good news. Because it’s time for the corrupt geezers to retire.

]]> By: akindle http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-380468 akindle Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-380468 This is an interesting coincidence! Happy to know everyone's safe. Steve, I would be curious to know what factors caused that anecdote you mentioned (that led you to write this story) to come into your mind yesterday, rather than on some other random day. Isn't this what Carl Jung called a synchronicity? <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchronicity" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchronicity</a>. This is an interesting coincidence! Happy to know everyone’s safe. Steve, I would be curious to know what factors caused that anecdote you mentioned (that led you to write this story) to come into your mind yesterday, rather than on some other random day. Isn’t this what Carl Jung called a synchronicity? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchronicity.

]]> By: oohShiny http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-379451 oohShiny Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-379451 "[MIT Professor Arnold] Barnett calculates that it's more likely for a young child to be elected president in his or her lifetime than to die on a single jet flight in the USA or in similar industrial nations in Europe, Canada or Japan." As a Canadian, all I can say is that I'm pretty sure my chances of being president are zero, unless he means president of Canada, which position I will create after the coup. Of course I won't hold the position in that case either, as it will be second in rank to the position of Supreme Dictator for Life, which will be <i>my</i> title. So as for me, chances of being in a plane crash are probably still higher than my being president. I'm just saying. “[MIT Professor Arnold] Barnett calculates that it’s more likely for a young child to be elected president in his or her lifetime than to die on a single jet flight in the USA or in similar industrial nations in Europe, Canada or Japan.”

As a Canadian, all I can say is that I’m pretty sure my chances of being president are zero, unless he means president of Canada, which position I will create after the coup. Of course I won’t hold the position in that case either, as it will be second in rank to the position of Supreme Dictator for Life, which will be my title.

So as for me, chances of being in a plane crash are probably still higher than my being president.

I’m just saying.

]]> By: zuzu http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-379456 zuzu Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-379456 <blockquote>Gladstone does a better job than I, so find the book and read it.</blockquote>Glad<i>well</i>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Gladwell" rel="nofollow">Malcolm Gladwell</a>. (Shaken, not stirred! :p )

Gladstone does a better job than I, so find the book and read it.

Gladwell. Malcolm Gladwell.

(Shaken, not stirred! :p )

]]> By: kiltreiser http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-379721 kiltreiser Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-379721 That article was just plain responsible. If we're not constantly scared then how can we be controlled effectively? It's for our own protection, panic! For some reason that just reminded me of the Mitchell And Webb sketch of the two news presenters reporting on how everything is fine. Literally nothing going wrong. Everything's okay. I laughed my ass off when they started reading the newspaper headlines - "And the Daily Mail leads with 'Everything Fine. Fear It! Fear It!'" That article was just plain responsible. If we’re not constantly scared then how can we be controlled effectively? It’s for our own protection, panic!

For some reason that just reminded me of the Mitchell And Webb sketch of the two news presenters reporting on how everything is fine. Literally nothing going wrong. Everything’s okay. I laughed my ass off when they started reading the newspaper headlines – “And the Daily Mail leads with ‘Everything Fine. Fear It! Fear It!’”

]]> By: Avram / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-379477 Avram / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-379477 What happens to the figures if you state them in terms of accidents per some consistent number of airplane-miles flown? Or number of trips? What happens to the figures if you state them in terms of accidents per some consistent number of airplane-miles flown? Or number of trips?

]]> By: pjcamp http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-379480 pjcamp Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-379480 Partial response to Merreborn and others: Yes, regulation is largely responsible. Almost all accidents occur on takeoff or landing, and almost all of those used to be caused by microbursts. That hazard has all but vanished due to the FAA mandating the installation of Doppler radar just about everywhere. This buildout occured from about 1995 to about 2001. Partial response to Merreborn and others:

Yes, regulation is largely responsible. Almost all accidents occur on takeoff or landing, and almost all of those used to be caused by microbursts. That hazard has all but vanished due to the FAA mandating the installation of Doppler radar just about everywhere. This buildout occured from about 1995 to about 2001.

]]> By: Digital Artz http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-379483 Digital Artz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-379483 My only fear of flying is when we cant get our TV sets on Jetblue working. My only fear of flying is when
we cant get our TV sets on Jetblue working.

]]> By: dainel http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-379996 dainel Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-379996 <i>#30 heckdogg ... If a kid lived to be 100 and there were no incumbents there would be 25 presidents. Why is he more likely to be one of the 25 than the thousands more that will be killed in plane accidents ...</i> How our good professor arrives at this conclusion is easily explained. It's been 7 years since the last fatal crash of a full-sized plane in the US (allegedly), and the average term of US presidents are somewhat less than 7 years (considering those serving single 4 year terms, and those who do not complete their terms, as well as those who serve the full 8 year two-terms). Therefore the frequency of plane fatal plane crashes are lower than new presidents being elected. Therefore a child will have a greater chance of being elected president. I sure hope [MIT Professor Arnold] Barnett is not a professor in maths. #30 heckdogg … If a kid lived to be 100 and there were no incumbents there would be 25 presidents. Why is he more likely to be one of the 25 than the thousands more that will be killed in plane accidents …

How our good professor arrives at this conclusion is easily explained.

It’s been 7 years since the last fatal crash of a full-sized plane in the US (allegedly), and the average term of US presidents are somewhat less than 7 years (considering those serving single 4 year terms, and those who do not complete their terms, as well as those who serve the full 8 year two-terms). Therefore the frequency of plane fatal plane crashes are lower than new presidents being elected. Therefore a child will have a greater chance of being elected president.

I sure hope [MIT Professor Arnold] Barnett is not a professor in maths.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-380510 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-380510 The wonderful news that no one die, if anything, reinforces the point of the original post. But it is an axiom of journalism not to tempt fate in this way. Cartoonists, in particular, live in terror that some apparently innocuous reference will the next morning look as if it was devised in the worst possible taste. The wonderful news that no one die, if anything, reinforces the point of the original post.
But it is an axiom of journalism not to tempt fate in this way. Cartoonists, in particular, live in terror that some apparently innocuous reference will the next morning look as if it was devised in the worst possible taste.

]]> By: IHR2 http://boingboing.net/2009/01/14/for-once-news-about.html#comment-379753 IHR2 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-379753 I like the bit about the kids being more likely to become president. I just don't understand why the little girls have a much smaller chance of dying on an individual flight than the boys. I like the bit about the kids being more likely to become president. I just don’t understand why the little girls have a much smaller chance of dying on an individual flight than the boys.

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