Comments on: Giant smoke ring hovers over theme park http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 21:41:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525833 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525833 Maybe God just lost her contact lens? Maybe God just lost her contact lens?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-526091 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-526091 I saw something similar years ago. It was during an air show in San Diego and it hovered over over the airfield but it was vertical. I stared at it for about 20 minutes, no one else seemed to notice it (it really required binoculars to see clearly). but is was very strange. I saw something similar years ago. It was during an air show in San Diego and it hovered over over the airfield but it was vertical. I stared at it for about 20 minutes, no one else seemed to notice it (it really required binoculars to see clearly).

but is was very strange.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525581 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525581 run!!! run!!! the sky is falling the sky is falling run!!! run!!! the sky is falling the sky is falling

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525583 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525583 hoop (light weight?) tower near by... mono-filament fish line overhead trolley system? hoop (light weight?) tower near by… mono-filament fish line overhead trolley system?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525584 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525584 King's Dominion has a massive rollercoaster called the Volcano that features (you guessed it)...a volcano. It blows smoke rings. End of story. King’s Dominion has a massive rollercoaster called the Volcano that features (you guessed it)…a volcano. It blows smoke rings. End of story.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525589 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525589 Very common sight at one time in Nevada and certain tropical islands. This one just seems a bit smaller. http://www.bordalierinstitute.com/images/nuclearExplosion.jpg Very common sight at one time in Nevada and certain tropical islands. This one just seems a bit smaller.

http://www.bordalierinstitute.com/images/nuclearExplosion.jpg

]]> By: toxonix http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525849 toxonix Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525849 I warned them about the distortion in the cloaking field around narrow angled edges. I warned them about the distortion in the cloaking field around narrow angled edges.

]]> By: ChunkyMonkeyBrain http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525596 ChunkyMonkeyBrain Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525596 "I seem to have lost my contact lens - has anyone seen it?" “I seem to have lost my contact lens – has anyone seen it?”

]]> By: hawkins http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525600 hawkins Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525600 This is a smoke ring from the fake volcano in the park. It's a feature, as we say. This is discussed at length on sites ranging from the roller coaster critics: http://www.thecoastercritic.com/2009/06/ufo-over-kings-domininion-volcano.html ...to the bad astronomy folks: http://www.bautforum.com/life-space/89623-ring-ufo-above-kings-dominion.html This is a smoke ring from the fake volcano in the park.

It’s a feature, as we say.

This is discussed at length on sites ranging from the roller coaster critics:
http://www.thecoastercritic.com/2009/06/ufo-over-kings-domininion-volcano.html

…to the bad astronomy folks:

http://www.bautforum.com/life-space/89623-ring-ufo-above-kings-dominion.html

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525601 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525601 I, for one, welcome our smokey ringed overlords. I, for one, welcome our smokey ringed overlords.

]]> By: bbonyx http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525603 bbonyx Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525603 @#1 - Wow Tak, I thought for *sure* this one would be a shoe in for another hail canon reference. ;) "Throw another ziploc of Marlboros in the hail canon" @#1 – Wow Tak, I thought for *sure* this one would be a shoe in for another hail canon reference. ;)

“Throw another ziploc of Marlboros in the hail canon”

]]> By: blackanvil http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525606 blackanvil Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525606 The park has a roller coaster with a propane-fired volcano, I would guess this is a smoke ring from that ride, since every so often they send out a large plume of fire. In still air, a sudden influx of hot air and smoke could form a smoke ring, and I remember seeing less persistant rings coming off the ride. Yep, looks like I'm not the only one to think this: http://www.thecoastercritic.com/2009/06/ufo-over-kings-domininion-volcano.html --doug The park has a roller coaster with a propane-fired volcano, I would guess this is a smoke ring from that ride, since every so often they send out a large plume of fire. In still air, a sudden influx of hot air and smoke could form a smoke ring, and I remember seeing less persistant rings coming off the ride.

Yep, looks like I’m not the only one to think this:
http://www.thecoastercritic.com/2009/06/ufo-over-kings-domininion-volcano.html

–doug

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525608 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525608 (should've used high resolution in first place), yah, I see the knobbly, smokey texture now. Amazing how stable a vortex ring can be. Didn't we just have a discussion about dolphin vortex ring bubbles? (should’ve used high resolution in first place), yah, I see the knobbly, smokey texture now. Amazing how stable a vortex ring can be. Didn’t we just have a discussion about dolphin vortex ring bubbles?

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525610 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525610 http://www.instructables.com/id/Paper-Cup-Air-Cannon/ http://www.instructables.com/id/Paper-Cup-Air-Cannon/

]]> By: Zan http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525619 Zan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525619 Any stills or screenshots available for those of us at youtube-challenged workplaces? Any stills or screenshots available for those of us at youtube-challenged workplaces?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525622 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525622 You can see the creation of these smoke rings in action from an individual who was doing this at Burning Man in 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHpBComsngQ You can see the creation of these smoke rings in action from an individual who was doing this at Burning Man in 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHpBComsngQ

]]> By: Bill Beaty http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525884 Bill Beaty Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525884 Ever actually play with smoke rings? They often look like rigid translucent rings; a sharp-edged image. If you use black smoke, they look dark grey as in this video. Depending on how you tap the launcher diaphragm, you can make them move fast, slow, or stop in place. You *can* make them turbulent like a whirling cloud, but those kind fly apart and don't last very long. The clean rings last nearly forever since they're laminar flows, not turbulent. (If you encounter a mysterious sky-ring, then it has to be the clean non-smokey kind.) Mount Etna blowing steam-rings http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbV98Z0QP-k Blow your own underwater bubble rings http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raYdPLnZ2F0 Collision http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJk8ijAUCiI Smoke ring toy: Mighty Blaster http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LlbiakM7o4 Ever actually play with smoke rings? They often look like rigid translucent rings; a sharp-edged image. If you use black smoke, they look dark grey as in this video.

Depending on how you tap the launcher diaphragm, you can make them move fast, slow, or stop in place. You *can* make them turbulent like a whirling cloud, but those kind fly apart and don’t last very long. The clean rings last nearly forever since they’re laminar flows, not turbulent. (If you encounter a mysterious sky-ring, then it has to be the clean non-smokey kind.)

Mount Etna blowing steam-rings
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbV98Z0QP-k

Blow your own underwater bubble rings
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raYdPLnZ2F0

Collision
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJk8ijAUCiI

Smoke ring toy: Mighty Blaster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LlbiakM7o4

]]> By: ryuthrowsstuff http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525632 ryuthrowsstuff Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525632 Did no one read the article linked at the bottom. It points out the volcano ride smoke rings right there. In fact the article also points out that the original you tube comments offer that as the explanation, and note that its a regular occurrence at the park. Did no one read the article linked at the bottom. It points out the volcano ride smoke rings right there. In fact the article also points out that the original you tube comments offer that as the explanation, and note that its a regular occurrence at the park.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525636 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525636 Long-lasting smoke rings are not hard to make. We've gotten them accidentally while having fun with explosives a few times. They're pretty cool, but they're not otherworldly as some have suggested about this one. Long-lasting smoke rings are not hard to make. We’ve gotten them accidentally while having fun with explosives a few times. They’re pretty cool, but they’re not otherworldly as some have suggested about this one.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525640 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525640 It IS the smoke ring from Kings Dominion's coaster Volcano. I've seen it a lot while there. On clear days they blow away easier but I guess the clouds cap them in temperature wise... The one I remember most was black and it hovered over the coaster and didn't move for a minute or so... It IS the smoke ring from Kings Dominion’s coaster Volcano. I’ve seen it a lot while there. On clear days they blow away easier but I guess the clouds cap them in temperature wise… The one I remember most was black and it hovered over the coaster and didn’t move for a minute or so…

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525646 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525646 a good example of how "UFO" photographs are subject to ambiguous interpretation. I imagine they haul out all the oldest images and sieve them through the latest software and enhancement tech every now and then - still no Martians, dammit. a good example of how “UFO” photographs are subject to ambiguous interpretation. I imagine they haul out all the oldest images and sieve them through the latest software and enhancement tech every now and then – still no Martians, dammit.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525902 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525902 Halo? Master Chief? Maybe? Perhaps? Halo? Master Chief? Maybe? Perhaps?

]]> By: chrisrosa http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525650 chrisrosa Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525650 Those familiar with the Burning of The Man, will know these things aren't so unidentifiable. http://bit.ly/uQOrv Those familiar with the Burning of The Man, will know these things aren’t so unidentifiable.

http://bit.ly/uQOrv

]]> By: Steve Schnier http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525658 Steve Schnier Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525658 I for one, welcome our new Smoke-Ring UFO Overlords! I for one, welcome our new Smoke-Ring UFO Overlords!

]]> By: pupdog http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525667 pupdog Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525667 Obviously, someone was trying to pull off a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_First_Duty">Kolvoord Starburst<a></a></a> Obviously, someone was trying to pull off a Kolvoord Starburst

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-575843 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-575843 July 28, 2009 - Six Flags Great Adventure Amusement Park, Jackson, NJ. Same type of ring spotted between 6 and 6:30pm by large group of people by the Kingda-Ka roller coaster. Never lost its shape as it drifted northwest. And there is no Volcano attraction at this park! July 28, 2009 – Six Flags Great Adventure Amusement Park, Jackson, NJ. Same type of ring spotted between 6 and 6:30pm by large group of people by the Kingda-Ka roller coaster. Never lost its shape as it drifted northwest. And there is no Volcano attraction at this park!

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525671 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525671 mmm vortex rings... in ferro-magnetic fluid? mmm vortex rings… in ferro-magnetic fluid?

]]> By: jawsy http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525936 jawsy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525936 I guess they didn't hear about Obama's anti-smoking bill. I guess they didn’t hear about Obama’s anti-smoking bill.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525939 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525939 what kind of vortex ring dynamics would you get from a flock of autonomous robot insect's wing-force interaction? Birds fly in "V" formation to maximize energy efficiency for the flock, why don't they fly in toroids? I've never seen fish in toroidal school either. The advantage seems to be stability in a fluid medium, surely there was an evolutionary use for that somewhere? what kind of vortex ring dynamics would you get from a flock of autonomous robot insect’s wing-force interaction? Birds fly in “V” formation to maximize energy efficiency for the flock, why don’t they fly in toroids? I’ve never seen fish in toroidal school either. The advantage seems to be stability in a fluid medium, surely there was an evolutionary use for that somewhere?

]]> By: zikman http://boingboing.net/2009/06/24/giant-smoke-ring-hov.html#comment-525687 zikman Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-525687 hey I used to work there. for two weeks. hey I used to work there. for two weeks.

]]>