The Physics (and Economics) of Wheelchairs on Planes

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The Physics (and Economics) of Wheelchairs on Planes

Indeed, regulations prohibit passengers from sitting in their own wheelchairs on planes, and, as a result, 29 years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which dramatically increased American wheelchair users’ access to buses, trains, and other essential 21st century infrastructure, airplanes remain stubbornly inaccessible. For many wheelchair users, the experience of flying is stressful, painful, and sometimes humiliating. For some, it is simply impossible.

Imgur user shows map of every river basin in the US | Daily Mail Online

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Imgur user shows map of every river basin in the US | Daily Mail Online

A stunning new map shows the complex network of rivers and streams in the contiguous United States.

Created by Imgur user Fejetlenfej, a geographer and GIS analyst with a ‘lifelong passion for beautiful maps,’ it highlights the massive expanse of river basins across the country – in particular, those which feed the Mississippi River.

The map visualizes Strahler Stream Order Classification, the creator explains, with higher stream orders indicated as thicker lines.

A “historic” or “an historic”

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A “historic” or “an historic”

A well known grammar rule says that we should use an before vowel sounds; for example, an accident, an item, an hour. We use a otherwise: a book, a hotel, a university.

Notice that we say an hour, not a hour. The choice of a or an is based upon the sound of the word, not the spelling. Hour sounds as if it starts with a vowel sound (ow); hence, we use an.

Following this rule, we would say a historic, not an historic because (for most speakers) historic doesn't start with a vowel sound.

NPR

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GM And LG Chem Plan $2.3 Billion Electric Battery Venture In Ohio : NPR

General Motors and LG Chemical plan to make battery cells for electric-powered vehicles, unveiling a joint venture that they expect to create more than 1,100 jobs in northeast Ohio. The companies say they'll invest up to $2.3 billion in the venture.

The project is centered around Lordstown, Ohio, where GM shuttered a plant last March that had produced the Chevrolet Cruze. The new plant in the Lordstown area will make battery cells for GM's upcoming all-electric vehicles, from a Cadillac sedan to a new electric truck that's slated for release in late 2021.

December 6, 2019 Morning

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Good morning! Happy Saint Nicholas Day 🎅 on this Friday! I actually like the holiday of Saint Nicholas Day the way they celebrate in Holland with the wooden clogs and the cookies and candies. With the snow it’s been a long week and guess what we’re getting more snow today. Four weeks to Latest Sunrise of the Winter 🌄️. Clouds and 24 degrees in Delmar, NY. ☁ There is a south-southeast breeze at 5 mph. 🍃. There are 15 inches of snow on the ground. ☃ ️Things will start to thaw out at Sunday around 11 pm. 🌡️

Taking a bus downtown on the expressway with a red idiot light flashing. 🚍 I think we’ll make it, not the low air pressure or low oil pressure buzzer. I mean, it’s diesel and not much else will actually stop a diesel. 🚨Trust me, I watch Western Champlain’s YouTube. Rarely does anything beyond that work on his diesels. 💨 That said, I am starting to think it was an air leak — I did notice the light went off when the driver had the foot and brake. But I made it to work on time!

I was running late 🏃 but the bus driver caught me going down to the bus so he gave me a ride which saved a bit of time and ensured that I made it on time to work. ⌚ While I have been leaving at the normal time, with the snow banks and ice, I’ve been finding my walk down to the express bus takes longer.

Today will snow likely, mainly after noon. Cloudy 🌨, with a high of 34 degrees at 1pm. Five degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around December 20th. Southeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible. Going to be warm enough in the city that it shouldn’t stick to the roads much. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies in the morning with some clearing in the afternoon. The high in the year 2017 was 53 degrees. The record high of 68 was set in 2001. 12.5 inches of snow fell back in 2003.❄

The sun will set at 4:22 pm with dusk around 4:53 pm, which is 8 seconds earlier than yesterday. 🌇 At sunset, look for some remaining snow showers to possibly be around 🌨 and temperatures around 32 degrees. There will be a calm wind. That said, I’m not convinced there will be much in the way of impacts for commuters today. Today will have 9 hours and 11 minutes of daytime, an decrease of one minute and 7 seconds over yesterday.

Tonight will have a chance of snow, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy 🌨, with a low of 21 degrees at 4am. Four degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around December 15th. Maximum wind chill around 18 at 3am; Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming light after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. In 2017, we had mostly clear skies in the evening, which became partly cloudy by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 26 degrees. The record low of -7 occurred back in 1901.

25 days remain until the end of the year. I hope you’ve worked to maximize this year to the best of your ability. 🎉🎊 Also, 200 days until state primary day. ✅ That said, I look forward to the challenges that 2020 will bring for sure.

Today in 1902, a coal mine explosion at Monongah, West Virginia, kills 362 workers. 💥 And in 1953, Vladimir Nabokov completes his controversial novel Lolita. 😮 More uplifting is Adrian Kantrowitz performs the first human heart transplant in the United States in 1967.💗

Tomorrow will be mostly sunny 🌞, with a high of 31 degrees at 1pm. Eight degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical Calm wind becoming northwest 5 to 8 mph in the morning. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies in the morning with some clearing in the afternoon. The high last year was 41 degrees. The record high of 65 was set in 1998. 5.5 inches of snow fell back in 2003.❄

Looking ahead to Sunday, mostly sunny, with a high near 37. ☀ Light south wind increasing to 9 to 14 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph. Typical average high for the weekend is 39 degrees.

Looking ahead, there are 4 weeks until Latest Sunrise of the Winter 🌄️ when the sun will be setting at 4:34 pm with dusk at 5:05 pm. On that day in 2018, we had snow showers, mostly cloudy and temperatures between 22 and 7 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 31 degrees. We hit a record high of 61 back in 1913.

Acra Point and Bativa Kill Valley