Jumat, 24 Desember 2010
Happy Holidays!
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Minggu, 05 Desember 2010
Selasa, 23 November 2010
Profit Maximizing an Amusement Park: Six Flags Food Rebranding
Just read the rumor over on Screamscape.com about Six Flags rebranding the food options in their parks (ie. Papa John's Pizza to a generic pizza place). At first glance, this doesn't make any sense to me. In this report from January 7th, 2010 they claim branding their food significantly increased their revenue:
Six Flags' ability to rapidly identify and effectively capitalize on sponsorship opportunities is a part of the significant growth in gross revenue per capita and gross profit per capita. For example, replacing unbranded pizza in 2006 with Papa John's, a newly-acquired national sponsor, increased gross revenue per capita spending on pizza by 93% and increased gross profit per capita on pizza by 87% by 2008. Similarly, replacing unbranded hamburgers with Johnny Rockets increased gross revenue per capita spending on hamburgers by 42% and increased gross profit per capita on hamburgers by 30% by 2008.
If branding their food resulted in increased gross revenue why would they suddenly un-brand it? Well, I think the key word here is REVENUE. Their revenue increased and they make no mention of what the PROFIT was. So, branding their food options may have increased revenue but profits could be down, we just don't know. Another key missing piece of information is the price of the food. The revenue may have gone up only because the price of a piece of pizza dramatically increased. If the price was higher for Papa John's brand, then you've got your per-cap growth right there. That's just an increase in spending however, it doesn't reflect an increase in profits if the cost of that product was also higher.
From what I've heard, for many of these name brand sites, the deals had Six Flags only getting
a percentage of the cost of the items... and not the full profit. Not sure, but I wonder if they were franchised out entirely with the staff being employees of Papa John's and not Six Flags.
This is much the same way that a lot of ride photo stands started out long ago, and I know Lo-Q works the same way with the flash passes. Lo-Q runs the stands, Lo-Q pays for the install in the park and still owns the devices and system. This is why Six Flags Flash Pass is so expensive, because Lo-Q takes most of the profits from the system as the operator, and just gives Six Flags a percentage off the top.
Same goes with all those crazy locker systems Six Flags put in. Six Flags didn't pay for them, they are leased out by an outside vendor, much like all the soda machines in the parks. That's why you don't see soda machines in Disney... they make more money by having their own stands with employees running them to sell plastic coke bottles all day. I'm guessing Six Flags can't staff enough employees to make this work out for them, so they went the automated machine route.
If it made better financial sense to outsource, even the big parks in Orlando would think about it, but they don't... because you always make more money in the end by owning everything you sell and cut out all the middle-men whenever possible.
Anyway, from what I'm told, all of these deals are under renegotiations and unless the terms are a lot better for Six Flags, they are leaving.
Minggu, 21 November 2010
Holiday Shopping?
Do you need a little extra cash during this holiday season? Start using the internet to your advantage to make some additional revenue. See the sidebar for the most popular sites I use to make fast money off of the internet. They're all free and easy to use. You don't have to put anything into it except a little time. Sites like Opinion Outpost pay you to take surveys online. Within a few weeks of joining you could be holding a check for $100!
Black Friday Deals Week:http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=384082011&tag=ca0a8-20 Read More...
Senin, 15 November 2010
Planning a Wedding or Large Group Event? Get a Shutterbooth!
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Minggu, 14 November 2010
IAPPA Convention This Week
I hear IAPPA has an opening for a new president. Hmmm. Read More...
Selasa, 02 November 2010
Cantilevered Coaster Update
Just a quick CRC update for you. I'm working on a new simulation with a longer length track and more realistic movement (more sweeping transitions). This are just a few quick screen shots so the quality isn't great. Video coming soon (hopefully)! Read More...
Sabtu, 30 Oktober 2010
70 Ibu Rumah Tangga Surabaya Positif HIV/AIDS
"Awalnya memang sulit dipercaya, tapi setelah dilakukan pemeriksaan, hasilnya seperti itu. Sebab penularan virus ini tidak hanya dari hubungan seks bebas saja, namun bisa melalui jarum suntik yang tidak steril. Justru itulah yang kita khawatirkan," ujarnya.
Ia menceritakan, pernah ada pasien seorang ibu rumah tangga yang tidak percaya mengidap positif HIV/AIDS. Namun, ketika menjalani konseling, ternyata sang ibu mengaku pernah disuntik saat menderita sakit. Koordinator Unit Perawatan Intermediet dan Penyakit Infeksi (UPIPI) RSU dr Soetomo, dr Erwin Astha Trijono, SpPD mengungkapkan, banyaknya ibu rumah tangga yang terjangkit HIV/AIDS karena sosialisasi terhadap mereka yang sangat minim.
"Tidak adanya sosialisasi kepada para ibu rumah tangga tentang penularan HIV/AIDS menjadi salah satu faktor rentannya terjangkit virus. Jadi, inilah tugas kita para dokter maupun instansi terkait untuk menindaklanjuti dan selalu menyosialisasikannya," terang dia.
Karena itulah, pihaknya berharap adanya edukasi atau pendidikan sosialisasi kepada siapa saja, termasuk ibu rumah tangga. Kata dia, selama ini pendidikan penanggulangan HIV/AIDS mayoritas dilakukan terhadap remaja dan instansi tertentu. "Padahal siapa saja bisa tertular. Ini yang harus difahami dan dimengerti semuanya. Kami harap yang tertular bisa diminimalisasi lagi," tukas ahli penyakit dalam tersebut.
Data di Dinas Kesehatan, kelompok yang rentan terkena virus HIV/AIDS ini adalah orang dengan mobilitas tinggi (sipil maupun militer), perempuan, remaja, anak jalanan, pengungsi, ibu hamil, penerima transfusi darah, maupun petugas kesehatan sendiri.
Erwin juga mengatakan, saat ini sudah ada obat bagi penderita HIV/AIDS. Untuk dewasa dalam bentuk tablet, sedangkan anak-anak dalam bentuk sirup. "Syaratnya, harus diminum sesuai aturan dan tidak boleh terlambat. Tapi, virus ini bisa disembuhkan kok, sama seperti penyakit lainnya," tuturnya menjelaskan.
Rabu, 27 Oktober 2010
What are Lock Out Tag Out Procedures and how are they used?
Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO) is a practice or procedure used to safeguard employees from unexpected startup of machinery, rides and attractions, or the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance. OSHA 1910.147 requires that only an authorized or qualified individual is to perform a Lock Out Tag Out operation. These rules require that all energy sources be turned off and either locked out or tagged out while service or maintenance work is being performed.
When performing maintenance on a piece of equipment or a machine, it must be locked out before performing work. The technician needs to de-energize the power source by setting a switch of some sort to the off position. Once the power source is de-energized, the technician will need to put a safety device on the switch, plug, valve, etc. The technician will need to place a pad lock and a tag (signed and dated by technician) on the safety device. Once the maintenance is performed, the technician will need to work in reverse order (removing lockout device and powering the equipment back on) and finishing the maintenance by testing the equipment.
The LOTO procedure should capture all valuable aspects that a maintenance person will need to know to perform the work including:
- Equipment being de-energized
- Location of equipment
- Total Lockout Points
- Description of equipment
- Warnings
- Required Equipment
- Potential Hazards
- Pre-Lockout procedures
- Lockout Hazards
- Lockout Procedure
- Additional Information
- Ride Access Control (RAC) is a term used when an authorized personnel performs certain tasks before powering down an attraction/equipment.
- Announce over the PA system that the ride will be shut down.
- Lock gates.
- Verify no personnel is in proximity of attraction.
- Depress the E-stop.
- Announce over the PA system that the ride will be shut down.
- RAC is also performed after attraction/equipment has been serviced, mentioned as "bringing the ride back to life."
Recently, there was an incident at Disneyland Paris where a worker was killed while working on the "it's a small world" attraction. This is a tragedy that should never happen if LOTO procedures are performed and followed correctly.
Rabu, 20 Oktober 2010
1000 Orang Meninggal Akibat Obat Kencing Manis
Obat bernama Mediator itu menurut penelitian menyebabkan keluhan jantung dan naiknya tekanan darah. Di samping Prancis, obat tersebut juga dipasarkan di Portugal, Siprus, dan Luksemburg. Obat sudah ditarik dari pasar semua negara karena risiko kesehatan.
Pemerintah Prancis mempertimbangkan untuk mengambil langkah hukum terhadap perusahaan farmasi servier. Perusahaan sebelumnya juga sudah menghentikan penjualan obat pendahulu mediator, yaitu isomeride. Obat tersebut juga menyebabkan keluhan jantung.
Kemenkes Diharapkan Segera Selesaikan RPP Tembakau
Dorongan kuat untuk penyelesaian RPP tersebut juga muncul dari rekomendasi Asia Pasific Conference on Tobacco or Health (APACT) 2010. Dalam konferensi yang berlangsung pada 7-9 Oktober lalu delegasi Indonesia disebut Alex hanya dapat mempresentasikan kondisi petani dan perokok di tanah air tapi tidak dapat bertukar pendapat karena Indonesia belum memiliki regulasi yang mengatur tembakau.
Sebanyak 700 anggota konferensi dari 41 negara yang hadir saat itu kemudian secara aklamasi mengusulkan untuk membuat rekomendasi bagi pemerintah Indonesia karena Indonesia merupakan satu-satunya negara yang belum menandatangani deklarasi bebas tembakau. "Intinya mereka mendorong agar pemerintah segera mengesahkan regulasi yang ada, supaya sanksi yang berlaku bisa segera diterapkan," kata Alex.
Sementara itu, Menteri Kesehatan Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih mengatakan pemerintah lintas sektor masih terus membahas RPP tersebut. "Sidang terus berlangsung sampai hari ini," kata Menkes.
Endang menyebut RPP tersebut merupakan salah satu pembahasan utama yang akan dirampungkan tahun ini meskipun ia menolak menyebut kapan tepatnya akan diselesaikan. "Poin-poin yang kita minta sebenarnya sudah terpenuhi, tinggal koordinasi saja," kata Menkes.
Awas, Tahu dan Tempe Bisa Picu Sel Kanker Payudara
Namun, bagi penderita kanker payudara tipe tertentu dianjurkan untuk mengurangi konsumsi tahu dan tempe. Sebab, bisa memicu pertumbuhan sel kanker makin cepat.
Tahu dan tempe mengandung phytoestrogen, yaitu senyawa kimia yang merupakan hormon tumbuhan (phyto artinya tumbuhan), yang memliki struktur kimia menyerupai hormon estrogen pada tubuh manusia. Karena itulah phytoestrogen dianggap bisa membantu menanggulangi masalah penurunan estrogen pada wanita.
Namun, bagi penderita kanker payudara jenis tertentu, konsumsi tahu dan tempe yang bisa memicu makin meningkatnya jumlah hormon estrogen dalam tubuh yang justru bisa merangsang penyebaran kanker lebih cepat.
“Meski tidak semua kanker payudara, namun ada jenis kanker payudara tertentu yang pertumbuhan sel kankernya justru dipengaruhi oleh estrogen. Untuk itu, bagi penderita kanker payudara disarankan untuk mengurangi konsumsi makanan estrogen seperti tahu dan tempe, termasuk juga kulit ayam,” kata Ahli Kesehatan dan pemerhati gaya hidup lulusan Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Diponegeoro Semarang, Dr Grace Judio Kahl, Msc,MH,CHt dalam acara Talk Show Kesehatan di FX Plasa Sudirman, Jakarta.
Meski tahu tempe berbahaya untuk penderita kanker payudara jenis tertentu, makanan yang mudah didapat dengan harga murah ini tetap memiliki manfaat, tentunya bagi mereka yang tidak memiliki pantangan untuk mengonsumsi kedelai.
“Untuk itu, selektif dalam memilih makanan itu penting, terutama bagi Anda yang mengidap penyakit tertentu. Konsultasi dengan dokter ahli gizi untuk membantu mengatur pola makan,” ujar dr Grace.
Kamis, 07 Oktober 2010
Big Thunder Mountain CAD Recreation
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Minggu, 03 Oktober 2010
Bayi Prematur Sehat Dibungkus Plastik Sandwich
"Dokter mengatakan kepada kami, mereka tidak mengetahui bahwa bayi yang melahirkan secara prematur tersebut tetap dalam keadaan sehat dan selamat," tutur ibu Chelse Rowberry.
"Dia begitu mungil, hanya satu yang dapat mereka lakukan adalah membuatnya tetap hangat dengan plastik bungkusan sandwich," tambahnya lagi.
Rumah Sakit Royal Worcester hanya dapat merawat bayi yang baru lahir lebih dari 28 minggu. Tapi dengan fasilitas yang dimiliki rumah sakit tersebut, tidak ada waktu untuk memindahkan bayi yang bernama Lexi tersebut. Untungnya plastik sandwich cukup untuk menghangatkannya. Sekarang 11 minggu telah berlalu, Lexi beratnya 5lbs 6oz dan telah diizinkan pulang pada 3 September kemarin.
70 Persen Bayi Prematur Penyebab Tingginya Kematian
Jusuf yang ditemui dalam acara pelantikannya sebagai Guru Besar FK Unpad mengatakan, kejadian persalinan prematur diseluruh dunia masih tetap tinggi berkisar antara 10-20 persen. Menurut Jusuf, di negara maju upaya-upaya pencegahan persalinan porematur sudah dilaksanakan dengan intensif. "Di Indonesia angka kejadian persalinan prematur dan angka kematian bayi prematur masih cukup tinggi," ungkap Jusuf.
Selanjutnya, kata Jusuf, bayi yang lahir prematur apabila terus hidup akan didera dengan berbagai penyakit. Seperti,kelainan neurologis, infeksi, kelainan mental, dan gangguan pertumbuhan. "Hal ini tentu akan menyebabkan permasalahan pada kehidupan selanjutnya dari anak yang dilahirkan prematur," ungkap Jusuf.
Jusuf melakukan orasi ilmiah berkenaan dengan pelantikan Guru Besar FK Unpad yang diterimanya dalam Ilmu Kebidanan dan Ilmu Penyakit Kandungan di Aula Graha Sanusi, Unpad.
Rabu, 29 September 2010
What is the rail to rail dimension on a roller coaster?
I've modeled a number of roller coasters with different CAD programs. The hardest part of trying to recreate a ride in 3D or even creating an original yet realistic design is coming up with the dimensions. I have often wondered what the rail center to center distance is. I've searched high and low on the internet but it is not something that is easily found. Well, today I finally got some definitive data. The center to center rail distance on the Big Thunder Mountain roller coaster at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World is exactly 30 inches. Each rail has a diameter of 3 inches.
Read More...Senin, 27 September 2010
What makes Disney’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad unique?
I'm hoping a Disney geek can help me out here, but I thought the Big Thunder Mountain Railway attractions at Disney World and Disneyland were identical, mirror images of each other. However, when I check the stats on rcdb.com the track lengths are different. What gives? What are the differences between the two Thunder Mountain attractions?
Read More...Kamis, 23 September 2010
Benarkah Pil KB Picu Tumbuhnya Jerawat?
Bahkan, ada mitos yang menyatakan, sejak diciptakan 50 tahun silam, pil KB bisa sebabkan timbulnya jerawat, berat badan melambung, hingga kanker. Benarkah?
Menurut Prof. Dr.dr. Biran Affandi, SpOG (K), "Anda harus menelan pil KB pada waktu sama setiap hari. Hal yang perlu diingat adalah keteraturan, karena jika tidak teratur, keseimbangan hormon akan terganggu," katanya saat ditemui di jumpa pers 'World Contraception Day 2010' di City Walk, Jakarta.
Agar tak terjebak mitos, kenali fakta seputar pil KB berikut ini:
1. Mitos: Pil KB picu jerawat
Fakta: Dengan berkembangnya dunia farmasi, pil KB kini telah diperbaharui. Dengan tambahan kandungan drospirenon dalam pil KB justru dapat membantu mengatasi masalah jerawat ringan.
2. Mitos: Pil KB hanya berfungsi sebagai kontrasepsi
Fakta: Selain sebagai kontrasepsi, pil KB juga bermanfaat mengurangi nyeri kram saat haid dan gejala PMS lainnya, siklus haid menjadi teratur serta menurunkan risiko animea ketika datang bulan.
3. Mitos: Pil KB sebabkan kanker
Fakta: Tidak benar. Pil KB dapat melindungi tubuh dari kanker ovarium dan rahim
4. Mitos: Pil KB bikin badan gemuk
Fakta: pil KB metode teranyar dengan progestin baru, seperti drospirenon mampu mencegah terjadinya penumpukan cairan (karena estrogen), sehingga tidak membuat berat badan melonjak.
5. Mitos: Pil KB bisa sebabkan rahim kering
Fakta: Tidak ada hubungan penggunaan pil KB dengan fertilitas atau kesuburan. Justru pada wanita muda, penggunaan pil KB mampu menurunkan risiko infertilitas primer.
Ledakan AIDS di Indonesia Perlu Penanganan Serius
Menurut dia, saat ini sebanyak 21.770 kasus AIDS terjadi di seluruh kota/kabupaten Indonesia. Kasus tersebut merupakan ancaman yang sangat serius."Kasus AIDS yang terjadi di seluruh kota/Kabupaten di Indonesia sebanyak itu dihitung hingga 30 Juni 2010," katanya.
Dia menambahkan, rata-rata penderita kasus AIDS tersebut berusia 20 tahun hingga 29 tahun mencapai 37,2 persen."Sedangkan penderita AIDS yang berusia 40 hingga 49 tahun hanya mencapai 11,8 persen saja,"katanya.
Dia mengatakan, dari kasus AIDS tersebut, jumlah perbandingan penderita AIDS laki-laki dan perempuan sebesar tiga berbanding satu."Saat ini sudah ada pergeseran pola penyebaran AIDS, penyebaran terbesar terjadi lewat hubungan seks, bukan lagi jarum suntik," katanya.
Menurutnya, jumlah penderita AIDS dari seluruh Indonesia yang terbanyak di Provinsi Papua diikuti daerah Bali, kemudian DKI Jakarta."Sedangkan penderita HIV yang dominan yakni DKI Jakarta mencapai 9.804, Jawa Timur mencapai 5.973,"katanya.
Dia menambahkan, penyadaran dan pendampingan terhadap penderita HIV/AIDS perlu terus ditingkatkan, agar jumlah mereka dapat diminimalkan."Minimal kita dapat memberikan konseling dan bimbingan terhadap mereka tentang pentingnya kesadaran untuk mau berobat secara teratur, dan menyebarkan hal itu kepada penderita lainnya," katanya.
Angka Kebutaan di Indonesia Tertinggi di Asia
Diperkirakan sebanyak empat juta orang dewasa dan anak mengalami kebutaan di Indonesia dan hal tersebut memprihatinkan karena seharusnya 90 persen kebutaan dapat ditanggulangi dengan pencegahan atau pengobatan. Badan Kesehatan Dunia (WHO) telah memberikan perhatian terhadap masalah ini dengan memulai inisiatif global "Vision 2020: The Right to Sight" atau Hak Untuk Melihat.
Inisiatif global itu juga ditandatangani oleh pemerintah Indonesia yang mengeluarkan Keputusan Menteri Kesehatan Nomor 1473 tahun 2005 tentang Rencana Strategi Nasional Penanggulangan Gangguan Penglihatan dan Kebutaan (Renstranas PGPK). Adapun program prioritasnya adalah upaya penanggulangan kebutaan akibat katarak, glaukoma, kelainan refraksi dan xeroftalmia. "Untuk mengingatkan visi ini maka setiap tahun diperingat 'World Sight Day' pada minggu kedua Oktober," ujar Budihardja.
Tahun 2010 ini peringatan Hari Melihat Sedunia itu akan dilakukan pada tanggal 14 Oktober yang akan bertema "Countdown 2020". Selain kebutaan, yang perlu mendapatkan perhatian juga adalah gangguan penglihatan akibat kelainan refraksi dengan prevalensi 24,7 persen yang penderitanya antara lain sekitar 6,6 juta anak usia sekolah (5-19 tahun).
Ketua Perhimpunan Dokter Ahli Mata Indonesia Nila Moeloek memperkirakan sekitar 70-80 persen penderita gangguan refraksi di usia anak sekolah belum dapat diperbaiki menggunakan kacamata karena tingkat kesejahteraan masyarakat yang masih rendah. "Kami bekerjasama dengan pihak swasta, LSM dan ormas untuk bisa memberikan bantuan, misalnya toko kacamata kami minta untuk menyumbangkan satu atau dua kacamata untuk membantu anak sekolah ini," papar Nila.
Senin, 20 September 2010
What is the capacity of Dare Devil Dive coaster and Six Flags Over Georgia?
The Dare Devil Dive coaster was recently accounted as Six Flags Over Georgia addition for the 2011 season. The ride is a Gerstlauer Euro-fighter model featuring a 95 degree drop. The latest version of the Euro-fighters have featured cars which seat six riders (two in three rows). There are no trains; just single cars. The obvious reaction of the majority of the coaster enthusiast community was the ride will have horrible capacity resulting in huge lines and was a poor choice for Six Flags Over Georgia. This, of course, is the usual enthusiast bitching without anyone taking the time to look at the actual numbers. I guess I have to do everything.
Six Flags never provided the capacity but based on other similar models I think it is safe to assume a theoretical hourly ride capacity at 1000 people per hour. At a Disney park that would be awful. But this isn't a Disney park. Let's compare that to the other attractions at Six Flags. The total hourly capacity for all of the park's rides is 30,800. There are a total of 38 rides at the park. 30800/38=810. The average capacity per ride is 810 people per hour. Therefore, Dare Devil Dive will actually have a higher hourly capacity than most rides at the park. So enthusiasts, have no fear, the lines shouldn't be that long and you can get your new coaster credit. Then get back in line again.
(In case you were wondering, after the addition of Dare Devil Dive, the average capacity increases to 815 people per hour. All of these capacity numbers can be found on the internet or go to the park yourself and figure it out.)
Read More...Rabu, 15 September 2010
What are the mechanics of Mission: Space at EPCOT?
Mission: SPACE comprises four separate centrifuges, each with 10 capsules holding four riders, bringing the hourly capacity to 1,600 riders.. The attraction exposes riders to forces up to 2.5G, more than twice the force of gravity at the Earth's surface (effectively multiplying a rider's weight by 2.5). A few months after the ride's opening, motion sickness bags were added within easy reach of riders, and for good reason! But what does the ride actually look like? A multiple arm centrifuge is not the easiest contraption to visualize! I have created a quick CAD mock up of Mission: Space, minus the capsules that you actually sit in.
Starting in May of 2006, Disney began offering a less intense (or sickening) version of the ride where the centrifuge does not spin. This tamer experience is ironically known as the Green Team. The cabs themselves still pitch (+45, -55°) and pivot (±25° roll), providing some motion. The normal ride is still available and is called Orange Team. Here is another image of a similar style attraction built by ECT.
What Would Walt Do?
Jangan Gosok Gigi Setelah Makan
Di dalam mulut terdapat saliva (air ludah) yang bersifat buffer effect (penyeimbang). Saat makan, pH normal saliva yang semula 6,8 akan turun hingga mencapai pH kritis, yaitu 4. Bila setelah makan langsung sikat gigi, maka struktur alami saliva tersebut akan rusak dan mempengaruhi fungsinya terhadap proses pencernaan.
Kesehatan Masyarakat
Beberapa indikator kesehatan lingkungan sebagai berikut:
1. Penggunaan Air Bersih
Untuk tahun 2007 jumlah keluarga yang diperiksa yang memiliki akses air bersih 72,35 persen. Dari hasil inspeksi sanitasi petugas Puskesmas penggunaan air bersih pada setiap keluarga yang paling tertinggi adalah sumur gali +34,99%, sumur pompa tangan +31,86% ledeng +18,59.
2. Rumah Sehat
Bagi sebagian besar masyarakat, rumah merupakan tempat berkumpul bagi semua anggota keluarga dan menghabiskan sebagian besar waktunya, sehingga kondisi kesehatan perumahan dapat berperan sebagai media penularan penyakit diantara anggota keluarga atau tetangga sekitarnya. Pada tahun 2007 telah dilakukan pemeriksaan rumah sehat di 40 wilayah Puskesmas di kab.Tangerang, dari hasil inspeksi sanitasi 560.426 rumah maka 68,34 persen dinyatakan sehat.
3. Keluarga Dengan Kepemilikan Sarana Sanitasi Dasar.
Keluarga dengan kepemilikan sarana sanitasi dasar meliputi persediaan air bersih, kepemilikan jamban keluarga, tempat sampah dan pengelolaan air limbah keluarga keseluruhan hal tersebut sangat diperlukan didalam peningkatan kesehatan lingkungan. Dari hasil pendataan yang dilakukan oleh sanitasi Puskesmas menggambarkan sampai tahun 2007 dapat digambarkan pada grafik berikut.
4. Tempat Umum dan Pengolahan Makanan
Makanan termasuk minuman, merupakan kebutuhan pokok dan sumber utama bagi kehidupan manusia, namun makanan yang tidak dikelola dengan baik justru akan menjadi media yang sangat efektif didalam penularan penyakit saluran pencernaan. Terjadinya peristiwa keracunan dan penularan penyakit akut yang sering membawa kematian banyak bersumber dari makanan yang berasal dari tempat pengolahan makanan khususnya jasaboga, rumah makan dan makanan jajanan yang pengelolaannya tidak memenuhi syarat kesehatan atau sanitasi lingkungan.
Kesehatan Masyarakat
Pengertian Informasi Penyakit Menular Seksual
A. Virus HIV
HIV adalah singkatan dari Human Immunodeficiency Virus yang dapat menyebabkan AIDS dengan cara menyerang sel darah putih yang bernama sel CD4 sehingga dapat merusak sistem kekebalan tubuh manusia yang pada akhirnya tidak dapat bertahan dari gangguan penyakit walaupun yang sangat ringan sekalipun. Tanpa kekebalan tubuh maka ketika diserang penyakit maka tubuh kita tidak memiliki pelindung. Dampaknya adalah kita dapat meninggal dunia terkena pilek biasa.
B. Penyakit AIDS
AIDS adalah singkatan dari Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome yang merupakan dampak atau efek dari perkembang biakan virus hiv dalam tubuh makhluk hidup. Virus HIV membutuhkan waktu untuk menyebabkan sindrom AIDS yang mematikan dan sangat berbahaya. Penyakit AIDS disebabkan oleh melemah atau menghilangnya sistem kekebalan tubuh yang tadinya dimiliki karena sel CD4 pada sel darah putih yang banyak dirusak oleh Virus HIV.
Pengertian Dampak Pencemaran Lingkungan Hidup dan Tubuh Manusia.
Pencemaran suara adalah gangguan pada lingkungan yang diakibatka oleh bunyi atau suara yang mengganggu ketentraman makhluk hidup di sekitarnya. Pencemaran suara biasanya diukur dalam satuan dB atau desibel.
Berikut ini adalah beberapa efek samping negatif dari pencemaran suara :
a. stres
b. gila
c. perubahan denyut nadi
d. tekanan darah berubah
e. gangguan fungsi jantung
f. kontraksi perut
Pengertian Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes melitus adalah suatu penyakit gangguan kesehatan di mana kadar gula dalam darah seseorang menjadi tinggi karena gula dalam darah tidak dapat digunakan oleh tubuh. Diabetes Mellitus / DM dikenal juga dengan sebutan penyakit gula darah atau kencing manis yang mempunyai jumpah penderita yang cukup banyak di Indonesia juga di seluruh dunia. Kadar gula yang tinggi akan dibuang melalui air seni. Dengan demikian air seni penderita kencing manis akan mengandung gula sehingga sering dilebung atau dikerubuti semut. Selanjutnya orang tersebut akan kekurangan energi / tenaga, mudah lelah, lemas, mudah haus dan lapar, sering kesemutan, sering buang air kecil, gatal-gatal, dan sebagainya. Kandungan atau kadar gula penderita diabetes saat puasa adalah lebih dari 126 mg/dl dan saat tidak puasa atau normal lebih dari 200 mg/dl. Pada orang normal kadar gulanya berkisar 60-120 mg/dl.
Diabetes bukan 100% penyakit turunan. Diabetes melistus bisa disebakan riwayat keturunan maupun disebabkan oleh gaya hidup yang buruk. Setiap orang bisa terkena penyakit kencing manis baik tua maupun muda. Waspada bagi anda yang memiliki orang tua yang merupakan pengidap diabetes, karena anda akan juga memiliki bakat gula darah jika tidak menjalankan gaya hidup yang baik. Resiko terkena diabetes dapat dikurangi dengan mengatur pola makan yang sehat, rajin olahraga, tidur yang cukup, menghindari rokok mirasantika dan lain sebagainya. Bagi anda yang sudah terkena diabetes sebaiknya berolahraga setiap pagi, makan makanan yang bergizi rendah karbohidrat dan lemak namun tinggi protein, vitamin dan mineral. Perbanyak makan sayuran dan makanan berserat tinggi lainnya.
Selasa, 31 Agustus 2010
What factors influence the speed of a wooden roller coaster train?
There are several factors which affect the speed of a wooden roller coaster. Why is speed important? If the train is going too slow it may not make it around the track. Too fast, and the forces on the riders may be too great. The biggest factors which effect wooden coaster train speed:
- Temperature – The lower the temperature the slower the train.
- Wind – The direction and speed of the wind affects the speed of the train.
- Load – A loaded train (with weights or people) will go faster.
- Wheel Bearing Clearance – Correct assembly of the wheels reduces internal friction and heat.
- Wheel Bearing Lubrication – The amount and type of grease affects the speed of the train.
- Track Lubrication – If the tack is lubricated, the train will travel faster. Track lubrication also prevents excessive wear to the rails and the wheels.
Some of these factors cannot be controller, such as temperature and wind (unless built entirely indoors). Parks have complete control over the number of guests they allow on the train as well as when to use lubrication. Rain is also a natural lubrication. Most rides have set maximum and minimum values of the duration of the ride. There are also different types of greases to use depending on the time of year.
Kamis, 26 Agustus 2010
Selasa, 17 Agustus 2010
Latest Cantilevered Roller Coaster Simulation
Read More...
Selasa, 10 Agustus 2010
Rabu, 04 Agustus 2010
Wilderness Adventure Log Ride at Ontario Place
You can get a good idea of the layout by checking out the Adventure Island section of the park map.
Good views on Bing maps too.
Another video.
Read More...
Kamis, 29 Juli 2010
Remaja Perlu Kontrasepsi
Dalam Data Perkumpulan Keluarga Berencana Indonesia (PKBI) tahun 2003 disebutkan bahwa dari 37.000 responden remaja dan perempuan belum menikah, 22 persennya mengalami kehamilan tak diinginkan.
"Remaja dan wanita belum menikah sebenarnya termasuk kelompok unmet needs atau akseptor KB yang tidak terlayani," kata Priya Subroto dari PKBI.
Kalangan remaja memang sudah termasuk dalam program sosialisasi BKKBN. Namun, hal itu berkaitan dengan tujuan MDGs yakni menurunkan angka pernikahan dini.
Saat ini, usia pernikahan pertama di Indonesia rata-rata antara 19 dan 24 tahun. Namun, data menunjukkan, 15,6 persen wanita menikah pada usia kurang dari 16 tahun. Priya mengungkapkan, remaja juga memiliki hak inividual untuk mendapat pelayanan kontrasepsi.
"Bila pemerintah tidak bisa memenuhi kebutuhan itu karena alasan tidak ada undang-undangnya, maka lakukan saja kemitraan dengan LSM," katanya.
Perilaku seksual remaja yang bermasalah dan harus disoroti adalah seks di luar nikah, seks tidak aman, dan seks berganti-ganti pasangan. Perilaku itu dapat berakibat fatal karena berisiko tinggi mulai dari kehamilan di luar nikah, tertular penyakit HIV/ AIDS, aborsi tidak aman, hingga kematian.
Selasa, 20 Juli 2010
Cantilevered Coaster Catia Kinematics Trial #5
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Rabu, 14 Juli 2010
Sky Rocket Design Flaw?
It appears if you are a tall individual and sitting in row 4 the headrests from row 3 (last row of the first car)might be able to hit you in the knees. Apparently they've put a height restriction on row 3, 4, and 6. Has anyone been to the park recently and confirm this? Read More...
Selasa, 13 Juli 2010
Paying for your travel/coaster habit
I've begun taking surveys online to help pay for my coaster habit, such as Opinion Outpost. It pays really well when you take a 5 minute survey and get paid $7.50 for it. If you could keep that up it that would be $90/hour. One time I even got paid $5 to watch an episode of the Office! How awesome is that? Just another reason to join Opinion Outpost. Read More...
Senin, 12 Juli 2010
Animating the Cantilevered Coaster
There are two methods of simulation within the DMU (digital mock up) Kinematics workbench.
Method 1: Hand Animation. I like to call this first method hand animation because I believe that to be what it is like, animating a CG character for a movie. You set the positions of your commands where you want them to be an when you want them to be there. Sometimes can be a challenge to get smooth transitions.
Method 2. Laws. The other method of simulation in Catia kinematics is to create a trace law. You do this by essentially drawing or sketching a graph with the x axis being time and the y or vertical axis being distance from the starting point. This method is much quicker but sometimes can be more time consuming if you're using trial and error to figure out your desired movements.
Now, in regards to the Cantilevered Roller Coaster system, method 1 allows you to set the distances from the starting point of the upper and lower chasis independent of each other.This enables you to be able to animate exactly how you want to but this may not necessarily be how the system will react and real life.
Method 2 , there are two different options. You can use the same graph for each chasis or you can create two separate (but similar) graphs. Creating two graphs with this system is tricky because they can only vary by so much at certain sections of track. It's doable but make take a lot of iteration. Using one graph is simple but again I am not sure the real world scenario would act this way.
Read More...
Kamis, 08 Juli 2010
Selasa, 06 Juli 2010
Jumat, 25 Juni 2010
Kamis, 24 Juni 2010
A Taste of Things to Come...
Kamis, 17 Juni 2010
ASTM Committee F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices
I am sending in my application today to join the ASTM Committee F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices. ASTM International (which stands for American Society for Testing and Materials) is one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world- a trusted source for technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services. The F24 Committee was formed in 1978. F24 meets twice a year, usually in February and October, with approximately 100 members from around the world attending two or three days of technical meetings. The Committee, with current membership of approximately 500 members, currently has jurisdiction of 17 standards, published in the Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Volume 15.07. These standards have and continue to play a preeminent role in all aspects important to amusement rides and devices.
Membership fee is $70 per year. You get a free volume of one of their standards so I figure at the very least I am just buying another textbook, as well as putting it on my resume. At the most, I hope to meet many individuals involved in the amusement industry and maybe even help set some of the standards!
Read More...
Selasa, 15 Juni 2010
Cara Efektif Turunkan Beran Badan 5 kg
Hasil penelitian terbaru terhadap 3000 wanita mengungkap lebih dari setengah wanita mengakui berhasil menurunkan berat badan hingga lima kilo saat berdiet sehat bersama pasangan selama sebulan. Tetapi, seperlima yang melakukannya sendiri hanya mampu menurunkan setengah kilo.
Tujuh dari sepuluh wanita mengatakan memperoleh hasil olahraga lebih efektif bersama teman daripada sendiri. Sebanyak 61 persen mengatakan hampir mustahil mengumpulkan energi untuk latihan sendiri. Namun, proporsi olahraga yang sama seperti berenang dan jogging bersama teman atau pasangan membuat olahraga lebih berhasil.
Sian Lewis, wakil perusahaan asuransi yang melakukan survei mengatakan olahraga bersama menumbuhkan antusiasme yang tidak ditemukan saat orang melakukannya sendiri.
"Lebih mudah bersantai daripada berolahraga jika Anda hanya sendiri. Tetapi, teman adalah motivator terbaik untuk menjaga kesehatan dan berat badan tetap ideal," katanya seperti dikutip dari Daily Mail.
Namun, tidak semua hal yang dilakukan bersama bernilai positif. Wanita cenderung saling bersaing dalam hal fashion dan saat membeli pakaian. Sepertiga wanita selalu membeli baju sendiri atau riasan untuk olahraga daripada bersama teman. "Wanita selalu ingin terlihat cantik di pusat kebugaran, cafe, atau di tempat kerja. Mereka tak ingin disaingi dan mau terlihat glamor di mana saja."
Dismenorhae: Nyeri Saat Haid
Pada sebagian wanita, biasanya akan mengalami masa yang menyiksa yaitu proses haid yang disertai dengan nyeri atau rasa sakit. Sebenarnya normal bila seorang wanita merasa nyeri, hanya terkadang seorang wanita merasakan nyeri haid yang sangat hebat sampai mengganggu aktivitasnya. Nyeri haid pada taraf yang berat ini sering disebut dengan dismenorhae.
Gejala mungkin mulai mucul 1-2 hari sebelum menstruasi, puncaknya pada hari pertama aliran, dan mereda pada hari itu atau selama beberapa hari. Rasa sakit biasanya digambarkan sebagai tumpul, sakit, kram dan sering menjalar hingga punggung bawah.
Sexxie.tv mengundang anda untuk mengikuti seminar online dengan topik, “Dismenorhae: Nyeri Saat Haid", Kamis, 17 Juni 2010, pukul 14.00-15.00 WIB, bersama Dr Stella Melisa Thomas, seorang dokter umum, lulusan dari Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Trisakti, Jakarta. Dia juga merupakan Koordinator Kelompok Medis di FlyFreeForHealth.
Siapkan perangkat komputer, koneksi internet dan speaker untuk mengikuti presentasi dari Dr Stella mengenai topik menarik ini. Anda pun dapat bebas memberikan pertanyaan yang akan langsung di jawab, gratis!
Daftar sekarang melalui SMS. Ketik
Alga Dapat Menghambat Kanker
Penanganan kanker dengan pembedahan, kemoterapi, dan radioterapi hingga saat ini belum memuaskan. Kemoterapi, misalnya, tidak hanya menyerang sel kanker, tetapi juga sel sehat sehingga si sakit menderita. Adapun pembedahan dan radioterapi terbatas pada kanker yang hanya menyerang organ tertentu dan belum menyebar (metastatis).
Bahan kemopreventif sering dikatakan bertindak sebagai agen antitumor dan kebanyakan dari sumber alami: dari sayuran, buah, dan tumbuhan lain. Belakangan, alga disebut-sebut berkhasiat terhadap kanker. Alga berpotensi mencegah kanker berkembang lantaran kandungan antioksidannya, senyawa fikosianin, dan aktivitas protein peroxisome proliferator activated receptor/PPARs. PPARs merupakan kelompok protein reseptor yang bekerja dalam metabolisme sel, antara lain metabolisme karbohidrat, lipida, protein, serta pembelahan sel.
Profesor Ih-Jen Su dari Divisi Penelitian Klinis National Health Research Institutes Tainan, Taiwan, menguji coba Chlorella sorokiniana Cryptomonadales pada sel kanker kulit.
Pada penyelidikan awal, dia menggunakan eksperimen pada kulit tikus yang dicemari karsinogen kimia 7,12-dimetilbenzantrasen (DMBA). Delapan tikus percobaan dibagi ke dalam dua kelompok. Satu kelompok diberi olesan ekstrak Cryptomonadales dan kelompok lainnya tidak.
Ekstrak Cryptomonadales efektif menghambat tumor kulit yang disebabkan DMBA pada tikus di tahap awal kanker (inisiasi). Aplikasi ekstrak itu mengurangi pertumbuhan kulit papiloma. PPARs aktif bekerja dalam percobaan itu.
”Cara kerja Chlorella sorokiniana Cryptomonadales ialah secara sistemik membangun kekuatan tubuh untuk melawan berbagai gangguan,” ujar Prof Wang Shun Te dalam kunjungannya ke Indonesia beberapa waktu lalu. Guru besar Pingtung Technology University di Taiwan itu meninggalkan kampus guna meriset ganggang. Dia menemukan dan mengembangkan Chlorella sorokiniana Cryptomonadales selama 30 tahun. Produk yang dikembangkan Wang telah ada di beberapa negara, termasuk di Indonesia.
Sangat lengkap Nutrisi yang terkandung di dalam ganggang sangat lengkap. Chlorella mengandung 60 persen protein, karbohidrat, asam lemak esensial, fikosianin, klorofil, RNA, DNA, beragam vitamin, dan mineral. Sel Chlorella sangat stabil dan tidak akan berubah bentuk. Cryptomonadales, menurut Wang, merupakan mutu terbaik dari jenis Chlorella sorokiniana.
Sejumlah peneliti dari Fakulti Perubatan Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia juga tertarik meneliti khasiat ganggang.
Mereka mengkaji antioksidan dan antitumor Chlorella vulgaris terhadap kanker hepar dalam kajian in vivo dan in vitro. Penelitian itu menggunakan tikus Wistar jantan yang dipaparkan kanker hepar. Hasil penelitian dimuat dalam Sains Malaysiana pada tahun 2009.
Hasil penelitian menunjukkan, kemampuan Chlorella vulgaris menurunkan kadar proliferasi serta memengaruhi apoptosis sel kelenjar kanker hati (hepar) yang dibuktikan dengan pemaparan protein proapoptosis. Mekanisme kemopreventif Chlorella vulgaris antara lain dengan memengaruhi apoptosis melalui protein penindas tumor.
Hasil studi itu menyebutkan, apoptosis atau kematian sel secara terancang merupakan salah satu komponen penting dalam meningkatkan homeostasis, yakni kemampuan tubuh mengatur lingkungan internal tetap stabil dan berfungsi di bawah perubahan yang terjadi. Tidak hanya untuk fungsi normal tubuh, tetapi juga respons tubuh terhadap patologi seperti kanker. Apoptosis amat diperlukan untuk menyingkirkan sel termutasi yang mengalami kerusakan DNA guna mengurangi pembentukan lesi praneoplasia seperti yang berlaku pada kanker hepar. Apoptosis sangat diperlukan untuk memusnahkan sel kanker dan mengembalikan proses pertumbuhan sel tubuh ke tahap yang lebih normal.
Di samping itu, dengan kandungan antioksidan yang tinggi, Chlorella mampu mencegah terjadinya inflamasi atau peradangan akibat radikal bebas. Chlorella vulgaris menunjukkan aktivitas antioksidan yang tinggi.
Dokter Yekti H Effendi S Ked dari Departemen Gizi Masyarakat Institut Pertanian Bogor mengatakan, ganggang hijau meningkatkan imunitas nonspesifik dan spesifik. Asam nukleat pada ganggang hijau berperan membentuk daya tahan tubuh terhadap berbagai penyakit.
Penelitian bersama sejumlah peneliti dari Rumah Sakit Karya Bhakti Bogor, Perhimpunan Dokter Spesialis Penyakit Dalam (PAPDI) cabang Bogor, dan Fakultas Ekologi Manusia Institut Pertanian Bogor, juga Yekti beberapa waktu lalu menyimpulkan bahwa asupan Chlorella mempercepat kesembuhan penderita demam berdarah dengue.
Yekti mengatakan, orang dewasa perlu sekitar 20 gram per hari. Sejauh ini, tidak ada efek samping mengonsumsi makanan itu sepanjang produk tidak tercemar atau terpapar bahan berbahaya lain.
Senin, 14 Juni 2010
Who is Will Koch? Forever Remembered
Saying hi to Will in the park was like an attraction all on its own. He was the Walt Disney of our time. Holiday World has the best public relations and customer service of any park I've ever been to, and that comes straight from the top.
I saw Will's mom, Pat, outside the front entrance on Saturday and Sunday morning and to hear that she was in the exact same place on Monday morning after all this, wow, just wow. There are a few videos of her online and they are different to watch. Very emotional.
I will greatly miss Will's passionate video explanations of how his rides worked. A fellow coaster enthusiast and engineer, he touched many lives. Today, I find myself asking, how can I be more like Will? How can I help as many people as he has? How can I make as many people smile as he did?
"If you hear thunder today don't worry, it's just heaven's new wooden roller coaster." Read More...
Rabu, 02 Juni 2010
Amusement Park Operations
1.weather
2.mechanical
3.operational.
Weather is what you would expect and is the only "uncontrollable." Operational down-time is anything related to operator errors, guest issues, bio clean up, etc and gets charged against the operations department. Finally, mechanical down-time is just that, anything resulting from a mechanical, electrical, or technical perspective causing a ride to go down and is charged against the maintenance department. Using this information, the park can keep track of trends and issues pertaining to a certain ride/attraction and use it as a pro-active tool to keep the ride up and operating (preventive maintenance). Sometimes it's as simple as retraining employees if a ride has a lot of operationals or it could mean closer examination of systems needs to be monitored by the maintenance department. Read More...
Cool Sites: The Rapids Blog
Fun Facts: Disney Hollywood Studios Tower of Terror
The Tower of Terror located at Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM) is probably my all time favorite Disney attraction. Here are some fun facts about the attraction from a mechanical engineering perspective that you may not have read before.
Queue
The library show doors are hydraulically controlled from their own hydraulic supply which is
electrically controlled from the control panel in the library area. The exit doors from the library are pneumatic and are electrically controlled by actuators. There are two sets of sliding wall doors.
Located throughout the boiler room queue are steam leak effects. The system utilizes air water atomization nozzles to simulate leaking steam to create a creepy atmosphere.
The two elevator machinery props are located at the load level between load queue A and B
and load queue C and D. They simulate a failing elevator drive motor.
The Ride
The ride consists of six elevator lifts: four in the back and two main drop towers in the front. Cars from two of the back lifts feed into one of each of the front lifts via a hallway. The back four lifts are named A, B, C, D and the front two lifts are called E and F respectively. If one of the two main lifts is broken the ride's capacity is essentially cut in half (one of the reasons all the other versions of the Tower of Terror throughout the world have three lifts- if one goes down capacity is only cut by a third instead of half).
The ride vehicles are automated, wire guided and powered from battery banks. They crawl from one of the back lifts down a hallway to the other set of lifts. This is called the "fifth dimension." There are five charger stations to convert induced AC power to DC power in order to maintain a steady power supply for the ride vehicles.
Effects
The two sliding screen effects are located on the fifth dimension level and are controlled
pneumatically.
The star field doors are located on the fifth floor. They consist of two doors on E-Lift and two doors on F-Lift where the guests look out on the fifth dimension.
The pneumatically controlled Sparker special effects are used on the Hollywood Tower sign on the outside of the tower building, which looks really cool at night.
The projection equipment includes video, fiber optics and film projectors.
The Horton doors are located in electric equipment room, to the right of the service elevator on the
second floor. They consist of three doors on E-side and three doors on F-side where the guests look out on the park.
The two eyeball effects are located on the fifth dimension level and are controlled pneumatically.
Props and special effects are used throughout the attraction. Most run on 110 V supply and are
powered by local outlets. Other effects include: Ghost figures, E=MC2, Clock, and breeze fans which create a ghostly effect located in the corridor scenes, show area, and elevators.
I've included a really great diagram of the layout of the Tower of Terror attraction. This is a great illustration of how the cars negotiate from the back to the front set of elevators and back again. Do you have a specific attraction in mind to learn more about? Comment below to request it. Stay tuned for more!
What Would Walt Do?
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Read More...Kamis, 27 Mei 2010
CAD Recreation of Pilgrims Plunge
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Rabu, 26 Mei 2010
Fun Facts: Top Thrill Dragster
How does Top Thrill Dragster work? Basically, it's a giant fishing pole that pulls the train in super fast. Cedar Point contacted Intamin to manufacture the ride who chose to go with a hydraulic launch based on their speed, acceleration, and power requirements. There are 32 hydraulic motors, 16 on each side connected to an internal ring gear. The power from all of the motors is transferred to the giant cable drum by a planetary gear box. The cable connects to a sled that rides in a track within the coaster's launch track. It attached to the underside of the train and pulls it toward the 420 foot hill at 120 mph.
There are two sensors on top of the 420 foot hill. The distance between the two sensors is known so they can take that value and divide it by the time it takes the train to get from one to the other. This gives the computer the train's speed going over the top of the hill. The computer takes the average speed of the three previous trains in order to determine the power to give to the hydraulic motor. This presents a problem if the first three trains are filled with swimsuit models and the fourth train is carrying football players. The power is not going to be enough to get it over the hill. One thing I am not sure about is how they handle empty trains, or going from three empties to one full. I think maybe they can compare that average to historical data?
Why does Top Thrill Dragster break down so much? You have to remember that it's a very complicated piece of machinery. The ride is covered in sensors. Every single brake fin has two sensors to detect alignment. The cars have copper fins attached to the underside of their chassis and must line up exactly with the fins mounted to the tracks, if they were to be off there could be a huge accident, hence all of the alignment sensors. There are two huge brake runs, the fixed one after the hill and the pneumatically controlled brakes on the launch track. They come in rows of two. That's a lot of brake fins! If just one of those sensors fails or is faulty, the entire ride is shut down.
How to design a roller coaster.
Selasa, 25 Mei 2010
Taking the Plunge: Holiday World 2009
(Some of the transitions got a little screwed up. I blame it on Windows Vista).
Read More...
Kamis, 20 Mei 2010
An in-depth look at wooden coaster trains
Want to dig a little deeper? First, let us define "roll". That's a rotation around the track centerline along the train's longitudinal axis; that is, an axis running from the front to back of the train. The back seat in each car is raised about an inch, and the running board is cut away (and covered with a board). That gives the back axle, which is mounted on a longitudinal pivot, more room to swing.
A two-bench PTC car (as currently running on Raven and Legend) has a four-foot wheelbase and about 3'2" from back wheel to front wheel between cars. Between cars there is plenty of flexibility because the drawheads have practically unlimited roll on a short effective wheelbase. So the roll rate is limited by the longer distance, the wheelbase of the car. On a standard car, as on the Raven or on The Legend, the rear axle can swing about three degrees in either direction. That means the maximum allowable roll rate (without lifting any wheels) is three degrees per four running feet, or more usefully, about 16" of running length per degree. That means that in order to get up to a 90-degree bank from flat track, the train needs a minimum of 120 feet of track.
The track gauge for a wood coaster is roughly 43". The rated 3-degree swing means there is normally about 1.13 inches of clearance at the running board for the wheel. Add another inch at the running board and in fact it is probably more than that because the wheel is about 4" outboard of the seat...and the available space increases from 3.0 degrees to 5.6 degrees. That increases the allowable roll rate to 5.6 degrees per four running feet, or a mere 8.6" of running length per degree of roll. That reduces the length required for a 90 degree bank to just over 64 feet. If the Gravity Guys built the Voyage assuming that the train could roll 1.4 degrees per foot instead of 0.75 degrees per foot, they could have very easily built places on the ride where the car chassis would actually hit the track. Not good news.
The modification on the Voyage train increases its performance, therefore, the train would have no problem running on the other coasters. But because the other trains don't have that mod, they might have problems running on the Voyage. I believe Gwazi was the first coaster with PTC trains to get this modification, but though it's been standard on all of the rides the Gravity Group has built. I am certain that both Voyage and Ravine Flyer II have this mod, but I don't know if CCI ever used it. Read More...
Rabu, 19 Mei 2010
Fun Facts: Expedition Everest
The ride was manufactured by Vekoma.
The mountain is 199 feet taller. If it were any taller a red beacon light would've had to been placed on top ruining the effect and theme.
The ride has 13 trains, 7 of which can be used at one time. Each train is only supposed to run continuously for a maximum of 5 hours. This is something I've often wondered about because most regional amusement park's coasters have only two trains and they run ten or more hours a day. Is this a Vekoma or Disney imposed rule?
The interesting thing about this ride for me as an engineer is the fact that it is actually three separate structures that never touch each other: the coaster, the mountain and the yeti. The coaster is a dynamic structure that vibrates and can yield a little bit without getting damaged. The coaster supports are colored black. There's that old saying for coasters "if it doesn't shake it's going to break." The mountain is a static structure. The fake rock work is constructed from plaster which would crack under vibrations. The mountain supports are red in color. The yeti structure is also dynamic.
The anti-roll back device uses magnetic fields so that it doesn't make the typical click-click-click sound while going up the lift hill.
This is another ride where I could draw you the entire layout of Expedition Everest even though I've never been on it (or even near it). The last time I was at Disney's Animal Kingdom was 2003. Everest opened in 2006.
Read More...
Coaster Conviction
Hello and welcome to Amusement Authority. I am a premier expert in roller coaster and amusement park knowledge. Some people are baseball fans, civil war buffs, or really into cars and can tell you any model just by looking at it. I am into roller coasters and have an uncanny ability to memorize everything about them. I can draw you the layout of every major coaster in the U.S. If you show me a picture of a small portion of the ride or maybe even just the train I can identify it. Most of this knowledge is completely useless but that is what this blog is for. A place for me to share this knowledge with you and like minded individuals. Also, if you are in the amusement industry and looking for consultation then you've come to the right place!
Read More...Selasa, 18 Mei 2010
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Kamis, 06 Mei 2010
Tips Agar Tak Tertular Mata Merah
Penyakit ini justru menular melalui sentuhan. Misalnya, penderita mengucek mata dengan tangannya, lalu memegang benda lain dan memaparkan kuman yang hidup, kemudian orang berikutnya memegang benda yang sama dan tidak mencuci tangan, hingga kemudian memegang matanya sendiri dan tertular.
Agar Anda terhindar dari penularan penyakit mata merah, berikut adalah kiat yang diberikan Jakarta Eye Center (JEC)
Untuk non penderita yang berada dalam lingkungan yang sama dengan pengidap AHC
1. Jaga kebugaran tubuh, karena penyakit ini seperti flu; sangat mudah menyerang penderita yang sedang dalam kondisi tidak fit.
2. Cuci tangan dengan bersih. Anda bisa saja harus meneteskan obat mata pada anak Anda yang sedang mengalami mata merah, atau merangkul lengan anak Anda ketika dia baru saja menempelkan tangannya yang terpapar kuman setelah selesai mengucek mata yang gatal, atau bahkan memegang pipi anak Anda saat menyusui bayi Anda yang terkena mata merah. Cuci tangan akan memutus rantai hidup kuman ini.
3. Udara AC dalam ruangan tertutup tidak menularkan mata merah. Karena itu tidak perlu menggunakan kacamata tambahan apabila ada orang-orang dekat Anda yang terkena mata merah. Sentuhan jauh lebih berbahaya.
4. Jika mata merah menyerang Anda tidak perlu panik. Anda cukup berhati-hati bersentuhan dengan si penderita dan periksakan diri ke dokter mata jika sudah terjadi lebih dari 3 (tiga) hari.
Untuk penderita AHC 1. Jangan gunakan handuk, bantal, alat mandi, alat tulis atau mainan yang sama dengan penderita mata merah.
2. Jika Anda terserang AHC pada kedua mata dan ingin mengompres mata Anda dengan air hangat untuk menguasai rasa gatalnya, sediakan 2 (dua) handuk dan 2 (dua) baskom yang berbeda. Mengapa? Agar kuman dari mata tidak berpindah-pindah antara kedua mata.
3. Jika Anda menggunakan tisu untuk melap mata merah Anda, segera buang tisu tersebut agar kumannya tidak terpapar di meja yang mungkin akan dipegang oleh orang lain.
4. Banyak istirahat. Ketika host semakin sehat, maka kuman akan semakin cepat mati karena dilawan oleh sistem kekebalan tubuh dan reaksi obat. Memaksakan diri bekerja saat sedang terkena AHC sama dengan membiarkan penyakit ini sembuh lebih lama.
5. Sebaiknya jangan gunakan make up apabila Anda terkena AHC, agar tidak memperburuk peradangan.
6. Ketika beristirahat di rumah, jangan paksakan mata Anda untuk beraktivitas berat seperti main game atau melanjutkan pekerjaan kantor di laptop.