But Officer...

Q: Dear 100 HRB,

All right, time to put you back to work hrb... when does an enforced speed limit go into effect, at the sign itself, or when you lay eyes on it?

Pat

A: Dear Speedy,

A local, municipal police officer pulls over a young businessman driving a new, shiny BMW. Behind mirrored shades, he approaches the window of the car. "Son, I've been waiting for you all day."

"Well officer. I tried to get here as quickly as possible."

In order to answer your question, the 100 Hour Board undertook several approaches. General research helped some. So did asking others. We even decided to speed and get caught so we could ask the officer. Several tickets, multiple points, one or two cans of mace, a couple of bail bonds and a new boyfriend named Chuck later, the 100 Hour Board can proudly share what it has learned.

• Police officers find no humor in pork, pig or porcine jokes


• Although it takes a while to dissipate, a constant stream of cool water helps eyes feel better from a direct hit of pepper or mace spray


• Since speed limit signs are posted at highway entrances, it is hard to find opportunity to ask the question


• Judges do not take kindly to answers in the general form of, "well that's stupid..."

But most importantly, speed limit signs mark the exact beginning of a speed limit zone. Not before or after. This is important to remember as you shift zones. For example, if you see a faster speed limit sign and speed up before you get to it, yep - you are speeding. I suppose some officers conveniently forget this fact as they catch you just before the speed limit drop.

So, the 100 HB does not know on what end of the speed limit and whether a ticket is involved in this question. But you can definitively know - and the bruise marks from the nightsticks remind me - that speed changes at the signage.

The real question though (or debate) is that many speed limits are well below the engineered safe speed limit as it offers a significant revenue stream for towns and states. And in the end also insurance companies that are state certified (you pay points). And in recent times, with budget shortfalls, towns and states are increasing their activity and decreasing tolerence for speeding. Is it fair? Probably not. Does it save you in taxes? Maybe a little. Just don't speed. Or at least go the correct speed under conditions - which in many states allows for faster driving given the 'safe flow of traffic'.

Oh - and those shiny CDs used to deter radars only serve as annoying mirror jewelry. No use.

100HB

PS - the 100HB apologizes for the slow speed in response, mostly attributed to the delinquent behavior by one member of the board. They will be appropriately ticketed and the apt punishment meted out. Probably forced to sit in a disabled vehicle on the Cross-Bronx Expressway during rush hour.

Continue Reading...

Your Turn with "E" - UPDATED!

Things have been quiet at the 100 Hour Board. I suppose all of our fans must be moving or doing yardwork. So in light of this downturn in activity the 100 Hour Board offers you two puzzles, both headlining the letter "E". Please comment with your answers.

1. What starts with E, ends with E, usually contains only one letter, and is not E?

Yep - Nikki you are right. Envelope.


2. 

The correct answer is "seven". Although "5" could work.

100 HB

(Thanks to Mental Floss for inspiration)

Continue Reading...

Though Mountains Divide...

Q: Dear 100 Hour Board:

How many times does "Its a Small World" play during one time on the ride in WDW??

Animatronic Anonymous (AA)

A: Dear Global Animatron,

At the 1964 New York World's Fair, Disney released his "Children of the World" pavilion ride in an effort to promote global unity and peace. After the fair the ride became "It's A Small World" due to the popularity of the song. To this day the ride consists of over 300 Audio-Animatronics figures and 100 international dolls. It is featured in Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disney and Euro Disney.

But what about that song? You know the one that plays continuously during the ride. The song was written by the Sherman brothers, Richard and Robert, specifically for the New York World's Fair ride. The original idea was to have a cacophony of audio-animatronic children singing their own national anthems. Disney told the Sherman brothers to write ONE song, a "roundelay" as he put it. He wanted people to remember it.

So the brothers created a song that you just can't get out of your head. As Robert puts it:

"Like many songs, It's A Small World has a verse and a chorus. One thing which makes this song particularly 'catchy' is that the verse and chorus work in counterpoint to each other. This means that you can play the same chords over and over again, but with different melodies. The repetitive, yet varied pattern tricks your mind into absorbing the work without it becoming tiresome to your ear."

To have an image of "counterpoint", imagine laying the chords of the chorus on top of the chords of the verse. Measure for measure, the chords would be the same. This makes the capacity to harmonize and countersync the chorus with the verse.

The counterpuntal juxtaposition makes the song more interesting to the ear. The Sherman Brothers wrote many songs this way including Doll On A Music Box/Truly Scrumptious from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

In 1985 Michael Eisner, Disney CEO, created a huge controversy by stating at the Hollywood Bowl that "It's A Small World" is the most played song of all time. Record companies baulked. Robert Sherman came to the rescue by explaining that the song plays non-stop, 16 hours a day on an endless loop in five locations worldwide. It is always playing in at least two locations on the globe. The song has been remixed several times and was part of the Dance Dance Revolution mix.

The song's duration is 2 minutes and 41 seconds. Disney lists the ride as lasting 15 minutes. Thus we can safely say that you will hear the song at least 6 times during a ride. This does not however include time waiting in line. Also this does not include the stops on the ride.

According to Wired News the "It’s A Small World" ride at Disneyland regularly bottoms out because today’s riders, um, displace more water than did patrons of the 1960s, when the ride debuted.

So I think it is safe to say that you will hear the song at least 12 times while waiting, riding and bottoming out on "It's A Small World" ride. Remember the song says, "It's a world of laughter...a world of tears" so whether you like the song or not the writers will illicit one of these two responses.

100HB

Continue Reading...

Juice is Worth the Squeeze

Q: Dear 100 Hour Board,

I love orange juice. But I hate bad orange juice, you know, bitter or off-tasting. Given the many seasons, the different oranges, weather, etc that when you open any Tropicana Orange Juice bottle they all taste the same? Magic?

OJ

A: Dear Mr. Simpson?

Orange juice is a real delight, especially that fine product "bottled" by Tropicana. A direct product of squeezing - you guessed it - oranges, the product is full of vitamin C (ascorbic acid - good to prevent scurvy) and potassium. Orange juice comes fresh, frozen, concentrated and canned. Concentrated has been a staple of orange juice consumption for a long time, in fact the 100 Hour Board has manufactured it themselves in a lab setting under vacuum. It is even traded on the mercantile exchange as a commodity. (Trading at about $120.45 / side or contract. Contract = 15,000lbs juice).

But our friends at Tropicana have been doing things differently since 1947 - started by Italian Rossi in western Florida. Although it is now owned by PepsiCo. All the juice is fresh - never concentrate - and typically 100% orange juice. Although several additives are combined including calcium, vitamin D, and sometimes extra citric and malic acid to add acidity to counter calcium. Though all the product is pasteurized for safety. So Tropicana begins with a fresh quality product. Do note that over time vitamin C dissipates from the juice, and so is higher in the larger bottles.

Distribution is also unique. From the beginning delivering fresh orange juice was key, and Rossi invested in dedicated trains and ships, including the SS Tropicana which carried 1.5 million gallons of orange juice a week to NY. Even now Tropicana operates the Tropicana-CSX Juice Trains which deliver great, fresh and protected cargo around the country. You can see the Tropicana terminal in Port Newark off to the right side as you head on the I-78 Extension East.

But how about the standard taste all the time? According to Cathy at Tropicana's Cunsumer Response the company focuses on proven blending of orange juice. Although a 8 oz glass takes 3-4 oranges, it more likely contains portions of thousands. Mass blending of quality product ensures a uniform, predictable product that offsets the bitter ones.

Cathy went on to tell the 100 Hour Board about the orange choices:

"We always blend Valencia in with our juice because it is the best tasting variety for juice. We also use other varieties including: ~ Hamlin, Pineapple Sweet, Parson Brown (and, if from Brazil, Valencia and Pera) "

Then she added a caveat to the whole piece:

"Certainly, we don't want to give away all of our secrets (for competitive reasons), but we hope our response is helpful." Examples could fall into quality control methods, expert juicers, chemical analysis, production methods (like the squeezing process) and the like. Measure of quality include brix (sugar % by weight), acidity, citrus oil level, pulp level, pulp cell integrity, color, viscosity, microbiological contamination, mouth feel, and taste.

Hope this sheds some light on that delicious morning treat. I may try their new product Valencia Tropicana Pure. At this site you can experience the "see, hear and feel the flavor." Like listening to the music written specifically as inspired by the juice. Or creating the 'visual' experience yourself. I offer my own creation:

And lastly you can 'feel' the flavor by remixing the music yourself. Again, a shot of my creation:

It's worth a gander.

100HB

Continue Reading...

Posting Anon

Q: Dear 100HB,

Why do we call an unidentified dead guy "John Doe" (or of course there's Jane Doe). I assume John/Jane are just common names, but where on earth did the "Doe" part come from???

Regards,

CSI Fan

A: Dear CSI Connoisseur,

If I were your husband I would begin to worry about being a CSI fan. Especially if you're taking notes while watching. I wouldn't want to be unidentifiable later.

But your question is an interesting one, considering the history of this term comes from one region where it isn't used any more, and is popular in another. In America John Doe is used for an unidentified person, generally a dead one because a live one could usually tell you who they are. Unless they are really old and forget, or a boxer. But John Doe can also be used in court cases where the defendant (usually) isn't know or named.

Of course we have expanded this usage to include a variety of sexes and relations: Jane Doe, and for siblings, James, Judy, etc., and children - Baby Doe. Although Precious Doe has been used for a child also (at least in one case in KC). So where do they come from?

The 100HB first turned to the local University morgue for an answer. We figured that those workers who dealt with and studied unidentified bodies may know the term's history. So please imagine the the 100HB journeying to the deep, dark dungeon of the hospital, echoing steps along the tiled, serpentine hallways. The lights flicker, a chilled wind passes and we enter through double steel doors in to the morgue. Walls of brushed, mirrored boxes each with its own occupant. Sheets lay over subtle forms, punctuated by the pungent smell of chemicals and death. Our mortician hovers over the latest customer, saw in one hand, and a roast beef sandwich in the other. Ok, not really. But you get the idea.

The morgue's take on our term's origins? John Doe was used in English law as a legal term for a familiar case study.

But is it true? Yes!

John Doe was invented in England, is now used in America (and Canada somewhat) and no longer in England. In the reign of King Edward III (mid 14th Century) John Doe and Richard Roe were two names used to describe a generic property case where the landlord Doe leases and then ejects Roe. The names do not mean anything (although Doe is a female deer and Roe is a small English deer), but they stuck. Both terms are now used in American law, and by extension to 'identify' unknown bodies. In fact the Roe in Roe v Wade is such a fictitious name.

So what do they use in England? John Smith or Joe Bloggs. However according to Dickson in What's in a Name, John Doe and Richard Roe are required in legal proceedings for the 1st and 2nd names (followed by John Stiles and Richard Miles.

And in other countries? A lot use some type of NN: nomen nescio, Latin for I don't know the name. But Fulan(o) is also common (Brazil, Middle East, etc.) and in France it is Jean Dupont.

But John Doe is also the name of the creepy serial killer in Seven, who kills according to the seven deadly sins (lust, gluttany, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride). He finishes the movie in one of the twisted endings in movie history. Much scarier than just an unknown body.

100HB

Continue Reading...

Musical Logos

Dear 100 Hour Board:

Q: How does the NCAA deal with changing the logos on the basketball floors for various games?

A: Dear Ms. Double-Dribble:

In this world of brand management and recognition it is essential that the drunk masses of March Madness fans from across the nation recognize the team they have shown up to cheer. Or at least the game. Luckily for us and the NCAA Gary Gray, Connor Sport Court's Southwest Regional Manager has a solution. You asked the question and 100 Hour Board went right to the source.
Gray: "Remember those tile games you used to play as a kid? Where you had to shift the tiles around to recreate the image printed on them? Connor Sport Court's offers a solution kind of like that. It's exactly what we did for the NCAA championship."
100HrB: "Exactly, really? Does that mean between games we have NCAA employees working out which tile to move where just to get the next logo in just right? It's like a strategy game in between basketball games. Do the fans just love that?"
Gray: "Okay, not exactly. There floor has a zipper configuration. We start in the center of the arena and work in both directions we incorporated seven panels that can be changed."
100HrB: "Why? Why change them? Why all this musical logo business?"
Gray: "Why? Well...I've never thought of that before."
100HrB: "You sell a product that you haven't defined the need for?"
Gray: (nervous laughter) "No." (more nervous laughter) "I sell a product that enables fans and TV viewers to recognize what game they are watching. With more than 64 games played for the tournament, viewers will flip channels until they find the game they want. It's easier when they recognize the logo on the Quicklock court."
100HrB: "So Quicklock is for ADD channel switchers like my father?"
Gray: "Sounds like a promising niche market to me. Fight ADD with Quicklock."

While Gray works on passing those clinical trials we'll explain Connor Sport Court's Quicklock portable court. It comprises of a concrete substrate, with recycled rubber product- Nike Grind- providing resiliency and shock absorption on the bottom of each panel. This also makes the players jump higher- but just a smidgen. The Maple Flooring is varnished and created in panels that interlock.

But really, Gray is Mr. Corporate America pushing a product that might not be that great. It isn't like his employees have to change the logos. What about ease of use?

100HrB was able to speak with Director of the McKay Events Center at Utah Valley State College, Mark Hildebrand. Mark and his team have less than one hour between basketball games scheduled for UVSC Lady Wolverines and the new NBA Development League team, the Utah Flash.

Hildebrand: "It works great. We take out the Wolverine logos and replace them with Flash logos and have a few minutes to spare."
100HrB: "But how long does this take you?"
Hildebrand: "We put the whole court down in two hours and forty minutes."
100HrB: "And the logo panels?"
Hildebrand: "About 20 minutes."
100HrB: "So you would say that replacing Connor Sports Court's logo panels is easier than finding a second wife in San Angelo, TX?"
Hildebrand: (chuckling) "Well, I don't know about that...don't they shoot new comers who want to stake claim to their girls? We don't have anyone shooting at us."
100HrB: "Alright. So you are afraid to go on record. Let's move on. The question that is really burning is why change the logos? Are fans really that stupid not to know what game they showed up to watch?"
Hildebrand: "It's all part of the experience. The brand of the team. Making the fans feel as though they are a part of the actual team."
100HrB: "But if the teams suck- you know like the...what are they called? Wolverines and Flash? Yeah, well if they suck like these teams do fans really care about brand? Besides who wants to watch women calling themselves wolverines? I've seen X-Men and that guy was hairy.
Hildebrand: (laughing) "No comment."
100HrB: "So it has nothing to do with the gallons of alcohol fans swim in during the games that impairs judgement as to where they are located?"
Hildebrand: "I don't know anything about that. We have a four drink minimum in Utah."
100HrB: "You can't swim in 32 oz. of alcohol?"
Hildebrand: (chuckling again...I swear this man isn't serious) "I don't think so."
100HrB: "How does that make fans part of the team?"
Hildebrand: "We immerse them in visuals and concessions."

So there you have it. The NCAA uses the Quicklock portable panel system that saves trees and makes for quick, efficient turn-around times between games. Oh, it also is a potential helper for those suffering from ADD. What it doesn't do is assist with your foul shot. So keep dreaming Double-Dribble!

HRB

Continue Reading...

Board Question

Q:
How do you ask a question on your 100 board?
Flying Cumulus

A: Dear Airborne Nimbus

You just did. Look forward to more.

HRB

Continue Reading...