gdp's Comments

KATU - Portland, OR : Duck fans injured in crash landing on flight home from Dallas | Local & Regional | KATU.com - Portla

Wed, 7 Sep 2011 04:41:51 +0000

Yeah - I finally figured that - the windows seemed too small for a Centurion, but early non-strut ones did look like that. And it might have even been a "Turbo" Centurion - though that is not a "turboprop" as that term is usually reserved for turbine engines - aka jet engines that are geared down to drive a prop. The crash of another Cessna 210 Centurion in California started a fire and killed a passenger and burned down at least one house - so this was pretty minor in the greater scheme of things...

KATU - Portland, OR : Duck fans injured in crash landing on flight home from Dallas | Local & Regional | KATU.com - Portla

Wed, 7 Sep 2011 03:42:22 +0000

That is NOT a "turboprop" aircraft. It's a Cessna 177RG, a model I owned and flew many miles and many hours. If the "plane went off the runway" as the story says, it almost certainly had nothing to do with fuel or the engine. Once you are on the runway, the engine is pretty irrelevant. More likely would be excessive crosswind and poor pilot ability in gusty crosswinds causing a swerve off the runway and so forth. And despite the picture the passengers are going to survive. Which makes this no worse than a car accident. Just more newsworthy since folks understand and accept rolling on the ground better than flying.

KATU - Portland, OR : Man builds self-charging car that gets 141 miles per gallon | KATU.com - Portland News, Sports, Traf

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 07:04:35 +0000

Ever see the "Top Gear" episode where they try to get a Robin (British 3 wheel car) around the test track - and it keeps falling over in the corners? Really funny. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8

KATU - Portland, OR : Small plane from Portland crashes near Utah-Nevada border kills 4 | KATU.com - Portland News, Sports

Thu, 2 Jun 2011 17:23:16 +0000

OK, I stand corrected. However IN MY EXPERIENCE, a safe pilot has very little chance of an accident, and almost NO chance of a problem caused by another pilot. Driving one is surrounded by poor drivers who can, and do cause accidents that even safe drivers can not avoid.

KATU - Portland, OR : Small plane from Portland crashes near Utah-Nevada border kills 4 | KATU.com - Portland News, Sports

Thu, 2 Jun 2011 06:36:38 +0000

I've flown over 1000 hours in single engine planes, mostly as pilot. They are safer than the ride to the airport, and quite a bit of fun. But one does have to plan ahead and know when to change the plan if things are going wrong. And of course, like every activity, there is a chance things can just go terribly wrong. What bothers many people about flying is the fact that the air doesn't seem to be a supportive substance, but once you get used to the fact that air - like pavement - can be a bit bumpy at times, flying becomes very easy to handle. Just like being on a boat. And once you know how a plane works, and how many redundant safety systems there are, it becomes a very nice way to travel. I sure wish I could still afford to do it more.

KATU - Portland, OR : Driver loses control; woman and child ejected from car during crash | KATU.com - Portland News, Spor

Sun, 29 May 2011 05:24:27 +0000

I suspect the drunks in the above examples were over the .08 limit - probably WAY over. And while I don't drink, there needs to be a limit that allows one to operate a vehicle when not IMPAIRED by alcohol. And .08 is probably a good number - 0 is NOT as that would mean one couldn't drive for a day or so after one beer - and that's as nuts as a 35mph speed limit on freeways. Now if you want to mandate ignition locks that won't allow a car to go if the driver blows over .08 - I'm all for it. But not if .0001 means anything other than there's a trace in your system that is insignificant.

KATU - Portland, OR : Odd behavior prompts United to divert flight headed for Portland | KATU.com - Portland News, Sports,

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:25:17 +0000

Reading a BOOK? Don't you know that reading books is so 20th century? We all use computers, pads, and other digital media nowadays. And about weapons? Last time I looked, it was still legal, though barely, to find info about almost any non-classified subject. And I guess I'm just enough of a rebel to WANT to learn about stuff that other folks consider controversial.

KATU - Portland, OR : Rain, rain and more rain: Records fall in wet March | KATU.com - Portland News, Sports, Traffic Weat

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:13:52 +0000

It's interesting how people are programmed for weather. We moved here 27 years ago from Minnesota. I was raised in many places, none of which were noted for amazing weather and I rather like the dampness and the sound of rain. My wife, who only spent here first 5 years of life in LA land and then lived in Minnesota for 33 years before moving here got more and more depressed by the winter weather and now winters in Palm Springs. Makes her happy. I really think those 5 years in So. Cal tuned here for that kind of sun and weather, and now many years later she still seeks it.

KATU - Portland, OR : Rain, rain and more rain: Records fall in wet March | KATU.com - Portland News, Sports, Traffic Weat

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:44:32 +0000

No - you may NOT use the bike lane to make a right turn, especially if you pass any car on the right to do so. ORS 811.440 allows you to cross the bicycle lane "when making a turn" it does not allow you to drive in the bicycle lane up to a corner to then make a turn.

KATU - Portland, OR : Frontier Communications to charge $500 fee | Business | Wilsonville News

Sun, 6 Mar 2011 00:58:18 +0000

Frontier is trying to get out of the FIOS service. They are rural phone company and don't know or want to deal with the TV and internet service..

KATU - Portland, OR : $4 gas: \'People just kind of get used to it\' | KATU.com - Portland News, Sports, Traffic Weather a

Sat, 5 Mar 2011 05:04:19 +0000

And that's the problem with a "free market economy" in that the goals of corporations (profits) and society at large do not always agree. Which is why some oversight to corporate actions is necessary, and for multinational global corporations the only institution that has a chance of being big enough to do that job is the government. But now that the corporations have bought so much influence in the politicians and government, it seems the only limit to there profits is what the market will bear.

KATU - Portland, OR : $4 gas: \'People just kind of get used to it\' | KATU.com - Portland News, Sports, Traffic Weather a

Sat, 5 Mar 2011 04:58:19 +0000

It's pretty easy to hedge against energy price changes. Just buy some no-load Mutual fund that is specific to investing in energy stock. I use Vanguard Energy Fund, and every time the oil and gas prices go up, the fund rises - a lot! If instead of spending $30K on a car, you spent $20K and bought $10K of an energy fund, you'd find that the profits from high energy costs would pay for your fuel. If you can't beat em, join (or buy) them.

KATU - Portland, OR : Congressman Wu seeks medical care after bizarre behavior | KATU.com - Portland News, Sports, Traffic

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 02:15:51 +0000

Being crazy is nearly a requirement for politics. And while Wu may have issues that need some professional help, he is far from alone in that regard. At least he is trying to get some help. Which is more than I can say for most of the wackos..

KATU - Portland, OR : Teen tells police man tried to grab her | Crime | Beaverton News

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 06:16:04 +0000

Parse that headline the wrong way and it reads that a "police man" tried to grab her. Which would be even more of a story. And I gather the teen had taken karate and drove off her attacker with some blows to the stomach. Too bad she didn't aim lower and really take down the creep.

KATU - Portland, OR : State rep. looks to modify Ore. helmet law | KATU.com - Portland News, Sports, Traffic Weather and B

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:45:31 +0000

I occasionally ride a cycle, but even though it would occasionally be nice to take off the lid, I keep it on - just never know when some clueless distracted driver in their 2 ton rolling office/nursery/dining room will not see me and ruin my day. As for lane splitting - I just can't see it. Too many ways for that to go wrong. And if "everyone rode bikes" there would be little travel when it's cold, rainy or snowy. Icy roads and two wheels just doesn't work. And us older folks would not be able to tolerate travel in many situations. It's a fun fantasy, but not close to realistic.

KATU - Portland, OR : Motorcyclist clocked at 107 mph faces big fines | News | Tualatin News

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 01:02:37 +0000

In Southern California that would just be keeping up with traffic.

KATU - Portland, OR : Cyclists would pay less in traffic fines under proposal | KATU.com - Portland News, Sports, Traffic

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 06:25:53 +0000

Actually it is a MORE serious offense when a cyclist rolls through a stop sign as they are going to be much more seriously hurt in any ensuing accident.

KATU - Portland, OR : Suspicious death under investigation | Salem News

Sun, 6 Feb 2011 06:54:53 +0000

Yup - body surrounded by blood is usually "suspicious"

KATU - Portland, OR : Police: Driver was distracted by her dog when she hit cyclist | Southwest Portland News

Sun, 6 Feb 2011 02:23:13 +0000

As a pilot I was taught to ignore distractions and fly the plane first. Too bad driver's ed doesn't teach this. And it's also too bad that periodic refresher courses in driving are not mandated. I'm 62 and have done some recent high performance driving schools where I was again shown things I needed to remember.

KATU - Portland, OR : Accident on SR-14 kills one | Vancouver News

Sat, 5 Feb 2011 16:44:07 +0000

That's nearly poorly worded enough to make the Mis Print/Poorly worded phrase list at: http://www.citehr.com/51229-mis-prints-poorly-wor...