Tragic Death of Roman Pirozek JR From RC Helicopter

Apparently a You Tube video producer Roman Pirozek has been involved in an accident where he partially decapitated himself with a T-Rex 700. I have no details and do not mean to infer how the accident happened. I have never viewed any of his video’s and have no idea of his flying skills or safety procedures. However, I will take this opportunity to mention there seems to be in the helicopter culture a notion that close in maneuvers are somehow more cool and exciting. For may pilots, it is as if they are attempting to punctuate their high skill level by showing you they are confident enough to fly within a few feet of death. I think it’s high time we recognize disciplined safe operations skillfully demonstrated without any risk to human life as the real “cool”.

Story with more details publish here from Daily Mail Online

Fox 5 Story

This kind of flying where there are high energy componets to the fight aimed at the pilot in command is the issue. Notice the video is put up as a memorial (my condolences to the family).

I’m not trying to force anybody to do anything. I am pointing out risky habits. What happens if whomever re-insures the AMA decides they cannot any longer insure the AMA for heli pilots members who flying without helmets? I’ll tell you what happens, idiots will blame the AMA when in fact it’s the culture that causes the restriction. It’s time to decide what the cool is before somebody else sticks their nose into our hobby and forces restrictions on us we wouldn’t like.

I’m sure Roman was a fine modeler and an upstanding citizen in the RC community. I mean to cast no aspersions. Accidents are possible, even if you fly at a safe distance. Here is Roman Pirozek JR. Channel on YouTube.

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If I had it my way; The Jury of Common Sense

Oh, of course, I don’t have it my way nor will I in this lifetime. However, it does no harm to imagine how it would be in the words of a famous release from 1969 if I had it “my way.” Hear the song.

As we put criminal cases through a “Grand Jury” to allow citizens to decide if a case has enough merit to pursue criminal charges I think we should put all product liability and injury cases through a Jury of Common Sense. Our jury would be made up of citizens selected for jury duty. It’s purpose would be to decide if a case is worthwhile to trouble the courts and the accused with all the bother and expense of fighting out a case. The standard would be thus: If a the jury by “super majority (2/3) feels a citizen with a typical high school education would have naturally understood something, then you can’t sue for the injury or loss. Each party would get an equal presentation time. If it’s not compelling enough of a case to convince ordinary citizens in short period of time, it’s not worth burdening the tax payer or the defendant to pursue.

For example; Most of us would agree that we understand spilling fresh hot coffee in our lap might lead to a burn injury of some kind, then you can’t sue for it because you lack a basic understanding of temperature. It’s generally understood that it’s not safe to stand on the top rung of a step ladder, so you can’t sue for it because you were “extra stupid”. Likewise, if your too stupid to understand that you shouldn’t strike yourself with a hammer, the hammer should not require a label “just in case your a stupid ass”. Not should you be able to sue for smashing your thumb.

I’m in favor of removing the costs of these silly suits from everything we purchase and consume. It adds a big cost in insurance premiums as well as all the extra public servants living on our tax dollars that are required to deal with these nonsensical nitwits. Anything that reduces the tax burden on citizens needs to be seriously considered. Additionally, these newly available persons, besides being off the public salary might actually gain employment in the private sector where they are contributing to the production of products and services we all want.

That’s all I have to say about that,
Dave Thacker

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Remember Back In The Day & Fructose

Pepsi Deposit Bottles
(Warning, the following post weirdly isn’t sure if it’s about green politics, recycling or man made sugars.)

Back in the day, before the anti-capitolists hijacked the movement (they call it green now), we actually did recycling. Almost everybody participated. Do you remember? One of my first jobs (1978?) was sorting a nearly continuious flow of bottles at the Little Farm Market in West Carrolton Ohio.

Photo’s of historic Woodies Market and Little Farm Market:
Rusty Cans Feb 2011
UrbanOhio.com

I remember, you could recycle metal, newspapers, oil, about anything. We paid our dues to the local boyscout club by collecting paper for recycling. Maybe it was 200lbs every 3 months or something similar. Been going on a long time hasn’t it?

1978 was before HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup). That product started to be pumped into america’s diet in the middle 80’s. According to Wiki’s High Fructose Corn Syrup page “Soft drink makers such as Coca-cola and Pepsi use sugar in other nations, but switched to HFCS in the U.S. and Canada in 1984.” I don’t remember so many people having diabetes back in the day before High Fructose Corn Syrup.

According to many, including DiabetesHealth.com – “However, fructose does not stimulate insulin secretion or require insulin to be transported into cells, as do other carbohydrates.”

According to the Wiki page, Type II Diabetes “is a metabolic disorder that is characterized by high blood glucose in the context of insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency.”

I try to keep beverages and other products that use HFCS out of my diet. There are many claims that Diabetes has risen in lock step with the increased use and consumption of High Fructose Corn Syrup. I like being able to enjoy real sweets and real sugars too much to risk becoming a diabetic over soda pop. I’ll have water please.

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