Garnoopy

Way outside of Chicago you can find gas for $2.38. As you get closer and closer to Chicago, just on the outer suberbs, gas shoots to $2.75. I'm not sure of downtown, I fear going in there for running out of gas and not having enough money to fill my tank so I can leave.

I used to, way back about a year ago, spend $18 to fill my tank. Now, I'm spending average of $26. All I can say is thank heavens I have a car that gets 38 mpg. I pitty SUV drivers.

You're getting a champagne jacuzzi aren't you? ;)

No no, but now I know what to get you for Christmas. :)

You know, to be honest, I don't think I'd do anything with a 100 million dollars. I mean, I'd pay off bills, but other than that, I'd still probabaly keep doing what I'm doing. I enjoy my life and the way it is.

I don't know, maybe I'm crazy, but I think that whatever you do in life, you should like doing it. Just because you no longer need to doesn't mean that you should stop, because it should be fun.

Thank you for the entire answer to that I myself would like to see the manual that you have.

The manual itself needs some editing, but I'll see what I can do and it can be posted in Microsoft Word format to the forum here.

The manual was basically a summary of the TNG Tech manual for people who didn't want to read the whole thing but wanted to have a basic understanding of systems.

I was even thinking of saveing the definitions we would make an making an STSF Teck Guide it would be fun dont you think

We have something like that onboard the Manticore, known as the "Engineering Technical Manual" which was put together about a year or two back. It was basically a summary of how ship systems worked, so people could understand the basics without having to have memorized a technical manual. I checked the link though and it appears to be broken.

Well, I do have a copy of the manual on my hard drive, here is what it says about the warp core:

Warp Propulsion Systems, WPS

Engineering File 2.1

The warp drive system consists of three main items: the matter/antimatter reaction assembly, power transfer conduits, and warp engine nacelles. It should be noted, the item commonly referred to as the “warp core” is not what sends the ship into warp.

Onboard the ship there is a Primary Deuterium Tank (PDT). The PDT holds deuterium in what is referred to as a slush form. The deuterium is not liquid, but not solid, it’s slush. In order for the WPS to use the deuterium it needs to be in this form.

The PDT feeds the slush deuterium into the matter reactant injector (MRI) at the very top of the warp core. The MRI injects the super cold deuterium into the magnetic constriction segments (MCS). The MCS constricts and compresses the deuterium into a highly tuned almost beamlike stream of deuterium.

The highly compressed and focused beam of deuterium is then sent into the Matter/Antimatter Reaction Chamber (M/ARC).

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the warp core antimatter is sent into antimatter reactant injector (ARI). The ARI injects the antimatter into the lower MCS, which constricts and compresses the antimatter into a highly tuned stream.

The highly compressed and focus beam of antimatter is then sent upwards into the M/ARC.

The M/ARC takes the stream of deuterium from the top and the stream of antimatter from the bottom and very precisely sends them into the dilithium crystal, which has been precisely shaped for this purpose.

Dilithium is the only known substance, due to its atomical structure to not react violently to antimatter.

The amount of deuterium and antimatter that is sent through the system depends on how much power is required. Standard power generation requires that 10 units of deuterium and 1 unit of antimatter is sent into the system, a ratio of 10:1. This is also the ratio required to enter warp speed. While at warp 8 the ration is 1:1. Higher warp speeds require greater amounts of deuterium and antimatter, but the ratio stays the same.

The combination of the deuterium and antimatter creates a plasma stream, which is tuned precisely for what is needed. The plasma stream flows aft from the warp core into the power transfer conduits (PTC).

The PTC runs through what is called the Electro Plasma System (EPS). The EPS can either direct the plasma into the warp nacelles, thereby sending the ship into warp or it can direct the plasma to power items onboard the ship.

To go to warp the plasma is directed into the warp nacelles where it energizes the warp field coils. It is the nacelles that send the ship into warp, not the warp core. The warp field coils use the plasma to create an intense, multilayered field that surrounds the starship, which by manipulating the shape of the field produces the effect that allows a starship to travel faster than light.

As for using transporters, you need to remember that the technology itself to allow safe "site to site" transport didn't arrive until shortly before the Galaxy Class design. Up until that point, it was deemed extremely dangerous and hazardous...mostly due to fears that other ships systems would interfer with the signal. This is why, most times, people beam onto another individual's transporter pad...as the two systems "link up" to provide a stable connection. This is also why transporting individuals at warp is still considered hazardous.

Also, a "site to site" transport doesn't use the standard amount of power as a regular transport. It is actually two transports. You beam to the system, then the system beams you to another location. The energy requirements double for a "site to site" over just a beam down.

Since it's not part of the quiz, I can provide you with research: Leptons are real, they weren't made up by the Star Trek writers. A lepton is a class of elementary particles with quantum spin of 1/2 that doesn't experience the "strong force" Wikipedia link. Electrons and some neutrinos are examples of leptons. An antilepton (like an antiparticle) is the antimatter equivalent of any lepton. Any form of antimatter + its matter component combines to give out energy. That's why a matter-antimatter reactor is perhaps the most efficient form of reactor one can build, assuming one could obtain and confine the antimatter.

Fascinating Lo'Ami. Thank you for the information.

Converting leptons to energy. :-)

I debated asking, but my curiosity has taken over... Lo'Ami, what is a lepton?

Happy birthday!

Paid by the hour, I did. Three bucks an hour. ::shivers::

I bet in those days sims were less likely to run over the time limit eh? :P

For the transportation question I'm going with it's supposed to be "If I could have any I would have..." and not "I currently own...". If I'm wrong, tell me and I'll update it. :P

Food: Chicken BBQ Pizza, with lots of BBQ sauce

Drink: Mountain Dew

Color: Blue

TV show: ST DS9/Voy

Movie: Twister, Day After Tomorrow, The Postman

Place to live: The country. With green grass as far as you can see and a grass runway in my backyard.

Mode of Transportation: Twin Beech .... or, if you meant cars, Honda Hybrid.

If I had 1 wish, I would wish for: The ability to fly without wings OR to be in the future and be an engineer onboard a Federation starship.

I remember reading in a tech manual somewhere that the bridge had a dedicated turbolift. And that along each TL line, there were at least two cars running at all times with stop points for a car to let another pass. I may be wrong, but I think it was in the Enterprise D tech manual.

Yes, I think you are right about that. I believe that there was also a dedicated TL just for going from the bridge to the battle bridge on the Enterprise D.

Ramscoops don't actually convert anything into energy. They just harvest interstellar material (usually hydrogen, the most plentiful element). The hydrogen can then be used in fusion reactions to give helium + energy, or, presumably, it can be reacted with anti-hydrogen in a matter-antimatter reactor to give pure energy.

I think I remember reading that in a pinch starships can use the ramscoop to collect matter for use in the warp core. However, I recall that the matter is "dirty" and therefor long term use can damage the dilithium crystals and other system parts.

You always see what happens on the bridge or in engineering when no one is wearing seatbelts, but what happens in personal quarters?

I mean, if you're hit and people are being thrown across the bridge you have to assume that the poor person who is asleep in their bed also is thrown across the room. How come we never see footage of that?

And if you installed seatbelts on the bridge, what would you do for the people asleep in their beds? If you have a good safety restraint system sleeping might become less enjoyable, especially if you toss and turn.

Actually, this topic reminded me of an e-mail I got a few years back.

Borg vs Windows

"Star Trek Lost Episodes" transcript.

Picard: "Mr. LaForge, have you had any success with your attempts at

finding a weakness in the Borg? And Mr. Data, have you been

able to access their command pathways?"

Geordi: "Yes, Captain. In fact, we found the answer by searching

through our archives on late Twentieth-century computing

technology."

Geordi presses a key, and a logo appears on the computer screen.

Riker looks puzzled:

"What the hell is a 'Microsoft'?"

Data turns to answer:

"Allow me to explain. We will send this program, for some reason

called 'Windows', through the Borg command pathways. Once inside

their root command unit, it will begin consuming system resources

at an unstoppable rate."

Picard:

"But the Borg have the ability to adapt. Won't they alter their

processing systems to increase their storage capacity?"

Data: "Yes, Captain. But when 'Windows' detects this, it creates a new

version of itself known as an 'upgrade'. The use of resources

increases exponentially with each iteration. The Borg will not be

able to adapt quickly enough. Eventually all of their processing

ability will be taken over and none will be available for their

normal operational functions."

Picard: "Excellent work. This is even better than that 'unsolvable

geometric shape' idea."

... 15 Minutes Later ...

Data: "Captain, We have successfully installed the 'Windows' in the

command unit and as expected it immediately consumed 85% of all

resources. We however have not received any confirmation of the

expected 'upgrade'."

Geordi: "Our scanners have picked up an increase in Borg storage and CPU

capacity to compensate, but we still have no indication of an

'upgrade' to compensate for their increase."

Picard: "Data, scan the history banks again and determine if there is

something we missed."

Data: "Sir, I believe there is a reason for the failure in the 'upgrade'.

Appearently the Borg have circumvented that part of the plan by not

sending in their registration cards.

Riker: "Captain we have no choice. Requesting permission to begin emergency

escape sequence 3F ..."

Geordi, excited:

"Wait, Captain I just detected their CPU capacity has suddenly

dropped to 0%!"

Picard: "Data, what do your scanners show?"

Data: "Appearently the Borg have found the internal 'Windows' module

named 'Solitaire' and it has used up all the CPU capacity."

Picard: "Lets wait and see how long this 'Solitaire' can reduce their

functionality."

... Two Hours Pass ...

Riker: "Geordi what's the status on the Borg?"

Geordi: "As expected the Borg are attempting to re-engineer to compensate

for increased CPU and storage demands, but each time they

successfully increase resources I have setup our closest deep

space monitor beacon to transmit more 'Windows' modules from

something called the 'Microsoft Fun-Pack'.

Picard: "How much time will that buy us?"

Data: "Current Borg solution rates allow me to predicate an interest

time span of 6 more hours."

Geordi: "Captain, another vessel has entered our sector."

Picard: "Identify."

Data: "It appears to have markings very similar to the 'Microsoft' logo!"

Over the speakers:

"THIS IS ADMIRAL BILL GATES OF THE MICROSOFT FLAGSHIP MONOPOLY.

WE HAVE POSITIVE CONFIRMATION OF UNREGISTERED SOFTWARE IN THIS

SECTOR. SURREDER ALL ASSETS AND WE CAN AVOID ANY TROUBLE. YOU

HAVE 10 SECONDS TO COMPLY."

Data: "The alien ship has just opened its forward hatches and

released thousands of humanoid shaped objects."

Picard: "Magnify forward viewer on the alien craft!"

Riker: "Good God captain! Those are humans floating straight toward

the Borg ship with no life support suits! How can they

survive deep space?!"

Data: "I don't believe that those are humans sir, if you will look

closer I believe you will see that they are carrying something

recognized by twenty-first century man as doe skin leather

briefcases, and wearing Armani suits!"

Riker and Picard together horrified:

"Lawyers!!"

Geordi: "It can't be. All the Lawyers were rounded up and sent hurtling

into the sun in 2017 during the Great Awakening."

Data: "True, but apparently some must have survived."

Riker: "They have surrounded the Borg ship and are covering it with

pieces of paper."

Data: "I believe that is known in ancient venacular as 'red tape' --

it often proves fatal."

Riker: "They're tearing the Borg to pieces!"

Picard: "Turn off the monitors. I can't stand to watch, not even the

Borg deserve that."

Happy bday!

thar she blows

Dang, I was hoping you'd actually find this image. ::chuckles::

Happy Birthday Dac!

"Give a girl the correct footwear and she can conquer the world."

Go get a pair of shoes!

Now, how bout a pic of the very first Batmobile? (the one from the 40's)

Interesting, I never knew that there was a station wagon batmobile. Who would have guessed?

Now, lets see a picture of the stealth bomber at Oshkosh, AirVenture. And I don't want the picture of the B-2 Stealth Bomber, there is a different stealth bomber they show yearly.

::chuckles:: I do love Google.

But, I do really enjoy dept. based when they occasionally pop up, so I agree with BluRox / NDak on continually having the random department adventure here and there. Woo Hoo.

I agree with you both, N'Dak and Kansas. A departmental sim is an interesting idea that I believe a few, if not many, would be interested in at least trying for those of us who have missed them when previously done.

Perhaps, the next time a departmental sim is planned, a notice could be posted. That would allow those who are interested in attending one to see what it's like.

What about a new set of academy's known as Departmental Training Institutes.

What it seems like you are talking about is a kind of "How-To" training for specific departments. So those people who end up in engineering know how to be engineers, medics know how to work in sickbay, and so forth. The sim in itself is almost a sampler so to speak, so you can see what it might be like working as a team in the field you are considering for an advanced sim.

Although I agree that sometimes people need a little more knoweldge about the deaprtment they are entering, this also seems like a teamwork building idea. When you're on a ship and you have to teamwork, it's much more difficult to know how different departments need to interact together, especially in such a short sim. But when you talk about a departmental sim, you are dealing with a group of people who all are working in the same field on the same ideas.

<TAC> Sensors are picking up multiple ion trails in the vacinity. Looks like there has been heavy traffic recently.

maintain visual seperation,cleared to land runway 90,this seems not unusual on the

surface,however,it turs out 4842b was a piper twin,i was a single on final,slower,

::chuckles:: Reminds me of a few landings I've seen at Oshkosh, although they normally land 2 - 3 aircraft at a time, telling you to land on one of the three dots they paint on the surface.

I'm not sure how it's done down at Sun-N-Fun (I've never attended), but at Oshkosh the pilots aren't allowed to talk to ATC operators. They identify you by "Blue and white Cessna" or "Low wing Mooney" and give you instructions that way. You acknowledge by rocking your wings.

Some of my favorite quotes come from listening to ATC (Air Traffic Controlers). ATC operators are the people that make sure planes taxi, take off, and land without coming into conflict with other aircraft. One of my favorite things to do while at AirVenture is to sit on the side of the runway with a handheld and listen to the ATC operators work, they are amazing people. Oshkosh, WI is the busiest airport in the world for one week starting this Monday.

I have a particular fondness for some of the quotes I've heard over Chicago O'Hare International's frequencies by the ATC operators. Below are some of my favorites that were actually transmitted.

"Air Force one, I told you to expedite."

"DAL1176, say speed."

"DAL1176, we slowed it down to two-twenty."

"DAL1176 pick it back up to two-fifty...this ain't Atlanta, and them ain't grits on the ground."

"Air Force Four-Five, it appears your engine has...oh, disregard...I see you've already ejected."

"If you want more room Captain, push your seat back."

"Sure you can have eight miles behind the heavy...there'll be a United tri-jet between you and him."

"Approach UAL525 what's this aircraft doing at my altitude?"

"UAL525, what makes you think it's YOUR altitude, Captain?"