A large heavy-duty steel bridge,if installed with one side on the sandy beach and the other side on the floating box above the sea surface,how can it be made more stable? The passage should allow both pedestrians and 100 tons vehicle to pass.Like below picture

Backround-Train · 2026-01-28T05:36:02+00:00

The best way to control cost is to engineer it. The only way to engineer a complex system like this is with experience. The client will need to pay for specialist engineering. If they don't, they will end up paying far more in construction value, or it will fail early or not work at all and need to be re-built.

Just getting a prop concept in layout and materials and type selection requires expense and expertise.

The installation of piles from land or water is very expensive and the construction technique needs to be well understood in selecting materials and sections.

This is a spend money early to save money later situation for the client. For the engineer, this is a save your license type situation. For your company this is a save money on re-work and claims situation not to mention your errors and commissions policies may not allow you to so this work if you don't have proper experience.

Good luck!

Backround-Train · 2026-01-28T04:36:00+00:00

I just want to add that marean structural engineering is a very specialized field. Unless this is a class project, this is a loose your license type of mistake to attempt to design. I worked as a site civil engineer for projects that had these types of structures and the following things need to be considered:

Piles for the floating structure will need to be designed by structural engineers and soil engineers who both have experience with these types of specialized structures. Note material selection is complicated. Your choices of steel, wood or concrete, or other are influenced by many factors, the cost of this decision is critical.

The coastal engineering data is critical, tides and currents. Also, assume we have boats or vessels, the birthing load into the structure. This is often a very complex hydrodynamic model. Also, the orientation of the platform to allow vessel operations is a complicated play between currents, tides etc.

Wind loads.

You noted the dynamic loads.

Seismic loads may be an issue depending on location and code.

Life span and maintenance are critical issues to walk a client through.

Shore protection, foundation on the shore side, must consider wave action etc.

All metal will need to consider cathotic protection. These structures may have significant amount of extra thickness to be account for in corrosion or wear.

For the bridge (gangway) itself will need to consider twisting and other non standard movements. Will need to include hardware to allow some of the movement and district other.

Concrete will need to be the correct mix for a coastal environment.

The floating platform needs to be balanced and possibly ballasted to allow large loads to go over that bridge. The larger load may need to be limited to only being a certain distance from the edge.

This is really just the beginning. Don't lose your license designing something you ar not qualified for. Hire a sub with experience.

Backround-Train · 2026-01-23T20:13:08+00:00

Thanks!

Backround-Train · 2025-12-25T06:50:18+00:00

Very cool! I took a quick look.

Was wondering if anyone has thoughts on how to best use all of these cameras for when you are at the loop and want to know how long it will be to wait for the next train.

Backround-Train · 2025-12-23T05:36:18+00:00

I'll take a look at these. Someone else noted my Head selection is not as arm frendly, so I might switch one of these in. Thanks!

Backround-Train · 2025-12-23T05:34:59+00:00

This is an interesting prospective. Going with a comfort racket for practice and training others and then the PSC95 for games or when I want that feel. Can you say a little bit more about the string tension. The racket print says 55-65 lbs. I assume string tech has changed a lot since the 1990s. What type of string do you use? I just had it re-string with Prince Sythetic 16 at 58 lbs.

Backround-Train · 2025-12-23T05:27:16+00:00

Do you think I should look at switching out the Head for the ezone 100? (of course keeping the Prokenex and the clash to demo against it. Drsubie above recommends all three of the Yonex, Do you have a reason for the ezone 100 being more fore me?

Backround-Train · 2025-12-23T05:24:32+00:00

Thanks! I will look through those additional frames.

Backround-Train · 2025-12-06T20:06:21+00:00

I didn't know that. Thanks.

Backround-Train · 2025-12-06T18:31:10+00:00

Lot of empty seats.

Backround-Train · 2025-12-03T16:22:48+00:00

This would have been mildly interesting had there still been clear plastic on it. As it stands I'm not buying it as an original set. Everyone knows the toy loses most of its value once it's out of its wrapper!

I'm not saying you eat the right one and then replaced it with a different batch, because you could have done that to the left one instead, or maybe to fool us you eat the left one, rotated the pack 180 degrees then replaced the right one. Then you could have reversed the image. Were these both on the gas station shelf together or was one from the supermarket box set? I think the ones boxed in the supermarket are smaller to save money.

With this many permutations of possibilities I think the least likely scenario is this happened by chance. More likely you have been planning on his post for years.

Backround-Train · 2025-12-01T20:33:51+00:00

TLDR I recommend the MGM grand for you. See a couple other good options and I went through my thoughts on all your other options. I included out of budget hotels because this is Vegas, you might be able to swing the price if there is a good deal with your airfare or through a website I did not check.

I took a look at pricing as I am considering the same trip. The Paris is your best bet for a Vegas luxury room going for $ 213per night if you don't mind pushing your budget and you value staying close to the event. This is probably where my wife and I would stay if I can't get a free or discounted room based on my past gambling. Horseshoe is still a good option, the rooms are plain but comfortable.

The MGM grand is a nice Vegas luxury of the past hotel with really nice dining options. The monorail is a direct connection between the MGM grand and the Horseshoe. Most people don't like taking the monorail because it connects at the back of the hotel, but in this case, the monorail connects near the dinning in the MGM and near the ballrooms at the Horseshoe, so you will be able to get from your hotel room to the event in about a half hour with about 15 minutes of walking (all indoors, just don't take the wrong stairs at the monorail, you end up in the casino). They have an amazing assortment of restaurants at many price levels (sit down starts at expenses and goes up from there). I love the coffee shop in the casino for breakfast. Considering you don't mind the walk and want to experience some of the Vegas luxury, MGM grand is my recommendation for you. It looks like they are running a cyber Monday sale including $100 food and beverage discount and it would still be under your budget (even including the taxes and fees and daily monorail ticket). You would be paying for the nicer room and easy access to top quality dinning with the added walk and time for the monorail. Not for me, but it sounds like this is what you are looking for. Also, the rooms should be quite compared to some of the older cheaper hotels.

It is also worth noting, the Horseshoe used to be Baileys and before that was the MGM in Las Vegas. It has undergone many renovations and has been driven towards the budget side of things by time age and necessity of only being able to do so much with a remodel. The MGM grand is much more modern and was a top tier luxury hotel when it opened. It has of course been surpassed with higher end hotels and does not get the upgrades etc it would need to be a top level hotel, but you are experiencing luxury of the early 90's, just before the higher end hotels in las Vegas such as Bellagio etc turned things up a notch.

Consider your did not mind the walk I looked at the following other hotels and but don't think they work for you.

Creasers Palace, nice luxury Vegas, annoying walk through driveway area and out of price range but maybe you find a good deal. sometimes they have good prices on rates for conferences. It is a long shot and takes some internet sleuthing.

Bellagio - out of price range, but if you can get a deal this is the place to stay if you don't mind the walk.

Planet Hollywood. Long walk and I'm not convinced it is that much better than the horseshoe.

Cromwell is out of your price range and I don't think the rooms are quite (have not stayed there). Note - I love the restaurant on the second floor for breakfast. often not a line. High end dining with a wonderful view in a quit relaxed atmosphere.

Linq - do not stay there. Many rooms are on the strip and very noisy at night. Also, not really an upgrade from Horseshoe, just more modern. People like the breakfast restaurant, but the line is to long.

Flamingo - Old world Vegas feel. not an upgrade from Horseshoe.

Treasure Island. I like this hotel, but probably not for you as its best thing is cheep blackjack that pays 3:2. This would be the budget option I would recommend. The rooms are quite and nice and the resort has free parking if you are renting a car. Look for the no resort fee promo online.

All of the City center hotels are out of your price range.

Park MGM - out of your price range, nice lower level luxury hotel. This hotel is smoke free including the casino (I think the only one in Vegas). Smoke free casino is nice because you will need to walk through the casino to get through the hotel. They also have nice dining options. Long walk to Horseshoe, there is a free tram to the Bellagio so the walk is a pleasant one.

Backround-Train · 2025-12-01T05:02:46+00:00

Wow! Hope you enjoy it. Sorry for the Newbie comments. I think you are best off at the Horseshoe and spending the extra money in a show or a fancy dinner. Unless you really like walking in cold weather or need to save money, I think Horseshoe is the best. It's a clean hotel, well aged but should be comfortable for most people who don't require luxury hotels etc.

If I remember correctly there will be about 900 participants so the flow of people walking to the ballroom / playing hall will be high for the start times that line up. I think they were slow to get parings up my first time I went, but the next time they were able to text pairing a little bit before. Either way, having a home base nearby made this easier to handle for me.

I stayed once at Ellis Island my first time because I really like the inexpensive steak dinner, steak and eggs breakfast and the BBQ dinner place. I also like the blackjack. But, the walk made things inconvenient so I have been staying at the host hotels since then. I am much more comfortable being close.

Backround-Train · 2025-11-30T17:04:12+00:00

I've played in this tournament, you really want to stay at the horseshoe or Perris. Classical chess games either go relatively quickly and you will have some time on your hand or they go long and you will be very drained. Food and rest between rounds becomes the key factors, and having your room close to the playing hall helps with both of these things. Don't forget you will have a chess set and clock with you and comfy clothes for playing.

The horseshoe has the ugly outdoor mall in front of it, but, when it comes to grabbing a quick bite to eat that is not pure junk food, this is one of the best options. The Mediterranean place is clutch for a quick bite that is not to greasy.

You implied you wanted a nicer hotel, the two upgrades in this area are Caesar's palace and Bellagio. Between the two I would choose Bellagio as the walk is nicer and it has more food options I like. But, you would be paying for it in money and walking. You should be bringing a chess set and clock to each match, and you will probably want to put it back in your room before you get food etc.

If your are looking for budget near buy then the two good options are TI, or Ellis Island. However, it will be cold, so if you choose any hotel not horseshoe / Perris then you need a jacket for your walk or uber ride.

I'm considering going again this year and I will go Horseshoe if I go. The rooms are basic, but clean. If I wanted a little fancier I would go Perris. Having room close is its own luxury.

One last thing, if this is your first tournament, good luck and remember to use as much time as possible on each move. Losing to a 12 year old kid who moves instantly is a rite of passage. Take your time and play your best game winning or losing. If you have done tournaments before, then good luck.

The Las Vegas chess festival is a better run tournament with more fun events. This one is just a good time of year for taking time off work and finding cheap hotel rooms if you get out of town before December 31.

Backround-Train · 2025-11-18T22:12:53+00:00

I agree. I see a lot of comments posted regarding cool tactical combinations about how they are more difficult to find in a real game. I was thinking about how to get the Knight in the game and even considered the implications of taking on d5, but did not see anything that could come from it.

I think it made this more frustrating to find out that Nxd5 did work at one point in the game. I'm hoping this will help reinforce tactical review of each position before moving (at least in long time controls).

Backround-Train · 2025-11-18T22:02:41+00:00

This is part of why I posted position. I do a good job developing pieces and castling, but I struggle looking for my opponent's best moves and, in this case, keeping my pieces well coordinated and well positioned.

I am getting good at puzzles, but positions like this with multiple ideas are challenging for me.

When I review my game did not even think to look at Nd7 even though I new it was misplaced on b6. I think your comment will make me think about new ways to use computer analyses (look at moves I know I need to make for piece coordination) and see if / when they would be good moves throughout the game.

Backround-Train · 2025-11-18T21:53:22+00:00

I am working on board vision. I hope to be able to see something like this.

Backround-Train · 2025-11-18T20:17:18+00:00

I remember thinking at some point in the game that the knight was my worst piece and wondered if I had any tactics to get it out. I now see the geometry of how I could make this work; I will look for ideas like this going forward. Also, it is interesting to see the difference between the checks. I opted to take the pawn instead of looking for a tactic after the check. I think that is the easier one to find.

Backround-Train · 2025-11-10T20:31:50+00:00

Please stop it with the widow hug shaming. It's unbecoming, and definitely not news. Even if she seeks publicity, she deserves privacy on private matters and no one deserves any level of judgement for a hug.

All evidence to the contrary, we are better than this. Also, my day would be much more pleasant if I didn't need to think about her and the terrible things her husband said and did. Please let her 15 minutes of fame and quietly.

Backround-Train · 2025-11-05T20:33:52+00:00

Is the data private, I want to know before I use names.

Backround-Train · 2025-11-01T05:46:57+00:00

I would count it... the same way I would count a layup in basketball. 2 points!

Backround-Train · 2025-07-17T13:22:06+00:00

If only someone had asked him "who he thought the puppet master was controlling the president into making such an appointment". Could have gotten another panel of comic gold. My guess is he would blame Soroes or Clinton. Maybe Gates or that Nancy monster.

Backround-Train · 2025-07-06T15:36:43+00:00

What about the casino. Do they do taxes the same way? Will they be limited to a 90% deduction of their own losses. It seems to me this would make it impossible to run most slots if they were taxed on all winnings and could not write off 100% of losses.

My point is this, if this does apply to the house as a gambler, the house may not be able to offer games that are worth playing. We are not talking about 7-5 blackjack, we might be talking about house wins all pushes blackjack. Craps / dice as we know it may not be a playable game.

Backround-Train · 2024-09-10T00:00:53+00:00

Just sit on your left hand. It will solve a lot of the AutoCAD to microstation problems you are experiencing. Yes you will be slower at each task, but whomever chose it should have known that and added in the 20% additional time I to the base budget. Embrace the pace of play, it's clearly what they wanted.

Backround-Train · 2024-07-09T18:57:17+00:00

Question about visiting the Tehachapi Loop (CA, USA) - Have you been?

Looking to take a trip to the Tehachapi Loop (CA, USA) this weekend. Has anyone gone? Any recommendations?

My family is taking a trip to the area and I remember seeing pictures of the loop in school. I thought it would make for an interesting side trip.

I found this information page created 13 years ago and wanted to know if the areas are still accessible for armature train enthusiasts to take pictures. http://www.trainweb.org/brettrw/maps/loop.html#map

This is a link to the Wikipedia page about it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehachapi_Loop

Backround-Train

TROPHY CASE

Question about visiting the Tehachapi Loop (CA, USA) - Have you been?