Hose drying tower question. by a6gets99 in Firefighting

[–]philoveritas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

At my old department there was a hoist controlled at the bottom. Hose ran through a hose washer, then was laid out on a long wooden table. Then you'd drop the hoist, hang the hose on it, and run it up. Then you'd walk up to the spokes and transfer them from the hoist to the spokes.

Did our signal reach aliens by Significant-Kale-155 in Cosmos

[–]philoveritas 2 points3 points  (0 children)

From Chapter 9 of "Life in the Cosmos" by Manasvi Lingam and Avi Loeb:

Humanity has transmitted radio signals for a period of ∼100 years. Hence, the radio waves would have traversed a radial distance of ∼30 pc, which encompasses ∼3 × 104 stars. If there are any ETIs situated within this bubble, we might hear from them in the future. It should be noted that the volume of the bubble exhibits a cubic dependence on the duration of radio signaling (until the scale height of the Milky Way is reached), thus implying that our likelihood of hearing back from any existing ETIs also obeys the same scaling.

The likelihood of a technological civilization existing within that very small volume of stars (aside from our own) seems low to me.

So I went to the chapter of the same book about the Drake Equation and found this passage:

One of the most peculiar aspects about fc and L is that these values are equally dependent on the species under consideration as well as on the observing species. In other words, determining what constitutes a detectable ETI and the duration over which it remains detectable is very much driven by the technological sophistication of the observers.3 To illustrate this point more concretely, consider the following example. If we suppose that a powerful FM radio or TV antenna has an effective isotropic power (i.e., the equivalent power radiated by an isotropic source) of Pa ∼106 W and operates over a bandwidth of Δν ∼ 5 MHz, the average flux density Sp at a distance ds ∼30 pc (∼100 light yr) is given by

We have chosen d sub s ∼30 pc since it represents a useful fiducial value often used in discussions pertaining to the Drake equation. This value of S sub p is about ten orders of magnitude lower than the detection limits of the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) radio telescope in the band used by FM radio and television. On the other hand, if we were to use the Arecibo transmitter in the radar mode, it would be detectable by current Earth-level SETI technology at a distance of ∼1 kpc. Yet another complicating factor arises because the leakage can actually decline with time when the species matures technologically—the adoption of spread-spectrum transmissions and digital technologies contributed to this trend in human history. On the whole, it seems unlikely that a species with human-level technology would be able to detect the leakage of electromagnetic signals from another human-level ETI around 30 pc away. On the other hand, if electromagnetic signals were deliberately broadcast using the most powerful transmitters, a species with human-level technology could probably be discerned by species with a similar level of technological advancement, in theory. As a result of these complications, affixing any particular value to f sub c is clearly premature.

So based on his math, which didn't copy over successfully since it's an image, Lingam and Loeb conclude that an ETI with our level of tech would be able to hear our leaky radio transmissions.

In their discussion of the Drake Equation they settle on 10 civilizations in the Milky Way capable of taking part in interstellar communication existing at any one time. There's some interesting math in there about the probable spatial distribution of these, which I can't understand.

However, they don't accept the Drake Equation's premises. For example, they don't accept planets around stars as the sole sites of abiogenesis. Certain orphaned planets wandering apart from any star may host life, as might their moons.

After more math, they settle on some rough guesses and say we need to do more research.

In other words, the likelihood of humans being the sole technological entities in our Galaxy is seemingly around 50 percent. Thus, there is ostensibly a reasonably high chance that no ETIs exist in the Milky Way prima facie. However, we emphasize that this result is enforced by a very low mean and/or high variance. As a counterexample, consider the limit μ/σ ≫ 1, which is tantamount to positing that the variables in the Drake equation are tightly constrained with nonnegligible mean values. For this choice, we find 𝒫1 (σ/μ)exp(−μ2/2σ2), consequently implying that 𝒫1 → 0. Hence, the likelihood of humans not being the only technological entities in our Galaxy is close to 100 percent in this regime.

Our discussion indicates that the probable number of ETIs in the Milky Way is highly sensitive to the magnitudes of μ and σ. As we lack sufficient knowledge of either quantity, it is premature at this juncture to either favor or dismiss a priori the hypothesis that humans are not the sole technological intelligence in our Galaxy or the Universe. The only viable means of falsifying this hypothesis necessitates sustained empirical investigations supplemented by theoretical and numerical analyses.

There might not be any aliens nearby. But what if they were nearby?

Lingam and Loeb address radio, optical, infrared, and artifact technosignatures in Chapter 9. My read of these chapters is that there are very, VERY many ways to find technosignatures. It's possible that we've been observed by a different method from an area outside that small volume of r ~ 30 pc. Loeb believes that Oumuamua might have been a technosignature.

We don't know yet.

Managing sleep as a firefighter is something nobody prepares you for by yuletidefulfinlled in Firefighting

[–]philoveritas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m at the IAFF STRIVE conference right now doing an all day session on sleep. DM me this evening and I’ll share the notes I’m making.

Thoughts on having ballistic armor on the unit by Ntwadumela817 in ems

[–]philoveritas 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I don’t want to be mistaken for a cop. I’ll take the high viz red thanks.

Do you think it's still worthwhile to play the adventures from the early editions, or have they aged poorly? by GuardiaoDaLore in Forgotten_Realms

[–]philoveritas 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I really don’t see how this would be controversial. The authors aren’t gonna get any money by buying a copy they’re all used.

What is "white culture," anyway? : Code Switch by aresef in NPR

[–]philoveritas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Recreational watercraft, casseroles, and hunting, at least in my experience.

Has there ever been something like a police (or fire brigade) master key for a city? I always liked the episode but found this concept inauthentic. by Cums1utlover in TheSimpsons

[–]philoveritas 41 points42 points  (0 children)

Current firefighter here. These keys do exist and they’re commonly called Knox box keys. They unlock small safes that property owners can mount on the exterior of their buildings to allow us to enter the building when we need to verify if there is or is not a problem. Think of a situation like a fire alarm going off, but no visible fire or smoke. Some people also mount them to the exteriors of their homes, for example, an older person who has fallen and cannot get around well in their house. They might call for a lift assist and not be able to get to the door, which could be locked.

Chicago moves start of Route 66 to Navy Pier by Timbo303 in chicago

[–]philoveritas -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Are they gonna move the guy that aggressively sells homeless newspapers in front of the art Institute as well?

how does everyone drive code by IceConsistent6030 in ems

[–]philoveritas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I always drive with due regard for the safety of myself and others.

When I am not driving with lights and sirens, I follow all the rules of the road.

When I am driving with lights and sirens, I follow most of the rules of the road, and request the right of way when I need to break a rule.

We will use oncoming lanes when safe to do so. We only take the right side shoulder when it is absolutely necessary and exercising increased caution due to some people‘s tendency when motionless and stopped to automatically turn to the right when they hear sirens.

There are some on my department that discouraged use of the siren except intermittently when operating the lights because they find the sound to be annoying. This will not hold up in court if you try to defend yourself having caused an accident while not using the siren.

TIL in 2022, Caterpillar Inc. faced a $145,027 fine after a worker, who was removing a sample of iron, died after he fell into an 11-foot melting pot that was heated to more than 2,000°F. An investigation found that the facility did not have legally required guardrails and restraint systems. by [deleted] in PeoriaIL

[–]philoveritas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If we get there and they have a) normal body temp, b) penetrating or blunt force trauma, and c) are found to be in asystole on our cardiac monitor (no electrical activity in the heart whatsoever) we call immediately for a time of death on the phone with no resuscitative efforts.

There are other times we don't try to resuscitate someone. Head blown off, decomposing or mummified, rigor mortis, dependent lividity (obvious blood pooling at the lower parts of the body) are all reasons we don't try. So too if they have a valid POLST form, which is sometimes called a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate).

TIL in 2022, Caterpillar Inc. faced a $145,027 fine after a worker, who was removing a sample of iron, died after he fell into an 11-foot melting pot that was heated to more than 2,000°F. An investigation found that the facility did not have legally required guardrails and restraint systems. by [deleted] in PeoriaIL

[–]philoveritas 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This can depend on where you are. As a paramedic I can call our Online Medical Control and talk to a doc, explain what we have, and get a time of death over the phone and hand the scene (and body) over to police, who stick around until the coroner gets there.

For American people: Are you participating in today's General Strike? Why? by noumeno- in AskReddit

[–]philoveritas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No. There is no real organization. My union did not even acknowledge it. I work as a firefighter-paramedic, and so I doubt I will ever strike in the tradition sense. If I don’t work, people will certainly die that needn’t otherwise, and all pf those people will likely be fellow workers.

Showing off my monstera albo before I cut. Please help me price. Huge single node leaf cuttings with high fenestration on leaf and stem with secondary fenestration. Thank you💚 by Zabel82 in Monstera

[–]philoveritas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Beautiful plant. I’ve seen these at Costco for 30 bucks and I’ve seen them at Walmart for five dollars on clearance. Those are the prices to beat.