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Friday, October 13, 2006

WCBSTV.com: A-Rod OK After Plane Overruns Calif. Runway

EDIT: Formerly “Chris Dial Saves A-Rod’s Life”

How much longer until Steinbrenner writes a clause in each contract demanding his players travel only by train during the offseason?

See Post #14

WillYoung Posted: October 13, 2006 at 10:31 PM | 73 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: yankees

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1. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: October 13, 2006 at 10:34 PM (#2210349)

From now on, the Yankees travel by mule only.

2. G A Delgado Posted: October 13, 2006 at 10:41 PM (#2210367)

Wow. Friday 13th. Like his number. Lucky.

3. MM1f Posted: October 13, 2006 at 10:42 PM (#2210372)

Are you ####### serious?

4. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: October 13, 2006 at 10:43 PM (#2210374)

Wow. So his vortex of suck now extends to other professions. Someone please let us know if he ever rings the bell at the NYSE.

5. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: October 13, 2006 at 10:52 PM (#2210393)

Wow. So his vortex of suck now extends to other professions. Someone please let us know if he ever rings the bell at the NYSE.

Cancel all his visits to children's hospitals.

6. Crispix Attacksel Rios Posted: October 13, 2006 at 11:00 PM (#2210409)

These aviation-related mishaps are just getting started.

-Nick Green Perishes In Blimp Mishap

-Randy Johnson Mistaken For Jersey Devil, Strafed By NJANG Drone

-Vacationing In Andes, Giambi Struck By Crashing Airliner, Eaten By Ecuadorean Soccer Team

-Kim Jong-Il Reports Successful Test of Anti-Sheffield Homing Missile

-Jeter Discovers Further Superpowers, In Stable Condition After Flying Too Close To Sun

-Fasano Mistaken For Plumber, Attacked By Koopa Paratroopa

-Pavano Subdued In Air-Rage Incident; Breaks Eight Ribs, Tears Labrum In Tussle With Stewardess

7. You can keep your massive haul Posted: October 13, 2006 at 11:15 PM (#2210441)

#6 haha

-Bernie Williams breaks guitar string that smashes window next to seat causing a pressure loss in cabin and plane goes down.

-Cano by chance plane is being piloted by Subzero, battle ensues and Cano loses right eye (Steinbrenner ponies up cash for new red eye and partial metal skull for young 2B)

-Damon in small Cessna that goes down over Atlantic, is luckily saved by power to walk on water, other passengers brought back from dead, all you can eat bread and wine all around.

8. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: October 13, 2006 at 11:47 PM (#2210480)

Matsui dislocates shoulder after falling off Mothra.

9. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: October 13, 2006 at 11:54 PM (#2210483)

Jorge Posada's ears catch strong tail-wind, propel him face-first into plate glass window.

10. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: October 14, 2006 at 12:00 AM (#2210488)

One of the funnier threads of late...

11. Howie Menckel Posted: October 14, 2006 at 12:02 AM (#2210490)

This "story" did the impossible - it rendered WFAN's Mike Francesa speechless.
Lots of dead air, sighing - then he finally wondered if anyone had even ASKED A-Rod if he was ok.
Finally he said, "A-Rod needs a checkup.... from the neck up" and then signed off as he passed the show over to the update guy.

12. Obo Posted: October 14, 2006 at 12:16 AM (#2210515)

Didn't a Primer regular work on runway "arresting systems"?

13. 185/456(GGC) Posted: October 14, 2006 at 12:17 AM (#2210517)

Yes, Obo. It was Dial.

14. Chris Dial Posted: October 14, 2006 at 12:20 AM (#2210528)

The twin-engine jet was stopped by the Engineered Materials Arresting System, a 200-foot-long stretch of pavement injected with air bubbles designed to collapse under the weight of an aircraft as large as a Boeing 737 jet traveling as fast as 50 knots, airport spokesman Victor Gill said.

"It came to a pretty quick stop," Gill said.

Damage to the aircraft was minor, the NTSB said.

An NTSB official was sent to investigate the 11:35 a.m. incident. The board planned to retrieve the cockpit voice recorder, gather radar data and evaluate how well the arresting system worked.

Didn't a Primer regular work on runway "arresting systems"?

I "sort of" did. I invented it.

So, basically, I just saved A-Rod's life.

15. Repoz

Posted: October 14, 2006 at 12:24 AM (#2210535)

These aviation-related mishaps are just getting started.

But...I believe it all started when Tim Johnson's plane went down during the Tut-Tut Offensive.

16. cercopithecus aethiops Posted: October 14, 2006 at 12:28 AM (#2210543)

So once this system deploys, how long is the runway out of commission? Also, I'm a little bit confused by the wording in the story -- a Gulstream G-II isn't anywhere near as big as a 737, is it? How big does a plane have to be to trigger the arresting device?

17. CraigK Posted: October 14, 2006 at 12:31 AM (#2210551)

I "sort of" did. I invented it.

So, basically, I just saved A-Rod's life.

So, you coulda indirectly killed A-Rod.

Wow.

18. Obo Posted: October 14, 2006 at 12:34 AM (#2210555)

So, you coulda indirectly killed A-Rod.

Way to not drop the ball.

19. AZ Posted: October 14, 2006 at 12:35 AM (#2210559)

Didn't a Primer regular work on runway "arresting systems"?

I "sort of" did. I invented it.

Wow, that's pretty cool. How many airports are they installed in? How do the systems work?

20. CraigK Posted: October 14, 2006 at 12:38 AM (#2210569)

So Chris, your profile lists you as a Pharmaceutical reasearch chemist; how'd you get from there to finding a way to stop planes from crashing?

21. Chris Dial Posted: October 14, 2006 at 12:38 AM (#2210571)

But really, it was a good time. I lived in Philly and made a positive contribution to society.

22. Los Angeles Waterloo of Black Hawk Posted: October 14, 2006 at 12:40 AM (#2210574)

Chris Dial Posted: October 13, 2006 at 08:20 PM (#2210528)I invented it.

Hmm. I thought it was MGL.

23. rr

Posted: October 14, 2006 at 12:41 AM (#2210578)

I "sort of" did. I invented it.

Bullshit. Al Gore did.

24. Halofan Posted: October 14, 2006 at 12:44 AM (#2210586)

I WANT THESE MUTHAF##IN YANKS OFF THE MUTHAF###IN PLANE!

25. PerroX Posted: October 14, 2006 at 12:46 AM (#2210593)

Hey, 23 posts and none blaming Jeter for not doing his job and protecting little Alex at all times.

26. Chris Dial Posted: October 14, 2006 at 12:47 AM (#2210598)

there are alot at a bunch of airports.

A foami material - about like shaving cream, if mixed with perfectly mixed concrete. the cream has enough surface tension in hte bubbles to support a coating of rapidly curing (type III) concrete. It will be about 18 lb/cft, and have a compressive strength of 60-80 psi.

It geernally gets a weather protecting top layer of heavier duty material - say 120 psi, but it appears from the photo in LA that isn't needed (no freeze/thaw issues).

It is poured in 4x4 blocks varying depths (to allow a gradual entrance by the plane). this one looks below grade, which is a slightly different design when I was there - ther eis some concern with pooling water, but golf course drainage could make that a good option now.

You and I can walk on it, but a plane crushes teh material

I could go on and on. I presented this to the NYNJ Port Authority on an upper floor in the WTC in 1996. The NYNJPA supported my research, and they purchased the first system.

27. CrosbyBird Posted: October 14, 2006 at 12:52 AM (#2210614)

-Chien-Ming strains Wang joining Mile-High club

28. CrosbyBird Posted: October 14, 2006 at 12:56 AM (#2210619)

Wow, Dial, interesting stuff. I had a brief half-semester where I considered material science as a career. Fascinating stuff.

What's the material called?

29. Chris Dial Posted: October 14, 2006 at 12:58 AM (#2210623)

Cellular concrete. But it is specialized - cellular concrete itself isn't so new.

30. Chris Dial Posted: October 14, 2006 at 01:01 AM (#2210631)

And thanks everyone for the kind words, and the funny unkind ones.

31. Chris Dial Posted: October 14, 2006 at 01:13 AM (#2210664)

You can go to the US Patent Office website and read # 5,885,025

32. Urban Faber Posted: October 14, 2006 at 01:16 AM (#2210671)

"That's a LIE. A-Rod won the World Series MVP in 2009. He hit 842 career home runs."
"Every man on that Gulfstream died because YOU WEREN'T THERE ..."

33. Chris Dial Posted: October 14, 2006 at 01:17 AM (#2210673)

Someone asked about repair - you can pour about (it looks in the photo) a few blocks, and cut them to size with a regular handsaw and simply slide them in snugly.

34. 185/456(GGC) Posted: October 14, 2006 at 01:17 AM (#2210674)

And thanks everyone for the kind words, and the funny unkind ones.

Well, we all know that Eric Van had the idea originally.

35. TerpNats Posted: October 14, 2006 at 01:18 AM (#2210676)

Perhaps the Yankees should hang around John Sterling more. As awful as that hack is, somehow nothing bad ever seems to happen to him. The Teflon sportscaster, indeed.

36. Chris Dial Posted: October 14, 2006 at 01:19 AM (#2210682)

Wow, a Mr. Destiny reference. Or is that BttF?

37. 185/456(GGC) Posted: October 14, 2006 at 01:20 AM (#2210691)

This had me rolling:

"That's a LIE. A-Rod won the World Series MVP in 2009. He hit 842 career home runs."
"Every man on that Gulfstream died because YOU WEREN'T THERE ..."

38. 185/456(GGC) Posted: October 14, 2006 at 01:22 AM (#2210695)

I thought that it was from It's A Wonderful Life.

39. Chris Dial Posted: October 14, 2006 at 01:24 AM (#2210701)

Oh, yes, there's that one too. And I like the EMV references.

40. Dag Nabbit: Sockless Psychopath Posted: October 14, 2006 at 01:38 AM (#2210737)

So, basically, I just saved A-Rod's life.

Don't worry Dial, we won't hold it against you.

(gets swallowed up by the ground and down into hell)

41. Repoz

Posted: October 14, 2006 at 01:50 AM (#2210766)

A-Rod On Plane That Went Off Runway

Slaps Down!

42. WillYoung Posted: October 14, 2006 at 01:57 AM (#2210782)

Will there be a "How I Saved A-Rod's Life" presentation in St. Louis?

43. Chris Dial Posted: October 14, 2006 at 02:05 AM (#2210799)

Will,
you are supposed to edit the lead-in/title to that effect.

44. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: October 14, 2006 at 02:46 AM (#2210875)

Vehicle arresting bed systems on http://www.patentstorm.us/

Inventor Christopher T. Dial

45. agodnamedpablo2 Posted: October 14, 2006 at 02:47 AM (#2210878)

Chris, if you don't mind me asking, where did you get the inspiration for the system? It seems like one of those things that, once their invented, seems obvious in hindsight, but clearly wasn't because nobody had done it before.

46. The George Sherrill Selection Posted: October 14, 2006 at 02:59 AM (#2210903)

New York Post: "Man responsible for 'saving A-Rod's life' unrepetent"

47. rr

Posted: October 14, 2006 at 03:00 AM (#2210905)

WCBSTV.com: Chris Dial Saves A-Rod’s Life

Surely kevin will have something to say. The only way it would've been better is if Bonds had been on the plane.

48. Chris Dial Posted: October 14, 2006 at 03:26 AM (#2210963)

That's a little much, there...

agod,
a guy named Bob Cook really had the idea, but he tried to use polymer foams. the foams worked, but had too much "rebound", so the plane took too long to stop. He's on the patents.

It wasn't my idea - I was just the concrete expert and formulator. After an opening guess, I made all changes and poured the test bed blocks and went to Arkansas to work on the pilot plant. I lived in Pomona at the FAA Tech center pouring blocks.

49. The Mighty Quinn Posted: October 14, 2006 at 04:02 AM (#2211062)

We all know if Jeter had been on the plane the arresting bed system would never have been required. Unlike A-Rod who was probably cowering in the crash position, seeing his life flash before his eyes, meekly letting fate take its course, Jeter would have risen to the occasion.

Jeter would've shown his clutch leadership traits, quickly surmising the dire consequences, he would have boldly sprung from his seat, nimbly popped open the emergency door slide, flung himself to the on-rushing ground and using his body mass, drag the hurling jet to a safe stop.

Due to these kind of intangibles he gets my M.V.P.( Most Valuable Passenger) vote!

50. 1k5v3L

Posted: October 14, 2006 at 04:14 AM (#2211087)

Dial, this is amazing stuff. Every time I'm in a plane that's about to land, I'll hope the airport has installed your invention.

Which reminds me, are you currently working on something that can stop Billy Wagner really quickly when he starts sucking?

I'm sure the Mets would like to use that material and inject it in Randoph's head.

51. Howie Menckel Posted: October 14, 2006 at 04:16 AM (#2211090)

Some would say Jeter would have calmly saved himself, then when asked about why he didn't save A-Rod, too, he'd just shrug.

The prevailing Primate sentiment would be support for how Jeter didn't play into the media's hands by offering more than platitudes about A-Rod's demise.

52. rb's team is hopeful for the new year! Posted: October 14, 2006 at 04:54 AM (#2211125)

Jeter would've shown his clutch leadership traits, quickly surmising the dire consequences, he would have boldly sprung from his seat, nimbly popped open the emergency door slide, flung himself to the on-rushing ground and using his body mass, drag the hurling jet to a safe stop.

Wrong, the plane would've rolled past a diving jeter.

53. The George Sherrill Selection Posted: October 14, 2006 at 05:07 AM (#2211135)

a guy named Bob Cook really had the idea

Further indictments expected in A-Rod case

Anonymous sources report that Chris Dial, recently charged with saving A-Rod's life, has been naming others involved with the plot, including "a guy named Bob Cook" and former major leaguer and satanist Chris Truby.

54. Cabbage Posted: October 14, 2006 at 05:26 AM (#2211145)

Chris,

As a pilot, I thank you for your contributions towards aviation safety.

The next big hurdle will be improving ground ops at major airports. So get cracking.

Cabbage.

55. Chris Dial Posted: October 14, 2006 at 12:54 PM (#2211203)

Cabbage,
you are of course welcome. After Red, it is easily my greatest accomplishment.

The material has arrested a half dozen or so planes at the decade point. We ran a test at the FAA Tech center that was on 20/20 (or some derivative) and stopped teh 737 at 50 knots that is referred to in the article. It weighed about 150,000 pounds I think.

56. 1k5v3L

Posted: October 14, 2006 at 01:06 PM (#2211205)

After Red? Care to elaborate, Dial? Thanks.

57. Spencer Benedict Posted: October 14, 2006 at 02:07 PM (#2211222)

After Red?

The King Crimson album?

58. and Posted: October 14, 2006 at 02:35 PM (#2211232)

Chris,
Mr. Steinbrenner is most displeased.

Seriously, it rocks when chemists get to see a concrete (ahem) contribution from their work. Well done.

59. villageidiom Posted: October 14, 2006 at 05:21 PM (#2211292)

I think the Red Sox would be willing to hire Dial to find other ways to keep unwelcome Yankees in pinstripes. The job interview will somehow revolve around returning Chuck Knoblauch to LF and Jeff Weaver to the rotation.

60. and Posted: October 14, 2006 at 05:48 PM (#2211305)

A team could install Chris' material along the third base line and then sign a bunch of really light guys. In theory, you could tune it to arrest the heavier players. Instant shutouts.

61. Craig in MN Posted: October 14, 2006 at 06:11 PM (#2211317)

After Red?

I think Red = Dial's kid.

62. Boots Day Posted: October 14, 2006 at 06:43 PM (#2211333)

Theo Epstein wants to know if A-Rod's suit remained crisply pressed throughout the entire ordeal... cuz that would just be too weird.

This is the Primer Thready of the Year so far, isn't it? Extremely funny plus personal heroism!

63. North Side Chicago Expatriate Giants Fan Posted: October 14, 2006 at 07:34 PM (#2211347)

Dial, I am incredibly impressed. FWIW, you have all my respect.

64. The George Sherrill Selection Posted: October 14, 2006 at 07:47 PM (#2211349)

A team could install Chris' material along the third base line and then sign a bunch of really light guys. In theory, you could tune it to arrest the heavier players. Instant shutouts.

Since it sounds easy to replace, you could put it around the pitcher's mound when (say) David Wells is in town, so he couldn't cover first.

65. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: October 14, 2006 at 07:48 PM (#2211351)

I too have managed to impregnate a woman, and I would consider the Engineered Materials Arresting System to be a more impressive accomplishment.

Monkeys and fruit flies impregnate others.

:)

66. The Bones McCoy of THT Posted: October 14, 2006 at 07:53 PM (#2211352)

NSCEGF Just Passed the Bar!

Well all we need is for you to confirm your agnosticism, sharpen the bris and you're all set!

BTW ... You might want to have a few drinks and buy a bag of ice.

Best Regards

John

67. Spencer Benedict Posted: October 14, 2006 at 07:54 PM (#2211353)

I think Red = Dial's kid.

Le Petite Orange?

68. the Rod Posted: October 14, 2006 at 08:31 PM (#2211374)

Tell y'all the truth, the Rod was a little upset at first when the ground collapsed under his plane. "Sh*t," the Rod thought, "the Rod knows he's been hittin' the mini-donuts kind of hard lately, but this is ridiculous." But then a bunch of people informed the Rod that the ground falling apart saved the Rod's life, and that some sort of dial made it happen. Well, the Rod would like to thank the cat who invented that dial by sending him the Rod's usual gift basket of muffins and prostitutes. (The Rod recommends the lemon poppyseed and Pamela.) Because bein' dead would have put a major crimp in the Rod's game. Unless it was like that movie Ghost where Johnny Castle gets dead but then he comes back and gets it on with G.I. Jane. Plus he can walk through walls and sh*t. That would get the Rod out of a lot of trouble with husbands coming home. But, knowin' the Rod's luck, he'd come back as one of those dudes from Night of the Living Dead, and in the Rod's experience, the ladies find the smell of rotting flesh a major turnoff. Not to mention that the Rod would have to eat brains to survive, and where the Rod works, he'd end up starvin' back to death real quick, if you catch the Rod's drift.

69. E., Hinske Posted: October 14, 2006 at 09:16 PM (#2211444)

The Rod seems like the kind of guy who would watch Ghost. I'm told that Jeter watches nothing but war movies and even then, only about wars that America won. None of that Vietnam bullshit for The Captain.

70. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: October 14, 2006 at 09:20 PM (#2211450)

Very impressive Chris. I hope I don't have to take advantage of your work at any point in the future, but it's nice to know it's there.

71. the Rod Posted: October 14, 2006 at 09:31 PM (#2211473)

The Rod seems like the kind of guy who would watch Ghost.

You know how many times the Rod's gotten laid from watchin' that movie? That thing makes the ladies go crazy. It's unstoppable. Some days the Rod just has to put in the DVD and fast forward to the pottery scene, and six or seven women he ain't never seen before show up at his house to have sex with him. Sometimes they break the windows if he don't get to the door fast enough. Thing's like a freakin' dog whistle.

72. Foghorn Leghorn Posted: October 16, 2006 at 11:39 AM (#2213623)

Monkeys and fruit flies impregnate others.

Yes, and 10,000 monkeys at 10,000 cement plants for 10,000 years...

Thanks again, guys. I can see about some photos for the Wiki from our test run - I have a big framed one at my house.

73. sardonic Posted: October 16, 2006 at 12:11 PM (#2213632)

The Rod seems like the kind of guy who would watch Ghost. I'm told that Jeter watches nothing but war movies and even then, only about wars that America won. None of that Vietnam ######## for The Captain.

The really funny thing is I can't tell if the latter part is

1) Completely made up
2) Just something the media made up
3) Actually true

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Friday, October 13, 2006

WCBSTV.com: A-Rod OK After Plane Overruns Calif. Runway

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