Jim Medding’s Blog

Recently, after I shared one of my favorite racing videos with a coworker, he responded by suggesting that since I liked old racing videos, I might like this one:

On an August morning in 1978, French filmmaker Claude Lelouch mounted a gyro-stabilized camera to the bumper of a Ferrari 275 GTB and had a friend, a professional Formula 1 racer, drive at breakneck speed through the heart of Paris early in the morning. The film was limited for technical reasons to 10 minutes; the course was from Porte Dauphine , through the Louvre, to the Basilica of Sacre Coeur.

No streets were closed, for Lelouch was unable to obtain a permit.

The driver completed the course in about 9 minutes, reaching nearly 140 MPH in some stretches. The footage reveals him running 20 real red lights, nearly hitting real pedestrians, and driving the wrong way up real one-way streets.

Upon showing the film in public for the first time, Lelouch was arrested. He has never revealed the identity of the driver, and the film went underground.

Wikipedia describes some of the facts about the video a bit differently, but it still leaves you using my daughter’s favorite expression – OMG.

While reading one of the numerous Stephen Ambrose books I own, I found this quote from Major General Fox Conner who was Dwight Eisenhower’s mentor and supervisor in the Panama Canal Zone in the between-war years.

Always take your job seriously, never yourself.

Major General Fox Conner, from The Supreme Commander by Stephen Ambrose.

The feature article in the Fall 2009 edition of Eagletter, which I was able to borrow, from the National Eagle Scout Association is an interview of Mike Rowe the host of Dirty Jobs. While the whole interview is well worth your time to read, I found a couple of quotes exceptional.

When asked about the highlights of his time in Scouting, Mike responded with this list of familiar activities.

I remember experiences more than accomplishments. Summer camp at Broad Creek in Maryland. Playing ridiculously dangerous games like “swing the thing” and “British bulldog.” Whitewater rafting. “Capture the flag” in the dark. Going to Philmont. Riding horses in New Mexico. Singing songs. Hundreds of campfires. Really bad freeze-dried food. Spam. Lots of Spam.

Asked to compare “Dirty Jobs” to the merit badge program, Mike said:

Both have required me to work in areas outside of my comfort zone. And both provide endless variety. However, the context is different. The merit badge program is designed to reward accomplishment and instill a sense of consequence. You meet the requirements; you get the badge. Otherwise, no badge. On “Dirty Jobs,” my only obligation is to make an honest effort and do the work at hand. The work itself (aside from my paycheck) is the reward. I am probably the only person working who is paid to try.

Well said, Mike.

Wikipedia says this is unsourced, I find to too good to not use.

Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened.

Sir Winston Churchill

In a recent news event, it was mentioned that any e-mail sent to the White House must be retained, by act of Congress, forever. It occurred to me that this was a really cool feature which would allow you to send a message into the future for your decedents.

I mentioned this in passing to my son Greg who is, apparently, a bit more devious than I am. He realized that it was a great way to back up your term papers.

Now, the obvious thought one would have, is, sure you can have your data backed up, but how do you get it back?

No problem; it’s called the Freedom of Information Act.

Any one who considers arithmetical methods of producing random digits is, of course, in a state of sin.

John von Neumann