Posted on 07/22/2017 12:15:41 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Robots that mimic ivy vines can grow thousands of times their original lengths at speeds faster than the average person can run, a new study finds.
The new soft, flexible robots could one day be used in tight situations, such as to slither through rubble or snake inside the human body...
The newly developed robot is made of soft, flexible polyethylene, the most common plastic in the world. It grows from its tip via internal air pressure, which pushes plastic tubing stored at its base up through the core of its body. The robot is initially about 11 inches (28 cm) long, but can rapidly reach a maximum length of about 236 feet (72 meters), according to the researchers.
"The body doesn't move as the tip extends," Hawkes told Live Science. "That is, you could hold the body of the robot tightly in your hands, and the tip would keep growing."
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
Yeah, one of these days I’ll get to the doctor.
My mother is feeling better, although still very cranky.
Don’t think about everything at once, just one step at a time!
Thanks!
As I was getting ready to shut down, Carlos came by to find out what he was supposed to do, knowing that Casey the manager and Nina the HASII have a tendency to fly off the handle at things unless they have been given detailed instructions.
This one will have to wait, for sure, because I keep thinking (along with Carlos) “NO one can be THAT stupid!” But yes. They can and they are.
So I’ll regale you in the morning with the things he told me. Utah is looking better and better!
Indeed. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single misstep.
And that’s how I got where I am today.
Squeeful floofs!
Good morning.
Another night when I was up more than asleep because I couldn’t breathe. I should have been ready for it, because the lawn guys were here yesterday, blowing dust around, and even though I had a mask, I obviously inhaled more than my share.
There was a maintenance man that I just really didn’t like because he always talked down to women, trying to make us all feel inadequate and stupid. I blew it off as just another bully and felt sorry for his wife. Luckily, he was assigned to another property and we didn’t have to deal with him very often.
It seems that his POV was found inside the maintenance gate of one of the other properties over a weekend, and it shouldn’t have been there, because there are two men who are On Call for nights, weekends and holidays.
Come to find out from some of the residents there, this particular guy was in the apartment of a man who was in hospice, and Mike-the-Maintenance-Guy shouldn’t have been on the property at all.
Several of the residents called the office after Christmas or commented to that property manager that Mike was there for almost three hours, and wondered if he had some specific reason for being in the tenant’s apartment. Mike said the guy had given him permission, and they wanted to know when that had happened.
Mike said it was on Tuesday, and the Suits said, “Mike. He didn’t give you permission on Tuesday because he died on Monday. Now, you have a choice: Resign or be fired.” Mike tried to talk his way around it but they were firm so he resigned.
Come to find out, he has ingratiated himself into a couple of residents’ lives over the years and ended up being given houses at the deaths of said residents. He was setting the scene up to do it again. It’s how he got one of the houses he has here in Old Town.
Because of his shenanigans, he had to quit with 26 years instead of 30 and forfeits his vacation and sick leave pay-outs. But I told Carlos Mike could always sell one of his houses if times were tight.
And best of all, Carlos is going to find me a stove and just swap it out rather than try to repair it. But that’s between he and I because Casey wanted him to fix it for the 5th time.
We only have half of the security lights working but that’s better than none.
Good morning. That’s a tragic story about those exploited by Mike the Maintenance Person. Hope you like the new stove!
I hope I get it before I move! LOL!!
I will try to pack up the last tub in the kitchen today, since I've been talking about it all week! Maybe even box up some food with expiration dates of at least six months away.
With not sleeping much last night, I don't know how long my stamina will last.
We still have icy conditions, especially in the back (north) where the sun doesn’t reach.
I emailed NVDMV yesterday about the “Mature Driving classes” and they are not available in the state. DMV directed me to AAA or AARP, and there is NO WAY I’m going to AARP for anything.
It’s not even offered at the college, so I will have to pay for it. But it will give me another discount on my car insurance.
If it’s enough of a discount, I might be able to raise the dollar amount of my life insurance. They tell me burials are up to $8000 now and I think that’s absolutely ridiculous. So I’ve decided not to die.
It is ridiculous!
I took a letter out to the mailbox and picked up the newspaper. It’s cold out!
I’ve got The Slows today, and that’s not good. I should have gathered up the trash and taken it out but the garbage truck is here, now, and I don’t want to move fast enough to catch it before it gets to this Dumpster.
We have rain showers, but as usual, they will be where they want to be, and not necessarily where they can be officially measured. According to those who keep such data, on the two days it rained, we got more than we did in the last 12 months. By any definition, that would be a drought.
My apology for not getting back to you sooner ... prayers that soon there will be a contract offer ... all is well down my way ... thanks for asking
You live in the desert!
We are back from the gym. Now Kathleen wants me to color.
But we have been in drought conditions, and yes, deserts do have droughts. Our normal rainfall is 3" a year, and last year, we barely got an inch.
Worked on a picture of a Sumerian goddess while watching several episodes of “The Twilight Zone.” I’m thinking of sleeping now.
I worked on another scarf while waiting for time and tides. I heard someone come in the gate, then close it, and I’m thinking “whathe...?” Pest control doing the outside, meaning they will be doing the inside next week.
Since I didn’t sleep much last night, I’m going to take my pills and go to bed. The barometer is dropping again and my body already knew that.
The day went better than expected, but it was still a Friday, and they are never the high point of the week. I told Charlie this morning that since today was the end of the work week, I was ready to par-TAY!
In other news, it seems that Mike the ex-Maintenance Man has been going about the properties telling residents that he quit/retired. Trying to garner sympathy, no doubt. I, for one, am glad he is gone. Charlie liked him, but Charlie is a guy and Mike was different with the male residents than he was with the female residents. The fact that Mike came back onto the property(ties) to tell people he was “retiring” tells me more about him than anything else. *shudder*
But I believe he has yet to make a Final Accounting where it matters most.
And so, until tomorrow — ta!
‘Face — you talk too much.
Me?
My mother said I probably talked just so I could hear my head rattle.
This morning, she was right.
Go MOM!
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