Mythbusters

"Please turn off all electronic devices including cell phones, walkmans and laptops during take-off and landing."

This is a typical announcement made while a plane is preparing for take-off or landing. But do electronic devices, especially cell phones, really interfere with airplane instrumentation and communication systems?

While travelling back from Vancouver to Ottawa on WestJet, I happened to come across the show Mythbusters on The Learning Channel. The mythbusters team was addressing this question. They built a box to test out this theory. They used various bandwiths. They found that a cell phone that was turned on didn't interfere with the instrumentation readings. However, if the cell phone was used (i.e. received or transmitted a call), this did interfere with the airplane instrumentation. That means the pilot wouldn't have accurate information and readings to know where he was flying (think Die Hard 3, I think).

However, the Mythbusters crew then wanted to test it in an actual aircraft in flight, but to do this was against federal law. The team were fortunate to have one pilot agree to let them test their theory (but while they were on the ground, of course). This airplane used was very high-tech and had protection to shield the plane's instruments from other electronics' frequencies and influences. So, this experiment showed that cell phones of varying bandwiths did NOT affect the plane's instrument readings at all.

So, in conclusion, the team thought this myth was busted. They were frustrated that they really couldn't test this myth in the air. However, they did wonder why airlines still asked people to turn off all electronic devices even though it seems this myth isn't true. Conclusion? Well, it's better to be safe than sorry (especially with all those new models of cell phones coming out ... you never know which one could cause problems).

High School Drama

No, I'm not having a nightmare about waking up as a high school student (although that would be pretty scary!) I went to see my cousin's play tonight called "Lucky Stiff". My cousin wasn't in the play ... she helped with make-up. Nonetheless, it was an entertaining and well-done performance.

The quality and calibre of the students' performance was quite good. Tonight was the last performance ... so my cousin went to the cast party to celebrate their success. Here's just one shot of the night. :) (see above)

The behind the scenes people are just as important as those who perform onstage. It's easy to forget about these "invisible", but without them, the show wouldn't go on. In a way, librarians tend to be unsung heroes since no one really knows what they do!

Casting back to an assignment (interview) I had to do in first term, I remember learning how ignorant people were of what librarians and information specialists really do. And there's a belief out there that librarians know everything ... which we apparently are supposed to work to keep up that belief ;) I don't know everything, but I am willing to learn ways to track down information. Maybe librarians are just detectives in disguise as mild-mannered folks.

Job search begins ...

Well, it seems the search for a job begins ... and people are sending postings! My dad just emailed me a Legislative Librarian posting today. That job would be in Regina, of course. Hmmm ... I think I get the impression my parents want me back in Saskatchewan. :)

Anyhow, I stumbled across a posting on the BCLA for a librarian job in China. Sounds like it's a new school that's opening ... and the librarian will help set up the resource centre. Sounds rather adventurous. I've sent in my application on a whim ... that would be exciting to travel and live in China ... maybe learn some Mandarin.

Gotta go catch a musical (by my cousin Jo's school!)