Finland Anti-Lockdown Convoy Hits Helsinki

Helsinki saw dozens of motor vehicles clog its streets on Friday evening, sparked by the nation’s lockdown rules, as well as the rising cost of fuel in the country.

Police initially tried to stifle the protest before it occurred, implementing a ban on heavy goods vehicles — a class which includes a wide variety of trucks — without a permit from the city centre.

That’s excellent news. But here’s my absolute favorite part:

However, according to a report from Finnish public broadcaster Yle Uutiset, this did not stop the protest from going ahead, with dozens of vehicles, including motor homes, cars, vans, and at least one mobile sauna, streaming into the city centre for the demonstration.

A mobile sauna? The only way this shindig could have been more Finnish was if Mika Häkonnen had been part of the parade, riding a reindeer.

Bravo, ystäväni.

My Difficult Choices

February 7, 2022 Kim du Toit Drive Time

…from yesterday’s post about driving around the Virginia International Raceway:

Group A: 2009 Wiesmann Roadster

Are you kidding me? A German V10 in a custom-built luxury sports car? Vroom, vroom.

Group B: 1995 Aston Martin DB7

Never driven an A-M… time to do so.

Group C: 1985 Lancia Delta S4

Better than the Stratos? I’d need to judge for myself…

Group D: 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL
Not even close. One of the best cars BMW ever made.

Group E: 1967 Iso Grifo 350 GL
American engine, Italian styling. Also, not even close.

Group F: 1955 Fiat 8V Zagato
Let’s see: four-time winner of the Euro Sports Car championship, a snarling 2-liter V8 engine… what was the question, again?

Next Sunday will feature yet another series of difficult choices. I rather like this game.

Wait A Minute

February 7, 2022 Kim du Toit Science!

So we have this breathless headline:

MIT scientists filed two patents on a new, 2D material that’s stronger than steel

Ummm… I always thought that two dimensions (length and width) mean that in mathematical and scientific terms the figure has no thickness — no matter how thin, the third dimension must exist for the figure to have substance — otherwise, it’s just a drawing.

And the explanation in the article doesn’t help:

“Instead of making a spaghetti-like molecule, we can make a sheet-like molecular plane, where we get molecules to hook themselves together in two dimensions,” said Strano, in the MIT blog post. “This mechanism happens spontaneously in solution, and after we synthesize the material, we can easily spin-coat thin films that are extraordinarily strong.”

It doesn’t matter if the third dimension (of the “thin film”) is only a trillionth of a micron thick, or the thickness of a molecule, it’s still >0.

Is this some kind of new math, or did somebody send out a memo redefining the dimensions?

I’m relying on a Reader Of Greater Brain than I to explain this to me.

Today’s Earworm

February 7, 2022 Kim du Toit Music

One of the greatest melodies ever composed.

Duh.

Monday Funnies

February 7, 2022 Kim du Toit Funny Stuff

So let’s take that licking and keep on ticking, with the help of a little laughter.

Hold that thought:

Now stop feeling jealous of that baby, and get the hell off to work.

Still More Difficult Choices

February 6, 2022 Kim du Toit Drive Time

You have been given a free day to drive the Virginia International Raceway (long track). For those unfamiliar, here it is (click to embiggen):

You have been given a whole Fall day to drive a half-dozen cars of your choice, from the list below, from dawn till dusk (about 7.30pm) around this 3.5-mile track, and you’ll have the place all to yourself. The weather forecast is for clear and sunny skies, with perhaps a brief shower at midday, clearing after about an hour. Temperatures will be in the mid-50s (11C to15C, for those of the Celsius persuasion).

You will be limited to up to twenty (20) laps for each car; three warm-up laps (no faster than 50mph) to get the oil temperatures up and for familiarization, and the rest at whatever speed you wish. Individual lap times can be kept for comparative purposes.

Mechanical service will be available at any time (so assume no breakdowns), and fresh tires will be provided as needed.

The cars from which you must make your choices are from the following list, and *note well* you may pick only one car from each group:

Group A (“Roaring 20s”)

Car #1: 2009 Wiesmann GT MF5 Roadster (go here if you’re unfamiliar)

Car #2: 2015 Maserati GT: