Oil and the US
No, this is not going to be a detailed in-depth analyisis of oil history and the love for the dark 
gold in every American's heart. Just some figures which drew my attention, after living nearly 7 months in the country where gasoline is still relatively cheap - but that could live of its own oil supply (no import) if the people would only drive fuel economic cars. Today you pay 71.32 $ for a barrel of crude oil, delivery in July.
May 20th, another article
Ok, so, time to catch up. After more than 6 months in Seattle, very long days at giant Boeing, endless boring meetings and frustrating debates over mechanical and structural issues, we passed our first D1 review. D1 is like a big exam where a board of about 20 'wise men' take the design under a magnifying glass and act as roman emperors: thumbs go up or down. For me it was an histor
ical event in my career as these were the first aircraft components under my responsibility which would go in production. About 90 slides and 2,5 hours later we got Boeing's approval to proceed and release the parts. The team's work was praised as the best on the Leading Edge (of the wing that is), and we received congrats from all the big players. I can't describe the relief I felt: pressure off the shoulders, smiles on tired faces, good-feel e-mails and a lot of confidence in a structure that meets weight targets yet keeps strength well above safe margins. Off course there's still lots of work, but a major milestone has been reached and the positive energy is boosting ! I can't show any pictures, for intellectual proprietary reasons, but for your interest: we develop the B787 slat tracks: the support and actuation system that drives the slats, critical devices necessary for take off and landing detent settings. I found a nice picture showing where about these components are situated and following link explains their aerodynamic purpose (for dummies). http://aerodyn.org/Frames/1lift.html
So spring has started in Seattle, and we got a fair amount of beautiful weather (let's now hope it only continues when I can leave work earlier....). Hans and Bas came to visit us, as a terrific ending to their spectacular 1 month journey across the US. Unfortunately it coincided with one of the busiest periods of my life (in the last straight line towards D1)
, so it was difficult to show them around. Yet, we shared some great moments together, including the historical moment of Hans's haircut: that long hair, cherished and loved since his teenager years, unseparable personal symbol and statement to his environment, was cut off. Bastiaan and I shared the honor: I will never forget that moment - the fear in his eyes, the hidden vanity that popped up ("where is that fuckin' mirror ?" "ow, shit !" "take a picture of the back of my head...please"). But hey, the best thing he could have ever done, see for yourself. "Bruce" was born. Together we went to my first baseball game ever: I saw the Mariners loose big time, Bas explained me the rules of this as-
American-tradition-as-it-gets ball game, had one of the tastiest hot dogs in my life, and found out that the 7th inning is an important moment. 
Other activities include my first steps back on a tennis court (oh God, I love that game), investigations for my new "surprise" (I'll dedicate an entire article to it as soon as I get to touch it), visual art excursions to the movies and theatre (I love it !): The intelligent design of Jenny Chow opened last weekend and is an amazing story about adoption, genius, agorafobia and a jet-propulsed-android, evolving from a wobbly machine to a not-yet-human emotional "being". That famous girl who likes to put comments on this blog, shines in a great role and terrific performance as the robot. Which reminds me of my old days at the university and the robotics theories - chapeau to Asimov !1)A robot may not harm a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2)A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3)A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.Regards to you all, Stijn, Seattle, May 2006
gold in every American's heart. Just some figures which drew my attention, after living nearly 7 months in the country where gasoline is still relatively cheap - but that could live of its own oil supply (no import) if the people would only drive fuel economic cars. Today you pay 71.32 $ for a barrel of crude oil, delivery in July.
