Comments on: By the byline http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/1701 Feel Smart Again Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:20:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: n2y2 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/1701/comment-page-1#comment-1872 n2y2 Wed, 13 Sep 2006 23:16:45 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/1701#comment-1872 If I like the article, I always make a point of seeing who wrote it. Usually the last thing I read in my MF magazine is the 'Contributors" section. I read it last so that I can associate the work with the writer. BTW, It would be nice to throw some of your regular writers into that section from time to time, so that we get to know them better. If I like the article, I always make a point of seeing who wrote it.

Usually the last thing I read in my MF magazine is the ‘Contributors” section. I read it last so that I can associate the work with the writer.

BTW, It would be nice to throw some of your regular writers into that section from time to time, so that we get to know them better.

]]> By: Simon http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/1701/comment-page-1#comment-1865 Simon Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:43:39 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/1701#comment-1865 Not quite true. There is the famous one that crash-landed in shallow water with quite a few survivors (it's famous because you've probably seen the video): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_Airlines_Flight_961 Also, can't remember exactly, but a plane went off the end of a runway into the ocean a few years back. Pretty sure there were no fatalities, and those lifesavers probably came into use. Not quite true. There is the famous one that crash-landed in shallow water with quite a few survivors (it’s famous because you’ve probably seen the video):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_Airlines_Flight_961

Also, can’t remember exactly, but a plane went off the end of a runway into the ocean a few years back. Pretty sure there were no fatalities, and those lifesavers probably came into use.

]]> By: Lee http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/1701/comment-page-1#comment-1862 Lee Wed, 13 Sep 2006 18:41:28 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/1701#comment-1862 I took a flight once, a short flight on a commuter airline, and the flight attendants were hilarious. My favorite was about the oxygen masks, "if you are traveling with a child (or anyone acting like a child) put the mask on yourself first and then help them." They also said any personal belongings left behind would be sorted out and shared with the crew. It was an enjoyable flight. I took a flight once, a short flight on a commuter airline, and the flight attendants were hilarious. My favorite was about the oxygen masks, “if you are traveling with a child (or anyone acting like a child) put the mask on yourself first and then help them.” They also said any personal belongings left behind would be sorted out and shared with the crew. It was an enjoyable flight.

]]> By: Jill http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/1701/comment-page-1#comment-1860 Jill Wed, 13 Sep 2006 17:55:34 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/1701#comment-1860 I read an article years ago that mentioned backward-facing seats were the safest in case of a crash, but the reason that buses and planes didn't have them (and why trains only have a few) is because a lot of people who aren't normally affected by motion sickness get nauseous when riding backwards. The bit about no successful water landings was an eye opener; I've been on several British Airway flights that actually show BA flight attendants in the water during the safety video. They were showing how to use the whistle that was attached (to get the attention of passing ships, I guess). They went to great lengths to convince us that water landings were not only common, but easily survivable. I read an article years ago that mentioned backward-facing seats were the safest in case of a crash, but the reason that buses and planes didn’t have them (and why trains only have a few) is because a lot of people who aren’t normally affected by motion sickness get nauseous when riding backwards.

The bit about no successful water landings was an eye opener; I’ve been on several British Airway flights that actually show BA flight attendants in the water during the safety video. They were showing how to use the whistle that was attached (to get the attention of passing ships, I guess). They went to great lengths to convince us that water landings were not only common, but easily survivable.

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