The Bi-Valve lnterior Combustion Twice-Exhausted Bi-Axle Nitro-Cycle, from the steampunk focused movie, Wild Wild West

If you are also a Kevin Kline, Selma Hayek, and Will Smith fan... or love steam and diesel punk, you'll love this 1999 movie.

humans, wheels, and engines. Put them all together and what do you get? The motor wheel, the focused culmination of the human desire to be fast

These have almost all been posted here before, seperately. I found more about them, and thought this could be a really cool informative and thourough post about the motor wheel.

The above

1931

1933 http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2010/11/22/m-goventosas-one-wheel-to-obscurity/ it went 93mph... I doubt that anyone did that more than once given the conditions of roads in Italy in 1931 to 1933, that's when the above photo was taken, 1931

early 1960's

photo from http://www.fengtastic.com/?p=895
A full description of Charles Taylor and his lifelong one wheel development ideas: http://thenewcaferacersociety.blogspot.com/2008/05/charles-f-taylors-one-wheel-vehicles.html The vehicle was patented by him in 1964

“This MV Augusta 60cc Monomoto Superleggera is the experimental machine ridden by young wealthy Italian Luiggi Bandini, during practice for the 1954 Milano-Taranto Road Race. Bandini tragically lost control in a misty mountain section, while waving to a pretty spectator. His grief stricken father, Count Enzio Bandini, “The Falcon,” never again permitted anyone to ride or even view this advanced design, and knowledge of its whereabouts faded. Eventually, rumors of this fascinating machine reached the motorcycling bon vivant Todd Fell. On a trip to Naples, Italy, his quest to find it was rewarded at the Bandini country villa, where in 2004, fifty years after the tragic accident, the late Count’s family was persuaded to part with the treasure.”

1947 The Vereycken Diwheel 1947 and you can read more about it http://douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/TRANSPORT/diwheel/diwheel.htm

early 1950's

Sidecar Willy, 1990's?

The R.I.O.T. wheel, burning man mid 2000's Above Jake Lyall's RIOT wheel at the 2003 Burning Man Festival.

This chunky 1100-pound machine is Jake Lyall's RIOT (Re-Invention Of The) wheel. Lyall's monowheel is unusual because it does not use the rider's weight to provide the reaction to the engine's thrust on the wheel. Instead the rider is outside, and the reaction is given by a lead-weighted Honda 80cc 4-stroke scooter engine suspended from a central shaft, driving through a sprocket attached to the wheel spokes. A separate 450-pound counterweight keeps the rider hovering above the ground at the front. Steering is done partly by precessing a 65-pound gyroscope to give yaw, and partly by the rider shifting his weight.

read about, and check out the cut away drawings of it http://douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/TRANSPORT/motorwhl/motorwhl5.htm

2007

18 years-old named Ben J. Poss Gulak has created the "One", a motorcycle that uses exactly the same principle as the Segway to work. It has two wheels, except that unlike other bikes that have online, the Uno's are in parallel. To speed the rider leans forward and slow down, back. http://autozine.com.br/diversos/uno-a-motocicleta-de-rodas-paralelas

2009

The Hornet is a concept motorcycle on one wheel created by designer Liam Ferguson. Using a fuel cell of six stages to run on hydrogen made from neodymium-iron that drives two motors of 74 horsepower causing the Hornet to reach 235 km / h. As with bicycles for children, it also has two wheels that support when the bike is stopped. Once the rider accelerates, it leans forward and these wheels are no longer required. A gyroscope calculates the center of gravity of the bike and balances, thus preventing its rider to fall. http://autozine.com.br/motos/hornet-a-motocicleta-do-futuro#more-4159

For a thorough look at all the monowheels, see http://douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/TRANSPORT/motorwhl/motorwhl.htm

VW ad campaign, nicely elegant

Anyone recognize this car?

found on the HAMB http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428585

Things you Should know about Hand Sanitizers

Curious about the hand-sanitizing products that are popping up in public places across the country? Here’s what you should know about hand sanitizers and your health

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), 80 percent of common infections, including the H1N1 flu virus, can be spread through contaminated hands. That’s why the PHAC and the World Health Organization (WHO) are stressing proper hand hygiene as an important first-line defense against the spread of swine flu.


While proper handwashing technique is a vital part of keeping yourself healthy, good old soap and water aren’t always around when you need them (say, when you get an unexpected hug from a runny-nosed preschooler on the playground). That’s where alcohol-based sanitizers come to the rescue. The PHAC recommends hand sanitizers that contain between 60 and 80 percent alcohol as “an excellent” way to clean your hands when you’re not near a sink. Here’s what you should know about them.

1. Hand sanitizers are effective

If your hands aren’t actually grimy, the best way to clean them is to use hand sanitizer, says James Scott, a microbiologist at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health.“[A sanitizer] cleans your hands much better than soap and water, so it reduces the bacterial burden to a much greater extent than soap and water,” he says. “And your hands tend to stay cleaner longer than if you were to use soap and water.”


Not convinced that a bottle of gel can really get your paws squeaky clean? Scott was also doubtful. “For a long time, I was a skeptic about them, but as evidence started to emerge on the effectiveness of these alcohol-based hand sanitizers, I’m sold on them,” he says. Take the 1991 study cited by the WHO in their guidelines on hand hygiene in health care that found that alcohol-based hand sanitizer was more effective than plain soap and water in preventing the transmission of bacteria from the hands of healthcare workers to patients’ catheters.

2. Hand sanitizers don’t cause super-bacteria

The idea that frequent use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers will make bacteria resistant to treatment is bogus, Scott stresses. “The [way sanitizers work] is based on cell-membrane disruption by the alcohol, and that’s not something that bacterium can acquire resistance to. It’s not physically possible,” he says.

3. Hand sanitizers are easier on your skin than soap and water

“Most of the modern hand sanitizers have emollients in them that will actually improve skin condition,” says Scott. While that may seem counterintuitive because effective sanitizers contain so much alcohol, several studies have proven that these formulas are actually better for skin than soap. For instance, a 2004 study compared the effectiveness of alcohol-based hand sanitizers and antibacterial soap for nurses who worked in neonatal intensive care units in New York. The study found that while nurses were using the hand sanitizer, their skin condition was much better than when they used the antibacterial soap to clean their hands.

4. There’s a correct way to use hand sanitizers

To use a hand sanitizer effectively, make sure your hands are free of visible grime and dirt before applying the product. Then, apply a palm-full of product and rub vigorously for 20 to 30 seconds, making sure to distribute the sanitizer between your fingers, under your nails and jewelry, on your wrists and on the backs of each hand. When your hands are dry, you’re good to go.


Never rinse your hands with water or wipe them with a towel after using a hand sanitizer—this will counteract the effect of the product.

Top 10 Myths and Truths about Viruses and Bacteria

The myth: My immune system is healthy, so I don’t need immunization. Besides, vaccines are dangerous.

The truth: Vaccines work with your immune system to help you fight infection. A report of a potential link between the MMR vaccine and autism has been debunked by scientific evidence. Vaccines are safe and effective, and our best protection against many infections.

The myth: I can stop taking antibiotics when I start to feel better.

The truth: Antibiotics take time to work completely against bacterial infections. You need to take the full course you are prescribed to be sure the infection is cured, even if you are feeling better.

The myth: Antibiotics will make me better when I have a cold or the flu.

The truth: Antibiotics work only against bacteria. Most coughs, earaches, and sore throats and all colds and flus are caused by viruses. Antibiotics don’t work on viruses and won’t help you recover from these infections.

The myth: Over-the-counter cough and cold medications cure infections.

The truth: Medications for fevers—by themselves or in combination with decongestants, antihistamines, and cough suppressants—don’t cure illness. They just help make the symptoms more bearable until your body’s immune system is able to fight off the virus. They may help you feel a bit better, but you could still be infectious to others. Cough and cold medications don’t work and can be dangerous in young children, so they should be avoided.

The myth: Superbugs are resistant to handwashing and cleaning.

The truth: Washing your hands or using an alcohol-based hand rub will protect you from superbugs just as well as from other bacteria and viruses. Superbugs may be resistant to some antibiotics, making infections difficult to treat, but they are still susceptible to cleaning and are helpless against good hygiene.

The myth: I don’t need to worry about having a fever if it’s not too high.

The truth: Even a low-grade fever is often a sign that your body is fighting an infection. If you have a fever with a cough or with vomiting and diarrhea or a rash, these can all be signs that the infection may be one that you can pass on to others. You should stay home and isolate yourself, and call your health-care provider for advice if your symptoms are worrisome.

The myth: I need to use dish soap with an antibacterial in it to be sure that my dishes are properly cleaned and safe to use.


The truth: Plain soaps and detergents work just fine for washing dishes and clothes, cleaning your house, or washing your hands. Antibacterial agents in soaps and detergents can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bugs in the environment, which can then cause hard-to-treat infections.

The myth: Organic foods are safer for me and my family.

The truth: “Organic” doesn’t mean free of bugs, and in fact organic fruits and vegetables may have more risk of causing infection if they are not cleaned properly or cooked before you eat them.

The myth: Unpasteurized milk is healthier for me.


The truth: Unpasteurized milk has no documented health benefits over pasteurized milk, and it may put you and your family at risk of infections.

The myth: Pets such as cats and dogs are immune to infectious diseases.

The truth: Household pets can carry bacteria and can get sick from many types of bacteria, viruses, and parasites. To keep yourself and your family from getting an illness from your pet, always clean your hands after playing with pets or touching their food, toys, or sleeping areas, and before preparing food.

Myths and Truths about Public Washrooms

Paranoid about the bacteria and viruses lurking in public restrooms? Find out what you really should be worried about and what's just a myth

Don't be afraid

Public washrooms can be unpleasant places to say the least, but are they unhealthy?Microbiologist James Scott of the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health  separate washroom facts from fiction.

1. You’re more likely to catch an illness in the washroom than anywhere else

Myth. “An elevator would be a more hazardous place than a public washroom,” says Scott. That’s because airborne viruses travel in small, poorly ventilated spaces that put you in close proximity to a lot of people. However, most public washrooms are spacious and well ventilated. “Those two facts make the washroom a difficult place for [airborne] viruses to transmit from one person to another, ” says Scott.

Viruses and bacteria that do lurk in the loo, such as E. coli and norovirus, are shed in fecal matter and through improper hand washing, get picked up on your hands and ingested. Sounds disgusting, but Scott says that for a healthy person, these bugs cause little more than the unpleasant symptoms of the stomach flu.

2. Covering the toilet seat before you sit down is a good idea

Truth. Blame it on Community-Associated Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (CA-MRSA), a new drug-resistant strain of bacteria that, in some populations, can be transmitted by the skin and may result in skin infections.

“While I’ve never read a case report of a toilet seat being involved in the movement of CA-MRSA from one person to another, it’s absolutely plausible because one of the places [the bacteria] like to hide is in our groins,” says Scott. CA-MRSA can also survive on surfaces for long periods of time. So while your risk of contracting CA-MRSA from a toilet is very low, Scott says it’s better to be safe than sorry by putting down a barrier between you and the seat.

3. Flushing before you sit down makes the toilet more sanitary

Truth. Water that’s been sitting in the toilet bowl for a while is an ideal environment for bacteria to multiply. “If you’re sitting down to pee, you’re disrupting the surface of the water, which creates a mist that carries bacteria,” says Scott. When the water evaporates, the bacteria become dust that you can inhale. Flushing cleans the bowl, which might wash away some of the bacteria.

4. Washing your hands in a public washroom is counterproductive because the fixtures and surfaces are covered with bacteria

Myth. Proper hand washing, even in a filthy public washroom, improves your hygiene, says Scott. Here’s how to do it, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada:

1. Wet your hands with warm water.
2. Put a small amount of liquid soap on your hands.
3. Rub hands together for 20 seconds to produce a good lather. Take care to scrub up your wrists and backs of hands, between your fingers and under your nails.
4. Rinse your hands with running water for at least 10 seconds.
5. Grab a paper towel to fully dry your hands. Use that towel to turn off the taps. Do not touch the taps with your clean hands.
6. Grab another piece of towel and use it to open the washroom door.

5. It’s safer to flush the toilet with your foot than with your hand

Myth. “If there’s anything in the bathroom that’s going to have a lot of bacteria on it, it’s the toilet handle,” Scott says. However, he strongly cautions against the acrobatics required to use your foot to flush. “There’s probably greater risk of injury from slipping and falling if you’re standing on one leg to flush the toilet than from touching the handle. It’s safer to use a wad of toilet paper to press the lever,” he says.

How to Spot a Liar

J.J. Newberry was a trained federal agent, skilled in the art of deception detection. So when a witness to a shooting sat in front of him and tried to tell him that when she heard gunshots she didn't look, she just ran -- he knew she was lying.

How did Newberry reach this conclusion? The answer is by recognizing telltale signs that a person isn't being honest, like inconsistencies in a story, behavior that's different from a person's norm, or too much detail in an explanation.

While using these signs to catch a liar takes extensive training and practice, it's no longer only for authorities like Newberry. Now, the average person can become adept at identifying dishonesty, and it's not as hard as you might think.The top 10 ways to let the truth be known.

Tip No. 1: Inconsistencies

"When you want to know if someone is lying, look for inconsistencies in what they are saying," says Newberry, who was a federal agent for 30 years and a police officer for five.

When the woman he was questioning said she ran and hid after hearing gunshots -- without looking -- Newberry saw the inconsistency immediately.

"There was something that just didn't fit," says Newberry. "She heard gunshots but she didn't look? I knew that was inconsistent with how a person would respond to a situation like that."

So when she wasn't paying attention, he banged on the table. She looked right at him.

"When a person hears a noise, it's a natural reaction to look toward it," Newberry tells. "I knew she heard those gunshots, looked in the direction from which they came, saw the shooter, and then ran."

Sure enough, he was right.

"Her story was just illogical," says Newberry. "And that's what you should look for when you're talking to someone who isn't being truthful. Are there inconsistencies that just don't fit?"

Tip No. 2: Ask the Unexpected

"About 4% of people are accomplished liars and they can do it well," says Newberry. "But because there are no Pinocchio responses to a lie, you have to catch them in it."

Sir Walter Scott put it best: "Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!" But how can you a catch a person in his own web of lies?

"Watch them carefully," says Newberry. "And then when they don't expect it, ask them one question that they are not prepared to answer to trip them up."

Tip No. 3: Gauge Against a Baseline

"One of the most important indicators of dishonesty is changes in behavior," says Maureen O'Sullivan, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of San Francisco. "You want to pay attention to someone who is generally anxious, but now looks calm. Or, someone who is generally calm but now looks anxious."

The trick, explains O'Sullivan, is to gauge their behavior against a baseline. Is a person's behavior falling away from how they would normally act? If it is, that could mean that something is up.

Tip No. 4: Look for Insincere Emotions

"Most people can't fake smile," says O'Sullivan. "The timing will be wrong, it will be held too long, or it will be blended with other things. Maybe it will be a combination of an angry face with a smile; you can tell because their lips are smaller and less full than in a sincere smile."

These fake emotions are a good indicator that something has gone afoul.

Tip No. 5: Pay Attention to Gut Reactions

"People say, 'Oh, it was a gut reaction or women's intuition,' but what I think they are picking up on are the deviations of true emotions," O'Sullivan tells.

While an average person might not know what it is he's seeing when he thinks someone isn't being honest and attribute his suspicion to instinct, a scientist would be able to pinpoint it exactly -- which leads us to tip no. 6.

Tip No. 6: Watch for Microexpressions

When Joe Schmo has a gut feeling, Paul Ekman, a renowned expert in lie detection, sees microexpressions.

"A microexpression is a very brief expression, usually about a 25th of a second, that is always a concealed emotion," says Ekman, PhD, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of California Medical School in San Francisco.

So when a person is acting happy, but in actuality is really upset about something, for instance, his true emotion will be revealed in a subconscious flash of anger on his face. Whether the concealed emotion is fear, anger, happiness, or jealousy, that feeling will appear on the face in the blink of an eye. The trick is to see it.

"Almost everyone -- 99% of those we've tested in about 10,000 people -- won't see them," says Ekman. "But it can be taught."

In fact, in less than an hour, the average person can learn to see microexpressions.

Tip No. 7: Look for Contradictions

"The general rule is anything that a person does with their voice or their gesture that doesn't fit the words they are saying can indicate a lie," says Ekman. "For example, this is going to sound amazing, but it is true. Sometimes when people are lying and saying, 'Yes, she's the one that took the money,' they will without knowing it make a slight head shake 'no.' That's a gesture and it completely contradicts what they're saying in words."

These contradictions, explains Ekman, can be between the voice and the words, the gesture and the voice, the gesture and the words, or the face and the words.

"It's some aspect of demeanor that is contradicting another aspect," Ekman tells.

Tip No. 8: A Sense of Unease

"When someone isn't making eye contact and that's against how they normally act, it can mean they're not being honest," says Jenn Berman, PhD, a psychologist in private practice. "They look away, they're sweating, they look uneasy ... anything that isn't normal and indicates anxiety."

Tip No. 9: Too Much Detail

"When you say to someone, 'Oh, where were you?' and they say, 'I went to the store and I needed to get eggs and milk and sugar and I almost hit a dog so I had to go slow,' and on and on, they're giving you too much detail," says Berman.

Too much detail could mean they've put a lot of thought into how they're going to get out of a situation and they've crafted a complicated lie as a solution.

Tip No. 10: Don't Ignore the Truth

"It's more important to recognize when someone is telling the truth than telling a lie because people can look like they're lying but be telling truth," says Newberry.

While it sounds confusing, finding the truth buried under a lie can sometimes help find the answer to an important question: Why is a person lying?

These 10 truth tips, all help detect deception. What they don't do is tell you why a person is lying and what the lie means.

"Microexpressions don't tell you the reason," says Ekman. "They just tell you what the concealed emotion is and that there is an emotion being concealed."

When you think someone is lying, you have to either know the person well enough to understand why he or she might lie, or be a people expert.

"You can see a microexpression, but you have to have more social-emotional intelligence on people to use it accurately," says O'Sullivan. "You have to be a good judge of people to understand what it means."

Extra Tip: Be Trusting

"In general we have a choice about which stance we take in life," says Ekman. "If we take a suspicious stance life is not going to be too pleasant, but we won't get misled very often. If we take a trusting stance, life is going to be a lot more pleasant but sometimes we are going to be taken in. As a parent or a friend, you're much better off being trusting rather than looking for lies all the time."