fast
Contributor
So, here I am, sitting here searching the internet for a decent secondary flashlight while simultaneously wondering what factors should be considered when designing back up systems for space flight. Talk about split focus!
First, a few terms: “primary,” “secondary,” “tertiary,” and “quaternary”: first in order, second in order, third in order, and fourth in order. You’ll noticed I used “tertiary” in the thread title and “secondary” when describing the flashlight.
In principle, even if not always in practice, I have respect for the mindset for having backup. If you go on a camping trip, you’ll likely carry a lighter to start a fire. That’s your primary go-to to get that blaze of warmth started. Awe, but what if it gets wet and will not start? This is where back-up comes in!
Yes, you could have another (yet dry) lighter, and yes that could stand in as back up, but what about some wet-resistant matches as your secondary “go-to” in the event your primary automatic source fails you! In this case, your so-called back up plan would not really and truly be your secondary back up. In this case, your entire pack of lighters you bring can all be labeled your primary ignition source whereas your matches (both boxes, lol) will be your secondary back-up (your plan B, as some say).
Many moons ago, I heard of “triple redundancy” while listening to something about avionics. It’s essentially a back up for when your back up fails. If all my lighters fail, and if all my matches fail, then surely I can turn to plan C and initiate operation magnesium stick! It’s a handy little gadget that can moderately easily be utilized to get a fire going—especially if it isn’t windy—thought i’d throw that in there.
But, recall my opening sentence. There are factors to consider. If you’re on a canoe and it flips, please don’t tell me you put your primary, secondary, and tertiary fire starting tools in the same damn bag that just got swept down the river, as I promise you, whether or not you have suffiently practiced enough to put your lousy quaternary plan in effect (you know, the one that requires rubbing sticks together), it’s not going to be as easy in the bush as it is in your back yard.
Separate. Isolate. Keep apart. When you go out on your boat and your motor dies, be glad you have a trolling motor (and a separate battery to boot) to keep moving in the direction you have control over rather than drifting where you’d rather not. When you’re traveling from Mars to Venus in search of a woman that won’t lie to you, be glad your onboard mega-mighty computer 3000 isn’t also controlling your ability to breath, no matter whether there are integrated back-up systems. See, back up of the same kind or from the same source of power and control isn’t very diversified to combat the whole dang point of having back up.
Me, personally, I’m happy with three’s. If I have three flashlights in my vehicle, that’s good enough. No, I’m not going to have candles and lanterns. If I had an underlying back up system for everything I can have a back up for, i’d need an 18-wheeler to haul it all. But, back to the notion of pure back up (but of the same system), I do tend to prefer that the tertiary back up (be it multi-functional or not) have a predetermined multi-use. In my case, my go-to light is my primary light—and my go-to is my secondary if my primary goes out. If it’s night and I’m with someone, and we’re both in need of a light, I have my primary for me and a secondary for the other party.
I know. I know. If it’s you and you have three lights, you’re just gonna grab whatever one is handy. That’s all fine and good, but for my third flashlight, I need for it to have a creative multiuse. Guns, knives, pipes. They’re all either weapons or non-weapons considered as such, but many items aren’t generally called a weapon by either group until something is used as a weapon. That’s when one of those four D-cell stainless steel mag-lights come in. To one, it’s a flashlight that can be used as a weapon, but to another, it’s a it’s weapon that can be used as a flashlight. A broken TV can be used as a door stop, and though it’s a TV, it’s broken, and it’s current use is clear.
What other factors belong on our “think it through” list?
First, a few terms: “primary,” “secondary,” “tertiary,” and “quaternary”: first in order, second in order, third in order, and fourth in order. You’ll noticed I used “tertiary” in the thread title and “secondary” when describing the flashlight.
In principle, even if not always in practice, I have respect for the mindset for having backup. If you go on a camping trip, you’ll likely carry a lighter to start a fire. That’s your primary go-to to get that blaze of warmth started. Awe, but what if it gets wet and will not start? This is where back-up comes in!
Yes, you could have another (yet dry) lighter, and yes that could stand in as back up, but what about some wet-resistant matches as your secondary “go-to” in the event your primary automatic source fails you! In this case, your so-called back up plan would not really and truly be your secondary back up. In this case, your entire pack of lighters you bring can all be labeled your primary ignition source whereas your matches (both boxes, lol) will be your secondary back-up (your plan B, as some say).
Many moons ago, I heard of “triple redundancy” while listening to something about avionics. It’s essentially a back up for when your back up fails. If all my lighters fail, and if all my matches fail, then surely I can turn to plan C and initiate operation magnesium stick! It’s a handy little gadget that can moderately easily be utilized to get a fire going—especially if it isn’t windy—thought i’d throw that in there.
But, recall my opening sentence. There are factors to consider. If you’re on a canoe and it flips, please don’t tell me you put your primary, secondary, and tertiary fire starting tools in the same damn bag that just got swept down the river, as I promise you, whether or not you have suffiently practiced enough to put your lousy quaternary plan in effect (you know, the one that requires rubbing sticks together), it’s not going to be as easy in the bush as it is in your back yard.
Separate. Isolate. Keep apart. When you go out on your boat and your motor dies, be glad you have a trolling motor (and a separate battery to boot) to keep moving in the direction you have control over rather than drifting where you’d rather not. When you’re traveling from Mars to Venus in search of a woman that won’t lie to you, be glad your onboard mega-mighty computer 3000 isn’t also controlling your ability to breath, no matter whether there are integrated back-up systems. See, back up of the same kind or from the same source of power and control isn’t very diversified to combat the whole dang point of having back up.
Me, personally, I’m happy with three’s. If I have three flashlights in my vehicle, that’s good enough. No, I’m not going to have candles and lanterns. If I had an underlying back up system for everything I can have a back up for, i’d need an 18-wheeler to haul it all. But, back to the notion of pure back up (but of the same system), I do tend to prefer that the tertiary back up (be it multi-functional or not) have a predetermined multi-use. In my case, my go-to light is my primary light—and my go-to is my secondary if my primary goes out. If it’s night and I’m with someone, and we’re both in need of a light, I have my primary for me and a secondary for the other party.
I know. I know. If it’s you and you have three lights, you’re just gonna grab whatever one is handy. That’s all fine and good, but for my third flashlight, I need for it to have a creative multiuse. Guns, knives, pipes. They’re all either weapons or non-weapons considered as such, but many items aren’t generally called a weapon by either group until something is used as a weapon. That’s when one of those four D-cell stainless steel mag-lights come in. To one, it’s a flashlight that can be used as a weapon, but to another, it’s a it’s weapon that can be used as a flashlight. A broken TV can be used as a door stop, and though it’s a TV, it’s broken, and it’s current use is clear.
What other factors belong on our “think it through” list?