Ripley's Believe It or Not by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! for February 23, 2015
Transcript:
In 2013, doorknobs were banned in Vancouver, Canada- easy to grasp levers must be used instead. The Wind Tree designed by Frenchman Jerome Michaud-Lariviere, is a 36 FT high artificial tree that generates electricity from winds of just 4.5 mph using leaf shaped turbines. Close call! In September 1940, two Australian Air Force planes became locked together after colliding in midair, yet all crew ejected safely, and one of the pilots was able to guide both plane safely to the ground.
johnt204 over 9 years ago
Vancouver makes sense. Easier to grasp when covered with ice and snow.
Templo S.U.D. over 9 years ago
From baby walkers to door knobs. What’s next Canada’s going to change?
Space_cat over 9 years ago
The reason for the lever is simple, weak or elderly people have trouble turning knobs, hence the lever.Europe has had these by law for decades.
Cloudchaser over 9 years ago
Whoever thought of that levers law doesn’t have cats
hawgowar over 9 years ago
Ummmm… in 1940 there were no ejection seats. The crews would have had to jump and parachute to safety, not eject.
Gotcha Ripley’s!
NaturLvr over 9 years ago
I find the oblong-shaped door knobs even more user-friendly than levers, easier on the wrists…and still fairly cat-proof!
Mostly Water Premium Member over 9 years ago
I find it easiest to use my transmogrifier and just walk through the doors.
linsonl over 9 years ago
I have a friend who has to put screen door latches on her levered doors to keep her cats inside.
Meh~tdology, fka Pepelaputr over 9 years ago
RE: the “wind tree”
http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/21/tech/wind-tree-arbre-a-vent/index.html
Kathe over 9 years ago
Kudos to that pilot for safely landing the double decker plane.
katy Premium Member over 9 years ago
Re: door knobs…. Now cats and dogs all over Vancouver are letting themselves out the door!
Petemejia77 over 9 years ago
Did a little baby plane fall out of the bottom plane?
Aliquid over 9 years ago
A bit of clarification… the Vancouver law only applies to passing a building inspection for new construction. So some people install the cheapest leavers available, and then change them to knobs once the occupancy permit has been issued.
tuslog64 over 9 years ago
The levers do have a downside -Once, I put on a brand new long-sleeve shirt, walked not more that 50’ before going outside – the sleeve caught on the handle of the storm door and rip – brand new shirt ruined!
tuslog64 over 9 years ago
When I was in Turkey in 1964, most of knobs at the Army installation were round, but sometimes Turks would weld rods onto them!
MJKesquire over 9 years ago
Is the “wind tree” available for purchase??
english.ann over 9 years ago
I fully expect that those little wind turbines on the “wind tree” can spin clockwise as well. Very pretty bird songs in the background. As long as these “wind trees” don’t kill bats and birds; it helps that the “wind tree” isn’t very tall like many windmills are.