Saturday, June 24, 2023

Luckiest Man in the World Today

Videographer Kendall Johnson was supposed to go down in OceanGate's third mission to the Titanic but fortunately for him, weather problems cancelled his dive.  The ill-fated fifth mission took place two days later.  Some foreshadowing occurred while he was on the ship as problems continued to pop up.  Indeed, the crew was asking the passengers for help in evaluating computer problems.  So much for expertise.   We all know what happened next and Mr. Johnson is probably giving thanks to whatever his god is for sparing him for a horrible fate. The video is posted below. 



 

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sad story for sure. Prayers for those lost and grieving. Very surprised of the classroom scene with rolling chairs and lots of material un-stowed. Seems to be a bit careless.

Anonymous said...

Darwinism also applies to those smart enough to become billionaires.

Feel really bad for the 19 year old that didn’t want to go.

Anonymous said...

That vessel was what we called a "kluge" in the Navy. They were using a gaming controller for controls. The carbon fiber hull was an unproven and questionable choice of materials. It was only missing duct tape.

It had no seats; no toilet (zip loc bags only); and no capability for egress from within.

All for $250,000/person to see the friggin Titanic.

Having said that, I knew one of the passengers. Last night I reviewed some of our emails from years past.

RIP all.

Anonymous said...

This story is crushing.

Anonymous said...

... a quarter million dollars for
A three-hour tour.
A three-hour tour.

Anonymous said...

The flaw was carbon fiber was used for the hulls body and the end caps was made of steel. Not a proven technology.

Anonymous said...

To each his own, but I wouldn't have ridden that thing into the deep end of a Hampton Inn swimming pool.

A retired Royal Navy Admiral said a few days ago, " this vessel is like a cheap kit car built in the backyard shed.

Anonymous said...

When you are a person that has a status in society as these people did it brings a certain amount of responsibility to the table. If you’re a leader then your actions whether they are good or bad affect those around you in profound ways. This was a stupid decision that will bring changes to many people that worked for them because, it was a stupid choice. Just like the time I was in Jamaica and someone mentioned about diving to feed the sharks. After the group I was with finally let me speak I casually asked them if they had life insurance and if so did they even read the list of exclusions that determines payment upon death. I wasn’t the most popular person at that point but I did get my point across. Some things sound like fun and exciting but you need to take a step back and look at the big picture. What you do affects many people.

Anonymous said...

The saddest thing about this abysmal, idiotic trip is the fact that one of these egotistical multi millionaires convinced his son to make the trip after somebody (intelligently) refused to go, knowing the dangers. From what I have read, the young son only went because it was his birthday and he wanted to spend it with his father.

Anonymous said...

Attn 6:40 PM, A lot of us have visited Jamaica, but nobody solicits advice from some broke ass egotist from the United States handing out free advice. We realize that you think this is a glamorize vacation spot, but most of us feel like it is just a necessary, albeit, unwanted stop on those “so called” Caribbean luxury” cruises.

Anonymous said...

I've also been to Jamaica .
But never again !

The entire country is like McDowell Road with palm trees and an ocean view along the coast.

But I still have more faith in some Jamacian tourist traps rather than a home-made
submersible controlled by a knock-off gaming console.

Steve said...

3:21

My sympathies.

Anonymous said...

I am sure he feels fortunate, but there has to be some regret that the young son of one of the deceased passengers took his place on this ill planned mission.

Anonymous said...

I did consulting work in Jamaica for six months, but living in New Kingston business district.

Jamaica is Jackson with palm trees, but much more dangerous.

Anonymous said...

Pay close attentions folks: This fast talking, "I need to tell my story" Millennial is about how he almost killed himself with sheer stupidity. He is a perfect example of how so many "young" people who think they know something, run the gamut of not being trustworthy to manage an important task to outright dangerous.

This "new" generation has replaced "good feelings" (i.e. Keep it positive! No bad vibes! I'm inspired!) with rational intelligence. They are simply terrified that they might not be able to achieve something adventurous to put broadcast in a video or photograph...and most of all, and studies have said this: Their biggest fear is of being average.

I'm an over 50 white guy, inspired to be alive. I got that way because God decided to protect me when I was young and stupid. This younger generation (under 40) has a new god - captured "optics" of their life - because they are so insecure, and again - they thing feeling good is the Holy Spirit with no accountability necessary.

Anonymous said...

The OceanGate owner-designer-developer went down with his ship but should have done so alone, especially for a maiden voyage this risky.

Anonymous said...

Was that poor teenage son a last minute replacement. I read where he did not want to go.

Anonymous said...

Interesting video. But I don’t understand how this kid was turned away by bad weather but the others weren’t?

Also @8:25 I don’t think this was a maiden voyage. Wasn’t this the 3rd one? (Still an idiotic trip though no matter how many times it had been done )

Anonymous said...



Some internet speculation around whether the composite material used for the cylindrical shell is well suited for pressure vessel use.

Additional internet speculation on how the repeated stresses of operation at depth could cause fatigue failures of both the composite cylindrical shell, and the joints between the titanium ends (note the semi hemispherical shapes of the ends) and the composite shell.

Then there is the alleged matter of the view port not tested/certified by the manufacturer for anywhere near the depths it was used at.

The whole operation was likely operating at the Level 10 F**king Around, thus the Level 10 Finding Out experienced.

There was a reason Hyman Rickover paid attention to details.

There's another reason this design was weak, nost manned deep sea submersibles are spherical. For good reasons.

Brief explainer anout how this Titanic F*cking Around and Finding Out works, turns out these rich techbros weren't exempt:

https://twitter.com/rogerskaer/status/1576025818182332416?lang=en

Anonymous said...

June 25, 2023 at 9:16 AM -- The author says twice in the first minute of the video that he was prepping for mission III. The implosion was mission V.

Anonymous said...

@ 10:07 ok thanks I just didn’t understand why mission III didn’t postpone until the weather cleared with subsequent missions being delayed as well. I guess that’s not how missions work and thank goodness for this kid

Anonymous said...

I have never been able to understand all this fascination with all things Titanic. My ex-sister-in-law saw that Titanic movie more than 30 times in a theater. Thirty times, I say! Could it be some female fascination with death by drowning?

Anonymous said...


Apparently US Navy has anounced the pieces are too small to recover.

At 12,500 feet deep the water pressure is approximately 5,400 psi.

One analogy for a sudden submersible implosion at depth would be a similar sized air tank under similar pressure experiencing a rapid unplanned dissassembly.

Energy released by the implosion was probably similar to the detonation of 30 lbs of TNT.

Anonymous said...

Just because your ex-SIL was a nut job, does not mean we all are.

-Signed, all the normal gals that watched Titanic once



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