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--captions by vitac--
Www.Vitac.Com
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Captions paid for by
Discovery communications, inc.
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Narrator:
Today on "How it's made,"
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Seatbelts...
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...Windows...
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...Wax figurines...
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...And hot air balloons.
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It's an indisputable fact
That seatbelts save lives.
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When a car comes
To a sudden stop,
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The seatbelt prevents you
From hurling forward.
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It spreads the stopping force
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Across the sturdier parts
Of your body,
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Namely your rib cage and pelvis.
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This spreading action
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Dilutes the strength
Of the stopping force,
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Minimizing injury.
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Before production can begin,
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The factory has to adjust
The seatbelt design
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00:01:20,965 --> 00:01:23,000
To fit the specific car model,
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To make sure the belt path
Is clear,
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That there's enough room
For rotating parts to move,
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And so on.
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On the factory floor,
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Robots assemble most
Of the mechanical components.
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This plastic disk, containing
A spring and a weight,
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Is part
Of the locking mechanism.
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It's what stops the seatbelt
Straps, called the webbing,
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From lengthening
When you jerk forward
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Due to a sudden stop
Or hard deceleration.
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The locking mechanism
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Goes into the seatbelt's
Retractor mechanism,
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The component that lets
The webbing extend and retract.
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The webbing will wind
Onto this aluminum spool
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In the retractor,
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A rewind spring keeping it taut.
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Sudden deceleration
Will cause this silver ball
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To trigger
The locking mechanism.
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This will stop the spool from
Rotating and lock the webbing.
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This next robot assembles
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What's called
The pretensioner mechanism.
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While the locking mechanism
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Stops the webbing
From lengthening,
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The pretensioner sharply pulls
The webbing back,
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Tightening any slack.
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The pretensioner kicks in
Only in the event of a crash.
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The sudden deceleration
On impact triggers sensors
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Which signal
The air-bag control module
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To send an electrical charge
To the pretensioner.
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This charge sets off
A tiny explosion
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That deslacks the belt.
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This worker installs
The explosive device,
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Called the micro gas generator,
Or mgg.
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After lubricating the inside
Of its aluminum cylinder
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With grease,
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She inserts a piston
And the mgg.
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The mgg contains a chemical
Called nitrocellulose.
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The electrical charge coming
From the air-bag control module
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Ignites this chemical,
Causing a tiny gas explosion.
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That generates pressure
Within the cylinder,
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Driving the piston upward
At high speed.
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This triggers a gear that winds
The retractor spool backward,
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Taking up any slack
In the webbing.
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00:03:14,793 --> 00:03:18,000
After capping off the micro gas
Generator's housing,
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00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:21,275
A robot transfers the completed
Pretensioner mechanism
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To the retractor's frame.
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00:03:23,689 --> 00:03:25,793
Then it screws on
A steel cover plate
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To hold the pretensioner
In place.
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They install the rewind spring
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00:03:32,793 --> 00:03:35,344
Onto the spool
Of the retractor mechanism.
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00:03:35,344 --> 00:03:38,206
This spring
Is what provides resistance
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When you pull out the webbing
To buckle up.
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Then, when you unbuckle,
It rotates the spool
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To rewind the webbing.
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00:03:45,172 --> 00:03:47,655
The car company decides
What type of spring to use.
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00:03:47,655 --> 00:03:49,724
The thicker the spring
And the more coils,
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00:03:49,724 --> 00:03:51,241
The greater the tension,
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00:03:51,241 --> 00:03:54,724
And therefore the faster
And smoother the belt retracts.
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00:03:54,724 --> 00:03:56,241
But the greater the tension,
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The less comfortable
The seatbelt is on the body.
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The webbing is made
Of woven polyester fiber.
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This machine sews one end
Over into a loop
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For the pin that'll anchor
The webbing to the spool.
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The pin is made
Of either plastic or steel,
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Depending on the type
Of retractor they're using.
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A worker now threads the end
Through a machine
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That automatically
Winds the webbing
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Onto the retractor spool,
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Making sure the pin
Is properly attached.
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At the same time, the machine
Checks the overall belt length
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00:04:27,241 --> 00:04:30,620
To make sure it conforms
To the client's specifications.
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At this factory,
Every single seatbelt component
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Has to pass a thorough
Quality-control check.
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Here a machine checks
A key safety feature,
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A lever-and-ratchet mechanism
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That prevents the webbing
From extending
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After you've belted in
A child car seat.
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Now for the final assembly.
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Workers load
All the seatbelt parts in a jig,
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00:04:59,206 --> 00:05:01,448
A holding device
That arranges them
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In the proper configuration.
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00:05:03,103 --> 00:05:05,827
A worker feeds the webbing
Through the shoulder loop,
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From which the belt hangs,
And through the tongue plate,
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The part that clicks
Into the buckle.
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Both these components
Are made of steel for strength,
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With plastic coverings
Matching the car interior.
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The last step
Is to sew the anchor
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To finish off the other end
Of the webbing.
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00:05:24,551 --> 00:05:27,620
Every seatbelt design
Goes through extensive testing
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00:05:27,620 --> 00:05:29,344
Before going into production.
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This machine assesses
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How much pull the webbing
And retractor can withstand
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Before breaking.
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This machine tests
The webbing's durability,
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Running it
Through 50,000 abrasion cycles
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To ensure the material
Doesn't wear out.
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Narrator:
The earliest windows
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Were merely holes
Cut into the walls.
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People living in warm climates
Left them uncovered,
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00:06:06,448 --> 00:06:09,172
While people in harsher climates
Used animals skins
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To keep the cold out.
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00:06:11,034 --> 00:06:13,586
In the far east, people covered
The opening with paper.
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Then came glass panes
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00:06:15,137 --> 00:06:19,137
In sashes that swung in or out
Or hung one above the other.
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00:06:24,931 --> 00:06:28,482
This type of window
Is called a casement window.
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A crank mechanism opens it
At an angle.
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00:06:31,517 --> 00:06:34,275
To build the window frame,
The factory begins
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With 16 1/2-foot lengths
Of extruded pvc,
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A type of plastic.
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00:06:38,862 --> 00:06:40,896
As clamps hold the pvc steady,
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00:06:40,896 --> 00:06:44,448
A computer-guided circular saw
Cuts the sizes required
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For the frame.
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The same machine also cuts
The pieces for the sash,
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The inner frame
Around the glass.
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00:06:51,896 --> 00:06:54,793
Each frame is made
From four pieces,
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Whose ends are mitered
At a 45-degree angle.
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00:07:08,413 --> 00:07:10,241
Now workers load eight pieces
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00:07:10,241 --> 00:07:12,965
Onto a computer-guided
Welding machine --
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00:07:12,965 --> 00:07:15,862
Eight, because it welds
Two frames at a time.
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First a heating block,
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00:07:17,586 --> 00:07:20,862
Whose temperature
Is 446 degrees fahrenheit,
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Melts the ends.
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00:07:22,655 --> 00:07:25,379
Then the machine
Pushes them together.
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They fuse, forming the frame's
Four corners.
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Here's the same process,
Viewed from above.
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As the melted ends bond
Under pressure,
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00:07:43,965 --> 00:07:47,310
Excess pvc oozes out
At the joints, then hardens.
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00:07:47,310 --> 00:07:49,931
The next machine
Will clean that up.
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00:07:53,896 --> 00:07:57,517
A robot reads the profile
Of the specific frame style.
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00:07:57,517 --> 00:07:59,965
Then it uses one
Of several cutting heads
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00:07:59,965 --> 00:08:02,724
To shave the excess
Off the corners.
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From here, the sash and frame
Go to another area
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To receive hinges.
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00:08:07,620 --> 00:08:10,517
Meanwhile,
Workers cut the glass to size.
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00:08:10,517 --> 00:08:12,482
They start with a huge sheet,
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00:08:12,482 --> 00:08:15,000
Measuring
About 6 1/2 feet by 10 feet..
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It's very heavy,
About 200 pounds.
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00:08:17,586 --> 00:08:19,965
So, they lay it
On a specially designed table.
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00:08:19,965 --> 00:08:23,379
A blower sends up air
Through tiny holes.
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This floats the glass
Just above the surface,
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Making it easy to move around.
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They score the glass using
A sharp carbide cutting wheel.
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This window will have
What's called a thermopane,
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Two panes of glass
With argon gas in between
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For insulation.
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One of the panes has
A transparent metallic coating
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To reflect the heat
Back into the house.
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They adhere a strip
Of silicone foam
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Around the perimeter
Of the first pane,
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00:08:53,206 --> 00:08:55,896
Notching it for a good fit
Around the corners.
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00:08:55,896 --> 00:08:59,551
The foam is covered in a thin,
Strong polyester film
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To prevent the gas
From leaking through.
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The strip is a spacer, creating
A gap between the two panes
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That's just over 1/2 inch wide.
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That's where the gas will go.
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They cut a hole
At the top of the spacer
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And another at the bottom.
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You'll see why shortly.
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This window features decorative
Grid work called muntin bars.
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00:09:21,620 --> 00:09:25,103
They're made of aluminum
And go between the two panes.
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00:09:25,103 --> 00:09:27,931
A worker lays the bars
Onto the first pane,
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00:09:27,931 --> 00:09:31,344
Then uses this guide to line
Them up perfectly straight.
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Then she puts the second pane
On top.
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It sticks to the exposed
Adhesive edge of the spacer.
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Now the double-paned glass
Goes through a press,
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Whose rollers apply pressure
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00:09:45,758 --> 00:09:49,344
To ensure a strong
And thorough bond to the spacer.
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After the glass exits the press,
Workers pump in argon gas
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Through that hole
At the bottom of the spacer.
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00:09:58,172 --> 00:10:00,172
The speed of the gas flow
Is critical.
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00:10:00,172 --> 00:10:01,586
If they pump it in too fast,
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00:10:01,586 --> 00:10:04,551
It'll mix with the air
In between the panes,
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00:10:04,551 --> 00:10:08,551
Rather than push it through the
Hole at the top of the spacer.
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00:10:08,551 --> 00:10:10,206
After plugging the holes,
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00:10:10,206 --> 00:10:13,137
They coat the spacer
In a polyurethane sealant.
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00:10:13,137 --> 00:10:17,172
This makes the thermopane
Completely airtight.
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00:10:17,172 --> 00:10:19,620
Now it's ready to go
In the sash.
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00:10:25,689 --> 00:10:29,068
A piece of pvc called the
Glazing stop holds it there.
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00:10:29,068 --> 00:10:31,482
They snap it in place
Using a roller.
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00:10:33,517 --> 00:10:34,862
A little pvc cement
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00:10:34,862 --> 00:10:37,862
To seal off any miniscule gaps
In the corners,
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00:10:37,862 --> 00:10:40,620
Then the sash goes
Into the window frame.
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00:10:44,620 --> 00:10:48,034
Their respective hinge parts
Simply snap together.
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00:10:48,034 --> 00:10:51,931
The last step is to snap the
Frame's crank arm onto the sash.
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00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,413
Narrator: making religious
Figurines out of wax
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00:11:09,413 --> 00:11:12,034
Is a tradition the french
Brought to the new world.
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00:11:12,034 --> 00:11:13,310
For hundreds of years,
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00:11:13,310 --> 00:11:16,206
This delicate craft
Wasn't open to just anyone.
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00:11:16,206 --> 00:11:19,172
The technique remained
A closely guarded secret,
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00:11:19,172 --> 00:11:21,137
Practiced only by monks and nuns
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00:11:21,137 --> 00:11:24,655
Within the confines of
Their monasteries and convents.
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00:11:31,034 --> 00:11:33,862
This artisan uses
A centuries-old technique
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00:11:33,862 --> 00:11:37,103
To restore antique figurines
And to make new ones.
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00:11:37,103 --> 00:11:39,931
She begins with pure beeswax,
Paraffin wax,
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00:11:39,931 --> 00:11:43,413
Some powdered chalk to make
The waxes less transparent,
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00:11:43,413 --> 00:11:47,034
And a bit of solid animal fat
To make the wax less fragile
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00:11:47,034 --> 00:11:48,206
Once it hardens.
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00:11:48,206 --> 00:11:51,344
She heats the can of ingredients
In a pot of water
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00:11:51,344 --> 00:11:52,620
For about two hours,
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00:11:52,620 --> 00:11:55,413
Until everything's melted
And homogenous.
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00:11:55,413 --> 00:11:58,724
Then she tints the mixture
Using oil-paint pigments.
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00:11:58,724 --> 00:12:00,344
There's no exact recipe.
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00:12:00,344 --> 00:12:03,793
She goes by gut feeling,
Fiddling with various colors
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00:12:03,793 --> 00:12:07,344
Until she creates the exact
Skin tone she's looking for.
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00:12:07,344 --> 00:12:09,931
Once she's certain the color
Is uniform throughout,
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00:12:09,931 --> 00:12:12,482
She pours the mixture
Through a stocking.
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00:12:12,482 --> 00:12:14,448
This filters out
Any contaminants
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00:12:14,448 --> 00:12:17,034
Or undissolved particles.
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00:12:17,034 --> 00:12:19,827
Now she pours the mixture
Into a plaster mold.
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00:12:19,827 --> 00:12:22,758
There's a different mold
For each figurine model.
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This one's a baby jesus.
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00:12:28,379 --> 00:12:31,517
The wax takes about 10 minutes
To solidify.
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00:12:31,517 --> 00:12:33,413
The figurine comes out easily,
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00:12:33,413 --> 00:12:36,620
Because she had greased
The mold cavity beforehand
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00:12:36,620 --> 00:12:38,724
With filtered sheep fat.
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00:12:38,724 --> 00:12:41,689
The figurine at this point
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00:12:41,689 --> 00:12:43,793
Is firm enough
To extract from the mold
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00:12:43,793 --> 00:12:46,000
But still soft enough to sculpt.
238
00:12:54,620 --> 00:12:57,379
With a very fine blade
That she heats over a flame,
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00:12:57,379 --> 00:13:01,448
The artisan now scrapes away
The seam left by excess wax
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00:13:01,448 --> 00:13:04,758
That oozed out of the gap
Between the mold's two halves.
241
00:13:07,862 --> 00:13:10,448
Then she runs the figurine
Through the flame
242
00:13:10,448 --> 00:13:13,137
Just long enough to melt off
Any wax particles
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00:13:13,137 --> 00:13:14,896
Left behind by the scraping.
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00:13:14,896 --> 00:13:17,655
After smoothing the surface
With a solvent,
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00:13:17,655 --> 00:13:20,931
She signs the back of the
Figurine with her initials,
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00:13:20,931 --> 00:13:25,344
Then uses the flame once again
To melt off the scraped-out wax.
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00:13:27,931 --> 00:13:30,275
Now that the figurine's body
Is finished,
248
00:13:30,275 --> 00:13:32,793
She can begin the detail work.
249
00:13:32,793 --> 00:13:36,034
She melts pine resin
With beeswax to make glue,
250
00:13:36,034 --> 00:13:38,586
Then brushes it
On the figurine's head.
251
00:13:42,137 --> 00:13:44,620
Then she takes strands
Of human hair --
252
00:13:44,620 --> 00:13:47,379
Clients often supply
Their children's hair --
253
00:13:47,379 --> 00:13:50,724
And soaks them in water.
254
00:13:50,724 --> 00:13:52,896
She wets strips of fabric,
As well.
255
00:13:52,896 --> 00:13:55,655
Then she rolls the hair
Around a knitting needle
256
00:13:55,655 --> 00:13:57,034
To make curly locks.
257
00:13:57,034 --> 00:13:59,448
She winds the fabric
Over the curls
258
00:13:59,448 --> 00:14:02,206
To hold them in place
Until they air-dry.
259
00:14:02,206 --> 00:14:03,931
If she's pressed for time,
260
00:14:03,931 --> 00:14:06,310
She'll dry them in the oven
On low heat.
261
00:14:06,310 --> 00:14:08,862
To make bigger curls
For a larger figurine,
262
00:14:08,862 --> 00:14:11,689
She simply uses
A thicker knitting needle.
263
00:14:11,689 --> 00:14:15,000
Now, using a hot blade
To reheat and activate the glue,
264
00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:17,827
She applies each length of curls
Individually.
265
00:14:32,724 --> 00:14:35,068
Once she's finished
Covering the head,
266
00:14:35,068 --> 00:14:37,758
She attaches a little halo
Made of brass wire,
267
00:14:37,758 --> 00:14:40,586
Heating the end so that the wax
Melts on contact
268
00:14:40,586 --> 00:14:42,241
And holds it in position.
269
00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:51,689
Now, using a small, pointed tool
270
00:14:51,689 --> 00:14:53,931
That she repeatedly heats
On the flame,
271
00:14:53,931 --> 00:14:56,103
She sculpts
The fine facial details --
272
00:14:56,103 --> 00:15:00,310
The figurine's eyes,
Eyelids, nostrils, and lips.
273
00:15:12,620 --> 00:15:16,172
Again, a little solvent
Cleans off the wax particles.
274
00:15:21,034 --> 00:15:23,413
Now she brushes the figurine
Head to toe
275
00:15:23,413 --> 00:15:25,758
With powder made of pumice
And pigment.
276
00:15:25,758 --> 00:15:30,068
This will help the watercolor
Paints adhere to the wax.
277
00:15:30,068 --> 00:15:33,620
She paints the eyes, lashes,
Brows, and lips.
278
00:15:46,551 --> 00:15:47,896
Once the paint dries,
279
00:15:47,896 --> 00:15:50,517
She applies a touch of varnish
To the eyes
280
00:15:50,517 --> 00:15:52,586
To make them shiny and bright.
281
00:15:58,413 --> 00:16:00,068
Once the varnish dries,
282
00:16:00,068 --> 00:16:03,931
She dresses the figurine
And positions it in its setting.
283
00:16:14,275 --> 00:16:17,689
Narrator:
The first passengers ever
To ride in a hot air balloon
284
00:16:17,689 --> 00:16:20,068
Were a sheep,
A duck, and a chicken.
285
00:16:20,068 --> 00:16:23,931
That eight-minute flight
Took place in france in 1783.
286
00:16:23,931 --> 00:16:26,620
Today's hot air balloons
Work on the same principle --
287
00:16:26,620 --> 00:16:28,172
The burner heats the air,
288
00:16:28,172 --> 00:16:30,482
The balloon envelope
Holds the air,
289
00:16:30,482 --> 00:16:33,000
And the basket
Carries the passengers.
290
00:16:37,241 --> 00:16:40,379
Hot air balloons fall under
Government aircraft regulations,
291
00:16:40,379 --> 00:16:42,068
So their engineering has to meet
292
00:16:42,068 --> 00:16:44,620
Very specific performance
And safety standards.
293
00:16:44,620 --> 00:16:46,862
Once the technical design
Gets approval,
294
00:16:46,862 --> 00:16:48,965
The factory works
On the graphic design.
295
00:16:48,965 --> 00:16:51,206
The computer renders
The graphics into plans
296
00:16:51,206 --> 00:16:53,448
That resemble
A giant jigsaw puzzle.
297
00:16:53,448 --> 00:16:55,137
Each piece has a code number.
298
00:16:55,137 --> 00:16:58,172
The computer generates
A paper template for each one.
299
00:16:58,172 --> 00:17:00,724
Balloons usually fly
In the early morning,
300
00:17:00,724 --> 00:17:03,068
When there's still dew
On the ground.
301
00:17:03,068 --> 00:17:06,172
So, the nylon fabric with which
They make the balloon envelope
302
00:17:06,172 --> 00:17:07,551
Has a silicone coating
303
00:17:07,551 --> 00:17:10,241
To repel moisture that would
Generate mold and mildew.
304
00:17:10,241 --> 00:17:13,275
After tracing each template
With grease pencils,
305
00:17:13,275 --> 00:17:14,655
They cut the fabric by hand
306
00:17:14,655 --> 00:17:16,206
And mark the corresponding
Code number
307
00:17:16,206 --> 00:17:18,103
On the back of each piece.
308
00:17:24,724 --> 00:17:26,241
Then, following the plan,
309
00:17:26,241 --> 00:17:29,482
Seamstresses sew the pieces
Together like a giant quilt,
310
00:17:29,482 --> 00:17:32,379
Using heavy-duty thread.
311
00:17:32,379 --> 00:17:35,448
The type of seam they stitch
Is the strongest possible --
312
00:17:35,448 --> 00:17:37,931
What you typically see on jeans.
313
00:17:37,931 --> 00:17:40,827
They sew the seams to nylon
Straps, called webbing.
314
00:17:40,827 --> 00:17:43,344
These run both horizontally
And vertically,
315
00:17:43,344 --> 00:17:44,655
Forming a giant grid.
316
00:17:44,655 --> 00:17:46,103
Should the fabric rip,
317
00:17:46,103 --> 00:17:49,896
The seam and webbing combined
Prevent the tear from spreading.
318
00:17:49,896 --> 00:17:52,310
Hot air balloons often carry
A corporate logo.
319
00:17:52,310 --> 00:17:54,862
Workers divide the design
Into components,
320
00:17:54,862 --> 00:17:57,310
Project each one
Onto a piece of fabric,
321
00:17:57,310 --> 00:18:00,379
Trace it, and cut it out.
322
00:18:00,379 --> 00:18:01,862
They first glue,
323
00:18:01,862 --> 00:18:04,827
Then sew the components to
The balloon in one of two ways
324
00:18:04,827 --> 00:18:08,068
Either into the fabric,
Or on top of it, as we see here.
325
00:18:10,551 --> 00:18:12,034
Stainless-steel aircraft cable
326
00:18:12,034 --> 00:18:15,310
Connects the balloon envelope
To the basket below.
327
00:18:15,310 --> 00:18:18,379
Workers slip a plastic sleeve,
Then a copper sleeve
328
00:18:18,379 --> 00:18:20,551
Over one end,
Then loop the cable.
329
00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,655
They line the loop
With a stainless-steel thimble.
330
00:18:25,655 --> 00:18:28,034
This thimble will protect
The aircraft cable
331
00:18:28,034 --> 00:18:29,965
From damage
Due to wear and tear.
332
00:18:29,965 --> 00:18:34,551
They crimp the copper sleeve
To lock the loop.
333
00:18:41,896 --> 00:18:44,000
After taking
Various measurements
334
00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:47,206
To ensure everything conforms
To strict specifications,
335
00:18:47,206 --> 00:18:50,068
They wrap tape around the sharp
End of the crimp,
336
00:18:50,068 --> 00:18:52,517
Then, using
An industrial heat gun,
337
00:18:52,517 --> 00:18:56,413
Shrink-wrap the plastic sleeve
Over it to seal the connection.
338
00:19:00,965 --> 00:19:04,517
The basket is made of wicker
Or a similar natural material
339
00:19:04,517 --> 00:19:06,827
Woven
Over a stainless-steel frame.
340
00:19:06,827 --> 00:19:08,413
Wicker is flexible enough
341
00:19:08,413 --> 00:19:10,758
To absorb the shock
Of a bumpy landing.
342
00:19:10,758 --> 00:19:13,137
They cover the bottom edge
With rawhide
343
00:19:13,137 --> 00:19:16,620
To protect the wicker when
It scrapes against the ground.
344
00:19:16,620 --> 00:19:19,931
They pad, then cover the top
Edge in suede or leather
345
00:19:19,931 --> 00:19:22,896
For comfort when you're leaning
On it to admire the view.
346
00:19:24,862 --> 00:19:28,344
These nylon poles, called
Uprights, fit into the frame.
347
00:19:28,344 --> 00:19:31,137
They support the burners
Above the basket.
348
00:19:31,137 --> 00:19:33,379
Hot air balloons run
On propane,
349
00:19:33,379 --> 00:19:36,655
The same stuff
Gas barbecues use.
350
00:19:36,655 --> 00:19:40,965
Only a barbecue produces
About 70,000 btus of heat,
351
00:19:40,965 --> 00:19:43,586
While a hot air balloon's
Two burners together
352
00:19:43,586 --> 00:19:48,862
Generate 30 million btus,
Enough to warm a large building.
353
00:19:48,862 --> 00:19:52,344
After connecting the basket
To the burner frame with cables,
354
00:19:52,344 --> 00:19:55,379
They cover the cables and
Uprights in protective padding.
355
00:19:55,379 --> 00:19:58,172
Then they hook up the hoses
Running from the burners
356
00:19:58,172 --> 00:20:00,551
To the propane tanks
Housed in the basket.
357
00:20:02,862 --> 00:20:04,724
Now for the final assembly.
358
00:20:04,724 --> 00:20:07,551
First, they tip the basket
Onto its side.
359
00:20:07,551 --> 00:20:10,482
Then they take those looped
Cables they made earlier
360
00:20:10,482 --> 00:20:13,379
And hook one end to the frame
Of the burner system.
361
00:20:13,379 --> 00:20:16,689
The other end is already hooked
Up to the balloon envelope --
362
00:20:16,689 --> 00:20:19,310
One cable to every vertical
Strip of webbing.
363
00:20:19,310 --> 00:20:24,413
Depending on its size, a balloon
Has between 12 and 28 of them.
364
00:20:24,413 --> 00:20:27,275
They form the skeleton
Of the balloon,
365
00:20:27,275 --> 00:20:29,827
Carrying the weight of the craft
And its passengers.
366
00:20:32,310 --> 00:20:34,724
After laying out
The balloon envelope,
367
00:20:34,724 --> 00:20:37,793
They use a fan to inflate it
Partway with cold air.
368
00:20:37,793 --> 00:20:39,413
This takes 5 to 20 minutes,
369
00:20:39,413 --> 00:20:41,793
Depending on the size
Of the balloon.
370
00:20:41,793 --> 00:20:44,793
Then they fire up the burners
To heat the cold air.
371
00:20:44,793 --> 00:20:47,068
It expands to fill the envelope.
372
00:20:47,068 --> 00:20:50,413
The fabric near the burners
Is fire-resistant.
373
00:20:50,413 --> 00:20:54,137
Because hot air weighs less
Than cold air, it rises,
374
00:20:54,137 --> 00:20:56,965
Pulling the balloon upright
And off the ground.
375
00:20:56,965 --> 00:20:58,724
You control vertical movement
376
00:20:58,724 --> 00:21:01,517
By manipulating the envelope
Air temperature.
377
00:21:01,517 --> 00:21:04,103
To ascend, you turn
The burner flames higher.
378
00:21:04,103 --> 00:21:07,172
To descend, you pull a cord
To vent hot air out the top.
379
00:21:07,172 --> 00:21:09,310
You can't really steer
Horizontally.
380
00:21:09,310 --> 00:21:12,137
The trick is to ride
Different wind currents.
381
00:21:17,931 --> 00:21:20,068
If you have any comments
About the show,
382
00:21:20,068 --> 00:21:22,689
Or if you'd like to suggest
Topics for future shows,
383
00:21:22,689 --> 00:21:24,758
Drop us a line at...
31155
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