mfrese

Another fascinating piece of technology is the BAHA (Bone Attached Hearing Aid). My niece has one, as she has profound hearing loss in both ears due to a congenital deformity of the stapies (sp?). She also has developmental disabilities, so it took until she was about 12 before she was able to productively take a hearing test. It's actually pretty interesting that she sometimes prefers her standard hearing aid over the BAHA...I've asked her why, and she just seems to like music and conversation better with the hearing aid. I guess it seems to her like there's too much input from the BAHA, so it's good for general environments like school, not so good for smaller, more focused environments. Either way, it's cool technology, and I'm glad we have stuff like it to help her out.

Great thread, and interesting to read the diverse opinions. The cartoon "Baby Blues" had perhaps the most apt statement regarding many of today's parents I've ever read. They've been doing a "Parenting: Then and Now" series...this one went something like this: the little one sitting on the ground, with Mom and Dad attending to the boo-boo on little Zoe's knee. Then: "I guess you learned a lesson about climbing trees, didn't you"? Now: "We need legislation to make trees safer"! Glad the party went well.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Reply To -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fuck it. I'll say it. Everyone who watches reality tv shows is stupid. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well, you're wrong, of course. *** Until a few weeks ago, I would probably have been in the former camp to some extent...hated "Idol", never like Survivor, the rest were too hideous to even ponder. Then I started watching "The Next Food Network Star". Got to the third episode (where the second of the six competitors was about to be eliminated), and realized I was now actually interested in who was going to leave, and who might stay. I had developed an opinion, I kinda liked one or two of these people, and really disliked a couple as well. At which point I turned to my wife and shrieked (in a small, girlish voice that belonged to a stranger): "OH MY GOD! I'm watching a REALITY SHOW"!!! So, I guess I'm stupid.

Dmitri: I remember you! (Vaguely...but then, my memory ain't what it used to be!) My suggestion would be to call the office, work with them to determine what you'll need to do, and make an appointment. They are heavily scheduled with tandems and video for Saturday, so calling in advance will probably keep you from waiting around for an AFF instructor to work with you, since most of them will be shooting tandem video.

Hmmm... 42 from impromptu chain-saw surgery on my left leg 10 from screw through my left hand 8 from dog bite (left hand) 5 from dog bite (right hand) 5 from dog bite (right leg...I used to be a meter reader!) 4 inside lip (twice) 5 from sloppy Navy corpsman mole removal 4 in right elbow removing heater core from my truck... Skydiving related stitches...ZERO. So, roughly 83, not counting dental surgeries and such. Geez, what a wimp... Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

Gee, they're all beaches, go figure... 1) Seascape Resort - near Hollister, my wife and I and a bunch of friends jumped in there at sunset for our 15th anniversary.

I think it might actually be, like, my third. Just goes to show what a productive day I'm having...obviously, my job isn't cool. And Beth...miss you, too! Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

It dawned on me the other day that I have a lot of friends, and that they do a lot of cool things for a living. It helps me learn a lot of things I probably wouldn't if they weren't my friends. I have a friend who: - sells weapons (like, bombs and missiles!) - is a chef - is a paralegal - sells GOOD beer (and about whom the paralegal friend recently was heard to say "You're getting paid to drink beer at work, and hot chicks are pouring it for you...you're a GOD"!) - builds houses - builds shopping malls - runs a plant nursery (and gave us free ficus trees) - teaches college - is going to college - goes to Costa Rica every other month (and tries to convince me to buy a house with him down there) - is known as The Rack (tm)v2.0 What cool things do your friends do? Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

Whoa, a thread I probably won't kill... My best friend is my wife, actually. Why? Well for one, she's pretty relaxed about all the time I spend with my other best friends: my Les Paul, my Wolfgang, and my Ibanez!

Just one final comment: Dude, just read your post from 4/17 in the "Tandem Raven 375 Experience" thread...you totally jinxed yourself! Either way, good job, glad everything worked. Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

Compared to the "normal" reserve deployment on a Vector tandem reserve, I thought the Skyhook was WAY faster. All three of my tandem chops have been sub-terminal, and I'm guessing the first two were 800-1000 feet from riser release to open reserve. With the Skyhook, it was less than 200 feet (per my Neptune). I felt the canopy start to open about the time I cleared the reserve ripcord cable.

I am so honored That we were mentioned by name Andy D's Da Man! Seb, Iwan and Q rounded out our little crew, Oh! thanks for the beer! Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

Forget the Nut House...come down to the Bluebonnet Sports Bar (Open 6 a.m.!) in Sunnyvale. The last time I was there, we dirt-dived a 12-way in the pool room. Besides, it's only a block from my house, you can all come back here and sleep on my lawn. Anyway, have fun tonight...I'm stuck at work guarding my lab since the air conditioning is still out. Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

The last time I had six months off was sometime during that period between birth and the start of kindergarten. Fuck you, Monkey Boy! Get back to work! Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

I had an old number that was one off from the local pizza place, and one off from the guy who delivered newspapers in our neighborhood. We were usually polite about the pizza number, except for a few bright, shining stars that kept calling the wrong number long after we'd corrected them about fifty times...for them we started taking their orders and telling them to pick them up in twenty minutes.

Actually, that's two jumpers and a pilot, Bruno don't jump, except for one tandem. BTW, I'll pay you $20 US if you can get Chris so drunk that he sticks his head in the snow to calm his ragin' hangover the next day (you know, like the picture we already have hangin' on the wall at Hollister). And if you forget the shinguards Seb suggested, at least make sure you have a camera with you, don't make the EMTs stop this time. Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

I've actually started telling my students during their briefing that we're going to be partners for the next 30-45 minutes. I'll handle the hard stuff, their job is to relax, remember to do what I tell them, stay aware, and have fun. Seems to get them a little more involved and interested! Haven't noticed any better body positions, though...

Wuss. A true Norcal resident doesn't even wake up for anything less than a 5.0 on the Richter, girl. Hand in your California card!

Just for the record, that's NOT a Sigma system, it's a Vector II. The drogue system alone adds way more risk than I'd probably be comfortable with. I've done a fair amount of tandem RW, and there are maybe three people on the planet I'd trust to do that jump if I were the TI. And, the passenger would have to be an experienced jumper. And, I'd have to be featured on a half-hour special on "Risk Takers" on the Discovery Channel. Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

Well, for starters, you can look at this thread to save us all time in replying! Next, be prepared to work very hard. Finally, assume that you'll scare yourself shitless at least once in your first 50 tandems. But hang in there, as it's one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. Good Luck! Mike Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

I think you're supposed to batter 'em up and drop 'em in the deep fryer now to "enhance" the flavor. Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

Two Grumman stories: My wife and I were driving up A1A from Titusville last time we were in Florida, and happened to pass the New Smyrna Beach airport. We both literally shouted "WHOA"! at the same instant and I pulled over, as they had not one, not two, but THREE Albatrosses in the middle of refurbs out on the ramp. We had to stop and take pictures! The first time I went to Skydance out here at Davis, I turned onto Aviation Ave. and saw a beautiful restored Albatross sitting cockeyed in the grass strip between the runway and taxiway. As opposed to the knucklehead flying the Grumman in the video, the pilot set her down straight down the middle with the gear up. Probably saved him a couple hundred grand on the rebuild... Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

My wife has my two favorite Happy Bunny items: - the patch that says "I'm not mean. You're just a sissy" - a watch that says "Hi, Loser" Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

Of course, you can try the "perfect Margarita" from the man who's supposed to be the expert, Jimmy Buffett. I can attest that this is a pretty kick-ass drink, and the proportions guarantee that you'll be semi-shitfaced on two or three. My only suggestion is to replace the Cuervo with some actual tequila. Jimmy Buffett's Perfect Margarita 1. Fill shaker with broken cubed ice. 2. Squeeze TWO fresh lime wedges into shaker. 3. Savor the fresh lime aroma (AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!) 4. Add 2 oz. Cuervo 1800. 5. Sniff the cork. 6. Add 1/2 oz. of Jose Cuervo White if ya wish (white for bite!). 7. Add 1-1/4 oz. of Roses Lime Juice (accept no substitutes!). 8. Add 1/2 oz. of Bols Triple Sec (nothing but the best!). 9. Add "a splash" of Bols Orange Curacao (shh...secret ingredient). 10. Cover shaker tightly! 11. Shake vigorously. 12. Flip shaker in midair twice (three times if you're a pro). 13. Uncover shaker and savor the flavor! 14. Rim glass with Lime peel (outside only!). 15. Salt the outside only. 16. Add fresh ice. 17. Strain mixture over ice. 18. Squeeze in 1 lime wedge and toss rind over left shoulder. 19. Now kick back, turn up the tunes and enjoy! Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

[cue Black Sabbath music] "I'm Iron Man!" Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash