skydiver30960

Fuck it, I just won't pick up the dog's turds anymore. The HOA can suck it, they can't make me BREAK THE LAW! Elvisio "why lock away all that great fertilizer in a plastic bubble anyhow? " Rodriguez

YouTube Downloader works great for me. Download the video, keep it that way or convert to mp3. Of course you'll be sure the obey all licensing laws. Elvisio "Mixmaster wannabe" Rodriguez

I'll throw out one other seemingly unrelated, but often culpable cause of rough idling and misfires: a bad battery. I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW, it makes no sense: it seems to me that if it starts and the alternator is pushing enough juice into the system, that it shouldn't matter. BUT: I do as much of my own work as I can on my '99 Wrangler and therefore spend a LOT of time on a Jeep-specific forum. There are MILES of threads about misfires, error codes, and rough idle that come back to a battery that needed replaced. It even happened to me once, so that may be a reason for me being a bit biased, but if the voltage going to the ECM (the computer) isn't stable and within the right range, all bets are off. SO, get the battery bench load tested to see how it's doing. If it's shot, replacing it may solve the problem. Elvisio "was flabbergasted, and pleasantly relieved when it happened to me" Rodriguez

I voted "unreasonable;" not because of the idea of the dress code/uniform (of which I do approve) but because of the costs associated with it. For me the most galling part is the sad little 10% discount. C'mon, it's crappy enough when a company requires the employee to pay for their uniforms, but when it's also so painfully obviously profiting from that sale, it's just douchey. Don't want to provide the uniform free of charge? Fine. Want to let the employee choose from a couple different styles so they can find something they're comfortable in rather than force them into something that may not be cut to fit them? Fine. But at least let them buy the needed items at cost. Walmart doesn't need to let their employees have that discount across the board, just on the approved "uniform/dress code" items. Elvisio "One more reason to avoid Wallyworld" Rodriguez

http://www.dropzone.com/safety/General_Safety/Risk_Homeostasis_and_Skydiving_663.html The article above piqued my curiosity when it was first published, and I did some more snooping around online and finally ended up writing a school paper discussing risk homeostasis in the field of firefighting and EMS response. It's incredible how well the principle is reflected in my life, in the ways activities (first tandem instruction, then skydiving as a whole) have just seemed to fade from my desire as other risk factors in my life have increased. Fascinating. Elvisio "Bridge Days were a hoot, though" Rodriguez

I'm sure this is posted elsewhere, but went looking for the quote and this is the first place it popped up... http://thesheepdog.com/ "The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, cannot and will not ever harm the sheep. Any sheepdog that intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. The world cannot work any other way, at least not in a representative democracy or a republic such as ours. Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land." There will be sheepdogs that will abuse their power. The answer lies in punishing those sheepdogs, not denying the need for them. Elvisio "trying to be a sheepdog in my own little way" Rodriguez

This thread is useless without video. Elvisio "eject! eject! oh wait..." Rodriguez

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." --Arthur C. Clarke Elvisio "how did he make the building disappear?!" Rodriguez

WRT "not as effective," I would disagree, as long as we are only talking about sedation and pain management. The Versed/Dilaudid mix has them unconscious and feeling no pain, BUT there's nothing in the new mix to replace the paralytic and potassium chloride. The old mix had two drugs that virtually GUARANTEE a very quick clinical death, the new mix has none; so in that regard I would argue "not as effective" as a powerful understatement. Lots and lots (dare I say, most) of the generic medications we see today are made overseas. BUT again, not to harp but to come back to my point of "why the hell don't they just use the right damn meds" for a hypothetical cocktail of Versed/dilaudid/paralytic/potassium chloride, none of these meds are currently on a shortage (as many meds are at the moment in fact). Just about any backwater "bandaid-stand" hospital in the country could go to their pharmacy and pull all of the medications off the shelf. It's not an issue of supply, so WTH? Elvisio "call me the candyman" Rodriguez

I'm just surprised the states keep making the same mistake. The old mix used (IIRC) was a huge dose of barbiturate to render them unconscious/unfeeling, a dose of paralytic to stop their breathing, then a massive dose of potassium chloride to stop their heart. (yep, just checked wikipedia for what it's worth, and it lists sodium pentathol, pancuronium, and potassium chloride) Then, didn't it go that the manufacturers of the barbiturate decide they don't like being associated with executions and stop selling to the states for that use? So then the states have to come up with a new cocktail? So, my question is, why did they stop using the paralytic and KCl? Sure, the Versed/Dilaudid mix is going to render them WAY unconscious and protect them from pain of any kind, but it won't do the work of the other drugs. The cost for ALL the meds being discussed is minimal, probably a couple bucks each. I kid you not: if you put me in Socrates' shoes and let me CHOOSE how to be executed, it would be "shoot me up with a massive dose of Versed and Dilaudid" which is exactly what this guy got. He felt NO pain when he died. What everyone was watching was agonal respirations, caused by signals sent from his brain stem, which was probably BARELY ticking over, all his higher brain function was gone. This is exactly what the paralytic is for: yeah, to stop the respirations of the inmate/victim/patient so they die, but also so bystanders don't have to watch them guppy-breathe all that time. Then, the potassium chloride is used to cause immediate cardiac arrest, so the state can declare him dead quicker (IMO). This seems like something they should have gotten right the first time, not let happen again and again. I'm not worried that it was cruel to the inmate, because as I said he was completely unconscious and well-armored against pain. If it was cruel to anyone, it was cruel to those forced to watch. Elvisio "pragmatic" Rodriguez

Interesting to read all the posts. After 15 years and 1500 jumps, I'm asking myself the same questions. Actually, it's been about three years since I'd be able to fairly consider myself current, but I still drag out to the DZ once in a while to try and rekindle the flame. My concern is that I need to shit or get off the pot. People here have mentioned the risks involved: every time I go out to jump now, I'm aware that I'm in the most dangerous category of jumpers: those who are experienced but not current. I need to decide to either get back into it and stay into it, or hang it up and walk away. Mr. Miyagi and Yoda were both on the same page about this one... Part of my difficulty in walking away is that I do still miss it, and enjoy going out to jump when I do. I also have a hard time giving up something that, for so long, WAS "who I was" as well as "what I did." OTOH, other posters here are right: I've found new friends and new hobbies that I really enjoy. And Phreezone is right: now that I'm married with a wife and a home, it's hard to toss and turn all night on a thin sleeping bag at the DZ when just minutes away I have cold beer, warm food, a soft bed, and a hot wife waiting for me! ...but not hanging out means those bonds of friendship aren't as strong, which is one of the bigger draws to go to the DZ in the first place. It's a decision I'm still considering every day... that said, every day not jumping is a step towards the decision being made, no? Elvisio "contemplating my navel" Rodriguez

Captain Kangaroo was spotting. Elvisio "and Mr. Moose was at the controls" Rodriguez

My take on the best answer for many of the issues that are completely overloading our federal gov't. Elvisio "down ladder!" Rodriguez

I thought everything was black and white back then... Elvisio "that's what Calvin's dad said" Rodriguez

HUH? This is the part that caught my eye. I can't THINK of how many shops here and there offer a percentage off full retail for ordering through them. ALSO, how many " XX% (usually 50%) off a canopy/rig/container" certificates are part of boogie raffles every year? Although, maybe I'm just getting old: it HAS been over a decade since my last rig purchase. Elvisio "100% tiedye SEEMED like a great idea at the time" Rodriguez

I found it interesting this OP got rolled out on the 70th anniversary of D-day. Not overly cranky about it, it's just been on my mind today... Elvisio "heading out to bagpipe at the WWII memorial in town in just a bit" Rodriguez OR Elvisio "10,000 unemployed comedians, Turtle, and me show up here" Rodriguez

Not true for Type 1 diabetics. But you're right in that many Type II diabetics can become insulin dependent, so some will say that. We have a few technologies coming to a head at the same time; inhaled insulin, continuously monitored blood glucose with insulin pumps, improvements in pancreas transplant technology, and improvement in diet. It'll be interesting to see how all these pan out becoming available as choices to a patient, or if one will trump them all and become treatment of choice. Elvisio "cool stuff" Rodriguez

Not a loaded question, asking out of pure curiosity: does anyone feel their opinion would change if it was a more philanthropic entity suing a country that was stopping a (perceived) beneficial action? IOW, I voted no, but worry that my decision was based on Phillip Morris being the plaintiff. Maybe not a perfect analogy, but what if the example had been Doctors Without Borders suing a country because they were barring them from providing care within their borders? Elvisio "scratching chin" Rodriguez

A scene from one of the most underrated movies of all time, Joe vs. the Volcano: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUuID2ijD_A I wanted to find the whole shopping montage but couldn't find it. Thoroughly enjoyable flick. ENJOY THE TRIP! Elvisio "Meg Ryan at the absolute peak of her hawtness" Rodriguez

Thank you for NOT buying Beats by Dre headphones. I've never tried them, but I honestly hope they are an absolute eargasm: to look that douchey wearing them, they better. Elvisio "nothing really relevant to add, but hey, it's dizzy" Rodriguez

The "burger flipping" analogy is a bad one for me personally, since I think we need to have places like McDonald's incentivized (sp? even a word?) to keep people OUT of them. SO, if increasing the minimum wage there jacks the prices up, which then encourages individuals and families to consider other options for their dinnertime dollars (such as, gasp, a more nutritious dinner at home) then so be it. WRT increasing the minimum wage in general: I don't know that this needs to be taken to the extreme, but we do need to provide even the most basic workers with a wage that is enough to keep them on the job. Wages are so low right now, and public assistance programs are so fat right now, that it really makes sense to a lot of people just to stay home and live off the dole, rather than spend 40 hours of their week working a shit job to bring home basically the same "pay." So from where I'm sitting (gutshot middle class) if raising the minimum wage costs me a little because I have to pay more for products, but saves me the same amount or more in not having to support people who aren't working, then so be it. So: Increase the minimum wage to a decent (but not insanely high) wage, increase support and access for postsecondary education (i.e. the community college system), and start cutting public assistance programs until the path of least resistance becomes improving yourself and working, instead of sitting on the couch and living off my money. Elvisio "harumph" Rodriguez

Back in the late 90s I moved into a VERY old house that had been divided into apartments. The steps had cinderblocks running up the side of them, just outside the railing. (This is hard to explain, but I'll get to the point) While standing on the cinderblocks, I slipped and got my leg wedged between the railing and the cinderblocks, then started falling backwards, OVER the blocks. To put it another way: there was no way this wasn't going to end with anything but an open tib/fib and major surgery... and it that time-slows-down-as-we're-about-to-die way, I had time to realize that as I fell. But seconds later I'm lying on the grass trying to figure out what happened, totally unharmed. The cinderblock wall had actually BROKEN, instead of breaking my leg. To this day, it's definitely one of those "somebody up there likes me" moments. Elvisio "once I realized how much other shit was broke in that house, though..." Rodriguez

I can dig that you would be pissed to see your name dragged through the mud on a public forum. Being very, very far from scene of the crime, I am also willing to contend that I don't know the whole story and that there exists the possibility that you're aren't to blame in this issue: I don't know the OP any better than I know you. THAT BEING SAID, when you have the chance to be level-headed and to set the story straight in the same public forum in which you were accused, and you waste it on name-calling and swearing, well... Elvisio "just a thought" Rodriguez

Non-rider response: I hate seeing bikes split lanes of moving traffic. I would have no problem with bikes moving forward through lanes of stopped traffic: if nothing else, it would be an incentive in a big city to ride a motorcycle rather than drive a car, which would help relieve congestion and get more gph out of gas burned (better for the environment). Splitting MOVING traffic, however, is a different story for me. Suddenly we're trying to fit three vehicles into the space for two (two lanes) and the likelihood of bad shit happening goes through the roof. Motorcyclists whine and complain that they want more space, more respect, and attention from the cagers. You argue that you aren't covered in a metal cage, that (at most, if you're smart, and if we're lucky) you only have a helmet and leathers to protect you. THEN, you want to cut down on already less-than-adequate maneuvering room on the highways by lane splitting moving traffic. And finally, if an accident DOES happen, as mentioned above it's automatically the fault of the driver of the car. IMO, you can't have it both ways, folks. Elvisio "wearing my nomex" Rodriguez

Bonaire is WONDERFUL diving. I've never been to Aruba but will offer a comment from another diver I spent a week with who had been to both, something along the lines of "Aruba is good if you have a family and you're the only diver." The idea was that the diving is decent, but there's more for other folks to do there as well. Again, not my words or opinion, just recalling the words of others. ...Bonaire, OTOH, is top-to-bottom for divers... there really isn't much else other than beach/pool lounging. Good news is there is TONS of wonderful diving. My recollections from Bonaire: the reef is pretty consistent, with tons of smaller "macro" stuff to look at. You'll find yourself cruising slowly, looking into every nook and cranny. There aren't many bigger animals to be seen, other than the rare turtle and everpresent tarpon. When we were there currents were nearly zero. My favorite dive on the island is the Hilma Hooker, a seized drug boat that they sunk and a hurricane later rolled over a bit. Pros and Cons for being a beginner at Bonaire: Pro: the reef is pretty consistent no matter what depth you're at. That is, what you see at 45 feet is pretty much the same as what you'll see at 75 feet. This means you can go with more experienced folks and not miss much. Pros: light current, plenty of dive sites. Con-ish: the island is a shore diving paradise. Most experienced divers will skip the boat dives, rent a vehicle, load the trunk with cylinders, and spend every day driving from site to site, snacking and getting surface intervals along the way. The reason I call this a "con-ish" for beginners is that in such a situation there tends to be less supervision. Even though my wife and I were both Advanced Open Water certified when we went, it felt nice to have a dive guide in the water with us, even though they weren't acting as an official divemaster. What worked for us: we did two boat dives in the morning, which also got us to the few dive sites at the island that aren't accessible by road. Then, we had lunch and loaded up a few cylinders and spent the afternoon shore diving together and learning to stretch our wings diving unsupervised. If you aren't comfortable with that by the time you go there, several of the resorts on the island offer daily morning and afternoon dive trips (two dives each); just be ready to pay a bit and sign up for the boats early as they do fill up. The recommendation above for ScubaBoard is golden: as far as I'm concerned it's the SCUBA equivalent of dizzy.com. Elvisio "can't wait to go back" Rodriguez