bertusgeert

Some fakes are worth your amazement even if they are fake - this being a great example. --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Great shot. He sold that to the news for a good few hundred I'm sure. Too bad it doesn't actually capture the storm hitting. Yeah it wasn't pleasant, but you could walk outside and no worries if your mouth/eyes were covered. --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

I think Charlie Chaplin was there... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq1yPf4iSm8&feature=related --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Too bad I was inside and didn't see it when this hit. Now everything is covered and dust and the haze is still hanging all over. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSNFMZ_8Zmc --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Well hey man, maybe you should have kept the grass shorter than the 5' tall privacy fence! --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Duct tape them to your inner thighs Smart idea....but how do you propose ripping the tape off of your legs...fast of slowly one hair at a time? --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

or....another simple cheap easy option to compare to: http://www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/generic/peanut-butter-and-jelly-sandwich --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

So...I went to REI yesterday for a session on fast & light backpacking. One guy went through his food, saying he uses PROBAR as they have "a lot of calories in a complex way". I've never heard of/used them, but was intrigued why this very experienced backpacker would use PROBAR over Clifbar. I've been using Clifbars for a long time. They go for around ~$1.35. ProBar seems to be on avg. ~$3.20. They contain maybe a 1/3 more calories and is about 1/3 heavier, which could explain 1/3 more price. But ~$2? For any fitness/nutrition nuts...would there be a good nutritional reason for the price difference? Which would you prefer? http://theprobar.com/products/original/whole-berry-blast/ http://www.clifbar.com/food/products_clif_bar/ Edit to add: I figured this was relevant here, since we're all "fast & light backpackers". --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

No compromises...EVER. From Eric Jackson, Olympic Kayaker, who rides around the country in an RV kayaking whenever and wherever he wants. I don't follow his advice to that extent, since I desire more than just one thing. But I do believe that if you limit the amount and extent of the compromises you make with life, you'll be a lot happier. --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Finally! ....Now I know why she jumped up in the middle of well... "it" one night and said "what the hell?!" and ran downstairs to sleep on the couch! --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

or snap someone in half... SNAP CRACKLE and...POP To get a body to this low of a bodyfat %, you're not eating what you want or should, and you're risking your health in terms of variety of nutrients. Not really much of an argument - just ask a doctor if you even feel like disagreeing. Back in the day the epitomized chunky pale british chicks (with bad teeth), psych theory goes it's the idea of "wealth" and how it's represented, what society thinks of us with it on our arm - that we are truly attracted to. Chunky & pale isn't quite healthy, and neither are these bundles of sticks. Shah - since you're a fan of women reducing their caloric intake, why don't you do your part and reduce your pop-perfection-perception intake and adjust your view of what beauty is. I've been with chunky and skinny, tan and pale, fit and fat girls - and they all had something different, fun and attractive to offer. Yeah we are guys and we're here because of our evolutionary instincts, and the girls play the game just as well by walking on platforms in bikinis with heels (WTF? Who ever would do that for any good reason?). Maybe we can all be a little smarter than rabbits... Lest we end up fulfilling a movie plot. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiocracy --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

I was reading through this post thinking wow, if only us humans by now figured out how to live with people we care about. Somehow we are very incapable of this basic trick. I'm getting into a serious relationship for the first time, as I've been holding off, passing by and saying "no thanks" for many years, with lots of caution, lest I load a heap of dung on top of myself. Then I read that sentence, and had to laugh. Only a few months of seriousness, and the complexity, baggage and involvement is already tremendous. I didn't consciously realize it as such, until just reading that. Thanks man. I'm already getting indirectly pressured by her friends asking her "has he showed any signs of committing?"...To which I waited for her to say once again (even though I know she doesn't ever mean it) "I'm never getting married" and I quickly responded - "yeah, I'm not on that path either" ....and faster than a slider-down she said - Wait, what do you mean you're "not on that path either"?! ...before she caught herself and realized her insta-contra-diction. I just smiled. Years later I'll probably look back and think... and THAT is how the trouble started.... --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

It's a 14 sq. meter speedwing (Speedmaster). usually with PG launches you have an area to lay it out, inflate it, drop it if it isn't good, and take your time to fly. It's just a super tight launch with a rail (and two buddies...& a kid) mixed in. He gets pretty close over that building on his approach too, with high winds/turbulence. It's tricky and could have easily gone wrong. Never mind the legal issues associated with this. Regardless, looks like he had fun. Wouldn't see me doing it - ever. Edit to add: usually speed launches are tight (mountain ridges & edges). I mean, this guy probably wishes he had some sort of parachute/glider...http://www.snotr.com/video/7059 --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

At the risk of taking over my own thread, I found this comical bit: YOU THINK YOU ARE TOUGH ENOUGH? Here's one way to find out whether you qualify for work as a wildland firefighter. Stuff what you think you need for a week into a backpack, making sure it weighs at least 50 pounds. If you don't need to carry that much food, add rocks to your pack till it weighs at least that much. Start hiking cross-country, and make sure you're going at a good clip for at least 10 hours per day on steep slopes -- and make sure you're awake for at least 20 hours per day. If you see big movable stuff, such as rocks and logs, pick them up and move them. The bigger they are and the farther and faster you move them, the more it counts. Fall down a lot, and bang yourself up on rocks and roots as often as possible. Thrash around in the brush, get good and scraped, and go without food and water as much as possible. Practice sleeping while standing up. This is critical. Practice it enough to where you sort of get to like it. Try to attract as many mosquitoes and yellowjackets and bees and flies and snakes as possible, and get bit by as many as you can in as many places as possible. Get as wet and muddy as possible, and get as hot and dusty and generally filthy as you possibly can. WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T BATHE. Keep this up for a week. If you're still alive, and if you think you're having a good time, you may just make it as a wildland firefighter. If you're genuinely having the time of your life and you want more of this, someone may want to hire you. --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Excellent, that's what I'm talking about. Thks. --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Thanks, but doesn't answer my questions does it? Anyways, work is blocking it. I'll check it tonight. --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Don't try this at home...? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFJg7JixinI&feature=email --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

How fit do firefighters have to be? Is it only entry requirements, or are there periodic "tests"? Are there more stringent requirements for wildfire firefighters as opposed to urban firefighters? Just curious. Thinking about maybe one day volunteering. --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Good point right, the purpose of a motorcycle, skateboard or ski helmet is quite different from a skydiving helmet. As my Seinfeld quote quips - it's not by any means designed to protect you from terminal impact - the purpose is to protect from smaller impacts when you're busy with much more dangerous and consequential things. The skydiving helmet is primary protection (keeps you conscious and focused, for instance when you bump or slam your head against the door/an out of control jumper) to stop the secondary event (unconsious, unfocused on altitude & obstacles) from being a possibility. For other sports, those are one and the same - the pavement, the tree or the rail - slam! done. This reasoning implies that the impact resistance for skydiving helmets can be much less than others and still be considered effective. And that reasoning (ceteris paribus) implies, since the beefyness isn't needed, that skydiving helmet prices can be much lower than others and still be considered effective. Note - I said, ceteris paribus. btw, that benny looks cool, like an amped up skydiving specific protec. --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Was just kidding about the price fixing. Yeah this gives good insight into why they're expensive, thanks. --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Thanks, I'll give it a read this weekend. A friend of mine in Santa Cruz knows Jim some or other, who started Giro helmets, for the same reason - he couldn't find out there what he wanted, so he made it. His company/brand was bought by Bell I think. --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Motorcycle helmets are rated and approved according to quality. Some are worthy, some are not. I probably wouldn't risk racing around with just a protec, although a protec is probably good for a rail or a concrete corner at low speed when you trip over your laces.... Skydiving helmets have two distinct avenues that other helmets may lack - noise reduction, and they tend to much more low-profile than other helmets. Which raises the question - how do you know the helmet you're buying will actually resist substantial impact? Such a slim helmet may not protect much - look at how thick a motorcycle helmet is. How much testing goes into these skydiving helmets, and how do we know the results? (Climbing ropes & draws for instance, goes through a huge number of tests that reveal a lot of usable info to the consumer to make valuable life saving decisions.) A fundamental problem with the helmet market in general is that there is a severe lack of information to the consumer for anything other than fit & comfort. It's not like people post reviews out there saying, this saved me from 100mph impact 5 times! Who knows what the helmet is really capable of? One thing is probably true - getting in an accident with one is better than getting in an accident without one - after that, it's probably just fit & preference that differentiates. --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

A fair point, but it doesn't disqualify an inquisitive question. Some of us spent a long time dreaming of the day when we will have enough money to afford to get back to the sport. Some of us spent a long time in school, got in a lot of debt because of it, and had to fulfill other financial obligations, to get to a point where we finally have the time and the money to get back to the sport. Perhaps it's all this that makes me appreciate the dollars I now have in my pocket and ask - what am I paying all that money for, when motorcyclists and skiers don't? Doesn't mean I'm skydiving without a helmet, or not going to jump because I can't buy a helmet. Important lesson here from everyone's stories is - get a helmet or 4, and wear it. I also may let a business idea ferment for a while - good sub $200 helmets...! --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

peace of mind, or piece of mind? --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Insightful numbers Drew, but open any micro-economics textbook to see why you'd be stupid to charge anything more than the competitor if you have a margin. Noted - of course alternate pricing theories support a case for higher prices such as "false value perception" (think wine). --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!