BikerBabe

well, take a look at the plane and you'll see it can only have 2 wheels, DUCY? for taxi and takeoff the wingtips have removable wheel struts that just fall away when the plane leaves the ground. Obv. those aren't there for landing, hence the skill needed to fly the thing. being a U2 pilot is probably the most exclusive job in the AF...you gotta be GOOD. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

When i was in the air force, I had the incredible privilege of working on acquiring new sensor and data systems for the U-2. This involved test and aircraft ops, too. The absolute highlight of my entire career (on one of the moments of my life) was riding in on of the chase cars during U2 operations at Beale AFB, where they are stationed. That view from the car at the end, I have seen it...it's so amazing how skilled the pilots are having to land a plane with only 2 landing gear...they basically have to balance the plane like a bicycle all the way to nearly a dead stop, then slowly allow one wing tip to lower to the ground. The U2 flying today is not the same airframe as the original 1950s version, BTW. the production line for that one was shut down in the 70s, and a brand new line was opened in 1986 for the current version. The U2s that were shot down over the USSR and Cuba were much smaller and less powerful than today's aircraft. The U2 is still the most versatile strategic reconnaissance platform the USAF flies. The unmanned Global Hawk has long been trying to replace it, but there are limitations the UAV has that the U2 does not (namely, the ability to carry several types of sensor packages at one time), and the retirement date for the U2 keeps getting delayed. When I was a little girl, the SR-71 inspired me to want to join the Air Force. As an adult, NOTHING the AF flies, not the hottest fighter or the heaviest tanker, inspires me now so much as the U2, and i'm not too proud to admit that I had tears running down my face watching this video. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Except where I live, lane splitting is perfectly legal. Due to the air cooling issue. Better to keep traffic flowing than bog it down with a disabled bike that overheated while idling in the southern california sun... Before you make sweeping judgments, a little research may be in order. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

ask Paul Brown. who knows? I'm soooo tickled that they got the wild card spot. I've been a Bengals fan since i was born, and I really think this year is the start of something big. Young team, in GREAT draft position over the next couple of years (HAHAHA thanks Raiders, i always knew you were idiots)...can't wait to see what happens. Would love a win, but the fact they had such a great, unexpected season is enough for me. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

I really think if more people read and understood aristote's science of logic, this world would be a lot better place. SC would, for sure Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

you claim to bow at the throne of science, logic and reason (as per your signature) yet, it seems as if you don't really understand the true definition of the terms. objectively speaking, emotion is NOT a logical system. meaning, it cannot be explained or rationalized by the methods and discipline laid out by aristotle and still used today. It does not exhibit consistency, soundness, validity, and completeness, all of which are required by logical systems. this is the basis of what I am saying in my posts. Pure logic and reasoning cannot explain faith or emotions. All other inferences made by you regarding the terms "rational" or "logical" are entirely connotative and are NOT what I am talking about. Yet pure logical reasoning is the basis of the scientific method. science is a logical system. This is why they are NOT mutually exclusive. here, an easy to understand refresher (or primer, i don't know your educational background. This is basic philosophy course stuff though, so any philosophy 101 book would have a nice description, too) http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle-logic/ wikipedia also has a decent article, but no one here trusts it, so meh. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Evolution and creation (as written in the bible)are mutually exclusive ideas. They can't both be right, which is why we have the fundie nutters fighting so hard against science on this issue. It is yet one more thing that shows belief in the supernatural(god, spirits, whatever) is ridiculous. I did explain. the explanation is in the use of the true definition of rational vs, the connotation of rational that you are applying. when i say emotion is not rational, i mean that emotion does not follow the rules of reason and logic. What you may be reading is me saying emotion is crazy or odd not normal or some other connotation that "irrational" has come to mean. Emotion does not follow the rules of reason and logic. neither does faith. that's why it's called faith. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

you are both misrepresenting or misinterpreting what I am saying. Faith is faith. Rationality is rationality. Note: I am using the definition of the word "rational" here that pertains to the ability to reason using logical facts and premises, not the connotative "smart" or "sane". I do not have a conflict here because i understand that I cannot apply rational thought to matters of faith because faith is, by definition, "irrational". Unfortunately, the term "irrational" has a negative connotation, so that instead of just the basic definition of "not rational" it becomes "crazy" or "stupid" or all other manner of bad things. Emotion is also irrational. Are emotions, therefore, invalid? You cannot apply rational thought or logic to emotions, yet I do not see people in this forum arguing that we should all become Vulcans. What makes emotion valid and spirituality invalid? Science, therefore, falls into the realm of rational thought. my personal faith, therefore, falls outside the realm of rational thought. my personal love for my husband, or the tears in my eyes at the end of a sad movie, or the giddy glee i feel when nailing a 4-way exit, also ALL fall outside the realm of rational thought. The "debate over evolution vs. creation" is EXACTLY what i'm talking about, as people are trying to mix science (rational or logical discourse) with faith (not rational). I don't do this. It is just not necessary. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

So are you denying the irrational side of the human spirit, if you want to call it that? The side of humans that do not adhere to laws of logic or reason? I'm seriously asking, because it seems like you are, in order to scoff at the concept of spirituality as you do. Note: spirituality doesn't have to mean "believe in god". Hell, I would consider a majority of the field of psychology to be dwelling on spirituality *sigh* this is what I do when my pastime is unavailable...i get into pointless discussions on SC. As for the original topic, of course there is. All you have to do is read the bible, or even a second-source book discussing the history of the Middle East region, to know. I mean, aside from all three springing from the same dude. Allah, Jehovah, and the Christian God are, of course, one and the same. Yes, I am Christian. I am an engineer with the ability and training to think logically and rationally. I do not believe these things are mutually exclusive, and I do believe there is no conflict between religion and science. Rather, the conflict is between small-minded people unwilling to use the rational brain given to us by God. On both sides. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

You're no fun anymore. Sorry! I know, silly facts... Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Ok. Let me inject some facts into this conversation... First: credentials (because I don't post here all that much anymore and internet trolls are frequenting even this board). 1. I am married to a man who is a program manager for the MQ9 program at General Atomics. He knows who they sell the planes to. I speak to my husband on a regular basis (go figure) thus I know who they are sold to, barring anything classified. 2. I am a former Air Force acquisition officer who knows how selling shit to the military works, and also understands the structure of the federal government. Now. some points. 1. Homeland Security is NOT the military. 2. The MQ-9 has been sold to many agencies besides the US military, including DHS and the border patrol. 3. Just because an asset is housed at a military base doesn't mean it belongs to the military. NASA has planes at several Air Force Bases, for example. Now, the real argument seems to be the extent to which posse comitatus applies nowadays, and whether the lines between military and other federal agencies are blurring too much. That's probably something the supreme court would have to decide, but as it stands now, local cops can probably legally get around it by using assets owned by DHS rather than DOD. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

That's what she said. And the blades are so much fun...but they don't do that great in deep powder. That's true. I'm an intermediate skiier, but my husband is full on back country extreme type skiier who has 3 different sets of skis JUST for different powder conditions, not counting his cruisers and his blades >< I was really proud of him last march when he climbed/skiied Mt. Shasta. Looked like a ton of fun, but there's no way I could have done it. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Oh my goodness, another blader! my husband and I fell in love with these a few years back, and they are so much fun. We rarely see anyone else with these on the slopes. We are skiers, but someone recommended these as learning tools, actually, and we just couldn't stop using them. As for learning tools, they are absolutely spectacular, as you pretty much have to have perfect balance, which of course then carries over to full-length skis. Fun fact: I am a 30-something woman who never really skateboarded at all, and i am proud to say that I ran my very first half-pipe ever, in any sport, on a pair of blades a couple of years back. I felt so hip. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Heh, my brother lives in Dublin. He drove by the house to see the hole in the wall. At least they're being somewhat contrite about it... Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Is cash being transported like that tracked by serial number in some way, or have I just watched too much TV? I'd return it anyway, but if it is tracked, wouldn't you be found out eventually? Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

the idiotic comments put me on permanent life tilt. I feel stupider having read them, not to mention horribly depressed at the hatred and bigotry spewed by the "common man". argh! Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Several of my online poker-playing friends (the ones who actually make a living at it) have been setting up in Costa Rica. apparently they love it. Of course for them, all they need is a roof, an internet connection, and a local bank account so they can play on PokerStars. I'm not sure what you're looking for, but there seems to be a decent economy and society there, at least from what i've heard. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Me too... It's LaCroix, daahhhling! Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

well, if you mean gay soldiers, then the answer is no. why build them now? they've been sharing barracks with straight soldiers for a couple hundred years. hell, one of my roommates at the AFA was/is a lesbian. Oh...and she's still on active duty. Heaven forbid... Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

What does that have to with his opinion? let me take a stab. Regulator is/was in the military, and disagrees that gays should be allowed to serve openly. he thinks that if you haven't served, you have no way of forming a valid opinion about this issue in his eyes. am I close? How about this. I WAS in the military for 6 years (10 if you count the air force academy). Does this make my opinion more valid? good. My opinion is that DADT was discriminatory, placed people in "setup" situations, and ran many good and honorable soldiers out of the armed forces. I'm glad it's gone and i have no idea why anyone would want to deny ANY person his right to defend our country if that's what they want to do. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

It was the RETURN to Laguna Seca, and only the premier class. Laguna Seca was taken OFF the GPO circuit due to the track being to dangerous, allot of the corners had no "run off" and concrete barriers to stop the slide. The fixed a lot of DORNAs concerns and re established the track on the GP list. The "corkscrew and into Rainey corner" are my ALL TIME FAVE corners of any at any circuit. well yes, the return, but 1983 is ancient history! they did a TON of work at the track to make it motoGP-ready. Turn 2 has a HUGE runoff now (like, they carved out half the damned mountain), as does 11. The best part about that first one was my hubby bought me a ticket for the "parade lap". So you think they set a pace car in front of us and we had to poke around the track on our street bikes at 25 mph? NOPE! The pace car was going about 90, and I got my sv650 up to about that on the front straight. I was too chicken on the back straight, because i knew the scary as hell corkscrew was coming up. Holy shit...i can't imagine taking that thing at motoGP speeds! Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

The Doctor, The Tornado, and the Kentucky Kid is really the story of MotoGP's return to the US and the first US grand prix at Laguna Seca (I was there!) It's a fun one, too. If you ever get the chance to go to a motorcycle road race, esp. a motoGP race, do. It's like nothing else. I've been to car races, and trust me, if you've never been to a motogp race, you are missing out. My hubby used to race 250gp bikes here in the states, I love it! Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

now THAT is some funny shit... Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Specifically anyone that knows anything about property law and Tenants' rights? Apparently our landlord has defaulted on his mortgage and I came home today to a notice of Trustee Sale posted on the front door of the house we're renting. This is COMPLETELY out of the blue! Shouldn't our property manager have told us about this? We've paid our rent on time every damned month for the past two years, so what the fuck has this douchebag owner been doing with our money? I am so pissed off. I feel like we threw 1700 bucks a month down the fucking drain. Just wondering if anyone knows ANYTHING about this at all, and if so, can you shoot me a PM please? Trying to gather opinions and advice here. *sigh* anyone know any cheap rentals available in the poway/rancho bernardo/ramona area? Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

I bet they read LOTR, HP and various other publications before Cosmo... As a true nerd girl, I can tell you that many of those are "booth babes" and they wouldn't know Aragorn from a hole in their head. I suppose I could go through and pick out the real nerd girls vs. the ones that are paid to be there and look hot for that nerd boys to drool over, but meh, doesn't matter. And there's no need for a costume at comicon, I went last year in jeans and a tshirt Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!