General Discussion 4

[jeriddian]

Discussing everything else.

This is the link to the archived thread: http://www.globaljusticealliance.com/archives/thread70/index.htm

[lunchmeat]

Well, it works, away we go.

[jeriddian]

Okay, guys,

You are all updated to your current posts counts as listed on the ARA. I want you all to try and log into the Elite Discussion. Whenever anyone reaches Elite Status, the Elite Discussion thread will appear. This is because Elite Discussion is not something I want hidden from the members of the forum, and I have gotten that general impression that you all agree with that. However, only the governing members of the board can access it as it is password protected. When you access it, the password is "****************". I'd like you to try and get into Elite Discussion and see if it works for you. If there's a problem, then let me know and I can go in and fix it. Once the bugs are ironed out, I'll move this post into the Elite Discussion.

[TheGreenMagic]

Well, it did work for me.

[TransWarpDrive]

I got in, too!
Boo-yah! :)

[lunchmeat]

Weather finally cleared up here, I'm dividing my time between packing and fighting a rearguard action with the travel people at the base I'm going to. They are a bit confused over why I was working one place and my household effects were in another. Dealing with this sort of beaurocratic problem is incredibly wearing.

[jeriddian]

Sorry, guys, for some reason your posts outside ED are still in Moderation. I have to go back into the control panel and fix that. It'll be done soon!

[lunchmeat]

I like the shorter duration flood control pause. wonder if there's a way to inlude a countdown clock for this?

[jeriddian]

Actually, yes. Once I get the new add on module put into the software, I can dictate different individual flood control times for each user group.

Tonight, I will be upgrading the forum software from version 3.6.7 to 3.6.8. I am going to be doing this about 10 oclock and at that time I will be temporarily shutting down the forum for about an hour or so.

After I upgrade the forum software, I will proceed to getting the add on modules for advanced flood control and time limited editing, which I will add later this week or week-end.

[lunchmeat]

And after my last missive: Spell check?

[jeriddian]

Hmmm......good idea. I'll look and see if there is an add on for that. I'll bet there is.

[Fireand'chutes77]

OK, I know a few people here are tech guys -

How do I install a new "codec" for WMP? I'm trying to play the mega-marathon promo, an .avi file, but all I'm coming up with is audio and a psychedelic background. Is there a place on WMP that I can click that automatically makes it able to play .avi files? Or do I have to download something? If so, where?

[jeriddian]

OK, I know a few people here are tech guys -

How do I install a new "codec" for WMP? I'm trying to play the mega-marathon promo, an .avi file, but all I'm coming up with is audio and a psychedelic background. Is there a place on WMP that I can click that automatically makes it able to play .avi files? Or do I have to download something? If so, where?

Shoot, 'chutes..... ( hey, I "homonymed"!:laugh:"). I can't tell you. All I could recommend is going to the microsoft knowledge base and query them on that. Maybe WallaceB has a better answer. You might try a PM.

[san]

you need to install the divx codec (http://download.divx.com/divx/DivXInstaller.exe)

on the other hand i'd recommend using the vlc mediaplayer (http://www.videolan.org), then you don't have to bother about having the codec or not, because it plays almost everything.

[Fireand'chutes77]

you need to install the divx codec (http://download.divx.com/divx/DivXInstaller.exe)

on the other hand i'd recommend using the vlc mediaplayer (http://www.videolan.org), then you don't have to bother about having the codec or not, because it plays almost everything.
Thanks; I downloaded both and now all my videos work. :D

Another tech question -

Below is a photo of the serial port to my Microsoft Force Feedback Pro joystick. My dad didn't get a serial port on the new computer we got for Christmas. Does anyone know where I could find some sort of adapter cord with a serial plug at one end and a USB at the other?

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8417/plugpf7.jpg

[canuck31003]

where I could find some sort of adapter cord with a serial plug at one end and a USB at the other?
Electronic stores should have one eg. Radio Shack, Best Buy. Here's a link to one on amazon.com: serial port-USB adapter (http://www.amazon.com/Targus-PA088U-Serial-Port-Adapter/dp/B000067SVE/ref=sr_1_1/103-1697559-3655869?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1188267696&sr=8-1).

[Fireand'chutes77]

I'll bump this back to page 1 so people will know where it is. :)

where I could find some sort of adapter cord with a serial plug at one end and a USB at the other?
Electronic stores should have one eg. Radio Shack, Best Buy. Here's a link to one on amazon.com: serial port-USB adapter (http://www.amazon.com/Targus-PA088U-Serial-Port-Adapter/dp/B000067SVE/ref=sr_1_1/103-1697559-3655869?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1188267696&sr=8-1).
I can't find anything at the local stores. I've got a Microsoft Force Feedback Pro, and apparently none of the connections would transfer the force feedback effect. I'm thinking of just getting a Microsoft Force Feedback 2, which has a USB.


(BTW - like the new avatar? :happy:)

[Cloud23465]

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8417/plugpf7.jpg

That thing looks like its missing quite a few pins on the inside... Course it could be the way its made and i'm wrong.:unsure: I had to get a cable like this for my laptop. My brothers got some computer read out thing that he can plug into is dragster and it takes all the stats but you need the Rs232
piece and drivers to get it to work on any current... up-to-date computer.

[jeriddian]

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8417/plugpf7.jpg

That thing looks like its missing quite a few pins on the inside... Course it could be the way its made and i'm wrong.:unsure: I had to get a cable like this for my laptop. My brothers got some computer read out thing that he can plug into is dragster and it takes all the stats but you need the Rs232
piece and drivers to get it to work on any current... up-to-date computer.

The pins are supposed to be missing because it's a joystick, not a full blown serial port. It doesn't need all the pins to work properly. If your computer has a USB port, the adapter that 'chutes suggested should work, but it may not install automatically unless you're running XP. If you are running an older Windows software, you may need to install software to allow the computer to read the joystick off of it.

[Cloud23465]

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8417/plugpf7.jpg

That thing looks like its missing quite a few pins on the inside... Course it could be the way its made and i'm wrong.:unsure: I had to get a cable like this for my laptop. My brothers got some computer read out thing that he can plug into is dragster and it takes all the stats but you need the Rs232
piece and drivers to get it to work on any current... up-to-date computer.

The pins are supposed to be missing because it's a joystick, not a full blown serial port. It doesn't need all the pins to work properly. If your computer has a USB port, the adapter that 'chutes suggested should work, but it may not install automatically unless you're running XP. If you are running an older Windows software, you may need to install software to allow the computer to read the joystick off of it.

Yeah, the one joystick I bought within the last year was Usb so I wasn't sure :P. But I have had pin accidentally break off serial ports before and after that it never worked right.

[Fireand'chutes77]

I went to our first home football game this Friday, in the pouring rain. Our team won, although narrowly; my sister hadn't brought a hat, umbrella, or rain jacket, and she whined so much we left in the 3rd quarter. I'd at least worn a rain jacket and a baseball cap; however, wearing the jacket's hood wasn't "cool" in the student section, so my neck and hat got soaked. The other team nearly caught us during the 4th quarter - came within a few yards of a touchdown and a tie with the extra point to win - but they fumbled and we held them off. At least at the end of a game I had a nice warm house to go home to; my Scout troop had left that night for a campout at a local camp (I would join them Saturday morning) and they had to set up in the dark and the rain.

On a side note, I might -might- have a potential date for Homecoming... The girl in interest had been in my World History II class as a sophomore during my freshman year. It didn't develop beyond a friendship born from seeing the same person in class every day, and we haven't had classes together since and I haven't gotten the chance to have a real conversation. However, we still smile at each other in the hallways (which I'd like to interpret as a hopeful sign :P), and she's a senior this year - her last year and my last chance - so I figured what the heck. I've been trying to do my research - find out if she's already connected, etc - but she doesn't seem to have a MySpace or Facebook page so far as I can see. We passed each other in a vacant stretch of hall Friday, we smiled, said 'hi,' and then were out of range before I realized what had happened and my brain could say, "No, stupid, no! You should've asked her! :wallbash:"

However, things took a turn at the football game. I was discussing the subject with a friend (…Hmmm…. Say…. You don’t happen to know [girl’s name], do you…?) when a friend of hers overhead me. She offered to actually ask the girl, as they were on the soccer team together and I said yes. (At least, I hope I indicated yes. Excitement over the possibility seems to have faded what actually happened.) She then withdrew her cell phone and offered to call the girl right now, as we stood in the stands. I felt that was taking things a little too far too fast, and reacted “Ack!”. I’m just hoping that she didn’t interpret that wrong and will still contact the girl…


And so that’s how it stands at the moment. I’m relieved that I didn’t have to take the initial “deep breath, then the plunge,” to paraphrase Ann Possible, but I also realize it puts me at something of a disadvantage. So far, I don’t have the experience of a one-on-one make-or-break, so I might be at a disadvantage when it inevitably rolls around. The middleman approach complicates things considerably. And I don’t have the dull, downward thunk in your stomach generated by a “no,” which, I think, is pretty much vital to experience, deal with, and get over if one wants to learn to date successfully in the future.

I’m not trying too enthusiastic because I haven’t gotten an answer yet, maintaining only a cool hope, but if this *does* work, it will be my first-ever date. Which tempers my enthusiasm with a sense of “Oh ----! What in the world do I do?! :ohmy:” :laugh:

So, uh….What do I do? :unsure: Girls…? Any tips…?

At least I have a better record than my dad. He was such a sports nut that he was like “Girls? Huh?” until about sophomore year in college. :rolleyes: Needless to say, he’s trying to encourage me to take the plunge into the world of girls and relationships a bit sooner than that. And considering he went until college without a date, there’s still hope for me! :laugh:

To quote the news agencies, details to follow as the sitch develops…

[campy]

To quote the news agencies, details to follow as the sitch develops…Exciting news, 'chutes! The only advice I can offer is to get the DJ to play Could It Be and see what develops. :D

[AinoMinako]

So, uh….What do I do? :unsure: Girls…? Any tips…?

That's a pretty broad question. :laugh: Specifics?

Ask her. That's generally the first step in getting a date.

If she says yes, find out what color her dress is. As it's (presumably) a formal dance, you'll need to get a corsage that matches. Also, if you're going to dinner before the dance find out what kind of food she likes and if there's some special criteria (if she's a vegetarian, don't take her to a steakhouse, etc.). I'd have a few things you could talk about prepared.

[GoTeamGirl]

That's exciting, 'Chutes, and a bit nerve wracking. I haven't been out on any date, but the advice above looks good. I hope it all works out.

[TransWarpDrive]

So, uh….What do I do? :unsure: Girls…? Any tips…?

That's a pretty broad question. :laugh: Specifics?

Ask her. That's generally the first step in getting a date.

If she says yes, find out what color her dress is. As it's (presumably) a formal dance, you'll need to get a corsage that matches. Also, if you're going to dinner before the dance find out what kind of food she likes and if there's some special criteria (if she's a vegetarian, don't take her to a steakhouse, etc.). I'd have a few things you could talk about prepared.

Aino has some good advice here, 'chutes. I'd like to add some tips of my own.
First, be ultra-courteous. Hold the door open for her; pull her chair out for her to be seated at dinner; offer her your arm to hold onto as you escort her into the dance. Old-fashioned as these might sound, they work. The ladies appreciate the gallantry these gestures represent, and they're likely to consider the guy who does them a true gentleman.
As for conversation topics, you might want to start with what the two of you have in common. For instance, the WWII History class you both attended a while back. You could also talk about people you both know in school, or what extracurricular activities you participate in; that sort of thing. Just get the ball rolling by talking about something, and don't worry about feeling nervous. The more you talk, the more you'll relax and before you know it, you're having a good time.
If you don't know how to dance, well, it might be a little late for lessons, so all I can suggest there is just keep in time to the beat and fake it (that's what I do :D). No one will notice; they'll all be busy doing the same thing! :laugh: As long as you're having fun and the girl is too, who cares if you're not the world's best dancer?
One last thing: Be sure to get the girl home on time. Nothing impresses a girl's parents more than a responsible young man who honors a curfew. If you and she hit it off and want to continue dating, having her parents' trust and respect is an absolute must.
Well, that's all I can think of right now. Besides, it's getting late and I have to get up early for work tomorrow. So, good night and good luck! :thumbup:

[Monstrorrendinformingens]

That's a lot of talk for a not too sure event. But I guess it's worth it if you think it is. Having no experience in anything of that kind first person I might give silly side commentary.
Remember TWD's arm thing? Go left! It actually makes sense - whenever you walk with a person who deserves your respect. (Even if you don't wear shield and sword.:P)

[jeriddian]

You've gotten some good tips here, 'chutes. Just remember to take Mrs. Dr. P's advice and just be yourself. :)

[Cloud23465]

Yeah, and dont forget to breathe :P. I've taken a few stabs at some girls myself and I know when I got nervious it was hard to breathe. Hopefully you wont have that problem.

[Monstrorrendinformingens]

Funny thing, we're teaching an Honored Elder how he might deal with a girl.:laugh:

[lunchmeat]

Remember, the whole point of this is for both of you to have fun, so try to relax a bit (it's not a movie, you don't have to come back engaged :) ). You'll both probably be a little nervous, so don't let it get to you, it will pass.

A clean joke or humorous anecdote might help here (note: most girls aren't that crazy about **** jokes, hearing the entire dialogue to Monty Python and the Holy Grail or the stats for the 1898 Black Sox). Generally I do something clever like fall off the curb or step in a hole (I don't plan these things, they just happen). Didn't you once mention playing soccer? That might be a start for topics.

You might even try a pre-date date, something really casual that you both like to do, just to get to know each other a little better. Plus it's a good way to find out things like what she's going to wear to the dance and preferences in food and beveredges (not those kind of beveredges, behave yourself...). You can also get some insight into her interests and conversational style (one of you is going to have to talk, staring blankly into space is bad form), it's better if you can get her to talk, most people like someone who will listen to them. It's important to actually pay attention (if she turns out to be someone that you want to spend more time with, you will be talking a lot, this is a good time to find out if they will be conversations that you are interested in). A predate could be something like the library, meeting her after soccer for a light meal, if you're both interested in history, a museum, since you're in VA (I've forgot which part, but there's no shortage of historical stuff around here, anyway), a walk at one of the battlefields. Nothing serious, just what used to be known as a light entertainment.

Focus your attention on her (this should be the easy part), she's the reason you're there, but don't stare, especially below the neckline. If you like something she's wearing, say so, without being too forward about it. (EG: malachite earrings: I really like that shade of green rather than Oooh, ears!). Don't make stuff up though, it'll ring false. Smile some (this should be easy, too, just don't leer).

Whilst dancing, if it's a slow dance do the best you can to follow the beat (I have no sense of rhythm, myself, so I know this can be tough), hold her lightly, you're not wrestling, place your right hand slightly above the small of her back and hold her right hand in your left. Lead gently and pay attention to how she moves and try to use the same patterns. Wear something with big pockets, it's not uncommon to end up with her shoes for safekeeping about halfway through the evening (can't blame 'em, heels look like they'd be mighty uncomfortable). They don't do the gallope anymore, so don't drag her around the dance floor like she's some sort of miniature target sled. Try not to step on her feet (a challenge if you have feet and poise like I do). Try to gauge when she wants to take a break then escort her to the refreshments.
Do not stick your hands in her pockets (I don't think you would, but I have a buddy that does this in dance clubs and then can't understand why most of the girls ditch him, apparently it's a California thing).

Hygene, dude:thumbup:, you don't want to be remembered as the guy who appeared to have been cutting fish bait on the way to the dance.

Before hand avoid foods that make you, er, windy. That can really bring a conversation to an abrupt stand still. In other words, no Bueno Nacho for you sports fans.

Mutual friends are a potential source of pre strike intelligence, her likes, dislikes, food preferences and so forth. Don't get carried away, half the fun of the process is getting to know a new person but a general clue is helpful.

If she had a good time and wants to see you again, don't forget to call (you can't use my excuse for forgetting, you won't be going on deployment afterwards).

Good luck with it and remember: if it works out, great! you've just made yourself a new friend; if it doesn't, you both should have had a pleasant evening, nobody gets shot afterwards and you've inched up the learning curve for the next time.

[lunchmeat]

Yeah, and dont forget to breathe :P. I've taken a few stabs at some girls myself and I know when I got nervious it was hard to breathe. Hopefully you wont have that problem.

I trust that by "stab" you don't mean after the O. J. Simpson fashion....:unsure:

[Monstrorrendinformingens]

Wow, reading so much advice still doesn't make me accept the philosophical background and overall aim of this - but the ritual itself sounds like major fun. Something you can think, plan and do a lot about, just in order to make it look natural. Well, life's a stage...:laugh:

[lunchmeat]

That's the whole point, having fun. Many people approach this stuff way too seriously and end up getting so nervous that they don't have any fun. Like most things, it requires practise to reach the point where no planning is necessary, while the initial approach is never easy the actual execution eventually reaches the point of being pretty painless.

As far as rituals go, I favor the Vulcan Amok time, myself (cue original Star Trek battle music).

[TransWarpDrive]

As far as rituals go, I favor the Vulcan Amok time, myself (cue original Star Trek battle music).
:laugh:
Going through pon farr again, are we? :P

[lunchmeat]

As far as rituals go, I favor the Vulcan Amok time, myself (cue original Star Trek battle music).
:laugh:
Going through pon farr again, are we? :P

That's what the troops used to refer to those occaissions when I went on dates as....:) (No, I don't suppose I am terribly social)

[Fireand'chutes77]

....Well, it was worth a shot.

Since Monday, I've been trying to ask the girl I mentioned above to Homecoming. During forth period, she happens to be located in the classroom right next to mine. After observation, I realized that she also shares the same lunch period, 4C, as me. (4th is split into four lunch periods: 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D. Two are a class period (In my case 4A+B on the newspaper staff) one is lunch; and the one left over is study hall.) Since that was the only time I saw her, I decided the best time to ask was the change between 4C and 4D. Unfortunately, every time I saw her she was talking with friends or we passed too quickly for me to say something. The same thing happened today.

Then, during study hall in 4D, I happened to be walking between the journalism room and the press room when the girl rounded the corner into the vacant hallway, alone. [God works in mysterious ways. Or quantum time quirks. I'll take either one. :P] Seizing this golden opportunity, I followed Mrs. Dr. P's instructions - Deep breath, then take the plunge.

...My, it's taken me a long time to get to the point. :P


And...


And...


And... (:rolleyes:)

And unfortunately for me, after one of those pauses that makes heartbeat, breathing, and time itself stop, she said that she's already planning to go with a group of friends. Trying to hide my disappointment, I suggested that I'd still like to get to know her better, and that maybe sometime in the future we could meet or something. She smiled and shrugged noncommittally, the type of shrug that you can't tell if it means "Huh... maybe... I'll think about it" or "Ummm... 'kay... yeesh, creepy..."

At that, we parted company and walked our separate ways down the hall.


------

I guess I can't do much more than that, really. I'm buoyed somewhat by a quote by FDR: "...It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something." I've put my intention out into the open to the party in question, and what happens after that is out of my hands. Now, at least, she knows I'm interested, so even if this Homecoming doesn't work out, she might remember my offer at a later time. In the meantime, there's other fish in the sea. Pick myself up and try again.
---

'Course, it's around high school when you realize that you've been shooting yourself in the foot by not laying down a foundation of girls whom you're friends with, before hormones kick in. I'm somewhat of an independent; I have a network of people who know me and I know them, but I've never really had someone I could term a "BFF," and I've always been absolutely, positively abysmal with remembering people's names. I suppose I'm a bit alarmed about having to push my boundaries, nervous of change, nervous to make the first step, uncertain about social cues and how to connect and how to begin. I'm slowly coming to the realization that, even though I'm trying to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, and courteous (the first 5 points of the Scout Law, BTW :D), it doesn't mean that girls are going to thunk down into your arms. Simply churning around in your own little bubble of the universe and waiting for people to make the first step and enter in is not going to work. You've got to go out and work to get them.

But now I'm coming to the realization that since because I don't have a moderately-sized social network already built up, I don't have a very wide pool of girls that A)I know, B)I know well enough to potentially ask on a date, and C) are available.

Oh..., I'm now thinking, I should have started making useful contacts earlier... what in the heck do I do now?

Get started and begin making contacts, I guess. Trying is better than nothing.

...But... but... aren't you supposed to get to know the girl and be friends with her for a while before you start thinking about asking about a date?

...Curse you Disney! Things don't work like Kim Possible! :( :P

---

...And speaking of Kim Possible, it's not until I'm trying to get a date that I've realized just how monumental Kim asking Josh to the dance was. That doesn't happen much. To go up to a boy and ask him on a date - that's guts. That's a huge amount of guts. In keeping with the "first-step-hesitant / fall into my arms" mentality I've mentioned above, I'd hoped that our school would modernize really, really quick and that girls would be the ones to ask me to things. :P It seems that hasn't happened yet, so for the time being it's up to me.

So, I've made my first step. Asked the first of probably very many breathless questions followed by heart-stopping, time-stopping pauses. First step. I've suffered a setback, slipped back a little, but I'm still farther forward than I was before. There's only one way to go from here, and it's onward. :)

----

----

Wow, that was a lot more soul-searching and deep personal thinking than I intended. :blink: :laugh: I should keep this post for future reference. :biggergrin:

[jeriddian]

....Well, it was worth a shot.

Since Monday, I've been trying to ask the girl I mentioned above to Homecoming. During forth period, she happens to be located in the classroom right next to mine. After observation, I realized that she also shares the same lunch period, 4C, as me. (4th is split into four lunch periods: 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D. Two are a class period (In my case 4A+B on the newspaper staff) one is lunch; and the one left over is study hall.) Since that was the only time I saw her, I decided the best time to ask was the change between 4C and 4D. Unfortunately, every time I saw her she was talking with friends or we passed too quickly for me to say something. The same thing happened today.

Then, during study hall in 4D, I happened to be walking between the journalism room and the press room when the girl rounded the corner into the vacant hallway, alone. [God works in mysterious ways. Or quantum time quirks. I'll take either one. :P] Seizing this golden opportunity, I followed Mrs. Dr. P's instructions - Deep breath, then take the plunge.

...My, it's taken me a long time to get to the point. :P


And...


And...


And... (:rolleyes:)

And unfortunately for me, after one of those pauses that makes heartbeat, breathing, and time itself stop, she said that she's already planning to go with a group of friends. Trying to hide my disappointment, I suggested that I'd still like to get to know her better, and that maybe sometime in the future we could meet or something. She smiled and shrugged noncommittally, the type of shrug that you can't tell if it means "Huh... maybe... I'll think about it" or "Ummm... 'kay... yeesh, creepy..."

At that, we parted company and walked our separate ways down the hall.

Ah, ces't la vie, 'chutes. but you can't win them all. Only KP can do that.

I guess I can't do much more than that, really. I'm buoyed somewhat by a quote by FDR: "...It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something." I've put my intention out into the open to the party in question, and what happens after that is out of my hands. Now, at least, she knows I'm interested, so even if this Homecoming doesn't work out, she might remember my offer at a later time. In the meantime, there's other fish in the sea. Pick myself up and try again.

Absolutely, Keep looking around. there are plenty of candidates out there.

'Course, it's around high school when you realize that you've been shooting yourself in the foot by not laying down a foundation of girls whom you're friends with, before hormones kick in. I'm somewhat of an independent; I have a network of people who know me and I know them, but I've never really had someone I could term a "BFF," and I've always been absolutely, positively abysmal with remembering people's names. I suppose I'm a bit alarmed about having to push my boundaries, nervous of change, nervous to make the first step, uncertain about social cues and how to connect and how to begin. I'm slowly coming to the realization that, even though I'm trying to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, and courteous (the first 5 points of the Scout Law, BTW :D), it doesn't mean that girls are going to thunk down into your arms. Simply churning around in your own little bubble of the universe and waiting for people to make the first step and enter in is not going to work. You've got to go out and work to get them.

That's right. You have to make the first move. So you get used to doing that and not being afraid of what the results are. Try, Try, again. Take it from Ron. He asked everybody and had no hesitation about doing it. However, I think you will do a whole lot better than he did before he got to Kim.

But now I'm coming to the realization that since because I don't have a moderately-sized social network already built up, I don't have a very wide pool of girls that A)I know, B)I know well enough to potentially ask on a date, and C) are available.

Oh..., I'm now thinking, I should have started making useful contacts earlier... what in the heck do I do now?

Get started and begin making contacts, I guess. Trying is better than nothing.

...But... but... aren't you supposed to get to know the girl and be friends with her for a while before you start thinking about asking about a date?

...Curse you Disney! Things don't work like Kim Possible! :( :P

Well, yes, you can approach it forom that point of view, just as friends. It's certainly a good way to start, though not absolutely necessary. But you can start that way, and if it gets to be more than that and it's good, that's great.

...And speaking of Kim Possible, it's not until I'm trying to get a date that I've realized just how monumental Kim asking Josh to the dance was. That doesn't happen much. To go up to a boy and ask him on a date - that's guts. That's a huge amount of guts. In keeping with the "first-step-hesitant / fall into my arms" mentality I've mentioned above, I'd hoped that our school would modernize really, really quick and that girls would be the ones to ask me to things. :P It seems that hasn't happened yet, so for the time being it's up to me.

And how. The girls taking that step of asking is something they are definitely not used to doing, at least to me. I don' think they're going to be making the first move in any locale that I know of for awhile. Of course they never really did before (as a group, I should say.)

So, I've made my first step. Asked the first of probably very many breathless questions followed by heart-stopping, time-stopping pauses. First step. I've suffered a setback, slipped back a little, but I'm still farther forward than I was before. There's only one way to go from here, and it's onward. :)

Wow, that was a lot more soul-searching and deep personal thinking than I intended. :blink: :laugh: I should keep this post for future reference. :biggergrin:

Hey, the first one's the hardest. It should get easier as you go along. (or so I hear anyway. I was never any good at it myself, to be honest. I'm just old enough now to know Mrs. Dr. P was right.:P)

[TransWarpDrive]

Sorry to hear it didn't work out, 'chutes. At least you're being more poised and mature about it than I was at that age, judging from your last post (very introspective, I might add). I must admit I admire you for being so open about the whole thing - it reminds me of something I saw on a poster in my high-school guidance counselor's office all those years ago. It said: "To reveal one's self openly and honestly takes the rawest courage." You are indeed courageous, my friend.
Don't give up - keep trying. Sooner or later, you're bound to have some girl say, "YES!" And when she does, you'll feel like a million bucks. (Just remember all the sage advice we gave you on dating when that happens, though! ;))

[lunchmeat]

Look on the bright side, she didn't tell you to get lost, so there might be other opportuities in the future. One angle might be to go to homecoming with some of your friends and ask (and other girls) to dance once you are there. I don't know how homecoming works where you are (I never went to them at any of the high schools I attended), I assume they will still let you go if don't have a date (#1 kid's high school had several dances, such as the prom, that you couldn't attend unless you had a date signed up).

That sounded like a "what do you have in mind?" shrug, to me, since she didn't actually say no to your idea. She may have also been noncommital because you were nervous, which is natural in this sort of situation, so you may have to pretend not to be. Try thinking about something else while you are talking to her nextt time, it might help. If you can come up with something she'd like to do she might go. Come up with something, ask her again, if she turns it down, see who else is available (don't turn into the creepy stalker guy).

No, real life and KP (TV in general) are a bit different, which is something some people have difficulty grasping at times.

[Fireand'chutes77]

Sorry to hear it didn't work out, 'chutes. At least you're being more poised and mature about it than I was at that age, judging from your last post (very introspective, I might add). I must admit I admire you for being so open about the whole thing - it reminds me of something I saw on a poster in my high-school guidance counselor's office all those years ago. It said: "To reveal one's self openly and honestly takes the rawest courage." You are indeed courageous, my friend.
Thank you. :)

Of course, now with plan A gone, I'll have to go with Plan B... Only problem is, considering my relatively small circle of contacts, I have not actually located a Plan B yet... :unsure: :blush:

Sounds like a line straight from Senor Senior Junior - "...I must find and woo this "Plan B." :laugh:

[campy]

Sounds like a line straight from Senor Senior Junior - "...I must find and woo this "Plan B." :laugh:If you're thinking of taking a leaf from SSJ's book, breaking a girl out of prison is not a good choice.

[lunchmeat]

Although it would certainly add an element of excitement to your life (hopefully you are not really that bored, if so, you really need to look into some hobbies).

Have you run into the red head from the robot thing again?

[Not The CrimpMaster]

Well 'chutes, I can't be of much help considering I have exactly zero dating experience, but you could always build a robot to take to the dance... ;)

[Fireand'chutes77]

What's been going on in Burma/Myanmar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Burmese_anti-government_protests) for the past week sounds like something that should be in a rosy-glasses US movie than in the real world, but there you have it. Monks in Burma have led a series of peaceful protests against the country's dictatorship after the government planned to raise fuel prices by 500%, and it's just snowballed from there. Support among the general citizens and protests have accelerated, and today, 9/24, there was a peaceful march involving roughly 100,000 people. The Burmese government has yet to launch a major crackdown, at the insistance of China, because a crackdown on the beloved monks would enrage the general public and force a government change.

It's uncertain what will happen next - the government has made some ominous remarks - but this might be the kind of "will of the people" thing that the cynic in me scoffs and thinks, "Hah, like that'll ever happen. It's all corporations and greed now. This kind of fairy tale went out of style after the Hungarian Revolution got crushed." But, who knows...

[jeriddian]

I find it ironic that the Chinese are the ones telling the Burmese government not to crack down, considering their own record on such actions.

[canuck31003]

I find it ironic that the Chinese are the ones telling the Burmese government not to crack down, considering their own record on such actions.
I remember how hopeful I was feeling at the start of the student protests at Tiananmen Square--I just hope the protests in Burma don't end up the same way. :(

[lunchmeat]

I find it ironic that the Chinese are the ones telling the Burmese government not to crack down, considering their own record on such actions.

Probably trying to spruce up their image before the upcoming Olympics. Kind of like running all the street people out of town right before some big event.

[kyojikasshu]

One thing I'm keeping an eye on is the UAW strike at GM. It impacts me personally, as we'll likely see an influx of project team members come back to our Southfield offices if the strike carries on, and GM is forced to shut down more than just the plants.

It's pretty big, because the UAW still has to negotiate with the other two US automakers, which will certainly be fraught with peril (especially with the recently-reorganized Chrysler).

[Fireand'chutes77]

One thing I'm keeping an eye on is the UAW strike at GM. It impacts me personally, as we'll likely see an influx of project team members come back to our Southfield offices if the strike carries on, and GM is forced to shut down more than just the plants.

It's pretty big, because the UAW still has to negotiate with the other two US automakers, which will certainly be fraught with peril (especially with the recently-reorganized Chrysler).
I don't know much about the sitch. What are the workers striking about?

----

A nautical question:

I'm mentally blueprinting a powerboat for use in one of my fanfictions, and I'm trying to decide on the HP of the engines. The ship in question is blue-water powerboat, capable of making a short 2-3-day trip in the Pacific (It's being airlifted to the drop zone and yanked out the back of a CIA C-17 on a drouge parachute. :biggergrin:). Using twin inboard/outboards, what's a likely HP range per engine if I want the boat to have a good bit of oomph?

[lunchmeat]

One of these might fill the bill:
http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=88113

http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/press_release_0123.shtm

http://www.uscg.mil/d13/portland/staportland/station_boats.htm

http://www.uscg.mil/d13/portland/staportland/RB-SCap.pdf

[canuck31003]

I don't know much about the sitch. What are the workers striking about?
I don't know if you heard, but the strike ended yesterday. My understanding is that the strike was about job security rather than the plan for unions to take over health care costs.

[Cloud23465]

I know i've worried about striking unions where I work at... Though i'm not union (yet), if they were to strike, there's no way i'm going to cross the picket line. I've heard to many storys about those that did...:eek:

[jeriddian]

I know i've worried about striking unions where I work at... Though i'm not union (yet), if they were to strike, there's no way i'm going to cross the picket line. I've heard to many storys about those that did...:eek:

Not if you're union, or more importantly possibly about to be........ You definitely don't want to be a scab.:huh:

[Cloud23465]

I know i've worried about striking unions where I work at... Though i'm not union (yet), if they were to strike, there's no way i'm going to cross the picket line. I've heard to many storys about those that did...:eek:

Not if you're union, or more importantly possibly about to be........ You definitely don't want to be a scab.:huh:

Well it's different... I take jobs when they can't find anyone. I'm not taking work from any of the people that are union. You'd probably be shocked to know how many kids become union but only want to work a couple days... the other days there out partying. They don't seem to have a since of responsibility but then they get upset when the people incharge of labor don't wanna give them hours.:rolleyes:

[jeriddian]

I know i've worried about striking unions where I work at... Though i'm not union (yet), if they were to strike, there's no way i'm going to cross the picket line. I've heard to many storys about those that did...:eek:

Not if you're union, or more importantly possibly about to be........ You definitely don't want to be a scab.:huh:

Well it's different... I take jobs when they can't find anyone. I'm not taking work from any of the people that are union. You'd probably be shocked to know how many kids become union but only want to work a couple days... the other days there out partying. They don't seem to have a sense of responsibility but then they get upset when the people in charge of labor don't wanna give them hours.:rolleyes:

I see. Of course, the union is going to want full timers, and you have to have people willing to work for their living, and not do a half a***** job of it. Good point.

[lunchmeat]

I know i've worried about striking unions where I work at... Though i'm not union (yet), if they were to strike, there's no way i'm going to cross the picket line. I've heard to many storys about those that did...:eek:

Not if you're union, or more importantly possibly about to be........ You definitely don't want to be a scab.:huh:

Well it's different... I take jobs when they can't find anyone. I'm not taking work from any of the people that are union. You'd probably be shocked to know how many kids become union but only want to work a couple days... the other days there out partying. They don't seem to have a since of responsibility but then they get upset when the people incharge of labor don't wanna give them hours.:rolleyes:

Sadly, I wouldn't, I've known more than one person has felt that everyone and everything else should adapt to fit their schedules.

[TransWarpDrive]

I just noticed something. In the little box that holds our general statistics (at the bottom of the index page), it reads thus:
Threads: 242, Posts: 4,109, Members: 64, Active Members: 64

Way to go, troops! :thumbup::D

[kyojikasshu]

Yeah, they were able to come to terms pretty quickly, so the strike only lasted a couple of days. The reason for the walkout did seem to be centered on the perceived lack of security of jobs. And that's a problem, considering that they're making American cars for the American market; it just seems utterly ludicrous to outsource that kind of thing to another part of the world...

As far as the Myanmar situation... with the shootings, and the Internet shutdown among other things, it doesn't look very good, does it?

[Fireand'chutes77]

As far as the Myanmar situation... with the shootings, and the Internet shutdown among other things, it doesn't look very good, does it?
No... the pro-democracy movement is flagging, imploding, whimpering out. Government, military, might-makes-right, and Status Quo prevail, yet again. :angry: :ohwell:

[Cloud23465]

I'm wondering how we're going to deal with this coco Iranian president... between speaking at that college and the UN... it's been confired how much of an absolute nut this guy is.

[jeriddian]

Pardon my correction, cloud. You meant cuckoo, I'm sure. I'm not so worried about the Iranian president. He's just a strutting puppet figurehead. The real power is with the mullahs who run the entire country.

[Cloud23465]

Pardon my correction, cloud. You meant cuckoo, I'm sure. I'm not so worried about the Iranian president. He's just a strutting puppet figurehead. The real power is with the mullahs who run the entire country.
Cuckoo, CoCo... however you wanna say it. This guy shouldn't be the presdent of a fan club... let alone a country.:laugh:

[TransWarpDrive]

Pardon my correction, cloud. You meant cuckoo, I'm sure. I'm not so worried about the Iranian president. He's just a strutting puppet figurehead. The real power is with the mullahs who run the entire country.
Cuckoo, CoCo... however you wanna say it. This guy shouldn't be the presdent of a fan club... let alone a country.:laugh:
:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:
The "Attila the Hun Fan Club?" :P

[Fireand'chutes77]

A technological question -

I've heard that motion sensing, biometrics, and screen technology is becoming so advanced now that within 15-20 years, we'll be able to control an interactive HUD with our eyes, much like the iPhone uses the electromagnetic properties of a finger to manipulate its screen.

How would that eye-movement technology work?

[jeriddian]

A technological question -

I've heard that motion sensing, biometrics, and screen technology is becoming so advanced now that within 15-20 years, we'll be able to control an interactive HUD with our eyes, much like the iPhone uses the electromagnetic properties of a finger to manipulate its screen.

How would that eye-movement technology work?

Here's my take. Cameras and sensors would be trained on the eyes and actually track the movement of the eyes, correlating those movements with the portion of the screen the eyes are looking directly at. Therefore a targeting mechanism could always zero in on whatever portion of the screen is indicated as where the eyes were focused on.

[TransWarpDrive]

A technological question -

I've heard that motion sensing, biometrics, and screen technology is becoming so advanced now that within 15-20 years, we'll be able to control an interactive HUD with our eyes, much like the iPhone uses the electromagnetic properties of a finger to manipulate its screen.

How would that eye-movement technology work?

Here's my take. Cameras and sensors would be trained on the eyes and actually track the movement of the eyes, correlating those movements with the portion of the screen the eyes are looking directly at. Therefore a targeting mechanism could always zero in on whatever portion of the screen is indicated as where the eyes were focused on.

Don't military pilots use a low-power laser beam aimed into the pilot's eye to track his eye movements and allow him to aim his weapons with only a glance? I read about some such targeting system somewhere, but I don't recall all the details.

[jeriddian]

A technological question -

I've heard that motion sensing, biometrics, and screen technology is becoming so advanced now that within 15-20 years, we'll be able to control an interactive HUD with our eyes, much like the iPhone uses the electromagnetic properties of a finger to manipulate its screen.

How would that eye-movement technology work?

Here's my take. Cameras and sensors would be trained on the eyes and actually track the movement of the eyes, correlating those movements with the portion of the screen the eyes are looking directly at. Therefore a targeting mechanism could always zero in on whatever portion of the screen is indicated as where the eyes were focused on.

Don't military pilots use a low-power laser beam aimed into the pilot's eye to track his eye movements and allow him to aim his weapons with only a glance? I read about some such targeting system somewhere, but I don't recall all the details.

Actually, that was close to what I was thinking of. In the Apache Longbow attack helicopter, the gattling gun is gyroscopically synchronized with the movement of the pilot's helmet. So wherever the pilot moves his head, which has a static targeting profile in the lenses so that he can simply "look" straight at the target, then the gattling gun is trained on the target as well. This system would be a bit more sophisticated, and I suppose it could use low power lasers. But at the same time, the Apache mechanism using just head movement probably is sufficient to do the job.

[Fireand'chutes77]

Yet another tech question -

I have Audacity, a free music-editing software, and I'm trying to edit out a song lyric (thus making it safe for a school presentation).

Does anybody have the program and know how to use it, or at least soften/blend/transition the kic that shows up when the song jumps between the untouched sections and over the cut?

[jeriddian]

Yet another tech question -

I have Audacity, a free music-editing software, and I'm trying to edit out a song lyric (thus making it safe for a school presentation).

Does anybody have the program and know how to use it, or at least soften/blend/transition the kic that shows up when the song jumps between the untouched sections and over the cut?

Sorry, I know my Protools could do it, but I still have to learn a lot more about it. I'm not even sure I could import the file into it.

[Fireand'chutes77]

A reflection -

It's amazing that it has been exactly a year to-the-day since I completed my Eagle Scout service project. It feels so much longer than that.

I'm so glad I got the project done before the school year really got cranked up. It was still intense after that, though, what with the report I had to write, the recommendation letters, and the Board of Review itself, but the major hurtle was over. It ramped back up again in February-March, when I had my Eagle Court of Honor, but at least it was a one-time thing. This winter-spring will be a lot less hectic. :laugh:

I turn 18 in April, and on the 20th of that month I will offically cease to be a Boy Scout. It has been such a huge part of my life for so long, it feels strange to think that it will finally be done...

[TransWarpDrive]

A reflection -

It's amazing that it has been exactly a year to-the-day since I completed my Eagle Scout service project. It feels so much longer than that.

I'm so glad I got the project done before the school year really got cranked up. It was still intense after that, though, what with the report I had to write, the recommendation letters, and the Board of Review itself, but the major hurtle was over. It ramped back up again in February-March, when I had my Eagle Court of Honor, but at least it was a one-time thing. This winter-spring will be a lot less hectic. :laugh:

I turn 18 in April, and on the 20th of that month I will officially cease to be a Boy Scout. It has been such a huge part of my life for so long, it feels strange to think that it will finally be done...

Will you be moving up to the Explorers, or just leaving the movement altogether?
You could always continue to be involved as an adult leader, if you'd like. I'm not sure what the age requirements are to be an Assistant Scoutmaster, so you might want to check into that. It's a way to stay active beyond your rank-advancing years - both my brothers and I served as ASMs in my dad's troop after we each turned 18.
It's something to consider...

[lunchmeat]

Mark your calenders: Bishop Ussher Day is tomorrow. For more information see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Ussher

The paleontology lab I worked at used to hold (probably still do) a beer bust on this day every year.

[jeriddian]

Mark your calenders: Bishop Ussher Day is tomorrow. For more information see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Ussher

The paleontology lab I worked at used to hold (probably still do) a beer bust on this day every year.

Well, he was a very intelligent, very conprehensive man who had to work with the knowledge and methodologies available at the time to come up with his version of the age of the earth.:innocent:

[lunchmeat]

He did pretty well, given the limitations of information available at the time, this was about 100 years before Steno and closer to 200 before Hutton and Lyell. It would be interesting to discover how he would have reacted to the concept of deep time. Another oddball factoid is that most of the folks that came up with the fundamental concepts of geology were attempting to reconcile their observations of the earth with a litteral interpretation of Genisis.
Geologists will find any available justification for a beer bust.

[Fireand'chutes77]

It would be interesting to discover how he would have reacted to the concept of deep time.
Deep time? Is that like Big-Bang stuff?

[lunchmeat]

It's the concept that the earth and universe a fairly old, billions, rather than thousands, of years. It originates with Hutton (probably the first actual geologist) during the Scottish Enlightenment. It's been thoroughly validated by every measure made by science whether radiologically, via stratigraphic sequence and rate of depositon, fossils or any other. It's probably one of those things that makes geologists a bit different, we're used to thinking of millions of years as small increments of time (I know, she likes weird).
I suspect that one of the reasons many people have trouble with evolution is that they don't understand deep time and it's implications. It's not an easy concept for some to get their heads around.

[Fireand'chutes77]

I'm reading about the "state of emergency" that "President" Musharraf placed on Pakistan this evening. Scary. :unsure:

From Wikipedia:

On November 2 the Supreme Court reversed its earlier decision to take a break on the election case until November 12, stating that it would now reconvene on November 5 to attempt to finish it quickly.....

Before the court could reach a decision, Musharraf declared a state of emergency in the country on the evening of November 3, 2007, and issued a provisional constitutional order. State-run television issued a brief announcement saying that "The Chief of the Army Staff (General Musharraf) has proclaimed state of emergency and issued a provisional constitutional order," at 6:10 am local time without giving any details. Under the order, the Constitution remains suspended, the federal cabinet ceases to exist, and the judges will have to take their oath of office again.

The Army has raided the Supreme Court building in Islamabad with the Justices inside, and detained Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry; it was later reported that Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar had been sworn in in his stead after Chaudhry and some of the other judges had refused to accept the Provisional Constitutional Order.

Aitzaz Ahsan, a leading Pakistani attorney and president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, was arrested at his home.

....Of the thirteen reasons cited in the official proclamation, no less than seven make a mention of the judiciary as being responsible for the situation which prompted General Musharraf to impose the Emergency.

Private television is off air in Islamabad. Barriers and barbed wires have been erected at important points in Islamabad.


"State of Emergency..." Yeah, right. It's an "emergency" to protect Musharraf's status as a de-facto dictator. With this action, he's simply removed the de-facto bit.

I have to wonder if this type of thing could happen here. On the eve of January 19th, 20XX, some President (not Bush; he's not quite that far gone. Yet.) could say, "Hmmmmm.... You know what.... I don't think I want to leave..." and blam, martial law. Constitution? Who in the hell needs a Constitution? Bill of Rights? Who were you kidding with that thing, anyway?

If someone can do something as drastic as this - rescind a constitution, send out shock troops to blindside/smash/quash/arrest the opposition, and control the media - who says they can't say, "Sorry, denied!" here?

[jeriddian]

I'm reading about the "state of emergency" that "President" Musharraf placed on Pakistan this evening. Scary. :unsure:

From Wikipedia:

On November 2 the Supreme Court reversed its earlier decision to take a break on the election case until November 12, stating that it would now reconvene on November 5 to attempt to finish it quickly.....

Before the court could reach a decision, Musharraf declared a state of emergency in the country on the evening of November 3, 2007, and issued a provisional constitutional order. State-run television issued a brief announcement saying that "The Chief of the Army Staff (General Musharraf) has proclaimed state of emergency and issued a provisional constitutional order," at 6:10 am local time without giving any details. Under the order, the Constitution remains suspended, the federal cabinet ceases to exist, and the judges will have to take their oath of office again.

The Army has raided the Supreme Court building in Islamabad with the Justices inside, and detained Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry; it was later reported that Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar had been sworn in in his stead after Chaudhry and some of the other judges had refused to accept the Provisional Constitutional Order.

Aitzaz Ahsan, a leading Pakistani attorney and president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, was arrested at his home.

....Of the thirteen reasons cited in the official proclamation, no less than seven make a mention of the judiciary as being responsible for the situation which prompted General Musharraf to impose the Emergency.

Private television is off air in Islamabad. Barriers and barbed wires have been erected at important points in Islamabad.


"State of Emergency..." Yeah, right. It's an "emergency" to protect Musharraf's status as a de-facto dictator. With this action, he's simply removed the de-facto bit.

I have to wonder if this type of thing could happen here. On the eve of January 19th, 20XX, some President (not Bush; he's not quite that far gone. Yet.) could say, "Hmmmmm.... You know what.... I don't think I want to leave..." and blam, martial law. Constitution? Who in the hell needs a Constitution? Bill of Rights? Who were you kidding with that thing, anyway?

If someone can do something as drastic as this - rescind a constitution, send out shock troops to blindside/smash/quash/arrest the opposition, and control the media - who says they can't say, "Sorry, denied!" here?



The United States has often been in the unenviable position of supporting a dictator run state as the lesser of two evils, politically, which is of course why we are in bed, so to speak, with the present Pakistani govenrnment. The alternative could very well be an even worse theocratic fundamentalist Islamic government that would welcome Bin Laden into their open arms. That it is a military dictatorship, essentially, is correct. Would we like to support a free democratic government in Pakistan? Absolutely. Unfortunately, I don't think the society there is capable of sustaining such a government. If the current push to democracy proceeds, I would say more power to them, but at the same time I would fear it would only likely throw the country into the hands of the Islamic fundamentalists, (which BTW I think is an oxymoronic term. Islamic fundamentalists who preach violence are not true Muslims as far as I am concerned.)

[TransWarpDrive]

I'm reading about the "state of emergency" that "President" Musharraf placed on Pakistan this evening. Scary. :unsure:

From Wikipedia:

On November 2 the Supreme Court reversed its earlier decision to take a break on the election case until November 12, stating that it would now reconvene on November 5 to attempt to finish it quickly.....

Before the court could reach a decision, Musharraf declared a state of emergency in the country on the evening of November 3, 2007, and issued a provisional constitutional order. State-run television issued a brief announcement saying that "The Chief of the Army Staff (General Musharraf) has proclaimed state of emergency and issued a provisional constitutional order," at 6:10 am local time without giving any details. Under the order, the Constitution remains suspended, the federal cabinet ceases to exist, and the judges will have to take their oath of office again.

The Army has raided the Supreme Court building in Islamabad with the Justices inside, and detained Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry; it was later reported that Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar had been sworn in in his stead after Chaudhry and some of the other judges had refused to accept the Provisional Constitutional Order.

Aitzaz Ahsan, a leading Pakistani attorney and president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, was arrested at his home.

....Of the thirteen reasons cited in the official proclamation, no less than seven make a mention of the judiciary as being responsible for the situation which prompted General Musharraf to impose the Emergency.

Private television is off air in Islamabad. Barriers and barbed wires have been erected at important points in Islamabad.


"State of Emergency..." Yeah, right. It's an "emergency" to protect Musharraf's status as a de-facto dictator. With this action, he's simply removed the de-facto bit.

I have to wonder if this type of thing could happen here. On the eve of January 19th, 20XX, some President (not Bush; he's not quite that far gone. Yet.) could say, "Hmmmmm.... You know what.... I don't think I want to leave..." and blam, martial law. Constitution? Who in the hell needs a Constitution? Bill of Rights? Who were you kidding with that thing, anyway?

If someone can do something as drastic as this - rescind a constitution, send out shock troops to blindside/smash/quash/arrest the opposition, and control the media - who says they can't say, "Sorry, denied!" here?



I don't think the president has that kind of emergency authority. He has to show a very good reason why he needs the military to take action before they'll move. Remember, our soldiers have also sworn an oath to protect the country and uphold the Constitution. If the president's orders seem irrational, the military has the right to refuse to obey them. I'm not sure exactly what safeguards are in place to prevent such a scenario from happening here, but I'm pretty sure there are some. The Joint Chiefs of Staff are not a bunch of mindless puppets; they'll have some hard questions to ask if the president seems to be trying to seize power. It's even possible that a presidential power coup could backfire; he could be removed from office as a result instead of becoming dictator.
I'm not an expert on Constitutional law; my comments above are partly speculation based on what I do know. But my bottom line is: I don't think our president can seize power as easily as Pakistan's president just did. Our sitch here in the U.S.A. is different from theirs.

[jeriddian]

I'm reading about the "state of emergency" that "President" Musharraf placed on Pakistan this evening. Scary. :unsure:

From Wikipedia:

On November 2 the Supreme Court reversed its earlier decision to take a break on the election case until November 12, stating that it would now reconvene on November 5 to attempt to finish it quickly.....

Before the court could reach a decision, Musharraf declared a state of emergency in the country on the evening of November 3, 2007, and issued a provisional constitutional order. State-run television issued a brief announcement saying that "The Chief of the Army Staff (General Musharraf) has proclaimed state of emergency and issued a provisional constitutional order," at 6:10 am local time without giving any details. Under the order, the Constitution remains suspended, the federal cabinet ceases to exist, and the judges will have to take their oath of office again.

The Army has raided the Supreme Court building in Islamabad with the Justices inside, and detained Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry; it was later reported that Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar had been sworn in in his stead after Chaudhry and some of the other judges had refused to accept the Provisional Constitutional Order.

Aitzaz Ahsan, a leading Pakistani attorney and president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, was arrested at his home.

....Of the thirteen reasons cited in the official proclamation, no less than seven make a mention of the judiciary as being responsible for the situation which prompted General Musharraf to impose the Emergency.

Private television is off air in Islamabad. Barriers and barbed wires have been erected at important points in Islamabad.


"State of Emergency..." Yeah, right. It's an "emergency" to protect Musharraf's status as a de-facto dictator. With this action, he's simply removed the de-facto bit.

I have to wonder if this type of thing could happen here. On the eve of January 19th, 20XX, some President (not Bush; he's not quite that far gone. Yet.) could say, "Hmmmmm.... You know what.... I don't think I want to leave..." and blam, martial law. Constitution? Who in the hell needs a Constitution? Bill of Rights? Who were you kidding with that thing, anyway?

If someone can do something as drastic as this - rescind a constitution, send out shock troops to blindside/smash/quash/arrest the opposition, and control the media - who says they can't say, "Sorry, denied!" here?



I don't think the president has that kind of emergency authority. He has to show a very good reason why he needs the military to take action before they'll move. Remember, our soldiers have also sworn an oath to protect the country and uphold the Constitution. If the president's orders seem irrational, the military has the right to refuse to obey them. I'm not sure exactly what safeguards are in place to prevent such a scenario from happening here, but I'm pretty sure there are some. The Joint Chiefs of Staff are not a bunch of mindless puppets; they'll have some hard questions to ask if the president seems to be trying to seize power. It's even possible that a presidential power coup could backfire; he could be removed from office as a result instead of becoming dictator.
I'm not an expert on Constitutional law; my comments above are partly speculation based on what I do know. But my bottom line is: I don't think our president can seize power as easily as Pakistan's president just did. Our sitch here in the U.S.A. is different from theirs.

What makes us different is that the American psyche and soul is so ingrained with the principle of individual freedom and an inimical, almost venomous distaste for government control over our lives, that such an action is completetly unthinkable. This is the key. Yes, we have the oldest working constitution in the world. But there have been other good constitutions in the world that have failed.

The constitution of the Weimar Republic after WWI was considered one of the best ever conceived. Yet it did not stop the rise of N*a*z*i Germany. The constitution of the old USSR was actually thought to be one of the fairest ever written, yet it never had any true effect in that communist dictatorship. So the fact that we have such a document (as does Pakistan and many other countries) in and of itself does not hold power over the people. The people must respect its basic principles and the ideas and philosophy upon which it is founded.

This has always been the problem for the older Asiatic nations, who have histories and culture dating back thousands of years, and that are ingrained with the traditions of living with absolute monarchies and military dictators of one sort or another all through their history. What we find intolerable to the point of revolt, they have learned to live with in resignation. They have no true experience with the American concept of freedom in their society. It cannot be forced upon them. One of the biggest obstacles is the concept of freedom of religion and separation of church and state, something the conservative Muslims in general are compeltely oppossed to doing over there, as Sharia law is felt by them to be required (Of course, the Christians went through much the same thing centuries ago. They've managed to get past that. We can only hope the Muslims eventually do also, without getting a whole lot of people killed in the process.).

Thus without that experience and knowledge they cannot understand it. Without understanding, there is no way they can effect such a change in their country. They would require a great deal of education in that philosophy and knowledge, which I believe would be heavily and strongly resisted.

[TransWarpDrive]

I'm reading about the "state of emergency" that "President" Musharraf placed on Pakistan this evening. Scary. :unsure:

From Wikipedia:

On November 2 the Supreme Court reversed its earlier decision to take a break on the election case until November 12, stating that it would now reconvene on November 5 to attempt to finish it quickly.....

Before the court could reach a decision, Musharraf declared a state of emergency in the country on the evening of November 3, 2007, and issued a provisional constitutional order. State-run television issued a brief announcement saying that "The Chief of the Army Staff (General Musharraf) has proclaimed state of emergency and issued a provisional constitutional order," at 6:10 am local time without giving any details. Under the order, the Constitution remains suspended, the federal cabinet ceases to exist, and the judges will have to take their oath of office again.

The Army has raided the Supreme Court building in Islamabad with the Justices inside, and detained Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry; it was later reported that Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar had been sworn in in his stead after Chaudhry and some of the other judges had refused to accept the Provisional Constitutional Order.

Aitzaz Ahsan, a leading Pakistani attorney and president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, was arrested at his home.

....Of the thirteen reasons cited in the official proclamation, no less than seven make a mention of the judiciary as being responsible for the situation which prompted General Musharraf to impose the Emergency.

Private television is off air in Islamabad. Barriers and barbed wires have been erected at important points in Islamabad.


"State of Emergency..." Yeah, right. It's an "emergency" to protect Musharraf's status as a de-facto dictator. With this action, he's simply removed the de-facto bit.

I have to wonder if this type of thing could happen here. On the eve of January 19th, 20XX, some President (not Bush; he's not quite that far gone. Yet.) could say, "Hmmmmm.... You know what.... I don't think I want to leave..." and blam, martial law. Constitution? Who in the hell needs a Constitution? Bill of Rights? Who were you kidding with that thing, anyway?

If someone can do something as drastic as this - rescind a constitution, send out shock troops to blindside/smash/quash/arrest the opposition, and control the media - who says they can't say, "Sorry, denied!" here?



I don't think the president has that kind of emergency authority. He has to show a very good reason why he needs the military to take action before they'll move. Remember, our soldiers have also sworn an oath to protect the country and uphold the Constitution. If the president's orders seem irrational, the military has the right to refuse to obey them. I'm not sure exactly what safeguards are in place to prevent such a scenario from happening here, but I'm pretty sure there are some. The Joint Chiefs of Staff are not a bunch of mindless puppets; they'll have some hard questions to ask if the president seems to be trying to seize power. It's even possible that a presidential power coup could backfire; he could be removed from office as a result instead of becoming dictator.
I'm not an expert on Constitutional law; my comments above are partly speculation based on what I do know. But my bottom line is: I don't think our president can seize power as easily as Pakistan's president just did. Our sitch here in the U.S.A. is different from theirs.

What makes us different is that the American psyche and soul is so ingrained with the principle of individual freedom and an inimical, almost venomous distaste for government control over our lives, that such an action is completetly unthinkable. This is the key. Yes, we have the oldest working constitution in the world. But there have been other good constitutions in the world that have failed.

The constitution of the Weimar Republic after WWI was considered one of the best ever conceived. Yet it did not stop the rise of N*a*z*i Germany. The constitution of the old USSR was actually thought to be one of the fairest ever written, yet it never had any true effect in that communist dictatorship. So the fact that we have such a document (as does Pakistan and many other countries) in and of itself does not hold power over the people. The people must respect its basic principles and the ideas and philosophy upon which it is founded.

This has always been the problem for the older Asiatic nations, who have histories and culture dating back thousands of years, and that are ingrained with the traditions of living with absolute monarchies and military dictators of one sort or another all through their history. What we find intolerable to the point of revolt, they have learned to live with in resignation. They have no true experience with the American concept of freedom in their society. It cannot be forced upon them. One of the biggest obstacles is the concept of freedom of religion and separation of church and state, something the conservative Muslims in general are compeltely oppossed to doing over there, as Sharia law is felt by them to be required (Of course, the Christians went through much the same thing centuries ago. They've managed to get past that. We can only hope the Muslims eventually do also, without getting a whole lot of people killed in the process.).

Thus without that experience and knowledge they cannot understand it. Without understanding, there is no way they can effect such a change in their country. They would require a great deal of education in that philosophy and knowledge, which I believe would be heavily and strongly resisted.

Good points, jeriddian. I hadn't considered those - especially about the cultural and political mind-set of the Asiatic nations you mentioned. The fact that we Americans have lived all our lives in a free and democratic society helps us to, as you put it, respect our Constitution's basic principles and the ideas and philosophy upon which it is founded. Thus, we react strongly and quickly whenever we perceive a threat to our freedom.
It comes naturally for we Americans to stand up for our rights, since we've grown up believing they're ours to keep.
That's why I joined the ACLU the day after Election Day, 2004. I believed then (and still do) that my rights and freedom were in jeopardy from people in my own government, so I felt compelled to do something about it. I'm also a registered voter, so I can help remove someone from office who I feel could do my society more harm than good.

[Fireand'chutes77]

I don't think the president has that kind of emergency authority. He has to show a very good reason why he needs the military to take action before they'll move. Remember, our soldiers have also sworn an oath to protect the country and uphold the Constitution. If the president's orders seem irrational, the military has the right to refuse to obey them.

Ah, I thought that would be the rub. Thankfully, as far as I can tell, our military is not a mindless, indoctrinated machine.


...The fact that we Americans have lived all our lives in a free and democratic society helps us to, as you put it, respect our Constitution's basic principles and the ideas and philosophy upon which it is founded.

"Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?"

"A Republic.... If you can keep it."

Reading the paper today, my dad and I were infuriated that only 30% of the people in our area were deciding to vote in the upcoming local elections. That other 70% would be the same people who whine that voting doesn't do anything, and then complain when things don't go their way!

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/1646/mushroomcloudqb5.jpg

:angry:

There should be "something" that says you're not entitled to whine until after you've voted. :ohwell:
I turn 18 in April, and I, for one, know that I will be voting. It's our civil duty, and it seems absolutely, positively absurd if we don't use it. It's a Republic, if we can keep it.


That's why I joined the ACLU the day after Election Day, 2004.

Aren't those the same people who whine about the Boy Scouts? :dubiety:

[jeriddian]

That's why I joined the ACLU the day after Election Day, 2004.
Aren't those the same people who whine about the Boy Scouts? :dubiety:

While I respect the ACLU's purpose, I have significant reservations about some of the extremes they have gone to lately, myself.

[Not The CrimpMaster]

I have a question, but it's pretty obscure, so you may not be able to answer.

I remember a small portion of a scene from a cartoon. In it, the main character yells very melodramatically, "The truth will set you free!" before doing something epic, maybe involving an explosion, possibly a blue one. This was either an American cartoon or Pokemon: The First Movie. I just need to know where that's from. I know I didn't give you much to work with, but it's all I can remember and it's been really bugging me.

[TransWarpDrive]

That's why I joined the ACLU the day after Election Day, 2004.
Aren't those the same people who whine about the Boy Scouts? :dubiety:

While I respect the ACLU's purpose, I have significant reservations about some of the extremes they have gone to lately, myself.
Unfortunately, in order to protect the rights of all Americans, the ACLU sometimes has to take a controversial stand. For example, it'll defend a "fringe" organization's right to free speech, or take on a "mainstream" group if someone claims said group is discriminating against them.
For the most part, they're doing a pretty good job of challenging the Bush Administration's mad grab for power under the guise of "National Security." And that's the main reason I joined them, as I'm concerned about G.W. Bush trying to establish himself as the absolute ruler of the United States. IMHO, he seems to be doing just that - and he needs to be dissuaded from that course of action. The best way to do that is to rally support against his policies in both houses of Congress, which is exactly what the ACLU is doing.

[Fireand'chutes77]

I have a question, but it's pretty obscure, so you may not be able to answer.

I remember a small portion of a scene from a cartoon. In it, the main character yells, "The truth will set you free!" before doing something epic, maybe involving an explosion, possibly a blue one. This was either an American cartoon or Pokemon: The First Movie. I just need to know where that's from. I know I didn't give you much to work with, but it's all I can remember and it's been really bugging me.
You know, that very well could be Ash from the first Pokemon movie. (I saw that thing at least six years ago; how do I still remember stuff like this?! :ohwell: :laugh: I do remember that the entire theater went silent during that scene; we Yanks hadn't expected something like that from a "cartoon.")

[lunchmeat]

I don't think the president has that kind of emergency authority. He has to show a very good reason why he needs the military to take action before they'll move. Remember, our soldiers have also sworn an oath to protect the country and uphold the Constitution. If the president's orders seem irrational, the military has the right to refuse to obey them. I'm not sure exactly what safeguards are in place to prevent such a scenario from happening here, but I'm pretty sure there are some. The Joint Chiefs of Staff are not a bunch of mindless puppets; they'll have some hard questions to ask if the president seems to be trying to seize power. It's even possible that a presidential power coup could backfire; he could be removed from office as a result instead of becoming dictator.
I'm not an expert on Constitutional law; my comments above are partly speculation based on what I do know. But my bottom line is: I don't think our president can seize power as easily as Pakistan's president just did. Our sitch here in the U.S.A. is different from theirs.

One of classes one takes during the comissioning process is a course in constituional law. As was pointed out the oath of office is to the Constitution, not the president (as oppossed to events in a certain European country in the 1930s), the military has a long and valuable tradition of being apolitical. While members hold opinions and certain members of various political movements have done their best to politicize the services, the disasterous consequences of a political armed force is well known within the officer corps.

[jeriddian]

That's why I joined the ACLU the day after Election Day, 2004.
Aren't those the same people who whine about the Boy Scouts? :dubiety:

While I respect the ACLU's purpose, I have significant reservations about some of the extremes they have gone to lately, myself.
Unfortunately, in order to protect the rights of all Americans, the ACLU sometimes has to take a controversial stand. For example, it'll defend a "fringe" organization's right to free speech, or take on a "mainstream" group if someone claims said group is discriminating against them.
For the most part, they're doing a pretty good job of challenging the Bush Administration's mad grab for power under the guise of "National Security." And that's the main reason I joined them, as I'm concerned about G.W. Bush trying to establish himself as the absolute ruler of the United States. IMHO, he seems to be doing just that - and he needs to be dissuaded from that course of action. The best way to do that is to rally support against his policies in both houses of Congress, which is exactly what the ACLU is doing.

I disagree with you that is what Bush is doing, but I welcome the ACLU challenging what he does. Although I believe in the majority of his actions, and that they are proper, they still are the actions of a single man making decisions of law in this country, and they should be scrutinized.

But those aren't the extremes I was talking about. Nor am I against the ACLU policy of representing certain fringe groups and their right to free speech for the most part. There are some cases of that, however, where I do think they go too far. The ACLU does have a tendency to promote anarchy where they think they are protecting free speech at times.

[Fireand'chutes77]

I'm reading about the ongoing. writer's strike. It sounds pretty serious (although I agree that the writers should get a bigger cut than four cents... It always feels kinda good when the overlooked, underappreciated people bring the system crashing to a halt. :biggergrin:)

I'm struck by how much it sounds like the aftermath of a nuclear war: "The Daily Show" falls immediately... "Pushing Daisies" and "Cane" only have enough reserve for a few weeks... "The Simpsons" could hold out for a year due to lengthy production stages...

It's like they're comparing CBRN protection, or something.

[TransWarpDrive]

That's why I joined the ACLU the day after Election Day, 2004.
Aren't those the same people who whine about the Boy Scouts? :dubiety:

While I respect the ACLU's purpose, I have significant reservations about some of the extremes they have gone to lately, myself.
Unfortunately, in order to protect the rights of all Americans, the ACLU sometimes has to take a controversial stand. For example, it'll defend a "fringe" organization's right to free speech, or take on a "mainstream" group if someone claims said group is discriminating against them.
For the most part, they're doing a pretty good job of challenging the Bush Administration's mad grab for power under the guise of "National Security." And that's the main reason I joined them, as I'm concerned about G.W. Bush trying to establish himself as the absolute ruler of the United States. IMHO, he seems to be doing just that - and he needs to be dissuaded from that course of action. The best way to do that is to rally support against his policies in both houses of Congress, which is exactly what the ACLU is doing.

I disagree with you that is what Bush is doing, but I welcome the ACLU challenging what he does. Although I believe in the majority of his actions, and that they are proper, they still are the actions of a single man making decisions of law in this country, and they should be scrutinized.

But those aren't the extremes I was talking about. Nor am I against the ACLU policy of representing certain fringe groups and their right to free speech for the most part. There are some cases of that, however, where I do think they go too far. The ACLU does have a tendency to promote anarchy where they think they are protecting free speech at times.

I guess it all depends on one's point of view...
Tell you what - we'll agree to disagree, and leave it at that, OK? :)

[jeriddian]

That's why I joined the ACLU the day after Election Day, 2004.
Aren't those the same people who whine about the Boy Scouts? :dubiety:

While I respect the ACLU's purpose, I have significant reservations about some of the extremes they have gone to lately, myself.
Unfortunately, in order to protect the rights of all Americans, the ACLU sometimes has to take a controversial stand. For example, it'll defend a "fringe" organization's right to free speech, or take on a "mainstream" group if someone claims said group is discriminating against them.
For the most part, they're doing a pretty good job of challenging the Bush Administration's mad grab for power under the guise of "National Security." And that's the main reason I joined them, as I'm concerned about G.W. Bush trying to establish himself as the absolute ruler of the United States. IMHO, he seems to be doing just that - and he needs to be dissuaded from that course of action. The best way to do that is to rally support against his policies in both houses of Congress, which is exactly what the ACLU is doing.

I disagree with you that is what Bush is doing, but I welcome the ACLU challenging what he does. Although I believe in the majority of his actions, and that they are proper, they still are the actions of a single man making decisions of law in this country, and they should be scrutinized.

But those aren't the extremes I was talking about. Nor am I against the ACLU policy of representing certain fringe groups and their right to free speech for the most part. There are some cases of that, however, where I do think they go too far. The ACLU does have a tendency to promote anarchy where they think they are protecting free speech at times.

I guess it all depends on one's point of view...
Tell you what - we'll agree to disagree, and leave it at that, OK? :)

I will agree to that, good sir. And although we disagree, I respect your opinion as I do understand your reasoning behind it. It does depend somewhat on the point of view. And to paraphrase Voltaire, I may disagree with you, but I'll fight to the death for your right to express that opinion. :thumbup:

Besides, conservatives need liberals to shake them up every now and then. Keeps them from getting too placid and stale. They do come up with good ideas every now and then. I like to think conservatives return the favor by keeping the liberals a little more grounded in reality.:P:laugh: j/k

[Fireand'chutes77]

This (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jokela_school_shooting) caught my eye while browsing Wikipedia, and kept my attention since I know one of our members, Sir Seb, is Finnish:

Looks like there was a school shooting at one of their schools in the southern portion of the country. 8 killed, the gunman in the hospital in serious condition from a self-inflicted bullet to the head.

What's scary (as if this wasn't enough), is that he posted YouTube videos explaining himself a few hourse before the attack, and sent a "media packet" to the broadcasting companies. Serious vibes of Seung-Hui Cho from VA Tech, right there... A copycat? :unsure:

[jeriddian]

This (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jokela_school_shooting) caught my eye while browsing Wikipedia, and kept my attention since I know one of our members, Sir Seb, is Finnish:

Looks like there was a school shooting at one of their schools in the southern portion of the country. 8 killed, the gunman in the hospital in serious condition from a self-inflicted bullet to the head.

What's scary (as if this wasn't enough), is that he posted YouTube videos explaining himself a few hourse before the attack, and sent a "media packet" to the broadcasting companies. Serious vibes of Seung-Hui Cho from VA Tech, right there... A copycat? :unsure:

Yeah, I was reading about that on my MSN Home Page. It makes me think that this is not just an American phenomenon, but I guess it could be a copy cat to some extent. No question the perpetrator was one very sick individual. It's just disturbing to me that the American events may have indeed given him the idea to do the same thing there in Finland.:ohwell:

[campy]

I suppose I may be the only GJA member with memories of the Big Blackout (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Blackout_of_1965) that struck the Northeast on this day in 1965. Millions lost electricity around 5 o'clock that evening, and most didn't get it back until past midnight. Thousands of NYC commuters were stuck in subway trains; my father was one who didn't make it home 'til the next day. Quite a night.

[cpneb]

I suppose I may be the only GJA member with memories of the Big Blackout (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Blackout_of_1965) that struck the Northeast on this day in 1965. Millions lost electricity around 5 o'clock that evening, and most didn't get it back until past midnight. Thousands of NYC commuters were stuck in subway trains; my father was one who didn't make it home 'til the next day. Quite a night.

Being in West Texas at the time, Campy, I remember seeing it on the news but wasn't affected by it. You may be the only one directly affected, but you're not the only one who remembers...sorry, sir!

[campy]

Being in West Texas at the time, Campy, I remember seeing it on the news but wasn't affected by it. You may be the only one directly affected, but you're not the only one who remembers...sorry, sir!Well, I was thinking 'personal experience' when I wrote 'memories'. Or something like that. :innocent:

[jeriddian]

I suppose I may be the only GJA member with memories of the Big Blackout (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Blackout_of_1965) that struck the Northeast on this day in 1965. Millions lost electricity around 5 o'clock that evening, and most didn't get it back until past midnight. Thousands of NYC commuters were stuck in subway trains; my father was one who didn't make it home 'til the next day. Quite a night.

I suppose I may be the only GJA member with memories of the Big Blackout (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Blackout_of_1965) that struck the Northeast on this day in 1965. Millions lost electricity around 5 o'clock that evening, and most didn't get it back until past midnight. Thousands of NYC commuters were stuck in subway trains; my father was one who didn't make it home 'til the next day. Quite a night.

Being in West Texas at the time, Campy, I remember seeing it on the news but wasn't affected by it. You may be the only one directly affected, but you're not the only one who remembers...sorry, sir!

Yeah, me too. I remember it happening from seeing it on the news with Huntley and Brinkley, I believe. I was only eleven as was Campy. I, too, grew up in West Texas as well.

[Fireand'chutes77]

I suppose I may be the only GJA member with memories of the Big Blackout (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Blackout_of_1965) that struck the Northeast on this day in 1965. Millions lost electricity around 5 o'clock that evening, and most didn't get it back until past midnight. Thousands of NYC commuters were stuck in subway trains; my father was one who didn't make it home 'til the next day. Quite a night.
I remember this... we went over it in 20th Century History. (Ouch. :harhar:)

[canuck31003]

Maybe not the one in 1965, but I'm guessing most all of us were around for the Northeast blackout of 2003. :)

[campy]

I suppose I may be the only GJA member with memories of the Big Blackout (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Blackout_of_1965) that struck the Northeast on this day in 1965. Millions lost electricity around 5 o'clock that evening, and most didn't get it back until past midnight. Thousands of NYC commuters were stuck in subway trains; my father was one who didn't make it home 'til the next day. Quite a night.
I remember this... we went over it in 20th Century History. (Ouch. :harhar:)Another reason why I'd never want to go through high school again—so much more history to study. :ohmy:

[jeriddian]

I suppose I may be the only GJA member with memories of the Big Blackout (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Blackout_of_1965) that struck the Northeast on this day in 1965. Millions lost electricity around 5 o'clock that evening, and most didn't get it back until past midnight. Thousands of NYC commuters were stuck in subway trains; my father was one who didn't make it home 'til the next day. Quite a night.
I remember this... we went over it in 20th Century History. (Ouch. :harhar:)Another reason why I'd never want to go through high school again—so much more history to study. :ohmy:

Hmmm. I don't think I'd mnd so much.......if I knew then what I know now.:P

[Fireand'chutes77]

My mom recently got an exercise trampoline-thingy. Being the curious, investigative type, got tasked with putting it together. Snapping the mat out presented a challenge, but I just wasn't leaning on it hard enough. The tramp disk is about 4 feet in diameter and stiff enough that it won't whang me into our 8-foot ceilings. (Awwww... :( :laugh: :P)

Since my mom hasn't had time to try it, I've been the first to test it. It's from a company called "Urban Rebounding" (which, IMHO, sounds more suited to a new style of parkour), and I'd hazard a guess that trampoline-ing is some new fitness craze. The brochures are stating that it's less jarring than ground-contact exercises, provides an automatic full-body workout, and "10 minutes on the tramp has the same effect as 20 minutes of jogging."

Of course, I'm always skeptical of what the brochures have to say. Maybe I'm being a bit liberal on the definition of jogging, but yoinging up and down on a trampoline, inside, doesn't seem like it'll give you the same good wheeze-gasp cardiovascular exercise as a good run around the block.

I booted up the provided DVD and selected beginner. I'd been hoping for an instructional set-up and then a list of moves to do on your own, but instead it was structured as a work-out video, which I despise. The hosts are always too eager and yelly, the backgrounds too fake, and the backup exercisers are always too stringy and smiley and Botoxed. Feeling obligated to keep time with the gratingly enthusiastic host is never fun, either. Maybe workout videos are more of a girl thing?

Anyway, the 10-minute workout consisted of a lot of "downwards jumping." The host said not to "jump," in the usual sense; try image a ceiling over our heads, and try to "push downward" with contracted ab muscles on the balls of our feet. I'm not sure how well I did on that. Mixed in that were feet-together back and forth movements, jumping jack movements, arm pumps, and ab twists (together-feet twist one way while jumping; core and arms simultaneously go the other).

At the end, my legs were a bit tired, but I didn't have that panting, heart-racing feeling that I'd wanted, as like at the end of a run. My ab muscles didn't feel as sore and "worked" as I'd wanted, either. I'm guessing this is because of three reasons - I'm not doing something right, I'm using the beginner workout, and the workout is happening constantly, gradually, without having the stress of ground strikes, so I'm not noticing it acutely.

Jeriddian, I know you're with internal medicine, not a kinesiologist, but you might know more than I do - is this trampoline-thing any better than traditional exercises? More effective that traditional running? Don't I actually need ground-contact stress to build muscle? Is this thing anything more than a fad, or does it have actual value?

[jeriddian]

Jeriddian, I know you're with internal medicine, not kinematics, but you might know more than I do - is this trampoline-thing any better than traditional exercises? More effective that traditional running? Don't I actually need ground-contact stress to build muscle? Is this thing anything more than a fad, or does it have actual value?

One reasons you may not feel like you exercised is that you are 17 years old.:P It may be a different story with your mother when she does it.

However, that being said, I think this is yet another of a million gimmicks out there to make you buy someone's product, taking advantage of people's desire to look for a crutch or short cut in attaining the exercise results they want. I don't see any advantage in this methodology over tradional exercise routines, and from your description doesn't really sound like it's that effective.

Don't get me wrong. If it works for your mother, fine. The way each person tackles attaining the discipline to exercise is different. If she doesn't like doing traditional exercise, but does like this method, and it works for her to get the weight off or get in shape, who are we to argue? However, chances are that 99% of the people who buy the product will not get the results they want, mainly because they just don't stick with it, or the product doesn't deliver what it is supposed to deliver. It's the same with the Bowflex or the Total Gym thing you also see on TV. It only works if you use it (and if the product really delivers). I've always wondered how many Bowflexes and Total Gyms are out there that are no longer used, just gathering dust, and I would say it would be a majority of them (although I admit I have no data. I'm just judging form human nature.)

The key to exercise and weight control is always going to be lifestyle change, which to creatures of habit that we are, is just about the hardest thing to do. Whatever method of exercise is chosen, it has to be appropriate for the condition of the person using it, combined with proper diet and rest, and must be mantained regularly without fail. Aerobic exercise (especially non-impact exercise like cycling or swimming) combined with some light weight training seems to be the best mix.

But again the key is sticking with it, and not worrying about the results for a long time. In the initial phase, people who make that big a turnaround in lifestyle and start exercising may initially gain weight because they've gained muscle before they start to lose adipose tissue and the weight from that.

[Fireand'chutes77]

Thanks for the info. I'm trying to get somewhat more in-shape for a backpacking trip this weekend, on a hike ranked one of the top-three hardest in the state. :thumbup:

I won't get too much done before then, but at least it's a start.

----

I'm reading an article about China's burgeoning "Me Generation" in a several-weeks-old TIME. To my horror, the twentysomethings of China appear to have become just... like... us... :scared: :scared:

From the article:


"There's nothing we can do about politics," says [one of the twentysomethings interviewed], "So there's no point in talking about it or getting involved."

[They have the power to prop up the Communist Party] - so long as it keeps delivering the goods. "On their wish list," says an official, "a Nintendo Wii comes way ahead of democracy."

"...I care about my rights when it comes to the quality of a waitress or a prduct I buy. But when it comes to democracy and all that, well..." She shrugs expressively and takes a sip of her latte. "That doesn't really play a role in my life."

"...We have so much bigger a desire for everything [than our parents]... And the more we eat, the more we taste and see, the more we want."

"We are more self-centered. We live for ourselves, and that's good. We contribute to the economy. That's our power."
Oh crap oh crap oh crap crap crap... People like this are going to run the world into the ground (The same could be said of the Yanks, but there's even more of them than there are of us.) We've created our own worst nightmare... :confused:

[jeriddian]

Thanks for the info. I'm trying to get somewhat more in-shape for a backpacking trip this weekend, on a hike ranked one of the top-three hardest in the state. :thumbup:

I won't get too much done before then, but at least it's a start.

----

I'm reading an article about China's burgeoning "Me Generation" in a several-weeks-old TIME. To my horror, the twentysomethings of China appear to have become just... like... us... :scared: :scared:

From the article:


"There's nothing we can do about politics," says [one of the twentysomethings interviewed], "So there's no point in talking about it or getting involved."

[They have the power to prop up the Communist Party] - so long as it keeps delivering the goods. "On their wish list," says an official, "a Nintendo Wii comes way ahead of democracy."

"...I care about my rights when it comes to the quality of a waitress or a prduct I buy. But when it comes to democracy and all that, well..." She shrugs expressively and takes a sip of her latte. "That doesn't really play a role in my life."

"...We have so much bigger a desire for everything [than our parents]... And the more we eat, the more we taste and see, the more we want."

"We are more self-centered. We live for ourselves, and that's good. We contribute to the economy. That's our power."
Oh crap oh crap oh crap crap crap... People like this are going to run the world into the ground (The same could be said of the Yanks, but there's even more of them than there are of us.) We've created our own worst nightmare... :confused:

The danger to the Chinese system is that the Communism ideal and philosophy will suffer greatly and deteriorate under this egotistical attitude that the young Chinese have nowadays. This will actually promote a more pro-Democratic concern among them, even though they may profess not to really care about that now. The individual basis for democracy is still enlightened self-interest, and this will drive the younger Chinese geenration more towards that goal as globalization will likely shake them further out of their strict paternalistic societal behaviors and make it less likely to simply accept what has gone before.

As soon as they are able to truly accept the Western ideals as their own, I think you will see a true resergence of the pro-Democratic movement in China. but they have to achieve broad acceptance of the concept of individual rights. Chinese culture to this day does not have that. There is no word, symbol, or idea in their language or culture which translates to the concept of "inalienable right". The closest concept they have of a "right" is a "power" you were able to gain for yourself by force, but nothing to express a thing that every human being deserves and can claim simply because they are human beings (at least in poilitical terms).

Nonetheless, whatever happens, your generation is going to have to deal heavily with the Chinese, and the Indians, and the Brazilians, and the European Common Market, because it is these economies that will be the biggest threat to America. I don't mean this in a tone of political enmity or military might. But America is the greatest power on Earth because if our economy, not our military (It's the economy that makes the military possible in terms of logistics), and the emergence of these new competitors will challenge us greater than ever before in order to maintain our position of strength and power in the world order.

[Fireand'chutes77]

The Brazilians too...? Oy.... :dubiety:

What are they going to do, sell us surplus ethnol?

[cpneb]

The Brazilians too...? Oy.... :dubiety:

What are they going to do, sell us surplus ethnol?

Don't look too closely, flame-N-silk-double-lucky, but there is tech development going on down there, not to mention the agriculture (cattle and coffee, among others).

We, as Americans, tend to think that no one else can do it; we need to remember that lots of others have been here, returned to their home countries, and, in some cases, shot past us as we sat on our collective comfortable behinds celebrating our successes.

Shego was correct: Back to work!

[campy]

... you need this toaster (http://cgi.ebay.com/Volkswagen-Mini-bus-toaster-Japanese-beyond-cool_W0QQitemZ170169027017QQihZ007QQcategoryZ35938 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem). Trust me. :D

[Fireand'chutes77]

... you need this toaster (http://cgi.ebay.com/Volkswagen-Mini-bus-toaster-Japanese-beyond-cool_W0QQitemZ170169027017QQihZ007QQcategoryZ35938 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem). Trust me. :D
Yes, but for $455? :P

[Fireand'chutes77]

Sorry for the double-post.

Does anyone here play Halo? I'm looking for a description/technical explanation of the man-portable force fields we see featured in the trailers for Halo 3.

[Fireand'chutes77]

3rd post in a row? Yipe. :unsure:

Anyway, a technical question,

I'm trying to get screenshots off a video playing in Windows Media Player. I use printscreen, paste it into the photoshop, but when I move the image, whatever's in the "video window" doesn't move along with the frame around it.

I've had this problem before; someone from the ARA days of Yore suggested going Tools<Options<Performance<Video Acceleration, and setting the acceleration to "none." I've tried that, but it dosen't seem to work.

Any suggestions? This is fairly urgent, as I'm working on a project for school.

[TransWarpDrive]

... you need this toaster (http://cgi.ebay.com/Volkswagen-Mini-bus-toaster-Japanese-beyond-cool_W0QQitemZ170169027017QQihZ007QQcategoryZ35938 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem). Trust me. :D
Thanks for the link, campy. Unfortunately, $455.00 is a bit too steep a price to pay for a goodie like this. VW did give out other such freebies to its customers here in the U.S. back in the 60's. For instance, they gave away free VW lunch boxes. They were rectangular in shape, and were decorated to look like a Microbus, much like the toaster you showed me. The lunch box contained a small insulated bottle for hot or cold beverages - very similar to a Thermos bottle, except the VW one was just a small plastic one, insulated with styrofoam and had the VW logo on the cap (which also served as the drinking cup).
They also gave a way free VW toyboxes. These were corrugated cardboard boxes, about three feet long, 1 1/2 feet wide, and about 1 1/2 feet high, printed on the outside to resemble a Microbus (what else? :D). They were mounted on plastic wheels, one at each corner, and came with a short rope attached to the front to serve as a pull cord. VW gave away both of those premiums in the mid-60's. Since my dad owned a '63 Bug, he was able to get them for me and my brothers just by asking for them when he took the Bug in for service. I loved my VW lunch box, and used it for several years - even after the hinge mechanism gave out and my dad had to mount some small brass hinges on it to repair it.
Man, viewing that link sure brought back a lot of memories... :)

[Fireand'chutes77]

Our class watched "Transformers" last week before Thanksgiving break (a good movie, if you accept that you aren't going to get too much deep thinking out of it). I really liked the USAF and force-projection-power scenes - jingoistic? Yes, but still cool - but one thing bugged me.

In the scorpion scene and in the final climactic battle, the soldiers had to keep training little green lasers on their guns onto the target to show the the Warthogs and F-22's the strike point. With all the modern laser-guided missiles these days, that seemed to be pushing it. I mean, how do you get coordinates from the gun's laser to sync with the missile's targeting system? Or does the airplane's targeting system lock onto the little laser dots projected onto the target surface? Lunchmeat, other military peoples, is that a viable targeting mechanism, or was it just for drama? (OMGs, we've got to keep our lasers on the target, or the planes won't be able to hit a 100-foot-tall robot!)

[jeriddian]

Our class watched "Transformers" last week before Thanksgiving break (a good movie, if you accept that you aren't going to get too much deep thinking out of it). I really liked the USAF and force-projection-power scenes - jingoistic? Yes, but still cool - but one thing bugged me.

In the scorpion scene and in the final climactic battle, the soldiers had to keep training little green lasers on their guns onto the target to show the the Warthogs and F-22's the strike point. With all the modern laser-guided missiles these days, that seemed to be pushing it. I mean, how do you get coordinates from the gun's laser to sync with the missile's targeting system? Or does the airplane's targeting system lock onto the little laser dots projected onto the target surface? Lunchmeat, other military peoples, is that a viable targeting mechanism, or was it just for drama? (OMGs, we've got to keep our lasers on the target, or the planes won't be able to hit a 100-foot-tall robot!)

I believe that's how it actually is done now, 'chutes, especially for the smart bombs. A laser is shined on the target, the smart bomb has a sensor that can pick it up and guide the bomb to the target. That's the method they used when you see video of precision bomb strikes from Gulf War I.

[Sir Sebastian]

3rd post in a row? Yipe. :unsure:

Anyway, a technical question,

I'm trying to get screenshots off a video playing in Windows Media Player. I use printscreen, paste it into the photoshop, but when I move the image, whatever's in the "video window" doesn't move along with the frame around it.

I've had this problem before; someone from the ARA days of Yore suggested going Tools<Options<Performance<Video Acceleration, and setting the acceleration to "none." I've tried that, but it dosen't seem to work.

Any suggestions? This is fairly urgent, as I'm working on a project for school.

You probably don't need the advice anymore, but I've had the same problem. I think it has something to do with the playback window the software creates for displaying the video.

The only way around it that I found, is having a player capable of taking screenshots. In my case, I used ffdshow's capture (or whatever its name was) function.

[lunchmeat]

Our class watched "Transformers" last week before Thanksgiving break (a good movie, if you accept that you aren't going to get too much deep thinking out of it). I really liked the USAF and force-projection-power scenes - jingoistic? Yes, but still cool - but one thing bugged me.

In the scorpion scene and in the final climactic battle, the soldiers had to keep training little green lasers on their guns onto the target to show the the Warthogs and F-22's the strike point. With all the modern laser-guided missiles these days, that seemed to be pushing it. I mean, how do you get coordinates from the gun's laser to sync with the missile's targeting system? Or does the airplane's targeting system lock onto the little laser dots projected onto the target surface? Lunchmeat, other military peoples, is that a viable targeting mechanism, or was it just for drama? (OMGs, we've got to keep our lasers on the target, or the planes won't be able to hit a 100-foot-tall robot!)

The laser creates a cone of reflected light, called the basket, the seeker head in the projectile guides it to the strongest reflection. Before launching the weapon the operator waits for the seeker head to acquire the basket, which is indicated on the fire control panel in the plane, some weapons like Copperhead (an artillery projectile) can pick up the basket on the fly, but mostly one achieves acquisition first (this keeps the smart bomb from becoming just a really expensive iron bomb). Many of the more modern systems also have GPS or inertial systems in case the lasing system fails (the lasers used are outside the visual band, BTW, most of them use false spectrum means to allow the operator to see the laser on target).
Some systems, like Walleye, have versions that use TV guidence, once the nose camera has "seen" the target, the system "remembers" it an homes on it.These have been around since the 60s and fall into the overall category of fire-and-forget weaponry, as does radar Hellfire (one of the cooler Hellfire tricks is to park the attack helicopters behind some conceilment, such as a ridge, and the targeting helicopter with just it's mast sticking up above the terrain. The attack helicopters volley their missiles, which catch the control system, either radar or lasers, on the fly. Generaslly the "recipient" doesn't know they are coming until they're right on top of them).
While FACs (forward air controllers) ANGLICO (air and naval gunfire liasson officer) teams still carry the handheld lasing systems, a lot of it is done from aircraft, now. So, while your scenario is viable, it would have been much more common in the 80s and 90s than now.

[MarkKB]

3rd post in a row? Yipe. :unsure:

Anyway, a technical question,

I'm trying to get screenshots off a video playing in Windows Media Player. I use printscreen, paste it into the photoshop, but when I move the image, whatever's in the "video window" doesn't move along with the frame around it.

I've had this problem before; someone from the ARA days of Yore suggested going Tools<Options<Performance<Video Acceleration, and setting the acceleration to "none." I've tried that, but it dosen't seem to work.

Any suggestions? This is fairly urgent, as I'm working on a project for school.

Importing the video into Windows Movie Maker, going to the correct frame, and clicking the "Take Picture" button (the one that looks like a camera) should work. Most movie editors have similar functions, if you don't have access to WMM.

You could also try converting it to MPEG and using <PrntScrn> from there.

[lunchmeat]

For those members that so observe, happy Hannucka (at least that's the way General dynamics spells it on my gimmee calender).

[jeriddian]

3rd post in a row? Yipe. :unsure:

Anyway, a technical question,

I'm trying to get screenshots off a video playing in Windows Media Player. I use printscreen, paste it into the photoshop, but when I move the image, whatever's in the "video window" doesn't move along with the frame around it.

I've had this problem before; someone from the ARA days of Yore suggested going Tools<Options<Performance<Video Acceleration, and setting the acceleration to "none." I've tried that, but it dosen't seem to work.

Any suggestions? This is fairly urgent, as I'm working on a project for school.

Importing the video into Windows Movie Maker, going to the correct frame, and clicking the "Take Picture" button (the one that looks like a camera) should work. Most movie editors have similar functions, if you don't have access to WMM.

You could also try converting it to MPEG and using <PrntScrn> from there.

Thanks MKB, didn't know that trick. It's a good one to remember.:)

[Fireand'chutes77]

3...

2...

1...

*Goes absolutely bonkers*

I GOT MY FLASHDRIVE FIXED!!!!

I GOT MY FLASHDRIVE FIXED!!!!

I GOT MY FLASHDRIVE FIXED!!!!!

:biggergrin::biggergrin::biggergrin::biggergrin::b iggergrin::biggergrin::biggergrin:

Backstory:


…I was up until 3:30 this morning working on that video I mentioned earlier... So today I was running on less than 3 1/2 hours of sleep.

OK... first period, English, prepping for the presentation. The guy who had the powerpoint inexplicably showed up a half-hour late to class, giving us a maximum of 10 minutes to give our project before the bell. So using my flashdrive, I uploaded the movie to our powerpoint on the late guy's computer, checked it, it worked, we went up to present...

It wouldn't work.

The *%*# thing wouldn't *%*# work.

And THEN, because we were really, really tight on time, we... didn’t... show... the... video...

*eye twitch*

Three-thirty in the morning, for Christsake!!! And all for nothing! NOTHING!!!

AND THEN.... the guy who I let borrow my flashdrive BROKE IT. Our school laptops have the USB ports along the back edge, so that if you have a short flashdrive, the back edge forms a fulcrum and it has the possibility of wrenching the metal USB port on the front of the flashdrive. Which is exactly what he did, absentmindedly tilting his laptop forward (Not that I'm completely innocent. I did the same thing within 24 hours of first purchase. But I was able to get it back in. Perhaps it was weakened by that.). Bent the metal tongue up about 20 degrees. It seems the connector is bent so that one side came out of the hole it protrudes from. It looks as if the metal is prevented from bending back in place because the plastic lip is preventing it.

It worked at first, but after I tried to bend it back down... no response.

This is a 2 gigabyte flashdrive. Bought for $99.

*Eye starts twitching again*

Because this was only first period, I had to suffer the entire day not knowing if my drive was KIA or not. I've run a gauntlet of opinions.

Some think that the motherboards are contained in the part that's bent, and their destruction was evidenced by a small crack I heard while trying to bend the tongue back in place. The thing is DOA

Others say it was only connecting pins that broke; the memory and data is contained in the plastic grip section. They recommend taking off the damaged connector entirely, sucking out the information with a card reader or... something, and putting in a new connector. Good as new.

A member of the robotics club suggested taking off the plastic cover (??somehow??), bending the connector back into position, soldering (how?) the broken links, reassembling the plastic cover, good as new.

I am at a loss. I have no soldering experience. I don't know how to take the plastic cover off or if doing so will damage the internal electronics. Sandisk has a 2-year warranty (got it last winter)... but I'd like to get the info. off first. I don't know if they can (or do) extract information from a drive before they try to fix it.

Help?

ANY-way, I mentioned last week at a robotics meeting that I still had this broken flashdrive lying around the house. One of the guys suggested asking another member of the club; the member had revived up flashdrives before. This Wednesday, at the next meeting, I took the drive and asked him if he could fix it. He said he would try, and he got to work on the sodering job while I helped on anther project.

About an hour later, he came up to me with the drive stripped out of its plastic shell and said, "Well, it works."

Me: :flabbergasted:

"Yeah, we tried it on a teacher's computer first, so it's safe to use."

Me: :laugh: :D

I raced over to my laptop, booted it up, and plugged the drive into the (exact same) port. After a tense moment, the little light on the drive lit up and the drive registered on the computer.
I then set up a folder on my desktop, highlighted the entire contents of the drive, and dragged it over. The download screen fired up, and... it... transferred.... :surprised: :D

Everything was there. All my pictures. All of LSo84's videos. The project that was due 10/24/06. It was like a frozen snapshot; it was like going back in time.

I've just been over the moon this evening, looking at all the stuff. Jeriddian and LSo84/TGM, I'll get the videos to you guys ay-sap.

I'm so happy... So happy..... :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:

[jeriddian]

Glad to hear that, 'chutes. Judging from what you said, it sounded like something like that had to be done to fix it. it always was my thought the connections from the actual memery circuit to the connector had been severed, and he had to peel back the plastic to reconnect them. :thumbup:

[lunchmeat]

Phasers on obliterate......

http://arxiv.org/abs/0712.1649

[jeriddian]

Phasers on obliterate......

http://arxiv.org/abs/0712.1649

Yes, sounds likely targetish, doesn't it?:P:rolleyes:

[Greenmandmz]

Phasers on obliterate......

http://arxiv.org/abs/0712.1649

Yes, sounds likely targetish, doesn't it?:P:rolleyes:

Not a word, but yes. :laugh:

I've seen this kind of thing before. That one was on the possibility of transporters!

[lunchmeat]

it's a few months old, but this was just too good not to pass around (note: there's a pop-up huckstering subscriptions when you open the page, but goes away when you clock the close box in the corner):http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/08/travel/festival.php

[Fireand'chutes77]

it's a few months old, but this was just too good not to pass around (note: there's a pop-up huckstering subscriptions when you open the page, but goes away when you clock the close box in the corner):http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/08/travel/festival.php
....Wow. :neutral:

Over the past two decades, country and western festivals have sprung up in many parts of France, sparked by an abiding fascination with the trappings of the American frontier as well as by a craze for line dancing.
I thought the French (not to mention the rest of Europe) didn't, uh, like us too much, to put it mildly. :huh:


...played free live gigs on the street in central Craponne...
I'm sorry, but..... :laugh: :laugh:


"For us, 'American' represents the westerns, Texas, the Indians, freedom," said Dominique, who lived near Dijon and was dressed in jeans, boots, a shirt emblazoned with American flags, a cowboy hat and carried a pistol strapped to her hips. Her husband, a retired railway worker, was outfitted in similar garb. "For decades we've only listened to country music," she added. "No French music, only country music and bluegrass."

Yeesh, they're more American than the Americans. :confused: :laugh: :dontgetit: :laugh: :huh:

[lunchmeat]

Actually, one of the funnier things I encountered, during a port call in Hamburg, was a bunch of German "cowboys" enroute to a fast draw competition. It took a bit of explaining to get across the idea that while I'm fom Texas I didn't know the Ewings or hang around the ranch in the TV show Dallas.

[Fireand'chutes77]

As I've mentioned before, my dad was diagnosed with arthritis in his right hip in mid-November. Since then, it's gotten a bit more complicated. He tried the range-of-motion exercises prescribed by his doctor and PT, but he developed some major pain in his hip. It got so bad the doc prescribed an MRI, and he had the procedure done on the 24th. On the 26th, another doctor looked over the MRI data and my dad got a printout of the findings. We're trying to figure out what it means, since it contains a lot of medical jargon. We've tried different medical dictionary websites, but they don't seem to be very helpful. I'm slightly (slightly) more nuanced in med-speak than my dad due to Jeriddian's help with chapter 12 of "OLS," but this still has me a bit stumped.

I've uploaded a partial scan of the document below; Jeriddian or other medicos here, are you able to decode this?

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/1664/copyofarthritisxv8.th.jpg (http://img248.imageshack.us/my.php?image=copyofarthritisxv8.jpg)

[jeriddian]

As I've mentioned before, my dad was diagnosed with arthritis in his right hip in mid-November. Since then, it's gotten a bit more complicated. He tried the range-of-motion exercises prescribed by his doctor and PT, but he developed some major pain in his hip. It got so bad the doc prescribed an MRI, and he had the procedure done on the 24th. On the 26th, another doctor looked over the MRI data and my dad got a printout of the findings. We're trying to figure out what it means, since it contains a lot of medical jargon. We've tried different medical dictionary websites, but they don't seem to be very helpful. I'm slightly (slightly) more nuanced in med-speak than my dad due to Jeriddian's help with chapter 12 of "OLS," but this still has me a bit stumped.

I've uploaded a partial scan of the document below; Jeriddian or other medicos here, are you able to decode this?

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/1664/copyofarthritisxv8.th.jpg (http://img248.imageshack.us/my.php?image=copyofarthritisxv8.jpg)

Okay, let's start with a general description of the hip joint:http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/1953/thighanatomyhipjointantrv7.gif

Plus these pictures:
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/8629/hipreplacement01wq4.jpghttp://img120.imageshack.us/img120/8629/hipreplacement02tt7.jpghttp://img120.imageshack.us/img120/6162/normalhipbirthuc6.jpg

The first picture above shows a frontal view of the joint. The second and third pictures show a normal and an arthritic hip joint. The fourth picture is a picture of the hip joint at birth, but I am using it here to demonstrate the relationship of the labri to the rest of the joint.

First some definitions: This is a ball and socket joint. The ball part is the femoral head. The socket part is called the acetabulum. The femoral head and the acetabulum are made of strong bone. However, bone on bone movement is not a good thing. The surfaces of the femoral head and the acetabulum are covered with cartilege, which is made up of the same fibromatrix material as bone, but without the calcification. It is rubbery and pliable, although fairly tough. It serves as the smooth spacer between the bones to allow easy frictionless movement. The entire joint is encapsulated in the capsule which allows for a lubricant, the synovial fluid to 'grease' the joint and further ensure there is no friction and thus no damage. The labrums are essentially joint spacers that help keep the ball in place in its socket, but what really keeps the ball in place are the ligaments that completely surround the joint

Now to the pathology: Osteoarthritis results from articular (joint) cartilage failure induced by a complex interplay of genetic, metabolic, biochemical, and biomechanical factors with secondary components of inflammation. The process involves interactive degradation and repair processes of cartilage, bone, and synovium. What this means is that the cartilege cushion in the joint is injured in some manner such that it is not properly repaired. It becomes inflammed (Swollen and edematous), and it begins to break down. When it breaks down, it thins out and the joint space becomes smaller and thinner. When the cartilege finally gives out you will have direct bone on bone movement. This is bad as this induces a severe inflammation in the bone. The bone reacts by hardening with more calcification (sclerosis) and forming new bone in abnormal ways (osteophytes). Osteophytes are small projections of bone that grow out of existing bone areas that is not anatomically correct. Pretty soon that smooth slick surface of the normal joint is a craggy, rock filled, disaster area which is like sandpapaer surfaces rubbing on each other, producing even more inflammation.

Now to the MRI:

Standard post contrast arthrogram protocol. I did not perform the injection procedure which is dictated separately.

Each radiologist will follow a standard protocol for an arthrogram as he does for any invasive radiologoc procedure. An arthrogram is a radiologic study of a joint. This radiologist apparently did not do the injection of the contrast, or maybe someone else did.

Moderate right hip osteoarthritis with osteophytes, superior cartilage loss and subchondral edema on both sides of the joint.

There is moderate loss of cartilege on both the femoral head and the acetabulum. The cartilege at the top of the femoral head is already gone. You likely already have direct bone on bone contact there. The remaining cartilege is swollen and inflammed (subchondral edema) on both the femoral head and the acetabulum. There is osteophyte formation already present on the ball of the joint (think of this as taking a smooth round ball and sticking little pebbles on the surface of it.)

The labrum is deformed by the femoral head osteophytes.

The 'spacer cushion' that is the labrum is abnormally invaded by the osteophytes and deformed by them. They push into, compress and displace the labri out of position.

There is a 4 cm AP x 14 mm medial-lateral. but 11 mm longitudinal multiloculated cyst adjacent to the superior lateral acetabulum but probably is a paralabral cyst.

The bone in an osteoarthritic joint can react in several ways. One way is to sclerose (become harder and more calcified) or it can form cysts. There are hollowed out reactive bone areas which become that way from the inflammatory process. So the bone that is on the surface of the acetabulum has this multiple cavity (multiloculated) bone cyst right at the surface of the joint in the acetabulum next to the upper lateral labrum. It is a paralabral (which means 'next to' the labrum) cyst. The dimensions of the cyst are given.

This cyst also extends into the lateral acetabular roof bone.

The cyst invades into the very top of the acetabulum bone area towards the outside of the person

Impression: Moderate osteoarthritis. Likely torn superior labrum with complex adjacent cyst

The final diagnosis. This statement shows that the upper labrum which is deformed by the osteophytes has been torn by them as well.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This doesn't look that good, 'chutes. I'd say that your father may be in for hip replacement surgery in the future, but his orthopedic surgeon will wait as long as he can before he has to do it.

[lunchmeat]

Wow, that was a flashback to the histopathology clinic I attended one year at the Society for Vertibrate Paleontology (SVP) meetings.

[TransWarpDrive]

:blink: Wow.
Sorry to hear about your dad's hip there, 'chutes.
I understand a little of what he's going through; arthritis runs in my family. I have no doubt I'm suffering from a touch of it myself - my knees get really stiff and sore when I sit for long periods of time (you should see the way I walk when I get out of a car after a long drive); and I'm sure I'm going to feel it in my left elbow as a result of my injury in March of 2007.
I hope your doctor can help ease your dad's pain. Having it hurt from simply trying to move normally is no fun, let me tell you...

[Fireand'chutes77]

TWD now has 6666 posts. Does this mean we now have to do some sort of exorcism? :blink: :laugh: :P

[TransWarpDrive]

TWD now has 6666 posts. Does this mean we now have to do some sort of exorcism? :blink: :laugh: :P
:laugh: Nah - I don't need to fear demonic possession. Like the bumper sticker once said, "Heaven doesn't want me and Hell is afraid I'll take over (or at the very least, lower the property rates)." :P

[Ace Ian Combat]

TWD now has 6666 posts. Does this mean we now have to do some sort of exorcism? :blink: :laugh: :P
:laugh: Nah - I don't need to fear demonic possession. Like the bumper sticker once said, "Heaven doesn't want me and Hell is afraid I'll take over (or at the very least, lower the property rates)." :P

:laugh::laugh: I'll have to remember that one. It's cool.

[Ace Ian Combat]

I've been trying to mess around with Windows Movie Maker, but when I try to get audio added, it says, "Audio cannot be imported due to digital license." Can somebody help me with this? Particularly what it means and if there's any way to get around it?

[lunchmeat]

TWD now has 6666 posts. Does this mean we now have to do some sort of exorcism? :blink: :laugh: :P
:laugh: Nah - I don't need to fear demonic possession. Like the bumper sticker once said, "Heaven doesn't want me and Hell is afraid I'll take over (or at the very least, lower the property rates)." :P

There's always the Vietnam chestnut: I shall walk through the valley of the shadow of death, but will fear no evil, beacuse I'm the meanest *** in the valley.....

[jeriddian]

I've been trying to mess around with Windows Movie Maker, but when I try to get audio added, it says, "Audio cannot be imported due to digital license." Can somebody help me with this? Particularly what it means and if there's any way to get around it?

Copyright issues. The audio is copyrighted and therefore it's apparently illegal to copy it.:P.

[Ace Ian Combat]

I've been trying to mess around with Windows Movie Maker, but when I try to get audio added, it says, "Audio cannot be imported due to digital license." Can somebody help me with this? Particularly what it means and if there's any way to get around it?

Copyright issues. The audio is copyrighted and therefore it's apparently illegal to copy it.:P.

Which is odd because I can copy it to my Windows Media Player Library and iTunes Library, but not to Movie Maker, not even from the other two. Sigh... I realize why there is a copyright, but why must things be annoying sometimes?

[Cloud23465]

Man... Wow! Michael Vick may get out of jail becuase he did drugs?! Death Row inmates complain that lethal injection may cause them pain during there execution so the courts are looking into this?! So... Reward drug users by putting them in rehab and cut there jail time short and make sure that people that commited crimes that caused them to get the death penality don't suffer... Where did justice go?:unsure:

[GoTeamGirl]

I've been trying to mess around with Windows Movie Maker, but when I try to get audio added, it says, "Audio cannot be imported due to digital license." Can somebody help me with this? Particularly what it means and if there's any way to get around it?

Copyright issues. The audio is copyrighted and therefore it's apparently illegal to copy it.:P.

Which is odd because I can copy it to my Windows Media Player Library and iTunes Library, but not to Movie Maker, not even from the other two. Sigh... I realize why there is a copyright, but why must things be annoying sometimes?

I think songs bought under the iTunes Plus feature don't have the copyright, since they can be copied to an unlimited amount of CD's. However, the number of songs under iTunes Plus is limited...

[Ace Ian Combat]

I've been trying to mess around with Windows Movie Maker, but when I try to get audio added, it says, "Audio cannot be imported due to digital license." Can somebody help me with this? Particularly what it means and if there's any way to get around it?

Copyright issues. The audio is copyrighted and therefore it's apparently illegal to copy it.:P.

Which is odd because I can copy it to my Windows Media Player Library and iTunes Library, but not to Movie Maker, not even from the other two. Sigh... I realize why there is a copyright, but why must things be annoying sometimes?

I think songs bought under the iTunes Plus feature don't have the copyright, since they can be copied to an unlimited amount of CD's. However, the number of songs under iTunes Plus is limited...

I'll check into that, thank you GoTeamGirl.

[Fireand'chutes77]

I'm currently reading an MSNBC article on the slow fury - and voting clout - of young voters in the upcoming election.

Like they say about Niagara Falls, "You can feel the roar from here (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22597888/)."

Bringing the music and media industries to their knees was also empowering — providing Gen Yers with the self-confidence for a third-way, post-partisan manner of doing things. It's striking that the largest group of 18- to 24-year-olds, some 40 percent, consider themselves independent, according to a recent survey conducted by Harvard University, with 35 percent identifying as Democrats and 25 percent as Republicans. Millennials, like many Americans, may have lost faith in the political Establishment, but they have utter faith in themselves and their wiki-inspired abilities to get things done.

I turn 18 in time for the election, and I'm looking forward to it.

Feel the power, fear the powah! :cool:

[campy]

I'm currently reading an MSNBC article on the slow fury - and voting clout - of young voters in the upcoming election.

Like they say about Niagara Falls, "You can feel the roar from here (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22597888/)." ...

Feel the power, fear the powah! :cool:Talk about your déjà vu. I remember the same stuff being written back when I turned 18. ;)

[jeriddian]

I'm currently reading an MSNBC article on the slow fury - and voting clout - of young voters in the upcoming election.

Like they say about Niagara Falls, "You can feel the roar from here (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22597888/)." ...

Feel the power, fear the powah! :cool:Talk about your déjà vu. I remember the same stuff being written back when I turned 18. ;)

Me, too. I remember that very clearly.:)

[Fireand'chutes77]

I'm currently reading an MSNBC article on the slow fury - and voting clout - of young voters in the upcoming election.

Like they say about Niagara Falls, "You can feel the roar from here (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22597888/)." ...

Feel the power, fear the powah! :cool:Talk about your déjà vu. I remember the same stuff being written back when I turned 18. ;)
Egads... You mean we're not the first to come with, like, everything? :scared: :blink: :unsure:

:P :laugh:

----

On another note, it's been exactly a year since my Eagle Scout board of review. It's funny to see how the time's gone. At least this year, I don't have to worry about planning a Court of Honor in the middle of Robotics season and exams! :D

[kyojikasshu]

On another note, it's been exactly a year since my Eagle Scout board of review. It's funny to see how the time's gone. At least this year, I don't have to worry about planning a Court of Honor in the middle of Robotics season and exams! :D

Funny, I've been thinking about Scouts a bit lately, what with my nephew Sam joining Cub Scouts recently.

It's a shame that the pack he signed up with is completely discombobulated. There's little to no contact info available amongst the adults who are actually supposed to be running the pack, and my sister's become de facto Den Leader, although Sam's den currently only has two active members.

Jen's attending a Round Table tonight... chances are, though, that this pack will end up being dissolved, and the Cubs will have to be dispersed to other packs. Fortunately, there are three nearby, although this one being based out of Sam's school did have that convenience of being the closest.

My pack was pretty badly organized when I first joined Cub Scouts; by the end of my Wolf year, my dad was Cubmaster, and he had the pack running like a machine. Of course, my pack had enough active Cubs to fill out six dens...

[AinoMinako]

I'm currently reading an MSNBC article on the slow fury - and voting clout - of young voters in the upcoming election.

Like they say about Niagara Falls, "You can feel the roar from here (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22597888/)."

Bringing the music and media industries to their knees was also empowering — providing Gen Yers with the self-confidence for a third-way, post-partisan manner of doing things. It's striking that the largest group of 18- to 24-year-olds, some 40 percent, consider themselves independent, according to a recent survey conducted by Harvard University, with 35 percent identifying as Democrats and 25 percent as Republicans. Millennials, like many Americans, may have lost faith in the political Establishment, but they have utter faith in themselves and their wiki-inspired abilities to get things done.

I turn 18 in time for the election, and I'm looking forward to it.

Feel the power, fear the powah! :cool:

I'm jealous. I'll miss getting to vote in the election by two weeks. :mad:

[TransWarpDrive]

I'm currently reading an MSNBC article on the slow fury - and voting clout - of young voters in the upcoming election.

Like they say about Niagara Falls, "You can feel the roar from here (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22597888/)."

Bringing the music and media industries to their knees was also empowering — providing Gen Yers with the self-confidence for a third-way, post-partisan manner of doing things. It's striking that the largest group of 18- to 24-year-olds, some 40 percent, consider themselves independent, according to a recent survey conducted by Harvard University, with 35 percent identifying as Democrats and 25 percent as Republicans. Millennials, like many Americans, may have lost faith in the political Establishment, but they have utter faith in themselves and their wiki-inspired abilities to get things done.

I turn 18 in time for the election, and I'm looking forward to it.

Feel the power, fear the powah! :cool:

I'm jealous. I'll miss getting to vote in the election by two weeks. :mad:

I know just how you feel, Aino. The same thing happened to me back in 1976. My 18th birthday was three and a half weeks after the election that year. The first election I was able to vote in was in 1978, for the congressional races and to choose a new governor for Illinois.
Even though your birthday falls after the election, I suggest that you still go ahead and register to vote right away. That way, you'll be ready to vote in the 2010 elections. (Plus, don't forget that municipal elections occur between the national contests. Once registered, you'll be able to participate in those as well.) :alumnus:

[Cloud23465]

Stupid point but I'd just like to bring it up anyways for the heck of it.
Blockbuster Rate plans online (http://s154.photobucket.com/albums/s267/Cloud23465/?action=view&current=what.jpg)
Blockbuster states in it's prices for different features that it's total access "Gives you" 5 free in-store exchanges a month. Correct me if I'm wrong but it isn't free. Unlimited 3@ a time rentals cost $16+Tax and Unlimited 3@ a time rentals + the 5 "free" in-store Cost $20+Tax... so you have to pay $4 more a month (I know it's kind of a deal vs pay the retail rental in-store) but they shouldn't say it's free when you have to pay more to get the 5 exchanges right? It's like the quote unquote by 3 tires and get the 4th free when all's they really do is jack up the price on the 3 to cover all 4 tires.

[Greenmandmz]

Unfortunately, that's the way a lot of the retail business works. It's all marketing, and finding out how to make the most money as cheaply as possible; sometimes regardless of the consequences. The scenario you gave is a somewhat common business practice so they don't really lose any money in the process. Though you must wonder what they're thinking when the special and regular price are the same (or very close). :rolleyes:

I speak from personal experience, having spent the majority of my working life in the retail industry.

[Ace Ian Combat]

Is it normal for a sophomore (tenth grader) to start receiving undergraduate admission letters from colleges? I've gotten at least ten this year already, and I found it surprising.

[AinoMinako]

Is it normal for a sophomore (tenth grader) to start receiving undergraduate admission letters from colleges? I've gotten at least ten this year already, and I found it surprising.

Did you take the PSAT and check the box that said you'd like information? If so, that's why. I got a bunch last year too... They send them out with all of the standardized tests (PSAT, SAT, ACT). I would look at/consider them, but don't take them too seriously. According to my school's college counselor, they send them out to maybe ten times the number of people they want to apply to the school; of those that apply, maybe half get admitted. It's just advertising.

[cpneb]

Is it normal for a sophomore (tenth grader) to start receiving undergraduate admission letters from colleges? I've gotten at least ten this year already, and I found it surprising.
Are you receiving acceptance letters (congratulations, you've been accepted), or are you receiving offers to apply? Different drivers for both types of letters: one is the check-box on the PSAT test, and the other can be the actual PSAT scores themselves.

[Ace Ian Combat]

It's offers to apply. I don't remember if I took the PSAT, but I imagine I did, and probably did check the information box.

[Fireand'chutes77]

Odd question -

How many people here are military or former military, again? Specifically, anyone with Air Force experience? I think Lunchmeat served in one of the branches at one point or another, and GMD is in the Coast Guard.... I'm drawing a blank on anyone else. IIRC, JonathonWolf and his brother VincientMagius, both from the ARA days, were Air Force-related, but I haven't heard from them in a long time.

Anyway, the reason I'm asking is because I'm cleaning up Chapter One of "OLS," and I'm fleshing out the interaction between a pair of F-16s and Flight #34 a bit more. I'm trying to be accurate with the protocol steps/radio chatter involved in firing on a "civilain hostile" (Flight #34 was hijacked).

Grim stuff. :(

[TransWarpDrive]

Uh-oh we have another Google Spider on-line with us!
(Shhh - don't tell Ron....) :P

[jeriddian]

Uh-oh we have another Google Spider on-line with us!
(Shhh - don't tell Ron....) :P

Now if somehow we could just get Yahoo roaches instead........:P:laugh:...........especially giant ones.......:biggergrin:

[TransWarpDrive]

Uh-oh we have another Google Spider on-line with us!
(Shhh - don't tell Ron....) :P

Now if somehow we could just get Yahoo roaches instead........:P:laugh:...........especially giant ones.......:biggergrin:

Kim: B-b-b-bugs...B-b-b-big bugs...
(Stands there with a look of abject terror)
:laugh::laugh:

[Ace Ian Combat]

I don't think Microsoft could make Windows Movie Maker any more irritating if they tried. Now I barely open up a project and it shuts down on me. :ohwell: Videos, be stuck in perpetual incompleteness... anybody have any guesses what's wrong with it?

[jeriddian]

You'll do a lot better with something like Pinnacle, although it is isn't free.:dubiety:

I just don't think WMM is worth the trouble, myself, even if it is free.

[Sir Sebastian]

anybody have any guesses what's wrong with it?

It's Microsoft.

[Cloud23465]

anybody have any guesses what's wrong with it?

It's Microsoft.

I second that! :laugh: trust me.. your not the only one who has had problems and can't stand it... I hate it with a passion.

[Ace Ian Combat]

You'll do a lot better with something like Pinnacle, although it is isn't free.:dubiety:

I just don't think WMM is worth the trouble, myself, even if it is free.

Well, I installed Pinnacle since I was having so much trouble with WMM, finished a video, made it a movie, and played it back with another program - to find it only recorded the music, not the video. :mad: After messing around with it for a while, I gave up to give it a try another day.

[Twila Starla]

You'll do a lot better with something like Pinnacle, although it is isn't free.:dubiety:

I just don't think WMM is worth the trouble, myself, even if it is free.

Well, I installed Pinnacle since I was having so much trouble with WMM, finished a video, made it a movie, and played it back with another program - to find it only recorded the music, not the video. :mad: After messing around with it for a while, I gave up to give it a try another day.

Sorry hear all that, WMM never gave me too much... okay, so it was a pain in the neck, but it worked good for what it was worth (and that ain't much). :P

[Sir Sebastian]

I'm finally to the last stage of becoming a sad loner. Tomorrow I'm picking up my new cat. It's only a matter of time before I start having conversations with him, thinking he's actually talking back. Then I'll start wearing a frumpy bathrobe throughout the day...

Here's a pic of the lil' bugger (http://personal.inet.fi/koti/jsp/kissa.jpg). Ain't he cute? :wuv::wuv:

[jeriddian]

I'm finally to the last stage of becoming a sad loner. Tomorrow I'm picking up my new cat. It's only a matter of time before I start having conversations with him, thinking he's actually talking back. Then I'll start wearing a frumpy bathrobe throughout the day...

Here's a pic of the lil' bugger (http://personal.inet.fi/koti/jsp/kissa.jpg). Ain't he cute? :wuv::wuv:
That he is, Double S, that he is..:)

[Willk1989]

I don't think Microsoft could make Windows Movie Maker any more irritating if they tried. Now I barely open up a project and it shuts down on me. :ohwell: Videos, be stuck in perpetual incompleteness... anybody have any guesses what's wrong with it?Most likely a codec issue. I've found most problems people experience with Microsoft programs is corruption from supporting software created by third parties, most of which have nothing to do with Microsoft itself. When you buy a premium video editor, it usually includes codecs that have been tested to run with absolute stability within the program, something you can't always find in free editors mixed with free codecs.

Or... depending on how many separate clips you're using, you might have gone over its memory allowance. If you're making a complex video with several cuts, this could be the case because Windows Movie Maker isn't designed to do much more than edit home movies. It's happened to me a couple times while making music videos (Both Maybe Tomorrow is a Better Day (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdN_5IyXliU) and All the Way / 4U (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1ki6a0zKwI) suffered from this), but these had at least a hundred separate clips apiece and I was able to recover them. You might be able to get lucky and copy part of the video sequence before an error pops up and can paste it into a new project. Or sometimes a project file can just become corrupted after being saved several times, its not too uncommon when you've got different video formats/containers that might not be compatible with each other merging into one. It's the primary reason why I save to several different files after making big changes while creating music videos, because if one didn't save properly, the other acts as a backup and I wouldn't have to start from scratch.

Also, you might want to try disabling the COM Surrogate executable, especially if you can't even start a new project without an error popping up. Sometimes it conflicts with outdated DivX/XviD codecs.

I just noticed this:
Well, I installed Pinnacle since I was having so much trouble with WMM, finished a video, made it a movie, and played it back with another program - to find it only recorded the music, not the video. :mad: After messing around with it for a while, I gave up to give it a try another day.Based on this, I'm almost certain it's a codec issue, unless the encoder preferences weren't set up properly. Your best bet is to uninstall Pinnacle, uninstall any additional codecs you may have used before buying it, and reinstall Pinnacle by itself.

[campy]

Here's a story (http://www.motorauthority.com/news/news/number-plate-%e2%80%981%e2%80%99-sells-for-record-145m/) about a fellow who paid the equivalent of $14.5 million dollars for the right to put license plate number 1 on his car. Sounds like something even Ron Millionaire might have thought twice about. :ohmy:

[jeriddian]

There are definitely some people in the world with too much money on their hands.......:dubiety:

[campy]

There are definitely some people in the world with too much money on their hands.......:dubiety:Aren't you glad we'll never have to worry about that problem? :rolleyes:

[kyojikasshu]

Here's a story (http://www.motorauthority.com/news/news/number-plate-%e2%80%981%e2%80%99-sells-for-record-145m/) about a fellow who paid the equivalent of $14.5 million dollars for the right to put license plate number 1 on his car. Sounds like something even Ron Millionaire might have thought twice about. :ohmy:

That's just plain nuts!

And I thought $80 for my Spectacular Peninsulas plate was a bit much! ($75 for renewal, and $5 for the new plate...) :P

But at least I get to keep the plate for as long as I want to. I actually have my old plates up in my bedroom.

[jeriddian]

There are definitely some people in the world with too much money on their hands.......:dubiety:Aren't you glad we'll never have to worry about that problem? :rolleyes:

But I kind of wish I had that problem, because solving would be so much fun!!:D:laugh:

[TransWarpDrive]

There are definitely some people in the world with too much money on their hands.......:dubiety:Aren't you glad we'll never have to worry about that problem? :rolleyes:

But I kind of wish I had that problem, because solving would be so much fun!!:D:laugh:
True; very true. I'd enjoy solving such a problem, let me tell you.:laugh::laugh:
However, I'm sure I could find some much better things to spend the money on than a "#1" license plate.
I mean, come on - that guy did it for an ego thing, if you ask me. :dubiety:

[Ace Ian Combat]

I shouldn't be as frustrated as I am, but, well, I am. I've completed my first Kim Possible video, but I'm having trouble uploading it to YouTube. This time it's actually the right size and length to fit on their site per their regulations, but it won't upload for some reason.:ohwell:

[jeriddian]

Keep trying AIC, sometimes they have glitches that interfere with uploading, I think. I had similar probelms every now and then at FFnet.

.....and you're right TWD. It is an ego thing.:dubiety:

[Fireand'chutes77]

We're doing a "persuasive essay" for English class on various hot-button topics; I chose to tackle the legal drinking age, in favor of lowering it to 18.

I'm going into more depth in the paper, but my thoughts are that the 18-21 dichotomy sets up a "forbidden fruit" scenario. At 18, so to speak, the floodgates are opened – teens can legally vote, sign contracts, get married, have sex, and essentially become adults. But the government jerks alcohol away with a wag of the finger, saying, “Uh, uh, uh, not yet."

Kids are getting slammered simply because it's illegal to get slammered. Take away the aura of illegality, and it suddenly becomes much less of a deal.

21 also pushs legal drinking off until most kids are in college, away from parental supervision. At 18, although drinking, legally, would start earlier (even though many teens have begun drinking before that point), the teens would still be under parental watch, where it would be easier to monitor intake, impose punishment, and instill control.

Then, for the logical argument, countries the world over have drinking ages 18 and down, and they don't seem to have half the hullabaloo we do. Military base commanders seem to have the right idea by making the on-base age 18; hell, if you can blow away with a house with a Javelin anti-tank missile, or handle a fully-automatic M4, you should have permission to handle a Miller Lite.

Opposition could include that it merely ratchets the heavy drinking bracket [18-20] down to 15-17, but that's already a problem. Others say, with good reason, that drinking sooner has a disastrous effect on developing brains. Again, this is already a problem, and it is already happening.

To "trade" for the lowered age limit (and there is always a trade) would be increased dialogue about alcohol and its effects, courses on responsible consumption, ramped-up drunk driving penalties, increased zero-tolerance BAC levels for driving, and clear, enforced, and harsh punishments for DUIs, no matter the age bracket.

Jeriddian, Lunchmeat, others, care to support/refute?

[Ran Hakubi]

From what I've heard, there is actually science behind the drinking age being 21. My dad, who, as I've stated before over at ff.net, is a cop told me that the reason the legal drinking age is 21 is because your liver and other body parts don't get finished growing (developing) until you're around 21, which is why they have the drinking age set where it is

They aren't trying to be jerkwads about it, they are going off what biology is telling them

[Fireand'chutes77]

From what I've heard, there is actually science behind the drinking age being 21. My dad, who, as I've stated before over at ff.net, is a cop told me that the reason the legal drinking age is 21 is because your liver and other body parts don't get finished growing (developing) until you're around 21, which is why they have the drinking age set where it is

They aren't trying to be jerkwads about it, they are going off what biology is telling them
Good point. But from my research I feel that the 3-year gap is seriously contributing to the binge drinking problem, which is putting increased pressure on developing livers. "I've got all this other stuff - sex, voting, draft, etc," the teenage brain says, "Why can't I drink? Well, I'll show them; I'll go get plastered."

The solution seems to group everything at one rite of passage or another. Either group all voting, drinking, sex, and draft privileges at 21, which will make developing, restless, impulsive teenagers even more more antsy to "be adult," or set it all at 18. Or split the difference and set everything at 20. Ideally, the 18 limit would be accompanied by increased visibility of existing alcohol problems and extensive "training wheels" for consumption.

[jeriddian]

From what I've heard, there is actually science behind the drinking age being 21. My dad, who, as I've stated before over at ff.net, is a cop told me that the reason the legal drinking age is 21 is because your liver and other body parts don't get finished growing (developing) until you're around 21, which is why they have the drinking age set where it is

They aren't trying to be jerkwads about it, they are going off what biology is telling them

Actually, that's not exactly accurate, certainly not from a medical point of view for the most part. Most people are completely grown by the time they are eighteen, so their internal organs do not need any further maturing. If you are talking about the difference between, say, age thirteen or fourteen, and eighteen, then yes, there is some research to support that statement. But not between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one for the majority of people. However, it is true that women's stomachs and livers have less of an ability pound for pound than men in handling alcohol, so it takes less alcohol to get them affected to the same level.

[Ran Hakubi]

From what I've heard, there is actually science behind the drinking age being 21. My dad, who, as I've stated before over at ff.net, is a cop told me that the reason the legal drinking age is 21 is because your liver and other body parts don't get finished growing (developing) until you're around 21, which is why they have the drinking age set where it is

They aren't trying to be jerkwads about it, they are going off what biology is telling them
Good point. But from my research I feel that the 3-year gap is seriously contributing to the binge drinking problem, which is putting increased pressure on developing livers. "I've got all this other stuff - sex, voting, draft, etc," the teenage brain says, "Why can't I drink? Well, I'll show them; I'll go get plastered."

The solution seems to group everything at one rite of passage or another. Either group all voting, drinking, sex, and draft privileges at 21, which will make developing, restless, impulsive teenagers even more more antsy to "be adult," or set it all at 18. Or split the difference and set everything at 20. Ideally, the 18 limit would be accompanied by increased visibility of existing alcohol problems and extensive "training wheels" for consumption.

I'm willing to meet people in the middle on this one. I personally don't think I would have a problem if they lowered the age to 18 on beer. And ONLY beer. You'd still have to be 21 to buy the hard stuff (i.e. my favorite drink: whiskey). With beer, you can get a nice little intro into the world of drinking, and it will give you a chance to decide if that is what you wanna do.

BTW: First time I ever got sloshed was at a New Years Eve party when I was 18...

Jeriddian:

Guess I'll have to stop listening to my dad then, oh wait...lol! :laugh:

[jeriddian]

BTW: First time I ever got sloshed was at a New Years Eve party when I was 18...

Jeriddian:

Guess I'll have to stop listening to my dad then, oh wait...lol! :laugh:

Well, I wouldn't go that far, Ran.....:P..... I have a great deal of respect for the police, so I'm sure your dad has a lot of wise advice to give nonetheless. In some ways, our jobs are similar. Both of our respective professions usually have to deal with the worst people and people at their worst.:rolleyes:

I can understand kids trying out the alcohol thing once. It's just important to know how to do it in a responsible manner. I've only been actually "drunk" twice in my life, and I did not care for the experience whatsoever. The first time I was 19 years old and got the crazy idea of seeing what it was like, which took me about 3/4 of a fifth of Jose Cuervo Gold at the time. The only really stupid thing I did then was to drive home. But then that was back in 1973, when the drunken driving issue was not as aggressively pursued (and with which I completely agree BTW) like it is now. Had it been in today's atmosphere, I'm pretty sure I would not have done that. Fortunately, it was 3 AM and there was virtually no traffic on the streets anyway. However, I did not care for the experience at all and decided I was never going to do it again. And I didn't,except for one time a few years later when I unintentionally imbibed a little too much at a party without realizing it. I ended up sleeping it off on my friend's couch and woke up with a horrific hangover. After that, no more. It's simply not worth it. And it was not even enjoyable in the least.

Later on, when I was a traveling road musician, mostly in bars and nightclubs, I always kept the alcohol to a minimum. That was because I was at the establishment to work, not enjoy myself on alcohol. Most bars like that will usually let the musicians have their alcohol on the house or for a reduced price. But I always limited myself to two bloody marys a night, and never broke that rule. I saw a lot of musicians lose their jobs because they didn't control their liquor intake in those situations. Nowadays, I'll enjoy a glass of wine on occasion with dinner and that's about it.

[Mike_Industries]

BTW: First time I ever got sloshed was at a New Years Eve party when I was 18...

Well, I since the age limit around here is 21 to be able to consume achohol, I had a fun trip in Canada last time. My uncle decided it would be fun if I went drinking with him, so we drank. That was my first experiance with alchohol, and lets just say it wasn't a good one... I don't see why some people drink those kind of drinks like it will dissapear one day. But my own little experiance, 6 beers and one bottle of Vaca later, The only thing I could remember was telling my Uncle, "I can't feel my legs."

I am never pulling that stunt again. :thumbdown:

[Ran Hakubi]

Okay, confession time.

I, actually like getting drunk.

Now before you tar and feather me, here me out! I don't drink to escape and I don't go out drinking and then drive anywhere. When I decide to get drunk, it is at my apartment. I hide my keys from myself, and I just sit in my chair and giggle like an idiot at stupid things that have no bearing on anything.

For me, getting drunk is like taking a vacation from sobriety. I know that sounds like I drink to escape, but it really isn't. I know my problems are going to be there when I become sober again. I just like the state of mind I'm in when I'm lit up like a Christmas tree. Its like a stress release that writing and video games can't provide me. Bonus: I have yet to have a hangover.

And before anyone asks, I'm not an alcoholic. I get drunk once every three to four months, tops. Now, I'm sure this makes me sound like a bad person and that I don't belong amongst you guys, but it is something I needed to put out in the open since we're talking about it.

Okay, you've heard me out. NOW you can get the tar and feathers.

[canuck31003]

I came close to being drunk, once. But maybe I'm deluding myself and I actually was. Anywhoo, I'm too wary/scared of losing control so I only drink rarely, and never very much. I think in my younger years when I might have been more susceptible to excessive drinking a couple things stopped me.

First, I hate beer. Maybe there are beers out there that I might like, but after the first few beers I tried I refuse to look. My initial thought after my first beer was, "people actually *like* this stuff?!". Same thing with wine. Personally I find it difficult to understand how beer and wine are multi-billion industries.

Second, during my university years I used to (and still do, but I'm used to it now, I guess) perform a lot of tissue culture, in which 70% EtOH is used to sterilize stuff. Well, for the longest time any smell of alcohol would remind me of that 70% EtOH and instantly kill any desire for a drink.

[Fireand'chutes77]

For me, getting drunk is like taking a vacation from sobriety. I know that sounds like I drink to escape, but it really isn't. I know my problems are going to be there when I become sober again. I just like the state of mind I'm in when I'm lit up like a Christmas tree. Its like a stress release that writing and video games can't provide me.
Try camping. It's not so hard on your liver. :alumnus: :laugh:

Bonus: I have yet to have a hangover.
You must have some crazy metabolism...

Okay, you've heard me out. NOW you can get the tar and feathers.
Hmmm, can't say I live near a general store, so will syrup and pillow stuffing work? :P :laugh:

[jeriddian]

Okay, confession time.

I, actually like getting drunk.

Now before you tar and feather me, here me out! I don't drink to escape and I don't go out drinking and then drive anywhere. When I decide to get drunk, it is at my apartment. I hide my keys from myself, and I just sit in my chair and giggle like an idiot at stupid things that have no bearing on anything.

For me, getting drunk is like taking a vacation from sobriety. I know that sounds like I drink to escape, but it really isn't. I know my problems are going to be there when I become sober again. I just like the state of mind I'm in when I'm lit up like a Christmas tree. Its like a stress release that writing and video games can't provide me. Bonus: I have yet to have a hangover.

And before anyone asks, I'm not an alcoholic. I get drunk once every three to four months, tops. Now, I'm sure this makes me sound like a bad person and that I don't belong amongst you guys, but it is something I needed to put out in the open since we're talking about it.

Okay, you've heard me out. NOW you can get the tar and feathers.

Okay, Ran... ...I am not going to T&F you, however I would like to say a few words. Considering that I am the health professional that I am, I feel obligated to do so. This is not to put you down in any way, as your situation is certainly not a unusual one.

There are many people out there who do what you do, and I commend you for the self control you have. You are responsible enough to know what the dangers are and to take the appropriate steps to make sure that nobody, including yourself gets hurt when you let go. So from the social point of view, I agree that are a responsible adult.

One of the most famous closet drinkers out there is D-i-c-k Van Dyke. He did the same thing you do for years. He has always been a successful actor, producer, and director in the television and movie industries, well beloved by his peers. He never ever let his drinking interfere with his work. He never showed up for work drunk or inebriated. In his own words, he was a binge drinker, only on his free weekends on his time off.

There are millions of people out there who do the same thing you do. There is a genetic predisposition in about 10% of the human population, we think, that actually enjoy the buzz and getting drunk. Most of these people are responsible enough not to let their drinking cause problems in their social life, and as such, other people (outside of family generally) will not have hardly any problem with them.

However, from the medical viewpoint, a physician would definitely call you alcoholic. This is because you do drink enough to get enebriated on a regular basis, even if it is only every three to four months. That is the definition, as severe as it may seem. This is enough alcohol exposure that the medical and health dangers from it can and will mount. This is why I mentioned D-i-c-k Van Dyke, and the reason he went public with his binge drinking, because it was starting to destroy his liver, and because of that, he had to stop drinking. So while you have the wherewithal as a responsible person to make sure your indulgence doesn't adversely affect others, yet can it affect you in time from a health perspective. The effects of alcoholism are far ranging from cirrhosis of the liver, to cardiomyopathy and profound congestive heart failure, to dementia secondary to conditions such as Wernicke's syndrome and Korsakoff's dementia, not to mention the risk of death from acute alcohol poisoning, and numerous other problems I won't get into at this time. Sure, there are people who have done this all of their lives and never seemed to have a single problem from it, but the percentage of people who do end up with problems is something I see every single day. It's very high.

Right now you only do it maybe every three to four months. You're strong, healthy, young enough to withstand it. However, in the future as you get older, your ability to withstand it will lessen. Secondly, it's very easy to let it slip out of control without you even noticing it. Right now, it's only every three to four months. Then it could go to bimonthly, then monthly, then every two weeks, and so on, without you realizing how much the habit has grown. I'm not saying you will do that, but the risk is there, nonetheless.

This does not make you a bad person at all. As I noted, you are responsible enough to know the dangers and take the appropriate measures to protect both yourself and others. But the medical and health dangers still exist, and part of my job as a medical professional is an obligation to bring up the health dangers of such practices where it is appropriate. I again commend you for your self control and your willingness to talk about about this. But I do wish for you know what the dangers are. I'm not going to sit here and tell you to stop drinking, but I do recommend you cut down.:)

[Ran Hakubi]

Okay, confession time.

I, actually like getting drunk.

Now before you tar and feather me, here me out! I don't drink to escape and I don't go out drinking and then drive anywhere. When I decide to get drunk, it is at my apartment. I hide my keys from myself, and I just sit in my chair and giggle like an idiot at stupid things that have no bearing on anything.

For me, getting drunk is like taking a vacation from sobriety. I know that sounds like I drink to escape, but it really isn't. I know my problems are going to be there when I become sober again. I just like the state of mind I'm in when I'm lit up like a Christmas tree. Its like a stress release that writing and video games can't provide me. Bonus: I have yet to have a hangover.

And before anyone asks, I'm not an alcoholic. I get drunk once every three to four months, tops. Now, I'm sure this makes me sound like a bad person and that I don't belong amongst you guys, but it is something I needed to put out in the open since we're talking about it.

Okay, you've heard me out. NOW you can get the tar and feathers.

Okay, Ran... ...I am not going to T&F you, however I would like to say a few words. Considering that I am the health professional that I am, I feel obligated to do so. This is not to put you down in any way, as your situation is certainly not a unusual one.

There are many people out there who do what you do, and I commend you for the self control you have. You are responsible enough to know what the dangers are and to take the appropriate steps to make sure that nobody, including yourself gets hurt when you let go. So from the social point of view, I agree that are a responsible adult.

One of the most famous closet drinkers out there is D-i-c-k Van Dyke. He did the same thing you do for years. He has always been a successful actor, producer, and director in the television and movie industries, well beloved by his peers. He never ever let his drinking interfere with his work. He never showed up for work drunk or inebriated. In his own words, he was a binge drinker, only on his free weekends on his time off.

There are millions of people out there who do the same thing you do. There is a genetic predisposition in about 10% of the human population, we think, that actually enjoy the buzz and getting drunk. Most of these people are responsible enough not to let their drinking cause problems in their social life, and as such, other people (outside of family generally) will not have hardly any problem with them.

However, from the medical viewpoint, a physician would definitely call you alcoholic. This is because you do drink enough to get enebriated on a regualr basis, even if it is only every three to four months. That is the definition, as severe as it may seem. This is enough alcohol exposure that the medical and health dangers from it can and will mount. This is why I mentioned D-i-c-k Van Dyke, and the reason he went public with his binge drinking, because it was starting to destroy his liver, and because of that, he had to stop drinking. So while you have the wherewithal as a responsible person to make sure your indulgence doesn't adversely affect others, yet can it affect you in time from a health perspective. The effects of alcoholism are far ranging from cirrhosis of the liver, to cardiomyopathy and profound congestive heart failure, to dementia secondary to conditions such as Wernicke's syndrome and Korsakoff's dementia, not to mention the risk of death from acute alcohol poisoning, and numerous other problems I won't get into at this time. Sure, there are people who have done this all of their lives and never seemed to have a single problem from it, but the percentage of people who do end up with problems is something I see every single day. It's very high.

Right now you only do it maybe every three to four months. You're strong, healthy, young enough to withstand it. However, in the future as you get older, your ability to withstand it will lessen. Secondly, it's very easy to let it slip out of control without you even noticing it. Right now, it's only every three to four months. Then it could go to bimonthly, then monthly, then every two weeks, and so on, without you realizing how much the habit has grown. I'm not saying you will do that, but the risk is there, nonetheless.

This does not make you a bad person at all. As I noted, you are responsible enough to know the dangers and take the appropriate measures to protect both yourself and others. But the medical and health dangers still exist, and part of my job as a medical professional is an obligation to bring up the health dangers of such practices where it is appropriate. I again commend you for your self control and your willingness to talk about about this. But I do wish for you know what the dangers are. I'm not going to sit here and tell you to stop drinking, but I do recommend you cut down.:)

Cutting down is easy (Booze costs bucks!) so that won't be a problem. I'm just shocked that, by definition, I'm an alcoholic. That is just straight up shocking. And here I thought I was taking steps to prevent such a thing, by pacing out my boozing out to where I wouldn't and couldn't become addicted to it.

I'm already a smoker, I don't need another monkey on my back.

That is an interesting story about D-i-c-k Van Dyke though. I wasn't aware of that about him. I still respect the man as both a person and a comedian. He's a genious when it comes to making folks laugh.

I appreciate your thoughtfulness to tell me the health risks, Jeriddan. Its possible I could have drank myself into an early grave. Now I've just gotta worry about smoking myself into an early grave :laugh:. Seriously though, I can't promice that I won't quit getting drunk, but, I can cut back enough to where it doesn't happen as often.

I mean, if I'm drunk, then how can I write the stories that people seem to enjoy? I can't thats how!

[Fireand'chutes77]

Cutting down is easy (Booze costs bucks!) so that won't be a problem.... I'm already a smoker, I don't need another monkey on my back.
:scared:

Both?! :blink: :confused:

It's possible I could have drank myself into an early grave.... I can't promise that I won't quit getting drunk, but, I can cut back enough to where it doesn't happen as often.

The Global Justice Alliance: Saving Lives, One Poster at a Time. :alumnus: :laugh:

[Ran Hakubi]

[quote=Ran Hakubi;10110]
Cutting down is easy (Booze costs bucks!) so that won't be a problem.... I'm already a smoker, I don't need another monkey on my back.
:scared:

Both?! :blink: :confused:

I'm a baaaaad iddle boy

[jeriddian]

Cutting down is easy (Booze costs bucks!) so that won't be a problem. I'm just shocked that, by definition, I'm an alcoholic. That is just straight up shocking. And here I thought I was taking steps to prevent such a thing, by pacing out my boozing out to where I wouldn't and couldn't become addicted to it.

I'm already a smoker, I don't need another monkey on my back.

That is an interesting story about D-i-c-k Van Dyke though. I wasn't aware of that about him. I still respect the man as both a person and a comedian. He's a genious when it comes to making folks laugh.

I appreciate your thoughtfulness to tell me the health risks, Jeriddan. Its possible I could have drank myself into an early grave. Now I've just gotta worry about smoking myself into an early grave :laugh:. Seriously though, I can't promice that I won't quit getting drunk, but, I can cut back enough to where it doesn't happen as often.

I mean, if I'm drunk, then how can I write the stories that people seem to enjoy? I can't thats how!

Glad to hear it, Ran.:) Although I would like to see you do something about the smoking, too. The risks from that are actually greater IMO.

[TransWarpDrive]

For me, getting drunk is like taking a vacation from sobriety. I know that sounds like I drink to escape, but it really isn't. I know my problems are going to be there when I become sober again. I just like the state of mind I'm in when I'm lit up like a Christmas tree. Its like a stress release that writing and video games can't provide me.
Try camping. It's not so hard on your liver. :alumnus: :laugh:

No, but it's murder on your back - especially if you miss the half-buried rock when you pitch your tent in the dark on a windy Friday night (been there, done that)...:P

As for me, I drink, but I don't drink and drive. I made that mistake about 23 years ago - got busted for DUI over Father's Day weekend, 1985. That whole experience - arrest, trial, counseling - scared me so much, I stopped driving drunk. Now I either drink at home, or I'll walk to a local tavern and hoist a few there.
I don't drink as much as I used to. When I do drink, I usually have two or three glasses of bourbon, then I'll call it a night.
What I usually do when I feel like drinking is mix myself a bourbon and cola, put a jazz disc in the CD player, then turn off the lights and sip my drink while listening to the music on my headphones and looking out the window. :cool: I do this late at night Fridays or Saturdays, after everyone else has gone to bed. I find it very peaceful and relaxing. And when I'm done, I can just get into bed quickly because I'm already home.

[Fireand'chutes77]

For me, getting drunk is like taking a vacation from sobriety. I know that sounds like I drink to escape, but it really isn't. I know my problems are going to be there when I become sober again. I just like the state of mind I'm in when I'm lit up like a Christmas tree. Its like a stress release that writing and video games can't provide me.
Try camping. It's not so hard on your liver. :alumnus: :laugh:

No, but it's murder on your back - especially if you miss the half-buried rock when you pitch your tent in the dark on a windy Friday night (been there, done that)...:P
It certainly is if you use a pad from the '70's! :P :laugh:

I backpack with a full-length Z-rest and "short" length Thermarest on top of it. I don't really need all that padding (:biggergrin:), but I figure an extra-comfy night's sleep is worth the weight of carrying it and worth saving my back for when I get to be you peoples' age. :P

Anyway, the main reason I posted this is that Lunchmeat's back, and I'm hoping he'll weigh in on my essay stance.

[TransWarpDrive]

For me, getting drunk is like taking a vacation from sobriety. I know that sounds like I drink to escape, but it really isn't. I know my problems are going to be there when I become sober again. I just like the state of mind I'm in when I'm lit up like a Christmas tree. Its like a stress release that writing and video games can't provide me.
Try camping. It's not so hard on your liver. :alumnus: :laugh:

No, but it's murder on your back - especially if you miss the half-buried rock when you pitch your tent in the dark on a windy Friday night (been there, done that)...:P
It certainly is if you use a pad from the '70's! :P :laugh:

I backpack with a full-length Z-rest and "short" length Thermarest on top of it. I don't really need all that padding (:biggergrin:), but I figure an extra-comfy night's sleep is worth the weight of carrying it and worth saving my back for when I get to be you peoples' age. :P


:laugh:
Pad? I didn't use a pad... we pitched our tents first (IIRC, they were "Explorer" tents with a heavy-duty vinyl floor attached); then we lay our ground cloths on the tent floor and put our sleeping bags on top of those. As far as I can remember, nobody in our troop used a pad under his sleeping bag. Of course, maybe they weren't available back then, otherwise I'd have gotten one and used it - man, that ground was hard!:thumbdown:
Just what is a "Z-rest" or "Thermarest" pad, anyway? This is the first I've ever heard of them.

[Fireand'chutes77]

Pad? I didn't use a pad... we pitched our tents first (IIRC, they were "Explorer" tents with a heavy-duty vinyl floor attached); then we lay our ground cloths on the tent floor and put our sleeping bags on top of those. As far as I can remember, nobody in our troop used a pad under his sleeping bag. Of course, maybe they weren't available back then, otherwise I'd have gotten one and used it - man, that ground was hard!:thumbdown:
Just what is a "Z-rest" or "Thermarest" pad, anyway? This is the first I've ever heard of them.
Gasp, never heard of Thermarest? :scared:

Sorry, I misspoke on the "Z-rest," it's really called a Z-Lite (http://thermarest.com/product_detail.aspx?pID=43&cID=1). It's an egg-crate foam pad that folds up like an accordion.

The short pad is a ProLite 3 (http://thermarest.com/product_detail.aspx?pID=42&cID=1). You open a little valve in the corner and it self-inflates its foam core in about 5-10 minutes.

[TransWarpDrive]

Pad? I didn't use a pad... we pitched our tents first (IIRC, they were "Explorer" tents with a heavy-duty vinyl floor attached); then we lay our ground cloths on the tent floor and put our sleeping bags on top of those. As far as I can remember, nobody in our troop used a pad under his sleeping bag. Of course, maybe they weren't available back then, otherwise I'd have gotten one and used it - man, that ground was hard!:thumbdown:
Just what is a "Z-rest" or "Thermarest" pad, anyway? This is the first I've ever heard of them.
Gasp, never heard of Thermarest? :scared:

Sorry, I misspoke on the "Z-rest," it's really called a Z-Lite (http://thermarest.com/product_detail.aspx?pID=43&cID=1). It's an egg-crate foam pad that folds up like an accordion.

The short pad is a ProLite 3 (http://thermarest.com/product_detail.aspx?pID=42&cID=1). You open a little valve in the corner and it self-inflates its foam core in about 5-10 minutes.

Thanks for the links, 'chutes. The pads look interesting - something I might want to buy in the future. Needless to say, I bookmarked the links for future reference.
To answer your question, no, I'm afraid I never heard of Thermarest until tonight. I guess it's because I haven't gone camping in decades, and haven't had much need to purchase any camping or hiking gear.

[lunchmeat]

We're doing a "persuasive essay" for English class on various hot-button topics; I chose to tackle the legal drinking age, in favor of lowering it to 18.

......

Jeriddian, Lunchmeat, others, care to support/refute?

Part of the problem with using age, alone, as the criteria for these things is that "the one size fits all" approach has some flaws in it. Different people handle the question of alcohol in ways that don't seem to reflect age. I have known eighteen year olds who were far more responsible with booze than some folks in their forties.

Having said that, one should also note that there are structural differences between the brains of adolescents and mature individuals (see, there's a reason Barkin will never understand teenagers...), so the response to intoxicants will be different. For this reason, eighteen is probably a good lower limit for full strength drink.

One thing about the current climate that has to be faced is that the pressures have changed. Social rituals, such as Spring Break, have a much different impact than what I faced. While not, of themselves, the entire source of the situation, TV shows such as MTV Spring Break specials and exploitive video in the "Girls Gone Stupid" vein tend to glamorize binge drinking and drunkenness to a degree that is new. In my view this presents a lot of kids with the pressure to behave in the manner depicted to fit in. I haven't any hard data to back it up, but imagine that this would easily cloud ones judgement, particularly given the concomittment infusion of hormones that are just finally tapering off around eighteen.

There have been cinematic depictions of over-indulgence before, of course. One of my favorite series of films is the old Thin Man murder mystery series, where the two heroes were almost never sober. They were elegent rather than rowdy, however and it was played for fun.

Seems to me that the biggest think is reducing the mystique of drinking is an important reason to lower the drinking age. If one spends most of college just beyond the reach of this indulgence, then it makes it all the more attractive and reinforces the things I mentioned earlier. One of the things about drinking is that it takes a bit of experience to learn what one's limits are. The best way to do this is in a calmer environment than the "get drunk and be somebody" climate of the now typical (at least in the media) Spring Break bacchanalia. Up until the drinking age was raised to 21, it was fairly common, at least in the universities that I was associated with, for get togethers in student union bars or nearby off-campus establishments, especially on Fridays, after class. Typically, you got together with classmates, TAs and professors for a few drinks and discussions. While there was often someone who hit it a little too hard, there was also somebody to make sure they got back home intact, not to mention helping them avoid doing a face plant whilst worshipping the porcelain gods. My memory may be polished by time, but anything approaching the level of binge drinking I've observed in the last ten years was rare, although the first night in after an extended period at sea would have people tying one on, they usually got it out of their system that first night.

I suspect that there would probably be less binge drinking, after an initial period of adjustment, than is presently seen since there would not be the same level of contrast. My own feeling on it is that it is duplicitous to demand adult responsibilities and penalties of someone who is not permitted adult privileges.

[Fireand'chutes77]

Thanks for the links, 'chutes. The pads look interesting - something I might want to buy in the future. Needless to say, I bookmarked the links for future reference.
To answer your question, no, I'm afraid I never heard of Thermarest until tonight. I guess it's because I haven't gone camping in decades, and haven't had much need to purchase any camping or hiking gear.
Honorary Camping Goods Outlet: Fireand'chutes77 :laugh: :D

[Mike_Industries]

Got a question for you all to ponder, call it food for thought.

Do vegetarians eat Animal Crackers?

For some crazy reason, it made me ponder my existance while I pondered the question seriously.

[Ran Hakubi]

Got a question for you all to ponder, call it food for thought.

Do vegetarians eat Animal Crackers?

For some crazy reason, it made me ponder my existance while I pondered the question seriously.

Ran: Mikey! Are you pondering what I'm pondering?

Mikey: I think so Ran, but where are we going to get coleslaw, a rubber chicken, and twelve maid's a milking at this hour?

Ran: Be quiet Mikey, or I shall be forced to hurt you...

[Mike_Industries]

Got a question for you all to ponder, call it food for thought.

Do vegetarians eat Animal Crackers?

For some crazy reason, it made me ponder my existance while I pondered the question seriously.

Ran: Mikey! Are you pondering what I'm pondering?

Mikey: I think so Ran, but where are we going to get coleslaw, a rubber chicken, and twelve maid's a milking at this hour?

Ran: Be quiet Mikey, or I shall be forced to hurt you...

There is only one responce to this Ran. I think you should know. Ladies and Gentlemen, My official responce to Ran's humorous joke is:

NARF! :biggergrin:

[campy]

There is only one responce to this Ran. I think you should know. Ladies and Gentlemen, My official responce to Ran's humorous joke is:

NARF! :biggergrin:... They're Mikey, they're Mikey and the Ran!
Ran Ran Ran
Ran Ran Ran Ran ...

:laugh::D

[Mike_Industries]

There is only one responce to this Ran. I think you should know. Ladies and Gentlemen, My official responce to Ran's humorous joke is:

NARF! :biggergrin:... They're Mikey, they're Mikey and the Ran!
Ran Ran Ran
Ran Ran Ran Ran ...

:laugh::D

That's a catchy tune. I like it! Good one Campy! BTW: Me wanna go to the Carribean!

[Ran Hakubi]

There is only one responce to this Ran. I think you should know. Ladies and Gentlemen, My official responce to Ran's humorous joke is:

NARF! :biggergrin:... They're Mikey, they're Mikey and the Ran!
Ran Ran Ran
Ran Ran Ran Ran ...

:laugh::D

That's a catchy tune. I like it! Good one Campy! BTW: Me wanna go to the Carribean!

I only wanna go if there is rum and Miss Swan is there

[Mike_Industries]

Sorry Mate, the Rum is always gone. Didn't you watch Disney's historicly incorrect movies closely? Remember Kids, guns with wet powder make good clubs.

[campy]

Sorry Mate, the Rum is always gone. Didn't you watch Disney's historicly incorrect movies closely? Remember Kids, guns with wet powder make good clubs.Caribbean cruises offer plenty of rum. All you have to do is show them your cabin key and they'll add a small charge to your account for every drink. :blink:

The ships are also filled with women, many of whom look like they were born around the same year as Miss Swan.

[Fireand'chutes77]

Caribbean cruises offer plenty of rum. All you have to do is show them your cabin key and they'll add a small charge to your account for every drink. :blink:
That could get expensive fast... :laugh: :blink:

The ships are also filled with women, many of whom look like they were born around the same year as Miss Swan.
Ah, that's a very good vintage... :thumbup:

[campy]

Caribbean cruises offer plenty of rum. All you have to do is show them your cabin key and they'll add a small charge to your account for every drink. :blink:
That could get expensive fast... :laugh: :blink:Oh yeah. Cruises are really cheap these days, but once they get you on board they try to sell you something extra whenever you turn around.

Of course, as a stockholder in the company I love to see other people bite on this. :D

[Ran Hakubi]

Caribbean cruises offer plenty of rum. All you have to do is show them your cabin key and they'll add a small charge to your account for every drink. :blink:
That could get expensive fast... :laugh: :blink:Oh yeah. Cruises are really cheap these days, but once they get you on board they try to sell you something extra whenever you turn around.

Of course, as a stockholder in the company I love to see other people bite on this. :D

Wouldn't being a stockholder require them to kiss your backside and basically suck up to you in any way, shape, or form?

[campy]

Wouldn't being a stockholder require them to kiss your backside and basically suck up to you in any way, shape, or form?Considering I own 100 shares, and there are about 225 million shares outstanding ... no, not really. :D

I did the math on this once. I think my fractional ownership of any one ship amounts to about 5 cubic feet, max. Less on smaller ships. :blush:

[GhostWhiter]

I did the math on this once. I think my fractional ownership of any one ship amounts to about 5 cubic feet... So you bought enough for standing room only, if you hunch over a bit.

[kyojikasshu]

Wouldn't being a stockholder require them to kiss your backside and basically suck up to you in any way, shape, or form?Considering I own 100 shares, and there are about 225 million shares outstanding ... no, not really. :D

I did the math on this once. I think my fractional ownership of any one ship amounts to about 5 cubic feet, max. Less on smaller ships. :blush:

Well, instead of any one ship, though, how would it come out if you calculated percentage based on an estimate of the entire fleet? Then, put it all together in one space, because you're just using one ship, not the entire fleet, right? That way, you'd have some breathing room, at least...

[campy]

Wouldn't being a stockholder require them to kiss your backside and basically suck up to you in any way, shape, or form?Considering I own 100 shares, and there are about 225 million shares outstanding ... no, not really. :D

I did the math on this once. I think my fractional ownership of any one ship amounts to about 5 cubic feet, max. Less on smaller ships. :blush:

Well, instead of any one ship, though, how would it come out if you calculated percentage based on an estimate of the entire fleet? Then, put it all together in one space, because you're just using one ship, not the entire fleet, right? That way, you'd have some breathing room, at least...Hmmm, I don't feel like looking up the gross tonnages of all 35 ships the company operates, but let's figure 15 big ships at 5 cu. ft. each. That's 75. I'll just guess at another 50 or 60 cu. ft. for the 20 smaller ships. I think that works out to a room just big enough to hold a twin-size bed. :biggergrin:

[Ace Ian Combat]

Sorry Mate, the Rum is always gone. Didn't you watch Disney's historicly incorrect movies closely? Remember Kids, guns with wet powder make good clubs.Caribbean cruises offer plenty of rum. All you have to do is show them your cabin key and they'll add a small charge to your account for every drink. :blink:

The ships are also filled with women, many of whom look like they were born around the same year as Miss Swan.

I'm confused. Are we referring to how long ago Miss Swann lived or how she appeared in the movies?:hmm:

[TransWarpDrive]

Sorry Mate, the Rum is always gone. Didn't you watch Disney's historicly incorrect movies closely? Remember Kids, guns with wet powder make good clubs.Caribbean cruises offer plenty of rum. All you have to do is show them your cabin key and they'll add a small charge to your account for every drink. :blink:

The ships are also filled with women, many of whom look like they were born around the same year as Miss Swan.

I'm confused. Are we referring to how long ago Miss Swann lived or how she appeared in the movies?:hmm:

I believe he's referring to how all the young ladies he sees on the cruise ships are the same age as Miss Swann. :biggergrin:

[NinjaNaco]

Well, I'm not going on a cruise, but I will be going on vacation soon! :D

On another note, someone on RS.net made an implicit insult to ARA.

Of course, this person is also on record for saying she will "never, ever" disagree with cloudmonet, so ....

I replied back, so ... I dunno ...

[jeriddian]

Well, I'm not going on a cruise, but I will be going on vacation soon! :D

On another note, someone on RS.net made an implicit insult to ARA.

Of course, this person is also on record for saying she will "never, ever" disagree with cloudmonet, so ....

I replied back, so ... I dunno ...

I'm curious. Who made the comment?

[lunchmeat]

Is it humanly possible to never, ever disagree with someone? It would sure kill the art of debate and discussion, what a dull world that would be.

Enquiring minds want to know (granted, I was more into the Weekly World News, myself, after the enquirer quit doing the Elvis/space alien/bat boy/weird creatures beat. I've long wanted to publish one of my papers in the Enquirer or WWN; I can see it now, right across from the Love Child of Elvis and Space Alien Runs For Congress (actually, given the makeup of that body during my lifetime, this is probably already in place): Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Pliosaurs, Stratigraphic Implications with Distributions of Related Ecologies).

[NinjaNaco]

I'm curious. Who made the comment?
AshleyBenlove, with whom I have many, many disagreements...

[Ran Hakubi]

I'm curious. Who made the comment?
AshleyBenlove, with whom I have many, many disagreements...

Isn't she the one that used to post like 5 or 6 400 word or less fics at a time over at ff.net?

[jeriddian]

I'm curious. Who made the comment?
AshleyBenlove, with whom I have many, many disagreements...

Isn't she the one that used to post like 5 or 6 400 word or less fics at a time over at ff.net?
I think you're right, Ran. As I am sure you know, this girl is the lead poster on RSnet with over 105,000 posts. Basically, I don't think she has a life outside of her computer, especially judging from the vacuous comments she seems to make all the time.

[Fireand'chutes77]

As I am sure you know, this girl is the lead poster on RSnet with over 105,000 posts.
:scared:

Oy, and I thought 7,000 was a lot... I don't think I could do 105,000.

[Ran Hakubi]

As I am sure you know, this girl is the lead poster on RSnet with over 105,000 posts.
:scared:

Oy, and I thought 7,000 was a lot... I don't think I could do 105,000.

Hi-che momma! That's a lot of posts. I mean, I think you're right Jeriddian. I spend a lot of time in front of my laptop, but dang...

[campy]

I believe he's referring to how all the young ladies he sees on the cruise ships are the same age as Miss Swann. :biggergrin:I was joking about how cruise ships are filled with old people. At 50+, we're often among the youngsters aboard. And we don't even sail Holland America Line, which is famous for old crowds. :D

[lunchmeat]

Just ran across a news story where the Chinese are massacring cats and dogs around the area where the summer Olympics are to be held. Think I'll give this one a miss.

[jeriddian]

Just ran across a news story where the Chinese are massacring cats and dogs around the area where the summer Olympics are to be held. Think I'll give this one a miss.

That just goes hand in hand with Chinese philosophy on the sanctity of life. It is completely different from the way Westerners look at it.

[Fireand'chutes77]

Just ran across a news story where the Chinese are massacring cats and dogs around the area where the summer Olympics are to be held. Think I'll give this one a miss.

That just goes hand in hand with Chinese philosophy on the sanctity of life. It is completely different from the way Westerners look at it.
Right, remind me.... How in hell did the Chinese nab the Olympic nomination? :huh:

[Kwebs]

Just ran across a news story where the Chinese are massacring cats and dogs around the area where the summer Olympics are to be held. Think I'll give this one a miss.

That just goes hand in hand with Chinese philosophy on the sanctity of life. It is completely different from the way Westerners look at it.
Right, remind me.... How in hell did the Chinese nab the Olympic nomination? :huh:

With the promise of lots and lots of cat and dog chowmain. :laugh:










Ok bad joke. :o

[jeriddian]

Just ran across a news story where the Chinese are massacring cats and dogs around the area where the summer Olympics are to be held. Think I'll give this one a miss.

That just goes hand in hand with Chinese philosophy on the sanctity of life. It is completely different from the way Westerners look at it.
Right, remind me.... How in hell did the Chinese nab the Olympic nomination? :huh:

With the promise of lots and lots of cat and dog chowmain. :laugh:










Ok bad joke. :o
Oooooh...................:ohmy:........You deserved to be banned just for that.:rolleyes:..........okay, I won't......:P

But as to how they got the Olympics? What else.....politics, politics, politics...........:dubiety:

[GhostWhiter]

Just ran across a news story where the Chinese are massacring cats and dogs around the area where the summer Olympics are to be held. Think I'll give this one a miss.

That just goes hand in hand with Chinese philosophy on the sanctity of life. It is completely different from the way Westerners look at it.
Right, remind me.... How in hell did the Chinese nab the Olympic nomination? :huh:

With the promise of lots and lots of cat and dog chowmain. :laugh:

Ok bad joke. :o

Bad joke or stomach-churning reality? From the Wikipedia article for Chow Chow: In China, some farms still raise a variety of dog breeds, including Chows, for meat and hides. :eek:

FYI, also from this Wikipedia article: However, the breed is not named Chow Chow because they make good "chow", as is commonly supposed. In fact, when they were first shipped to England in the late 18th century, they arrived in the holds of ships, marked "chow chow", Chinese pidgin English for miscellaneous merchandise. The customs people simply assumed that was what they were called and the name stuck.

[lunchmeat]

Just ran across a news story where the Chinese are massacring cats and dogs around the area where the summer Olympics are to be held. Think I'll give this one a miss.

That just goes hand in hand with Chinese philosophy on the sanctity of life. It is completely different from the way Westerners look at it.
Right, remind me.... How in hell did the Chinese nab the Olympic nomination? :huh:


Same way Jimmy Carter got the Nobel Prize, the comittee was showing it's disapproval of President Bush.

[kyojikasshu]

I'm fairly sure that there was a stray dog problem leading up to the Athens games four years ago... but those were genuine strays, wild dogs. What's happening over there in China, that's just messed up. Of course, part of it is lack of responsible information flowing to the people, causing hysteria...

The only Olympic event I even have interest in anymore is hockey, and that's in the Winter Games anyway.

[campy]

Happy Pi Day, everyone! It's 3/14, so it's time to celebrate our favorite irrational number. :D

http://www.unihedron.com/projects/pi/full_thumbnail.jpg

[Cody MacArthur Fett]

Happy Pi Day, everyone! It's 3/14, so it's time to celebrate our favorite irrational number. :D

http://www.unihedron.com/projects/pi/full_thumbnail.jpg

I have a question :huh:: has anyone actually managed to figure out every numeral in pi, or is doing so just the mythical Holy Grail of mathematics?

[campy]

Happy Pi Day, everyone! It's 3/14, so it's time to celebrate our favorite irrational number. :D
I have a question :huh:: has anyone actually managed to figure out every numeral in pi, or is doing so just the mythical Holy Grail of mathematics?It's impossible. There is no "every numeral" in pi; it just keeps going on forever ... :alumnus:

It's an irrational number, meaning it can't be represented as m/n, where m and n are integers.

[Cody MacArthur Fett]

Happy Pi Day, everyone! It's 3/14, so it's time to celebrate our favorite irrational number. :D
I have a question :huh:: has anyone actually managed to figure out every numeral in pi, or is doing so just the mythical Holy Grail of mathematics?It's impossible. There is no "every numeral" in pi; it just keeps going on forever ... :alumnus:

It's an irrational number, meaning it can't be represented as m/n, where m and n are integers.
Cerebral . . . Well that's it then, pi's the perfect logic bomb for computers. Just send the whole goramn mathematical equation in a zipped folder and BLAM! So long hard drive, all the space will be taken up by your computer trying to find an end to pi . . . Whoa, Ron Stoppable moment right there.

[GhostWhiter]

Whoa, Ron Stoppable moment right there.

What?

Endless pie?:rolleyes:

Seems more of a Rufus moment to me.:P:laugh:

[Cody MacArthur Fett]

Whoa, Ron Stoppable moment right there.What?

Endless pie?:rolleyes:

Seems more of a Rufus moment to me.:P:laugh:
No, I was actually talking about accidentally encouraging people to become supervillains, or in this case, create super viruses.

As for the pie . . . Well, we always knew that Ron and Rufus were the modern day incarnations of Shaggy and Scooby. :laugh:

[GhostWhiter]

Happy Pi Day, everyone! It's 3/14, so it's time to celebrate our favorite irrational number. :D

Well, as long as we're required to be irrational :innocent:....

I prefer e the base number for natural logarithms.

The numerical value of e truncated to a lot of (a very scientific term) :rolleyes: decimal places is:

2.718281828459045235360287471352662497757247093699 9595749669676277240766303535
47594571382178525166427427466391932003059921817413 596629043572900334295260595630
73813232862794349076323382988075319525101901157383 418793070215408914993488416750
92447614606680822648001684774118537423454424371075 390777449920695517027618386062
61331384583000752044933826560297606737113200709328 709127443747047230696977209310
14169283681902551510865746377211125238978442505695 369677078544996996794686445490
59879316368892300987931277361782154249992295763514 822082698951936680331825288693
98496465105820939239829488793320362509443117301238 197068416140397019837679320683
28237646480429531180232878250981945581530175671736 133206981125099618188159304169
03515988885193458072738667385894228792284998920868 058257492796104841984443634632
44968487560233624827041978623209002160990235304369 941849146314093431738143640546
25315209618369088870701676839642437814059271456354 906130310720851038375051011574
77041718986106873969655212671546889570350354021234 078498193343210681701210056278
80235193033224745015853904730419957777093503660416 997329725088687696640355570716
22684471625607988265178713419512466520103059212366 771943252786753985589448969709
64097545918569563802363701621120477427228364896134 225164450781824423529486363721
41740238893441247963574370263755294448337998016125 492278509257782562092622648326
27793338656648162772516401910590049164499828931505 660472580277863186415519565324
42586982946959308019152987211725563475463964479101 459040905862984967912874068705
04895858671747985466775757320568128845920541334053 922000113786300945560688166740
01698420558040336379537645203040243225661352783695 117788386387443966253224985065
49958862342818997077332761717839280349465014345588 970719425863987727547109629537
41521115136835062752602326484728703920764310059584 116612054529703023647254929666
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81395599006737648292244375287184624578036192981971 399147564488262603903381441823
26251509748279877799643730899703888677822713836057 729788241256119071766394650706
33045279546618550966661856647097113444740160704626 215680717481877844371436988218
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86360606458459251269946557248391865642097526850823 075442545993769170419777800853
62730941710163434907696423722294352366125572508814 779223151974778060569672538017
18077636034624592787784658506560507808442115296975 218908740196609066518035165017
92504619501366585436632712549639908549144200014574 760819302212066024330096412704
89439039717719518069908699860663658323227870937650 226014929101151717763594460202
32493002804018677239102880978666056511832600436885 088171572386698422422010249505
51881694803221002515426494639812873677658927688163 598312477886520141174110913601
16499507662907794364600585194199856016264790761532 103872755712699251827568798930
27617611461625493564959037980458381823233686120162 437365698467037858533052758333
37939907521660692380533698879565137285593883499894 707416181550125397064648171946
70834819721448889879067650379590366967249499254527 903372963616265897603949857674
13973594410237443297093554779826296145914429364514 286171585873397467918975712119
56187385783644758448423555581050025611492391518893 099463428413936080383091662818
81150371528496705974162562823609216807515017772538 740256425347087908913729172282
86115159156837252416307722544063378759310598267609 442032619242853170187817729602
35413060672136046000389661093647095141417185777014 180606443636815464440053316087
78314317444081194942297559931401188868331483280270 655383300469329011574414756313
99972217038046170928945790962716622607407187499753 592127560844147378233032703301
68237193648002173285734935947564334129943024850235 732214597843282641421684878721
67336701061509424345698440187331281010794512722373 788612605816566805371439612788
87325273738903928905068653241380627960259303877276 977837928684093253658807339884
57218746021005311483351323850047827169376218004904 795597959290591655470505777514
30817511269898518840871856402603530558373783242292 418562564425502267215598027401
26179719280471396006891638286652770097527670697770 364392602243728418408832518487
70472638440379530166905465937461619323840363893131 364327137688841026811219891275
22305625675625470172508634976536728860596675274086 862740791285657699631378975303
46606166698042182677245605306607738996242183408598 820718646826232150802882863597
46839654358856685503773131296587975810501214916207 656769950659715344763470320853
21560367482860837865680307306265763346977429563464 371670939719306087696349532884
68336130388294310408002968738691170666661468000151 211434422560238744743252507693
87077775193299942137277211258843608715834835626961 661980572526612206797540621062
08064988291845439530152998209250300549825704339055 357016865312052649561485724925
73862069174036952135337325316663454665885972866594 511364413703313936721185695539
52108458407244323835586063106806964924851232632699 514603596037297253198368423363
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32881120521464898051800920247193917105553901139433 166815158288436876069611025051
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57767571118090088164183319201962623416288166521374 717325477727783488774366518828
75215668571950637193656539038944936642176400312152 787022236646363575550356557694
88865495002708539236171055021311474137441061344455 441921013361729962856948991933
69184729478580729156088510396781959429833186480756 083679551496636448965592948187
85178403877332624705194505041984774201418394773120 281588684570729054405751060128
52580565947030468363445926525521370080687520095934 536073162261187281739280746230
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34573015333642630767985443385761715333462325270572 005303988289499034259566232975
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86318635287083799845692619981794523364087429591180 747453419551420351726184200845
50917084568236820089773945584267921427347756087964 427920270831215015640634134161
71664480698154837644915739001212170415478725919989 438253649505147713793991472052
19529079396137621107238494290616357604596231253506 068537651423115349665683715116
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39157542419296607312393763542139230617876753958711 436104089409966089471418340698
36299367536262154524729846421375289107988438130609 555262272083751862983706678722
44301957937937860721072542772890717328548743743557 819665117166183308811291202452
04048682200072344035025448202834254187884653602591 506445271657700044521097735585
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90180764060421383073087744601708426882722611771808 426643336517800021719034492342
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94324426144566592129122564889356965500915430642613 425266847259491431423939884543
24863274618428466559853323122104662598901417121034 460842716166190012571958707932
17569698544013397622096749454185407118446433946990 162698351607848924514058940946
39526780735457970030705116368251948770118976400282 764841416058720618418529718915
40196882532893091496653457535714273184820163846448 324990378860690080727093276731
27581966563941148961716832980455139729506687604740 915420428429993541025829113502
24169076943166857424252250902693903481485645130306 992519959043638402842926741257
34224477655841778861717372654620854982944989467873 509295816526320722589923687684
57017823038096567883112289305809140572610865884845 873101658151167533327674887014
82916741970151255978257270740643180860142814902414 678047232759768426963393577354
29301867394397163886117642090040686633988568416810 038723892144831760701166845038
87212364367043314091155733280182977988736590916659 612402021778558854876176161989
37079438005666336488436508914480557103976521469602 766258359905198704230017946553
67885674302859746001437854832370687011900784994049 309189191816493272597740300748
79681484882342932023012128032327460392219687528340 516906974194257614673978110715
46418627336909158497318501118396048253351874843892 317729261354302493256289637136
19772854566229244616444972845978677115741256703078 718851093363444801496752406185
36569532074170533486782754827815415561966911055101 472799040386897220465550833170
78239480878599050194756310898412414467282186545997 159663901564194175182093593261
63168883801327587526014605076760983926257264111201 352885913178482994756824725648
85533357279772205543568126302535748216585414000805 314820697137262149755576051890
48162237679041492674260007104592269531483518813746 388710427354476762357793399397
06323966049691453032738878745579059349377723201429 548033450006952569809352828877
83710670585567749481373858630385762823040694005665 340584887527005308832459182183
49431804983419963998145877343586311594057044368351 528538360944295596436067609022
17418968835481316439974377641583652422346426195973 904554506806952328507518687194
49064767791886720306418630751053512149851051207313 846648717547518382979990189317
75155063998101646641459210240683829460320853555405 814715927322067756766921366408
15059008069525406106285364082932766219319399338616 238360691117677854482361293268
58199965239275488427435414402884536455595124735546 139403154952097397051896240157
97683263945063323045219264504965173546677569929571 898969047090273028854494541669
97919929480382549802859460290527631455803165140662 291712234293758061439934849143
62107993576737317948964252488813720435579287511385 856973381976083524423240466778
02094839963994668483377470672548361884827300064831 916382602211055522124673332318
44630055044818499169966220877461402161570210296033 185887273332987793525701823938
61244026868339555870607758169954398469568540671174 444932479519572159419645863736
12691552645757478698596424217659289686238350637043 393981167139754473622862550680
36826641355414480489977213731741191999700172939073 033508690209225191244473932783
76156321810842898207706974138707053266117683698647 741787180202729412982310888796
83188085436732780687977165911165422445380662586171 172949803824887998650406156397
56299369628093581897614910171453435566595427570641 944088338168411111662007597872
44137082333917886114708228657531078536674695018462 140736493917366254937783014074
30266842215033511773647185387232404042103790775026 602011481493548222891666364078
24501668153412135052785785393326061102498022730936 367402135153864316930152674605
36064351732154701091440650878823636764236831187390 937464232609021646365627553976
83401948293279575062439964527257862440037598342205 080893512902312247597064410567
83618708771723335554654825989068612014101072224659 040085537982352538851716235182
56518482203125214950700378300411216212126052726059 944320443056274522916128891766
81416063913123597535039032007752958739241247645185 080916391145929607115634420434
71335447209811784614510778723991406062902282766643 092649005922498102910687594345
33858330391178747575977065953570979640012224092199 031158229259667913153991561438
07012926078019702258966292336815431249941225946002 339947222817105660393187722680
04938331489803385489094686851307892920642428191747 958661999444111962087304980643
85006852620258432842085582338566936649849720817046 135376163584015342840674118587... Wow! I can't believe someone actually scrolled to the bottom! :harhar:

[TransWarpDrive]

Happy Pi Day, everyone! It's 3/14, so it's time to celebrate our favorite irrational number.
I'll just have a slice of pumpkin pi to go, please.... :P

[Cody MacArthur Fett]

Happy Pi Day, everyone! It's 3/14, so it's time to celebrate our favorite irrational number. :D

Well, as long as we're required to be irrational :innocent:....

I prefer e the base number for natural logarithms.

The numerical value of e truncated to a lot of (a very scientific term) :rolleyes: decimal places is:

2.718281828459045235360287471352662497757247093699 9595749669676277240766303535
47594571382178525166427427466391932003059921817413 596629043572900334295260595630
73813232862794349076323382988075319525101901157383 418793070215408914993488416750
92447614606680822648001684774118537423454424371075 390777449920695517027618386062
61331384583000752044933826560297606737113200709328 709127443747047230696977209310
14169283681902551510865746377211125238978442505695 369677078544996996794686445490
59879316368892300987931277361782154249992295763514 822082698951936680331825288693
98496465105820939239829488793320362509443117301238 197068416140397019837679320683
28237646480429531180232878250981945581530175671736 133206981125099618188159304169
03515988885193458072738667385894228792284998920868 058257492796104841984443634632
44968487560233624827041978623209002160990235304369 941849146314093431738143640546
25315209618369088870701676839642437814059271456354 906130310720851038375051011574
77041718986106873969655212671546889570350354021234 078498193343210681701210056278
80235193033224745015853904730419957777093503660416 997329725088687696640355570716
22684471625607988265178713419512466520103059212366 771943252786753985589448969709
64097545918569563802363701621120477427228364896134 225164450781824423529486363721
41740238893441247963574370263755294448337998016125 492278509257782562092622648326
27793338656648162772516401910590049164499828931505 660472580277863186415519565324
42586982946959308019152987211725563475463964479101 459040905862984967912874068705
04895858671747985466775757320568128845920541334053 922000113786300945560688166740
01698420558040336379537645203040243225661352783695 117788386387443966253224985065
49958862342818997077332761717839280349465014345588 970719425863987727547109629537
41521115136835062752602326484728703920764310059584 116612054529703023647254929666
93811513732275364509888903136020572481765851180630 364428123149655070475102544650
11727211555194866850800368532281831521960037356252 794495158284188294787610852639
81395599006737648292244375287184624578036192981971 399147564488262603903381441823
26251509748279877799643730899703888677822713836057 729788241256119071766394650706
33045279546618550966661856647097113444740160704626 215680717481877844371436988218
55967095910259686200235371858874856965220005031173 439207321139080329363447972735
59552773490717837934216370120500545132638354400018 632399149070547977805669785335
80489669062951194324730995876552368128590413832411 607226029983305353708761389396
39177957454016137223618789365260538155841587186925 538606164779834025435128439612
94603529133259427949043372990857315802909586313826 832914771163963370924003168945
86360606458459251269946557248391865642097526850823 075442545993769170419777800853
62730941710163434907696423722294352366125572508814 779223151974778060569672538017
18077636034624592787784658506560507808442115296975 218908740196609066518035165017
92504619501366585436632712549639908549144200014574 760819302212066024330096412704
89439039717719518069908699860663658323227870937650 226014929101151717763594460202
32493002804018677239102880978666056511832600436885 088171572386698422422010249505
51881694803221002515426494639812873677658927688163 598312477886520141174110913601
16499507662907794364600585194199856016264790761532 103872755712699251827568798930
27617611461625493564959037980458381823233686120162 437365698467037858533052758333
37939907521660692380533698879565137285593883499894 707416181550125397064648171946
70834819721448889879067650379590366967249499254527 903372963616265897603949857674
13973594410237443297093554779826296145914429364514 286171585873397467918975712119
56187385783644758448423555581050025611492391518893 099463428413936080383091662818
81150371528496705974162562823609216807515017772538 740256425347087908913729172282
86115159156837252416307722544063378759310598267609 442032619242853170187817729602
35413060672136046000389661093647095141417185777014 180606443636815464440053316087
78314317444081194942297559931401188868331483280270 655383300469329011574414756313
99972217038046170928945790962716622607407187499753 592127560844147378233032703301
68237193648002173285734935947564334129943024850235 732214597843282641421684878721
67336701061509424345698440187331281010794512722373 788612605816566805371439612788
87325273738903928905068653241380627960259303877276 977837928684093253658807339884
57218746021005311483351323850047827169376218004904 795597959290591655470505777514
30817511269898518840871856402603530558373783242292 418562564425502267215598027401
26179719280471396006891638286652770097527670697770 364392602243728418408832518487
70472638440379530166905465937461619323840363893131 364327137688841026811219891275
22305625675625470172508634976536728860596675274086 862740791285657699631378975303
46606166698042182677245605306607738996242183408598 820718646826232150802882863597
46839654358856685503773131296587975810501214916207 656769950659715344763470320853
21560367482860837865680307306265763346977429563464 371670939719306087696349532884
68336130388294310408002968738691170666661468000151 211434422560238744743252507693
87077775193299942137277211258843608715834835626961 661980572526612206797540621062
08064988291845439530152998209250300549825704339055 357016865312052649561485724925
73862069174036952135337325316663454665885972866594 511364413703313936721185695539
52108458407244323835586063106806964924851232632699 514603596037297253198368423363
90463213671011619282171115028280160448805880238203 198149309636959673583274202498
82456849412738605664913525267060462344505492275811 517093149218795927180019409688
66986837037302200475314338181092708030017205935530 520700706072233999463990571311
58709963577735902719628506114651483752620956534671 329002599439766311454590268589
89791158370934193704411551219201171648805669459381 311838437656206278463104903462
93950029458341164824114969758326011800731699437393 506966295712410273239138741754
92307186245454322203955273529524024590380574450289 224688628533654221381572213116
32881120521464898051800920247193917105553901139433 166815158288436876069611025051
71007392762385553386272553538830960671644662370922 646809671254061869502143176211
66814009759528149390722260111268115310838731761732 323526360583817315103459573653
82235349929358228368510078108846343499835184044517 042701893819942434100905753762
57767571118090088164183319201962623416288166521374 717325477727783488774366518828
75215668571950637193656539038944936642176400312152 787022236646363575550356557694
88865495002708539236171055021311474137441061344455 441921013361729962856948991933
69184729478580729156088510396781959429833186480756 083679551496636448965592948187
85178403877332624705194505041984774201418394773120 281588684570729054405751060128
52580565947030468363445926525521370080687520095934 536073162261187281739280746230
94685367823106097921599360019946237993434210687813 497346959246469752506246958616
90917857397659519939299399556754271465491045686070 209901260681870498417807917392
40719459963230602547079017745275131868099822847308 607665368668555164677029113368
27563107223346726113705490795365834538637196235856 312618387156774118738527722922
59474337378569553845624680101390572787101651296663 676445187246565373040244368414
08144887329578473484900030194778880204603246608428 753518483649591950828883232065
22128104190448047247949291342284951970022601310430 062410717971502793433263407995
96053144605323048852897291765987601666781193793237 245385720960758227717848336161
35826128962261181294559274627671377944875867536575 448614076119311259585126557597
34573015333642630767985443385761715333462325270572 005303988289499034259566232975
78248873502925916682589445689465599265845476269452 878051650172067478541788798227
68065366506419109734345288783386217261562695826544 782056729877564263253215942944
18039943217000090542650763095588465895171709147607 437136893319469090981904501290
30709956622662030318264936573369841955577696378762 491885286568660760056602560544
57113372868402055744160308370523122425872234388541 231794813885500756893811249353
86318635287083799845692619981794523364087429591180 747453419551420351726184200845
50917084568236820089773945584267921427347756087964 427920270831215015640634134161
71664480698154837644915739001212170415478725919989 438253649505147713793991472052
19529079396137621107238494290616357604596231253506 068537651423115349665683715116
60422079639446662116325515772907097847315627827759 878813649195125748332879377157
14590910648416426783099497236744201758622694021594 079244805412553604313179926967
39157542419296607312393763542139230617876753958711 436104089409966089471418340698
36299367536262154524729846421375289107988438130609 555262272083751862983706678722
44301957937937860721072542772890717328548743743557 819665117166183308811291202452
04048682200072344035025448202834254187884653602591 506445271657700044521097735585
89762265548494162171498953238342160011406295071849 042778925855274303522139683567
90180764060421383073087744601708426882722611771808 426643336517800021719034492342
64266292261456004337383868335555343453004264818473 989215627086095650629340405264
94324426144566592129122564889356965500915430642613 425266847259491431423939884543
24863274618428466559853323122104662598901417121034 460842716166190012571958707932
17569698544013397622096749454185407118446433946990 162698351607848924514058940946
39526780735457970030705116368251948770118976400282 764841416058720618418529718915
40196882532893091496653457535714273184820163846448 324990378860690080727093276731
27581966563941148961716832980455139729506687604740 915420428429993541025829113502
24169076943166857424252250902693903481485645130306 992519959043638402842926741257
34224477655841778861717372654620854982944989467873 509295816526320722589923687684
57017823038096567883112289305809140572610865884845 873101658151167533327674887014
82916741970151255978257270740643180860142814902414 678047232759768426963393577354
29301867394397163886117642090040686633988568416810 038723892144831760701166845038
87212364367043314091155733280182977988736590916659 612402021778558854876176161989
37079438005666336488436508914480557103976521469602 766258359905198704230017946553
67885674302859746001437854832370687011900784994049 309189191816493272597740300748
79681484882342932023012128032327460392219687528340 516906974194257614673978110715
46418627336909158497318501118396048253351874843892 317729261354302493256289637136
19772854566229244616444972845978677115741256703078 718851093363444801496752406185
36569532074170533486782754827815415561966911055101 472799040386897220465550833170
78239480878599050194756310898412414467282186545997 159663901564194175182093593261
63168883801327587526014605076760983926257264111201 352885913178482994756824725648
85533357279772205543568126302535748216585414000805 314820697137262149755576051890
48162237679041492674260007104592269531483518813746 388710427354476762357793399397
06323966049691453032738878745579059349377723201429 548033450006952569809352828877
83710670585567749481373858630385762823040694005665 340584887527005308832459182183
49431804983419963998145877343586311594057044368351 528538360944295596436067609022
17418968835481316439974377641583652422346426195973 904554506806952328507518687194
49064767791886720306418630751053512149851051207313 846648717547518382979990189317
75155063998101646641459210240683829460320853555405 814715927322067756766921366408
15059008069525406106285364082932766219319399338616 238360691117677854482361293268
58199965239275488427435414402884536455595124735546 139403154952097397051896240157
97683263945063323045219264504965173546677569929571 898969047090273028854494541669
97919929480382549802859460290527631455803165140662 291712234293758061439934849143
62107993576737317948964252488813720435579287511385 856973381976083524423240466778
02094839963994668483377470672548361884827300064831 916382602211055522124673332318
44630055044818499169966220877461402161570210296033 185887273332987793525701823938
61244026868339555870607758169954398469568540671174 444932479519572159419645863736
12691552645757478698596424217659289686238350637043 393981167139754473622862550680
36826641355414480489977213731741191999700172939073 033508690209225191244473932783
76156321810842898207706974138707053266117683698647 741787180202729412982310888796
83188085436732780687977165911165422445380662586171 172949803824887998650406156397
56299369628093581897614910171453435566595427570641 944088338168411111662007597872
44137082333917886114708228657531078536674695018462 140736493917366254937783014074
30266842215033511773647185387232404042103790775026 602011481493548222891666364078
24501668153412135052785785393326061102498022730936 367402135153864316930152674605
36064351732154701091440650878823636764236831187390 937464232609021646365627553976
83401948293279575062439964527257862440037598342205 080893512902312247597064410567
83618708771723335554654825989068612014101072224659 040085537982352538851716235182
56518482203125214950700378300411216212126052726059 944320443056274522916128891766
81416063913123597535039032007752958739241247645185 080916391145929607115634420434
71335447209811784614510778723991406062902282766643 092649005922498102910687594345
33858330391178747575977065953570979640012224092199 031158229259667913153991561438
07012926078019702258966292336815431249941225946002 339947222817105660393187722680
04938331489803385489094686851307892920642428191747 958661999444111962087304980643
85006852620258432842085582338566936649849720817046 135376163584015342840674118587... Wow! I can't believe someone actually scrolled to the bottom! :harhar:
:eek: Holy . . . That's a big number! Sure beats out that post I did when I first got here for sheer hugeness; I mean just look at all those decimal places! :flabbergasted:

Edit: OK, maybe not, but you get my point: that is a really huge number!

[Ran Hakubi]

Oi, all these number, my head is starting to hurt... :errr:

[GhostWhiter]

Happy Pi Day, everyone! It's 3/14, so it's time to celebrate our favorite irrational number. :D

Well, as long as we're required to be irrational :innocent:....

I prefer e the base number for natural logarithms.

The numerical value of e truncated to a lot of (a very scientific term) :rolleyes: decimal places is:
2.718281828459045235360287471352662497757247093699 9595749669676277240766303535
47594571382178525166427427466391932003059921817413 596629043572900334295260595630...
~(yes, I edited it--its only maybe funny once) ~
...85006852620258432842085582338566936649849720817 046135376163584015342840674118587... Wow! I can't believe someone actually scrolled to the bottom! :harhar:
:eek: Holy . . . That's a big number! Sure beats out that post I did when I first got here for sheer hugeness; I mean just look at all those decimal places! :flabbergasted:

Edit: OK, maybe not, but you get my point: that is a really huge number!

That is a huge number of decimal places, but that number is seriously truncated.

Here is a link for e to over 5 million decimal places (http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/gifcity/e.5mil), but even this number is truncated.

Both e and pi are irrational numbers. Meaning they quite literally have no end--like the Energizer Bunny they just keep on going & going & going & going...

[Cody MacArthur Fett]

Happy Pi Day, everyone! It's 3/14, so it's time to celebrate our favorite irrational number. :D

Well, as long as we're required to be irrational :innocent:....

I prefer e the base number for natural logarithms.

The numerical value of e truncated to a lot of (a very scientific term) :rolleyes: decimal places is:
2.718281828459045235360287471352662497757247093699 9595749669676277240766303535
47594571382178525166427427466391932003059921817413 596629043572900334295260595630...
~(yes, I edited it--its only maybe funny once) ~
...85006852620258432842085582338566936649849720817 046135376163584015342840674118587... Wow! I can't believe someone actually scrolled to the bottom! :harhar:
:eek: Holy . . . That's a big number! Sure beats out that post I did when I first got here for sheer hugeness; I mean just look at all those decimal places! :flabbergasted:

Edit: OK, maybe not, but you get my point: that is a really huge number!

That is a huge number of decimal places, but that number is seriously truncated.

Here is a link for e to over 5 million decimal places (http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/gifcity/e.5mil), but even this number is truncated.

Both e and pi are irrational numbers. Meaning they quite literally have no end--like the Energizer Bunny they just keep on going & going & going & going...
& going & going & going & going & going & going & it just doesn't stop. Ain't nothin' that can stop that there bunny, not even ah rattlesnake with ah shotgun on the Fourth oo July.

[Cloud23465]

Am I the only one who's sick of commericals from the oil/gas company making it seem like there our friends? It just makes me sick! There destroying peoples incomes and screwing economys up and they wanna try to act like there the good guys. HA!:angry:

[Fireand'chutes77]

Am I the only one who's sick of commericals from the oil/gas company making it seem like there our friends? It just makes me sick! There destroying peoples incomes and screwing economys up and they wanna try to act like there the good guys. HA!:angry:
Yes, I just tend to laugh derisively when those things come on.... :ohwell:

[campy]

Kinda shakes your faith in gubmint as the all-wise regulator of everything when you're driving along and you see this sign on the highway, doesn't it?

http://jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2008/03/LookoutMountianSign.jpg

[Cloud23465]

Am I the only one who's sick of commericals from the oil/gas company making it seem like there our friends? It just makes me sick! There destroying peoples incomes and screwing economys up and they wanna try to act like there the good guys. HA!:angry:
Yes, I just tend to laugh derisively when those things come on.... :ohwell:

I'm just glad to see even just one person thinks the same thing that I do. I can't complain all that much... I don't have a gas guzzling SUV... I get about 24-32mpg (all depending on the type of driving and distance of course) But it doesn't totally fix the problem of people getting ripped off.:dubiety:

[Cody MacArthur Fett]

Am I the only one who's sick of commericals from the oil/gas company making it seem like there our friends? It just makes me sick! There destroying peoples incomes and screwing economys up and they wanna try to act like there the good guys. HA!:angry:
Yes, I just tend to laugh derisively when those things come on.... :ohwell:

I'm just glad to see even just one person thinks the same thing that I do. I can't complain all that much... I don't have a gas guzzling SUV... I get about 24-32mpg (all depending on the type of driving and distance of course) But it doesn't totally fix the problem of people getting ripped off.:dubiety:
Ah come on, the oil companies aren't evil, they're just drawn that way :laugh:, but no, seriously, they will suck you dry with their outrageous prices. :neutral: So high, so unnecessary, so evil. :ohwell:

[Fireand'chutes77]

So high, so unnecessary, so evil. :ohwell:
Perhaps Bart Lipsky was an oilman. :laugh:

EDIT: And his nigh-forgotten Swiss bank account is where great-grandson Drakken gets a trickle of money to continue his take-over-the-world operations!

[Cody MacArthur Fett]

So high, so unnecessary, so evil. :ohwell:
Perhaps Bart Lipsky was an oilman. :laugh:

EDIT: And his nigh-forgotten Swiss bank account is where great-grandson Drakken gets a trickle of money to continue his take-over-the-world operations!
:laugh: Temping, but I'd have to go with Shego's family being oil tycoons, at least, that is, until the early-mid twentieth century when everyone in the family retired to go help in the war effort, of course the family's savings - massive though they were - mostly went down the drain in the early-90s due to dual expenses; the females of the Go family had this to say on the subject, Shego: You spent our family's savings to build a giant structure shaped like the word 'GO' on a desolate island in the harbor! Isabel: You spent the family fortune to run a campaign for Senate! Needless to say, there are no patriarchs in the Go family (Wow, that's offtopic . . . Oh wait, this is the 'General Discussion' you can't be offtopic, ever). :hmm: Of course the Lipskys could have owed a rival oil company to the Go's, how's that for irony? :laugh: