riddler

Disclaimer - I ain't no lawyer: Maybe we should lay back and assume this is only a rumor until we hear the truth of the matter. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

From the above-linked web site: Don't know if that's true or not. It does look like at least two of the three conditions needed for a tornado - I've been in a few Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I used to get those when I lived in Central CO. They are huge, they make huge webs, and when you get close they start bouncing up and down on them. I think it's a warning, but it's also how they attempt to trap nearby flying insects - by pushing their web into them. If you don't want them living on your porch, just take their web down. They'll make another one the next night. Take that down too. Usually after the third night, they get the hint and leave. Just gotta be more persistent than them. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Great story, Twardo!

Perfectly good example of an educational discount. Doesn't mean iPods are educational. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Gotta love the marketing machine. "Educational discount" - maybe that's for students that just can't do homework unless they got good tunes going on in the background Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

This looks like a HUGE recall, spanning several years, and about 4 million vehicles. It looks like you only have to worry about it if you have factory cruise control: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050907/ap_on_bi_ge/ford_toyota_recalls I think my truck is gonna get recalled Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I'm not a TI, but I've had a few broken/bruised tailbone injuries from skydiving, landing on my butt. Maybe landing on your butt reduces leg injuries, but it seems like it would increase the chance of spinal compression/back injuries. Pick your poison, I guess - I'd rather chance a leg injury. On my first skydive (tandem), I distinctly remember sliding on my butt for about 15 feet. Good thing I was wearing underwear I didn't like On my next AFF jump (level 1), I also landed on my butt (reverting back to the tandem training), and bruised my tailbone. Would've been OK with that, except for the 30-hour flight to Singapore later that week Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Slide. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

There are people with 1000 jumps that think 100 jumps is not enough. Then there are people with 5000 jumps that think the AFF requirements are too low. I find myself falling into this trap. This weekend, I watched a friend of mine that started jumping two years ago teach a tracking camp, and lead several dozen-way tracking dives. I thought - wow! Why is this guy leading tracking dives? He's not very experienced and I remember when he was a sky-baby. But then I realized what the hell do I know anyway? Maybe 100 or more of his 300+ jumps are tracking jumps? I've done tracking jumps with him before, so I know he can do them. Does it matter if he's not as good as a someone with 5000 jumps? Maybe he's a better back-tracker than that 5000-jump wonder? Maybe he's the only one at this DZ with the motivation and enthusiasm to put together a camp and actually do the jumps. Back to coaching. Fact is, there are requirements to coach. 100 jumps, demonstrate in-air skills, demonstrate ground-teaching skills. To me, if you can do those things, you can coach. Coaches don't pull for students, they don't demonstrate method-specific sections. Usually, they fall straight down and watch people. Does that take 100 jumps? They have to prove they can do that to get the rating, so I guess that proves it. If the 100 jump rule doesn't work, then USPA will up the jump number requirement. Second thing. Skydiving is an individual sport, and individuals show competence in some areas, and weaknesses in some areas. The coach course will prove that they have minimum requirements in all areas. Coaching will allow them to improve those areas they are weak in. There are some jumpers out there that are good enough to be coaches at 50 jumps - not many, but some. Who is to say that they aren't good enough without evaluating them individually? Would you judge someone that has less jumps than you based solely on that number? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I guess there's just no farting around you either You wanna make the jump, you gotta pay the price. jumpticket + equipment cost + risk + smell + squish + noise + pack + cold/hot + ad infinitum = skydive Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Landed in corn once on a demo jump. I figured better to land by the flag and make sure he was OK than just wait for him to walk or limp out. Corn was dead, and too high to see anything. I stuffed several dead cobbs in my jumpsuit and rig. When I walked out, the audience was long gone, but I started stripping in front of my fellow jumpers, and throwing out cobbs periodically Anything to make my friends laugh. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I did some coach jumps with a student (15 jumps) this weekend. She's a nice girl and college student. It didn't bother me that she had trouble spotting - everyone has to practice a few times before they get it. It didn't bother me that she went unstable on her hop-n-pop - she kept cool and arched and pulled eventually. It didn't even bother me that she got lost, didn't follow my canopy, and landed off in a cow pasture - some people get excited and forget to think about where they're landing. All of these problems are solved with time and experience. What bothered me is that I asked her what she really likes about jumping, and she said she didn't know. She said she jumps because her boyfriend does, but most of the time skydiving is a "hassle". I asked her if her boyfriend stopped jumping, would she? She said "probably". Now, in my worthless opinion, this student isn't going to be in the sport very long. She's either going to A) Break up with her boyfriend and stop jumping B) Decide that she can't afford it anymore and stop jumping C) Get tired of the hassle and stop jumping, or any number of other reasons. I guess a lot of people quit the sport eventually, but what if they're not even excited about it to begin with? I know some people believe it's just a business and you get paid for what you do. But really, for me it's so much more than that. I really like when students are excited about jumping - their enthusiasm makes me excited about it as well. I like jumping as both a student and teacher, and learning and teaching. I like the friends I make in the sport, and I hope that they are people that I can have friendships with, even outside of the DZ. How do I feel when a student doesn't really like jumping? Frankly, I feel like I'm wasting my time. How would you feel? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I refuse to answer until you post YOUR numbers Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

1:4:0 Some good jumps after a little bit of a break from jumping. 1 2-way belly, 2 coach jumps, 1 sunset tracking dive. I don't drink anymore, so I suspect that last number will frequently be zero. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Cool! Pretty soon, you'll pass me up. Yesterday I did my 333 jump. I guess I really am half-bad? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

***well, I COULD just get pregnant*** Not bad. But what can I do to get my mom to shut up about grandkids? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Dust Devils! http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20050819a/dd_enhanced_568b-B558R1.gif Recently captured images from the Spirit Rover. Kinda looks like Eloy on a bad day Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Bush will also be responsible for nominating another Supreme Court Justice. Outside of the President's power to wage war, I feel that this is greatest power that the President has - justices have lifetime appointments, and they tend to be more conservative when nominated by Republican presidents, and more liberal when nominated by Democratic presidents. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Sure! We had a great time. Hook has some pics of flyangle2 throwing up after dinner - let's see if we can get him to share Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Way to go B^2!!

Wait - are you saying that if guys get married, we can get a free car out of it? If I'd known that, I'd have married a few times by now. '82 F-150 - mom's car. Semi hit me. Totaled. '93 Chevy Spectrum. Mom gave me. I drove the crap out of that thing - was pretty reliable. Traded for: '99 F-150. Still have it. Still love it. Needs some work. '95 Gulfstream Sunvoyager. What can I say? It's my house on wheels. Handles great, poor gas mileage. Ford Chassis - some electrical problems. Transmission is touchy. Next car will probably be a small, easily towable, good gas mileage car. I've driven a lot of cars and rented (long term) a lot of cars. I like Fords. Don't know why - they just work well for me. Cars I've rented, just this year: 2005 Chrysler 300M - Motortrends car of the year, rented for one month. What a piece of shit! I've never seen a new car with more manufacturing defects. Defective brakes. Defective exhaust manifold. Engine stalls periodically. Looks great, good turning radius, big engine. Everything else sucks. My neighbor, the president of the Colorado Auto Dealer's Association, got a free one of these - top of the line. He's already had some problems with it. 2005 Dodge Stratus, rented one month - OK car. Pretty zippy. Touchy on brakes. Not very comfortable seats. 2004 Dodge Durango, rented 3 weeks. Nice car! Very fun to drive. Pretty bad gas mileage, but I had a blast sucking down that gas. 2005 Nissan XTerra, rented one month - This turd was reminiscant of crappy 70's japanese cars, not the nice ones you see today. Felt like driving a toy. Lawnmower engine, cheap plastic interior. Every time I stepped into it, I thought "o no! Godzirra!" 2005 Ford Taurus, rented one month. Best car I've ever rented. Reliable, comfortable, not flashy. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Dude - we had a little pity party JUST FOR YOU, and who didn't even show up? You. Remember that next time you're feeling sorry for yourself Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Make that two for me - Jeannie changed her mind and wants to come too. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I think it's upside-down. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD