riddler

I think Gilliam is brilliant, but I really had a hard time following this movie. It's like they gave him unlimited budget and special effects, and he packed so many ludic antics that the scenes became more flash imagery than theater. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Cool! Next tunnel camp, we'll bring DVDs and watch the movies after camp while eating every-flavor beans The last book has already been written, so it's up to the marketing people to figure out how long before releasing it. Speculation is that it might only be one year. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I just got dragged to this movie. I hated the previews and hated the story concept, and wasn't looking forward to it. But ... I haven't laughed so much in a long time. The movie was very reminiscent of "There's Something About Mary". Worth the price of admission. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Finally something that is better than the boobies threads. Two hot girls kissing thread Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Have to admit - I've some some great meals at Krishna temples. The Christians haven't figured this out yet - the most you get there is stale bread and cheap wine. If all churches had regular meals, they would really up attendance. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Joe - you're from Boston and you now live in Denver. People in the east coast talk a lot. People here don't talk at all. Think Clint Eastwood Anyone that talks a lot is considered a "rabble-rouser" Save up your money and travel to other countries with friends. When you come back, you won't feel so out of place. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

They had a B-17 at WFFC in four or five years ago. Does anyone else know if it still flies jumpers? I heard tickets were a few hundred dollars, and the money went to a charity. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

That's right, Andrea - keep the fantasy going for all of us Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Really fun movie! Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

What people don't realize is that doctors are just human beings. Well-trained human beings, but subject to the same prejudices and misinformation that the rest of us are. That's not to say I wouldn't trust a doctor's opinion - I would trust his/her opinion of my body more than I would trust some homeless person living on the street. But I trust my own opinion of my body more than anyone else's. I have to visit a western doctor once a year for an annual physical to keep my scuba instructor rating. Other than that, I wouldn't go unless it's an emergency - I just have very few physical problems. Usually, it's a different doctor every time. Example #1. I'm a fairly thin person. It's not genetic - everyone else in my family is moderately to grossly overweight. I eat well and I get moderate exercise. Every time I see a new doctor, they immediately order a test for diabetes. I've had about 30 tests for diabetes - always negative - sometimes more than one by the same doctor. They see that I am thin, and they apply their prejudice - a thin person must be anorexic or diabetic. Sometimes, they think their prejudices are more significant than the test results, so they want me to be retested. I try to explain my lifestyle, but it's really hard to break through to doctors, especially ones that have been trained to make prejudicial decisions. Example #2. About 10 years ago, I developed some mild digestive problems. Doctors said it was stress. Stress is the word that doctors use when they don't know the cause - stress is always an aggravating factor, but rarely a cause. Sometime, during many doctor's visits, it came out that ulcers were not caused by stress after all; they are caused by bacteria. I read this in the newspaper. On the next doctor's visit, they wanted to test me for stomach bacteria. They had no reason to think I had ulcers (I never had) - but they read the same newspaper and wondered the same thing - maybe I had ulcers. I'm sure after that newspaper article, a LOT of people got the same tests. Maybe a few people benefited, but I'm sure most people just got unnecessarily tested. Example #3. "Try this and see if it helps". Doctors are influenced by pharmaceutical companies, the same way that our politicians are influenced by special interest groups. They are wined and dined, and are pushed drugs the way a common street-drug peddler pushes crack on kids. On several office visits, I've been given sample drugs to try, without ever having a test for the specific cause. Insurance companies don't want to pay for tests, but sample drugs are free. If it helps, it helps. If it doesn't, no harm done - maybe. Or maybe you're part of the unlucky 1% that has severe reactions to the drug. I guess that risk is a lot cheaper than running tests, and looking for the real cause. Example #4. I get occasional U.T. infections once every few years. Rare for guys, but for some reason, I'm susceptible. The doctor's first prejudice is that I'm probably gay. After I tell them I'm not, they usually recommend cranberry juice. It doesn't work for me - the only thing that works that I've found so far is Cipro (an antibiotic). It used to be not that hard to get Cipro. Then after 9/11, everyone started stocking up, fearing a terrorist biological attack. Then doctors stopped giving Cipro to people - the next predjudice is that I'm just a fear-laden end-of-the-world survivalist nut. So I don't get medicine to help with my medical problem. Now, every few years, I buy Cipro from Mexican pharmaceutical companies, and bypass the doctors altogether. All of these examples are from my own experiences. Not that doctors haven't helped me in the past. Western doctors have mended a few broken bones and yanked out a bad appendix that otherwise would've killed me. Eastern doctors have given me remedies for mild colds, and I get regular massage and I occasionally get chiropractic work. But overall, I'm more unsatisfied with doctors than I am satisfied. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Well, she certainly doesn't look like the child of Meryl Streep and Sam Neil. But she kind of looks like the child of ... Mick Jagger ... and ... a dingo? Maybe the next movie will be called "my real mother was a dingo". Edit - found some pics of the Chamberlains and Horsburgh. You be the judge - they don't look like her parents to me. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Personally, I don't care if parents let their kids jump - that's their decision. But I do care about how it affects my own jumping. At the point that kids start dying while skydiving, the FAA will step in and start regulating a LOT more than they do now. We don't need that kind of government interference in skydiving. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I would do it now. If you are committed, you can get it done before it starts to get cold. But cold will be the last thing on your mind. You'll be so excited about your AFF jumps, you probably won't really notice the temperature. I did AFF from September through November, then kept jumping, even through February. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

?? Please enlighten. What is a foam party? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I liked the first story better Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Man, I had one job I hated during the INTERVIEW And it went downhill from there. But I needed the money, so I stayed there for eight months before striking out on my own. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Gotta jump in here with pics from Nolan Lake a month ago - still snow (glacier) in July. But at 11,000 feet, anything is possible Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

There are worse places in the world. I have a few friends that may be headed for Nigeria soon. I'd rather go to Iraq - it's probably safer. Edit - ok, I'm worng about that! According to Forbes, the most dangerous places, 2005 are: • Afghanistan • Cote d'Ivoire • Democratic Republic of the Congo • Haiti • Iraq • Kyrgyzstan • Liberia • Somalia • Sudan • Togo • Zimbabwe Good luck, man! Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I've got some good video of someone getting a crotch-shot with a flaming roll of toilet paper Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Those that aren't familiar with Keyhole Markup Language, check here: http://www.keyhole.com/kml/kml_doc.html Edit - or if you just want to download the application, click here : http://kh.google.com/download/earth/index.html Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

The Internet is the great equalizer, and I believe it will be responsible for wealth redistribution from America to other, poorer countries, due to our complete lack of foresight in this area. The American government doesn't want to pay for it - they want corporations to pay for it so they can "regulate" (i.e. collect taxes) on it. The lawyers and lobbyists are vying for special interest which doesn't allow for competition. Technology companies haven't even attempted to make is easy enough for the average person to use. American IT workers are going to wake up poor and have to immigrate to Mexico or Southeast Asia to find a decent job. Another thing you can find in even the poorest countries that you can't find here - Internet Cafes. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I love animals. I love cats, dogs, beavers , et al. But I ... HATE ... squirrels. hate 'em. Live downtown, and they are a nuisance. OK, I like their cute little paws that look like little people hands. But I say kill 'em all. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

On my first balloon jump, I was so excited I forgot to put the goggles from around my neck back on my face. Even on a balloon jump, I like goggles on better - jumps are nicer when you're not exerting energy on squinting and blinking tears. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Looks like a water mocassin to me. But I've never seen one that big! Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I have no problem with that. I know I can out-fart her. It's kinda like Iraq/Iran saying they have better rifles. Doesn't matter, 'cause we have nukes. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD