riddler

If you spend any significant time with sharks, you will get bumped. It's just a friendly way of saying "if I give you a love bite, will you fight back?". The "love bite" is just another way of saying "you look friendly, does this hurt?" If you bump them back, they'll get the hint that it's not worth it. I've seen a few people get the "love bite" and whack the sharks back. They're not going to try to eat you unless you're halfway dead. They even bump each other - it's great fun hanging with the gang and acting tough Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

If that argument were true, then the countries with the largest landmass would be the most powerful. Instead, the countries with the most wealth are the most powerful (Japan is roughly the size of California, is the second wealthiest country, and gets the US to go to war in the middle east when it's oil supply in Kuwait is threatened). The basis of governmental power in today's world is relative worth combined with the cooperation of it's citizens. I would say your argument is a good attempt at a stretch, but it's not - it's a quite poor stretch of verbiage. Here's how Wikipedia defines politics (note the complete lack of reference to land): Let's see: 1. I said war is fought for money and land. Not religion or politics. 2. You said all acquisition of land is political. 3. I said "is not" 4. You said "prove it isn't" I call impasse. To me, the war in Iraq was fought for oil (not political, money). The US Revolutionary War was fought with England over taxes (political ideology was a good excuse, though). The Spanish-American war was fought because the US was feeling expansionist (the US government made a claim that the Spanish were denying Cuban independence, as if they cared). The War of 1812 - the US started that one because the British were blockading French exports to the US (how is that political?). You may buy the official government word on why these wars started, but historians would probably side with economics and land-grabbing as the primary reason. Edit for grammer Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

It's a nice design for sure, but I think that the guy flying the wingsuit with jets on his feet should get credit for the "first". Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I read the title and I thought you were talking about me. If the suppository fits ... Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Hmm - still don't see anything about taking land in here. Am I missing it? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

That doesn't stop the most powerful countries in the world from doing it and branding it "war". What do you call it when rich corporations pay politicians to send their citizens to war for their own profit? Conscription? Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions on who gets what. Land-grabbing, which is entirely different, falls into two categories: A) Unclaimed land is annexed. This may involve taking it from "heathens" that don't count as people anyway. B) Claimed land is appropriated by force. This usually involves war, but there may be acquiescence in the face of superior armies. Neither of these two fall into the realm of "politics". But it sure it easier to convince a nation to make war when the other side are "commies" or "heathens". Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

War is most often fought for money and land. Politics and religion are just excuses to make the masses feel good about the war. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Every US presidential election, I am besieged by emails claiming the candidates are devil-worshippers, baby-rapers, aliens from other planets, etc. Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but they might as well be, considering how silly most of them are. From my perspective, there are more emails from right-wingers than left. Also, the right-wing emails are much more ludicrous, typically. That's not to say I don't hear about both sides. But the emails that stand out are the ones that have one thing in common - complete and utter fraudulent lying. I'm not talking about someone misunderstanding something, I'm talking about people willing to lie to promote a political agenda, and do so with overstated gusto. The popular email that I've seen or heard of a few times just this week is about how Obama is trying to influence politics in Africa (status: false). This one actually points out the perpetrators (Celeste and Loren Davis). Are they hoping that a lot of voters go to the election booths with these ideas in their heads? So I started looking at Snopes to keep track of this. What I see today about the three candidates that are still in contention for the Presidential race are: John McCain - 2 items, 1 true, 1 undetermined. 0% lies. Barack Obama - 16 items, 1 true, 3 half-truths, 1 undetermined and 11 complete lies. 69% lies. Hillary (and Bill) Clinton - 26 items, 1 true, 4 half-truths, 5 undetermined, 2 unclassifiable and 14 lies. 54% lies. The Clintons have been in the political limelight longer, so I figured I would look at George W. Bush as well: W - 47 items, 20 true, 4 half-truths, 2 unclassifiable, 4 undetermined, 17 lies. 36% lies. Of course, none of this has any bearing on how good of a President any of these people would make. But why more lies about Democrats than Republicans? I mean, if it's all made up anyway, why does no one write about how McCain bleaches his skin, or how Reagan was really an animatron? Are Republican die-hards more willing to sit down and craft a completely bogus email than Democratic die-hards? Are the supporters of one party less willing to check facts? Edit to improve markup. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Is this a question about skydivers, or about human nature? I remember a news poll that asked the same thing about drivers - how well do you drive an automobile compared to others? There were more choices, excellent, above average, average, below average, poor. Something like 85% said they were "above average". Then they asked what they thought of other drivers - more than 50% said that all the others drivers on the road were all "below average" I'm not sure most people understand the concept of "average" FYI - I rated myself average. Except for all the vertical falling parts! There, I am way, way above average Compared to others with the same experience. Except for those others that have the same experience as me, but just as much tunnel time with really, really good instructors. But slightly better than those with my same experience and tunnel time, but not as good of a wind tunnel. And, oh yeah, did I mention my tunnel shoes are vegan? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Oh right, like that's ever happened Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I have one, it saves to AVI file format, which I've successfully viewed on Mac and PC, and also emailed. Sorry, but this is just not a good enough explanation for any of us to help you. If you write out each step you are taking, and what you expect to happen, and where it goes wrong, we can probably help. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

As a side note, diving students of mine always ask me about sharks. "What is the chance a shark will bite me? What's the best way to stab a shark that's attacking me?" etc. I tell them that jellyfish are, by far, the sea animal that have killed the most humans. Wetsuits are great ocean gear - keep you floating, prevent cuts, scrapes, stings, and especially sunburns, plus you look like a cool surfer dude (or dudette). Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Since you're visiting, here's what you do: 1. Go to any dive shop and ask for a few packets of Wipe-Away, or equivalent. They come in individually wrapped tear-open packets, and are easy to carry with you to the beach. They contain a moist towlette with a chemical that neutralizes the protein of the sting. They cost a few dollars and work great. 2. Divers Alert Network recommends hot water soaking. If you can stand hot water above 114 degrees, it will break down the enzyme that causes the sting. I have yet to try this, but I doubt many people will want to pour boiling water on a sting. 3. Vinegar helps with A lot of types of stings, but this is more of an option for locals that live close to the beach, because most people don't carry around a bottle of vinegar to the beach. 4. If you are allergy to bee stings, then stay as far away from jellyfish as you can. I guarantee you will have the same hystamine reaction to a jellyfish sting. If you are allergic, bring your Epi-pen to the beach. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

My opinion: Yes, life is somewhat easier if you are beautiful. People give you more and pay attention. Yes, life is also somewhat easier if you are smart. People respect you and pay attention. But the most successful people are the ones that don't choose the easy path. The ones that work hard, give 100%, and don't quit will go the furthest from their starting point. Life is not easier for them, but they make more of a difference than anyone who relies on beauty and/or brains alone. I'm in a philosophical mood today Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Nice Good detective work. This one was bugging me, too. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

There was a guy in charge in Iraq. He was a bad guy, no doubt. Deserved what he got, probably worse than he got. But he's gone now. Does that mean the war should be over? In Germany, the Nazis continued after Hitler was dead, but we're not still at war with Germany. In Japan, supporters of the emporer continued after the Potsdam terms were agreed to, but we're not still fighting a war there. Seems like the same results for Iraq - dictators dead, peace accord signed with new government, still supporters of the old regime, so why is there still war in Iraq? I don't think anyone can argue that Germans and Japanese were less determined to win than the Iraqis. Seems that was our goal in Iraq too: 1. the removal of those countries ability to fight - The Iraqi army was disbanded by Paul Bremer even after we declared victory with "mission accomplished". 2. the subjugation of their people - US raids into Iraqi homes continue every day. That's about the best example of subjugation I can think of. 3. removal of their entire governmental institutions - Saddam Hussein was the government, we caught him, the Iraqis executed him, old government's gone. Still, no one wants to say that the Iraq war is winnable. Does anyone other than my mom believe we can win in Iraq? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I mentioned to my mother that presidential candidate McCain wants to escalate the war in Iraq. From his own website: My mother's answer was "good, that will end the war sooner." Personally, I don't think this is a war that is winnable for the US. But my mom's statements helped me to better understand the position of those that support our current efforts in Iraq. I really didn't think anyone felt we can actually win, but then I realized that those that support the war probably believe we can. I guess my own beliefs stem from my father's involvement in Vietnam. He was in a ground position and was severely wounded in an enemy ambush (about 13 bullets, IIRC). To me, Vietnam proved that we are capable of winning wars on a grand scale, but losing them against insurgents that fight with terrorist tactics and refuse to give up. If you think the US can, with the assistance of more troops, money, equipment and time actually win the war in Iraq, can you tell me how? I'm only asking because I don't understand military tactics as well as I know many of you do. I should also define "win" - I mean that we can restore peace enough to Iraq that our only continued military presense that is required is that which is necessary to protect our embassy and US interests. As examples, Japan and Germany count as "wins" in US War history, and although we have military bases there, peace exists in those countries to the point that they are not necessarily required. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

It's both. Judaism is inherited via your mother, but you can also convert. Since it's passed down in family (on the maternal side), it's as much race as religion (e.g. most American Jews today are descendants of eastern-European converts, who are not descendants of Israelites). Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Does anyone use dive charts, anymore? I know I've seen a couple of real old-timers that just didn't want to spend the money on a computer - the dive operators gave them a computer and forced them to wear it on their BCs. It's now a liability for divers to not have a computer at a resort - if there is a dive accident, the doctors and chambers all want to see the dive profile from your computer. Of course, there's the DIR nazis - err, enthusiasts - that shun computers, but those guys are just weird Take your logbook and computer to the bar with you at the end of the day. Switch logbooks with your buddy and fill in each other's - it's a fun game and you'll have good memories when you look at the logbook years later. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Now, that's just no fair. Unless the cats are also declawed. Give the invertebrate a fighting chance! Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

It only backfires if I die. Then USPA investigates, and finds out that I never jumped and was out of currency. I don't really see a down-side, here Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

"I am Jewish, and I'm here today to tell you about 5,000 years of bigotry and anti-semitism. But I'm going to take a very secular attitude and assume you share my religion because of your last name ..." We have found the enemy, and he are us. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Most DZs I go to in the US, that's all that is required. Technically, they should look at one's logbook as well. The lengthiest USPA currency expiration is six months, whereas USPA cards are issued only once a year, so you could easily be out of currency. That being said, I normally don't go inside the office with my logbook because so few DZs ask to see it. I have it in the car, and if they need it, I walk back and get it. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

LOL - you beat me to it, but I was going to say it takes to long to chisel in the logbook entries after every jump Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

And what, pray tell are you running? Solaris? iSeries? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD