skydiver30960

You're probably right. STILL, it's a lot more impressive than what I have planned for the day. Elvisio "a couple appointments followed by about ten hours of Far Cry 3" Rodriguez

Walt? Elvisio "check the room for cold spots" Rodriguez

Seems to me "out of hand" would be good. It would be when things got "in hand" that I'd be more concerned. Elvisio "l-o-l-a" Rodriguez

http://news.yahoo.com/govt-spent-18-billion-immigration-enforcement-143135675--politics.html I think most would agree that what we're doing now isn't working. I don't think we're getting our $18 billion's worth out of our border control So what's the solution? Open the flood gates and let everyone in? Or toughen up and spend more (financially and/or ethically) to control our borders? Elvisio "games without frontiers" Rodriguez

My understanding is that GA is basically non-existent in China right now, Is that correct? have you seen the SMOG in China. Everything will be IFR. But when skydivers in China talk about jumping through "industrial haze" they'll actually mean it. Elvisio "here's hoping they don't build their rigs like they do most of the crap they sell at walmart" Rodriguez

I did the same myself here once. Elvisio "If we couldn't laugh at ourselves..." Rodriguez

I didn't even know they were still in production. Have no fear: these things have such a cult following that parts and expertise will be available online FOREVER. It's the same with older Jeeps. Even though they've been out of production for thirty years, you can still build a Jeep CJ from the ground up from parts ordered online. Elvisio "hope my TJ holds out long, but not likely" Rodriguez

1st, I'm not sure how two people actually occupied a wall... 2nd, is the author calling a bullet the original person occupying the wall - thus making the two humans the "other" people? I was myself AMAZED that there were actually four people in the city that thought Little Cesar's pizza was a good idea. Elvisio "before you buy that crap pizza, use the gun on yourself" Rodriguez

The only input I'd give is not to lie. Wear it, don't wear it, wear it on your hand, wear it on a chain, get it reset, wear it on your left ring finger... all of that is up to you. But if it means that much to you (to still wear it after all these years) then you have be comfortable enough to tell the truth if someone asks you about it. So either tell the truth, or as you've mentioned, just find a way to tell them it's a personal issue. Elvisio "lying in any form sucks" Rodriguez

Yep, Happy New Year, fuckers! Elvisio "at work, so no hangover for me" Rodriguez

I'm intrigued: can someone tell my why this quote draws so much ire, when I could scroll through my newsfeed and find a THOUSAND more vitriolic posts than that on just about any topic I may choose? Elvisio "that, and about a thousand Tard the Cat pictures" Rodriguez

Hopefully it will work, or else there are going to be a lot of lonely skydudes... Elvisio "had to outsource" Rodriguez

Or nobody would have the balls to talk trash about your flying while you're running around the tunnel brandishing a .357! Elvisio "no lip from me" Rodriguez

Looking at your question from a political point of view rather than an individual one: My take: the two party system is completely broken. Both parties are entrenched and refuse to compromise. Hell, just look at just about any thread here and you can see it in action: the forfeiture of rational debate in favor of finger-pointing and grandstanding. Whenever one party gains control, they implement the policies most partisan and favorable to them for as long as they can until they lose power again. Politicians from both parties are afraid to present a more moderate stance on any issue of significance in fear of losing their party's support. BOTH parties are to blame. They are arguing over how to arrange the deck chairs while the water rises... Elvisio "no idea how to fix it though" Rodriguez

Now THAT'S recycling! Elvisio "but we can't manage to make a hybrid battery that lasts more than a few years" Rodriguez

Or maybe a timeshare, right? "If I can use the liver on weekends you can have it the rest of the week..." Elvisio "with alternating holidays" Rodriguez

Organ, yes, but tissue donation? That's something I need to research. BTW, I'm both, so I guess I'm up for whatever. The following is based on four years as an ICU RN in an ICU that saw many organ donation cases, burn patients, liver transplants, and kidney transplants: WRT being an organ donor: PLEASE DO IT. Make sure your loved ones (the ones who will be making your decisions for you should the need arise) know what your wishes are. WRT tissue donation: when I think about the types of TISSUE I've most commonly seen harvested, it's skin. When skin is harvested, they'll use the largest most continuous areas of the body such as abdomen, back and upper legs. Although I've never seen a tissue harvesting, I couldn't imagine a situation where the skin on the hands and face could be useful. Corneas are also harvested, but I'm sure the undertaker could figure out how to deal with that. Also, one of the most common causes for donated organs that we saw (brain death secondary to trauma to the head) usually precludes the open casket anyhow. The donated skin (called allograft in the biz) is literally a life saver for severely burned patients. SO, unless you're planning on being buried in the nude, the open casket should be good to go. WRT personal stories and being helped by someone who donated: where do I start? I guess the easiest thing to mention is that whenever we had a patient who ended up donating their organs, the donation coordination team would send out a quick follow-up report to the unit that provided the care prior to harvesting. It was stripped of any identifying information but would list the ages and sexes of anyone who got one of that patient's organs. Obviously, each person on that list was a life saved or life radically changed; those lists were usually six names long (heart, 2 lungs, liver, 2 kidneys). It's truly awesome. Coolest moment in my ICU career: we spend about a day and a half taking care of a trauma patient as brain death was declared and the organ donation process completed. He was wheeled out of his room and the room was cleaned and readied for the next patient. The NEXT PATIENT in that room was the guy who received the liver of the donation patient who had just left that room. It was definitely a tear-jerking, Lion-King-circle-of-life moment. Elvisio "please donate" Rodriguez

This reminds me of the huge spike in interest that equipment manufacturers saw in BASE rigs right after 9/11. ETA: Body armor in children's sizes will be flying off the shelves in 3, 2, 1,,, Elvisio "PT Barnum was right" Rodriguez

We need to realize that we are relegating ourselves to the position of sheep in our society. If this continues we will have no right to complain about being treated like sheep: the lucky ones spend their entire life being herded and (literally) fleeced, the unlucky ones are sent helplessly to slaughter. While the phrase above is often spoken tongue-in-cheek to criticize police officers, there is some unavoidable truth in the statement. The response time of emergency personnel of ANY variety (police, fire, EMS) is measured in minutes. I'm a volunteer firefighter and paramedic, so I know this. We as individuals NEED to be able to take care of ourselves until the "good guys" can get to us. In EMS, this means knowing CPR and how to use an AED, or how to help a choking child or adult. In fire prevention, this means having a good escape route and accessible fire extinguishers in your house. And, for police issues, this means being EQUIPPED and KNOWLEDGEABLE enough to defend yourself until they can arrive. Just as in a fire, a safe escape route and good barriers (like good locks on our doors, and an alarm system) are part of the equation. As stressed above, for the properly trained and armed citizen, firearms can be part of the solution as well. Each of us needs to decide for ourselves what our plan will be, and to evaluate our plan with a very critical eye: the lives at stake will be our own and the ones we most love. Elvisio "2nd amendment moderate, a dying breed" Rodriguez EDIT: Sig line superfluity

It's there in the OP link. ...I went back and reread the link. How in the HELL I missed that the first time through, I do not know. Damned early onset Alzheimer's... I have a Jeep Wrangler for fun driving; something like this could easily replace the Civic for my working miles. Especially in a place like Arizona where the weather is nearly always perfect, such a vehicle really has a chance to get a grip on the market. Elvisio "we shall see" Rodriguez

I think it looks awesome. I'm also pleased with the OP vehicle. I'm bothered that the Monotracer carries a $104K price tag. I also notice no price listed for the OP vehicle. My drive to work is 104 miles each way, essentially all interstate driving. I would have the opportunity to charge while at work. This kind of vehicle would be PERFECT for me. ...EXCEPT that we can't seem to break that price barrier. The problem with the Smart car (just as an example) is that, while trendy, it doesn't break the mold WRT mileage and performance, AND has a price tag essentially the same as a base model Civic (or other similar compact). Even with the cost of gas figured in over a five year (let's say) lifetime, we're still nowhere near 100K. (My back of the envelope calculations have me spending 10K in gas on our non-hybrid 2011 Civic over five years) I have a problem with traditional motorcycles because of their inherent safety issues. I also understand that these "enclosed motorcycles" will provide a variable, although prehaps not car-equivalent, amount of protection, which I dig. But until we can get these things on the road at a price that will rival that of our current 35mpg compact cars (even factoring in gas costs), we aren't going to get far with them. ETA: "Lit Motors" sounds like an AWESOME place to work! Elvisio "too low for the Starbucks drive-thru window?" Rodriguez

I'm traveling home Dec 21-26. I must be out of my friggin' mind. I have just three hopes for that trip. 1.) That I will encounter an opportunity to use this line; 2.) That, if the opportunity presents itself, I will remember this line through the fog of rage; and 3.) That I will actually have the balls to pull it off! Elvisio "the security guards and me will laugh about it for HOURS in that little white room" Rodriguez

I'm lucky enough to fly over this place on almost every patient transport. From the air it is an impressive sight. There is a LOT of hardware out there. Elvisio "lotsa aluminum" Rodriguez

You mean COjones. CAjones is the tall guy with the megaphone at the Rodriguez Brothers initiations... Elvisio "don't call him Ed" Rodriguez

ABSOLUTELY agree. The trick is to find what works for you. Crossfit works for me, powerlifting works for you, zumba (gads!) works for my aunt... whatever gets you off the couch. ...but that could be said about any mode of exercise, no? Never heard of someone getting hurt powerlifting? Speaking with all due respect, you have to admit that powerlifting is one discipline that has more of a stigma of "bad decisions in the name of the sport" than most. Football, basketball, baseball, machines at the globogym, skiing, skydiving, whatever: there is no sport that does not bring with it a share of sports injuries. Elvisio "to each their own, and in moderation" Rodriguez