Douva

I'm glad you liked it. HERE is a link to the complete article. I agree with your evaluation of most concerts, but I did concede for the sake of the article that engaging concerts can be fun. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

The popularity of Disneyland and Disneyworld is symptomatic of our nation's completely skewed views on the nature of fun. This is an excerpt from a blog post I made on the subject: "I believe the second pitfall of most fun seekers is a problem of mythos. Our society holds to too many deep-seated myths about what is and is not fun. Most of these myths glorify activities that, when put under the microscope, really aren't much fun at all. I challenge anyone to explain to me what about Disneyworld is fun for anyone over the age of ten. Why do we think paying sixty dollars a person to spend all day standing in lines for bad, overpriced food; poorly made, overpriced trinkets; and rides that were outdated twenty years ago is fun? We think it is fun because society tells us it is! You can only hear the trademarked slogan 'The happiest place on earth' so many times before you start to believe it." I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

August 2005. Jumpjunkie and I sit in a 206 flying over Baja, Mexico. As we near jump run, I do the obligatory dialogue. DOUVA I know it's hard for you, Johnny. I know you want me so bad it's like acid in your mouth. But not this time! I look around to see if I've confused any of the Mexican skydivers on the load and realize the jumper sitting next to me is staring at me. LOCAL MEXICAN SKYDIVER Adios, amigo! He smiles. LOCAL MEXICAN SKYDIVER (cont'd) That's one of my favorite movies! I guess skydiver love for Point Break is universal. };^) I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

At 11:00 AM here, it was in the low 80s and sunny. I'd take the day off and enjoy it, but I did that yesterday. };^) I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

My sister and I had a discussion a few years ago about how they should make an adult Sit-N-Spin. I once threw a Lawn Dart in West Texas; the ground was so hard it broke the damned dart. Nobody has mentioned those rubber bouncy balls (all variations of the SuperBall) or Silly Putty, which could double as a bouncy ball or be used to violate newspaper copyrights. What about Playdough? Remember the Playdough Factory? You put in a hunk of Playdough, and the machine shit out all shapes of inedible noodles. Let's be honest--Who else here thought Playdough smelled so good you had to taste it at least once? I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Sitting here trying to remember if I have a story worth sharing, it suddenly hit me--the Switzerland story. In the summer of 2003, I spent a month backpacking around Europe with my sister and her roommate. I knew before I left that I had little chance of making it through a month of foreign food and foreign restrooms without getting diarrhea at least once. It finally happened in Switzerland. In what I still consider one of my greatest personal examples of Murphy's law in action, we were staying at the only hostel I encountered in my entire four week trip that had a coed bathroom. The problem first struck at the top of the Schilthorn, after a long day hike. I hoped I'd be okay by the time the gondola got us back to the hostel, but I had no such luck. So, every fifteen minutes for about two hours, I'd pass a row of cute girls washing their faces at the bathroom mirror, walk to the back stall, squat on the seatless toilet, and proceed to clear the room. The next day, while looking around, I discovered that the unmanned gondola station thirty yards from the hostel housed a private restroom with a seat. C'est la vie. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

CONTACT A LOCAL REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY! The best solution to your dilemma is going to depend on what state the property is in, how long the wife/GF has been living there, and how much equity is in the house. Only a real estate attorney (not an agent or broker) familiar with real estate law in that state is going to be able to adequately advise you on a course of action. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I have the same problem. I'm always like, "No, you cannot see my bronze medal from Nationals, but yes, I will sign your boobs." I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Imposters: When I was 21, this 18-year-old guy at my church kind of latched onto me because (at least in his mind) I was a little more interesting than most of his other church friends. He was my constant shadow for several months, until I finally told him, as nicely as I could, that he needed to find someone else to hang out with. (He had one of the most grating personalities I've ever encountered, and that says a lot coming from me.) Anyway, one day while he was still hanging around me, he tagged along while I went out to the DZ to pick up my rig from a repack. While we were there, he picked up one of every bumper sticker the DZ offered, and when we got home, he plastered the back windshield of his little white Toyota pickup with them. A couple of years later, long after I'd quit attending that church, I ran into one of my church friends who asked me if I was still skydiving and then asked, "Does [name omitted] skydive now?" "No," I replied, "Why?" "Well, he's got skydiving bumper stickers all over his truck, and he's telling everyone he's a skydiver." And he wondered why he didn't have any friends. Stolen Gear: I was not a witness to this incident, but I've heard the story enough times to feel comfortable repeating it. One of the jumpers at my DZ had his Javelin stolen out of his van. A little while later, a guy called the drop zone wanting to sell them a "Saveline" (look closely at the "J" in the Javelin logo) parachute. The jumper who'd had his gear stolen was waiting at the DZ to identify it when the thieves showed up to sell it. Getting Girls: Once, while teaching a first jump course, we were doing the class introductions, where everyone is supposed to tell who they are and why they want to skydive, and one of the guys in the class said he wanted to skydive to get girls. After I recovered from my laughing fit, I told him he was definitely in the wrong sport. The only time I've ever stolen the wind from somebody's sails was when I was visiting with an American guy and two British girls on a train in Switzerland, and the guy would not quit playing up his first tandem, which he'd made that day, to the two girls. I let him ride the ego wave up to the point where he started playing down the roll of the tandem instructor; then I gave into the urge to clip his wings. "You know, I thought about calling that DZ to see if they allow experienced jumpers." I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

If I'm not mistaken, adding the word "thing" changes your direct object from "questionnaire" to "thing" and turns "questionnaire" into a modifier, as if to suggest it might just as easily be some other type of thing. Since the intent of the sentence is obviously to inform the reader or listener (the indirect object of the sentence) that you would like him or her to fill out a questionnaire, rather than to define the thing as a questionnaire, "thing" is not only unnecessary, it is grammatically incorrect. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Focus as hard as you can on the read box. If you're watching the obstacles, you'll overcorrect into the sides or another obstacle. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Just GREAT--One more reason wasps are better than monkeys. I'm starting to question why I ever threw my support behind the monkey crowd. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

If the three of you are leasing together, you're basically investment partners, so I suggest handling the matter firmly but professionally. Make sure she understands the ramifications on everybody of being fiscally irresponsible. Make sure she understand there may be consequences if this pattern continues. But don't use profanity, yell, or take any other unprofessional action. That way, no reasonable person can try to turn this issue around and make you the bad guy. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Very interesting, John. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Happy birthday, #2! And just so you know, I sent you that "Happy birthday!" text message before I saw this thread. I remembered your birthday all on my own. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

There are now several companies that JUST do title sequences for movies (mostly CGI). It's become big business. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Lee me guess... You bought the Air Filter. When I used to work at my dad's quicklube, we sold the filters for about $7-$15 each. I went ahead and got the air filter the last time I got my oil changed in Austin (it had been a while since I'd changed it), and they charged me $30 for the damned thing. Needless to say, I'll be changing my own air filter from now on. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I'll grant you that there might be better choices than Wal-Mart, but I don't think everyone who pays to get their oil changed is lazy. My dad owned a quicklube for 18 years. It was my first job out of high school. And I can tell you that even with a pit to stand in and a rack full of every tool you could possibly need, it's still a major pain in the ass to change the oil on some cars (think small and foreign). Even if you've got a Chevy or Ford truck (easiest vehicles to change the oil on), it's still not worth the $15 (roughly) savings to most people to spend a dirty hour in the driveway changing the oil. I haven't changed oil on a car or truck (motorcycles are a different story) since I quit that job. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Try having your birthday on Valentine's Day. As a kid, I celebrated my birthday at every dive Chinese restaurant and seafood restaurant in West Texas. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

It's the same effect as watching footage of someone in free fall shot from a helicopter. The objects on the ground look almost as big as the jumper does. Watching the footage, you're certain they're a split second from bouncing, even though they're half a mile above the ground. I'd chalk it up to long focal length. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

[email] There are pretty of film and video professionals here who can help you. I used to do a lot of industrial films before making a fairly week attempt at feature film career. Generally, the less obvious cuts you can use the better. I have Premiere Pro and After Effects, and I seldom use any transition other than a direct cut or a cross dissolve. A good cut should be seamless and unnoticeable. That's a rule for narrative filmmaking (i.e. features), but I find it proves true for industrials, etc. If you're looking for some cool, simple effects to do, try some things like ghost effects (not that lame ghost filter). Either before or after you shoot footage of people walking around campus or whatever, shoot a background plate (without moving or even touching the camera) of that same area (the background) without anybody there. Then overlay the background plate over the footage of the people walking, and lower the opacity of the background footage to like 50%-75% (play with it until you find what works). You'll get a great effect that looks like ghosts walking across the campus. It can be used to great effect to emphasize the timelessness of some place or activity (think Titanic). Be sure you overlay the background over the footage of the people and not the other way around. Some times the people will appear to have hard outlines if you do it the other way. Good luck with your project. I don't know how my spellchecker changed "plenty" to "pretty," but I promise I was sober when I typed that. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

There are pretty of film and video professionals here who can help you. I used to do a lot of industrial films before making a fairly week attempt at feature film career. Generally, the less obvious cuts you can use the better. I have Premiere Pro and After Effects, and I seldom use any transition other than a direct cut or a cross dissolve. A good cut should be seamless and unnoticeable. That's a rule for narrative filmmaking (i.e. features), but I find it proves true for industrials, etc. If you're looking for some cool, simple effects to do, try some things like ghost effects (not that lame ghost filter). Either before or after you shoot footage of people walking around campus or whatever, shoot a background plate (without moving or even touching the camera) of that same area (the background) without anybody there. Then overlay the background plate over the footage of the people walking, and lower the opacity of the background footage to like 50%-75% (play with it until you find what works). You'll get a great effect that looks like ghosts walking across the campus. It can be used to great effect to emphasize the timelessness of some place or activity (think Titanic). Be sure you overlay the background over the footage of the people and not the other way around. Some times the people will appear to have hard outlines if you do it the other way. Good luck with your project. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

If you get an electric razor, make sure it can both be charged with the power chord and run off the power chord. Some only go one way. It's annoying if it has to be plugged in because you can't use it in the car, etc. If it has to be charged and can't be powered straight from the chord, that's really annoying because if you run out of power, you have to wait for it to charge before you can finish shaving. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

GO! I'm gonna wake you up early Cause I'm gonna take a ride with you We're going down to the Honda shop I'll tell you what we're gonna do Put on a ragged sweatshirt I'll take you anywhere you want me to First gear (Honda Honda) it's alright (faster faster) Second gear (little Honda Honda) I lean right (faster faster) Third gear (Honda Honda) hang on tight (faster faster) Faster it's alright It's not a big motorcycle Just a groovy little motorbike It's more fun that a barrel of monkeys That two wheel bike We'll ride on out of the town To any place I know you like First gear (Honda Honda) it's alright (faster faster) Second gear (little Honda Honda) I lean right (faster faster) Third gear (Honda Honda) hang on tight (faster faster) Faster it's alright It climbs the hills like a Matchless Cause my Honda's built really light When I go into the turns Lean [Tilt] with me and hang on tight I better turn on the lights So we can ride my Honda tonight First gear (Honda Honda) it's alright (faster faster) Second gear (little Honda Honda) I lean right (faster faster) Third gear (Honda Honda) hang on tight (faster faster) Faster it's alright First gear (Honda Honda) it's alright (faster faster) Second gear (little Honda Honda) I lean right (faster faster) Third gear (Honda Honda) hang on tight (faster faster) Faster it's alright I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.