Dagny

Okay, so yesterday was my 29th birthday and I was bummed out because I was all alone (first time on my birthday, too) and I have a test to study for and it's the last of my "twenty" years and...well, let's just say I've spent 29 years perfecting the art of feeling sorry for myself and I'm quite good at it. So, Tuna calls me and tries to cheer me up. Even though he lives four hours away from me, he called the Chinese restaurant near my house and had food delivered to my apartment. I swear, he sent enough food to feed three people. It made me laugh and completely cheered me up! Thanks, baby. So, even though his posts on here make me cringe from time to time, I just wanted to say...don't let his online demeanor fool you, he's soft at heart! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

They say that tv influences children... LOL! What a cutie! Why can't they all take up skydiving? Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Haha! Yep, good thing Tuna has a military background...."Thank you ma'am, may I have another!" Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Last night while I was leaving school, I saw the biggest, nastiest, scariest looking bug I have EVER seen. It looked like it was almost four inches long. I tried walking through the automatic doors when I saw it and I swear it turned and started walking right at me! Maybe it was one of those infamous FL palmetto bugs, I don't know. What I do know is that the damn thing had these huge wings that it started fluttering and I damn near screamed. I ended up pasting myself (and my 35 pound bookbag) up against the door and inching past it while I watched it turn in my direction. Managed to escape that one. Good times. Now, the best part is thinking about how I must have looked to the security guard stationed in front of the doors. He probably couldn't see the bug, maybe he thought I cracked from two much pressure at school. Snakes I can deal with (except for the surprise-hiding-behind-my-shovel-hey-is-that-the-exit-between-your-legs kind), but you can keep those monster bugs!

Jim, thank you! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

As are most accidents which occur in life. That shouldn't cheapen the life of the person or make their death inconsequential. The best way to handle accidental deaths? Prevention. The best way to avoid dying skydiving? Stop throwing yourself into mid-air at altitude. Since few of us here are willing to give up the benefits we get from jumping, the next best thing would be proper training and a conservative approach to pushing the envelope (almost an oxymoron in itself). Assuming that chance doesn't throw you something you can't handle or react to within the 2 minute window from altitude to earth. Just because it hasn't happened to you doesn't mean it won't. No one is immune from a moment of indecision or a mistake in judgement. Complaceny (jadedness) increases the risk. I haven't been in this sport for very long, but I know death. There are mechanisms that people use to deal with loss and repetitive loss such as what health care workers and skydivers (at least this damn month) experience. That's normal. But, these comments... ...disturb me. Maybe it's your coping mechanism. For me, every death I've encountered that has been accidental (or not) and stolen someone who had years of life left in them has offended me on a personal level. It doesn't mean I grieve over every person I encounter, but it does make me sad and angry to see these things happen. I hope you haven't lost touch with the part of you that feels such empathy. It's a sad day when someone stops caring. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

See...that's what it's saying. Your "retrieval" would be considered an unexplained disappearance in the present because we don't have that kind of technology yet. Maybe there are people being brought to the future all around us every day! I've got two words for you...Jimmy Hoffa Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

It's an investment opportunity no one should pass up... Time Travel Just be sure to read the fine print, first... Join the fund So if I suddenly disappear from the caravan, y'all know why. I've been "retrieved". Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

http://www.nbcolympics.com/gymnastics/5047091/detail.html So, Paul Hamm won gold for the all-around men's gymnastics competition. Unfortunately for Yang Tae-young, the bronze medalist, a scoring error from the judges allowed it to happen. Apparently, Yang's start value on the parallel bars should have been a 10. The judges gave him, mistakenly, a start value of 9.9 which allowed Hamm to win the gold by a mere 0.12. Korea needed to file an appeal before the games moved on to the next venue, but failed to do that. The rules are that once the next venue is begun, no appeals are accepted. Regardless, Korea is protesting the mistake. Three of the judges were suspended in the matter. The question is...what should Paul Hamm do? It seems like the right thing to do would be resign the gold to Yang as he won on a technicality. That would be the honorable thing to do. However, Korea did miss their window to appeal the loss which is the reason Hamm had the gold placed around his neck. It looks like he plans on keeping it. Really, can anyone blame him? Should a second gold medal be produced so that Hamm and Yang can share the title of best all around? I don't know what I would do in the same situation. I'm no olympian, that's for sure. But, I don't like to win things unless I deserve them. Personally, I doubt I would keep a medal I didn't earn, especially one that is surrounded by such controversy. What are your thoughts? Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Okay, nevermind. I just figured it out. Gold (and other precious metals) are measured in troy. A troy pound of gold is equal to 12 ounces (373.242 grams). A standard pound is equal to 16 ounces (453.592 grams). So, a standard 12 ounces is equal to 340.2 grams. Long story short...A pound of feathers = 453.6 oz While a troy pound of gold = 373.2 oz Therefore, a pound of feathers weigh 80.4g (2.8oz) more than a troy pound of gold Alrighty-then. Good to know. Now, all is right with the world and I can get back to studying respiratory.

See, this I understand. One ounce is equal to 28.3495231 grams while one troy ounce (a unit of measure for gold) is equal to 31.1035 grams. So, in that respect, one troy ounce of gold is heaver than one ounce of anything else quantified by units of measure in ounces. Oh, did y'all know that avoirdupois is just another word for weight or heaviness? New one on me, thanks kallend! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Hey, Law... How does a pound of feathers weigh more than a pound of gold when they both weigh...a pound? I mean, obviously it would take a LOT more feathers to achieve a pound than gold, but still. 16oz is 16oz, right? Every time I see that I keep wondering about it. Then again, I'm sure there's a reason I'm not a MENSA member, so can anyone explain that one to me? Thanks. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Phelps is an amazing athlete. The only one who choked here was me...on my diet sunkist while reading your post. Read Phelps' biography and I think you'll see that his talent and his performance at the games has been nothing short of awe-inspiring. I agree that Spitz was one of the best swimmers that the Olympics has seen. However, exceeding his record does not make a great athlete. Phelps is not a braggart (like Gary Hall, talented...but dear god, that ego), he is still very a very young competitor, but he has an enormous talent. And, his stepping aside from the 18th race to allow his teammate an opportunity to earn his first gold speaks volumes for Phelps. You don't have to like him, but give credit where it's due. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Sigh. Seriously! I've hung over that swamp, not sure if I'd get back. At least then the spectators will have a good view..completely unobstructed from the chain link fence. And what is it with people who buy homes next to an airport and then complain about planes flying over their homes? I have never understood that one. You would think that the city of Sebastian would be more willing to work with one of the industries that keeps people coming to that small city. Honestly, the inlet is nice, but what else would draw new people and a steady flow of money into it? Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

My reading comprehension skills aren't lacking. Trust me on this one. Now my ability to stay on task, that's a different story. I was commenting on the idea of maternity leave for years before I went off on a tangent. I know it happens that some women need a lot of time off, but for the majority of women (at least the ones I know) who have a "normal" pregnancy and healthy children, there is no such thing as years of leave to rear your kids. Too many women feel pressured to return to work quickly because of fear of losing their jobs or losing the "edge" that keeps them current. Some women return to find they are no longer welcome at their jobs and have been replaced. I've seen both happen. And I can't tell you how many times I've been told not to mention if I plan on having kids in the near future during residency interviews. Good thing they "technically" can't ask me. They sure as hell don't want to know if we can coordinate children's birthday parties, that's for sure. To my employers, the time lost for childbirth (even the potential in reproductive age women) makes my equally competitive, equally educated male counterpart look like a much more attractive applicant. One would have their head in the sand to believe that discrimination doesn't still occur in today's workplace, though more thinly veiled. Now...if women, in general, do make less per dollar than men, I have to ask Why? What would explain that discrepancy? And, if you reject the information from PhillyKev's sources as incomplete or inaccurate, I postulate that the information came from somewhere and at the very least inspires one to take a closer look. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Women should be so lucky to be allowed a couple years to rear their children. So, the reason that womens' salaries are generally lower than mens' is because women have babies? Not all women have babies, you know. In fact, not all women CAN have babies. Why should my salary suffer because of a presumption that I will reproduce and require time away from work just because I have a uterus? And, if a woman were interested/able to have children, why should she be penalized for taking six weeks leave with significant salary differences? Does that mean a woman should be given a bonus to make up the difference for every year of child free work? But, then, if we were talking penalties and reduced salaries for women due to the possibility of reproducing, we would be talking discrimination wouldn't we? Oh, wait....Fuck the discrimination card!! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Now you aren't be suggesting that womens' groups are ineffective if men aren't a part of them, are you? Surely not... Last I checked, NOW wasn't a womens' only club. Feel free to join the fight: www.now.org Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

For appearance purposes or functionality? Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

You know what sucks? Not jumping in a long time and being scared all over again. I'm going to jump again on the 28th (the weather better look like cooperating!) and I hate having that fear again. I'm not scared of the exit or the freefall, but when I don't jump much I get scared to pull low again. And scared to have too much fun under canopy, when that never used to frighten me. Damn, I hate losing ground. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Congratulations, man, that is awesome!!! Have fun on your rotations. I hear it is SOOOOO worth it! Enjoy your success! (Any thoughts as to what you want to do? If by some miracle I pass the boards, I'm thinking OB/GYN, ER, or IM. Gotta pass first, though. I'm skeered.) 182=MD, lol! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Just after AFF, I used to be ready to pull at 6000. I swear the ground looked huge! But, it got way easier to pull lower when I realized how much more freefall time I could get when I gave it another 3k feet. Once at jump 40-ish, I had a little trouble and didn't pull until 2000 ft (give or take a bit), under canopy by 1500. That was low for me. I had my hands on the handles and clearly remember thinking, "oh, shit, the ground!" I thought it was big at 6000, it looks a lot bigger at 1.5k when you're still falling fast and watching everyone around you going under canopy. Yeah...good times. That was my experience. I think it's awesome that people are comfortable going lower. I'm content pulling at 3000. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

My opinion.... What needs to change at WFFC? Simple. I need to be there next year. It is soooo not the same reading about it!

Given that scenario, I'd chop it. I'd try like hell to get the other skydiver's attention and coordinate it somehow, but at some point (and to save my own life) I'd let it go. Watching that person go in, I'd be damned if I walked past just yelling, "hey, you okay?" as I walk past and then just assume that the person was dead. Relating the two situations, it would be like I chopped, walked away without confirming that status of the skydiver's condition, went to the bar, poured a drink for my fallen comrade, and went about my business. Just bad form. Even Simon admittted that (in retrospect) he should have checked on his friend. I have less of an issue with his cutting the rope in a seemingly desperate situation without any other outs than I do with his neglect in checking on his climbing partner the next day. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Concerning Phelps and his performance at the Olympics.... I think he has done an outstanding job. One would be remiss to think otherwise. A young man, not a braggart, I consider him to be an exemplary athlete. He carries the pressure of a nation (or the media of that nation) hell bent on seeing multiple records being broken. It's his first olympics and he achieved a gold in his first final. That's an incredible accomplishment. The fact that he continues to medal shows both the skill and potential he has as an athlete. I think that anyone who earns a gold medal (or silver or bronze) has the right, even if just for a small moment in time, to be recognized as the best in the world. And anyone who has the talent to attend the games, even if they don't medal, should feel proud of the dedication and accomplishment. As athletes, they should be respected, even if we are unable to agree that their "sport" is truly worthy of being deemed such. The fact of the matter is, these people dedicated themselves to the pursuit of excellence in an olympic sport and worked damn hard to qualify for their games. I have a lot of respect and admiration for that kind of commitment. Personally, I feel that Phelps, and all the other American Olympians are doing their family, their home, their country proud. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. Vibes from down south. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali