jfields

Do the rest of us even want to know about this? Would it violate US sodomy laws?

This isn't my thing, but I was curious about it when someone (at a DZ) mentioned it the other day. Anyone have any good links about descriptions of it? I haven't had much luck finding anything about it. Thanks!

Buy yourself a window escape ladder for her room. Make it a dangerous hobby.

That must be how WorldCom really lost the $1.22 billion they forgot to tell us about.

Nope, I don't believe in ghosts. I see them as the products of A) Overactive imaginations B) People drinking way too much caffeine C) A wish for explanation D) Crackpot shysters E) Attention seekers F) All of the above Just another worthless $.02.

Lucky bastard!

Tom, Thanks for the answer on the justification for cutaways on BASE rigs. Like Merrick, I was thinking, "Why the hell would you want to cut away your only canopy?"

So you all are saying if I went to Texas, my beverage conversation would be like this:

Do you also teach math? Just teasin'.

I'm still thinking of my answers to your questions, but I'll add two of my own: 6. What couple (real or fictional) would you most want to see have sex? 7. What couple (real or fictional) would you least want to see have sex?

I agree with Quade. I'm actually pretty proud to be "a bunch of cells tissues". I believe that we have evolved to be pretty power thinking creatures with amazing capabilities. In my opinion, it cheapens our humanity to attribute our successes to something else.

Freebird, Nope, I don't believe in a higher power. People can do a whole lot, and have a duty to act in a good way toward their fellow humans. But the impetus for that action should come from within each person, not "down from above" as a rule from an intangible abstraction called "God". The "Golden Rule" of "Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you" pretty much sums it up without having to add "Under God".

Just what you all wanted... me in a serious thread... I would be happy if the Pledge of Allegiance were to be returned to its original form. I'd also be fine with the references to God being removed from our currency. I'm not suing anyone over it, but a small part of my sympathizes. In public school, I got sick of having to partake in the religiously-oriented activities of the majority. Government has no business messing with religion. It is a no-win proposition, as recognized be the country's founders. They saw that the only perfectly equitable governmental solution to religion was to separate them. Rather than this move being "anti-religion", it is vehemently the opposite. It is a strong pro-religion stance that guarantees that everyone has the right to practice religion (or not to practice) in their own way without hindrance from the government itself. State-sponsored religions (of any kind) segregate the population based on religious belief. There become classes of theological haves and have-nots based on the official acceptance of that particular religion or sect. Similarly, a government stance of atheism (ex.: former Soviet Union) is discriminatory as well, against all religions. While I'm not a constitutional scholar, I'd say the intent for our country was that they government should have no official religion, and no prohibitions against individual citizens practicing any religion. We have strayed from this position of absolute equality and emphasis on personal choice during our history. It swings back and forth, and right now the anti-terrorism wave of patriotism has inadvertently lumped God in with the flag, where it doesn't belong. There all sorts of examples throughout history of when a nation's meddling in religious affairs brought on incredible human suffering. You could look at Germany and the Jews, the USSR and most everything, England and Protestants, etc. I'd rather live in a country that keeps itself out of religious issues for the very fact that have any governmental stance one way or the other about specific religions is a sure way to screw things up. On this issue, it is best to do nothing at all as a nation. The actual citizens of the nation can worship as they please, due to the non-intervention policy of the nation as a whole. If a particular group of students in.. say.. a high school wants to have a Buddhist's Club or a Young Christians Club after school, that is fine as long as doesn't use school funds or school property. If they do either, how could we fairly exlude the Satan Worshippers Club when they ask for money or the school auditorium? Government shouldn't be in the position of dictating what religions are "right" or "valid", hence the separation of church and state. Yes, I am rambling, but this issue is an important one where we are headed in the wrong direction.

Break in and leave your resume on people's desktops?

Slappie, 275 gal worth of fishtank? That is a whole lot! I'm going to have 55. I will definitely start off with freshwater tropicals. That is what I had before when I had a little 8 or 10 gal tank. The fish I buy will be inexpensive. I've had fish before, but my wife never has. So for awhile, I don't want anything that I'd be the least upset about if it died and got flushed. I got the tank (all glass) and stand for free from someone who is moving. I may have some more second hand equipment lined up, but I have to see what condition it is in. I'm trying to keep the cost somewhat moderate while getting a nice setup.

What's wrong with that? Wooohooo!

You could get some of these bad boys that were in the news this week.

If it was, I know you would have saved it to your computer. Share the wealth, Nathan. C'mon, Skymama. It couldn't have been that bad.

Kevin, Ouch. That sounds crappy. You and Zennie could start a DZ.com support group, with both Worldcom and Enron represented. I'm in DC, and I got my computer job from an ad in the Washington Post. Sometimes the old fashioned way works. That said, the job market is much rougher here now then it was then. I know some other compugeeks that are looking for work as well. I'll keep my eyes open and let you know if I spot anything. Any preferences as to location you'd be willing to work in? No. Va., DC, MD? Good luck man!

The issue with U/G filters is probably as much attentiveness and diligent maintenance as anything else. That and going a little "overkill" to ensure effectiveness. It sounds like you keep your stuff running well, in which case any method can be made to work. I am probably going to get a proper capacity biowheel filter to hang on the back. That and good aeration should be pretty decent. I might end up getting a cannister as well. I just don't know yet.

If a tank is 48.25" x 12.75" x 21", and I'm talking about putting 2 inches of stone on the bottom, that is only about 10% of the tank by height, and less by actual volume. Fish does sound really good for dinner.

BadDog, Thanks for the link. Good site! jtval, I like fish. In the tank. On the plate for dinner. I don't much care. And if I ever get desperate, I'll dip into the fish tank for dinner.

Why do you have to go and be all logical like that? Can't I just be a lazy skydiver and ask all of you? Do you really want me to be forced out into the scary land of whuffos? Why should I have to go out into the cruel world, where nobody understands me? ScottishJohn, how can you be so cruel? Yeah, I suppose I could check some aquarium newsgroup.

Yeah, I know this is totally off topic, but that is why the Talkbalk Forum is here. So.... Any of you have aquariums? If so, what kind? I just got a second-hand 55 gallon glass tank and a stand for it. I was thinking of doing a pretty easy tropical freshwater tank. One of the people in a pet store told me that the rule of thumb for determining how much rock/gravel/marbles to use at the bottom of the tank is 1lb/gallon/inch of coverage. So to get a 2-inch bed, I'd need 110 lbs? That seems high, but for all I know it is right. Does anyone use an under-gravel filter? How do they work? Would you use it instead of a bio-wheel type of filter, or in addition to it? Thanks!

From my experience, Cross Keys is like 45 minutes farther. I like it there too. They are just very different places. Anybody in/near DC looking to share a ride to Delmarva tomorrow, for a day trip?