peregrinerose

Well, last year for his birthday, I bought him his first rig (I didn't start jumping until a year after this). Which means more to him, the cash or the fact that his non jumping wife saved her pennies for a year to support something that he loves to do? This year I bought him an audible altimeter. Think that this is a little better than cash??

I've never left a waitress or valet or any other kind of 'servant' type profession a gift, I give cash. Webster defines tipping as "A small sum of money given to someone for performing a service; a gratuity." A tip by definition is cash, not a gift. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I'd love to meet his eye doc. Hell would freeze solid before I'd let a patient with that kind of mindset get lasik. Of course, I scare the living shit out of my patients before I'll let them get it, so he probably wouldn't have passed my test It's kinda like skydiving, it's not right to force someone to jump. Before they jump, they have the potential risk drilled into their head. Knowing the risk, they still decide to do it in anticipation of the results. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I am an eye doc, and I do pre and post op Lasik work with patients. BE CAREFUL!! I can't stress that enough. If you can see a wind sock at 600 ft, that isn't too bad of vision even uncorrected, so you don't have a whopping lot to gain from having lasik done, as you are not like some of the others that posted who walk into walls without correction. Things to consider... when you have lasik done, if your pupils are big, you will have a lot of glare problems at night (if you have an ethical surgeon, this has already been ruled out as a problem). When the cornea is severed, you sever corneal nerves. Corneal nerves tell the eye how many tears you need to make to stay hydrated. If you are prone to dry eye now, it will be worse after lasik. To the person with the whiny co-worker, this is a very real effect post operatively for some people. A test called a Schirmer test will evaluate how many tears you make and if you have a substantial amount of tears in order to be comfortable post operatively (first couple days excessive dryness is normal). When lasik is done, they squash the eye to hold it still. More than one study has shown that it perhaps can lead to nerve fiber layer loss in the retina. This could combine with future glaucoma damage (if you ever get glaucoma) and move you farther along the vision loss trail. This is still theory at this point, lasik is too new for long term study to be done. You will lose contrast sensitivity (gray on gray perception). Everyone has this. The younger you are, the less you will notice it, but when you hit 50+ and have early cataracts, you will have less contrast sensitivity compared to your peers, and may have trouble night driving (again, not many long term studies yet). Your cornea has no blood supply, it will take about 2 years to completely heal. There have been problems with high altitudes (mt. climbing) and prk, lasik's predicesor, with corneas decompensating and causing permanent blindness. It is extremely rare, I know of only 2 cases, but be aware it happens. You do NOT want to skydive right away, give the flap time to seal itself down, you don't want altitude changes affecting a very newly sliced cornea. Check out www.surgicaleyes.com for the horror stories, I make this web page manditory reading for my pre op patients. Research your surgeon well, don't go to a laser mill, they are not known for quality work. I'm picky about the surgeons I refer to. As I doc, I will always give worst case scenarios, I will always try to talk my px out of getting it. That way, those that do choose to get lasik know exactly what the risks and benefits are and have the education to make an appropriate decision. I only co manage with surgeons that I know do beautiful work (and I have seen a lot of crap lasik from some docs). If you have questions, let me know. Jen Galbraith, OD, MS Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

It is your JOB as instructor to do this, it's what you are paid to do. If you do it well, you get more business, more referrals, better word of mouth, and that is how you are rewarded. If your college prof spends extra time with you helping you understand some more tedious or difficult topic matter, do you hand him a $20 on your way out the door? I have been offered tips more than once in my job. I work in a professional setting, I get paid every day to do what I do, it's my job to do my best. I have always turned down tips and always will, it just isn't appropriate. I would buy my instructors a beer any day of the week, especially if I'm the one driving them to drink But I wouldn't hand them cash. A gift and tipping are very different. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Honestly, no matter how much I loved someone or in what way, I would NEVER get names or initials, etc. tattooed on my body. I think it's incredibly tacky. I would get a symbol or something that was symbolic for both that person and I together, but never lettering. Just my humble opinion of course, and by no means representative of the remainder of the population judging by the number of tattoos like you describe that I've seen. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Please don't misquote me. I never said you were 'just instructors.' Taxi drivers, waiter/waitresses, any kind of 'servant' type work is generally acceptable to tip. I don't mean 'servant' in any negative connotation, I waitressed for 12 years, it is just the general type of job. Instructors are not in that role. Please do not read negative impressions that are not there into my words. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I will laugh at myself at the drop of a hat, and fully expect friends and those around me who have witnessed my extreme lack of coordination to laugh and joke about it too. They are people who know me, who know I find the humor in it, and laugh with me. For someone I have never met, who did not see whatever happened, who simply laughs at my misfortune regardless of what the situation was (my fault or not), isn't right. It is degrading. It is even more so in this case since the person really had some significant injury. My humble opinion of course, but you did ask for it

My disclaimer is that I don't think dressing like Brittney Spears or any other scantily clad individual is appropriate to begin with regardless of body type, but that's just my opinion and certainly not one I impose on the rest of the world. I thought about not responding to this one, but it was just too callous a post to let go. Honestly, I'm extremely jealous of people of any body type that have the confidence in themselves to wear those 1/2 shirts or walk around with their man boobs and beer gut showing. If it makes them happy, if they are comfortable in their own skin, that is important and they are fortunate to feel that way. My husband and I were out, and saw someone just like you described walking by, of course he commented on how repulsive she looked. Now I'm standing there next to him, weighing probably 20 lbs more than this girl that he thinks looks gross. So exactly how am I supposed to believe he finds my body attractive if he finds someone who looks better than me repulsive? I already have crappy self image, so this just made it plummet to hell. I wish I had her confidence, she was clearly comfortable with herself and the guy at her side obviously liked her very much, so who cares if anyone else isn't pleased? If you think bodies should be covered if they don't meet your ideal, does that mean that people with bad teeth or bad skin or big noses or any other facial feature you feel isn't up to par should walk around with a bag over their head? Or people you don't agree with should hit the mute button if you are around? That just isn't fair. The world isn't full of perfect bodies, cope with it, respect other people's right to be happy with who they are regardless of appearance. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I'm just a student yet, so feel free to tune me out but I think tipping is really inappropriate for completely different reasons. As instructors, you are just that, instructors. You don't leave your college classroom and hand the prof a $20 if you feel he really taught you well that day. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I hope the weather is nicer to you than it has been to me!! Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Amazing how wee critters can so quickly become a part of you, isn't it? I feel so awful for what you are going through, and she's an absolutely gorgeous cat. Keep us posted as to how she's doing. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/08/03/elderly.execution.ap/index.html Sorry, I'm clicky impaired. I'm sure someone will remedy that. But how can "I'm too old and sick" be a legitimate reason to not be put to death? "I didn't do it" I understand, but "I'm too old to die???" Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I'm at work, in health care. They tend to frown upon beer breath when seeing patients. Go figure. So Lemon Diet Snapple tea will have to suffice for now. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Funny, so do I. Wait a minute, this is speakers corner, I'm supposed to go for your jugular in disagreement, right? Damn. Someday I'll get this right... Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Leonardo Da Vinci, for all that he imagined, to see the look on his face during a skydive would be priceless. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I do work out with weights and discovered that a great trick with my new muscles is working each side of the chest at different times to make my boobies move independently of each other. Of course you may get slapped if you suggest that to a girl at the gym.... Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I'm with everyone else on this one. If you see a problem, especially when there's potential for someone to get hurt, give a couple pointers. No one is asking that you become their personal trainer, but a tip or two would take a moment of your time and potentially save someone from injury. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I hope that Skydivingchad posts, but he basically quit because I told him to. Cold turkey. I don't think he's had any in about a year now. He was cranky for a while, so I distracted him with sex. Lots of sex. In fact, we are still using that method Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I feel sorry for the person that tries to get me to quit I have peter pan syndrome anyway, I'll never grow up! Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

LOL!! Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

The truth comes out, Zen must therefore be a woman!! Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

And what do you want video of? My twin X chromosomes or my twin boobies? Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Just to clarify, as a doctor, I don't know everything there is to know, however it is proven scientific fact that I am a woman, and women know everything Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I agree completely, which was my point to begin with. There is no 'scientific stance' on this, if there was, it would be a no brainer discussion. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda