rmsmith

In an ideal world any of these devices should at least: 1. connect to a USB port. 2. appear like a "mounted" thumb drive. 3. the software should be cross-platform, Java.

I am very happy with my Pro-Track, but it has several limitations: 1. It can only store "complete" data for the last 10-skydives. 2. The computer interface uses a serial port, not usb. 3. It isn't water resistant. Despite these limitations, it's a robust product, and I'd replace it with another one if I lost mine.

And the Arab response was the Oil Embargo, which delt the U.S. a huge economic decline for most of the seventies. For our manufacturing workforce, it marked the beginning of the end.

The use of Java technology would have insured a solid cross-platform solution. Several nice Java canopy coloring programs are out there that do a decent job. BTW, I'm using Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 Workstation, and it uses the Mozilla-Firefox browser as its default browser.

Same here; you haven't missed much either!

Bring a case or two of good beer!

It's not difficult to see how this ruling will be used and abused. Surrounding property values and taxes tend to rise when airports go away. -RMS Justices: Local governments can give OK if it's for public good The Associated Press Updated: 12:23 p.m. ET June 23, 2005 WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that local governments may seize people’s homes and businesses — even against their will — for private economic development. It was a decision fraught with huge implications for a country with many areas, particularly the rapidly growing urban and suburban areas, facing countervailing pressures of development and property ownership rights. As a result, cities now have wide power to bulldoze residences for projects such as shopping malls and hotel complexes in order to generate tax revenue. The 5-4 ruling — assailed by dissenting Justice Sandra Day O’Connor as handing “disproportionate influence and power” to the well-heeled — represented a defeat for some Connecticut residents whose homes are slated for destruction to make room for an office complex. Those residents argued that cities have no right to take their land except for projects with a clear public use, such as roads or schools, or to revitalize blighted areas. Under the ruling, residents still will be entitled to “just compensation” for their homes as provided under the Fifth Amendment. But residents involved in the lawsuit expressed dismay and pledged to keep fighting. “It’s a little shocking to believe you can lose your home in this country,” said resident Bill Von Winkle, who said he would refuse to leave his home, even if bulldozers showed up. “I won’t be going anywhere. Not my house. This is definitely not the last word.” Jobs, tax revenue cited Writing for the court’s majority in Thursday’s ruling, Justice John Paul Stevens said local officials, not federal judges, know best in deciding whether a development project will benefit the community. States are within their rights to pass additional laws restricting condemnations if residents are overly burdened, he said. “The city has carefully formulated an economic development that it believes will provide appreciable benefits to the community, including — but by no means limited to — new jobs and increased tax revenue,” Stevens wrote. He was joined by Justice Anthony Kennedy, David Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer. O’Connor, who has been a key swing vote on many cases before the court, issued a stinging dissent. She argued that cities should not have unlimited authority to uproot families, even if they are provided compensation, simply to accommodate wealthy developers. “Any property may now be taken for the benefit of another private party, but the fallout from this decision will not be random,” O’Connor wrote. “The beneficiaries are likely to be those citizens with disproportionate influence and power in the political process, including large corporations and development firms.” She was joined in her opinion by Chief Justice William Rehnquist, as well as Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. Thomas filed a separate opinion to argue that seizing homes for private development, even with “just compensation,” is unconstitutional. “The consequences of today’s decision are not difficult to predict, and promise to be harmful,” Thomas wrote. “So-called ’urban renewal’ programs provide some compensation for the properties they take, but no compensation is possible for the subjective value of these lands to the individuals displaced and the indignity inflicted.” Homeowners refused to budge The case involves Susette Kelo and several other homeowners in a working-class neighborhood in New London, Conn., who filed a lawsuit after city officials announced plans to raze their homes to clear the way for a riverfront hotel, health club and offices. The residents had refused to budge, arguing it was an unjustified taking of their property. “I’m not willing to give up what I have just because someone else can generate more taxes here,” said homeowner Matthew Dery, whose family has lived in the neighborhood known as Fort Trumbull for more than 100 years. New London contends the condemnations are proper because the development plans serving a “public purpose” — such as boosting economic growth — are valid “public use” projects that outweigh the property rights of the homeowners. The Connecticut Supreme Court agreed with New London, ruling 4-3 in March 2004 that the mere promise of additional tax revenue justified the condemnation. Issue across the country Nationwide, more than 10,000 properties were threatened or condemned between 1998 and 2002, according to the Institute for Justice, a Washington public interest law firm representing the New London homeowners. In many cases, according to the group, cities are pushing the limits of their power to accommodate wealthy developers. Courts, meanwhile, are divided over the extent of city power, with seven states saying economic development can justify a taking and eight states allowing a taking only if it eliminates blight. In New London, city officials envision replacing a stagnant enclave with commercial development that would attract tourists to the Thames riverfront, complementing an adjoining Pfizer Corp. research center and a proposed Coast Guard museum. “The record is clear that New London was a city desperate for economic rejuvenation,” the city’s legal filing states, in asking the high court to defer to local governments in deciding what constitutes “public use.” The New London neighborhood that will be swept away includes Victorian-era houses and small businesses that in some instances have been owned by several generations of families. Among the New London residents in the case is a couple in their 80s who have lived in the same home for more than 50 years. Where other states stand According to the residents’ filing, the seven states that allow condemnations for private business development alone are Connecticut, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York and North Dakota. Eight states forbid the use of eminent domain when the economic purpose is not to eliminate blight; they are Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, South Carolina and Washington. Another three — Delaware, New Hampshire and Massachusetts — have indicated they probably will find condemnations for economic development alone unconstitutional, while the remaining states have not addressed or spoken clearly to the question.

In skydiving, the "rider" is assured that risk does indeed exist...in writing on the back of a ticket, or in the page(s) of a waiver.

The people have always some champion whom they set over them and nurse into greatness... This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when he first appears he is a protector. Plato, The Republic Greek author & philosopher in Athens (427 BC - 347 BC)

Thinking about WV...is the network a piece of string and two tin cans?

Like skiing or smoking cigarettes this should be enough to participate.

When I deploy my pullout it inflates and yanks from my grip before I can get full arm extension, and there is no delay in the deployment process. I've used a pullout pilot chute since the seventies, and I've never had a problem with them. The sequence of events is very similar to a rip cord system except that your arm replaces the spring. From an engineering perspective, the BOC sequence of events makes more sense, but I don't care for the spandex pouch, and I've lost a few friends to the twisted leg straps of years past.

You might be right since a number of backup tapes have recently been reported missing from several major banks.

Hey, thanks for the nice photos! It's good to see that the dhc-6 twin otter stol-aircraft is still a worth-while investment.

Of course; 79-degrees is too cold, and 81-degrees is too hot!

This is good information. Thanks!

Skydiving is very expensive, which means a high level of employment. I have to support a family too, so there's no kicking-back anytime soon. In college I lived real cheap, and I was on the California Central Coast near the ocean, almost heaven! If I didn't have any responsibilities, I'd dump this house, and I'd buy me a small quiet place somewhere between Big Sur and San Simeon. Then I'd clean up my DUI dry suit, and I'd buy me a new boogie board and ...

California is one of many states that dip into their gasoline tax accounts to replenish the general fund, better known as welfare, leaving the state's infrastructure to crumble. This trend will likely continue into the foreseeable future as companies demand evermore sophisticated skills, housing prices climb, and outsourcing become rampant.

It's here in Washington state, a very robust virus. Our entire family is just getting over three weeks of it, but it's persistent...and lingering. The kids brought it home from school.

You might consider running audio-video conduit since you are dealing with one room, and you know that cable quality continues to improve.

Here's a search that describes the plight of Generation Broke

Yes, it's you as Google is up.

So, are you getting any shorter?

I have to agree with you, and parents who cannot support themselves shouldn't be allowed to have children.

That's some serious coin if you're studying World Religions, but it's doable if you are going to be a Dentist or Urologist. The industry won't lend a student that much, and the schools won't accept a student unless some real assets exist to see them through the program. You don't come from a trailer park, and I'd bet you have beautiful teeth and nice shoes too...right?