jcd11235

I ride a SS and don't have any problems climbing even steep hills. One of my frequent riding companions is a scholarshipped university swimmer fifteen years younger than me, and in much better shape. She rides a geared road bike, and I regularly drop her going up hills. Climbing sucks, but since I can't shift into a lower gear, it doesn't suck very long. I can barely keep up on level road, though. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

I explained it more simply here. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

I regularly see dozens of fixed gear bikes locked to bike racks on campus and around town. Where I very rarely see such bikes, however, is on the streets being ridden. (This fact is somewhat disappointing, since, when the opportunity does present itself, I find a certain pleasure in coasting past fixed gear riders on smooth, level pavement.) Is this common in other areas? Is a fixie merely a fashion accessory? For those who don't know, a fixed gear bike is a bike on which the rider cannot coast. The motion of the pedals are "fixed" to the motion of the rear wheel. If the wheel is moving forward, the pedals are moving forward. If the wheel is moving backwards, the pedals are moving backwards. Usually these bikes have only a single speed, and are often equipped with no brakes. Once upon a time, only the strongest cyclists rode fixed gear bikes. Now, they seem to be a trendy bike to own, though not necessarily to ride. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

If, by "the shit hits the fan", you mean when some misguided citizens take an armed stand against the government, then the government needs no loophole. The Constitution already empowers the government to stop an insurrection. They don't need to rely on the UN or NATO. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

I think the death penalty is often supported for reasons of vengeance, such as for the victim's family. From a purely pragmatic perspective, life in prison is cheaper and protects society just as well. I do agree, however, that if it is applied, it should be "in a calm and clinical fashion, void of the bias of anger, vengeance, or any other passion than the duty to protect society." Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

I don't see the problem if they had authorization from DoD. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

I would argue that it began as a recreational activity and evolved into a sport. How long had skydiving been around before skydivers began having skydiving competitions? I would say you're showing a lack of knowledge. There have been skydiving competitions since the 1930's at least, and serious world championships began in the mid 1950's. Like I said, it was an activity long before it was a competitive sport. The modern history of the sport began in the late 18th century with Jacques Garnerin from France who performed display jumps from balloons flying over Europe. Later in the 19th century, women, who still number only between 15 and 20 percent among skydivers, began to appear on the scene. Kathe Paulus from Germany jumped professionally in Germany around the turn of the 20th century. Tiny Broadwick, another professional parachutist in the U.S., became the first woman to jump from an airplane in 1913 and the first to make a freefall in 1914. Source There still is a serious focus on competition skills at some drop zones. Additionally, some coaches travel to locations convenient for the teams they coach. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

IIRC, the ban wasn't due to looking scary; it was due to how easy it (supposedly) was to convert a semi-automatic civilian version (e.g., AR-15) of a military assault rifle to fully automatic. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

That's definitely what the OP should buy for Skymama! Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

I must have missed the news in which we were informed that martial law has been declared and voting has been suspended. We poor Americans are so oppressed! Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

They are us, for all intents and purposes (i.e., we have veto power). It's just not going to happen. It's nothing more than a tin-foil hat conspiracy. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

The U.N. lacks a standing army. Further, the U.N. cannot take military action without the approval of the United States (and every other country on the UNSC with veto power). Does the UN not have "Peace Keeping Troops" made up of members from all of their member nations? Member nations like the USA? What makes you think our government would not give their approval? You said, "It won't be our own troops used against us. It will be U.N. troops." Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

The U.N. lacks a standing army. Further, the U.N. cannot take military action without the approval of the United States (and every other country on the UNSC with veto power). Does the UN not have "Peace Keeping Troops" made up of members from all of their member nations? Member nations like the USA? Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Don't feel too bad. A P-51 is a very similar, though slightly larger, can opener. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:P-openers.jpg Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

The U.N. lacks a standing army. Further, the U.N. cannot take military action without the approval of the United States (and every other country on the UNSC with veto power). Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

It doesn't matter if they're armed or not if they're taken by surprise by a well-prepared deranged shooter. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Agreed. But let's not kid ourselves into believing that those consequences are necessarily serious enough to arrest the shooter's actions. If he is expecting return fire, as he appears to have been, there's a good chance that being hit by a round from a handgun will result only in him redirecting fire towards the source of that shot. Remember, he has as much adrenaline pumping through his body as anyone else in the theater. Without a protective mask, that's a very big reach. Again, have you ever experienced tear gas? If you have, then you know that your top priority is to figure out how to breathe easily again. You certainly aren't going to be able to pinpoint muzzle flash. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

I haven't done that here. ***of course the body doesn't go flying back on impact. But a broken rib definitely slows you down. The ceramics you refer to do more but do not survive many hits. In the scenario discussed, the shooter was not at risk of being hit many times, even with several armed moviegoers. Have you ever been subjected to tear gas? Have you ever tried to aim a handgun with seriously diminished visual acuity? While being shot at? While unable to breathe without burning pain? I agree that nothing will completely prepare someone for being shot while wearing body armor except being shot while wearing body armor. That doesn't mean that a reasonable level of preparedness cannot be achieved through academic means. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Unfortunately, all too often the organization takes steps to protect such priests. It's not unreasonable to consider such protection to be a kind of support. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Dumb people and mathematically illiterate people are "useful idiots" for the GOP. What's your point? Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

That's a rather un-Christian attitude, but you're certainly free to embrace it. I don't believe that if we give up our guns the Mid-East terrorists will refrain from using Syria's chemical weapons. Right now, those weapons are up for grabs. Like I said, you are free to embrace such an attitude. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

That's a rather un-Christian attitude, but you're certainly free to embrace it. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Agreed. Article 1, Section 8: The Congress shall have Power … To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; Seems pretty clear. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

No, I just like to look at things more objectively, rather than through the lens of Hollywood shoot 'em ups or the eyes of armchair hero wannabes. The laws of physics do not lie. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

You've missed the point in more ways than one. Your experiment does not adequately simulate the transfer of force. There is also no reason to suspect that the shooter was not expecting return fire. His equipment indicates he probably was. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!