AndyMan

There are more then a few examples of sellers getting ripped off, in an assortment of scams. This sets off my personal warning bells, my first impression is that this is a scam. I think this guy can't answer your questions about experience because he has none, and doesn't know how to fake an answer. I think he's a wuffo, and you'll never get your cash. Be aware, be cautious, and if in doubt find another buyer. Stiletto's are popular canopies, so you shouldn't have any problems if you tell this guy off. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Sure. No difference in ability. Responsibility? To me, a big part of my confidence in riggers and pilots are that I know that they follow the rules. In aviation and rigging, pretty much every rule exists because somebody died. When riggers and pilots break rules, people often die. If a rigger or pilot smokes dope, then thats a good indication to me that they don't respect rules, or think that certain rules don't apply to them. Pretty much every one else, whether they be cops, or doctors, or even presidents - I don't give a rats ass if they inhale, never mind if they smoke. I hold pilots and riggers to a higher standard. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

The only reason I care one way or another, is because weed is illegal. I do not want a rigger who regularly breaks or flaunts laws. I have no issue with people smoking weed in general, and I think Americas attidude towards it is stupid. That said, there are people I hold to a very high standard, and riggers are in this group. If I know a rigger is taking illegal drugs, he won't rig for me. For what its worth, I also apply this standard to pilots. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Overstated indeed. It's true that that the very rich often travel to the US for instant treatment. I'm pretty sure that's true of pretty much every country, though. I've never had insane delays. I had an MRI within a week of my knee injury when I was in Toronto, which was shorter by a few days than the delay I had in Chicago for my ankle injury. My dad had to visit an ER when he was visiting me in Cleveland, and his Emergency Room delay was far longer then anything I ever witnessed in Canada. I don't know anyone who ever travelled to the states for treatment, and my circle of friends is relatively affluent. They all got good, timely treatment in Canada. I'm sure it happens, but I suspect only in the circle of the ultra-rich. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

It's paid for out of the general revenue fund of the provincial governments, which is primarily funded with income and sales taxes. Canada has a bracketed system of income taxes similar to the US, although the provincial and federal tax rates do tend to be higher than their corresponding state and federal rates. Canada also has a 7% sales tax, and most provinces also have a sales tax set around 7-8% _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Actually, I'd agree with Jonny. Moving from Toronto to Chicago, while my federal and state/provincial taxes are less, these are countered by much higher municipal taxes (property taxes and often sales taxes), user-fees like toll-roads, and exorbitant health care costs. I have no doubt that if the dollars were of equal value, and you normalise for real estate, it would be far cheaper to live in Canada. Real Estate costs in Chicago are similar to Toronto. The tax difference between Canada and the US is far less than I would have imagined. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

There are similarities, I suppose... But to me, the definining charactersitic of the HMO system is that you have a designated Primary Care Provider, who limits your access to other providers through referals. That isn't the case in Canada. Also, with an HMO you're limited to "in-network" providers, which also isn't the case. In Canada, every doctor is "in-network". It is the case that the government provides an arguably good and fair level of service covering most of what people are looking for. There are some cases where you can "buy" additional levels of service, but these are few and far between. You can "buy" an upgrade to a private hospital room, otherwise you're in a "semi-private" room which you may share with 1 or 3 other patients. However, you can not "buy" line jumping, or a higher quality of heart surgury, for example. Alternately, some types of proceedures are cash only and not covered, lyposuction being a good example. There are gaps. The government does not provide standard dental or eye care, and their prescription drug coverage also has gaps. Employers usually provide health plans which cover these gaps. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Quote Those are the days you let me pick the ticks out of your back hair, right? *** Craichead doesn't call me her 'HubbyMonkey' for nothing. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I learned on a stick, and my last sportscar was a stick. My compact SUV is automatic... and my hand still reaches for the shifter when I pull up to the stop light. That said, I have grown to like the automatic, especially when stuck in traffic. I think in future purchases, I'll probably stick with automatic unless its a sportscar. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

What's absurd is that they didn't need to manipulate the numbers. With nearly 60% of the american population claiming to be "dissatisfied" with his presidency, GWB is tanking his own numbers, he doesn't need the LATimes's help. Do check out this site: www.pollingreport.com. It collects statistics from a variety of sources, and concisely reports them. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Off topic, but just imagine what you'd get if Condoleeza Rice bred with Vladamir Putin?!?! _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Why remove the cover of the lanc port? I'm not familiar with the PC330, but on my 120 the lanc port cover also protects the DC power, firewire, and USB ports. I left the cover on because I wanted the protection of the cover to help against moisture and dust entering any of the above mentioned ports. I used a Dremel to drill a whole in the cover to allow access to the lanc port. When jumping with the cam eye plugged in, all ports are covered, and somewhat protected. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I would not send a single penny before seeing the gear. That sets off alarm bells. Ask your DZO to act as an escrow. Tell the seller to ship the gear to your DZO for inspection. Have him discuss with your DZO that he'll be holding the DZO responsible for payment or return of the gear. Then have your DZO inspect the gear, and if its good have your DZO mail the dude the check. I've bought and sold gear over the internet using this technique. It works well, and having the DZO involves elevates the trust level. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Well, if you went through the student progression in the last year or so, then you got cheated. Here's what the USPA says you're suposed to learn: From the ISP, Category H, section D as quoted in the SIM. This is the same section that mentions replacing closing loops and line stows. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

When I asked my DZO and the head of the video concession if I could practice on tandems, I was given the following conditions. I could not under any circumstances give the video to the student for free or cheap. and, If the customer saw the video, and wanted a copy, then great. They could buy it by paying the standard video rate. The video concession would use the standard leader, we'd shoot some interviews, and give the student the standard package. The high cost of the standard package would discourage the student from buying a crappy product. This served as a great motivator for me to work on a sellable product. I'm sure there's a handfull of solutions to the problem, but without a doubt the DZO has to be pro-active in addressing it - no matter what solution they pick. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

One question. What makes you think that this law has "run amok"? It sounds like it was applied precisely as it was intended to be. http://www.dictionarybarn.com/SOCIOCENTRISM.php _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

The supply of crude oil is limited. It will eventually run out. If the supply side were dominant, then I suspect we'd be seeing a steady roll-up of prices in excess of inflation. However, we've seen the opposite - a relatively flat price over the last few decades, with price movements being dictated by supply. The following events lead to higher prices: 1) A weekend. 2) The start of the "driving season" 3) The start of a gulf war - short term increases, mostly out of fear of future price hikes. 4) Immediately after terrorist attacks - mostly out of fear of hoarding and future price hikes. 5) Strong air travel, presumably because they're burning more jet-a. Alternately, the following seem to lead to lower prices: 1) weekdays 2) the end of the "driving season". 3) reduced aviation activity - ie, we saw lower prices during the commercial aviation downturn, presumably because they were burning less jet-a. These are all demand side. I think clearly, the pattern fits demand far more than any notion of a limited supply. The failure of OPEC seems to be that they react far too slowly to supply-side changes rather than constrict the supply in a typical monopolistic manner, as is typically stated. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I don't think there are any easy answers when it comes to trans-gendered people. It's true that society isn't ready to accept them yet, but I think it's also true that there are a whole lot of issues that are inherient in being a trans-gendered person, or being with one. I don't think there's anyone who knows all the answers. I think anyone who claims they do are either lying, or they're not as smart as they think they are. All of our thoughts are based on our own experiences. To some degree, we're all ignorant. Of the trans-gendered people I've known, they've all seemed like they're on a road or a journey. I don't think I've ever met someone who's finished that journey. It always seems like there's something else they need to do to be happy. If they've had one surgery, then they need a second surgery. If they've had two, then there's something else that they need. I have a lot of sympathy for people in the trans-gendered community. All of the people I've met always seem to be chasing happiness, and I honestly feel that often they're likely never to find it. Lastly, being transgendered often involves lying. So many people hide the truth from their friends and families - even sometimes their spouses... I can't imagine living the llife of the lie, that so often comes up. I can easily see myself having meaningful, thoughtful, and supportive relationship with trans-gendered people. In fact, I have. That's easy. Dating is another story though, and adds a whole lot of complications, some of which start with me. I'm married, so this question is purely hypothetical, but no. I don't think I could ever date someone who'd gone through a sex change. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I'm not replying directly to you Tonto, but to this thought in general that an engagement rings needs to cost two or four monthes salary, or more then a rig. Allow me to say that this is quite simply, stupid. Buying a bigger rock does not mean you love her more. Spending money on her does not show you care more. You can not buy love, nor can you buy a long meaningful mariage. To each his own, but to me - starting off the marriage by me shelling out thousands (or tens of thousands) of dollars for a meaningless rock is bad precedent. If a woman demands a ring worth thousands, then consider it a sign that she's only after your money. As I said in a previous post, both my wife and I are thrilled that I only spent $30 on our engagement ring. We're buying a condo this week, and are more then happy to have those funds available for something important. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Flirting in itself is essentially a verb. It's an action that you do, presumably to "get-sum". Finding someone interesting or fascinating is not this same action. I happen to find Nietzche fascinating, yet I assure you that should I ever meet him (afterlife?) Getting-Some will be the last thing on my mind. Finding someone interesting is a motivation. Flirting is an action. There is no commonality. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

No. You missed the point. It was an attack on the "Divine right of kings", a principle that held up ancient monarchies. He was aluding that the current administration seems to think it *is* a monarchy. Thankfully, it seems like they're in for a reminder. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I sound like broken record. Ask Nathan. His wedding band is titanium, and really cool. I believe he said he paid $30. Of course, that doesn't work for an engagement ring... _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Obviously. Hence the word "most". What is it with the need to argue every little point? The word "most" clearly implies there are exceptions. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I'd agree generally that banning things that are easily available is a futile attempt. I'd show examples of this as Prohibition, and American drug laws. I'm not quite sure how this applies to the list of things quoted above. Beer, wine, and pot are often manufactured in peoples basements, hence they're dificult to control. I can't say the same thing about most guns. I'm not sure I understand your listing of Social Welfare. As far as I know, there is no discussion of criminalizing it. Nor am I aware of any attempts to criminalize political correctness. I've never heard of a hate law that applied to private discussions. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

How many times have you been to Canada or Mexico? I used to jump near Buffalo NY, which was literally a 10 minute drive from the Canadian border. While certainly most Buffalo residents had been to Canada, and many go frequently, I was amazed to find people who had lived their there whole lives, and never driven 10 minutes to the North. It's also not a rare even to find people who have never been out of their state. Certainly there are myopic people everywhere, its just my perception that they seem more common in the US. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.