craichead

Recently, there was a very good article on Salon.com about childhood vaccines potentially causing autism and other health issues. As many others have mentioned (and you've done the research yourself), it would seem that the culprit could be thimerosal, the preservative used in some vaccines. http://archive.salon.com/news/feature/2005/06/16/thimerosal/index.html Deadly immunity When a study revealed that mercury in childhood vaccines may have caused autism in thousands of kids, the government rushed to conceal the data -- and to prevent parents from suing drug companies for their role in the epidemic. (Click on the link above for the whole story. It's a long one!) _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Okay, I know that there are plenty of threads about prescription goggles, and most people swear by SportRx.com. However, I've found that all of the models offered on SportRx.com will not support my very bad astigmatism. Then I ran across these "Phoenix" goggles at Birdz Eyewear: http://www.birdzeyewear.com/phoenix.html They have a frame insert that snaps into the goggles, and it is shaped more like my regular eyeglasses. They seem to be pretty affordable--they're offered on eBay for $35, and there's a listing in the DZ.com classifieds for about the same price (it's the same person selling them). Has anyone had experience with these? _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

This radio story is old news (from 1.5 yrs ago), but it's still fun! I did a search for "NPR Perris," and nothing related to the wind tunnel came up. Apologies in advance if it's a repost.

Hmm...are you listening to Fresh Air on NPR? _Pm Politics & Society: Richard J. Ellis and the Pledge of Allegiance In 2002, a federal judge ruled that the "under God" portion of the Pledge of Allegiance was unconstitutional because it violated the separation of church and state. An uproar ensued. But as Richard J. Ellis, author of To the Flag: The Unlikely History of the Pledge of Allegiance, points out in his book, those words were not included in the pledge when it was written in 1892 -- they were added in 1950. Ellis is the Mark O. Hatfield Professor of Politics at Willamette University in Salem, Ore. Politics & Society: John M. Coski and the Confederate Flag John M. Coski is author of The Confederate Battle Flag: America's Most Embattled Emblem. The book looks at the flag's history and the various meanings attached to it. Some people view it as a symbol of white supremacy and racial injustice; others think it represents a rich Southern heritage. Coski is historian and library director at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Va. __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Wow, absolutely stunning, Cora!

I think you should bring your cases to Hinckley. I'm sorry I missed the New Wave Boogie at SDC this past weekend--but hopefully I can make it to the next one over Labor Day! _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Another nice write up...and you can see AndyMan in the photo! He's the dude in the foreground with the black, purple & turquoise jumpsuit with the black, purple and turquoise Icon. Oh yeah, and a bald head. _Pm http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2005/06/26/news/news03.txt Free fallin' Annual event expected to raise $10,000 for MS By Renee Messacar - Staff Writer HINCKLEY - Some people hold bake sales, car washes or walks to raise money for their causes. But one group jumps out of planes for its cause - multiple sclerosis. The Chicagoland Skydiving Center on Route 30 in Hinckley was the site of the Eighth Annual Skydiving for MS event on Saturday. Over the center, skydivers jumped from an airplane 14,000 feet in the air. Jumpers fell for a minute before opening their brightly colored parachutes for a five-minute journey to the landing field. On the ground, attendees played volleyball and horseshoes and participated in raffles and auctions. The event, which allows people of various abilities to skydive, raises about $10,000 annually for the Greater Illinois Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. "It started ... when a fellow skydiver was diagnosed with MS," said Dave Perez of Plainfield. "It was just myself and another guy, and then it blossomed." Perez, who was diagnosed 18 years ago with the disease, which attacks the nervous system and affects each person differently, said he has watched the event grow to include more than 30 people with MS who jumped last year. Others also were invited to participate. "Gravity affects all of us the same, whether you can walk or not," he said. Chicagoland Skydiving Center has equipment that allows people of varying physical ability to jump, such as harnesses for landing that pull up the legs of people too weak to move them on their own. Perez said the event is inspiring because it gives people a chance to forget about their problems and do something wild. The extra attention that staff gave Fred Gorniak of Lake Village, Ind., allowed him to focus on completing his fourth skydive and not worry about his MS, he said. "They asked if I wanted to take my walker out into the field or get picked up by a golf cart," he said. "Of course I chose the golf cart." On Saturday, he jumped for his fourth time, which was his first time with the event. "Now I'll be a regular at this," he said. Gorniak brought with him friend Rob Hefner of Crown Point, Ind. "I've always wanted to do this," Hefner said. "(Gorniak) told me about this, and it seemed like a good opportunity. We've been planning to attend for the past two months. And today I jumped, had fun and raised money for the MS Society." Hefner said that when he was falling at a high speed and looking across the countryside, he got an overwhelming rush. "I can't put it into words," he said, adding that he would love to jump again. Word of the event got the attention of Corey and Mark Kujawa of Lafayette, Ind., who have wanted to skydive for a while and saw this as a good opportunity. While waiting for their turn to go up, Corey Kujawa watched people coming in from the field after a jump. They carried their gear and grinned triumphantly. "We're out for the adrenaline rush," she said as she smiled back at the jumpers. "We're always looking for an adventure," her husband agreed. First-timers took a brief class about what to do in the air and were accompanied by instructors for a tandem jump, during which a jumper is strapped to a jump instructor. Tandem jumps cost $189, a portion of which went to the cause, Perez said. Attendance at the event was free, although people who paid a $20 registration fee received dinner and a T-shirt and were treated to a band performance. Pat Duray of Oak Forest attended the event and supported it but didn't jump. Instead, her husband went up for her. "I was diagnosed with MS 23 years ago, and he does this for me," she said. They first attended the event in 2002. "When he offered to do it, I thought it was very nice but a little crazy," she said. "I'm scared to death when he's up there." Duray said Skydiving for MS is a great way to raise money for and awareness of the disease, which she feared would take her life 23 years ago. After the birth of her daughter, Duray felt incredibly tired, weak and generally ill. She eventually was diagnosed with MS and spent the next few years on various medicines, getting blood treatments and resting. She said her symptoms basically are gone now. Perez told a similar story about becoming very ill from MS and then getting the disease under control. He first experienced MS symptoms when he was 22 years old and in the U.S. Navy. "I didn't know how to handle it then," he said. "It's an invisible disease that affects each person differently." He said he hoped that by jumping from a plane, he could save others the years of pain that he has experienced. Renee Messacar can be reached at rmessacar@pulitzer.net Caption for attached photo: Skydivers file onto an airplane Saturday at the Chicagoland Skydiving Center in Hinckley during the Eighth Annual Skydiving for MS event. People from throughout Illinois and Indiana attended the event to raise money for multiple sclerosis research and treatment. Chronicle photo RENEE MESSACAR __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Happy Birthday Adam!!! Where have you been hiding? _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

A nice write-up about the 8th Annual Skydiving for MS Boogie that took place this past weekend at Chicagoland Skydiving Center! Initial estimates are that we raised over $15,000! _Pm http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/top/e27skydive.htm Hundreds 'take the plunge' for MS By Christine S. Moyer STAFF WRITER HINCKLEY — Fourteen thousand feet above the ground Donna Miles of Bellwood left her wheelchair behind and soared through the air. With her legs strapped together and a skydiver strapped to her back she free fell at 120 miles per hour before gently gliding through the clouds to an open field on Saturday. It was Miles' first try at tandem skydiving and seemingly fitting that it was done to help raise money for the disease that has left her paralyzed from the waste down — multiple sclerosis. "She has guts, stamina and brains ... she has a lot more guts than I do," said friend Jon Sipe who rode with her in the plane. Although sick from the heat and the excitement, Miles told friends the jump was "an unbelievable experience," and "an amazing adrenaline rush." Miles was among about several hundred MS sufferers and thrill seekers who attended the eighth annual skydiving for MS event on Saturday in Hinckley raising money for the Greater Illinois Chapter of the National MS Society. The event was sponsored by the Chicagoland Skydiving Center and will help fund the society's Advocacy Government Relations Committee, which fights for laws that would aid people with disabilities. According to Event Manager Dave Perez, this year's goal was to raise $10,000 with 10 percent of the registration and admission fees and 100 percent of the raffle ticket sales going to the society. And when asked why raise money for MS through skydiving, Perez said, "Why not?" The 40-year-old Plainfield resident has firsthand experience with tandem jumping and battling the disease that damages the central nervous system. He has jumped 13 times and was first diagnosed with MS at the age of 22 when he was serving in the Navy. Initially Perez was totally paralyzed and doctors thought his case was hopeless. But today, 18 years later his only visible symptoms are the cane he leans on when he's tired and the regular fatigue. For him, skydiving offers the ideal balance of extreme exhilaration and peace. There is the stomach-dropping free fall and then the graceful float through the clouds towards the ground. And he said Saturday's event offered other MS sufferers the same experience while raising money for the society and shedding light on the disease and many of its misconceptions. Multiple sclerosis is not fatal, it is not contagious, it does not leave most people confined to wheelchairs and it does not mean people have to stop living a normal life. Perez said, "People say, I'm disabled, can I do it (skydiving) ... But it's almost like so many things with MS you just find different ways, different tools to do it." In many cases, special straps are used to keep MS sufferers' legs together and attendants wait in the landing area with a golf cart, ready to zip them back to their friends and family. According to the event manager, about 50 people with MS attended last year's fund raiser and roughly 18 of them jumped. This year Perez and his wife Cecile, who also has MS, expected a similar turnout. Although Cecile has never jumped, she said people come back year after year just to get a taste of what she called a freeing experience. Nick Squires of Gilberts was among those at Saturday's event who does not have the disease but was eager to help "a good cause." Saturday marked the second tandem jump for the 24-year-old whose cousin has MS. "At 14,000 feet it's freezing. The 120 mph blasts feel like an air conditioner," Squires said. "I love the uncontrolled fall with the ground rushing up at you. It's hard to explain — all in all it's a good time." And that was the goal, according to Perez, to have fun, to raise money and to recognize that having MS does not mean having to change your life. "I hate to (say we) have MS in common," Cecile said about she and her husband, "But it's just a part of your life." 6/27/05 Caption for attached photo: Sara Spitler (left) and Karen Softcheck jockey for position at the door of the plane prior to jumping Saturday afternoon at the Chicagoland Skydiving Center in Hinckley. The center, along with the Greater Illinois Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, teamed up for the fund raiser. MICHAEL R. SCHMIDT / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

:4:1 Only four jumps...three done on Saturday at the 8th Annual Skydiving for MS Boogie at Chicagoland Skydiving Center. We ended up raising over $15,000!!! AndyMan and I won some nifty prizes at the raffle--dinner for two at Outback Steakhouse, $50 gift certificate for Paragear, and here's the big one...one night in the Sybaris Swimming Pool Suite! We totally dig the headboard mirror and mirrors on the ceiling! And the "mood lighting" above and below the bed is just so...porno! Only one jump on Sunday...would've done more if it hadn't been so damn hot! Jumped my own rig for the first time! About a year and a half ago, I bought a new Mirage G3, a new Sabre2 190, and a new Cypres2 (and a Tempo 210 reserve was handed down from AndyMan)...never got to jump them until now because of my shoulder injury/surgery. Hmm...so do I owe a case of beer for each new piece of gear, or can I claim that I owe just one for the whole rig assembly? Good times!

I would agree with that statement with the exception of the Seadog Speedboat Tours. It's especially cool if you can catch it on a night when there are fireworks at Navy Pier (Wednesday at 9:30pm and Saturdays at 10:15pm). The Chicago Architecture Foundation's Architecture River Cruise is the BEST. Highly recommended--I've been on it at least 5 times and always learn something new. Avoid any other architecture river cruise run by the various boat companies--they suck. I've actually been quite intrigued by the Chicago Segway Tour...looks dorky but fun. _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Hey, I'm a perv, but I'm not THAT kind of a perv! _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1164652#1164652 _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Hehehehehe! _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

I'm not worthy! You want me to do anything with your powers while I'm down here? _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Ooh! Rémi used his magical Greenie powers to change the poll! _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

About the same as yours...minus 3 hours. _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

fixed LOL! Thanks!

Definitely should've had an option for "All of the above." Also, you forgot the "tandem factory" option. _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Congratulations to you and Merrick! She's gorgeous! "Welcome to the Garden of Earthly Delights!" _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

I've attached my favorite pics of me with my dad.

Heh...have you read Living It Up: America's Love Affair with Luxury? If you haven't, you'd probably find it quite interesting and entertaining, and you'd also find yourself nodding your head in agreement as you're reading it. I can lend you my copy if you want! _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

There was a class action lawsuit filed recently about a similar phenomenon...dunno what has developed, though. http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/ebay_suit.html _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Wooohooo! Congratulations, Mike! Hmmm, isn't that a case of ?? _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Updating my numbers even though the challenge is on hiatus...because publicly declaring it keeps me on track. Current: 184.8 Loss: -1.4 Woohoo! I think nasal decongestants are the new diet pill. I hate summer colds/flu. _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)