TriGirl

This song was my first thought when I saw the thread title. +1! Great minds think alike... As for Nat's original request, I need to scan through my music collection. I know I have songs I play just for the fun of it, but want to be sure I don't leave any out, and that they're appropriate for Nat's project.

Vinny: "You use instant grits?" Witness: "No respectful self-respectin' southerner gentleman would have breakfast without properly cooked uses instant grits." ~My Cousin Vinny FIFY! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Well, the mechanic definitely had some good something if you shared Smirnoff and tongue! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Okay, how that was MEANT to be communicated, is that in the parody song about guys showing their junk, they forgot Braveheart. I thought The Piano was included in that song? See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Thanks for that. Never got a chance to catch them live. Pink Floyd, the original shoe gazers. I was pretty excited last week when I saw a list of upcoming concerts in Istanbul. Roger Waters is playing there Aug 4. Then I looked at my calendar -- that's the day I'm headed to Ireland for a race! I'll have to check the European tour schedule. Let's see if he goes to Dublin! ETA -- Damn! The Dublin show is right in the middle of Nationals (for which I plan to be in the US). Guess I'll have to pick one of these other shows, and do a bit of traveling!

This facet is covered by this song One forgotten movie: Braveheart. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

This is the most important part. Last I checked (though it's been several years since I checked), you are allowed to bring in up to 25 Cuban cigars for personal use. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

The other side of the coin. I've seen way too many Bronze Star medals given out to people doing these jobs. The difference before was if you didn't rate the "V" device, obviously the award was given for something other than valor under fire. And since it was still a BS, it ranked exactly the same with or without the device. At least it's now a separate award. Now, whether it should be above or just below a Bronze Star is certainly another matter. The true disservice is in the application of our higher awards. Until very recently, for the current conflicts, you had to die from your wounds to be considered for a MoH. It was really sad to read some of the citations for BS medals (read: arguably too high of an award for the action), and others for SS, Navy Cross, etc, that could easily have qualified for MoH in previous conflicts. However, go back and read the criteria for the BS medal. It's pretty vague, and it doesn't seem that difficult to write a citation that qualifies per the letter, if not the spirit, of the criteria. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

I haven't yet seen anyone mention what the article details -- the income of the highest leadership at some of these expensive hospitals. While I concede that expertise and skills (such as an experienced surgeon or CFO) do come at a cost, I was personally shocked to see the seven-figure salaries listed. I'm curious (yes, I really want to know -- this isn't rhetorical), are they really worth that salary, and do they really stand to bear the financial burden if the institution is hit with a major lawsuit? Mostly, I was shocked more by the fact that the hospital administrator makes so much more than the university administrator to which the hospital is associated. I don't disagree that the providers farther down the ladder bear an enormous risk (malpractice suits, for example), and that the institution itself should be able to fend off frivolous suits (or pay out legitimate ones). Financial compensation in those cases makes sense to me. It's the top seven individuals each taking home seven figures, that sounds off to me. The other question I have revolves around what the article cites as the cost charged for glucose test strips, generic Tylenol, alcohol swabs and gauze pads. What would happen if you went in for your hospital stay with your own, unopened (fresh from the drugstore) stock of these items? and.... discuss. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

I have a 2010 Compass. I've been teased for not driving a "real" Jeep, but I've found it is just as much Jeep in performance as the others. It was available in 5-speed manual for all trim levels, and I get a lot of shocked-but-impressed looks from Turks when they realize an American chick drives a manual transmission. Around Istanbul. (if anyone has ever driven the side streets of Istanbul, you'll know why that means something). The first winter in Ankara, I learned that higher ratios of marble in road construction, plus very wet snow, plus a significant grade, equal a rodeo drive home. However, my reliable Compass went straight up the hill with no issues (made more interesting by having to dodge all the other cars spinning their tires, trying not to slide down the hill!). First winter in DC we had a lot of snow. My car was under a carport, so right in front of my car was the snow that had fallen from the carport, added to the pileup from the snowplows. Not a problem -- just climbed right over it and went about my day. Bottom line, I have a comfortable, classy vehicle that is fun to drive and does what I need it to do. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Oh no, the "nice guy" kiss of death! Some of us happen to LIKE nice guys! It seems VSkydiver is one of us, so I'm not thinking that's any kind of kiss of death. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Got yerself a hottie! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Which Ceasar? (sorry, I've been studying different periods and regions of history!) See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

What's your "Real" Job? Meteor? See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

yeah, I couldn't resist. That's actually a line from an obscure movie, and I love it when I get a chance to use it! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Similar story from high school (though not nearly as humorous as yours!). VERY shy girl, exchange student from Hong Kong. Always sat in the back of the room due to her shyness. Of course, we know what other type of student sits in the back rows. During an in-class assignment, she turned to the slacker next to her, asking, "excuse please, you have rubber?" He was a little taken aback and asked her to repeat herself, which she did. Once he was certain of her request, he took out his wallet and presented what she asked for. Well, the American version, anyway! Turning five shades of red, the exchange student frantically exclaimed, "no! no! for mistake! for MISTAKE!!" Subject slacker was kind enough to slowly explain that in America that's called an eraser. I don't believe the poor girl tried speaking to another student again the rest of the semester! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

And this is different from every other day how? No money was exchanged.... Now now. Vader's a slut, not a whore. Since when is being a slut a crime in THIS family? See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

When was the last time you saw someone running in armour or racing a chariot? They still race chariots every weekend in the winter in Idaho. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Your kind is tougher to find that some might think. Thought I might have found one for myself a couple of times, but alas, no. Wait! There are women who actually WANT a trophy husband? Where do I apply? Sorry, dear, but you already declined! Apparently I didn't qualify for that trophy, and I don't beg. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

No reason to observe it, so no way to screw it up. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

It's okay. I have this education money to spend. I've been working with international law, conventions and agreements for most of my military career, so I thought I'd use that education money to delve deeper into it. I may use it afterward, may not. It should be fun to study, though. If I use that education, it would be advising and interpretation of international conventions/agreements, law of the sea, that kind of stuff. There would be no "they". I'll only use it if I want to!

Ha, thanks! I like your panties! ... about to be added to my sig line. Someone needs to add this exchange to the combined list of classic Skymama quotes! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Your kind is tougher to find that some might think. Thought I might have found one for myself a couple of times, but alas, no. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Leader of Marines and Diplomat. BS -- Medical Physics MA -- National Security (Intl Studies) Next degree to be a JD (hopefully) See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

And this know-nothing is very grateful. JerryBaumchen Same here...Ski is my go-to guy when I screw up the computer, which is rather often. Thankfully he's helpful and doesn't give me shit about my ineptitude ... Can't begin to figure how much I owe ya Ski! +1. Thrilled with the tech support you've provided me!