http://www.btechunits.com/SMF/index.php?topic=2251.0
Note, on BtechUnits.com, I'm GiovanniBlasini, one of the admins. And, no, you're not going to be able to see Calbeck's LJ entry anymore - he either deleted it or made it friends-only. Why? Dunno. Go ask him.
But, yeah. Frivolous lawsuit. He really doesn't have a valid case. But, hey, you'll be able to track the case yourself through that thread.
If you want to sign up on BtechUnits.com be advised we have a real problem with spammers trying to register. If you've got a Classic Battletech forum account, PM me there. If not, post here, and I'll see about expediting it, and sorting through the thousands of spammers who try registering (srsly, I've got 5600 spammers currently waiting for approval/denial).
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| Date: | 2007-06-15 19:33 |
| Subject: | Attention! |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  pissed off |
If you happen to see the asshat driving this vehicle, please inform her that the world does not revolve around her, and that public facilities, like the drive-up mailboxes at the Post Office, are there for other people, as well.
Oh, and tell her the Sunfire driver says, "Go fuck yourself."
Thank you.
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| Date: | 2006-12-07 03:24 |
| Subject: | O Rly? |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  amused | | Music: | Placebo - "Pure Morning" |
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So, I was perusing Sky & Telescope magazine tonight, and I saw a thing on Stardust@home.
Now, I don't know how many of you remember the Stardust probe, which was supposed to collect samples of interstellar particles, return to Earth, and be caught in a net by a helicopter, because its onboard samples were so fragile, a conventional landing would probably destroy them.
Yeah, the one whose 'chute didn't open, and buried. That one.
Anyway, a surprisingly high percentage of the samples survived, and now they're looking for those particles. Thing is, though, the particles are tiny, and computers suck at recognizing them.
The answer? Stardust@home:
http://stardustathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/index.php
What they do, using their microscope, is to take short "movies" of the slides, each of which are around 480x360 microns. Yes, that's really freakin' small, people. These "movies" basically consist of the microscope focusing above and below the slide. A human being, then, looks at these movies on his computer, and tries to find the impact spots from these 1 micron particles.
Yes, there is a test involved.
Anyway, I took the test, and passed, with an 8/10. One slide I misidentified a dust track, and the other I somehow missed the track. Dag nabbit!
So, yeah, I'm actually going to be doing some useful astronomy! How cool is that?!
Not only that, but there's more: Mercury's going to be making a transit across the Sun on November 8th, and the whole transit will be visible from California! More info here:
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/20oct_transitofmercury.htm
I am one very happy amateur astronomer right now. :)
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| Date: | 2006-08-06 23:17 |
| Subject: | Oops! |
| Security: | Public |
| Music: | None - I'm watching South Park. |
Don't you just hate it when you forget a bag at the grocery store, dont' realize it until you get home, and it'll cost you almost as much in gas to go down to the store and get it?
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From: nbcSanDiego Newsroom [mailto:emailnews@nbcsandiego.com]
Sent: Sunday, August 06, 2006 6:24 AM
To: [I'd rather not say]
Subject: HEALTH ALERT: Boil-Water Order Issued For Parts Of San Diego
Boil-Water Order Issued For Parts Of San Diego
The residents of several communities in northeastern San Diego are told to boil
their water because of possible contamination.
MORE DETAILS: <http://www.nbcsandiego.com/tu/5hw90jc7s.html>
==============================
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Get caught up on the latest news, sports and weather on NBC 7/39. MORE DETAILS: <http://www.nbcsandiego.com/tu/5hw90jqcx.html>
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| Date: | 2006-08-06 01:07 |
| Subject: | In Other News.... |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  awake | | Music: | Matisyahu - "Fire of Heaven/Altar of Earth" |
So, why is it that, when I forget to turn my car's headlights on, I get pulled over in less than a block and get a ticket (it's happened twice), while the dude who was going at least 20 MPH faster than me on the freeway tonight (he was going between 90-100 MPH) can have his headlights off for all 7 miles I had him within line of sight, and not get pulled over?
What the hell?
Oh, and a few pics from the San Diego Comic Convention:
--Yes, I'm in a Utilikilt. And, yes, I was tiiiiirrreeed.....
--Me (on the left, obviously), running an Aerotech 2 game
--Look! I found Waldo!
--Evidently, all sorts are into pirate games!
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| Date: | 2006-08-05 19:58 |
| Subject: | Good News |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | happy | | Music: | Placebo, "Infra-Red" |
Helena is OK....evidently, she had to walk out of Lebanon into Syria, but she's OK. :)
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| Date: | 2006-08-01 14:26 |
| Subject: | Umm..... |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  worried | | Music: | Erasure - "It Doesn't Have to Be" |
OK, for those of you who are members of the Classic Battletech forums, visit this thread:
http://forums.classicbattletech.com/index.php/topic,4018.0.html
For the teeming majority of you who aren't, allow me to quote it:
ok folks I NEED YOU! *points finger onto each of you*
As most of you know - Helena is a helicopter pilotress in the Austrian army...
Well in the last 2 weeks several austrian soldiers on UNO missions died due to Israelic attacks onto UNO bases.
2 Days ago another died in a bombing attack, once again israeli forces attacked an UNO base...
Yesterday the austrian government decided to send special forces into the Libanon to get all austrian soldiers and civilians, as well as several 'SOS Kinderheime' (those are homes for orphan children run by austrian social workers) out of the fireing zone.
(For the Interested, the special units are 'Cobra' and 'Jagdkommando' troops.)
Well now to the important part:
Clara (Helena) assumed position among her comrades and left Austria today morning 11:00 (CentralEuropeanTime).
Her mission and/or her target are unknown to me but I fear that she will be into fights with Hisbollah and/or Israelic forces (who refused seperate cease fires to enable the evacuation of the austrian men)
Me and our son are hoping and waiting to hear from her... and every prayer is welcome!
So help and pray to Odin, Thor, Jesus Christ, Allah or whomever you belive in....
a worried
Myrmkin
Since Myrmkin posted that on July 27th, we've had additional word:
Helena is MIA...
I got a phone call today evening...
My understanding is she got shot down while on an evac mission three days ago, and there's been no word about her, her crew, or her passengers since.
So, if you're the praying type, now would be a good time for a few prayers for her.
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| Date: | 2006-03-17 01:08 |
| Subject: | YES!!!!!!!! |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  satisfied |
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20060316-1729-wifemurders.html
They nailed the sonofabitch! For BOTH wives! RIGHT ON!!
I knew this guy, and used to work with him. Years before that, in 1998, I was assigned as the file clerk for his wife where she worked. She was great. He was an asshole.
Glad to see justice got done on this one. Won't bring her back, but at least the bastard can't do it again.
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A band by the name of Harvey Danger decided to put their most recent album up on the Internet for free. Great stuff. :)
Wine, women and song: I tried them all
it did not take me long to figure I'd unlocked the door to happiness
I figured wrong (with a capital R)
All the baggage I brought wouldn't fit in a mid-size car
That's why I'm walking on eggshells down the via dolorosa
(hasn't gotten me any closer so far)
Shaked up with a poet -- no, it wasn't my department
Now I study the poetry of a studio apartment
Changing the cat box, baking the bread...
I shoulda been paying the bills instead of paying homage to an image
drawn from somebody else's head
Song, women, and wine:
You can't fool all the people all the time
But if you're trying, if you're looking, if you're lucky
You can always fool a few and feel fine
is the line between shame and dread:
One grips the lungs, one brains the head
But either one can crush you
Anyone can crush you
Once I dated an actor, she was working on a play;
by opening night we had nothing left to say to each other
It hit the wall, it was not resilient
She said that she was hungrier than I was brilliant
and who the hell was I to disagree?
Didn't you used to be someone who meant something to me?
Wine, women, and song:
I tried them all, it did not take me long
To figure I'd unlocked the door to happiness
I figured wrong
--- Harvey Danger, "Wine, Women and Song"
And here I was thinking these guys were just a one-hit wonder - they're great!
Here's another great song by them: http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=3530822107858556484
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| Date: | 2006-02-15 23:42 |
| Subject: | Shamelessly Stolen |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | amused | | Music: | Barenaked Ladies, "Brian Wilson" |
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Well, I finally tracked down a clinical neuropsychologist who could perform the FAA-required tests. Pity he wants to charge me $2400 to take them, of which he wants at least $1200 up front. Considering that the up-front cost is still roughly equivalent to a paycheck for me, that's just not going to happen right now.
So I wrote the FAA Aeromedical Division back, explained the situation, informed them I still wanted my status reviewed and reconsidered, explained the psychiatrist who had originally said I had ADD had since decided that I didn't really, and had they received that letter? Did they want me to have the psychiatrist send it directly?
I guess we'll just have to wait and see how that goes. I know they received the letter - I sent it certified mail, and I've gotten the receipt for it. Meanwhile, the psychologist wants to negotiate the payment terms for me (not the amount, just how I pay it). It still may prove necessary to do that in the end, but, really, I'd prefer not to have to pay a full month's net salary.
In other news, I just realized that, between State and Federal taxes, Social Security, my 401K (which is around $100/paycheck), etc., that I don't really see 40.71% of my annual income. Ouch. My brain hurts thinking about that.
Actually, in the past two and a half years, my annual (gross) income has gone up by over $20K. My net income has gone up by $8400. No wonder it doesn't feel like I'm doing significantly better.
Anyway, time for a mad dash to the Post Office. Hopefully, I can still send this package out tonight, so it has a hope of getting there Monday instead of Tuesday.
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Armed and Dangerous
Congratulations! You scored 86%! |
| You made it out, alive and well supplied. You probably even kept most of your party alive too. You know what to look for, what to take, and when to just run. You even feel a strange inkling to go back. If you did, you'd probably do just fine. |
 |
My test tracked 1 variable How you compared to other people your age and gender:
|
You scored higher than 96% on survivalpoints |
|
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| Date: | 2005-12-08 23:13 |
| Subject: | Wow, Cool! |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | happy | | Music: | None - watching Discovery Channel right now |
So, I had my psychiatric evaluation today, and got a clean bill of mental health. I brought the letter from the psychiatrist to my AME, who's going to call the FAA's aeromedical division, and see what they have to say. I'm pretty confident, though, that everything's going to work out well with that, so I should be able to get back in the air soon. Right now, I'm trying to decide if I want to "jump the gun" and start flying again before I find out the results for sure - I won't need the medical certificate until I need to solo, and I won't be soloing until after 20 hours of dual training.
Also, I found a flight log posted by someone who flies a Piper Cub from Gillespie Field in San Diego out to Lock Haven, PA every other year.
http://www.pipercubforum.com/buckel.htm
Fascinating. Also kind of disconcerting.
See, the Piper Cub is near the top of the list of aircraft I can afford. A J-3 Cub generally runs between $15,000 and $20,000, as do similar aircraft (Taylorcrafts, a few Aeronocas, etc). That Len Buckel can pull long-duration multi-leg flights like that is encouraging. I figured that it would take multiple stops to pull off - a Cub's standard tank is only 12 gallons, and most Cubs burn around 3-5 gallons per hour, depending on the engine size. With an extra internal wing tank, you can hold an additional 14 gallons, which is what Buckel's doing.
Unfortunately, it's a bit more expensive than I realized it'd be - Len Buckel went through 376.37 gallons of fuel for the round trip. That's kind of a lot, obviously. Based on his tachometer time on this trip, and his longest & shortest ones, it looks like 70 hours of flight time is average, and that it normally takes a week to do (Piper Cubs, you might've noticed, aren't fast).
Something like this, though, indicates that a long-range trip like this would require multiple stops to really pay off. Guess it's a good thing I've got relatives in Wisconsin & Mississippi, and friends in Nevada, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and New York, right?
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| Date: | 2005-12-03 13:51 |
| Subject: | Coup D'Etat!!! |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  hopeful | | Music: | Joy Division - Dead Souls |
Just submitted my list for my local radio station's "coup d'etat" weekend, where the listeners come in and play whatever the hell they want. My particular list of 10 songs is for their "Big Sonic Chill" program. :)
Bauhaus - Bella Lugosi's Dead
Yoko Kanno - Inner Universe
Delerium - Heaven's Earth
Bjork - Army of Me
Starline Theorie - Tic Toc
bôa - Duvet
Poe - Hello
Love Spirals Downward - By Your Side
Sarah McLachlan - Building a Mystery
Darling Violetta - I Want to Kill You
Now how can they resist a playlist like that?
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I found two new gray hairs today: one on my right shoulder, the other on my left forearm. WTF?!?!
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| Date: | 2005-11-30 21:15 |
| Subject: | Popcorn! |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | hungry | | Music: | Dresden Dolls - "Girl Anachronism" |
My body has developed this terrible popcorn shortage.
Fortunately, I am at work, and therefore can remedy this situation.
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| Date: | 2005-11-29 01:17 |
| Subject: | WTF Moment |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  pensive | | Music: | David Sylvian - "Before the Bullfight" |
Ever had one of those "WTF am I doing?" kind of moments in your life?
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| Date: | 2005-11-15 22:05 |
| Subject: | |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  ecstatic | | Music: | Pink Floyd - "Learning to Fly" |
Well, I decided to check out the 1 hour introductory flight/lesson at one of my local flight schools - one I'd checked out last week.
My instructor was going to start us our in a Piper Cherokee (my instructor likes the Cherokee because of its speed and power). We did the preflight, went through the checklist, and taxied out to the runway after getting clearance from the tower.
So, at the runway, with one aircraft ahead of us, then two aircraft behind us, we continue going through the checklist, reaching the spot where we run the engine up to 100% power. Only problem, though, was that it was having trouble reaching 2000 RPMs, and needed closer to 2500 RPMs for takeoff. Not so good.
OK, then, get clearance from the tower to taxi back to the hangar, and switch planes. Preflight the Cessna 172, which had just had its FAA-mandated 100-hour inspection. Cherokee goes into the hangar for them to check out what the hell is up with the engine.
Taxi back out after the preflight, get to the end of the runway, continue through the checklist, run the engine up to 100%. Everything checks out fine, we get clearance from the tower, and....
AIRBORNE
We cut west towards the ocean, heading up to around 1500 ft. Once we reached the beach around Pacific Beach, we turn north, flying up the coast. The best part? Guess who was at the controls.
So my instructor has me keep the plane under 1800 feet as we head north, since we're approaching Class B airspace around MCAS Miramar. I'm at around 1600 ft, and roughly 500-700 yards to my left, I see a Marine Sea Stallion on approach toward Miramar, probably around 300-500 ft higher altitude than us. He passes behind and above us as we proceed north, flying over the Del Mar race track. At this point, we're around the Interstate 5, and need to head up to 3500 feet, to stay clear of a traffic reporting helicopter, after my instructor and the pilot work out airspace over the radio.
After that, we turn east back inland, until we're south of the Lake Hodges reservoir. Yep, I've still got the controls for the most part, with the instructor taking over when he wants to show me something. He has me "waggle" the wings, banking up to 30 degrees in each direction at one point. Eventually, we have to turn back, and head back for the coast, then cut south again.
This time, we pass over Miramar's airspace, instead of under, essentially retracing our path at a higher altitude. We bank the plane again, turning back towards the airfield. After passing the airfield with me at the controls, my instructor takes the controls and brings us in for a landing.
All together, we were airborne for around an hour, with me at the controls for around 40 minutes of that time.
I've gotta say, it was both a lot like I thought it would be, and also pretty different. Not surprisingly, I've played around with a lot of flight simulators, and sitting in the cockpit of the 172 was...well, very familiar - sitting there, I thought, "Hey, I've seen all these instruments before!" It handled a lot like the simulator aircraft, as well.
On the other hand, it's really, really different when you can actually feel the aircraft respond to your control input, or to a 10 knot wind. That was just....wow. I mean, wow. It's almost like driving a car crossed with a roller coaster. Just absolutely frellin' amazing, and I'm kicking myself in the ass for not doing this ten years ago.
So, next step, I get paid on Friday, and get my instructional materials then, which also includes my logbook. OTOH, I've already flown the first hour that's going to go into it.
BTW, I've posted three pics and one short movie I snapepd with my cell phone camera while my instructor had the stick.
Short mp4 movie
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sirthoreth's journal
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