k_t

This may be a place to start looking. Keep us posted! http://www.spielen-sb.com/item/sims/sims.htm check the team section.

I kind of liked this read when it was on the lighter side, like when guns were involved in disposing the monitor or just plugging it in after it were afloat. On that note, Todd, are you saying that the results were not accurate because you may have added buoyancy by farting into the vent holes?

Food for thought…………………….. Not all DLP TV’s are created equal. Even though all of the chips in the DLP displays are made by Texas Instruments not all of the manufactures use the TI light engine in their displays. TI produces a good light engine but some of the ‘higher end’ manufacturers make their own light engine to improve performance (brightness, contrast, color, hue, motion correction, and so on) at a higher cost to the consumer who wants a better quality picture and some have created their own light engine to produce a less expensive display for those who have different budget constraints. That said I think that Samsung has (at least in my opinion) some great DLP for the $$ spent where say a company like Toshiba in their Cinema Series may have the edge on the overall viewing experience.<O:p</O:p Not all Plasma panels are created equal either. As far as the ‘not lasting very long’ myth, a well produced plasma should last about 20+ years when used in the same way that a normal family would watch TV. For plasma, Panasonic may be the best bang for the $$ out there right now and Fujitsu is one in the high end category. DLP = no burn in Plasma and CRT = possible burn in when not “used properly” kt<O:p</O:p

Hey Enzo<O:p</O:p I am glad you have a sense of hummer. I was not sure after posting that it would be funny to you. Glad it was. I only can watch the cigarette/cigar boats on TV. <O:p</O:p Yes is the short answer. Stop here if you do not want to get board.<O:p</O:p The DLP TV's are much brighter than the CRT (or standard rear projection) TV’s which make them better to see in a room where you have very little light control in the daytime. Being that they are "micro displays" which is the same family of display technology as plasma and LCD, the performance for HD is better. The viewing angle from the side is much better as well without the issue of reflections you get with most CRT rear projection. And unless you have a newer (very new) standard rear projection TV you will not be able to use any HD source on it to its fullest potential. Some other things to note is that the depth and weight of the DLP TV’s is about half as much as a standard rear projection TV and there are some out there with 61 inch screens less than 7 inches deep and only 135 lbs. in weight (with out the stand). Most are about 14 to 16 inches in depth.<O:p</O:p<O:p Most manufacturers are now putting most of their effort into this technology which makes for better selection and will make for even better performance and better connectivity for all of the newer components than you will find on most CRT type. The CRT’s seem to be on the way out anyway.<O:p></O:p> kt<O:p</O:p

so is that 720p, 1080i, or is it the new 1080p..........and what did he use for speakers?

I have two Camelbaks. The Mule for biking and the Zoid for boarding/sking. The Mule is nice because I have it in the pack that has enough pockets to carry tools, couple of energy bars, wallet and tube. The Zoid is a lot more compact and is not as bad a ride on the chair lift as some of the others. My theory (which seems to work) is that if you get all of the air out of the bladder after filling it, there is less likely to be anything nasty growing in it. Just fill, seal, turn upside down with the tube connection at the top and drink until you get all the air bubbles out. Then replace it in the pack normally. I do not like nasty, moldy water (water is all I put in mine) and have only to clean them about once a year at most.<O:p</O:p I will not get on my bike without one.<O:p kt

I would have to say I feel about the same, although the antics can be funny too (if taken in the right light). kt

There have been a lot of good brand names mentioned in this thread. Some other speaker manufacturers to look at might be Polk Audio and PSB. If you plan on using the system to listen to music on as well, you should not skimp on the front right and left speakers as they are what you will use for listening to music, unless you are the type who thinks that a lot of digital effects are cool. Personally I think that they do more to distort music than enhance it. When listening to video in surround the two most important speakers are the center channel speaker (dialog makes up over 60% of the sound track of most movies) and the sub woofer for impact or drama from the most subtle things as a car door slamming shut to the heavy sound of a water fall in a scene to the big explosion from a car wreck or bomb going off. That said, the first # in the description of a surround system, i.e. 5.1, 6.1, or 7.1 refers to the 5, 6, or 7 full range speakers in the system where the last number, .1, refers to the sub woofer channel. I would not recommend a Bose system over a good speaker system. Using a true sub woofer takes advantage of the better “steering” of the low frequencies in movie sound tracks or broadcast video and adds the needed dynamics of the sound track. I am not saying that Bose is not good; it has a well defined spot for a lot of situations. Someone mentioned cables. Good video cables are the best upgrade you can do to a middle of the road DVD player when connecting it to a good display. Other cable manufacturers not mentioned that are good are Tributaries and Phoenix Gold. If you change your mind and get stuck on the Idea that you need a flat panel TV, check out the Panasonic 37” HD plasma (TH-37PX50U). Right now it is most likely the best in its class for the dollar spent. Fujitsu and DWIN in a 42” if your budget could handle it would be better. Toshiba and Panasonic both have excellent 34” direct view (CRT) HDTV’s that could save you a couple of hundred that might better go toward nice speakers (the sound is half of the movie experience) or a better surround receiver with ultra wide band component video switching (best for HD) or even HDMI switching. Because you will only need one audio cable for any new video component (optical or coax digital) you might want to get a “better” grade rather than just “good” and if you were doing a high end system you might want to think about the “best”. Good luck and have fun with it. kt

Hi Scott First off, major injuries are tough and it takes strong people to come back strong and it sounds like that is not going to be a problem for Holly. It also seems as Holly is very lucky to have you and I wish you two all the luck in the future. It sounds as though she will recover great and all of the support from her friends and family helps a lot. I had a bad head injury in the past resulting in a broken jaw and inner ear damage. Because of the broken jaw I had to have it wired shut for about six weeks. I lost a lot of weight but was still able to do a lot of things that I needed to do work wise. My playing (biking and such) at the time was very limited as solid foods were out and endurance became the problem. I did drink a lot of high protein shakes over that six weeks and believe me when I say you can get pretty creative with a blender trying to make something different to get down through a straw. On the lighter side admitting that the trout shake you just made really sucks is a pretty easy thing to admit. All in all I recovered just fine from the jaw and the inner ear damage. Bodies are am amazing thing. Oh yeah, one beer through a straw and you would think it was a six pack. Something I thought of after that first beer through a straw that I would recommend would be to carry around in your (her) pocket would be a small pair of wire cutters in case of an emergency case of regurgitation to clear her mouth if needed. I never had any problems, but you never know. kt

Mike, I will second your decision on moving to Bachelor. I went over to Hood this weekend after watching the weather and thought that Saturday might be a go knowing that Sunday was probably out. I have always had good luck at Hood in the summer and only once before (in the last 10 or so years) had the lifts shut down on me. All about timing at Hood. I did get to the parking lot on Saturday about 7:45 and hung out in front for a while hoping. Any way I got in a good hike on the lower part of the mountain east of the area so not a total loss I suppose. I did almost head south to Bachelor to ride on Sunday but glad I did not bother after seeing the web cam in the mid morning. I think that you culd only see up to about the 2nd or 3rd tower from the loading. Late March is a good time. Even into the end of April or the first week of May. Low season then, cheaper rates at most places, and it usually is still good for carving. The photo in P06781's post was the short time you could see the mountain, at least from the parking lot.

I am for sure going to try to be there. I too have been watching the weather and it should be OK. kt

Seems to me that at the Buttermilk during the last two SES’s there were mostly just carvers on a couple of runs and by mid day with about 50+ carvers making laps on them they got very well hammered. We spent a lot of time on these runs because the slow fixed double chair kept most others (skiers) away and off of the runs in that area. I do not remember bumps getting formed but the surface began to get very loose. By surface I mean about 4 to 6 inches deep. Imagine what a huge rototiller might do.

I thought that the square tail was kept on the alpine boards to keep us entertained in the lift line with all of the funny(?) questions.

I have never used or needed any foot warming things, however all of my friends that do swear by the Hotronics. One friend of mine has several pairs of insoles and uses them for cold weather biking as well.

You are truly sick and infected, and for now, there is no cure. Only carving can justify your life. If you can work on weekends when that nasty "P" stuff comes out and ride on the week days when the groomers are firming up you can still have a great life even with the disorder or disease you have caught. I have been there and now, 5 years later, have found old ways to distract myself on those days when the snow is too soft. Who would have thought?

sunday - friday

I have to confess to splitting my season up this year to about 50/50 alpine snowboard carving/tele skiing. So which rehab program do I go to for these habits? None I hope. Actually I do not plan give up either especially now when Sean Martin (Donek) is turning out such a great product for both. OK Fin, you too.

what i do

If this were a poll I would vote no to riding or skiing under any influence other than ones own passion. Drunk and stoned. Just maybe that is why they call it getting stupid. kt

Agreed. Any one can start in hard boots. If they have any background in skiing it should be even easier. My biggest recommendation is good lessons. kt

SportLegs. You should realy try them. They do work. Surf here for all of the answers http://www.sportlegs.com/about/welcome.asp kt

love yoiur sig......................

Brundage has enough snow but the area does not want to let any one have a bad experience in that bad of conditions as they are so well known for having some of the best snow on the planet. As for Tamarack, the area had over 100cm at the base with much more on top until the unusually warm weather hit here. kt

That is if they re-open. Hey there is always Tamarack's grand opening on the 15th with a wapin' 6" at the base. One good turn and it be gone!

Hey mj I was in McCall from Friday, opening day, until Saturday. Had to say that watching the weather and pretending that the hill was not open yet (at least for carving) choosing work seemed to be a better choice. Thanks for the reinforcement of my decision.