Jack M

Dold - LOL.

I agree, but I think you meant to say stupid, not innocent. However who will cook my fries, take tolls, or pivot the slow/stop signs if we don't have stupid people? Oh right, machines. Unfortunately warning labels like those arise when stupid, <i>bent</i> people sue everyone who made a nickel off a product that failed for whatever reason. (hmm, that hits a little close to home)

Yeah, it makes the politicians even dumberer. Now, not only is the law stupid, it is also moot. These are weak human beings trying to flex the muscles they won in an election. One of my favorie bumper stickers I ever saw: "The problem? Career politicians. The solution? Re-elect NOBODY".

that's cool, did you find that? I wonder if Northwest Airlines knows what NWA really stands for :D

That hi-vis yellow jacket I bought (pic posted earlier) is Cordura in the important areas with "ballistic nylon" mesh panels elsewhere. It has built-in and removable armor in the shoulders, back, elbows and fore-arms. It has a removable insulated wind/waterproof liner, and a zipper in back to connect to pants. While I wouldn't take it on the track, I feel like it offers good crash/abrasion protection. Equally important, the hi-vis can't be beat for commuting. Anyway, to answer your question, the mesh is absolutely delightful on a hot day. Riding with it feels like taking a dip in the pool. If you're in an area where leathers would risk you a heat-stroke, you should check out a jacket like this. http://www.olympiamotosports.com/airglide/airglide.htm

The market bore that price because a CD was clearly superior to cassette in every way, but also because we were waiting for the price to come down. This is the standard way of emerging technology - expensive at first, cheaper as it becomes more ubiquitous. You can't commend the industry for the price of a CD not inflating - it is already inflated. You said it yourself, the price of CD's has not gone down as it should have. Music lovers and even casual listeners had gotten hooked on the quality and convenience of CDs, so we certainly weren't going to go back to tape. The music industry basically copied the business model of drug dealers - get people hooked, and charge unfair prices. So when the wait-time for fairly priced CDs extended into the digital age, a way around the problem presented itself - the floodwater found its way around the dam.

***EXACTLY.*** The market DOES NOT BEAR a $14 to $20 price tag for a Compact Disc. That is why we have music piracy. Slash prices of CDs to $5.00 to $7.00, and the piracy will all but disappear. Heck, even the iTunes store might go out of business - it's sole reason for being is to save people from buying entire CDs when all they want is one or a few songs off of one. (and iTunes is even more of a rip-off than a CD when you consider that for a dollar - roughly the current price per song of a CD or more - you don't even get CD quality.) Dave - sorry for the threadjack, I agree that internet radio needs to pay royalties, and at a fair rate.

There is a business model in the software world called open-source. In other words, the software is created and then given away, for free. Java is a prime example. Open-source companies make their money on other services, such as implementation, consulting, and training. Music is, quite literally, software. It should either be open-source (i.e., bands give away their music, but charge for concerts) or, record companies should stop the price-gouging and sell CDs for what they're really worth - no more than $7.00 (i.e., the price of a cassette before CD's came along). The music industry has nobody to blame but themselves for the music "theft" problem. When CDs came out, they commanded a premium price because they were an emerging technology. Record companies had to recover their capital investments in all the supporting machinery. Well, they've long since recovered that, and unlike other technologies like CD players themselves, CDs never came down in price. Paying $14 - $20 today for a CD makes about as much sense as paying $500 for a basic single-disc CD player. Record companies have been raping us (and musicians) for years, and now they're getting what they deserve. They are feeling the icy grip of evolution around their necks, and I for one, am laughing at them. Furthermore, they're trying to close the barn door after the horse has already run out. They should have seen this coming and took action when the first dual cassette deck became widely available. Dumbasses.

IMHO, all stock All-Mountain boards on the market have way too short sidecut radii. I demo'd a 174 at SES. As far as carving goes, I couldn't return it to the tent fast enough. Just my taste though. If I were to get one, I'd go custom. Prolly a 169 with a 12.5m sidecut. But if the price is right, I'm sure it will be an excellent value.

powpow-narnar. powpow for short. or corduroy. ps - anyone looking to adopt a cat? good deal here!

My Prior Metal 177 is the lightest board I've ever owned by a wide margin. Dampness is a measure of how quickly a system or structure returns to its equilibrium state after it has been excited or perturbed in some way.

Les Otten and Warren Cook (former SL owner) teamed up to make an offer together. LL Bean tested the waters, as did Disney. I've asked an insider for pass prices....

Press release: American Skiing Company Announces Sale of Sunday River and Sugarloaf Resorts PARK CITY, UTAH - June 5, 2007 - American Skiing Company (OTCBB: AESK) announced today that it had entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Sunday River and Sugarloaf/USA resorts, both located in Maine, to Boyne USA, Inc. for $77.0 million in cash. Boyne will also assume $2.0 million in debt and other liabilities. The announced sale follows the review of strategic options for both resorts announced in March. "The longstanding relationship between ASC and the communities of Sunday River and Sugarloaf/USA extends to the very origins of our company," said ASC President and CEO B.J. Fair. "With so much of our company's roots and history here, it will be hard to part ways with these resorts. However, I am confident both resorts have an exceptionally bright future ahead of them. Boyne is an established operator and should bring a wealth of vision and resources to guide Sunday River and Sugarloaf/USA into their next stages of growth," added Fair. Sunday River features 131 trails spread across eight interconnected mountain peaks, serviced by a network of 18 lifts, including four high-speed quads. A recently constructed Robert Trent Jones, Jr. championship golf course, two full-service fractional ownership hotel and conference center properties, and numerous local attractions complement the four-season offerings of the resort. Located in the heart of Maine's Carrabassett Valley, Sugarloaf/USA boasts New England's longest continuous vertical drop (2,820 feet) and only lift-serviced above-treeline skiing. A full-service fractional ownership hotel and conference center, golf, mountain biking and fall foliage viewing are also important components of the resort's year round recreation offerings. Headquartered in Michigan, Boyne USA, Inc. is a privately held company that has interests in seven North American resort properties, including Big Sky Resort in Montana; Boyne Mountain, P.O. Box 4552 Park City, UT 84060 Phone: 435-615-0340 Fax: 435-615-4780 e-mail: investinfo@ascresorts.com

Oh excellent. Mine have saved my bike twice now. :rolleyes:

Well, it's no longer what I consider acceptible risk. My all black gear is now reserved for track days. I spent $220 on that hi-vis jacket. If that's not an option and you want some hi-vis, you could always get one of those thin cycling jackets or vests and wear it over your leathers. I rode with one of those vests for a while, but I feel better now having full flaming coverage. Also the vest would flap in the wind some.

I'll second Michelle on the All-Mtn Carver as a first board for a newbie. I started my wife, sister, and father on square-tails, and they had some trouble. Transitioning to the round-tail AMC's opened the door for them.

Back to the OP... My best college friend was killed just 3 weeks ago on his motorcycle by an SUV driver who turned left in front of him. (I don't know if the SUV driver was on the phone as well, wouldn't be surprised... should be illegal... but I digress) Anyway, the claim, of course, is that he simply didn't see my friend. Well screw that... I just got one of these: That's made by Olympia. Aerostitch makes hi-vis yellow gear too. There are probably others.

Thanks! uh, I think! Although the poor girl fell down the other day. I had her up on a rearstand and a bottle-jack under the engine to take the wheels off. Well, when I took the rear wheel off, it upset the balance and she fell over. !@#$! Oh well. Thanks to framesliders, no damage.

I really enjoy putting on house/trance music while I work (programming). Internet radio is an excellent source for that. iTunes makes it easy. B2 - thanks for the heads up on Pandora - wow!

My Prior Metal 177 does not yet have the same tune as my Madd 158 and 180 (PTC), so the jury is still out as to which has ultimate grip on ice. But the way people are extolling metal here, you would think that metal boards are so much better that the tune wouldn't matter as long as they were both sharp. But I digress... It is a matter of feel and preference. Generally, metal boards are going to be more damp. Non-metal boards are going to be more lively. Which do you prefer? For freecarving on smooth conditions, I'll take a lively board every time - they're more exciting. On rough conditions, damp boards are more comfortable, versatile, and easier to ride. That said, my Prior strikes a nice balance between lively and damp. It's a great do-it-all board. It's my VFR. However my Madds are my 748 and 998, respectively.

thankYou++;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bghOE3MT9E

I knew I liked that guy for some reason.

www.stubhub.com your chances of a beer shower, foul language, or other rowdiness are inversely proportional to ticket price.

Fin, told you so. -Jack