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amp3188

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Posts posted by amp3188

  1. Great pics.

     

    Never heard of a civilian search and rescue organization. Details?

     

     

    Not sure about a helo-based civilian SAR, but there's always Civil Air Patrol. "The United States Air Force Auxiliary" and stuff. They have a cadet program for high school age kids and an adult member program to perform local SAR efforts with light aircraft and ground teams (I'm not a member, I just stayed in a Holiday Inn Express last night).

     

     

    www.iasar.org

     

    We started several years ago with restoring a UH-1H Huey. Since then we've gotten the Huey flying, acquired a C47 (under restoration), a Bell 47 (flying), and a few other Huey's that we've swapped and traded for parts. Most of our activity has been veterans events, training, and fundraising, but we have partnered with Project Lifesaver to provide and aerial SAR platform for lost kids with autism and the elderly with Alzheimer's that are banded with radio trackers. We are also working on partnerships with local authorities to provide SAR services should they be needed.

     

    As far as our operations go we are fairly young still, but we have a highly dedicated and trained group of volunteers that have been at this for some time. Though mostly civilians our crew is pretty hand picked from people who held professions in this type of field and/or people who are dedicated enough to learn and commit themselves to a SAR org. So while it is civilian, and the only civil helio SAR org in the Midwest, it is regimented and operated very tightly. Our friends in the National Guard have actually praised us for having better maintained aircraft than them.

  2. Here are a few that I took while I was up at the Ft. Wayne air show a few months back. My SAR organization did a combat SAR demonstration with our Huey while two Warthogs and a Raptor gave "covering fire" above us. They had pyro on the ground and we did it with a low ceiling and in the rain. It was a spectacular day.

     

    d41eb08.jpg

     

    b25ced9.jpg

     

    48f5c70.jpg

     

     

  3. Great car.

     

    When I was in Germany last year I got a ride to and from my hotel to a steakhouse in the steakhouse owner's S8. I have never been chauffeured around so quickly in my entire life. 230KPH+ in the wet on some windy ass roads. Needless to say the steak wasn't so bad either.

  4. First off - worst LP thread of all time to go through at 1 am before I go to bed.

     

    I am a firm believer that mortal man has almost no concept or holding on what is going on in our little universe. Despite the little science we have discoverd so far of course. Most things like this we can find reasonable explanations for and I always doubt myself before all possible routes of investigation are exhausted. There are however those things which never quite make sense or fit the equations that we know how to solve. They are "paranormal."

     

    I have no doubt that you have had some sort of paranormal activity take place. I've experienced a deal of it myself and usually don't talk about it, but I will share this. My neighbor across the street will not house sit anymore. The Beatles started playing throughout the house once while he was over by himself. He has not turned on any speakers or radios and all alarm clocks were turned off. There was no source to the music - it just played from within the house. Those are his words, but I'm just glad my poltergeist has good taste in music.

     

    If you want to talk more or ask about experiences PM me.

  5. Looks good - photography wise and taste wise!

     

    The big thing with food photography IMO is the background. Yes, the food (if prepared correctly) will always look tasty, but its the rest of the photograph that has to draw it together.

     

    I recently did a sympathy shoot for a cafe in town that is about to go out of business. I attempted to describe this to them, but they insisted that I photograph all of the food the exact same way on the most bland & tan table on the planet. When they got the photographs back they said that they didn't like them and ended up not using them. Truly frustrating and just goes to show why they failing (attention to detail is not even thought of). If it wasn't for a friend of mine working with them I would have had some words with the owner for wasting my time and not listening to me.

     

    Yours are looking good though. Keep it up and please distribute the baked goods around LP ...mmmkay?

  6. Used I agree that Acura may be the way to go. Bulletproof like everyone has said. If he wants a bullet then I would go with something German and used, but the maintenance there will be more costly.

     

    My family, extended and immediate, has had a slew of Acuras. Very reliable and very safe. If I was going to get used I would suggest that 07 (or that body style) TL. Great looking car. FWD, but eh; one of the better FWD cars out there that I've been around.

     

    I do LOVE the newer MDX though. My favorite crossover when I had a loaner.

     

    Mom's on her 2nd RL. The first one saved her life. Some asshat in a Tahoe hit her at 55+ mph while she was stopped at a light. He was texting. Car was destroyed in the rear, but it kept her save and sound. The AWD on them is not bad on the highway at speed (I've had it up to 130 in adverse weather on highway - Michelin rubber) but they do not respond well to drifting or any attempt to purposely kick the ass out. Not an Audi system, but it will do for your average driver.

     

    RL is slightly more expensive to maintain - that's why I recommend TL.

     

    I'm not sure how high mileage reliable the new ones are (family hasn't gotten their with theirs yet) but the early-mid 90s ones were all exceeding 300,000 miles with no problems.

     

    Premium Fuel can get pricey though if he's worried about that.

     

    Kia and Hyundai have really gotten their shit together too. Haven't driven them, but I had an uncle that just ordered the Optima and that Genesis wouldn't be a bad bet if they can be found used.

  7.  

    Dude the V1 is horrible, the Escort kicks its ass in ALL areas, and the arrows are just gimmicky at best.

     

    Radar and laser can't get you from the side, so the arrows don't mean shit in that regard. From the back, you're most likely to be moving away from the Cops, and if they're chasing you, you should know about it simply because every half-way decent driver looks in his rear-view every few seconds.

     

    Most threats are going to come from the front, and the V1 isn't even in the ballpark of good detectors. The Escort 9500ix is the best in the business, the V1 is a dinosaur, however, its laser detection is pretty decent.

     

     

    V1 is the only detector on the planet. The Arrows are not gimmicky and have saved my ass more times than I could count. I've had it for three years and I would estimate that it has saved me approx 10K - and that is a very conservative estimate. I feel very nervous if I am driving and do not have it in the car with me. I would almost rather take the bus than drive without it. It is one of my favorite products of all time.

  8. Jesus on the TT video. I can't imagine the emotions of finishing that course and not dying. Probably one of the most exciting and emotional things some of those guys will do in their entire lives.

     

    This is probably a re-post, but here is the video of Mark Higgins nearly loosing it in an STi while driving on the TT. He breaks down his "moment" after 3:50.

     

  9. Im with you. I actually have a girl friend that works down at NASA in FL. I hope they get it started back up soon somehow but its not looking like it will be soon.

     

    It is interesting that they are just posting this around the release of the new movie however. Coincidence or planned timing on the part of NASA...

     

     

    I'm actually writing a research paper on the space program (public and private) and how it has been effected by post 9/11 policies. I don't know what she does, but would she be interested in giving an interview/talk about it or point me in the right direction?

     

    Thanks.

     

    That is a really awesome photo. Its a silent monument to what humans are capable of doing.

  10. For the record, they did a TERRIBLE job at washing the cars...I had dried water spots and suds all over the car. I think after a few more of these events, they will do a better job.

     

    I like the idea of practice and really appreciate the charity car washes for the viewing pleasure of the LP community. :eusa_dance:

  11. I'm no expert, but I do enjoy playing Galileo.

     

    Big question here is what price range are you considering? Keep in mind, just like with cars and all other instruments, the more you spend the better quality you will get.

     

    I've got a Meade telescope and really like their products overall. http://meade.com/

     

    Again, don't know your price point right now, but if you are looking to just start out or not get too crazy with it this is a great option:

     

    http://www.shopatron.com/products/productd...926.36859.0.0.0?

     

    I've got an old version of the EXT and its great. The new ones have all of the electronic and computer aids which I would LOVE to have on mine. Make sure you get a couple different eyepieces for it as well. The EXT telescopes are easily portable as well, which is a plus if you plan on taking it out to any camping trips away from the city (highly recommended).

     

    If your looking for something that isn't your average telescope you could check this out:

     

    http://www.meade.com/product_pages/coronado/coronado.php

     

    That bad boy lets you look at the sun. I've never tried it so I can't say how well it works, but I'm interested in it myself.

     

     

     

     

    One very important thing to keep in mind is to make sure that you get a good case to protect your telescope and a very good tripod. These are heavier items and your average SLR tripod may not be able to hold a telescope.

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