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Joe Stack (1956-2010)

nospam@example.com (Iancu Rasta) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0200

If you're reading this, you're no doubt asking yourself, "Why did this have to happen?" The simple truth is that it is complicated and has been coming for a long time. The writing process, started many months ago, was intended to be therapy in the face of the looming realization that there isn't enough therapy in the world that can fix what is really broken. Needless to say, this rant could fill volumes with example after example if I would let it. I find the process of writing it frustrating, tedious, and probably pointless… especially given my gross inability to gracefully articulate my thoughts in light of the storm raging in my head. Exactly what is therapeutic about that I'm not sure, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

We are all taught as children that without laws there would be no society, only anarchy. Sadly, starting at early ages we in this country have been brainwashed to believe that, in return for our dedication and service, our government stands for justice for all. We are further brainwashed to believe that there is freedom in this place, and that we should be ready to lay our lives down for the noble principals represented by its founding fathers. Remember? One of these was "no taxation without representation". I have spent the total years of my adulthood unlearning that crap from only a few years of my childhood. These days anyone who really stands up for that principal is promptly labeled a "crackpot", traitor and worse.

While very few working people would say they haven't had their fair share of taxes (as can I), in my lifetime I can say with a great degree of certainty that there has never been a politician cast a vote on any matter with the likes of me or my interests in mind. Nor, for that matter, are they the least bit interested in me or anything I have to say.

Why is it that a handful of thugs and plunderers can commit unthinkable atrocities (and in the case of the GM executives, for scores of years) and when it's time for their gravy train to crash under the weight of their gluttony and overwhelming stupidity, the force of the full federal government has no difficulty coming to their aid within days if not hours? Yet at the same time, the joke we call the American medical system, including the drug and insurance companies, are murdering tens of thousands of people a year and stealing from the corpses and victims they cripple, and this country's leaders don't see this as important as bailing out a few of their vile, rich cronies. Yet, the political "representatives" (thieves, liars, and self-serving scumbags is far more accurate) have endless time to sit around for year after year and debate the state of the "terrible health care problem". It's clear they see no crisis as long as the dead people don't get in the way of their corporate profits rolling in.

And justice? You've got to be kidding!

How can any rational individual explain that white elephant conundrum in the middle of our tax system and, indeed, our entire legal system? Here we have a system that is, by far, too complicated for the brightest of the master scholars to understand. Yet, it mercilessly "holds accountable" its victims, claiming that they're responsible for fully complying with laws not even the experts understand. The law "requires" a signature on the bottom of a tax filing; yet no one can say truthfully that they understand what they are signing; if that's not "duress" than what is. If this is not the measure of a totalitarian regime, nothing is.

How did I get here?

My introduction to the real American nightmare starts back in the early '80s. Unfortunately after more than 16 years of school, somewhere along the line I picked up the absurd, pompous notion that I could read and understand plain English. Some friends introduced me to a group of people who were having 'tax code' readings and discussions. In particular, zeroed in on a section relating to the wonderful "exemptions" that make institutions like the vulgar, corrupt Catholic Church so incredibly wealthy. We carefully studied the law (with the help of some of the "best", high-paid, experienced tax lawyers in the business), and then began to do exactly what the "big boys" were doing (except that we weren't steeling from our congregation or lying to the government about our massive profits in the name of God). We took a great deal of care to make it all visible, following all of the rules, exactly the way the law said it was to be done.

The intent of this exercise and our efforts was to bring about a much-needed re-evaluation of the laws that allow the monsters of organized religion to make such a mockery of people who earn an honest living. However, this is where I learned that there are two "interpretations" for every law; one for the very rich, and one for the rest of us… Oh, and the monsters are the very ones making and enforcing the laws; the inquisition is still alive and well today in this country.

That little lesson in patriotism cost me $40,000+, 10 years of my life, and set my retirement plans back to 0. It made me realize for the first time that I live in a country with an ideology that is based on a total and complete lie. It also made me realize, not only how naive I had been, but also the incredible stupidity of the American public; that they buy, hook, line, and sinker, the crap about their "freedom"… and that they continue to do so with eyes closed in the face of overwhelming evidence and all that keeps happening in front of them.

Before even having to make a shaky recovery from the sting of the first lesson on what justice really means in this country (around 1984 after making my way through engineering school and still another five years of "paying my dues"), I felt I finally had to take a chance of launching my dream of becoming an independent engineer.

On the subjects of engineers and dreams of independence, I should digress somewhat to say that I'm sure that I inherited the fascination for creative problem solving from my father. I realized this at a very young age.

The significance of independence, however, came much later during my early years of college; at the age of 18 or 19 when I was living on my own as student in an apartment in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. My neighbor was an elderly retired woman (80+ seemed ancient to me at that age) who was the widowed wife of a retired steel worker. Her husband had worked all his life in the steel mills of central Pennsylvania with promises from big business and the union that, for his 30 years of service, he would have a pension and medical care to look forward to in his retirement. Instead he was one of the thousands who got nothing because the incompetent mill management and corrupt union (not to mention the government) raided their pension funds and stole their retirement. All she had was social security to live on.

In retrospect, the situation was laughable because here I was living on peanut butter and bread (or Ritz crackers when I could afford to splurge) for months at a time. When I got to know this poor figure and heard her story I felt worse for her plight than for my own (I, after all, I thought I had everything to in front of me). I was genuinely appalled at one point, as we exchanged stories and commiserated with each other over our situations, when she in her grandmotherly fashion tried to convince me that I would be "healthier" eating cat food (like her) rather than trying to get all my substance from peanut butter and bread. I couldn't quite go there, but the impression was made. I decided that I didn't trust big business to take care of me, and that I would take responsibility for my own future and myself.

Return to the early '80s, and here I was off to a terrifying start as a 'wet-behind-the-ears' contract software engineer... and two years later, thanks to the fine backroom, midnight effort by the sleazy executives of Arthur Andersen (the very same folks who later brought us Enron and other such calamities) and an equally sleazy New York Senator (Patrick Moynihan), we saw the passage of 1986 tax reform act with its section 1706.

For you who are unfamiliar, here is the core text of the IRS Section 1706, defining the treatment of workers (such as contract engineers) for tax purposes. Visit this link for a conference committee report (http://www.synergistech.com/1706.shtml#ConferenceCommitteeReport) regarding the intended interpretation of Section 1706 and the relevant parts of Section 530, as amended. For information on how these laws affect technical services workers and their clients, read our discussion here (http://www.synergistech.com/ic-taxlaw.shtml).

SEC. 1706. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN TECHNICAL PERSONNEL.

(a) IN GENERAL - Section 530 of the Revenue Act of 1978 is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection:

(d) EXCEPTION. - This section shall not apply in the case of an individual who pursuant to an arrangement between the taxpayer and another person, provides services for such other person as an engineer, designer, drafter, computer programmer, systems analyst, or other similarly skilled worker engaged in a similar line of work.

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE. - The amendment made by this section shall apply to remuneration paid and services rendered after December 31, 1986.

Note:

* "another person" is the client in the traditional job-shop relationship.

1. "taxpayer" is the recruiter, broker, agency, or job shop.
2. "individual", "employee", or "worker" is you.

Admittedly, you need to read the treatment to understand what it is saying but it's not very complicated. The bottom line is that they may as well have put my name right in the text of section (d). Moreover, they could only have been more blunt if they would have came out and directly declared me a criminal and non-citizen slave. Twenty years later, I still can't believe my eyes.

During 1987, I spent close to $5000 of my 'pocket change', and at least 1000 hours of my time writing, printing, and mailing to any senator, congressman, governor, or slug that might listen; none did, and they universally treated me as if I was wasting their time. I spent countless hours on the L.A. freeways driving to meetings and any and all of the disorganized professional groups who were attempting to mount a campaign against this atrocity. This, only to discover that our efforts were being easily derailed by a few moles from the brokers who were just beginning to enjoy the windfall from the new declaration of their "freedom". Oh, and don't forget, for all of the time I was spending on this, I was loosing income that I couldn't bill clients.

After months of struggling it had clearly gotten to be a futile exercise. The best we could get for all of our trouble is a pronouncement from an IRS mouthpiece that they weren't going to enforce that provision (read harass engineers and scientists). This immediately proved to be a lie, and the mere existence of the regulation began to have its impact on my bottom line; this, of course, was the intended effect.

Again, rewind my retirement plans back to 0 and shift them into idle. If I had any sense, I clearly should have left abandoned engineering and never looked back.

Instead I got busy working 100-hour workweeks. Then came the L.A. depression of the early 1990s. Our leaders decided that they didn't need the all of those extra Air Force bases they had in Southern California, so they were closed; just like that. The result was economic devastation in the region that rivaled the widely publicized Texas S&L fiasco. However, because the government caused it, no one gave a shit about all of the young families who lost their homes or street after street of boarded up houses abandoned to the wealthy loan companies who received government funds to "shore up" their windfall. Again, I lost my retirement.

Years later, after weathering a divorce and the constant struggle trying to build some momentum with my business, I find myself once again beginning to finally pick up some speed. Then came the .COM bust and the 911 nightmare. Our leaders decided that all aircraft were grounded for what seemed like an eternity; and long after that, 'special' facilities like San Francisco were on security alert for months. This made access to my customers prohibitively expensive. Ironically, after what they had done the Government came to the aid of the airlines with billions of our tax dollars … as usual they left me to rot and die while they bailed out their rich, incompetent cronies WITH MY MONEY! After these events, there went my business but not quite yet all of my retirement and savings.

By this time, I'm thinking that it might be good for a change. Bye to California, I'll try Austin for a while. So I moved, only to find out that this is a place with a highly inflated sense of self-importance and where damn little real engineering work is done. I've never experienced such a hard time finding work. The rates are 1/3 of what I was earning before the crash, because pay rates here are fixed by the three or four large companies in the area who are in collusion to drive down prices and wages… and this happens because the justice department is all on the take and doesn't give a fuck about serving anyone or anything but themselves and their rich buddies.

To survive, I was forced to cannibalize my savings and retirement, the last of which was a small IRA. This came in a year with mammoth expenses and not a single dollar of income. I filed no return that year thinking that because I didn't have any income there was no need. The sleazy government decided that they disagreed. But they didn't notify me in time for me to launch a legal objection so when I attempted to get a protest filed with the court I was told I was no longer entitled to due process because the time to file ran out. Bend over for another $10,000 helping of justice.

So now we come to the present. After my experience with the CPA world, following the business crash I swore that I'd never enter another accountant's office again. But here I am with a new marriage and a boatload of undocumented income, not to mention an expensive new business asset, a piano, which I had no idea how to handle. After considerable thought I decided that it would be irresponsible NOT to get professional help; a very big mistake.

When we received the forms back I was very optimistic that they were in order. I had taken all of the years information to Bill Ross, and he came back with results very similar to what I was expecting. Except that he had neglected to include the contents of Sheryl's unreported income; $12,700 worth of it. To make matters worse, Ross knew all along this was missing and I didn't have a clue until he pointed it out in the middle of the audit. By that time it had become brutally evident that he was representing himself and not me.

This left me stuck in the middle of this disaster trying to defend transactions that have no relationship to anything tax-related (at least the tax-related transactions were poorly documented). Things I never knew anything about and things my wife had no clue would ever matter to anyone. The end result is… well, just look around.

I remember reading about the stock market crash before the "great" depression and how there were wealthy bankers and businessmen jumping out of windows when they realized they screwed up and lost everything. Isn't it ironic how far we've come in 60 years in this country that they now know how to fix that little economic problem; they just steal from the middle class (who doesn't have any say in it, elections are a joke) to cover their asses and it's "business-as-usual". Now when the wealthy fuck up, the poor get to die for the mistakes… isn't that a clever, tidy solution.

As government agencies go, the FAA is often justifiably referred to as a tombstone agency, though they are hardly alone. The recent presidential puppet GW Bush and his cronies in their eight years certainly reinforced for all of us that this criticism rings equally true for all of the government. Nothing changes unless there is a body count (unless it is in the interest of the wealthy sows at the government trough). In a government full of hypocrites from top to bottom, life is as cheap as their lies and their self-serving laws.

I know I'm hardly the first one to decide I have had all I can stand. It has always been a myth that people have stopped dying for their freedom in this country, and it isn't limited to the blacks, and poor immigrants. I know there have been countless before me and there are sure to be as many after. But I also know that by not adding my body to the count, I insure nothing will change. I choose to not keep looking over my shoulder at "big brother" while he strips my carcass, I choose not to ignore what is going on all around me, I choose not to pretend that business as usual won't continue; I have just had enough.

I can only hope that the numbers quickly get too big to be white washed and ignored that the American zombies wake up and revolt; it will take nothing less. I would only hope that by striking a nerve that stimulates the inevitable double standard, knee-jerk government reaction that results in more stupid draconian restrictions people wake up and begin to see the pompous political thugs and their mindless minions for what they are. Sadly, though I spent my entire life trying to believe it wasn't so, but violence not only is the answer, it is the only answer. The cruel joke is that the really big chunks of shit at the top have known this all along and have been laughing, at and using this awareness against, fools like me all along.

I saw it written once that the definition of insanity is repeating the same process over and over and expecting the outcome to suddenly be different. I am finally ready to stop this insanity. Well, Mr. Big Brother IRS man, let's try something different; take my pound of flesh and sleep well.

The communist creed: From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.
The capitalist creed: From each according to his gullibility, to each according to his greed.

Joe Stack (1956-2010)
18/02/2010

ARTICOL: Invidia (ANDREI CORNEA)

nospam@example.com (Iancu Rasta) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:00:00 +0200

Intr-o zi, vecinul nostru de bloc si-a luat un aparat de aer conditionat.
Era un zaduf ingrozitor, dar noi n-aveam aparat de aer conditionat si nici bani ca sa ne cumparam unul. Sufeream de caldura si de invidie. Aveam insa o biblioteca. Ne-am uitat in ea si am scos cugetarile lui Seneca. Am citit de acolo o pagina-doua despre bine si sensul vietii si, desi cald tot ne era, nu l-am mai invidiat pe vecin.
Ceva mai tarziu, vecinul si-a deschis un butic si a inceput sa umble imbracat la costum la patru ace. Noi - tot cu blugi. Nu-i nimic - ne-am zis linistiti, citind un capitol din Etica lui Spinoza.
Apoi vecinul a aparut deodata intr-un Megane argintiu. Noi n-aveam nici bicicleta, dar l-am dispretuit citind din Phaidon al lui Platon. Mai tarziu, vecinul a schimbat Meganul pe Mertan. Nu ne-a pasat, caci si noi il schimbaseram deja pe Platon cu Aristotel. Si-a luat si un 4x4, cel mai mare de pe strada. Noi l-am luat pe Marcus Aurelius, care ne-a facut sa zambim impacati.
A mai trecut o vreme si vecinul si-a luat nevasta noua: blonda, frumoasa, tanara. Noi - tot cu cea veche, dar am luat Evanghelia dupa Ioan.Vecinul si-a imbracat soata cu o garderoba intreaga si cu blanuri, basca bijuteriile. Noi ne-am imbracat spiritul citind din Eclesiast.
In fine, vecinul s-a mutat intr-o vila la sosea cu gard mare, bodigarzi si piscina.
Am rezistat si de data aceasta eroic citind Richard III. A urmat o a doua vila - la munte. Dupa ce am vazut-o, ne-am consolat cu Macbeth. O a treia - la mare: am recurs la Invierea lui Tolstoi, al carei efect l-am consolidat cu Ghilgames, Ghandi si Declaratia de iubire a lui Gabriel Liiceanu.
Ne-am simtit cu mult mai bine.
L-au dat la televizor la o emisiune foarte populara. Ne-am stapanit emotia cu o portie de Caragiale. L-au dat a doua oara cu mare succes: am fi suferit daca nu ne-ar fi ajutat Ananda Coomarasvamy, Cartea lui Iov si Cazul Wagner si al lui Nietzsche.
Asa a trecut ceva mai mult timp... Vecinul isi lua case, masini, iahturi, gagici. Noi raspundeam cu Balzac, Thomas Mann, Hegel, Berdiaev. Lupta era stransa, dar echilibrata. In sfarsit, intr-o zi l-au aratat cu catuse la maini, umflat de PNA. Am rasfoit atunci fericiti Apocalipsul. Dar peste vreo doua saptamani, vecinul nostru era eliberat si chiar si-a anuntat candidatura pe listele unui partid majoritar.
Scarbiti, ne-am uitat in biblioteca. N-am mai vazut nimic. Ne-am uitat pentru a doua oara. Nu ne-a venit sa credem. Pentru a treia oara ne-am uitat cu atentie. Acelasi rezultat: citiseram toate cartile. Si atunci ne-a cuprins invidia...

Evasive Driving by T. J. Steele

nospam@example.com (Iancu Rasta) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 07:00:00 +0200

Evasive Driving by T. J. Steele

Disclaimer
It is unlawful, as well as unsafe, to exceed posted speed limits or otherwise disregard the vehicle & traffic codes. Reckless driving can easily cause a serious accident, possibly resulting in litigation, property damage, physical injury, or death. Litigation can involve fines, lawsuits, incarceration, and loss of driving privileges. Injuries associated with motor vehicle accidents often include paralysis, disfigurement, loss of limb(s), or severe burns. Many of the tactics and techniques enumerated herein are unlawful, as well as extremely dangerous, to actually implement and should not be practiced! This material is presented solely for the purpose of academic study, and under no circumstances should it be considered as "instructive." Persons wishing to practice evasive driving techniques must only do so in a controlled environment under professional instruction. Neither the author, nor the publisher, shall be held responsible for anyone�s stupidity.

NOTE
Under advice from legal counsel, certain offensive driving techniques (such as the various methods of ramming other vehicles off the road) have not been detailed. Nor have been: techniques for driving at night without headlights, methods of constructing and installing vehicle-mounted weaponry, and tactics specifically meant for eluding lawful police pursuit. This decision has been made due to the aforementioned information�s high potential for misuse, and we hope that these minor exclusions will not detract from your enjoyment of this publication.

WHY WOULD ANYONE NEED THIS SORT OF INFORMATION?:
That is an excellent question, and one that is not easily answered. Most people who would be inclined to read a book like this are merely curious about the subject matter, and have little inclination to risk damaging their personal vehicle (or injuring themselves) by foolishly engaging in unsupervised experimentation of the techniques enumerated herein. Of the few persons who might be inclined to practice reverse 180s in empty parking lots or speed down rural highways at 4 AM, almost none of them would ever consider engaging in any sort of lawbreaking (aside from speeding). The minute percentage who might have a tendency towards unlawful behavior (and the resultant police pursuits), and who are already inclined to flee from the police, just might be able to avoid colliding with innocent motorists simply by remembering a few pointers and safety tips. With predatory criminals and psychotically aggressive drivers marauding along the public motorways, anyone is potentially at risk of being seen as a "target of opportunity." What if some reckless lunatic suddenly flies into a rage because your vehicle just happens to be in his way when he�s in a hurry? What would you do if the SUV tailgating you suddenly began ramming your rear bumper? What if your vehicle happens to be the exact same make, model, and color as that of a demented motorist�s most hated enemy? What if a car has been tailing you for miles, and you�re far from help and without a cell phone? And what if you are required to transport a dying friend to the emergency room ASAP? By applying the knowledge contained herein, your chances of successfully reaching your intended destination will significantly improve. However, a mere text is no substitute for
intensive practice with a qualified instructor. Never attempt to drive beyond your abilities!

INTRODUCTION:
Any monkey can step on a gas pedal. Any punk teenager can spin his tires or do donuts in the mall parking lot. And anyone. . . yes, anyone, can be killed, crippled, or maimed in a high speed motor vehicle accident. Performance driving requires skill, focus, and a properly maintained vehicle. A moment�s distraction can cost you your life. Once you have lost control of your vehicle, you are in serious trouble. There is no room for error. Whether intended as such or not, a motor vehicle is a lethal weapon. Far more people are killed in motor vehicle accidents each year than in all gun fatalities combined (suicide, accidental discharge, murder, criminally negligent homicide, justifiable homicide, criminals shot by policemen, and "miscellaneous") over any given decade. You can easily kill a pedestrian or bicyclist, as well as other motorists, your passengers, and yourself. If you are careless, reckless, or stupid, people may die as a result. . . consider this.

PREREQUISITES:
Your vehicle must be well maintained to ensure its reliability. Your suspension and brakes must function perfectly. Your tires should all be the same style, be inflated to the proper pressure, and be in nearly new condition. You should have recently had a front alignment as well as an oil change. All fluids should be topped off. Your windshield should be clean, inside and out. Your headlights must be kept clean. All lugnuts must be tight and free of crud and corrosion. Before starting out, your seat and mirrors must be adjusted for comfort and visibility. If there is snow or ice on your vehicle, it should be completely removed. Be sure to warm up the engine prior to leaving your parking space � never push a cold engine hard! You should always have a nearly full tank of gas, never allowing it to get below half a tank. Preventive maintenance and common sense are of the utmost importance. Optimally, your vehicle should be a mid-sized to large sedan that is low to the ground. Smaller cars may be quicker on the start and more maneuverable, but they tend not to be able to withstand accidents very well, and are easily bumped off the road due to their lack of mass. Vehicles with a high center of gravity tend to be unstable around sharp turns. It should be equipped with an "anti-roll bar" fixed between the front axles (stock equipment on many passenger cars), to reduce the stress of hard cornering. Your vehicle�s engine should be powerful and well tuned. For evasive driving purposes, an automatic
transmission is generally far superior to a stick shift. A manual transmission can be utilized by an expert when driving evasively, but for most people (lacking the reflexes and "muscle memory" of a master wheelman), it would prove to be a significant handicap (furthermore, clutch cables tend to snap at the most inopportune times, and unless your vehicle�s transmission is equipped with a top quality synchromesh, you could be in a lot of trouble). Mercedes Benz, Audi, and BMW sedans seem best suited for evasive driving, along with American "muscle cars" built during the 60's and 70's (although nearly any stock passenger car in serviceable condition can be used � with varying degrees of success."

EQUIPMENT & MODIFICATIONS:
You must have a spare key upon your person at all times (not only will this eliminate the possibility of a lockout, but it will allow you instant access to your car key in the event of an emergency). You should have a locking gas cap to prevent unauthorized access to your petrol supply, which could easily be siphoned or contaminated. Your car must have a fullsized spare, quality jack, jumper cables, and a bundle of tools secured in the trunk. In addition to these mandatory items, you should also have an emergency replacement belt, a hose repair kit, several long burning flares, a small can of WD-40, a quart of oil, windshield wash fluid, a gallon of water, a blanket, and some emergency rations (energy bars and trail mix are preferable) neatly stored within the trunk (plastic storage boxes, or small gymbags, will help you to keep these items organized). You should have a first-aid kit, flashlight (preferably heavy duty aluminum with kryptonbulb), halon fire extinguisher (if you can find one), and magnum revolver in the passenger compartment. All equipment stowed within the passenger compartment must be properly secured (with tie-downs, snap clips, or mounted storage boxes). Items which are not properly secured can roll under one�s brake pedal, become distractive during high-speed maneuvering, or be transformed into lethal projectiles in the event of a collision or rollover (Of course, the occasional bag of groceries that won�t fit in the trunk may still be placed on the rear floorboards with a reasonable expectation of safety). The magnum revolver is recommended for a variety of reasons:

1. COMPACTNESS: Unlike a carbine or pistol-grip shotgun, it is small enough to be stowed within the glovebox or an underseat lockbox.
2. POWER: Unlike other handguns, the magnums have enough power and penetration to pierce windshields and car doors. It is possible that a round from a magnum revolver may even be able to crack a vehicle�s engine block.
3. SELF-TERMINATION: In a worst case scenario, if you have had a high speed motor vehicle accident in an untraveled area, and no medical assistance will be forthcoming, you may very well decide that you no longer wish to be pushing your intestines out of your face as you dangle upside-down in your demolished vehicle. Be advised that if you take it upon yourself to dispatch a mortally wounded passenger, who is screaming for someone to please kill him, you will be convicted of homicide!
A "Life-Hammer" device (or one of the inferior copies) should be mounted within reach - if you cannot procure one of these excellent crash extrication devices, a serrated sheepsfoot blade (for detaching frozen safety belts) and a centerpunch (for shattering window glass) may be substituted; the "First Response Knife" from Taylor Cutlery (also sold under the Smith & Wesson brand name) combines both. If you intend to use your vehicle for serious driving and want to invest in modifications, consider: heavy-duty radiator hoses, stainless steel brake lines, high-performance tires, top quality foglights, high-wattage backup lights, a high-decibel horn (or even an airhorn), and a "wig-wag" switch for your high beams (which makes them flash alternately, as on emergency vehicles). If you are so inclined, further modifications could include: a large fuel cell, a rollcage, racing harnesses, and a switch activated fire-extinguishing system. A crowbar and winch are both valuable accessories that can help to get you back on the road and mobile in the event of a wipeout. Various defensive options (Kevlar door panels, nightvision goggles, pony air tanks, pepperspray dispensers, gunports, and even smoke generators) are also available if you feel the need exists. Offensive options (such as oil slicks, paint sprays, remote fired guns, or calthrop/mine dispensers) are all highly illegal and should not even be considered.

THE BASICS:
You need to be comfortable driving your primary vehicle. . . it needs to become an extension of your body. You need to be intimately familiar with your vehicle�s capabilities. All cars handle differently, especially around curves, so it is best to stick to one specific type of vehicle � though you should familiarize yourself with the idiosyncracies of as many vehicle types as possible. You need to be able to feel the road through the steering wheel and pedals. You need to know how wide your vehicle is, where your passenger-side tires are contacting the road, and the size of the smallest gap your vehicle can fit through without clipping the side mirrors. You need to know how your vehicle handles, at various speeds, on: dry pavement, wet pavement, flooded pavement, grooved pavement, rough roads, gravel, packed dirt, light snow, deep slush, glare ice, wet grass, and mud. You need to know exactly how fast you can take a ninety degree corner on dry pavement without going up on two wheels or spinning out. You need to know how quickly you can come to a dead stop from eighty miles per hour, without losing control by locking up the wheels (attempt this at low speeds first, to see if your vehicle pulls to the side; if you lock your brakes at speed, a portion of each tire will be scuffed flat, which will make the car vibrate until new tires are mounted). You need to know how fast you can safely drive in reverse, and for how long. You need to know ways to stop your car in the event of brake failure. You also need to know approximately how well your vehicle can withstand various accidents, collisions, and rolls. As a general rule of thumb: any impact with a fixed solid object at a speed exceeding 15 mph will sustain serious damage to your vehicle, and if your speed at impact is exceeding 35 mph, you can reasonably expect your car to crumble like a wad of tinfoil, crushing any occupants within. . . you want to avoid driving into fixed solid objects. Once you have compiled an accurate assessment of the forementioned data, you can progress.

THE CARDINAL RULES:
1. AWARENESS � you need to be cognizant of everything happening in your immediate vicinity as well as what is happening far ahead of you. You need to be aware of any vehicles in your "blind spots" as well as vehicles approaching from behind. You need to be prepared for evasive action so you can react instantly without fear of causing an avoidable accident.
2. SMOOTHNESS � all movements of your vehicle must be as smooth and precise as possible, this includes acceleration and braking as well as steering. Lack of smoothness and precision is equivalent to lack of control.
3. EXPERIENCE � it is necessary to have first practiced performance driving under somewhat controlled conditions before attempting to drive at double the speed limit while negotiating traffic. If you are uncomfortable driving at high speeds, you cannot reasonably expect to do so safely in the event of an actual crisis situation (such as evading a psychotically aggressive driver or medevacing someone to the ER). It is imperative that one have confidence in his abilities.
4. DISCRETION � simply stated, it is necessary to be able to differentiate between a calculated risk as opposed to a foolhardy risk. Certain evasive driving techniques � like passing on the wrong side of the road or squeezing between two cars at a high rate of speed � require lightning fast calculating in addition to quick reflexes. A master wheelman will not pass on a blind curve (or rise) with the sun in his eyes, nor will he attempt to squeeze through a gap narrower than the width of his vehicle (including side mirrors). Only drunks, lunatics, and teenaged car thieves drive in such a reckless manner.

COMPETENCE:
You need to be focused 100% on driving. . . there can be no distractions. Music is acceptable if it does not detract from your concentration. Music should never be so loud that you fail to hear sirens or the sound of someone�s wheels locking up. You should focus your attention well ahead of your vehicle, paying close attention to activity alongside the road or at approaching intersections. Move only your eyes, as there is no need to turn your head, and never direct your gaze away from the road for more than a second at a time. You need to be able to drive defensively, knowing that often other drivers will behave carelessly or recklessly, and never become complacent. Never assume that another driver will check his blind spot, look before pulling out into traffic, stop at a red light, or turn in the direction his blinker indicates. Motorists fall asleep at the wheel and slam on their brakes for squirrels, they also drive while applying makeup, consulting maps, arguing on their cellular phones, disciplining their children, or eating hamburgers. Motorists drive while fatigued, while enraged, while suicidal, while crying hysterically, while rushing to appointments, while taking prescription medications, while under the influence of illicit drugs, and while drunk.
The number one cause of motor vehicle accidents is the idiocy of other motorists, followed by distraction, excessive speed for conditions, and "driver error." A very small percentage of accidents are caused by "unavoidable" collisions (usually deer) or vehicular malfunction (usually brake failure or tire blowout). If you wreck your car, chances are it was because you fucked up, either through not paying attention or through driving beyond your vehicle�s capabilities (the rules of physics apply no matter how loud your stereo is cranked). If you are properly focused, you will not fuck up. Needless to say, inebriation and uncontrolled emotions will impair your ability to focus.

COURTESY:
Generally speaking, you need to obey the rules of the road as well as be courteous to other drivers. This means no tailgating, no cutting people off, no flipping people the bird, no screamed profanities, and no bumping. Furthermore, you should refrain from speeding in residential areas, blowing through yield signs and yellow lights, zipping in and out of rush hour traffic at double the speed limit, recklessly swooping across several lanes at once in heavy traffic, or driving at highway speeds through shopping center parking lots. Many people consider the aforementioned activities to be rude, and may take personal offence, depending upon their degree of emotional stability. Offense may manifest itself through aggressive driving, better known as "road rage." Persons driving aggressively may slam on their brakes to deter tailgating, may attempt to run offending motorists off the road, may decide to follow an offensive motorist home, or may even fire a handgun at the object of their dismay. Passive-aggressive busybodies will simply call the highway patrol on their cell phone and tell them your plate number along with a detailed (and quite possibly exaggerated) description of your violations of the vehicle and traffic code. Typically, the goal of the typical aggressive driver is to "teach that asshole a lesson." Enraged by another motorist�s perceived incompetence, arrogance, or recklessness, the aggressive personality (imbued with a distorted sense of self-righteous indignation) considers the offensive behavior of other motorists to be unacceptable transgressions which must be immediately dealt with by "putting that bastard in his place." These sick people look upon simple lapses of courtesy as personal attacks necessitating retaliation. Common manifestations of retaliatory behavior include: tailgating, "shadowing" (deliberately driving in the blind spot), and overt pursuit. More severe aggressive activity may entail: bumping (from behind), "clipping" (passing close enough to scratch paint and break off the mirror), or cutting in front and suddenly slamming on the brakes. Astonishingly, these deadly menaces not only tend to be "respected members of the community" with clean criminal records, but also truly believe themselves to be justified in their actions! Scary, isn�t it? The moral of this section is that it isn�t prudent to blatantly provoke strangers into committing acts of violence against you. The majority of the "victims of road rage" had done something, often deliberately, to antagonize the aggressor immediately preceding the incident. Victims who did not provoke their aggressor via unsafe maneuvers or derogatory gesticulations either were driving slower than the posted limit and were not allowing others to pass (usually by speeding up in the passing zones), or presented an offensive appearance in some way (either by emblazoning their vehicle with obnoxious stickers or by flaunting wealth in an impoverished area). A very small percentage were either random targets or victims of mistaken identity. Do not allow bad behavior or stupidity to make you a target. While most aggressive drivers are mentally ill psychopaths, consider that nearly anyone can be temporarily deprived of their faculties when subjected to extreme stress, such as the loss of a job or the dissolution of a relationship. Stressful situations can make even the most meek and inoffensive people lose their shit. A weak individual is suddenly transformed into a force to be reckoned with upon sliding behind the wheel, and may choose to abuse his newfound power. Never assume that an aggressive driver can be made to "back down," as this often escalates the situation to an entirely new level. Not only must one be aware of the fact that one shares the road with potentially aggressive drivers every day, but one must take care to avoid becoming one as well. By viewing one�s vehicle as an extension of oneself, it is easy to suddenly become enraged over idiotic behavior which causes one to instantly react in order to narrowly avoid an accident. It is also common to lose one�s temper when rushing to an important appointment and finding oneself stuck behind a slowpoke who not only refuses to pull, but speeds up on the straightaways. In such situations, it is important to remain calm and consider why the offending motorist is driving in such a manner. A reckless driver may be: rushing someone to the hospital, fleeing police pursuit, dangerously impaired, or simply a wild teenager who hasn�t even considered the possibility of causing an accident. A slow or erratic driver may be: inexperienced, ill, elderly, drunk, or experiencing car trouble. Remain focused and don�t irrationally take their actions as a personal insult to be answered in kind. If you�ve left for your destination early, and have been checking your mirrors frequently, this is much easier to accomplish. You need to be aware of your surroundings, be wary of unsafe conditions, and use a modicum of common sense. As a rule of thumb, you should always leave for your destination at least five minutes earlier than necessary to allow for traffic and so you do not feel compelled to rush. If someone is impatient to pass you, allow them to do so, even if it means pulling over to the shoulder for a moment. . . never speed up if someone obviously is attempting to pass you, but apply your brakes instead. If you are passing someone, you should be doing at least 10 mph faster than they are (I see idiots trying to pass at exactly the speed limit, often resulting in two idiots driving alongside of each other for several minutes). Once you have passed someone, wait until you are at least 2 car lengths ahead of them before re-entering their lane, and do not immediately decelerate after having done so. If someone is merging into traffic, do not block their progress. If someone appears frustrated that there isn�t an opening in traffic for him to pull out into, provide that opening. If someone looks like they�re about to cut you off, apply your brakes. If someone is driving like a psycho, stay away from them, even if it means taking the time to pull into a parking lot or circle the block. If someone is tailing you and won�t be deterred, drive to the police station instead of leading them to your home. Simple solutions to common scenarios, but you would be astounded at the vast number of people
unable to draw similar conclusions. If you see an unsafe situation approaching, place yourself out of the way. Not all unsafe situations involve fellow motorists. If you see bicyclists, joggers, horses, or pedestrians near the shoulder of the road, the courteous thing to do is to provide them with plenty of space. You should reduce speed and, if feasible, edge over the centerline. If you see bicyclists or pedestrians behaving carelessly or foolishly, you should further reduce speed, provide even more room for them, and sound your horn once to let them know you�re there. If children are playing dangerously close to the road, you should take even further precautions, and be prepared to suddenly stop, if necessary. Failure to extend these simple courtesies to non-motorists angers some people � a few of which may have long memories and harbor a grudge. Persons who harbor a grudge versus the driver of a particular vehicle may vandalize it upon finding it unattended in a parking lot, or may begin driving aggressively if they again encounter the vehicle while behind the wheel themselves.
You should not make a practice of driving like an asshole. Revving your engine and squealing around corners serves no purpose but to alert the general public (as well as the police) that a street racer is approaching. Such antics tend to draw adverse attention to yourself and upset the taxpayers. If, through no fault of your own, you have an accident while driving like this on public roads, everyone will assume that you are to blame. You must strive to be a careful, competent, and courteous driver. If you make a practice of leaving early, driving at a reasonable speed, and being polite, it is unlikely that you will incur the ire of your fellow motorists.

FOCUS:
A driver should be concentrating only on the act of driving. Distractions, such as loud music, unnecessary conversation, or even one�s own thoughts should be avoided. If the vehicle�s interior is uncomfortably warm or cold, that too would qualify as a distraction, and should be remedied (if possible). A moment�s distraction, especially when negotiating sharp curves or heavy traffic at speed, can easily result in a potentially fatal wipeout. After familiarity with a vehicle has been gained, it is possible to notice minor changes (such as vibrations, rattles, odors, or miscellaneous noises) which could give warning of an impending breakdown that can be avoided through preventive maintenance. After intimate familiarity has been achieved, one can have the sensation of "melding" with the vehicle; in this altered state of consciousness, not only is it possible to feel minor imperfections in the road surface through the steering wheel and pedals, but your sense of awareness is drastically heightened, you make adjustments to the wheel to compensate for curves automatically, and you are able to react to the unexpected instantaneously. At speeds exceeding 120 mph, it is easy to enter what has been described as a "zen trance." Not only do you feel as one with the vehicle, but you have a feeling of total calmness, everything seems to slow down, and you may experience some minor distortion of time and space (like reaching one�s destination earlier than possible, or taking a sharp curve in defiance of the laws of physics). This is a true altered state of consciousness in which you feel separate from your everyday persona. Many would be inclined to dismiss what has been stated here as so much pseudo-mystical balderdash, but those of you who have been there will know of what I speak. Some things cannot be adequately explained in words, and thus must be directly experienced in order to be understood. When the experienced driver is driving his vehicle at speed, whether he be competing in a race, eluding pursuit, engaged in combat, participating in an emergency medevac, or simply driving fast for his own enjoyment, he will be completely calm. Calm does not necessarily mean "relaxed," however, as a keen sense of alertness will be apparent, as will a degree of muscular tension, but all detrimental emotions (such as anxiety, fear, panic, anger, or rage) will be completely eliminated as if a switch had been thrown, disconnecting one�s emotions altogether. . . indeed, the strongest emotions a driver in this state might experience are mild annoyance at a given situation or satisfaction that a difficult technique had been performed flawlessly. Such a driver will not lose control of his emotions regardless of the circumstances.
The totally focused driver will be concentrating solely upon the actions required to keep his vehicle on the road. If an accident is unavoidable, he will use his remaining fractions of a second prior to impact maneuvering his vehicle in such a way as to absorb the energy with as little harm to himself (or other occupants) as possible. If he goes flying over an embankment or into a wooded area, he will keep his eyes open and his hands on the wheel in an effort to guide the vehicle to safety. Even if the vehicle is airborne or in an uncontrolled spin, the calmness attained through total focus will effectively prevent panic and reduce the amount of adrenaline released into the bloodstream. Focus is good.

HAZARD LIGHTS:
Your hazard lights (also known as: warning lights or 4-way flashers) are a valuable asset. They enable you to forewarn other motorists that your vehicle might pose a possible danger to them, which (hopefully) will sharpen their focus, thus enabling them to avoid a possible accident.

Common applications of the hazard lights include:
1.) Indicating that your vehicle has come to a halt (either in traffic or on the shoulder). This often occurs when you�re faced with either a line of vehicles stopped due to an accident ahead, or debris that is blocking the road. Your vehicle also may have come to a halt due to a breakdown or a flat tire. Your hazard lights will warn approaching motorists of the danger.
2.) Indicating that your vehicle is traveling at a speed significantly under the speed limit (i.e.: 45 mph in a 65 mph zone). This can prevent a preoccupied driver from inadvertently plowing into your rear bumper.
3.) Indicating that you have cargo (properly flagged) extending beyond the confines of your vehicle.
4.) Indicating that your vehicle is disabled (misfiring, overheating, power steering failure, brake failure, loose exhaust system, etc.).
5.) Indicating that your vehicle is being towed.

Less common applications of one�s hazard lights include:
1.) Indicating that your vehicle has come to a halt in the motorway because:
a.) You�ve been flagged down or signaled to stop.
b.) You are picking up, or unloading, passengers.
c.) You have observed a dangerous (or suspicious) situation ahead.
2.) Indicating that your vehicle is reversing into, or against (on a one-way street, or on the shoulder of a highway), oncoming traffic.
3.) Indicating that your vehicle is performing a hazardous maneuver (such as a 3-point turn in rush hour traffic).
3.) Indicating that you have an emergency, and intend to disregard traffic lights and other traffic safety devices (be sure to lean on your horn as well).
4.) Indicating that your vehicle is traveling at a speed significantly higher than the speed limit, and may be weaving through traffic.
5.) Indicating that your illegally parked vehicle will be returned to momentarily.
Proper use of one�s hazard lights (which can be augmented with either "wig-wags" or strobe headlights, if not an actual detachable emergency light and siren) can alert other motorists, not only to the unavoidable dangers of everyday driving, but to dangerous actions deliberately undertaken � and hopefully, such forewarning will enable one to perform hazardous maneuvers with a slightly greater expectation of safety.

DANGER!:
Certain situations should set off "alarm bells" in your head � particularly if you appear to be a lucrative target (particularly for a carjacking or robbery) or have dangerous enemies. Be aware that even an older car of little apparent value to a thief may be targeted for a carjacking if the criminal needs a stolen car for a getaway or to be used in the commission of future crimes (such as armed robberies or driveby shootings). In the event that you are accosted by an individual with a gun, and for whatever reason cannot return fire or escape, you should willingly give up your vehicle and belongings, but UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU ALLOW AN ASSAILANT TO DRIVE AWAY WITH YOU! If an armed assailant demands that you accompany him, you can be assured that he intends to do serious harm to your person. If an armed assailant simply manages to pull open your door and attempts to shove you over into the passenger seat, you should open the passenger door and continue out of the vehicle. If you are ordered to "drive," at first opportunity you could slam on the brakes, go into a spin, or have a minor collision before taking your keys and fleeing the vehicle. If you allow yourself to be driven away from safety by a menacing goblin, you can reasonably expect to be slowly tortured to death at its leisure. If someone intends to rob, injure, or kill you, there will usually be some indication that something "isn�t right". . . if this feeling is quite intense, it is a reliable indicator that you may be in immediate physical danger. If you believe yourself to be endangered, you should take immediate precautions, such as hyper-vigilance and distancing yourself from the potential threat. Most spontaneous threatening situations (such as those resulting from an enraged person out of control due to intoxication or mental illness) are immediately apparent to nearly anyone, but a remeditated attack by an experienced predator is more difficult to discern. Typically, any individual other than a uniformed police officer or road construction flagman who approaches your vehicle in traffic should immediately command your immediate attention; and if they appear the slightest bit threatening or suspicious, you should immediately depress the accelerator and flee the area (while scanning the road ahead for any dangerous situation, such as a motor vehicle accident or a downed powerline, that the individual might�ve been attempting to warn you of). If the individual (s) in question is brandishing a weapon or deliberately blocking your only escape route, you should feel no compunction whatsoever about accelerating directly into his body. A few common indicators of a potentially dangerous situation follow:

1.) BEING SIGNALED TO STOP: You may be flagged down by an individual feigning distress (often a female is used as the decoy, while an armed companion(s) lies in wait). It may indeed be a legitimate emergency, or it may be a devious lure to get you to stop (and possibly unlock or exit) your vehicle. If you feel it may be an actual emergency, and you feel morally obligated to stop, it is advised that you take the following steps:
a.) Ascertain that you have a weapon within reach.
b.) Make sure all doors are locked and windows are up.
c.) Carefully scan the immediate area, taking in the situation and looking for signs of a potential ambush (such as the three guys running towards you from behind). If it is dark and you have a spotlight within or mounted upon your vehicle, now is the time to use it (while still at a distance from the scene).
d.) Stop the vehicle by applying the brake. Keep your vehicle in gear with a foot poised over the accelerator pedal. Switch on your hazard lights.
e.) Ready your cellular phone or CB radio for immediate use.
f.) Roll down your window a crack � no more than 2" � to speak to the individual. Make sure you can see their hands! Offer to call a tow truck/ambulance/policeman/other. Maintain constant awareness of your surroundings, particularly your blind spots.
g.) Do not exit your vehicle under any circumstances! Do not allow anyone to enter your vehicle! If you feel endangered, do not attempt to communicate with anyone and leave the area immediately!
Those are "the rules" for dealing with situations where you are being flagged down by a stranger under questionable circumstances. . . of course, there is an exception to every rule, and one is expected to use discretion. People are also commonly flagged down by hitchhikers. Everyone says "never pick up a hitchhiker," which generally is very good advice, but again there is the occasional exception to the rules. If you are considering picking up a hitchhiker, follow these guidelines:
a.) NEVER, under any circumstances, pick up a hitchhiker if you have anyone (or anything) in the vehicle whose safety you are responsible for, such as your wife or
children. The potential risk is unacceptable.
b.) Ascertain that you have a weapon within reach.
c.) Observe the individual. Does he (or she) appear ill, dirty, drunk, or deranged? If so, keep driving.
d.) Are there any other individuals? Do they have parcels? Do they have a pet? Is there anything unusual or suspicious about them? You need to take all of these factors under consideration.
e.) Find out what their destination is (If they say "just get me over the state line" that would be a bad sign) and look for any possible weapons before unlocking the doors and allowing them into your vehicle. If they immediately start tugging on the door handle, just drive off. Remember, you are encased in over a ton of steel capable of generating great power, and they consist of a bag of liquids draped over a thin mobile framework. If a threatening individual chooses to boldly block your path or leap onto your vehicle, he is, in effect, daring you to kill him. A driver of a motor vehicle has this capability over all pedestrians, and only the law and one�s personal sense of ethics protects surly jaywalkers and drunken idiots. A deranged individual attacking one�s vehicle has waived said protection through
his own free will.
2.) STAGED ACCIDENTS: Many robberies and kidnappings are preceded by minor fenderbenders. Such incidents usually amount to little more than a bard bump from behind, resulting in minimal damage. The instigator is hoping that you will then exit your vehicle in order to assess the damage and exchange insurance information � that is his signal that it is now safe to perpetrate a crime against you. Be aware that this tactic is very common. If you have any reason to be suspicious, lock your doors and do not exit your vehicle � especially if the other motorist was at fault. Keep your vehicle in gear with your foot on the brake as you converse with the individual through a cracked window. If you have a cellular phone or CB radio, use it to summon the police. If the other motorist asks
for assistance with an injured passenger, or demands that you "accompany him to the police station," do not be tempted to do so � it is most likely a trick. If you are a VIP targeted by assassins or kidnappers, be aware that terrorists often use a "crash car" to disable a target vehicle, relying upon a support vehicle for their escape.

3.) OBSTACLES: A common ruse is to roll an object into a vehicle�s path (such as an old tire or baby carriage), with the expectation that the driver will slam on their brakes. . . once the moving vehicle has come to a complete stop and the occupants are momentarily stunned, they can be mobbed by attackers and pulled from the vehicle through an unlocked door or broken window (you do NOT want to be pulled through a broken window. . .wearing seatbelts will make it far more difficult for occupants to be pulled free). A similar ruse involves a youngster on a bicycle or skateboard deliberately plowing into the side of a moving vehicle and pretending to be knocked unconscious in hope that the driver will not only stop, but actually exit the vehicle. Once you have exited your vehicle, you are at the mercy of a predatory gang unless you happen to have a cellular phone in one hand and a high-powered automatic pistol in the other.

4.) BARRICADES: Barricades are improvised roadblocks meant to stop or divert traffic. Barricades are often encountered during urban riots, but can also occasionally be found in gang controlled neighborhoods as well as impoverished rural areas far from "civilization." Barricades are commonly used by bandits in many underdeveloped countries. Barricades can take the form of: sawhorses, garbage cans, worn out furniture, old bathroom fixtures, rubble, pallets, crates, 50 gallon drums, felled trees (or utility poles), dumpsters, beat-up cars, or any other readily available item large enough to impede traffic. Sometimes, barricades may be doused with fuel and set alight to make them appear more intimidating. Barricades are often manned by armed miscreants and should not be approached. . . the "Jturn" is the textbook procedure for dealing with roadblocks. Fragile roadblocks, such as one composed of several flaming garbage cans set atop an old sofa, can usually be blown through by simply shifting into low gear and accelerating, although this is not recommended due to the potential risk of damage to windshield, radiator, and tires. Be wary of broken glass, roofing nails, or spiked boards which may be strewn in front of the barricade, as well as the possibility of substantial reinforcement (I-beams, cinderblocks, concrete, steel cable, 50-gallon drums filled with water, or holes (including open manholes). If you attempt to ram through a barricade, you can reasonably expect to be fired upon.

5.) PROPS: A common ploy is for a predator to impersonate a police detective. In order to pull this off, the only props needed are a cheap suit and a realistic-looking fake badge; but in many documented cases police impersonators have gone so far as to obtain the same style of vehicle as those used for unmarked police cars and equip it with a flashing light and multiple antennae. Due to the fact that "badge-freaks" have been implicated in numerous abductions and rapes, many states have prohibited unmarked police cars and plainclothed officers from making routine traffic stops. If an unmarked car signals for you to pull over by flashing its light at you (dash-mounted and magnetic emergency lights can be obtained via mail order with no documentation required), or if a suspect individual pulls up alongside you and displays a badge, you are advised to immediately contact the police on your cellular phone or CB radio for instructions; failing that, you can immediately activate your hazard lights and proceed, at the legal speed limit, to either the nearest police station or a densely populated area with plenty of witnesses. If you have any suspicion whatsoever that the individual attempting to stop your vehicle is not a police officer, you are not obligated to pull over. . . especially if you are a female driving through a secluded area. A ploy which has been used by terrorist groups in the past is to either impersonate
construction workers doing emergency roadwork, or ambulance attendants at a crash scene; with the intent of slowing or redirecting traffic until contact is made with the target vehicle. Unless you are a political or corporate VIP, however, such a scenario would not be applicable.

6.) EVIDENCE OF TAMPERING: If your window is broken or a door is ajar, you should approach your vehicle with caution (if at all), due to the possibility that the miscreant could be inside (or in the immediate vicinity). If your tires appear to have been deliberately deflated, the possibility exists that you might have been set up for an ambush. If you see a red or green puddle seeping from your vehicle, it is possible that your brake lines or coolant hoses might have been slashed, which also could be a setup. If you see a cut belt lying under your vehicle, if your headlights have been broken out after dark, or if the door lock has been deliberately jammed up (with super glue or toothpicks), there could be someone waiting in the shadows for you. If you see wires leading away from your vehicle; or if you see fresh debris underneath it (specifically snippings of insulated wire, alligator clips, cable ties, wads of duct tape, or a loose alkaline battery); or any protruding wires (especially near the wheelwell or driver�s side door); or suspicious parcels beneath, atop, or inside your vehicle; you can reasonably assume that your vehicle has been boobytrapped with explosives and should immediately vacate the area and alert the police bomb squad. At one time, only persons with serious political or criminal connections needed to worry about the possibility of having their car bombed, but nowadays, with the proliferation of readily available bombmaking instructions (from several sources, including the Internet), disgruntled employees, spurned suitors, and various hate-filled zealots all can potentially construct an explosive device (with the possibility of actually doing so successfully).

7.) SNIPERS & SHIT DROPPERS: It is a sad fact of life that some demented freaks feel compelled to engage in acts of random violence. This often takes the form of either shooting at passing cars or dropping heavy objects upon them from an overpass or pedestrian walkway. Due to their extreme anti-social proclivities, freaks of this nature tend to be teenaged, as they are almost invariably discovered and incarcerated before their twentieth birthday. Snipers tend to favor the .22 bolt-action rifle, as it is easily accessible and able to be discarded, if necessary. If the sniper is able to obtain a .22 autoloading rifle (which freaks like to "militarize" with folding stock, muzzle brake, and multiple high-capacity magazines), he will be far more dangerous due to the capability to deliver numerous rapidfire bursts at his target. The .22 projectile usually will not penetrate an automobile�s windshield, but it can easily shatter side windows, and possibly even penetrate unreinforced portions of the chassis (like the roof). If the deviant either lacks a firearm, or is unwilling to commit himself to using one, a high-powered pellet gun may be used instead, with similar results. If your windshield is ever suddenly starred � and no vehicles are ahead of you to kick up gravel � you can reasonably assume that you are being fired upon and immediately take evasive action (zig-zagging and accelerating in the event of an attack from the side or rear, and the immediate execution of a "J-Turn" if you are being fired upon from ahead � if you are on a highway, you can drive the wrong way by flipping on your hazard lights and staying on the shoulder). There is generally no forewarning of a sniper attack unless you are fortunate enough to see either the reflection of his scope or the dot from a laser designator. Be aware that a serious sniper will use something like an autoloading .308, which can easily punch through windshields as well as car bodies, but such an individual is unlikely to pick his targets at random. Persons who drop things from overpasses and walkways can usually be spotted behaving in a suspicious manner immediately prior to the act. Always be cautious of persons milling about aimlessly over a highway, especially if no protective chainlink fencing (sometimes referred to as an "anti-drop barrier") is evident. These persons tend to favor large rocks and cinderblocks, which can easily crash completely through either the windshield or roof, resulting in serious injury or death.

THWARTING A TAIL:
Persons being stalked may often find themselves tailed, as may celebrities, politicians, and other prominent members of the community. Occasionally, average individuals with no known enemies suddenly find themselves being tailed by persons unknown, often after inadvertently cutting off the vehicle in question, but sometimes for no apparent reason (it could be a case of mistaken identity, or perhaps they found one of your bumperstickers to be offensive). Usually, a tail proves harmless. It could be a simple case of immature harassment, a legitimate investigator (law enforcement, insurance, journalism, or licensed private) may lawfully be monitoring your activities, an acquaintance may need to contact you (and happened to spot you while in an unfamiliar vehicle), or it could be someone with no interest in you whatsoever who just happens to be taking a similar route to their destination. Sometimes, however, a person may be tailing you with intent to cause you serious bodily harm, either at the first possible opportunity or at some time in the near future. If you believe you are being tailed, it is recommended that you take the following steps:

1.) Ascertain that all doors are locked and all windows are up. Double-check your petrol level � are you in danger of running out of gas?
2.) DO NOT DRIVE HOME!!! Once a miscreant has your home address, he may elect to zoom off and possibly come visit you at a later date. . . or he may instead decide to block you in and perform an act of violence upon you in your own driveway!
3.) Take note of the make, model, and color of the pursuing vehicle, paying special attention to any distinguishing features (rust, dents, custom paint, modifications, etc.). If possible, memorize the tag number.
4.) If you are uncertain as to if you are actually being tailed, you can perform one (or more) of the following maneuvers:
a.) Suddenly take a sidestreet without signaling.
b.) Circle the block.
c.) Pull into a parking lot, then immediately exit in the opposite direction.
d.) Perform a "U-turn" in a safe spot.
e.) Pull over to the curb (or shoulder) and wait for a reaction.

If you are indeed being tailed, your pursuer will have to either abort or continue. If he chooses to continue, you can reasonably assume that he is committed to performing an act of violence upon your person (assault, robbery, rape, etc.). It is unlikely that anyone but a true psychotic (less than 1% of the population, but by no means a rarity) would wish to perpetrate a crime of violence in the presence of witnesses, because then he would have a high risk of becoming incarcerated. You are thus advised to proceed immediately to the nearest police station (or police car, if you happen to chance upon one) or, failing that, a well-lit and highly-populated area. If you have a cellular phone or CB radio, call for assistance. When you reach a safe destination, stay in your vehicle and lean on the horn to alert others.

EVASION:

If you are being pursued, and for some reason cannot get to a police station or well populated area where witnesses and assistance can be had, you may elect to evade pursuit. If you have a magnum revolver within easy reach, as well as a cellular phone or CB radio, you are almost as safe as if you were in your own livingroom. If you have neither protection nor communications, evasion is no longer an option but a necessity. A common misconception is that evasion requires driving at unsafe speeds and ignoring red lights and "one-way" signs. . . nothing could be further from the truth. Whether on city streets or back roads, you seldom want to exceed 60 mph. If you go too fast, you cannot negotiate sharp turns, nor can you compensate for unexpected obstacles or the stupidity of other drivers. If your vehicle is low to the ground and you are being pursued by a vehicle with a high center of gravity (such as a "sport utility vehicle"), you can put more distance between your vehicles by accelerating through sharp curves and taking unexpected turns which a more top-heavy vehicle would need to slow down for to avoid tipping. The only time speeds in excess of 100 mph are permissible is when you are being pursued on a wellmaintained, multi-lane highway and feel you have a good chance of safely outdistancing your tail (for example, you are driving a new sports car and they are in a rusted out pickup truck with bald tires). You do not want to drive beyond your abilities or your car�s capabilities. Once you wreck, the chase has most likely come to an end. Tires are speed rated. Most passenger cars have tires that the manufacturer says can safely withstand a sustained speed of 85 mph. Once you exceed 110 mph, your tires begin to heat up and deform, becoming more oblong than round. If your tires are worn, damaged, or subjected to the stress of sudden lane changes, they can easily burst, resulting in a blowout. If you have a massive blowout (as opposed to a gradual deflation) at over 100 mph, you may go into a spin or a roll. . . at such high speeds, and without a roll cage, most cars will break apart, smearing their occupants along the asphalt like strawberry preserves. Buy the best tires you can afford, and be aware of the stress of high speed maneuvering. Tires may rupture upon high speed contact with a pothole, curb, railroad track, or debris.
They also may rupture if they contact the wheelwell due to leaving the ground or hitting dips and inclines. They can rupture due to the heat and friction of repeated skidding, such as from controlled skids, 4-wheel drifts, J-turns, and bootlegger turns. If your fender is crumpled due to contact with either an obstacle or the pursuing vehicle, metal may dig into your tire and rupture it. As anyone who has watched televised police chases knows, it is possible to drive for miles on a flat tire or bare rim, though speed and control will be significantly impaired. As long as you remain in motion, you are in little danger from your pursuer. As soon as you stop, crash, or are otherwise rendered immobile, your car will become more of a trap than a refuge, and you will need to either evade on foot or stay and fight. If you are unarmed and facing overwhelming odds, fighting may not be the best option.
Aside from outrunning pursuers, which often is much more dangerous than simply allowing the pursuit to continue at a reasonable speed, you have the options of:
1.) Shaking a pursuer via sudden unexpected turns;
2.) Ditching a pursuer by making the prospect of further pursuit difficult; or
3.) Hiding.

A simple example of shaking pursuit would be to suddenly take a sidestreet in a controlled skid, without giving your tail a chance to react (I don�t think I need to tell you not to use your turn signal), then roaring off and making a series of turns that would make finding you nearly impossible. If you are driving along a straightaway at speed and your pursuer is starting to overtake you in the passing lane, you can execute a "panic stop" (slamming on the brakes without losing control of the vehicle), which will make him overshoot your position and give you opportunity to reverse your direction (best done by means of the "Jturn").
If you feel you must drive the wrong way on the highway or a one-way street to evade pursuit, stay on the hard shoulder with your high beams and hazard lights on. Ditching a pursuer can be done by driving through terrain unsuitable for a passenger car. You can drive across the median strip, down an embankment, or through a lawn. You can drive along a sidewalk, through a park, or into a shopping plaza. You can also drive through hedges and small fences. It is even possible to jump ditches and drive off road for an extended duration. Few marauding motorists would be bold enough to follow you, even if you are moving relatively slow.
Hiding is only an option if you are able to outdistance your tail long enough to get out of his line of sight. Driving behind a house, down an alleyway, or into a huge parking lot - then parking out of sight and waiting, is a good trick. Be aware that if you drive across damp sod you will leave visible tracks, and if you drive across dry dirt you will leave a dust cloud - either of which can reveal your position. After a few minutes of frantic rushing around and backtracking, most pursuers would give up . . . and those that don�t can be ambushed.
If you must hop a curb, it should be done at a 45 degree angle and at less than 45 mph. The lower your speed, the lower your chances will be of blowing a tire, breaking a wheel, or damaging your front-end. If possible, it would be best to do this at under 15 mph. . . any faster, and you will be taking a substantial risk of disabling your vehicle.

ESCAPE:
This section has deliberately been minimized. In order to learn escape techniques, first you must retain a qualified instructor (or at the very least, obtain a video or well illustrated book created by a qualified instructor). Next, you must spend hours practicing the techniques in a safe area. If you lack either guidance or experience, you have no business whatsoever attempting these maneuvers. . . it is far too easy to roll over or slide into a ditch. I refuse to take responsibility for the consequences of your actions. The first escape technique to learn is what police know as the "J-turn." It has also been called a reverse 180 or a moonshiner�s turn. To perform this procedure, come to a complete stop, then shift into reverse and accelerate to approximately 30 mph (any faster is unnecessary as well as dangerous). When this speed is reached (you�ll need to estimate, as your speedometer will not work), crank the wheel sharply to the left, then apply the brakes, slam it into gear, straighten the wheel, and punch the accelerator. . . it will take practice to get it right. If the maneuver is performed correctly, you will do a perfect reverse 180, finding yourself facing the opposite direction in the proper lane and speeding off, giving you a considerable head start. This maneuver is hard on the transmission, but I haven�t stripped one yet. You will need to practice in an empty parking lot with orange cones before attempting this on a road with ditches and guardrails. Be forewarned: hubcaps will go flying, and after a half dozen practice turns, your front alignment will be thrown way off and your front tires will be worn down to the steel belts. . . remove all hubcaps and have a pair of full-sized spares ready. The second technique is known as a "bootlegger�s turn," or simply as the "180." It is three times as difficult as the J-turn, and takes that much longer to master. A skilled driver, with competent instruction, can master the J-turn after his second attempt. . . it will take at least a half-dozen attempts for most drivers to feel comfortable doing the bootlegger�s turn. To do it, the driver slows to about 30 mph, then cranks the wheel to the left and yanks on the emergency brake lever, keeping the button depressed. Almost immediately, he releases the emergency brake while straightening the wheel and flooring the gas pedal. Performed correctly, the car will instantly spin around facing the opposite direction and take off at a high rate of speed. To perform this maneuver with a foot pedal emergency brake, minor modifications must be made (these vary, but disabling the brake release with vise grips - or a piece of wood carved to fit - and stretching elastic from the pedal to the dash will work and is easily reversible). Practicing this will also screw up your front alignment and destroy your tires, as well as possibly ripping out your emergency brake. It is strongly advised that you practice these techniques in a rental car of the same type as your primary vehicle. Practicing on gravel, snow, or other low friction surface will greatly reduce wear and tear on your vehicle, but proficiency on asphalt must be attained before attempting to perform this maneuver for real. The G-forces created by both the forward and reverse 180 turns are such that if you are so stupid as not to be wearing your safety belt, you may very well find yourself laying across the passenger seat. Never attempt either of these turns � or any high speed cornering � in a sport utility vehicle, Jeep-type vehicle, mini-van, jacked-up truck, or any vehicle with a high wheelbase or center of gravity, as such vehicles can easily be rolled. Some automobiles will stall upon performing a 180. Other techniques involve ramming, jamming, and smashing. These are usually practiced in a field or abandoned parking lot with $100 beaters equipped with modified seatbelts (like the "H-harness" used in race cars). These maneuvers are extremely dangerous, involving either sending another vehicle spinning off the road or busting through improvised roadblocks. I will not reveal how these moves are performed. What I will do however, is tell you three important things:

1.) Sideswiping your opponent�s vehicle � shown to be an effective technique on countless action-packed television shows � will not work! Slamming into your
opponent�s left front quarterpanel as you cut him off may work in theory, but in practice you have a fifty percent chance of actually sending your vehicle spinning out of control.
2.) If you are being rammed from behind at an odd angle by a large vehicle moving 15 - 20 mph faster than you, your vehicle can easily be sent into a spin. If you are being bumped or rammed, and it appears unlikely that you�ll be able to outrun your pursuers, SLOW DOWN. If you are only doing 30 mph, you cannot easily be sent into a spin. Or, you can come to a complete stop, slam it into reverse, and it�s demolition derby time! Slam one of the rear corners of your car through the radiator or driver�s door to put a quick end to his foolishness.
3.) If someone is trying to run you off the road, especially if you believe them to be in possession of a firearm, DO NOT allow them to pass you or even get alongside you. This means that you will need to keep a close eye on him in your rear view mirror, cutting him off whenever he attempts to pass. If they succeed in drawing alongside you, they can fire into your vehicle. If they succeed in passing you, they can pull broadside across the road, forming an impromptu roadblock. If you have a passenger, he should get in the back seat and roll both windows down, the better to fire a weapon or throw things at your pursuer�s windshield (for example: newspapers, laundry, glass bottles, canned and jarred grocery items, or any heavy item that could conceivably break a windshield). If, despite all this, he still manages to pass you, you can execute a moonshiner�s turn to escape. If going back the way you came is not an option, (and you cannot go around the roadblock by hopping a curb or plowing through underbrush) you can come to a complete stop, slam it into first gear, tell everyone to keep their heads down, and ram the trunk area behind the wheelwell to knock his vehicle aside. Ramming is only to be done when you are in imminent danger of being killed and there is no other option. Unless your vehicle has heavily reinforced push bumpers, it will probably become disabled. If your vehicle becomes disabled, but is still mobile, keep going until it will go no further. You�d be surprised how far some "undrivable" cars are capable of going. If you intend to practice ramming techniques � or if you want to be able to continue driving after engaging in an impromptu demolition derby with an irate motorist � you need to be driving a vehicle that is sturdy and dependable. Individual opinions vary greatly in this regard. Many people favor "sport-utility vehicles" (SUVs) for their high damage to survivability ratio. Drivers in demolition derbies, however, tend to favor the big V-8 sedans from the 60's and 70's, which had solid frames and lacked wussified "crumple zones." The Plymouth Furies and Chevy Impalas are favorites in the derbies. The �74 and �76 Impalas were especially favored, due to the amount of empty space between the radiator and engine block (which lessens the probability of a rupture upon impact). Stationwagons have always fared particularly well, with special mention being made to the �53 Chevy and the �62 Ford. Retired police cars, like the Plymouth Grand Furies and Dodge Diplomats, also tend to do well. If you intend that your vehicle can safely withstand the impact from ramming other vehicles, as well as being rammed or run off the road yourself, it is imperative that you install the necessary safety equipment (rollcage, racing harness, fire extinguishing system, fuel cell, etc.), and you might want to consider offensive modifications as well (reinforced pushbumpers, fender rams, or concealed tire cutters and radiator piercers � all welded securely to the frame). Again, I reiterate: doing 180s requires both professional instruction as well as hours of practice in a safe area, and ramming another motorist can cause you to wreck or otherwise disable your vehicle. Both maneuvers are unlawful to implement. Do not mess around with these techniques if you don�t know what you�re doing!

ALBERT EINSTEIN - QUOTES

nospam@example.com (Iancu Rasta) — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 23:33:22 +0300

Collected Quotes from Albert Einstein

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction."

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

"Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love."

"I want to know God's thoughts; the rest are details."

"The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax."

"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."

"The only real valuable thing is intuition."

"A person starts to live when he can live outside himself."

"I am convinced that He (God) does not play dice."

"God is subtle but he is not malicious."

"Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character."

"I never think of the future. It comes soon enough."

"The eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility."

"Sometimes one pays most for the things one gets for nothing."

"Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind."

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."

"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen."

"Science is a wonderful thing if one does not have to earn one's living at it."

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."

"The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education."

"God does not care about our mathematical difficulties. He integrates empirically."

"The whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking."

"Technological progress is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal."

"Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding."

"The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible."

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school."

"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing."

"Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater."

"Equations are more important to me, because politics is for the present, but an equation is something for eternity."

"If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut."

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

"As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain, as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality."

"Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods."

"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

"In order to form an immaculate member of a flock of sheep one must, above all, be a sheep."

"The fear of death is the most unjustified of all fears, for there's no risk of accident for someone who's dead."

"Too many of us look upon Americans as dollar chasers. This is a cruel libel, even if it is reiterated thoughtlessly by the Americans themselves."

"Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism -- how passionately I hate them!"

"No, this trick won't work...How on earth are you ever going to explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love?"

"My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind."

"Yes, we have to divide up our time like that, between our politics and our equations. But to me our equations are far more important, for politics are only a matter of present concern. A mathematical equation stands forever."

"The release of atom power has changed everything except our way of thinking...the solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind. If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker."

"Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence."

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed."

"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeeded be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death."

"The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that the path to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith, but through striving after rational knowledge."

"Now he has departed from this strange world a little ahead of me. That means nothing. People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion."

"You see, wire telegraph is a kind of a very, very long cat. You pull his tail in New York and his head is meowing in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? And radio operates exactly the same way: you send signals here, they receive them there. The only difference is that there is no cat."

"One had to cram all this stuff into one's mind for the examinations, whether one liked it or not. This coercion had such a deterring effect on me that, after I had passed the final examination, I found the consideration of any scientific problems distasteful to me for an entire year."

"...one of the strongest motives that lead men to art and science is escape from everyday life with its painful crudity and hopeless dreariness, from the fetters of one's own ever-shifting desires. A finely tempered nature longs to escape from the personal life into the world of objective perception and thought."

"He who joyfully marches to music rank and file, has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would surely suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action. It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder."

"A human being is a part of a whole, called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest... a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty."

"Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts." (Sign hanging in Einstein's office at Princeton)

Copyright: Kevin Harris 1995 (may be freely distributed with this acknowledgement)

ARTICOL: Fie-ne tranzitia usoara

nospam@example.com (Iancu Rasta) — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 21:00:00 +0200

"Fie-ne tranzitia usoara" - de Radu Paraschivescu,
cu subtitlul Perle romanesti,
in editura Humanitas.

"Lumea are voie sa aiba doua conturi ; unul in lei, unul in valuta si inca unul pentru economii. Mai mult nu. - Florin Georgescu (fost ministru al finantelor)

"s-au verificat toate actele pe fostii trei ani pe care am fost primar" - Marian Vanghelie

"A garanta proprietatea inseamna a limita dreptul omului asupra proprietatii lui " - Ion Iliescu

"Bancile sunt conduse de bancheri in toata lumea in afara de Cismigiu si Herastrau" - Bogdan Balthazar (director de banca)

"Cineva a vrut sa vina la Cornu ca sa-mi numere gainile. I-am sugerat c-ar fi mai bine sa vina sa-mi numere ouale." - Adrian Nastase

"Becali e un brand. Eu la Avicola Iasi pot sa fac pui Gigi Becali, daca vreau " Gigi Becali

"Doar prin hazardul inconstient social nu se putea ajunge in sfere atat de aureolate si in plan financiar" - Cornel Dinu (antrenor de fotbal)

"Dumnezeu e cel mai tare serviciu de informatii din lume - stie tot, chiar si-un fir de par" - Gigi Becali

"Am ratat clipa in favoarea eternitatii, iar eternitatea nu ne apartine" Dinu Sararu (regizor)

"Biblia e ca un far luminand in noapte, in jurul caruia roiesc ca mustele toate celelalte carti " - Corneliu Vadim Tudor

"Familia e sfanta, pe cand patria....cum sa va spun patria e sacra " Dumitru Dragomir (presedintele Ligii Profesioniste de fotbal)

"Destinul meu a fost marcat de soarta" (Dan Iosif ( copil al strazii apoi revolutionar, apoi consilierul lui Iliescu, in prezen parlamentar si om bogat)

"Omul este o persoana umana" - Gheorghe Hagi (fotbalist)

"Noi am pierdut multa vreme o perioada de timp" - Ion Iliescu

"Nu mai e mult pana mai e foarte putin" - Gigi Becali

"Nu am facut afirmatii generale, ci dimpotriva am facut afirmatii de sens opus " - Emil Constantinescu

"In politica cel mai bun adevar este minciuna, cu conditia sa nu fie dovedita. " - Doru Viorel Ursu (fost ministru de interne, in prezent avocat)

"Cred ca noi ne indreptam spre undeva, iar acest undeva nu se cheama nicaieri" - Doru Ioan Taracila (parlamentar, fost ministru de interne)

"Decesul i se poate intampla oricui" - Adrian Nastase

"Isus Cristos s-a nascut intr-o pestera foarte modesta" - Teoctist

"Becalizarea Romaniei inseamna ca Romania este intr-un cancer moral si spiritual din care se va salva prin becalizare" - Gigi Becali

"Fiecare om are ingerelul lui. Invatamantul romanesc n-are un ingeras pentru fiecare om - Mihail Hardau (ministrul invatamantului)

"Este vointa lui Dumnezeu ca eu sa pasc acest popor" - Gigi Becali

"Domnul Ion Cristoiu a spus despre mine ca sunt corupt pe vremea cand nu eram, in 1993" - Viorel Hrebenciuc (parlamentar P.S.D.)

"Eu in tinerete eram amfitrion pe oriunde ma duceam" - Gigi Becali

"Eu sunt pe toate listele de corupti si arestati, dar nu am nicio greata" - Viorel Hrebenciuc

"Avocatura este judecatorul dracului" - Ion Iliescu

"Daca dansul are tupeul sa fie de fata si voi fi citat cu domnul Iliescu si el o sa apara pe post de Parchet, eu una din doua; ori ma spanzur imediat, deci imi fac harakiri, ori ma leg de Tribunal cu lanturi " - Antonie Iorgivan (avocat, parlamentar P.S.D., parintele constitutiei)

"Sunt oameni care nu poti sa le bagi lucrurile in cap nici cu forcepsul" - Loredana Groza (cantareata)

"Petre Mihai Bacanu seamana cu un sobolan fiert in ulei de frana" - Corneliu Vadim Tudor

"Nu trebuie sa fim mandri ca avem creier " - Adi de la Valcea (cantaret rom)

"Nevasta-mea este o femeie care, oricate greseli as face, tot o iubesc" - Vali Vijelie (cantaret rom)

"Pe la voi prin Chisinau trece Volga, nu ? Cum ? Nu mai trece ? - Loredana Groza

"Adi de Vito si Virgil Iantu au devenit tatici in aceeasi zi, desi nu sunt casatoriti " - Cristian Groza

"De doua zile in judetele Giurgiu si Ialomita ploua cu lopata" - Marilena Nedelcu

"Dubaiul e o natie care are o pozitie care o merita in lume" - Irinel Columbeanu

"Cele publicate de acest ziar sunt un neadevar inexact" - Ilie Verdet

"Sigur ca am auzit de El Nino. E numele unui cantaret de muzica latina, nu ? - Loredana Groza

"In Bucuresti si in general in Romania, circulatia e scelerata" - Mircea Badea (crainic de t.v.)

"N-am citit Karma Sutra, dar m-ar tenta foarte tare s-o rescriu" - Irinel Columbeanu

"Mai, animalule!" - Ion Iliescu

"Ba, maiestate !" - Sergiu Andon (ziarist, parlamentar, avocat)

"Avem nevoie de lideri adevarati, nu de maimutoi implementati. - Marian Vanghelie

"daca va dori cineva, ii putem oferi inclusiv functia de imparat. Avem solutii" - Victor Ciorbea

"Exista aici, in aceasta sala, tineri care au murit in revolutia din decembrie 1989" - Viorel Catarama

"La noi, sefii de partide sunt ca vacile in India" - Antonie Iorgovan

"Domnul Iorgovan e un fel de electron sarit de pe orbita" - Adrian Nastase

"Omar Hayssam apartine tarii, este un bun al intregului popor" - Adrian Nastase

"Vreau ca Romania sa intre in Europa cu picioarele inainte" - Lia Roberts

"Domnule presedinte, noi n-am facut nimic, cartela e acolo, in banca, voteaza de una singura. Uitati-va. Noi nu avem nicio vina aici" - Attila Verestoy (parlamentar)

"Tariceanu, VIP ? Va spun eu ce VIP e, Very Import Papagal. Auzi la el, ce tupeu obraznic!" - Gigi Becali

"Partidul Noua Generatie va fi biserica politicii romanesti, iar eu voi fi Sfantul Petru." - Gigi Becali

"Noi am fost si cu unii si cu altii, dar daca faceti o analiza o sa vedeti ca unii au fost deja cu altii, iar altii au fost deja cu unii" - Marko Bela (parlamentar - seful UDMR)

"imi fac mia culpa" - Dan Voiculescu

"Un militar nu are voie sa ocupe decat o functie cu un grad mai mare decat propriul grad" - Teodor Atanasiu (fost ministru al apararii demis)

"Cine se va dovedi ca a avut un angajament cu securitatea va fi dat afara, in frunte cu mine" - Dan Voiculescu

"Traian Basescu are o atitudine de maidanez; vine, musca si pleaca" - Dan Voiculescu

"Am puterea sa recunosc ca nu sunt vinovat" - Gheorghe Stefan (presedinte de club de fotbal)

"Nu pot sa spun ca am plans, dar mi-au dat lacrimile" - Cosmin Moti

"Eu prin presupuneri deduc" - Gheorghe Stefan

"Nu avem sanse insa cu toate acestea o sa ni le jucam pana la capat " - Vasile Jercalau

"Gestul domnului Mihai Stoica a fost unul de premeditare intempestiva" - Cornel Dinu

"Bineinteles, daca e nevoie pot sa locuiesc si intr-un clocnotes" - Claudiu Raducanu

"Nu pot sa va dau niciun pronostic, dar cred ca vom bate sigur" - Nicolae Vacaroiu

"Daca Mihai Stoica m-ar fi injurat pe mine, n-ar fi apucat sa deschida gura" - Ion Horoba

"La examen mi-a cazut Comuna din Paris, dar le-am spus sa-mi schimbe subiectul, ca nu prea le am cu geografia" - Raducanu Necula

"Eugen Trica este un pisat de vaca uscat de vant" - Adrian Mititelu

"M-am certat cu Mitica Dragomir, dar fara jigniri. El m-a facut oligofren, eu l-am facut zdreanta, dar nu ne-am insultat. In schimb Marian Iancu e obraznic si umbla cu tot felul de jargoane care nu e bine sa le dai la presa" - Gigi Becali

"Va urez, cum se spune, sa fiti fanatic pana la moarte, dar in sensul bun al cuvantului" - Horia Ivanovici

"Fiecare are gusturile lui in muzica.. N-are cum sa asculte toata lumea numai Schopenhauer" - Costi Ionita (cantaret)

"Dom'le, eu muncesc 24 ore pe zi, iar uneori chiar si noaptea" - Dumitru Dragomir

"In Romania, daca n-ai un dram de putere si un pic de bagabonteala, nu rezolvi nimic" - Marian Vanghelie

"Am ajuns la o varsta la care mi-am dat seama ca trebuie sa fiu cinstit" - Dumitru Dragomir

"Cu privire la gripa aviara, in raport s-a strecurat o confuzie. Am confundat gaina cu curca" - Radu Timofte (fostul sef S.R.I.)

"Acel tanar care s-a transformat in trei sute este vorba de unul singur" - Marian Vanghelie

"Pentru Uniunea Europeana este relativ greu sa produca tarani" - Dan Voiculescu

"Sa stiti despre mine ca simt francofon, dar vorbesc mai mult anglofon" - Adriean Videanu (primar al mun. Bucuresti)

"O sa ma dea in judecata francofonia ca am facut-o vaca. Dar vacile sunt frumoase" - Ion Cristoiu (ziarist)"

Exista oameni in acest parlament al Romaniei carora nu poti sa le ridici imunitatea nici cu viagra" - Paula Ivanescu (parlamentar)

"Primul rezultat notabil al acestor doi ani este ca inca mai guvernam" - Adrian Nastase

ARTICOLE: knock down, box knock

nospam@example.com (Iancu Rasta) — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 12:30:00 +0200

============================================= Hook
A semi-circular punch thrown with the lead hand to the side of the opponent's head. From the guard position, the elbow is drawn back with a horizontal fist (knuckles pointing forward) and the elbow bent. The rear hand is tucked firmly against the jaw to protect the chin. The torso and hips are rotated clockwise, propelling the fist through a tight, clockwise arc across the front of the body and connecting with the target. At the same time, the lead foot pivots clockwise, turning the left heel outwards. Upon contact, the hook's circular path ends abruptly and the lead hand is pulled quickly back into the guard position. A hook may also target the lower body (the classic Mexican hook to the liver) and this technique is sometimes called the "rip" to distinguish it from the conventional hook to the head. The hook may also be thrown with the rear hand.

============================================= Medical concerns
It should be noted that knocking a person unconscious or even causing concussion may cause some permanent brain damage. Furthermore, there is no clear division between the force required to knock out a human and an amount of force which will kill them. More than 350 amateur and professional boxers have been killed in the ring since 1945,for example, Duk Koo Kim who on November 13th 1982 held a fight with Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini which led to his death five days later.

In 1983, The Journal of the American Medical Association called for a ban on boxing. The editor, Dr. George Lundberg, called boxing an "obscenity" that "should not be sanctioned by any civilized society." Since then, the American Neurological Association, American Academy of Neurology and British, Canadian and Australian Medical Associations have also wanted to abolish the sport.

Many support the ban because it seems that causing injury to another athlete is the goal of the sport. Dr. Bill O'Neill, boxing spokesman for the British Medical Association, has supported the BMA's proposed ban on boxing: "It is the only sport where the intention is to inflict serious injury on your opponent, and we feel that we must have a total ban on boxing."

Professional boxing is forbidden in Norway, Iceland, Cuba, Iran and North-Korea.

=============================================== Fatalities versus brain injury
In 1984, R.J. McCunney and P.K. Russo published a study entitled Brain Injuries in Boxing.
The study argued that boxing is relatively safe compared to other sports by citing the following figures on U.S. sports fatalities:

Fatality rates per 100,000 participants

1. Horse racing: 128
2. Sky diving: 123
3. Hang gliding: 56
4. Mountaineering: 51
5. Scuba Diving: 11
6. Motorcycle racing: 7
7. College Football: 3
8. Boxing: 1.3

Dr. Lundberg replied: "It's not the deaths but the chronic brain damage that is so frequent."
The AMA reports brain deterioration in three out of four boxers who have twenty or more professional fights.

To date, there has been little research regarding the long-term effects of amateur boxing.

sursa: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing

ARTICOLE: fenomenul downshifting

nospam@example.com (Iancu Rasta) — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 17:00:00 +0300

Fenomenul downshifting - sau "dincolo" de top management
de Aurora Liiceanu

Downshifting-ul s-a nascut din refuzul al societatii occidentale (care de fapt este o expresie postmaterialista) de a nu deveni sclavul valorilor materiale si de a-ti consuma toata existenta alergind dupa bani, dupa o pozitie ierarhica. Downshifting-ul inseamna refuzul de a intra intr-o anume inregimentare (prin dresaj), refuzul pozitiei, refuzul salariilor mari etc. Ideea de baza este ca de fapt calitatea vietii individului, care este data nu de felul in care se pozitioneaza el din punct de vedere material -nu iti trebuie atit de multi bani ca sa poti sa fi fericit, multumit in viata -, ci de faptul ca poti profita, sa zicem inteligent, de timpul pe care il ai de trait, astfel incit sa nu devii un sclav al muncii. Prin urmare, e vorba de o etica a muncii.

Downshifting-ul nu poate fi la noi, pentru ca noi sintem o societate care am demarat dupa '90 in plin materialism grosolan si exagerat, in care banul si acumularea de bunuri materiale este o dominanta a vietii.Toata lumea priveste cu admiratie si invidie desfasurarea cursei achizitiilor materiale, lucru care in strainatate a inceput sa fie pus sub semnul intrebarii. Din aceasta perspectiva un om din est (din tarile postcomuniste) o sa fie mai bine imbracat decit unul din vest, o sa isi doreasca o masina mai buna, o sa fie, cum se spune, victima societatii de consum intr-un mod cu totul necritic, o sa-si ia tot ce este mai scump si o sa o faca ostentativ si in mod excesiv.

Deci noi, in momentul de fata, sintem o societate cu valori materialist - excesive, spre deosebire de cealalta societate, in care oamenii profita de tot ce este modernitate pentru a spori confortul vietii, dar si calitatea ei.

Eu cred ca nivelul de la care pornesc ei este mult mai inalt decit al nostru. Adica ei nu au o populatie care supravietuieste ca la noi si aceasta conditie bazala, minima pentru a trai relativ decent este realizata cam la toate categoriile sociale. Faptul ca exista oameni care stau pe strada, sau care refuza sa intre in alt tip de inregimentare, in aceasta ordine a vietii, tine si de o patologie sociala care este legata de postmodernism, nu tine de saracie, pentru ca in strainatate abundenta de lucruri materiale fac sa existe o anumita satietate. Cu alte cuvinte, cu doua perechi de blugi si cu zece maiouri poti traversa o vara. Noi cred ca sintem intr-o perioada in care a inceput sa se vada aceasta adictie de shopping, care tine de centrarea de materialism, prin manipularea sau si prin manipularea data de publicitate, care indeamna necritic catre consumerism.

Asta nu inseamna ca la ei nu exista asa ceva, insa sint mult mai potoliti si ceea ce este interesant este aparitia acestui curent critic ca schimbare a stilului de viata. La noi nu exista deloc o atitudine critica, ba dimpotriva, cum am mai spus, este vorba de invidie si chiar o rautate de a scotoci, sa vezi cit si-a mai luat, cite vile si-a luat, cum e vila etc. Exista o dorinta evidenta a unora de a fi invidiati pentru bunastarea lor materiala excesiva pe care ei

o coreleaza cu reusita sociala sau cu reusita existentiala. Numarul, cantitatea conteaz�, si pretul.

In general downshifting-ul pune accentul asupra unei idei importante: exista si alte laturi ale vietii care sint importante si pe care le poti realiza daca ai bani, dar nu neaparat foarte multi bani: relatiile, prietenii, placerea de a sta la ora 11 dimineata pe malul unui riu, sau trezitul de dimineata la ora 10, cu gazeta in pat etc.

Vedem o graba teribila a tinerei generatii de alerga dup� bani si de a uita sa traiasca. Pentru ca sa ilustrez acest lucru am gasit un text foarte critic, in care un specialist in marketing se refera la ce se intimpla la noi in Romania:"am vazut fete care, atunci cind s-au angajat in agentie, erau ca niste mere sanatoase din care iti venea sa musti cu pofta; astazi sint niste scovergi iradiate de computer. Oricum, ar gasi cu greu un barbat la ora la care pleaca de la birou si daca ar apela la solutia cea mai la indemana, un coleg de birou, tot nu ar plesni-o: e cunoscut faptul ca stresul cauzeaza sterilitate masculina.Probabil ca la ora la care scriu aceste rinduri ele se afla

tot la birou bibilind un mediaplan sau pregatind press release-ul unui client isteric si mitocan care nici macar nu stie sa spuna "multumesc". Pentru si! mplul motiv ca "doar te platesc, nu?" In nici un loc, sau meserie, densitatea de impostori pe metru patrat nu e mai mare ca in marketing si publicitate.

E interesant ca mai mult este afectata partea feminina, pentru ca, daca inainte exista acest stereotip - cind ai o fata este bine sa intre in invatamint (invatamintul a fost totdeauna feminizat, pentru iti permite sa mai cresti un copil, sa mai faci o mincare, sa mai stai pe acasa si sa ai timp pentru datoriile de femeie, care trebuie sa tina si o casa), astazi, este ciudat pentru ca nu se mai intimpla, fetele nu se mai fac deloc profesoare - intra in jurnalism, daca au noroc lucreaza la televiziuni -, iar cele care mai exista se duc mai degraba la gradinite particulare pentru bani mai multi. Deci, majoritatea intra in jurnalism si in marketing, profesii extrem de consumatoare de timp, extrem de mobile si de dinamice, la care salariile pot fi substantiale, dar daca stai sa te gindesti mai atent iti dai seama ca de fapt sint foarte prost platite pentru cit de rar dai pe acasa.

De ce a aparut downshiftingul? Pentru ca este vorba de manipulare, de o anume conditionare in privinta statutului de consumator. Se zice ca femeile vin tarziu acasa, dar cu foarte multi bani, cu banii aceia cumpara foarte multe lucruri si il fac pe copil sa devina la rindul lui consumator si il conditioneaza. Copilul, la rindul lui, este plin de bani, dar fara parinti - copilul neglijat dar cu bani, poate ajunge violent, sau poate fugi de acasa. Consumul de droguri este si o forma de protest nu numai o adictie, un semnal de alarma pentru parinti, pentru ca imitatia nu este suficienta ca sa explice raspindirea acestui fenomen.

Ca fenomen, downshifting-ul nu merge la noi, mai ales pentru ca el are si o componenta intelectuala, care include preluarea critica a valorilor, posibilitatea de a fi reflexiv cu propria ta viata, plasarea intr-un cimp al invatarii de calitate si al cresterii personale, practic imposibila in conditiile in care stai zece ore la serviciu, te duci la workshopuri, teambuilding-uri (aflate la noi in plina moda).Toate duc la confiscarea individului pentru profit.

Tineti minte ca in '90 atractia fata de domeniul privat a fost marita si prin schimbarea limbajului de nomenclatura a muncii, orice contabil era director economic. Toate aceste etichete care citeodata nu mai aduc bani, dar care psihologic motiveaz� individul si il fac ca sa accepte sa lucreze mai mult, uneori fara o crestere salariala, pentru prestigiu, flateaza nevoia de statut. Este vorba despre o nevoie psihologica folosita foarte mult in manipulare. Atita vreme s-a spus ca nu este bine sa existe relatii sot-sotie la slujba, acum se reia ceva care seamana foarte mult cu comunismul. Dimpotriva, trebuie sa fie casatoriti, sa stea cit mai mult acolo, sa aiba gradinita pentru copii si unde sa manince, individul nu mai are decit week-endul care uneori poate fi petrecut cu colegii de la slujba in continuare, deci practic este o "deprivatizare" a individului. Acesta se intimpla la noi si oamenii nu a! u nici un pic de spirit critic, au sarit cu atita graba in aceasta poveste care este realmente gindita foarte bine, tocmai pentru a confisca total un individ in favoarea profitului. Psihologii s-au gindit foarte bine, creste numarul de divorturi, femeile si barbatii nu mai pot sta impreuna nici macar in week-end deoarece toate aceste reuniuni (teambuilding-uri) se fac de obicei in afara, se cheltuie foarte multi bani, te incinta ca este un hotel scump, dar trebuie sa raspunzi la intrebarea ce se intimpla cu familia, pe care nu poti sa o neglijezi.

Ideea transmisa prin downshifting este aceea de a invata sa stii cind sa te opresti, pentru ca nu ai nevoie de mai mult ca sa poti sa ai satisfactii nebanuite in viata, sa nu devii un robot, un om "simplificat", un nevrotic sau un isteric. Acesta necesita o depasire a ideii de supravietuire, un om care supravietuieste fie nu mai face nimic si atunci il tiraste societatea ca stat, fie intra in aceasta cursa pentru ca nu mai vede nici o alta alegere. Cind ai foarte multi bani si continui sa muncesti ca un robot, sau cind ai mult mai mult decit iti trebuie, ideea de a reconsidera ce iti trebuie (cu cele doua componente: materiala si spirituala) e vitala. Partea spirituala nu se poate face in supravietuire. Deteriorarea relatiilor interpersonale este o consecinta a lipsei de timp. Vedem in filme politisti extraordinar de motivati, care lucreaza foarte mult si sint parasiti de sotii (aici poa! te ca nu este vorba de partea materiala ci de faptul ca nu esti in stare sa ai o proportie fericita, echilibrata intre investitiile pe care le faci profesional fata de cele pentru familie), care stau cu o sticla de whisky singuri in camere destul de modeste. Este vorba de a-ti regindi existenta si de a vedea ce prioritati trebuie sa ai in raport cu o existenta in care sa nu uiti ca exista si natura si timp liber, sa revalorizezi prietenii si lectura, sa te uiti in dreapta sau stinga, sa ai surse multiple de satisfactie personala. Acest lucru cred ca la noi inca nu este posibil, sintem inca morti dupa vitrine.

Cred ca downshifting-ul aduce o mai buna convietuire intre "a fi" si "a face", pentru ca se zice ca occidentul este centrat pe "a face" , fara simt critic, iar ceilalti sint pe "a fi", fara simt critic (se zice ca in India exista obezitate spirituala, iar in America exista obezitate materiala). Totusi in civilizatie exista nevoia de confort, de a nu te chinui, nu poti dormi pe strada, nu poti trai in halul in care se traieste in tarile cu obezitate spirituala. Nu sintem in stare sa luam ce e bun dintr-un loc si ce e bun din celalalt loc si sa facem o sinteza care sa fie superioara fiecareia din cele doua forme, sa nu traim in extreme.

Retina isi pierde sensibilitatea atita vreme cit nu mai exerseaza alt peisaj decit canile de cafea, aparatele de facut cafele si monitorul computerului. De altfel si lectura s-a pierdut tot din acest motiv si cred ca se petrec anumite lucruri foarte interesante din punct de vedere psihologic: se mareste nevoia aceasta isterica de alternanta, de schimbare pe care o propune modernitatea in detrimentul capacitatii de concentrare. Filmele de actiune induc un ritm alert al vietii, care se rasfringe asupra psihismelor noastre.

Toefler spunea ca oamenii nu mai investesc in alti oameni, investesc in obiecte de aruncat, de unica folosinta. Un anumit tip de cultura a relatiei se pierde, avind in vedere ca sintem intersanjabili, oamenii nu se mai fixeaza in relatii de lunga durata, sintem ca intr-o miscare browniana, toti oamenii sint frumosi, frumusetea se vinde, aceasta cursa de a fi altul si un refuz de a fi tu pina la urma.

Aceasta necorelare intre nevoia de afirmare a Eu-lui (a devenit din ce in ce mai mica afirmarea de sine, trebuie sa semeni cu Cher, cu Britney Spears) si dependenta de altii, de grup, reprezinta o negare a unor principii psihologice adinci, care sigur modifica structura personalitatii. Nevoia excesiva de imitare - modelele celebritatii -, admiratia pentru persoanele cu vizibilitatea sociala, care apar la televiziune, publicitatea, aceste identificari care se propun si care sint preluate cu totul necritic este proprie prezentului. Televiziunea este o oportunitate foarte cautata pentru ca vizibilitatea sociala poate avea efecte pozitive: gasesti o slujba, iti faci relatii, te poti cupla, poti sa faci aranjamente, te poti "marketa" etc.

Downshiftingul este un si un refuz al formei fara continut. Astazi, industria schimbarii, a denaturarii, sau a renaturarii chirugia estetica, de pilda, e la moda pentru ca inegalitatea prin natura era singurul lucru care facea ca oamenii sa fie diferiti cel putin din punct de vedere fizic. Acum daca se pierde acest lucru - cum este si firesc - posibila explicatie ar fi ca nu putea sa se nasca decit intr-o epoca in care s-a lansat transplantul si clonarea. Cineva

spunea intr-un interviu ca "toti oamenii vor fi foarte diferiti, foarte frumosi, la fel". Nu este decit o schimbare a formei, continutul nu conteaz�. Imaginea este totul.

Sintem in pline provocari ale identitatii: cine esti, ce alegi, de unde esti, din ce grupa faci parte. Avem foarte multa informatie, cimpul de alegeri este urias, dar ne lipseste discernamintul si ne lipsesc criteriile. De ce este bine asa si de ce nu este bine asa? Daca inainte opozitia �ntre bine si rau avea o demarcatie clara, existau percepte religioase - asa e bine, asa nu e bine -, astazi nimeni nu iti spune ce e bine si ce e rau. Tu trebuie sa alegi si sa

suporti consecintele.

ED: Estimati ca vor exista niste apropieri intre marile companii si fenomenul downshifting, pentru a impiedica exodul de capital uman catre aceasta deschidere a vietii?

AL: Nu stiu, ma gindeam ca exact acest evazionism va fi preluat de cineva care va vedea un profit, l-ar prelua si apropia, l-ar transforma intr-un profit in sensul ca nimic din ce rasare ca germene de interes nu ramine ascuns. Aici cred ca exista un pericol pentru ca sint de acord ca s-a nascut transplantul. Apar, insa, si forme patologice ale unei intentiei bune de la inceput. De altfel, in cartea lui Beigbeder chiar acest lucru se spune: ca te refugiezi pe o insula si acolo se reia acest ciclu, in sensul ca incepi sa te plictisesti ca ai numai natura, ca maninci, ca stai degeaba, ca ai multi prieteni si intri intr-un alt tip de nevroza.

ED: Vorbim de o limita a downshiftingulul, daca mergi catre extrema aceasta te paste ruperea totala de lume.

AL:Haideti sa luam fenomenul "hippies", care sa zicem ca nu poti sa il vezi ca un downshifting, insa intr-un fel de avangarda poti sa il vezi daca fortam putin lucrurile. Refuz scoala, refuz caldura, refuz apartamentul, acest mit a lui Robinson Crusoe care ne bintuie din cind in cind si pe care se bazeaza si evaziunea catre tara, catre rustic. Dar ce s-a observat pina la urma? La primele boli mai dure, au fugit la spital. Prin urmare, e foarte greu sa iti asumi ceva cu totul nou. Pina la urma sintem convinsi si de beneficiile socialului.

Ideea este ca stilul de viata a devenit o problema, a alegerilor in societatea de astazi. La un moment dat se spunea despre femei: te mariti repede, faci repede un copil, il cresti pina la 26, 27, 28 de ani si la 28 ani cu un copil mare iti incepi viata. Poti face o facultate, esti inca tinara si poti sa iti reiei o alta viata. Se poate si invers, iti incepi cariera, lucrezi de innebunesti si la 34, 35 ani cind esti pe ultima suta de metri faci un copil. Acum la noi se poarta adoptia, anumite categorii, din varii motive s-au gindit sa impace si capra si varza si atunci isi fac o cariera, castiga bani si fiind si mai eliberate de maternitate, adopta copilul ca o forma de a compensa frustrarile. Pe de alta parte, copilul devine o forma de lux, pot sa imi permit un copil in conditiile astea, nu ca il fac sau il iau si il cresc, pentru ca eu fac banii, eu i-am facut si nu depind de nimeni. Este o actiune voluntar - monoparentala la aceasta categorie. Avem foarte multe forme. Una peste alta ideea este ca stilul de viata incepe sa preocupe foarte mult individul si cred ca daca o luam filozofic, motivul se naste din ideea aceasta a utilitatii vietii. Inainte viata se traia, acum trebuie sa ii gasesti o justificare.

ED: Adica intii traiesti particica aceea de viata si dupa aceea iti mai trebuie alti 15 ani sa o explici.

AL: Exact. In orice caz omenirea este extrem de pestrita si exista foarte multe formule pe care ti se propun ca fezabile. Cind am zis de subdiviziuni m-am referit de exemplu la casatorie. Vrei relatii seriale fidele sau vrei hopuri, urcusuri si coborisuri, incet incet, ai facut o investitie in cineva, sau mergi in aceasta idee de relatii seriale. Ai de ales. Era mult mai comod cind ti se spunea cum trebuie sa faci. Era clar ca era inspre binele tau sa pre-iei un model. Acum esti pus in fata multor modele, submodele sau contramodele si trebuie sa alegi ce vrei. Ideea este ca viata nu are sens, ca trebuie sa ii dai tu un sens. Inainte avea un sens in sine, acum trebuie sa ii gasesti tu sensul, ceea ce reprezinta o intreprindere destul de dificila. Uneori am vazut ca acest lucru poate fi si una dintre explicatiile sinuciderii la tinerii care nu gasesc acest sens. Cel care sa-ti spuna ca merita sau ca este o datorie! sa traiesti. Generatiile mai vechi nici nu si-au pus problema, traiau pur si simplu.

ED: In privinta mediului romanesc spuneati ca downshifting-ul nu e de interes, de actualitate. Puteti face o estimare, in privinta a ceea ce ar mai trebui sa treaca peste noi, ce ar trebui sa mai invatam pentru a ajunge in ipostaza de a marsa catre acest fenomen?

AL: Cred ca ar trebui sa fie mai multa bunastare materiala, pentru ca reflexia fata de propria viata in termeni mai evoluati nu se face decit in momentul in care ai asigurate conditii de viata decente. Nu neg ca oamenii care sint foarte saraci nu isi pun probleme de ce sint in halul asta de saraci si de ce viata este atit de amara, dar o fac in alti termeni decit cei care au tot ce le trebuie, sau in orice caz sint multumiti si isi pun problema ce fac cu viata lor. Primii trebuie sa lupte ca sa traiasca, iar ceilalti trebuie sa dea un sens vietii. Este o mare diferenta.

Cind am citit despre downshifting pot sa va spun ca mi-a venit in cap un banc destul de banal, de altfel, care prinde extraordinar de mult acest fenomen: un om sta pe malul marii si cineva vine si ii spune sa ii prinda niste peste, iar el ii spune ca nu, pentru ca sta pur si simplu si contempla marea. Acesta ii spune: iti dau bani si nu o sa mai ai barca asta prapadita, o sa iti iei una mai buna. Tot nu vroia. Acesta incepe sa ii arate care sint avantajele: aca prinzi peste mai mult cu barca cea buna o sa poti sa iti iei un vapor si daca iti iei un vapor o sa iti poti face o fabrica de conserve de peste si o sa lucreze altii pentru tine si tu nu o sa faci nimic, la care omul raspunde: si acum ce fac?

Probabil ca acel om avea o casa deasupra capului, vremea era destul de ospitaliera cu el, peste putea sa isi prinda daca ii era foame si nu isi dorea sa intre in aceasta cursa.

ED: Considerati ca oamenii care au beneficiat de provocarile downshifting-ului intr-o anumita portiune a vietii lor vor fi capabili sa genereze alte valori pentru societate decit cele la care au apelat initial, adica vor putea sa genereze valori postmoderne? Daca da, in ce sens?

AL: Cred ca da, in sensul ca poate sa arate faptul ca avea de mic mai multe motivatii, hobby-uri, de a fi plasat mai realist intre principiul placerii si principiul realitatii, te face ca oricind sa te poti opri si sa ai ce face, sa nu ramii gol. Hobby-ul, cum se zice in sociologie, raspunde unui eu neutilizat. Vorbeam de principiul placerii si principiul realitatii: exista principiul realitatii, trebuie sa faci un pact cu lumea, cu nevoile, dar trebuie sa iti ramina ceva care, sa raspunda unor nevoi personale, sa-ti dea satisfactii. Este de dorit sa iti ramina permanent niste lucruri pe care vrei sa le faci. Trebuie sa stii ce sa faci dupa aceea. Sint foarte multi oameni care se plictisesc, care nu isi dau seama ca ar putea fi folositi, iar societatea nu ii foloseste, ei devin resurse umane care se irosesc.

Dar la noi exista acest curent, daca nu-ti da bani sa nu faci. Aici remarc o deosebire fata de lucrurile bune pe care le-am descoperit in strainatate, ca mai poti fi util, ca mai poti sa te duci undeva, socializarea in orice caz este un fapt pozitiv, nu poti sa te retragi din lume.

Este nevoie in aceasta viata de relatii, ori pentru aceasta trebuie sa intelegi ca uneori ti se face un bine, ca lucrurile nu sint alba - neagra, ca sa poti sa spui ca te duci sa te ocupi de niste copii parasiti sau de natura, dar daca nu imi dai nici un ban mai bine stau acasa. E foarte gresit pentru ca foarte multi oameni intra in depresie tocmai pentru ca nu sint relationati sau nu-si gasesc o utilizare. Acesta este un lucru negativ in societatea romaneasca. Sigur ca exista oameni saraci care trebuie sa alerge dupa bani si nu pot face astfel de lucruri, dar sint oameni care care ar putea face ceva, dar care prefera sa stea pasivi.

Downshiftingul presupune o schimbare de stil de viata pina la urma, stilul vietii se schimba total, dar pe de alta parte el nu putea sa apara la noi in societate, la noi este prematur sa admitem o asemenea evolutie. Nu neg insa ca sint oameni care ar putea sa faca downshifting si nu fac, ceea ce inseamna ca fie sint definitiv pierduti, fie ca nu au alte resurse, fie nu au nici o motivatie intrinseca, adica in sistemul lor de valori prietenia, natura, lectura, informatia, etc, nu exista.

In incheiere as spune ca oamenii cauta frumusetea vietii in marile reusite si asa mai departe, fara a acorda importanta gesturilor mici, cotidiene. De fapt acestea fac cursul vietii. Viata are si ceva care trebuie trait, adica munca e foarte buna, insa ideile despre munca si activitate trebuie reconsiderate. Lucrurile mici sint importante. Este ca atunci cind esti concentrat pe ceva si nu mai vezi nimic in jur.

ARTICOLE: inmatriculam si noi ceva?

nospam@example.com (Iancu Rasta) — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 11:00:00 +0300

De la 1 ianuarie 2007, va fi introdusa o taxa de inmatriculare pentru autoturisme si autovehicule de import de pana la 3,5 tone, inclusiv.
In cazul masinilor second-hand, taxa variaza in functie de normele de poluare Euro si de varsta autoturismului.

DUPA CILINDRE SI VECHIME
In cazul masinilor cu motor Euro 3, cu o capacitate cilindrica mai mica de 1.600 cmc si cu o vechime de cel mult sase luni, taxa este de 612 euro. Pe de alta parte, pentru cele cu o capacitate cilindrica de peste 3.000 centimetri cubi (cmc), mai vechi de sase ani, suma care trebuie achitata este de 5.070 euro. Pentru restul masinilor cu motor Euro 3 de peste 1.600 cmc si pana la 3.000 cmc, prima inmatriculare costa intre 700 si 5.000 euro. Pentru o masina Euro 2, cu capacitatea cilindrica de 1.600 cmc, taxa va fi de 2.704 euro, iar pentru cele cu o capacitate de peste 3.000 cmc, aceasta va ajunge la 6.240 de euro.

POLUAREA COSTA SCUMP
Posesorii de autovehicule din clasa Euro 1, cu o capacitate cilindrica de pana la 1.600 de cmc vor achita 3.744 euro, iar la autoturismele cu o capacitate de peste 3.000 cmc taxa este de 7.020 de euro. In cazul masinilor noneuro, taxa de inmatriculare este de 4.000 euro pentru motorizari de pana in 1.600 cmc si de 7.500 euro pentru masinile cu o capacitate
de peste 3.000 cmc.

ARTICOLE: Weird Weight-Saving Tips

nospam@example.com (Iancu Rasta) — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 22:00:00 +0300

Aweight weenie is a rider obsessed with reducing the rolling weight of his bike and body. Weight weenies are creative, ingenious and extremely annoying people. They suffer from a sickness that requires them to constantly examine and reexamine every component in terms of grams, ounces and pounds. Their tools (other than the coveted Ohaus scale) include rattail files, pipe cutters, airdryers, X-acto knifes, sandpaper, scissors and cable cutters. Hey, we told you they were sick.
This is why we are warning you up front. Reading the following weight-weenie tips and actually using them might prove the disease to be contagious. Yes, you might become a weight weenie yourself. Proceed at your own risk.

KEEPING SCORE
You need a scale to get into the weight weenie business. Ohaus scales can be found used for between $40 and $70. A digital postal scale from a store like Office Depot is a cheaper alternative. These modern little scales will measure in both grams and ounces, but may not be able to weigh heavy items like downhill tires, shocks and forks. We use the Digital Alpine Scale from Ultimate Support, (800) 525-5628. While the Digital Alpine Scale can weigh small components, we
favor it because it weighs the entire bike.

THE WHOLE ENCHILADA
A lot of weight weenies measure their conquests one component at a time. There is a more effective and accurate way to keep score. Weigh your bike, apply the weight-saving tips
and weigh the bike again. Sometimes by shaving weight in one area, you add weight in another, so the net weight loss is negligible. The whole bike weight doesn�t lie.

WHERE TO SAVE
Start with components that rotate. You can break this down further by concentrating on the parts farthest from the center of the rotating mass. Wheels are an important component for shaving weight (they rotate) and tires are more important than hubs for saving weight (tires are further away from the center than the hubs). The next area to concentrate on is unsprung weight. These are components that move during their operation (like suspension links, shocks, fork sliders and swingarms).

INTOLERABLE TOLERANCES
There can be as much as a five percent weight difference between two of the same tires. This is due to manufacturing tolerances. You can save weight by weighing every tire you buy. Same goes for tubes. Weenies have been known to weigh 20 tubes (same brand, same model) before making a purchase. Aside from angering a bike shop employee, this practice can save you a few tenths of an ounce. Is the hassle worth it? To a true weight weenie it is. And weight reduction of the tire
and tube is a great place to reduce weight on your bike.

STRIP THE STRIPS
Scrap the rubber rim strips and replace them with rim tape from Velox or Maxxis. Cut the tape so there is no extra material. This may be the smallest weight savings in the wheel department, but
it is worth it because of the location where the weight is saved.

UNSTICK THE STICKERS
Frames, forks, stems, seatposts, rims, hubs, bars and even saddles come plastered with stickers. The stickers may be the brand name of the product or actual graphics (like racing stripes). They gotta go. Warm them with a hairdryer and peel them off. The racing stripes and logos peeled off a set of wheels can reduce the rotating weight by over half an ounce! Some bike companies apply a clear coat over the stickers on their frames. That�s a bummer because you won�t be able to
peel the stickers off and the clear coat adds vanity weight to your frame. That drives weight weenies crazy.

PAINT REMOVAL
That thick coat of paint on your frame is vanity weight. A true weight weenie will break a bike down to its frame, strip the paint off and then polish it. One 18-inch Cannondale 800 frame lost four ounces with the paint removal and polishing treatment. The frame weighed just over three pounds before the treatment. That�s a lot of work for four ounces�to everyone except a weight weenie.

FOAM AT THE HAND
Trash-can rubber grips in favor of foam grips. The weight savings can be as high as six ounces. Don�t like the feel of foam? A true weight weenie is willing to sacrifice comfort for lighter weight.

GO TO BED
Weigh the foot beds in your shoes and replace them with lighter beds, trim them, or, if the shoe is well-made, pull them out and ride without them.

TRIM THE WEIGHT
Cables and cable housing are sometimes too long. You can save ounces by trimming them to an adequate length. Your chain is another weight reduction target. Why pedal extra weight if you can remove a few links and still have a drivetrain that performs properly? One friend even removes the cable end caps and applies a few drops of Super Glue to keep the cables from unraveling.

QUICK TIPS
� Shorten the straps on your hydration pack.
� Use an old hydration pack bladder. They are lighter than the new ones.
� Remove water bottle cages.
� Remove bottle cage screws. Plug hole with a small amount of glue.
� Cut off any threads that protrude through a nut.
� Take the caps off the presta valves of your tubes.
� Cut off excess seatpost.

ARTICOLE: Supercharging Your Legs

nospam@example.com (Iancu Rasta) — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 21:00:00 +0300

PLANNING FOR 20-40�s
You can do these on the flats, but I think they are most effective when done on a climb. A climb of 30 or more minutes is ideal as you can do two or sometimes three sets of 20-40s. Toward the end of my career, I was doing these on the road bike occasionally, but back in the day, it was pure mountain biking. Here�s the skinny (or the fat!). Be sure you are wearing a watch, or better yet, that you have a stopwatch with an easy-to-read screen mounted to your handlebar. You need to know the road or trail where you are going to do your 20-40s. You�ll need a safe place without downhills or sharp turns, because when you sprint on a flat trail as hard as you can for twenty seconds, you get going fast! Same goes for doing 20-40s on a climb. You want to find a really consistent climb without any downhill sections. Why? Inevitably, one of your sprints will match up perfectly with that short little break in the climb and you won�t get the training
benefit since you�ll be on your brakes. Ideally, I like a steady, middle-chainring climb. Find out how long it takes you to climb the entire hill at a good, steady pace. If it�s about four minutes, you�ll need to start your first sprint at the bottom. On climbs between four and twenty
minutes in length, have the 20-40 fall right in the middle. If you have a climb of 30 or more minutes, you�re in 20-40 heaven! Multiple sets on the same climb!

GEAR AND TERRAIN SELECTION
Twenty-40s on the flats are great, but the real beauty of doing them on a climb is that you are forcing your body to recover from a wicked hard effort while you�re still climbing! And then, you only get 40 seconds to try to get a tiny grip before the watch is at zero again and you�re back on the gas! You�ll want to stay in whichever chainring is appropriate for your chosen climb (usually middle, but sometimes granny or big). Front chainring shifts during 20-40s can get tricky and detract from purely putting the power down. I like them to be
a middle-ring workout myself.

IT�S SPRINT TIME
Don�t start your ride with a 20-40. Do at least a 15 to 20 - minute warm-up to get your muscles warm and your lungs opened up. During this warm-up, use your stopwatch and include two or three hard efforts of ten to 15 seconds. Put a minute of easy spinning between each of these efforts. Now you�re ready for the real effort. Start your stopwatch at zero and sprint as hard as you can for 20 seconds. Rest for 40 seconds, and when your watch reaches one minute, do another 20-second, all-out effort. I typically do four repetitions
and call it a set. So if you do four sprints, your last sprint will end at 03:20 on your watch. Pretty short workout! Sounds easy, doesn�t it? Don�t believe it. The third sprint will be excruciating and only the toughest riders will finish their forth sprint on top of their gear.
I try to recover for at least ten minutes between sets if I�m going to do more than one. Ninety five percent of the time, I do two sets of four sprints. Back in the day, every once in a while I�d do three sets of four sprints or two sets of five sprints, but never more. This workout is all about quality, not quantity.

REAL-WORLD WORKOUT
I�ll take you along with me now as I do 20-40s up the Crested Butte ski area road. You�ll get the idea and be able to make adjustments for your local trails. After the warm up, I begin the climb. It�s a solid medium effort in my middle ring, big cog. I climb steadily for about five
minutes, then start my stopwatch and sprint my guts out for 20 seconds. Here is where you�ll appreciate that big readout on your watch! Twenty seconds isn�t so long. During the effort, I began in my biggest cog, but I went through the gears and got four or five cogs down by the time 20 clicked over on my watch. Bam! Right back into the big cog. Okay, that wasn�t so bad. Uh oh. 55, 56, 57�here we go again!
Number two, number three, finally number four, and your watch is at three minutes and 20 seconds. We�re done. That�s one set. Keep climbing steadily in your middle ring, then call it a workout. Cool down and go home. I would do these once a week, usually on Tuesday or
Wednesday, and the entire workout lasted between 60 and 90 minutes. Just do one set for two or three weeks and then bump
up to two sets. If you�re doing them good and hard, you�ll rarely need to do more than two sets of four sprints. The beauty of 20-40s is that 20 plus 40 equals 60, and there are 60 seconds in a minute. This makes it easier to keep track of your start and stop points, even when suffering from oxygen debt.

FEEL THE IMPROVEMENT
How often should you use 20-40s? That depends how much you ride. Weekend warriors will feel improvements if they do 20-40s on one ride a week. Riders who log rides four to six times a week should try to start with 20-40s on two days (don�t do them on back-to back days) and increase it to three days a week as they become conditioned to the efforts. Twenty-40s will be tough when you first try them, but feeling the improvement to your riding ability is enough motivation for most people to continue with 20-40s and maybe even look forward to doing them.

ARTICOLE: 100 Ways To The Finish Line First

nospam@example.com (Iancu Rasta) — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 20:00:00 +0300

"Everyone can go fast; here are the secrets to winning"

1. Don�t let your body go to waste during the off-season. Even if you spend some time off the bike, stay active and cross-train.
2. The off-season doesn�t mean you have to stay off the bike. What you need is a break from the structured training you do during the race season.
3. Before you start training for the new year, assess your abilities: are you a great bike handler? Weak climber? Need better technique, etc.? Be honest.
4. The weaknesses are the things that are holding you back. Most of your training should focus on turning those faults into strengths.
5. Now develop a training plan: decide the duration of the base period, build cycle, and the races or the block of the year that you would like to peak for.
6. Plan to spend a good two months building a solid base. This is done through long duration, low-intensity riding. Relax and enjoy the scenery.
7. If you carried a decent level of fitness through the off-season and cycled enough to maintain muscle memory, the base period can be cut in half.
8. During the base period you will increase training volume by adding training duration and frequency; not through high-heart-rate intensity.
9. The base period gradually steps the body up in toughness so it can handle the pain and cellular wear and tear of the intensity to come later.
10. After base, you begin replacing endurance riding with threshold work. Start riding shorter and shorter durations at or above 80 percent max heart rate.
11. This block of training is called the build period, which also lasts for up to two months. Continue to gradually replace riding duration with harder riding.
12. When you are comfortable with a level of fitness, take a rest week of low-intensity riding. Then step it up to the next level of endurance or intensity.
13. The idea of a training block is to improve fitness, rest, improve fitness again, rest, push fitness up again, rest, and so on.
14. The more efficiently you cycle, the greater the reserve you will have to ride full out and to respond to attacks. Cycling efficiency is a mental game.
15. Whenever you are on the bike, think of making the most of your energy: pedal smoother, limit upper body movement and match breathing to the cycling tempo.
16. Tempo is the point at which you can comfortably hold maximum cycling speed for hours on end. Riders with a better threshold can hold a higher tempo.
17. Threshold is the level of cycling intensity that is right below the point where lactic acid builds up faster than the body can handle.
18. Your threshold is approximately 85 percent of your maximum heart rate. At around 90 percent maximum, you will begin to feel the burn of lactic acid.
19. This lactic acid burn is what limits you from riding faster. Everyone has the same limiter, and anyone has an even chance of overcoming it.
20. You improve your lactic threshold (LT) by training to elevate the heart rate before you begin to feel the burn. It is done through anaerobic cycling.
21. If you�ve done a test to determine lactic threshold heart rate (LT), check it against how hard you�re breathing and how your legs feel when riding hard.
22. Monitor your breathing and how heavy your legs feel when holding a fast tempo. Short spurts don�t count; it has to be consistent riding.
23. When your breathing becomes labored and you begin to feel a burning tightness in the legs, this is the point when lactic acid is beginning to pool.
24. The goal of the build period is to elevate LT leading up to the summer. Because you built a solid base, your body will easily handle this stress.
25. During build, improve cycling speed by riding above your threshold. Endurance rides will slowly be replaced with shorter intensity rides.
26. When you taper to a peak, replace the R&R break with a reduced weekly workload. Cycling frequency, duration and intensity combine to form workload.
27. During a peak, ride frequently, but for shorter durations and at higher intensity. You can only do this for a few weeks before losing endurance.
28. If the races you�re peaking for are two hours or longer, you will be able to carry a high level of endurance through the low-duration training period.
29. It�s best to nail down training cycles by joining up with a group that does organized training rides. Study and learn from other like-minded people.
30. When overcoming limiters, use training that most closely replicates the situation you are weakest in during a race. Eliminate those shortcomings.
31. It takes several days to fully benefit from a given workout. Training hard seven days prior to an event will produce no additional fitness.
32. After time off, don�t hastily train to �catch back up.� Use a base schedule routine and steady, systematic cycling to build up to the old you.
33. Speed and anaerobic fitness start declining in three days of non-activity. Endurance can be maintained with an endurance ride every one to two weeks.
34. It takes over a week of missed workouts for a trained cyclist to lose measurable fitness. If you feel tired, it�s okay to skip an endurance ride.
35. Don�t forgo maintaining good pedaling technique and bike handling skills. Allocate one ride a week to becoming a more efficient, energy-saving cyclist.
36. Master riders need to incorporate frequent bike handling sessions in their weekly regimen. Reflexes dull faster the older you get.
37. Bike handling is the most fun to practice. Practice wheelies, bunnyhopping, jumping, and trick riding. Wear knee and elbow pads and go have a good time.
38. Practice starts to find the best gear, crank angle and pedal tilt that allows the quickest lock-in. Rehearse a few starts during reflex training.
39. After base, seasoned master riders benefit more by training for shorter durations at or above LT. Old guys reap the most bang for the buck this way.
40. This is key for master performance: ride harder when you ride; rest harder when you rest. Rest can be done on or off the bike.
41. Some riders need to recover from intense cycling with an off-bike day. Still be active�work on the yard or take a walk with your wife.
42. Don�t do more than three high-intensity rides per week. The other days are devoted to recovery, aerobic fitness maintenance
and skill development.
43. When doing short, high-intensity intervals, it�s more beneficial to do fewer of them at an all-out effort than more at a less than anaerobic effort.
44. Don�t stick to a scheduled, super intense workout if you feel down and your body is reacting poorly to stress. Take the day off or do an easy ride.
45. During the season, you should be doing the least amount of the most effective training possible. If you�re riding around with no purpose, stop!
46. Make sure you have a specific reason for each ride. It should either be a recovery, endurance, tempo, interval, breakthrough or skill ride.
47. This time of the year, focus harder on recovery. If you�re not ready to work harder on scheduled hard days, you will soon hit a fitness plateau.
48. Include your job in the yearly plan. If work takes extreme physical labor, you are stressing your heart. Schedule riding around the work load.
49. Your heart doesn�t know the difference between running, skiing, swimming, working, and so on. Anything that loads the cardiovascular system is good.
50. The body loses a feel for pedaling and bike handling. If your job is tough on the body, focus on more, but shorter periods of intense cycling.
51. Give your regimen time to work. Stick to the original training plan so you develop concrete results and can tell if the routine works or not.
52. Relax. The more intently you ride, the more natural it is to hold onto the bars harder and to tense your shoulders. It wears you out and slows you down.
53. When you clamp down on the bar, it throws off bike handling. Loosen up and let the bike move around beneath you. All you are is the motor and auto pilot.
54. Stay loose, rlax and let the bike float over ruts and rocks. When you tense up, the rigidness transfers straight into the suspension.
55. When you climb, relax your upper body and focus your full effort into smooth leg movement. Bouncing around and jerking on the bar wastes energy.
56. Concentrate on breathing out. The more air you exhale, the more air you will inhale to sufficiently fuel the metabolic process.
57. Don�t hold your breath when you climb. As riders tense up, they also hold their breath. Breathe consistently when climbing.
58. The best way to fill your lungs is to match your breathing rhythm to your pedaling cadence and the slight bobbing motion of your head.
59. Create a metronome in your mind. Think a consistent �bam,� �bam,� �bam,� tempo in your mind and match pedaling and breathing to it.
60. It�s also common to lose pedaling efficiency when the pace goes up. Instead of clicking up, shift down and go faster through tempo instead of pounding.
61. For 15 seconds, count the number of times your right knee hits top. Multiply by four. That is your pedaling cadence.Learn the feel of 60, 80 and 100 rpm.
62. Always work on pedaling efficiency. Keep track of your spin and get a natural feel for what an 80 rpm cadence feels like. Always try to spin at 80.
63. Use your gears. There is nothing wrong with going right into the granny when you hit steep hills. Don�t worry about others; you�re saving energy.
64. Bettering leg speed and refining cadence should be a year-long commitment. The next time you ride, click down a gear and spin more. Make it a habit.
65. Look down the trail. When you know what�s coming up, it�s possible to pick smoother lines over faster, harder dirt. Keep those eyes moving up the trail.
66. Follow the same warmup for anaerobic training as for a race. When the body learns the routine, it knows that it�s supposed to follow with all-out riding.
67. Have a start plan. Consider how important the race is, how the training week went, and how you felt during warmup. Will you start fast or hang back?
68. Size up the competition. Assess who you�re up against. Key in on the rider or the group that you want to be with early in the race or training ride.
69. Don�t go out too hard. It�s almost always best to sit behind the leaders and wait for the early race aggression to die down before making your move.
70. There are those times when you feel so good and are way better than the competition. If you attack off the start, give it a full effort so it sticks.
71. If an attack doesn�t succeed, you just burned a lot of energy that you will never get back. You will be riding in arrears, struggling to keep up.
72. Your energy is like a box of matches. Every time you make a hard effort, you strike a match or two. When you are out of matches, you are out of energy.
73. If you�re an average climber, move to the front heading up to a climb. Force the climbers to use a poor line and to burn matches as they pass.
74. Likewise, if you�re an average descender, move to the front before a downhill. It�s your turn to force the descenders off onto a poor line.
75. Before passing, look ahead and be certain that there�s ample room and a better-than-good chance it will stick. Otherwise, you�ll waste lots of matches.
76. Check for signs of weakness. If a rider is rocking all over the bike and breathing hard enough for you to hear, it�s your signal to attack.
77. Unless you can do it discreetly, avoid looking back. If you are getting caught and look behind, it tells him that you are weak and worried.
78. In amateur races with combined starts, quickly link up with riders from a faster group. It immediately distances you from the riders you have to beat.
79. If a rider is catching you, just step it up. The rider could be in another class, so use him to drive you further away from the people in your group.
80. When you pass, use an all-out effort that puts distance between you and the other rider. It psyches you up and psyches the competitor down.
81. Never relax as you crest a hill. Shift up immediately to ease the transition from a heavy to light pedal load while making time on other riders.
82. Use harder gears with more leg force at altitude. Since there�s less air, it�s harder for the body to process enough oxygen for high aerobic efforts.
83. Sit down more on an full-suspension rig. When other riders tense and back off over bumps, you should stay seated, pedal through and gain time.
84. After a training ride or race, think back and study where the race was won or lost, and where you were weak. Tweak training to erase those weaknesses.
85. Use the lines that carry the most speed through downhill corners. It costs too much time to recover from a blown turn. Consistent descending is fastest.
86. If you have great bike handling skills, don�t ride at the limit while descending during a training ride. Save the all-out gamble for the races.
87. Occasionally ride with a different group; do a long, slow distance (LSD) ride all by yourself; or cruise the bike path. It helps keep you fresh.
88. Old-school riders who still glance back at the cogset could save time by simply looking at the shifter indicator. It works just fine.
89. Use a lightweight CamelBak race pack. You won�t have to worry about fumbling with a bottle while trying to make power or to catch your breath.
90. The best way to use a CamelBak is to pop the hose in your mouth on descents. Stay hydrated on descents so you can focus a full effort up climbs.
91. After a race, measure the amount of liquid left in the CamelBak bladder. A pint of water weighs one pound, and it�s foolish to carry more than you need.
92. Before the start, find out how many and where the water stations are. Weigh that information to decide how much water you need to take with you.
93. Don�t over-hydrate ten minutes before a race. Maintain a fluid equilibrium during the week and show up on the line as light as possible.
94. Is eyewear getting banged off your face? Put on a helmet and check for interference between the glass ear stems and the helmet straps/skull lock.
95. If you need to push the glasses back on your face or adjust the helmet while riding, you are wasting precious seconds. Get gear that fits!
96. Run a Lizard Skins chainstay pad. When the bike is quieter, the suspension �works better� on descents and it keeps you more psyched about going fast.
97. Jot down a race plan. List drive time, parking and registration duration, warmup length and the time you need to head to the start.
98. If you flat or mechanical during a training ride, make the repair at race speed and get right back to hard riding. Train to better handle a race mishap.
99. Race repair tools and materials should be carried in the jersey pocket. All you need is one tube, a Kwik Fill, and a very basic mini tool.
100. Never go far without issues of MBA or a training book. When waiting in a jury duty or bank line, read to boost your cycling and training knowledge.

ARTICOL: Top Five Best Time Management Practices

nospam@example.com (Iancu Rasta) — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 13:00:00 +0300

1. Plan an hour per day for "Me Time". Give twenty-three hours to the world but keep one hour for yourself. During this hour add a new dimension to your life that is not there because you didn't feel you had the time for it. Read the books, learn a hobby, learn a foreign language, develop computer skills, start a business, spend time on health development etc. One hour per day is 365 hours in a year. The average college course is about 35 classroom hours. That equals 10 college courses per year. One hour per day and you become a full-time student! By taking one hour per day of focused study, any of us can become a world-class expert in a topic of our choice. Would your future be more secure, certain, and successful if you became a world-class expert in a topic of your choice?

2. Establish a regular reading program. It can be just fifteen minutes a day. Even with that small investment, the average person will read fifteen books in a year. Also, consider taking a Speed Reading course. I did. It helped me to double my reading rate and comprehension. I can now read twice as much in the same time period.

3. Overload your days. Build a daily action plan that includes not only the things you "have to do", but the things you "want to do". Parkinson's Law tells us that a project will tend to expand with the time allocated for it. If we give ourselves one thing to do during the day, it will take us all day. If we give ourselves two things to do during the day, we get them both done. If we give ourselves twelve things to do, we may not get twelve done, but we may get eight done. Having a lot to do in a day creates a healthy sense of pressure on us to get focused and get it done. We almost automatically become better time managers, less likely to suffer interruptions, not waste time in meetings, etc. by having a lot to do. ("If you want to get something done, give it to a busy person.")

4. Prioritize your list of "things to do". Some of our tasks are "crucial" and some of our tasks are "not crucial". We have a tendency to gravitate to the "not crucial" items because they are typically quicker, more fun, and easier to do. Identify the most important task you need to do and label it as a "1", the second most important task as a "2", etc. Then tackle your items in the order of importance, doing the most important items first.

5. Radiate a genuine, positive attitude. Often, like attracts like and it repels the opposite. When you are in a negative mood you tend to repel the positive people who do not want to be strained and drained and brought down by your negativity. And, when you are in a negative mood, you have a natural system set up to attract the other negative people to you who want to share their stories of their misery so the two of you can compare experiences to decide who has the worse life. Positive people help to bring us up. Negative people help to bring us down.

ARTICOL: my right to quit the job (how to quit)

nospam@example.com (Iancu Rasta) — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 21:00:00 +0300

( sursa: http://geeketiquette.infotrope.net/archives/2005/02/08/how-to-quit/ )
An anonymous correspondent writes:

I may need to resign my current position soon; I�m employed as a web developer by a rather shall we say parsimonious firm and have good prospects for an offer at better pay from a different firm. As I am planning my exit, I�m realizing I�ve never needed to write a resignation letter before. I have no idea how to quit; having cut my software teeth during the boom-bust 90s, I�ve only ever been laid off.

That said, I need to know what to do when quitting time arrives; do I have to offer a reason for leaving? How do I do this in such a way that I still get a good reference? Clearly, more than manners might be involved in securing a good reference, but what are the etiquette ducks that have to be kept in a row? And what goes into a good resignation letter, anyway?

How very timely. I�ve recently quit my own job, so I�ve had to consider these questions myself.

I got my advice for my resignation letter from Ask the Headhunter. In short, keep it short. Since it will go on record, you want to say the bare minimum to get your message across. Print two copies out in hard copy, sign them both, keep one and give the other to your direct manager. Your manager will then pass it on to Human Resources, assuming your company has such a department.

Here�s an acceptable very short resignation letter:

$YOUR_FULL_POSTAL_ADDRESS
$DATE

To whom it may concern,

I hereby resign my position as $JOB_TITLE at $COMPANY_NAME, effective immediately.

Yours sincerely,

$YOUR_SIGNATURE
$YOUR_NAME

(�To whom it may concern� means that it can be handed to your supervisor, the big boss, or HR, and still apply to them. You can optionally address it directly to your manager, if you think that�s more suitable in your particular case.)

If you are required to give notice in advance of leaving, you may wish to write:

I hereby give $N weeks� notice of my intent to resign my position as $JOB_TITLE at $COMPANY_NAME.

You are not required to give any reasons for quitting, and I advise against doing so on paper if you can help it. In particular, writing a �fuck you� letter outlining all your frustrations with your job may be cathartic but is not necessarily helpful for your future job prospects.1

However, many workplaces conduct exit interviews in order to understand why you�re leaving and to wrap up any business or paperwork that needs attention, and you may find that they expect you to give your reasons for leaving at that interview. Even if there is no formal exit interview process, your boss may want to talk to you informally about the subject.

In these cases, you need to weigh up any possible offence you may cause against your need for a glowing reference.

If you are leaving for reasons which do not reflect specifically on the management of the company, or on your boss personally, then by all means share those reasons. Examples include:

An offer of more money than you could possibly refuse
Need to move for family reasons, further education, etc
Desire to travel
If your reasons for leaving reflect negatively on the company, the management, or your co-workers, you will need to be more diplomatic. Examples:

Unreasonable workload or deadlines
Hostile work environment
Lack of recognition of your skills and achievements
Lack of training or scope for career progression
The question here is, what possible benefit is there to telling them about their flaws, and what risks are you taking to do so? If you think that the company (or your co-workers, whose welfare is probably closer to your own heart) would benefit from knowing, and you want to give them that benefit, then by all means tell them. If you think management will take it badly enough to refuse to give you a reference, or to penalise you in some other way, then weigh that risk against the benefits.

When pointing out the company�s flaws, try to speak as diplomatically as possible. Keep your voice calm, your language couth, and don�t make ad hominem attacks. Offer suggestions for how things could be improved, rather than simply telling them what�s wrong; if they couldn�t see what was wrong for themselves before you quit, what makes you think they�ll know how to fix it as soon as it�s pointed out to them?

If you don�t want to tell them what they did wrong, remember that you can always maintain a stubborn silence or, indeed, tell relatively innocuous white lies in the cause of politeness. Examples:

�Personal reasons; I prefer not to discuss it.�
�The new job was just too good to refuse.�
�I felt that this was the right direction for my personal growth.�
One final note: you don�t necessarily need to get a reference from every job you�ve been at, and you particularly don�t need that reference to be from management. It is valid to give a colleague or subordinate�s contact details as a reference, though I would suggest that you don�t want to have more than one of these on your resume. As long as you don�t piss them off enough that they�ll want to actively go out and badmouth you across the industry, you should be fine.

Note 1: The letter I�ve linked is a classic of its genre and a great read. It was also written in 1998, when any of us could walk out of one job and into a higher paying one, no matter what communication devices we had advised our employers to insert into their nether orifices. This is no longer the case, and your humble correspondent feels that it would be inadvisable � as well as impolite � to write this kind of letter.

ARTICOL: my right to quit the job (resignation letter)

nospam@example.com (Iancu Rasta) — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 20:00:00 +0300

(sursa http://www.iquit.org)

=====================================================================

Classic Letter

Dear [Recipient's name]:

This letter is to formally announce my resignation from [company name], starting today. My last day will be [two weeks from today].

It has been a pleasure to work for [company name]. Please let me know how I can help to make a smooth transition during my remaining time here.

Regards,

[Your Signature]

=====================================================================

Grateful Letter

Dear [Recipient's name]:

Thank you for the opportunity to work at [company name]. I have learned a lot during my time here. I truly appreciate your guidance and friendship during my time employed.

However, the time has come for me to move on. This letter is to formally announce my resignation from [company name], starting today. My last day will be [two weeks from today].

Please let me know what I can do to make my final time here a productive experience.

Regards,

[Your Signature]

=====================================================================

Counter Offer Letter (Risky Strategy)

Dear [Recipient's name]:

This letter is to formally announce my resignation from [company name], starting today. My last day will be [two weeks from today].

I have not accepted a job with another company as of yet. My decision is based on the uncertainty of the future of my career at [company name]. I have tried to discuss my career advancement in the past, with no real results.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss with you a possible career future, assuming you are interested in keeping me employed with your company.

Regards,

[Your Signature]

=====================================================================

Final Decision Letter

Dear [Recipient's name]:

This letter is to formally announce my resignation from [company name], starting today. My last day will be [two weeks from today].

As much as I would like to re-assess my current situation here at [company name], I have already accepted another position with another company, so my decision is final.

Thank you for the opportunity to grow my career.

Regards,

[Your Signature]

=====================================================================

Different Career Letter

Dear [Recipient's name]:

After much thought, and serious discussions with friends and family, I have decided to pursue a different career.

Therefore, this letter is to announce my resignation with [company name], starting today. My last day will be [two weeks from today].

My decision to pursue a different career holds no relation to my experiences here at [company name]. I thoroughly
enjoyed my time employed here, and would recommend the experience to anyone looking for a fair and rewarding job.

Please let me know what I can do to make my final time here a productive experience.

Regards,

[Your Signature]

=====================================================================

I Hate This Job, And You! Letter
(Not recommended!)

Dear [Recipient's name]:

Yesterday I woke up and realized that this is the worst career experience I've ever had. Therefore, I'm officially notifying you of my resignation from [company name]. My last day will be today.

This company has many problems. [insert problems here]

On top of that, I can't stand to work for you any longer. You, alone, have been a constant source of pain and suffering for me ever since I started this job. I can't understand how you made it this far in the professional community.

Today is a great day for me. I will never have to see, hear or listen to you ever again. Goodbye, and good-riddance!

Warmest Regards,

[Your Signature]

=====================================================================

Sarcastic
(Not recommended!)

Dear [Recipient's name]:

It's extremely hard for me to do what I must do today. My experience with you and this company has been so fulfilling and joyful that I almost cried when I realized I had to move on to a different career opportunity.

This letter is to officially notify you of my resignation from [company name]. My last day will be today.

I hate to leave. You have been such a mentor to me. Your guidance and friendship have made me regard you as another parent, of which I love so much. Hopefully we can still stay in touch. Maybe even get together for a barbeque this summer.

Again, my dear friend, thanks so much for allowing me to know such a well-adjusted and intelligent person such as yourself.

Let's get together for lunch soon,

[Your Signature]

=====================================================================

Resign Like President Nixon

Dear [Recipient's name]:

I hereby resign my position as [your title].

Sincerely,

[Your Signature]

articole: intrebari

nospam@example.com (Iancu Rasta) — Wed, 31 May 2006 10:00:00 +0300

Intrebari...

1. De ce "prescurtare" este un cuvant asa lung ?
2. De ce soldatii Kamikaze purtau o casca ?
3. De ce se sterilizeaza acele cu care se fac injectiile condamnatilor
la moarte ?
4. Care este sinonimul cuvantului " sinonim" ?
5. De ce nu exista mancare de pisici cu gust de soarece ?
6. Daca nimic nu se lipeste de teflon, cum e lipit teflonul de tigaie?
7. De ce balerinele merg mereu pe varfuri ? Nu ar fi mai simplu sa
angajeze balerine mai inalte ?
8. Vreau sa imi cumpar un bumerang nou. Cum pot sa scap de cel vechi ?
9. De ce localurile deschise non stop au incuietori ?
10. De ce avioanele nu sunt fabricate din acelasi material din care sunt
facute cutiile negre ?
11. Cum poate avea Donald nepoti daca nu are frati sau surori ?
12. Adam avea buric ?
13. Daca Superman este asa de destept, de ce isi ia chilotii peste
pantaloni ?
14. Cand faci fotografii cu Mickey la Disneyland, omul din interiorul
lui Mickey zambeste ?
15. Cand o masina merge, aerul din interiorul pneului se invarte ?
16. Daca o pisica pica mereu in picioare si o bucata de paine cu unt
cade mereu pe partea unsa, ce se intampla daca legam o felie de paine
unsa cu unt de spatele unei pisici si o aruncam pe fereastra ?
17. De ce nu castiga ghicitoarele la 6 din 49?
18. Cum se va numi epoca care va succede epoca contemporana?
19. Daca despre o femeie se spune atunci cand nu este moarta ca este
vie,de ce nu face struguri?
20. Cum se traduce "Ziua Pacii" in engleza fara sa sune vulgar un
romaneste?
21. Daca de la inot se slabeste, unde gresesc balenele?
22. Daca uleiul de porumb se face din proumb, cum este cu uleiul de
corp?
23. Daca lipiciul superglue lipeste intr-adevar orice, de ce nu si
interiorul tubului?
24. De ce nu suna ocupat cind gresim numarul?
25. De ce iti trebuie programare la clarvazator?
26. Daca azi sunt zero grade, si maine e de doua ori mai frig, cat de
frig va fi maine?
27. Primesti bani inapoi daca taxiul merge cu spatele?

28. De ce morcovii sunt mai portocalii decit portocalele?
29. De ce oamenii te cred pe cuvant cand le spui ca exista 400 milioane
de stele pe cer, dar cand le spui ca aceasta banca a fost proaspat
vopsita, cred ca glumesti?
30. De ce sucul de lamaie este in mare parte din ingrediente sintetice,
pe cand in solutia de spalat vase este zeama de lamaie adevarata?
31. De ce Tarzan nu are barba?
32. Oamenii casatoriti traiesc mai mult, sau doar li se pare?
33. Cu ce viteza se deplaseaza intunericul?
34. Cum se impacheteaza bilutele de polistiren cand vrei sa le trimiti
pachet?
35. Cum ar arata scaunele, daca am avea genunchii la spate?
36. De ce femeile nu merg niciodata singure la WC?
37. Un termos vara pastreaza bautura rece, iarna calda. De unde stie
termosul cand e vara si cand e iarna?
38. Eschimosii orbi au caini de sanie dresati pentru orbi?
39. Un sofer care lucreaza pe masini de desapezire, cum ajunge dimineata
la servici ?
40. Daca penisul se micsoreaza la apa rece, de ce nu se mareste la apa
calda?