RE: [Texascavers] Arthur in Hospital
well... we´ll think about it :-) I´ll get you a bumper-sticker patch :-] Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:25:17 -0600 From: dlocklea...@gmail.com To: texascavers@texascavers.com Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Arthur in Hospital I like the background of the logo for their caving group, but the bat design needs some help. http://www.espeleorescatemexico.org/yoshib/erm.jpg It needs a Jade colored snake in its mouth. The bat should be a Aztec gold color with Jade colored eyes and the face of a jaguar. And add some Yucatan blue water in the passage around the stalagmites with a tiny caver staring up at the stalagmites. Either way, I want a bumper-sticker and a patch. David Locklear - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com _ Helping your favorite cause is as easy as instant messaging. You IM, we give. http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Home/?source=text_hotmail_join
[ot_caving] hybrid car news
According to this article there are only 3 hybrid test cars on the road capable of using 85 percent ethanol ( E85 ). http://www.world-wire.com/news/0706140001.html Since the article is 6 months old, the remaining 17 vehicles may already be on the road now. However, they are not available to the public, and I don't see anywhere on the web were such a car will be available in the next 2 or 3 years. It wouldn't do anybody any good down here in Texas, as I still have not seen an E85 pump. On a related note, Did you see that the price of chickens went up yesterday. This is all because of the lack of supply of corn feed which is going into E85 production instead. David Locklear - Give this to a friend: ot-subscr...@texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: ot-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: ot-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] The National ID?
At 01:17 PM 1/29/2008, Mixon Bill wrote: Starting summer of _2009_, you will need a passport, a cheaper, smaller border card for which applications will be accepted starting Feb 1, 2008, or an enhanced drivers license from a state that goes along with the fed's definition of such a thing. (Texas doesn't so far. They will have remotely readable chips in them.) -- Mixon Ah, yes, the enhanced drivers license. It's sort of the back entrance to the highly questionable National ID card. Many states have not bought into is because it is an invasion of privacy. I expect their objections will be slowly eroded by the Homeland Security gestapo and their minions in the various congresses. While these chips may not be trackable by satellite, there are roadside (or over-lane) sensors which'll do so. Not to worry too much, though--they're completely capable of keeping up with your exact location by the GPS features of your cell phone. You can run but you can't hide--unless you turn your phone off or go into a cave. Why doesn't everybody that intends to go to Mexico (or anywhere else in the world) just get a passport and be done with all this daily changing uncertainty? Hell, get 2 or 3 --Ediger - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] RE: The National ID?
Ediger said: While these chips may not be trackable by satellite, there are roadside (or over-lane) sensors which'll do so. Anyone who cares can prevent remote reading of any item with an RFID chip in it by keeping the item in a metal pouch, which blocks the weak signal. Wrapping your license or passport in aluminum foil should do the trick. I imagine we'll begin to see special wallets with shielded pockets for drivers licenses if this technology becomes commonplace. they're completely capable of keeping up with your exact location by the GPS features of your cell phone. You can run but you can't hide--unless you turn your phone off or go into a cave. If you have a GPS navigation system in your car they could also track you that way. Fortunately, I own neither, so I'm invisible for the present. :-) Mark Minton
[Texascavers] Spring Convention - Vendors
Hi Folks, As you all may know, spring convention has been set for April 5 6 at the State/City park in Kerville, TX. Because we are at a State park, there are some rules about what we can and cannot do regarding sales. For this reason, I need all vendors to contact me prior to the event so that we can discuss the set up this year. (Rob Bissett has asked me to take care of this.) If you know a vendor who does not subscribe to this list, please forward this message to them. Thanks All, Evelynn Mitchell evel...@satx.rr.com - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] Need cavers in Quintana Roo and Belize....
I'm here in Quintana Roo and Belize for awhile. Can anyone give me some caving contacts in the area? Email me offline please. I'm in Tulum for the next few days and I'll check email every few days or so. It seems to me that I'm looking for some folks that are low profile. Cheers, Ben Kim www.esotericvision.com ben@esotericvision.com - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] Need cavers in Quintana Roo and Belize....
I'm here in Quintana Roo and Belize for awhile. Can anyone give me some caving contacts in the area? Email me offline please. I'm in Tulum for the next few days and I'll check email every few days or so. It seems to me that I'm looking for some folks that are low profile. Cheers, Ben Kim www.esotericvision.com ben@esotericvision.com - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[ot_caving] hybrid news
Did you know that the motor-scooter industry is only about 9 years behind the car industry in hybrid production? Did you know their proto-types are on par with the research going on in the car industry? In a few months you should start hearing about hybrid motor-scooters. http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos/Piaggio_HyS_4.jpg http://gizmag.com/pictures/7730_20807100311_8.jpg http://gizmag.com/pictures/7730_20807100333_21.jpg Look for it first in a 125 cc version in stores by February of 2009 ( probably not here in Texas though ) Note it has 2 front wheels that pivot when it goes into turns. This will be great in places where scooters work well such as island communities, resort areas, college towns, etc. I can foresee a day where small towns with pleasant climates will have lots of hybrid scooters that get 200 mpg using a bio-fuel. Maybe some towns in Florida? However, by then there will be cars that hold 4 passengers and get 75 mpg. David Locklear - Give this to a friend: ot-subscr...@texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: ot-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: ot-h...@texascavers.com
RE: [ot_caving] RE: TexasCaver
RD, Here is my delayed reaction to your Jan. 22 post, which is basically no reaction. Not wanting to think too much on the subject, I will stick to my original reasons for being a TSA member. If one is a reasonably social person, the camaraderie is as good a reason as any and TSA membership gives me the opportunity to enjoy this with people that I like. I love being outdoors and camping with my daughters who are of like mind, especially when the weather is nice. As far as being a follower, I never was. In the membership dues debate, I privately recommended that dues be increased, possibly more than many would like. Fortunately, at this stage in life the cost of dues for an organization in which I am interested is not an issue so I will let others make that decision. This, in large part is due to the wife whom I adore being a growth oriented manager of our resources. (She does allow me to consult). While I and others may offer suggestions or ideas on ways to grow the association, it is the officers who must sort through, debate and finally implement them. I doubt that higher dues would keep many who are interested in caving from joining and likewise, lower dues entice any great number to join. These are my feelings on the matter. My thanks to Charles Goldsmith for making this format available for us to communicate (vent). More thanks to Mark Alman for the time consuming and sometimes thankless job he does in compiling and making The Texas Caver available to us. I look forward to reading the interesting articles, information and the great caving pictures. Fritz _ From: RD Milhollin [mailto:rdmilhol...@charter.net] Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 4:48 PM To: List: OT-TexasCavers; Fritz Holt Subject: RE: [ot_caving] RE: TexasCaver Again Fritz, I am not bashing anyone or any organization, just passing along my own views on the question of the cost/benefits of TSA membership. So, again, the enjoyment of camaraderie with others at TCR and various caving activities is not tied to TSA membership. The Spring Convention is. TSA as well as TCMA allows me to visit beautiful sites and caving areas that I would not otherwise know of or be able to access : I agree that the TCMA and also the TCC enables access to caves, but I don't see how the TSA does, except through organizational contributions to land acquisition activities, in which the TSA acts as a conduit only. At least there are no administrative fees or overhead costs associated. officers of the organizations deem is an appropriate amount for dues Why would you avoid using your own judgement in estimating appropriate dues for an organization you belong to. I suppose we all are becoming a nation of followers, I just supposed cavers would be on the trailing edge of this trend. I feel that the more income the associations generate, the more involved they can become with education, acquisition and conservation of our caves and their inhabitants. Agreed, but there are two ways to make the equation of income generation work. The current scheme seems to be few members with high dues per member. One unintended (?) result of this policy is to keep the organization closely held, meaning old-timers tend to dominate, which makes it a conservative group, ie preservation of status quo/slow to change. The alternative approach is to have a large membership base with small dues per member. This approach could generate the same revenue, and involve more cavers, new cavers, young cavers, as icing on top. I justify membership costs by the degree of enjoyment derived, including some of these dumb posts... I have been trying to point out that there is not a causal link between this enjoyment and TSA membership. This list, for instance is not owned by the TSA. It is made possible entirely through the good graces of the list owner, Charles Goldsmith. Now, more unsubstantiated views on the subject from cavers I have talked with recently. One, a qualified candidate for the position of newsletter editor for the UT Grotto, replied, somewhat surprised at my suggestion that the UTG needed a newsletter, replied Why? We have the Texas caver. Another, very involved Texas caver stated in confidence that the only benefit you get from TSA membership is the TC. I know that the TSA members who have stated opposing viewpoints are genuinely proud of their organization and the work they see it as accomplishing. But I see it as necessary to discount that dedication somewhat by the buy-in that members of organizations usually get by belonging to a group, meaning it is slightly more difficuly for them to view the organization objectively as whole from inside. I, and others before me, are suggesting change, but it is going to be hard to accomplish due to the nature of the organization -Original Message- From: Fritz Holt [mailto:fh...@townandcountryins.com] Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 1:13
[ot_caving] economic related news and predictions
The newspapers these days print a lot of sad news. In my opinion, they paint a depressing picture of our society. It is true that prices are going up on the cost of living ( food, gas, utilities, medicine, etc ).Tragic things are happening. But there is plenty of good news out there, if you hunt for it. For example, hybrid cars are now found on the used market. Here is just one ad - a new but used hybrid SUV with All Wheel Drive http://autos.yahoo.com/used-cars/mercury-mariner_hybrid-cars253565650 The good news is that the prices for discount clothing PC's, laptops, and plasma TV's, and Blu-Ray players, and HD video players ( and anything else made in China ). I bought a real nice coat the other day ( made in China ) at Kohl's for just $ 22 plus tax. But there is a bright future for the average person, in say, 10 years ( 2018 ). According to various pro-hybrid car web-sites, over 10 percent of the cars sold will be eco-friendly in some way. The average car will automatically parallel park and have LED headlights. Hopefully the war on Terror will be over by then, and we will all be living in a eco-friendly world. Cuba will be Democratic. Chavez will be overthrown. Immigration will be under control. And we will have little business in the Middle East. Medical techniques will be better. A democrat will still be president. But probably more likely, most Americans will learn that their retirement plans were insufficient in order to retire. David Locklear - Give this to a friend: ot-subscr...@texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: ot-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: ot-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] TPWD related
In this month's issue of T PW magazine, there is an article on sinkholes. It features an interview with Geary Schindel. http://www.tpwmagazine.com/archive/2008/jan/ed_5/ It briefly mentions a sinkhole in Cottle County. Natural sinkholes most commonly form in the karst regions of Texas. Karst is an area of irregular limestone in which erosion has produced fissures, sinkholes, underground streams and caverns. In Texas, high concentrations of karst rock occur in the soluble limestone areas of the Hill Country and the gypsum-rich Rolling Plains of northwest Texas. Schindel is a man who knows his sinkholes. The article talks about Devil's Sinkhole, and mentions Bering Sinkhole in Kerr County. Will Bering Sinkhole be featured during the 2009 Congress? David Locklear - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] nice photos on web
There are some nice photos of caves in the Mediterreanean area at http://web.mac.com/victorferrer --Bill Mixon -- You may reply to the address this message came from, but for long-term use, save: Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu AMCS: edi...@amcs-pubs.org or sa...@amcs-pubs.org - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[ot_caving] handheld GPS questions
I am hoping to buy my 1st handheld GPS unit this year. I have some basic questions. 1. Best brand: Magellan, Garmin, Lowrance, other? 2. Worst brand: Magellan, Garmin, Lowrance, other? 3.Lithium-ion models? 4. Greyscale or Color? Do you really need color? Doesn't it suck the battery dry? 5. Built-in memory? 6. Are there any good models under $ 150? 7. What are must have features? 8. Is having the latest chipset important to a newbie? 9. Which topo maps work best for Texas on the little screen? 10. Do the bigger handhelds work better than the little ones? 11.Any other suggestions? 12.Is the tiny Garmin Geko good for anything? David Locklear - Give this to a friend: ot-subscr...@texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: ot-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: ot-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] Bright MF Flashlight
How far lighting technology has advanced From carbide and ceiling burners to this high tech stalagtite burner http://www.i4u.com/article14324.html -WaV
[ot_caving] Re: [OT] semi-Stenlight
I sitll haven't seen anyone caving with what is reportedly the world's brightest flashlight [The Torch]. That's because it has a runtime of 15 minutes. You blink, you missed it (except for the smoldering ruins of the guy's butt in front of it...). Alex -- Alex Sproul, NSS 8086 NSS IT Committee - Give this to a friend: ot-subscr...@texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: ot-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: ot-h...@texascavers.com
[ot_caving] Re: Breaking the soft-drink addiction
Locklear asked: Has anybody out there kicked such an addiction? I am on Day 5 now of going cold-turkey on carbonated beverages. It is harder than it sounds. I certainly don't feel any better. Irritable is more like it. Or I feel run down like I have the flu. David, are you trying to kick the sugar habit, the caffeine habit, the slurping habit, or all of the above? I found that kicking the sugar habit was easy. My switch to Diet Coke (and now Coke Zero) was dissatisfying for a few days, but then suddenly it was fine. Now, I practically gag on the syrupy taste of a 'high-test' soda. And the effects on my diet (ok, weight) were remarkable; I credit the switch with dropping 10 pounds in a few months. Kicking the tobacco and ganja habits were harder. My daughter had to quit the caffeine during pregnancies, which was also quite easy by buying caffeine-free sodas, whether diet or high-test. You really don't notice the difference, except that your RLS quiets down (and so does the baby...). If it's just constant hydration that's the issue, it's probably not an issue if you drink diet soda. There's literally nothing there -- 0 calories -- but flavored water, and won't hurt you. It's ok to pee along the roadside in Mexico. Perhaps all of the options above are not available in the typical refresceria, but you could bring your own. >From your description of how you feel, I'd say you're suffering caffeine withdrawal. That should pass any day now. Buena suerte. Alex -- Alex Sproul, NSS 8086 NSS IT Committee - Give this to a friend: ot-subscr...@texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: ot-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: ot-h...@texascavers.com
RE: [Texascavers] Re: Tax deductible caving volunteer work?
With all due respect, this is an interesting topic but is it cave related? Perhaps this would be appropriate fodder for the OT listserv. Respect noted, but I was replying to Lyndon's Texascavers post (for which he was not taken to task), so I couldn't very well repoint my response to OT (of which I'm a happy charter member, BTW...). Of course it's cave-related: it's about whether you can take a tax deduction for your CAVING activities. That's entirely relevant to caving. If it's not, then the definition of appropriate topics for Texascavers is wy too narrow. Alex -- Alex Sproul, NSS 8086RL/FE Director, WV Cave Conservancy Property Manager, Island Ford Cave - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
RE: [Texascavers] Re: Tax deductible caving volunteer work?
Tax deductions for cave voluteering is absolutely cave related and highly relevant. my 2 cents, Vivian -- Original message -- From: Alex Sproul imoca...@comcast.net - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[ot_caving] RE: [Texascavers] Re: Tax deductible caving volunteer work?
With all due respect, this is an interesting topic but is it cave related? Perhaps this would be appropriate fodder for the OT listserv. Respect noted, but I was replying to Lyndon's Texascavers post (for which he was not taken to task), so I couldn't very well repoint my response to OT (of which I'm a happy charter member, BTW...). Of course it's cave-related: it's about whether you can take a tax deduction for your CAVING activities. That's entirely relevant to caving. If it's not, then the definition of appropriate topics for Texascavers is wy too narrow. Alex -- Alex Sproul, NSS 8086 NSS IT Committee - Give this to a friend: ot-subscr...@texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: ot-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: ot-h...@texascavers.com
RE: [ot_caving] RE: [Texascavers] Re: Tax deductible caving volunteer work?
Very nicely put Alex. -Original Message- From: Alex Sproul imoca...@comcast.net To: o...@texascavers.com Sent: 1/30/2008 3:19 PM Subject: [ot_caving] RE: [Texascavers] Re: Tax deductible caving volunteer work? Of course it's cave-related: it's about whether you can take a tax deduction for your CAVING activities. That's entirely relevant to caving. If it's not, then the definition of appropriate topics for Texascavers is wy too narrow. Alex -- Alex Sproul, NSS 8086 NSS IT Committee
[Texascavers] RE: White Nose Death Fungus in bats
Roger Moore said: word is spreading on TagNet about a deadly (and chillingly descriptively named) fungal infection affecting bat populations in the Northeast. For more information see http://www6.comcast.net/news/articles/science/2008/01/30/Bat.Die.Off/. Mark Minton
RE: [Texascavers] Dog trapped in cave found safe :
Not another dog gone rescue story, Pardon me if I'm repeating myself but I'm getting old. Geez, I don't know what it is about Kentucky coon hounds but they'll chase a raccoon to just about anywhere. I helped rescue two coon hounds that had chased a raccoon into a cave in Adair County. It was a tight miserable hole with a cold stream running out. Turns out that the hounds, Joker and Chomper had been in the cave for about a week days before we got the call. Since I was in the cave rescue team, we figured we had to go out and rescue our fellow cavers - whether man or dog. We entered the cave expecting to find two dead dogs as a coon can drown a dog in water. After crawling in the stream for about 1,000 feet, we came across two large dogs on a ledge over the water - about face high. They had been curled up on the ledge and were glad to see us. However, we couldn't convince the dogs to jump in the water. The room in front of the ledge contained a pool of water about 4 foot deep. Just large enough for 3 people to sit and not be in reach of the business end of the dogs. (We were a little apprehensive as we had heard that if you spend more than 3 days in total darkness, you would go insane, and since most coon hounds are already insane, after three days, they would be down right biting crazy). Since we couldn't convince good ole Joker and Choper to jump into the cold water on their own, one of the bright guys with me decided that maybe they were hungry and would be more cooperative if we fed them something. (who would have thought after 4 days on the ledge, they would have been hungry). So he pulls out a can of tuna fish and opens it up. Now there were three cavers and two hungry dogs in a relatively small room with one can of tuna. Needless to say, there was one heck of a dog fight on the ledge. All I saw was teeth, tails, fur, and asses rolling around on the ledge. I managed to get against one of the walls hoping the dogs wouldn't like the taste of my wet suit. I thought for sure that my handy dandy plastic bag in my hardhat would literally become a handy dandy bag for my friends hand as the dogs tried to eat the tuna fish, the can, and his arm. However, he was pretty quick and didn't lose a finger. After what seemed like and hour but was probably more like 5 minutes, the dogs calmed down. We ended up using a piece of tubular webbing and tying it around their collars and pulling them into the water. Once the got wet, they followed (swam) on out of the cave and didn't appear the worse for wear. The owner was glad to see them and told us they were worth $500 a piece. He also wanted to know if we had caught the coon as he said it was worth $30 if the dogs hadn't chewed it up too bad. From: jerryat...@aol.com [mailto:jerryat...@aol.com] Sent: Tue 1/29/2008 9:37 PM To: Texascavers@texascavers.com Subject: [Texascavers] Dog trapped in cave found safe : Dog, Trapped In Cave, Found Safe And Sound Russell County, Kentucky. A Russell County dog's owner says he's lucky today. His coon hound, Homer, apparently fell into a sink hole which then led to a cave this weekend. The dog wasn't seen for several days, but was wearing a GPS collar when he disappeared. Some cavers made it within 50 yards of Homer but said it was just too dangerous to go any further inside the cave. They were hoping Homer would find another way out of the cave and he did! A searcher spotted him and Homer was reunited with his owner on Monday afternoon. http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/14484097.html This is a story about a man named Jed, Poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed. One day, he was hunting with his hound, When the stupid old dog just fell into the ground. Well the first thing you know, the cavers they were there, Said, 'Homer is a goner, stay away from there'. But the dog was part troglobyte, didn't need to see, Just followed a cave cricket, and soon he was free. Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp0030002489 in the new year.
