[Texascavers] Re: A personal story
The house was built in 1935; it'll be 22 years until it celebrates the big 100. -- Forwarded message -- From: David dlocklea...@gmail.com To: CaveTex texascavers@texascavers.com Cc: Date: Sat, 14 Sep 2013 18:27:20 -0500 Subject: A personal story The attached photo link shows the next rail station that is going to open up in Houston. This one is about a mile north of the northern boundary of downtown Houston. It should be open by the end of the year. http://db.tt/7vbzqfjZ I rented an apartment today that is about 300 meters north of this station. Address: 2506 Keene St., Apt. # 1 It is a hundred year old quadraplex. My room needs repairs before it will be livable, but I think most cavers would call it comfortable. I am guessing it will be 2 weeks before I actually move in and have electricity. To be continued ... David Locklear
[Texascavers] Re: Change of TC Editor
Finally, the reign of terror is over. Simon On Wed, Jun 20, 2012 at 8:42 AM, texascavers-digest-h...@texascavers.comwrote: -- Forwarded message -- From: Lyndon Tiu l...@alumni.sfu.ca To: Cavers Texas texascavers@texascavers.com Cc: Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:18:27 -0500 Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Change of TC Editor Wow, you even forwearded the pictures of the folks who commented on the FB post. On Tue, Jun 19, 2012 at 9:15 PM, Bill Bentley ca...@caver.net wrote: From the Facebok TSA page Quote Mark Alman NEWS FLASH New TC Editor Announcement! Jill Orr has graciously offered to assume the mantle of Editor Extraordinairre for The TEXAS CAVER. beginning with the 3rd quarter 2012 issue, and serving as such into infinity and beyond (or until she gets burned out and wants to hand it over to some other hapless victim, er, um, experienced thespian!). ...See More Like · ·Follow Post · Saturday at 11:04am a..
[Texascavers] Re: Change of TC Editor
Finally, the reign of terror is over. Simon On Wed, Jun 20, 2012 at 8:42 AM, texascavers-digest-h...@texascavers.comwrote: -- Forwarded message -- From: Lyndon Tiu l...@alumni.sfu.ca To: Cavers Texas texascavers@texascavers.com Cc: Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:18:27 -0500 Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Change of TC Editor Wow, you even forwearded the pictures of the folks who commented on the FB post. On Tue, Jun 19, 2012 at 9:15 PM, Bill Bentley ca...@caver.net wrote: From the Facebok TSA page Quote Mark Alman NEWS FLASH New TC Editor Announcement! Jill Orr has graciously offered to assume the mantle of Editor Extraordinairre for The TEXAS CAVER. beginning with the 3rd quarter 2012 issue, and serving as such into infinity and beyond (or until she gets burned out and wants to hand it over to some other hapless victim, er, um, experienced thespian!). ...See More Like · ·Follow Post · Saturday at 11:04am a..
[Texascavers] Re: Change of TC Editor
Finally, the reign of terror is over. Simon On Wed, Jun 20, 2012 at 8:42 AM, texascavers-digest-h...@texascavers.comwrote: -- Forwarded message -- From: Lyndon Tiu l...@alumni.sfu.ca To: Cavers Texas texascavers@texascavers.com Cc: Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:18:27 -0500 Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Change of TC Editor Wow, you even forwearded the pictures of the folks who commented on the FB post. On Tue, Jun 19, 2012 at 9:15 PM, Bill Bentley ca...@caver.net wrote: From the Facebok TSA page Quote Mark Alman NEWS FLASH New TC Editor Announcement! Jill Orr has graciously offered to assume the mantle of Editor Extraordinairre for The TEXAS CAVER. beginning with the 3rd quarter 2012 issue, and serving as such into infinity and beyond (or until she gets burned out and wants to hand it over to some other hapless victim, er, um, experienced thespian!). ...See More Like · ·Follow Post · Saturday at 11:04am a..
[Texascavers] Re: [texascavers] cell phone at the gas pump rumors disproved???
How do snopes explain this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gct1BmKNvU0 And this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUf8vc7I6bc And this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aW-Qaio6Uw; Simple point here, be safe and use your head around flammables. Why take unnecessary risk? Try an minimize ignition sources, including static electricity, electronics, smoking, etc. On Fri, Jul 8, 2011 at 2:06 PM, texascavers-digest-h...@texascavers.comwrote: -- Forwarded message -- From: James Edwards jedwa...@mail.utexas.edu To: texascavers@texascavers.com Date: Fri, 8 Jul 2011 14:04:53 -0500 Subject: cell phone at the gas pump rumors disproved http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/gasvapor.asp I've never seen any news spread by e-mail that's true. If you hear about something via e-mail before you hear about it in the news, you should immediately suspect it. Check it on Snopes. This story is no exception. -Andy
Re: [Texascavers] Public web site on the TSA Spring Convention
Nope. The FBI has interests in LinkedIn and Friendster. On Sat, Jan 22, 2011 at 2:41 AM, Stefan Creaser stefan.crea...@arm.comwrote: I thought it would be the FBI, aren't the CIA 'external'? Sent from my iPad On Jan 21, 2011, at 12:12 PM, Simon Newton csnew...@gmail.commailto: csnew...@gmail.com wrote: Only Facebook matters, since this is what goes into the CIA database. ;-) -- Forwarded message -- From: Diana Tomchick diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edumailto: diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu To: caverarch mailto:cavera...@aol.comcavera...@aol.commailto: cavera...@aol.com Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2011 20:02:18 + Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Public web site on the TSA Spring Convention So what is wrong with updating the TSA web site for the Spring Convention? Just send the info to the webmaster. This should be done regardless of whether there is a Facebook Event page for the Convention. Diana * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Diana R. Tomchick Associate Professor University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Department of Biochemistry 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. Rm. ND10.214B Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A. Email: mailto:diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edumailto:diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu 214-645-6383 (phone) 214-645-6353 (fax) -- IMPORTANT NOTICE: The contents of this email and any attachments are confidential and may also be privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately and do not disclose the contents to any other person, use it for any purpose, or store or copy the information in any medium. Thank you.
Re: [Texascavers] new TCR photography policy
It's great that TCR has a photo policy... While it does seem to be common sense, I doubt it will work. I recommend this real-world photo policy for those who are really concerned: *If you do something in public that you don't want publicized - then don't do it.* Plain and simple - you'll never have to worry about something that never happened coming to light. Simon PS - If you run for government, we'll dig up a video of you from TCR claiming you practiced witchcraft.
[Texascavers] [texascavers] Mexican Gang Takes Gas Well
Looks like the Mexican gangs are diversifying... http://www.pennenergy.com/index/petroleum/display/9399672301/articles/pennenergy/petroleum/exploration/2010/06/armed-men_take_control.html June 10, 2010 By Phaedra Friend Troy http://www.google.com/profiles/Phaedra.Troy According to a report from Reuters, a group of armed men have taken control of a natural gas well in northeast Mexico. Local media is reporting that an armed gang has been in control of the natural gas well for some two weeks. Although Pemex has not confirmed the report, the local media said that a number of workers from the well site have been kidnapped. Since May 23, the criminal gang has been barricading the Gigante Uno liquefied natural gas well in the Burgos basin of Nueva Ciudad Guerrero near the US border. The gang has been stealing natural gas condensate, and the Mexican army has been unable to penetrate the blockade, reports the press. Just this week, Pemex filed suit against a number of US oil producershttp://www.pennenergy.com/index/articles/newsdisplay/1201036310.htmlin a Houston federal court for knowingly buying stolen natural gas condensate from thieves. In the court filings, Pemex claims that since 2006, some $300 million in petroleum products have been smuggled across the US border in tanker trucks that have been hijacked. Northern Mexico is experiencing extremely escalated violence in connection to drug trafficking across the border to the US. Reuters reports that 23,000 people have been killed since 2006 because of these criminal gangs. Stealing oil, natural gas and petroleum products has proven a major money-maker for these gangs. On Sun, Jun 13, 2010 at 3:16 AM, texascavers-digest-h...@texascavers.comwrote: texascavers Digest 13 Jun 2010 01:16:05 - Issue 1078 Topics (messages 15102 through 15106): [Deep Punkin' Nature Preserve] 15102 by: Don Arburn Re: LEDs for Locklear 15103 by: tbsamsel.verizon.net 15104 by: mark gee Re: carbide vs LED 15105 by: mark gee Re: another passing 15106 by: Gill Edigar Administrivia: To subscribe to the digest, e-mail: texascavers-digest-subscr...@texascavers.com To unsubscribe from the digest, e-mail: texascavers-digest-unsubscr...@texascavers.com To post to the list, e-mail: texascavers@texascavers.com -- -- Forwarded message -- From: Don Arburn donarb...@mac.com To: Texas Cavers List texascavers@texascavers.com Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2010 15:24:16 -0500 Subject: [Deep Punkin' Nature Preserve] Anyone interested in helping in the next couple of weeks? Completing porch work is the focus, with caving as a reward. There is some interest in weekdays, that is an option. Please contact Aaron Wertheim werthei...@hotmail.com or myself if interested in helping, thanks! Don Arburn Deep and Punkin Nature Preserve. d...@oztotl.com -- Forwarded message -- From: tbsam...@verizon.net To: imoca...@comcast.net Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2010 15:36:29 -0500 (CDT) Subject: Re: [Texascavers] LEDs for Locklear You could hardly use this like Q-beams are used to subdue a miscreant. T Book 'em, Dan-o! Jun 12, 2010 02:39:24 PM, imoca...@comcast.net wrote: Here ya go, David! *http://hacknmod.com/hack/massive-500-led-extreme-flashlight/*http://hacknmod.com/hack/massive-500-led-extreme-flashlight/ Alex -- *Alex Sproul* *NSS 8086RL/FE* *NSS Webmaster* *www.caves.org* http://www.caves.org - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com -- Forwarded message -- From: mark gee markageetxca...@yahoo.com To: tbsam...@verizon.net, imoca...@comcast.net Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2010 15:20:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: [Texascavers] LEDs for Locklear It could light up the Big Room At Carlsbad. The question is how long do the batteries last and how heavy is it? Cool light. -- *From:* tbsam...@verizon.net tbsam...@verizon.net *To:* imoca...@comcast.net *Cc:* texascavers@texascavers.com *Sent:* Sat, June 12, 2010 3:36:29 PM *Subject:* Re: [Texascavers] LEDs for Locklear You could hardly use this like Q-beams are used to subdue a miscreant. T Book 'em, Dan-o! Jun 12, 2010 02:39:24 PM, imoca...@comcast.net wrote: Here ya go, David! *http://hacknmod.com/hack/massive-500-led-extreme-flashlight/*http://hacknmod.com/hack/massive-500-led-extreme-flashlight/ Alex -- *Alex Sproul* *NSS 8086RL/FE* *NSS Webmaster* *www.caves.org* http://www.caves.org/ - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For
Re: [Texascavers] delete button
Yes. On Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 10:32 AM, Stefan Creaser stefan.crea...@arm.com wrote: Have you considered printing double sided? I’ve left the history so you can check if this works… Cheers, Stefan From: Simon Newton [mailto:csnew...@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, August 28, 2009 10:29 AM To: texascavers@texascavers.com Subject: Re: [Texascavers] delete button I have my secretary print all my emails to paper, so I'd prefer 1 page text minimum (Times New Roman, 10 pt font). Also, if you could remove the history chain at the bottom this would save a lot of paper. Thanks in advance for your compliance on this matter, Simon
Re: [Texascavers] delete button
I have my secretary print all my emails to paper, so I'd prefer 1 page text minimum (Times New Roman, 10 pt font). Also, if you could remove the history chain at the bottom this would save a lot of paper. Thanks in advance for your compliance on this matter, Simon -- Forwarded message -- From: Fofo gonza...@msu.edu To: texascavers texascavers@texascavers.com Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 08:31:40 -0700 Subject: Re: [Texascavers] delete button Hi! I use Mozilla's Thunderbird both in the office and my laptop. I know, it's a throwback, now that everything is online, but you can set it up to pretty much do whatever you want: leave messages on server, delete messages from server, delete only the ones that you delete, have messages delivered directly to specific folders, group messages by thread, etc. It has a pretty decent junk mail filter, and setting it up is easy. Even in slow connections, usually I don't even notice when messages are downloaded (unless it's the first time of the day and there are several big files to download, and for really bad connections you can put a limit on the size of files to download). I always have the preview panel on, and it literally often takes less than one second to read a message (especially short replies), delete them and move on to the next one. OK, 162 words. Clear to go!
RE: [Texascavers] ICS
I believe the mileage is tax deductible, since they have non-profit designation. Doesn't help you much if you don't do itemized taxes though. (BTW - you can probably recover mileage on your taxes from some of your volunteer cave projects) I agree with others though - it would have been good to offer discounts or a free pass to the volunteers. Heck, at all the big music festivals you can volunteer a few hours a day in return for a free ticket (bonnaroo, glastonbury, coachella). Simon -- Forwarded message -- From: Geary Schindel gschin...@edwardsaquifer.org To: Matt Turner kat...@yahoo.com, Cavers, Texas Texascavers@texascavers.com List-Post: texascavers@texascavers.com Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:38:51 -0500 Subject: RE: [Texascavers] ICS Matt, Aren’t you paying with your gas money to drive to and from AM and the convention all for the privilege of taking a bunch of folks caving in caves you’re already seen. Anyway, thanks for your hard work. Geary
[Texascavers] [texascavers] Boot toe guard repair
It seems like I go through the toes of my caving shoes/boots faster than any other part. Does anyone have good solutions for repairing or making good toe guards for caving? I have used Sof Sole Shoe Goo to repair hiking boots before and was thinking I could just use that to affix some new rubber. http://www.rei.com/product/679240 I also ran across Tuff Toe (basically polyurethane) http://www.tufftoeworkboots.com/index.php?main_page=product_infocPath=7products_id=9 Anyone have some ideas or recommendations? Thanks, Simon - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] [texascavers] caving Libya
I'm heading to Libya to work for a couple weeks during June. Just wondering if anyone here has caver connections in Libya or might know people who have caved in Libya. I'll likely be back later in the fall for a longer trip as well and would like to do some caving if possible. My understanding is that Libya has a huge karst zone in the northeast (Al Jabal al Akhdar near Benghazi), and a smaller area near Tripoli. I have heard there are a lot of unexplored caves in Libya. Thanks, Simon - 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] OT - price of gas
Athabasca oil sands have a lifting cost of $22/bbl. So it's economic at a bit over that.Athabasca jobs pay nicely and generally comes with 4+ weeks vacation. How many jobs in the US do you get 4 weeks vacation to start? It may be remote, but it's only about 5 hours driving to Edmonton and most people who work there can afford flights out. Can you name any Texas gushers drilled in the last 5 years? Most of the TX oil wells I'm familiar in the last 5 years are barely economic at $45/bbl. Might want to double check your facts, Simon -- Forwarded message -- From: Brian Riordan riordan.br...@gmail.com To: Fritz Holt fh...@townandcountryins.com Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:42:45 -0600 Subject: Re: [Texascavers] OT - price of gas It all depends. A classic Texas gusher takes nothing to get a lot. Deepwater fields cost a certain amount to initiate, produce and transport, if the current price doesn't offset that, they lose, while the Texas gusher may still make money. Canadian Oil Sands require even more to upgrade the oil (besides, who the hell wants to work in Northern Alberta, just take a look at housing prices! http://www.colinhartigan.com/view_listing.php?listing=mlsid=8320001070)- it takes so much energy to produce the crude oil here, that without a high oil price, it doesn't make sense to dig it up. If a company initiates a project because it became economical at 80 bucks a barrel, they may lose money on that field for every day of production under 80 bucks/barrel, while the Texas gusher STILL makes money. To oversimplify...
[ot_caving] Re: a historical note
Correlation does not imply causationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Correlation_does_not_imply_causation -- Forwarded message -- From: David dlocklea...@gmail.com To: o...@texascavers.com o...@texascavers.com Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:04:41 -0600 Subject: a historical note Did you guys know that shortly after the telephone was invented, that the divorce rate worldwide, almost quadrupled within a few months of getting phone service?
[Texascavers] Re: Gigantic River Cave Revealed in Laos
I think someone forgot their gloves... http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/10/photogalleries/river-caves-photos/index.html/photo5.html Simon -- Forwarded message -- From: Lee H. Skinner skin...@thuntek.net To: nmcaver list nmca...@caver.net, texascavers list texascavers@texascavers.com, Cave Diggers cavedigg...@yahoogroups.com Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2008 09:17:30 -0600 Subject: Gigantic River Cave Revealed in Laos See the National Geographic article about Xe Bang Fai River Cave at: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/10/photogalleries/river-caves-photos/index.html/ The photos are great! Lee Skinner - 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: cave food
I'm disappointed by the lack of crustaceans (as indicated in the nutritional fact sheet). -- Forwarded message -- From: Nico Escamilla pitboun...@gmail.com To: OT Texas Cavers o...@texascavers.com, Texas Cavers Texascavers@texascavers.com Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:24:07 -0500 Subject: cave food Forget about all the candy bars, cheese, jerky etcetera that y'all carry on a cave trip, this Baskin Robbins Heath Shake should be enough to take you through the hardest of death marches and best of all, it fits right in a nalgene bottle. it clocks at over 2300 calories. WANT!!! and then there's the nay sayers at Consumerist who say you shouldnt drink this death shake thoughts? Nico - 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: space mining
Here's the TED link for that video. It's better quality on the TED site, plus you can browse to lots of other cool TED videos easily. http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/bill_stone_explores_the_earth_and_space.html Simon -- Forwarded message -- From: Nico Escamilla pitboun...@gmail.com To: o...@texascavers.com o...@texascavers.com Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2008 19:39:12 -0500 Subject: space mining article about mining in space found HERE aint that what Bill Stone was wanting to do? I heard him say so on this VIDEO - 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] [texascavers] GSA convention caving field trip
I was just looking through the field trips for the joint meeting of The Geological Society of America (GSA), Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies with the Gulf Coast Section of SEPM (GCAGS), hosted by the Houston Geological Society (HGS) and saw that there is a cave trip being offered that might be of interest to some of the geologists on this list (or their friends who are coming into Houston for this big conference). https://www.acsmeetings.org/programs/field-trips-and-tours/field/ 411. Geomorphic and Hydrochemical History of the Edwards Aquifer at Inner Space Cavern Sat., 4 Oct. Cosponsored by GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division. Jay Banner, University of Texas, Austin, Tex., +1-512-471-5016; George Veni, National Cave and Karst Research Institute, Carlsbad, N.Mex. Price: US$150 (L, R). This trip begins and ends in Austin, Texas. This trip will explore the speleogenesis, meteorology, hydrogeology, and speleothem proxy record of Inner Space Cavern on the Edwards Plateau in central Texas. The cave developed in strata that comprise the regional Edwards aquifer. We will examine evidence for past environments based on cavern morphology, faunal remains, and speleothem proxy records. In addition, the trip will explore the modern formation of speleothems and water chemistry, as well as the impact of development of this commercial cave. The trip will be conducted on lighted, paved pathways through the cave, but will also involve some crawling through muddy, narrow passages. Helmets and lamps will be provided, but you will need to bring your own clothes and footwear. - 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: [texascavers] speleothem dating
Bill- My understanding with dating speleothems is that they are matching curves of U-Th isotopic ratios (my guess would be that they are using ICP-MS analysis for everything these days). It's been a few years, but my experience seeing one of my grad school friends trying to match deepwater coral U-Th records would lead me to believe there is a lot of uncertainty with speleothem dating. Trying to determine where your record gaps are must be a really tricky exercise even with the increased resolution offered by ICP-MS - are there worthwhile results coming out of the research these days? Any papers out lately that you recommend reading? I'm not really in touch with dating/paleoclimate literature these days. Simon -- Forwarded message -- From: Mixon Bill bmixon...@austin.rr.com To: Cavers Texas texascavers@texascavers.com Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:27:42 -0600 Subject: speleothem dating When scientists are trying to date the layers in an entire stalagmite, they take samples from bottom to top, so coring in from the side not a practical alternative. They pretty much have to saw the thing in half lengthwise to know they are sampling down the middle, in chronological order. If one just wanted to date a single sample, say from the bottom to date something it is growing on, then a core might work. Speleothem dating, and subsequent stable-isotope analysis of the dated layers, is a big thing. Starting maybe twenty-five years ago, Science and Nature magazines both became suckers for this sort of thing as a paleoclimate study, so of course lots of people jumped on the bandwagon. There's been an awful lot of awful garbage published in the area, even in good journals. Initially, radioisotope dating was done by alpha counting, very imprecise when samples are minuscule. I've seen papers proudly displaying the dates from various layers in a stalagmite that had error bars so large there seemed a good chance that the thing had grown from the top down. The group at Macmaster University in Canada was a pioneer in that sort of dating. They managed to date enough speleothems from western Canada to show that speleothems don't grow during ice ages (surprise!). That is, they showed it by making a histogram of dates without taking into account the error bars, and then helpfully adding to the figure the already known dates of the ice ages. More recently, technology has improved, mainly through accelerator mass spectroscopy, to the point where scientists are able to get data that actually look pretty real. Still, as far as I've been able to see, nothing has come out of speleothem paleoclimate studies that wasn't already known or easily conjectured from other sources. (One wonders how many studies that _didn't_ confirm accepted wisdom didn't get published.) True, speleothems give a local picture, unlike ice cores or seafloor cores, but that is actually the problem. The growth of a single speleothem over time is subject to all sorts of purely local (like one acre) geological effects having nothing to do with climate. One groundwater path might clog up and another open, changing the ratio of stormwater drips to baseflow drips on the same formation, for example. Scientists are way too quick to overinterpret data they get from a single stalagmite. One paper I saw had data from three stalagmites and claimed that they showed some correlation with something or other (probably an ice age). Well, to my eye, two of the three did. But if one regards those three stalagmites as a random sample of a larger collection, that amounts to something like 2 +/- 1 out of 3. Big whoop! The only exception to this problem I can think of is a study on the underwater mammalary crusts in Devil's Hole, Nevada. There the deposit really was sampling regional groundwater, not just a drip. It is true that in regions remote from ice caps or stable ocean floor deposits, speleothems in principle could be one of the few sources of paleoclimate data, if the study is done right. But even in such cases, people publish unremarkable findings like it was cooler in Texas during an ice age. Oh, well. Professors have to suppport their graduate students somehow. -- 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
Re: [ot_caving] RE: TexasCaver
Hi everyone- I have been caving since Friday morning. I just logged on and I read all your messages on the topic. Just to be clear, no decisions are being made regarding the Texas Caver. This is just an information gathering exercise on distribution methods and costs. I will follow up. Probably not this week though. Simon PS - I have not been a TSA member for very long, but I think there is some benefit to what they do - 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: TexasCaver
Somehow I ended up on the TSA format war committee along with George-Paul of the Houston Grotto. I'm not sure what our strategy will be. You should hear back from us at some point on this. There were a few ideas tossed around at the meeting last Saturday, so we have some stuff to chew on already. Simon On 16 Jan 2008 17:40:22 -, ot-digest-h...@texascavers.com wrote: -- Forwarded message -- From: mark.al...@l-3com.com To: Charles Goldsmith wo...@justfamily.org Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:40:44 -0600 Subject: RE: TexasCaver Thanks, Charles. Actually, I have received more compliments than complaints on the TC, so I shouldn't bitch. The issue of electronic format versus paper has reared its head more times than I can count and it is usually the more chronologically-challenged curmudgeons that shoot it down. At this past TSA business meeting, it was decided that me and two other volunteers would look in to a two-tiered membership program that would have reduced fees for those getting the TC electronically. We just would have to make sure that with these reduced fees, the TC would still pay for itself and that the TSA would remain viable. The other concern, mine included, would be that this file would be sent all over the place, and even to cavers that weren't members. heck, if they can get it for free, why join the TSA? This is probably the main reason a lot of folks are against this. I know when I was doing the DFWG newsletter, it was the reasoning against going electronic. We'll have something by the spring convention and business meeting. The other hurdle, if the above was passed, is actually emailing the TC. Even in compressed PDF format, the TC is quite huge. (I like a lot of pictures!). A boycott wouldn't be the answer, IMHO. Having a LOT of like-minded members at the next meeting where we can vote this thru would be the best. So far, democracy is keeping this from going forward. Gotta love it! Later, Mark - 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
So this topic just went on topic - is there a protocol to handle this? :-) I think the idea was that a few of us would make some back of the envelope calculations for a few different ideas and present it back to the higher authorities. I'm sure the ideas will be posted here at some point. I need to ping G-P and a few others to get some background from the longtime members. FWIW, I believe more people opposed the idea than supported it at the TSA meeting last Saturday. That is why we ended up with this committee to look into the nitty gritty. This is going to take some time... Simon On 16 Jan 2008 22:01:16 -, ot-digest-h...@texascavers.com wrote: -- Forwarded message -- From: Charles Goldsmith wo...@justfamily.org To: mark.al...@l-3com.com mark.al...@l-3com.com Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:39:25 -0600 Subject: Re: [ot_caving] RE: TexasCaver I know this wouldn't go over, but I would think $25 a year for electronic and a bit more for a paper newsletter would be best. This would give the organization more money (dunno if they need more) and also help cover the rising costs of printing/mailing the newsletter. - 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] [OT] Re: anyone else here yet?
Don't worry. Curmudgeoness will drive people away from the main list. I expect this list to take over in the next few years, especially if all you ever see are cave reports and flashlight reviews. I'll post some really boring, multi-part cave reports just to help the process along. Simon -- Forwarded message -- From: Charles Goldsmith wo...@justfamily.org To: Kara Savvas misskarabi...@yahoo.com Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:52:21 -0600 Subject: Re: [ot_caving] [OT] Re: anyone else here yet? There are always people who complain, that want change, and most aren't willing to help with it. I probably went off on Wes a bit hard, but it struck a nerve and I'm having a bad year so far, so I vented a bit. He deserved it, but probably not as harsh as I did it. Splitting the list is probably an easy way out, shutting up the complainers, but I'm hoping that it will actually drive more people to our Texas caving chatter here on either of the lists, making us grow more. Growing these lists also helps out our Grotto's and Regional groups (TCMA, TSA, TCC, etc). If people have ideas that will help us grow as a community, I'm game and will assist where I can. Charles - 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] [OT] Re: anyone else here yet?
Just to clarify - the lengthy (extra dry) trip reports will go to the main list. The interesting stuff I'll post here (unless it's specifically cave related). Simon On Jan 15, 2008 1:43 PM, Charles Goldsmith wo...@justfamily.org wrote: I know this sounds bad, but we really need to keep this place On-Topic for the off-topic things, therefore, the caving stuff should really go only to the main list, texascavers@texascavers.com . I don't want emails being cross-posted, that will actually split the two lists and it shouldn't be like that. Everyone on this list should be on the main list, but not vice-versa. Charles On 1/15/08, Kara Savvas misskarabi...@yahoo.com wrote: and I hope that people also post cave related stuff here, too. I'm interested in it all! K
[ot_caving] [OT] Secrets of Google Earth
It's a ten minute video. http://www.metacafe.com/watch/975366/secrets_of_google_earth/ Simon - 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] [OT] Re: anyone else here yet?
So this is where all the cool people are. Simon -- Forwarded message -- From: Kara Savvas misskarabi...@yahoo.com To: o...@texascavers.com List-Post: texascavers@texascavers.com Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:54:42 -0800 (PST) Subject: anyone else here yet? I'm here... anyone else? Let's get this party started. Tell me something off topic :-) Here's one - a poll - Does anyone try to use or regularly use canvas or reusable bags when grocery shopping? I do, but forget them at home occasionally. The checkers don't usually know what to make of it. If you're interested in trying to do this more, we should talk about it, I have some tips. By the way, I'm feeling better - getting over it, and the baby is fine. I'm going to put in an appearance at work tomorrow for a few hours. Looking forward to interacting with the world again. take care, Kara - 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: Thank you for attending!
Can we keep this offtopic list well offtopic? This message was too on topic for this list. It's annoying to wade through all the on topic emails to find the off topic gems. :-) Simon - returning to lurk mode -- Forwarded message -- From: Don Cooper wavyca...@gmail.com To: o...@texascavers.com Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:04:49 -0600 Subject: Thank you for attending! To all and any of you who have subscribed, willingly - to recieve off topic, tangental and near-cave and caver related spam I salute you. Here is a place where people have no authority to tell me what I can or cannot say. (as long as I say it politely) This is what freedom of speech is really about. In a caver-supported environment, a free exchange of ideas. Brilliant. If it isnt even about caves or caving - it's alright. I really have to appreciate Charles Goldsmith for going above and beyond. And as long as I'm talking about free exchange. I even have a possible theory of support for creationists - but people who adhere to the bible will not like it. It's not about aliens. It's not about the bible. The sun might be the intellegent being that planned it all. Hmmm... Imagine a huge, magnetically active entity. -WaVy - 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] Thoughts on OT postings
Sometimes the offtopic discussions are bothersome. I have found that subscribing to the digest version of this list makes it much easier to ignore the OT discussions if I want to. When you get the digest version, it lists the topics and authors who wrote on that topic right at the top (I have pasted an example at the bottom of this message). I am able to look at the table of contents and quickly decide which messages to read. As an added benefit, by using the digest version, I am forced to wait several hours to see replies to OT topics. BTW - do any of you get snail mail you didn't want? I figure about 90% of my mail is junk, or stuff I have no intention of reading. I think the best way to deal with this would be to have to address at all - that way I'd never receive mail I don't want. Along those lines, I'm tempted to delete my email account so I never get emails I don't want... Simon - in favour of offtopic posts texascavers Digest 12 Jan 2008 23:09:55 - Issue 466 Topics (messages 7070 through 7078): Re: OT - Robot evolution for arm-chair cavers 7070 by: George Nincehelser 7071 by: Fritz Holt 7075 by: Katherine Arens Re: To all writers of OT topics 7072 by: Brian Riordan Recent exchanges on TexasCavers : 7073 by: JerryAtkin.aol.com Potential future practice location for Texas cave divers? 7074 by: speleosteele.tx.rr.com Thoughts on OT postings 7076 by: George Veni Thoughts on OT postings (George Veni) 7077 by: dirtdoc.comcast.net Re: Fw:Scanned Re-scanned pics [CAVE RELATED] 7078 by: Bill Bentley Administrivia: To subscribe to the digest, e-mail: texascavers-digest-subscr...@texascavers.com To unsubscribe from the digest, e-mail: texascavers-digest-unsubscr...@texascavers.com To post to the list, e-mail: texascavers@texascavers.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] OT - Who was the first woman to win a primary? Who was the first African American to win a primary?
Apparently it was Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm (New York), who won the Democratic Primary in NJ in 1972. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Chisholm Simon - 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] OT - Who was the first woman to win a primary? Who was the first African American to win a primary?
Looks like I've been had by Wikipedia! Curses... Simon On Jan 9, 2008 10:52 PM, Simon Newton csnew...@gmail.com wrote: Apparently it was Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm (New York), who won the Democratic Primary in NJ in 1972. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Chisholm Simon - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] OT - Quadrantid meteor shower tonight (likely the best one of 2008)
For those of you not in a city: http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20080103/sc_space/mustseemeteorshowerfridaymorning Must-See Meteor Shower Friday Morning The Quadrantid meteor shower is due to reach maximum in the predawn hours of Friday, Jan. 4. The Quadrantids are notoriously unpredictable, but if any year promises a fine display, this could be it. Indeed, this may end up being the best meteor shower of 2008. The Quadrantid (pronounced KWA-dran-tid) meteor shower provides one of the most intense annual meteor displays, with a brief, sharp maximum lasting but a few hours. The timing of peak activity favors Western Europe and eastern North America. Weather permitting, skywatchers in rural locations could see one or two shooting stars every minute during the peak. snip Simon - 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] Google Gmail Cavechat
Personally, I find the only way to get true privacy is to wear a tinfoil hat at all times. I got into caving so I could avoid all the government RF mind control beams underground. Simon PS - the internet is a scary place, I recently read in the NY Times that some of the most prolific editors (moderators) on wikipedia are certified nuts and spinsters with very deliberate agendas. Go figure... a socialist type organization corrupted by those in power. PPS - the first part was a joke, but I do take interest in internet privacy. It is good to keep people aware of what happens behind the scene -- Forwarded message -- From: mark.al...@l-3com.com To: David Locklear dlocklea...@gmail.com, Texas Cavers texascavers@texascavers.com, greater_houston_grotto greater_houston_gro...@yahoogroups.com List-Post: texascavers@texascavers.com Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:54:21 -0600 Subject: RE: [Texascavers] Google Gmail Cavechat David, I'm glad Gmail works for you, if it's your cup of tea. But, after everything I have read, Gmail seems to be a pretty scary cup and one I'm not inclined to partake. Here's some info for you: http://www.google-watch.org/gmail.html http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/04/03/google_mail_is_evil_privacy/ http://epic.org/privacy/gmail/faq.html#1 http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-privacy_09bus.ART.State.Edition1.2a5a693.html The one above was just printed this past week. I know just about everyone is watching you, especially, here at work, but while help them? Use at your own risk. Later, Mark - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] OT - Coal Ash Is More Radioactive than Nuclear Waste
Some food for thought... From the article: Among the surprising conclusions: the waste produced by coal plants is actually more radioactive than that generated by their nuclear counterparts. In fact, fly ash—a by-product from burning coal for power—contains up to 100 times more radiation than nuclear waste. http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=coal-ash-is-more-radioactive-than-nuclear-wastesc=WR_20071218 - 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] Good cave photos
There are some interesting light techniques, that when used with digital cameras, can produce some amazing photos without massive strobes/lights/etc. I'm sure people on the list have seen 360 Degrees of Lechuguilla Cave computer tour that came out recently ( http://www.360parks.com/lechuguilla_cave_virtual_tour.shtml). All of the 360 degree panoramas were illuminated with handheld lights - they literally painted the cave with light for minutes during open exposures. It's a simple technique that has been around for a while, but with digital cameras you can quickly view the result. If you want to take a stab at 360 degree images you can mess around with a bunch of photos in software like Stitch. Maybe it's time to spend money on a nice sturdy lightweight tripod and ditch the heavy battery packs. Simon -- Forwarded message -- From: Gregg iar...@io.com To: Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2007 10:03:00 -0600 Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Good cave photos Hi, It's always been about lighting. Partly that's what you can afford. Partly its how much time it takes to set things up. If you think about it, most indoor flash pictures of people are crap, and that's despite the fact that most of a person is usually at one distance from the camera where illumination is approximately constant. Good flash pictures taken by professional photographers involve multiple sources of light, continuous bright lights, diffuse light sources, and time to make all this work. It's not a situation intrinsically unique to cave photography. The reason we think its different is that we get around it all the time above ground because daylight photography has light coming from everywhere. That doesn't mean that you can't get good cave photography with a camera-mounted flash. It happens all the time - but usually only for close-up objects. To get good photos, you need shadows, which moves the flash off the camera. Then you don't the shadows to be completely black, which gets you the second flash. They you need tripods or assistants to hold these things. . . If you give a mouse a cookie. . . Digital photography helps because you can see the results of a time-consuming shot straight up, while with film you take several variations on the same shot with different lighting etc. and hope you got it right. Now that I have a cheap digital camera that still has a lot of pixels and good control features, I'm thinking of getting some slave flashes and trying nighttime and cave photography on the cheap. The wimpy flash on the camera isn't good enough for cave photography, but it can set off the slaves. Thank God being a good photographer was never a prerequisite for being a real caver. Gregg
