Last week, a neighbour asked me to come over and see if the cat that had ‘adopted’ her was ours as one of our cats had got lost soon after we got it. (We got it back
‘Jonny’ is a beautiful short hair with Black and White patches. We fell in love right away, but remembering our heartache when Jacob was missing, we worked hard to find his owner. Leaflets in all likely doors, local shops, saying ‘Found…’ etc.
My Wife had a bright idea and started calling the Vets after we had his ‘chip’ ID’d <That’s how we got his name. The Chip company wouldn’t release any more info though> Jonny was remembered by a Vet that had treated him for a small infection last October and they told us his address. We went to see them yesterday and they were really happy to find that he was okay, so we brought him home. He immediately fell into his usual ways and ‘Flumped’ <Our term for when a cat falls on it’s side for attention!> in front of their TV – his usual ‘spot’ apparently…
So two familys happy. The owner, who’s 20+ Year Old kids loved Jonny, and us as we were glad he was home.
Some cats are wanderers and often disappear for days, but usually come home. Most are too OCD for that and stay home where the food and LOVE is! (Like our two – Sox and Jacob)
So the ‘commenting widget’ is to be turned off?
I am too old to know all the modern terms.
Can somebody who knows explain what that is please?
(and the ramifications…)
The comments software we’ve been using for four years is broken and always has been. But by the time it became really bad, this site was already committed to it. Now they’re retiring it and so site owners using the software need to migrate to another solution.
WordPress offers the ability to import all of the old comments into their system. We’re in the process of doing that right now (2012 comments left to go). The entire site will run on WordPress, which means everything else will be simpler as well.
Except membership functionality, which has been a bear – even more difficult than moving comments. Still figuring out to handle this issue as the October deadline looms.
A suggestion – maybe you could contact your members via email and set up some sort of ‘all memberships cancelled / no-cost re-register’ system which might be easier for you?
If I’m bombing a rock strewn, tree lined downhill then I *am* wearing not only full-face head protection, but also chest/shoulder, elbow/forearm, hip, knee/shin guards.
Makes total sense to me I was considering getting some armor too and I only do cross country riding, not even downhil, but some trails are pretty rocky and scary with some hilly sections that I think I’d feel safer wearing some protection over my skin
Yep, the only problem with that is the clavicle breaks are caused by hitting the shoulder and overloading the bone in compression, not from direct impact. That chest plate won’t do diddly to prevent broken collarbones. It might do something about blunt force trauma to the chest causing bruised lungs or heart damage from hitting the chest wall, but not much there.
I have been trying to figure out what could be done to prevent blunt force trauma to the torso, but the most effective solution continues to be either “Drive a car” or “Ban all cars”.
The first law of defence – ‘Don’t be there’! By proper, safe, riding we keep our eyes and ears open for approaching danger and make no assumptions or arrogantly trusting to our ‘rights’. Fear is a good life saver and a good imagination helps us understand what might befall us if we proceed with the considered course. e.g.: ‘That junction ahead. As we approach we might have a green light or right of way but are other drivers aware of the junction even never mind approaching at a safe speed/stopping as might be expected? By approaching every part of ride in a like manner we keep our selves as safe as possible. There are some times when any precaution will not help us. The only protection at such times is luck and any safety equipment will not help. The stuff that Rick is featuring here is for protection against our own misdeeds and we need to use what is appropriate to the individual circumstance as Opus says. I watched an interesting programme yesterday that showed how the means of transport in London have changed. Before Motor Transport, Horses were the common transport means and the results were horrible. Apart from the accidents that killed 20 times more people than cars, average speeds were comparable to today. Diseases such as Typhus etc were abundant and even killed Prince Albert as the muck seeped into the water table and he drunk from a source that was infected. Injuries when riding horses are much more vicious and riders usually don’t wear anything more than a helmet. Maybe ‘anything more’ will be academic?
About the horse riders – not completely true. At least around here, most of the hobby horse riders who ride regularly wear not only helmets, but also spine protectors, special gloves etc.
Maybe the point is that you just don’t notice all of the armor they have – for example the spine protector is almost undetectable on a rider, if worn under a jacket…
So what? An overwhelming majority of people wear protective gear even to walk. And I bet that you yourself do so as well.
Sure, in this case, I mean … shoes. (Those are “protective gear” as well, and you don’t actually need them to walk).
Anything else is just a matter of “how much” protective gear you choose to put on your precious self.
(As far as horses go – I personally wouldn’t hesitate to ride a horse with no protection at all, but I completely understand those who choose to use something (more or less) for that purpose. There is always a chance that one could fall down from a considerable height, and at considerable speed, so…)
I wear essentially the same “protective gear” (i.e., normal everyday clothing, including shoes) for any activity, including cycling and horseback riding. The only concessions I make to “safety” are safety glasses and earplugs while target shooting or using a table saw, and (recently) a helmet for cycling (but only to please someone who worries about me). Back when I was into archery I usually wore an armguard, not out of any fear of injury, but because getting slapped on the arm by a bowstring is very painful.
About the horse riders – not completely true. At least around here, most of the hobby horse riders who ride regularly wear not only helmets, but also spine protectors, special gloves etc.
Maybe the point is that you just don’t notice all of the armor they have – for example the spine protector is almost undetectable on a rider, if worn under a jacket…
Even the cat knows better… ;P
Ahhh – Kitty!
Last week, a neighbour asked me to come over and see if the cat that had ‘adopted’ her was ours as one of our cats had got lost soon after we got it. (We got it back
‘Jonny’ is a beautiful short hair with Black and White patches. We fell in love right away, but remembering our heartache when Jacob was missing, we worked hard to find his owner. Leaflets in all likely doors, local shops, saying ‘Found…’ etc.
My Wife had a bright idea and started calling the Vets after we had his ‘chip’ ID’d <That’s how we got his name. The Chip company wouldn’t release any more info though> Jonny was remembered by a Vet that had treated him for a small infection last October and they told us his address. We went to see them yesterday and they were really happy to find that he was okay, so we brought him home. He immediately fell into his usual ways and ‘Flumped’ <Our term for when a cat falls on it’s side for attention!> in front of their TV – his usual ‘spot’ apparently…
So two familys happy. The owner, who’s 20+ Year Old kids loved Jonny, and us as we were glad he was home.
Some cats are wanderers and often disappear for days, but usually come home. Most are too OCD for that and stay home where the food and LOVE is! (Like our two – Sox and Jacob)
You’ve earned yourself a fair bit of good kharma.
So the ‘commenting widget’ is to be turned off?
I am too old to know all the modern terms.
Can somebody who knows explain what that is please?
(and the ramifications…)
The comments software we’ve been using for four years is broken and always has been. But by the time it became really bad, this site was already committed to it. Now they’re retiring it and so site owners using the software need to migrate to another solution.
WordPress offers the ability to import all of the old comments into their system. We’re in the process of doing that right now (2012 comments left to go). The entire site will run on WordPress, which means everything else will be simpler as well.
Except membership functionality, which has been a bear – even more difficult than moving comments. Still figuring out to handle this issue as the October deadline looms.
Rick
Thanks Rick.
A suggestion – maybe you could contact your members via email and set up some sort of ‘all memberships cancelled / no-cost re-register’ system which might be easier for you?
If I’m bombing a rock strewn, tree lined downhill then I *am* wearing not only full-face head protection, but also chest/shoulder, elbow/forearm, hip, knee/shin guards.
Makes total sense to me
I was considering getting some armor too and I only do cross country riding, not even downhil, but some trails are pretty rocky and scary with some hilly sections that I think I’d feel safer wearing some protection over my skin 
It can double as body armor when you go to the movies!
booooooooooooo
booooooo
It looks a little kinky to me…. Hmmm, is Yehuda in to bondage???
“The spider just caught a couple of flies”
Fenders!!! There’s the Cat!
Don’t laugh – some safety nazi of the Nanny State will have this mandated within 10 years. You heard it here first…
Is Fenders wearing a helmet??? Good to see kitty again. Rick, so glad you brought a shop cat into the story.
Yes! Three cheers for bringing Fenders back.
Fenders has been wearing a sort of ‘Rose’-shaped headress for some time I think?
Looks cute…
I;ve been trying to figure out what’s on his head. A helmet is as good a guess as any I had.
Yeah! If you’re going for safety, GO for SAFETY! LOL
2 points!
Yep, the only problem with that is the clavicle breaks are caused by hitting the shoulder and overloading the bone in compression, not from direct impact. That chest plate won’t do diddly to prevent broken collarbones. It might do something about blunt force trauma to the chest causing bruised lungs or heart damage from hitting the chest wall, but not much there.
I have been trying to figure out what could be done to prevent blunt force trauma to the torso, but the most effective solution continues to be either “Drive a car” or “Ban all cars”.
The first law of defence – ‘Don’t be there’!
By proper, safe, riding we keep our eyes and ears open for approaching danger and make no assumptions or arrogantly trusting to our ‘rights’.
Fear is a good life saver and a good imagination helps us understand what might befall us if we proceed with the considered course.
e.g.: ‘That junction ahead. As we approach we might have a green light or right of way but are other drivers aware of the junction even never mind approaching at a safe speed/stopping as might be expected?
By approaching every part of ride in a like manner we keep our selves as safe as possible.
There are some times when any precaution will not help us. The only protection at such times is luck and any safety equipment will not help.
The stuff that Rick is featuring here is for protection against our own misdeeds and we need to use what is appropriate to the individual circumstance as Opus says.
I watched an interesting programme yesterday that showed how the means of transport in London have changed. Before Motor Transport, Horses were the common transport means and the results were horrible. Apart from the accidents that killed 20 times more people than cars, average speeds were comparable to today. Diseases such as Typhus etc were abundant and even killed Prince Albert as the muck seeped into the water table and he drunk from a source that was infected.
Injuries when riding horses are much more vicious and riders usually don’t wear anything more than a helmet. Maybe ‘anything more’ will be academic?
Some of above I just remembered getting from ‘Roadcraft’ – the UK Police ‘Bible’ of road etiquette
There is a ‘Motorcycle Roadcraft’ I got when using a M/C and found it to be invaluable. My two crashes could never have been avoided as insufficient time to make safe plans prohibited evasive action
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorcycle-Roadcraft-Police-Handbook-Motorcycling/dp/011341143X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343205060&sr=8-1
About the horse riders – not completely true. At least around here, most of the hobby horse riders who ride regularly wear not only helmets, but also spine protectors, special gloves etc.
Maybe the point is that you just don’t notice all of the armor they have – for example the spine protector is almost undetectable on a rider, if worn under a jacket…
People actually wear protective gear to ride a *horse*?
So what? An overwhelming majority of people wear protective gear even to walk. And I bet that you yourself do so as well.
Sure, in this case, I mean … shoes. (Those are “protective gear” as well, and you don’t actually need them to walk).
Anything else is just a matter of “how much” protective gear you choose to put on your precious self.
(As far as horses go – I personally wouldn’t hesitate to ride a horse with no protection at all, but I completely understand those who choose to use something (more or less) for that purpose. There is always a chance that one could fall down from a considerable height, and at considerable speed, so…)
I wear essentially the same “protective gear” (i.e., normal everyday clothing, including shoes) for any activity, including cycling and horseback riding. The only concessions I make to “safety” are safety glasses and earplugs while target shooting or using a table saw, and (recently) a helmet for cycling (but only to please someone who worries about me). Back when I was into archery I usually wore an armguard, not out of any fear of injury, but because getting slapped on the arm by a bowstring is very painful.
About the horse riders – not completely true. At least around here, most of the hobby horse riders who ride regularly wear not only helmets, but also spine protectors, special gloves etc.
Maybe the point is that you just don’t notice all of the armor they have – for example the spine protector is almost undetectable on a rider, if worn under a jacket…