THE_Sparkchaser ATL

Acer Aspire laptop, up until yesterday when I would hit the "fn" key to adjust the volume, the caps lock key, or the num lock key, I would get a display on my screen, in purple, that showed me the status of what I was adjusting. Apparently I was a little tired the other morning and hit some funky keystroke combination to turn it off. How the heck do I turn it back on??

ITF practitioners: the International Instructor Course being conducted in Denver, CO on April 9-11 is still open for registration; the deadline for paperwork and fees has been extended until March 15th.

Go to www.tkd-itf.org and click on activites/upcoming events, then scroll down the page until you see the 52nd International Instructors Course info and get on it!

Those who have attended before, are you going back? Black belts who haven't attended one yet, are you going this year? If not, do you plan to attend one in the future?

Okay, this is for all the global warming alarmists out there...

According to "expert" predictions, "scientific" forecasts, etc., etc., etc., the Earth is warming at an ALARMING rate, and it is PREDICTED that major climate changes over the next 10, 20, 100, etc., years are gong to drastically change our planet, quite possibly so drastically that all life as we know it will be irrevocably altered, possibly even destroyed, by this change. Predictions of more frequent, more violent hurricanes and tornadoes, heavy rain/drought (depending on who you ask), hotter summers and milder winters, depletion of the ozone, shifting regional climates, etc., etc., are constantly being pushed out to the public as Gospel truth, paired with the admonition that if we don't change our ways, we are doomed. This of course has resulted in the resurgence of the green people, who blame humans (Americans in particular) for all of the Earth's woes.

HOWEVER, a recent article about the disparities between the forecasts of the Farmer's Almanac (which claims an 80-85% accuracy rate for its predictions) and the National Weather Service has produced an interesting assertion from Ed O'Lenic, the Chief of Opertaions for the NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. According to Mr. O'Lenic, it is "impossible" to forecast weather more than a week ahead of time (this is in response to the Almanac's "predictions" being prepared up to 2 years in advance of publication). He goes on to say that "Of course it's possible to prepare a forecast with any lead time you like. Whether or nor that forecast has any accuracy or usable skill is another question."

Now, I'm not one to advocate excessive overuse of natural and finite resources, and surely don't support widespread pollution at the cost of our planet, but if this is true, and Mr. O'Lenic is a respected and authoritative member of the climate prediction crowd, how is it possible for anyone to tell us, with ANY accuracy whatsoever, what the weather will be like in 100 years if they can't tell us with any surety what the weather will be like next Thursday??

Just trying to figure out the discrepancy here. Those of you "in the know" please help me out here...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080824/ap_on_re_us/fa...

I'm just curious: I've been around for a day or two, seen quite a number of "street" fights, unfortunately been involved in a couple, but for the life of me I am unable to identify more than a handful of attacks that are commonplace. It appears that we have a "street" expert in our midst, so I would like to respectfully and humbly ask said "expert" if he would be so kind as to enlighten all of us on just what these 50 attacks are, so that we may better prepare ourselves to be as skillful in our dealings with "street" situations as he.

To any others who have knowledge on what these 50 attacks are, your input would be MOST welcome, as I have only had 20 years of military training martial arts study, and feel that without this particular knowledge, my training will be incomplete and ineffective.

it difficult to find serious questions to answer lately?

With the litany of "Who would win...?", "Which style is better/worse/more effective in a street fight/against multiple attackers/against a grizzly bear?", "Did Chuck Norris really do this to Bruce Lee (or vice versa)?", "How do I become a Ninja(samurai/karate expert/etc.)?" type questions, I think it is time Yahoo! creat subsections in the Martial Arts Forum. Probably won't stop the flow of these questions, but at LEAST it would give those of us who are looking for serious exchange to more easily report questions as being miscategorized. Maybe a section for martial arts comparisons, one for Chuck Norris/Bruce Lee facts and myths, and MOST DEFINTELY a separate category for all things MMA. I for one would welcome such a change. Anyone else?

Okay, I've been reading a book on Ancient Greece covering prehistoric to Hellenistic times (I was EXTREMELY bored one night, okay?), and have reached a chapter dealing with Plato and his teachings (many of which are attributed to Socrates). I understand somewhat the "Socratic method", i.e. challenging initial assumptions through questioning the basis for the assumption; and Platonic thought seems to follow the same vein, with Plato's "Conversations" written in a style as if Socrates was conducting the inquiry (often invoking Socrates himself). However, I'm not getting the link between Platonic thought and platonic relationships. Maybe I need to read more Plato to get it, but right now it escapes me Anyone got any insight??

Okay, it's been a hundred years since I had any exposure to Kenpo, but a recent question got me thinking of the old days, and a question has popped up that won't let go:

At what Dan rank does a Kenpo practitioner wear a red sash, as opposed to a black belt? I seem to remember my instructor in college mentioning that his instructor wore a red sash...could be old age, but help me out here guys...

I am looking for the translation of "General", as in a military General, from English to Korean. I can find the characters, but am unable to find the pronunciation...formal, please, it is for a martial arts class

Watched the fight scene between Master Norris and Master Lee today (haven't seen it in YEARS)...one thing stuck out that has me bumfuzzled...

what, exactly, is the significance of the derned CAT that they keep cutting to? First it looks like he is watching, then it looks like he may be getting the heck out of Dodge, then he's watching again, then he's playing with a derned rock!!!

Am I reading too much into this? It this just a prop for comedic effect, or is there some special significance to the cat??

This is your boss...why are you sitting here reading questions on Yahoo Answers when I am waiting for your weekly report?!?!?

Now....

How many of you actually looked over your shoulder after reading this one??

Tell the truth....star if you did

Alright, Just got the New Gleam from Verizon, but would like to know how to get the ringtones I have already purcjaed on it. Seems a bit like a scheme for me to have to purchase them again, but got a "DRM PROTECTION" error whjen I tried to transfer them to the verizon web. What am I doing wrong, or is it simply not possible to move them from one phone to another??