keba

Stomach cancer is relatively common in Japan, so the barium meal is probably a Japan-only thing, and cheaper than sending all the employees for gastroscopy, which is the test more commonly used in Australia. It would never be part of an annual medical check-up here. Yes, they roll you around to let the Barium swish around in the stomach, and the X-ray pics show the lining of the stomach, and any tumours or ulcers that might be there.

Yes, my name is keba, and I have more money than brains (which says more about my intellect than it does the size of my bank account...) and I'm a brand name junkie, and I'm relieved to have it out in the open. No more shame!!!

And best grilled on a barbie, drizzled with lemon juice...mmmmm

I just can't trust the cheapies... my personal hangup, I enjoy knowing that when I have something, it's the best I can afford. I know that if we ran them side-by-side, I'd never pick the difference, but I just can't help myself...

Most of the name brand (read: expensive) units will still do region-free, you just have to enter the code, which usually involves a quick Google search with model name and "region free hack" as the search terms. I thought they all did PAL-NTSC and vice versa...

I didn't think El Nino affected Europe. I thought it was a Pacific Ocean-restricted phenomenon. Rain/snow in Chile, drought in Oz, and vice versa. That's why we had shuch a sh***y season here this year...

I though he was a dim distant memory, then I sourced youe Avatar back to its web site, and felt reborn... thank you

Mr W, 6000Y is WHY it is buggered for the second time in three years, not 'just as well'...

I normally rest at 10:30 or so, then agan at 2. Short breaks, miss the crowds, keep the ATP levels up.

Think it's too early, though, to change this site to "SnowEurope.com", and all move to Austria? As an investment in (or gamble on) the future. Think of it... real estate prices in the French Alps plummeting, resorts being sold off for a song, we jump in and buy it all up, then ZANG!! We find ourselves knee-deep in an eternal winter, holding all the cards... Who's with me?

My point being... Don't panic when you're looking out your window, the season is but a pup.

Have we forgotten how freaky 2004-05 got, after the slow start? Most snow in 20 years, I heard some locals remark in Niseko, and in Nozawa we had knee deep fresh on-piste nearly every day at 3 in the afternoon, in February, that was...

Quote: Originally posted by Rag-Doll: too confusing for joe sixpack to understand Wasn't it the basic premise of the film "The Day After Tomorrow"? Hollywood is about as mainstream "Joe Sixpack" as it gets...

Quote: Originally posted by Jeannie: Can anyone let me know if the Club Med in Sahoro, Hokaido is good? I plan to go this Dec. Anyone has been there before and can let me know if the snow condition in early Dec 10 is good for skiing? thanks So was it?

An ugly setup, but if it works...

"Who are all these new drugs? The only crack I ever had was a fat." Fantastic philosophy...

Is that Captain Goodvibes, Mantas? Couldn't quite make it out on my screen. Ah, the memories... all up in smoke...

Grab some bars and a drink and head back out... daytime is for skiing, rest at night.

What happened to all the predictions that if global warming took hold, that the Gulf Stream would stop, and plunge Europe into a perpetual winter wonderland? North America seems to be OK, so far... Let's hope Japan can hold out as long as my knees can.

My Kanji vocabulary is very limited, unfortunately. I might add Firefox just for the sole purpose of looking up Japanese sites. I may convert yet... Thanks for the tip.

It might sound obvious, but if there are a few of you, make sure there is room in (or on) the car for all your luggage, skis/boards, etc., or consider Takkyubin. Always carry chains, and try and get rental with snow tyres.

I see your point, O11.

Don't do it!!! I also have 10 years on skis, but 1st time in deep powder was tricky. I ski on Elan 666's (similar dimensions) and I found them difficult in the deep. I rented fats (Seth Pistols) and had a much better time on them... leave the Heads at home, unless you will spend all your time on the groomers. Get longer skis for powder, too, maybe 190+.

Rag-Doll, that IS the connection, that's what I'm getting at. "Collapse" is (IMHO) reverses the arguements in "G,G&S" to explore not just why some societies thrive, which "GG&S" did by hypothesising how geographical factors, indiginous flora/fauna, etc. influence the emergence of technological cultures, but to try and explain the factors which may cause previously successful technological cultures to fail. They are complementary works, but I personally preferred "GG&S". A lot of what he argues in "Collapse" is pretty obvious stuff (in hindsight, of course) and he tends to ge

That looks like reason enough to use FF over IE!