slidebite posted:

I have a decent studfinder too but that's a neat trick.

Belt test for Taekwondo today. Pretty sure I did OK because my instructor came up to me afterwards and told me I did good (though it's not for her to judge, it's the masters), but the coolest part was we did blackbelt testing today as well which only happens 2x per year, and one was a "mature" woman, I'd say 50-ish, going for her 3rd dan/degree. She's been 2nd for many years, probably 10+, but decided to do it several months back and trained drat hard.

There is something cool as hell seeing a ~50ish woman breaking multiple boards with knife hand and kicks, and then fighting off a 2 on 1 of 3rd dan blackbelts in sparring coming after her. She was getting exhausted, being constantly chased down by them and after about 3 minutes of SOLID hard core sparring (which is god drat exhausting even if it doesn't sound like much) the master said "score one more point and we'll call it" the crowd went full in cheering her on and about 15 seconds after she did an awesome high section punch on one of them, a 21 year old dude, and just landed it perfect. Snapped the guys head back and surprised him. The crowd of about 75-100 people, plus us students went nuts.

Was fantastic to watch something like that with a woman old enough to be a grandma to kick rear end.

Ether Frenzy posted:

Are you 3 years old? If not, 50 puts her more likely in your dating range than your grandma range.

Geoj posted:

Sounds like concussion symptoms.

Having been concussed twice during my childhood (both bicycle accidents, one in second and another in sixth grades) I can confirm prognosis should be excellent.

I mean, you don't want to get a concussion but having one is not a guarantee you're going to come down with dementia or CTE later in life.

STR posted:

Check with your local fire department. Some of them will offer classes to the public for very cheap - usually AED, CPR, and basic first aid all in one. It'll be on their web page if it's a thing they do.

If they don't, check with Red Cross and American Heart Association for local classes (my last certification was American Heart Association). Also check with HR at work - they may have to have a certain number of people on-site that are certified; if they do, they may pay for you to go.

MrChips posted:

ONE DAY LEFT to get your answers in for the Sheep Game!

I've only heard from 45 players so far, which is a little bit disappointing to be honest...

Suburban Dad posted:

no

Queen Combat posted:

I did it, but you're not gonna like it.

Queen Combat posted:

Queen Combat posted:

Last time the government shut down, the school and I didn't receive GI bill payments (including my rent and kicker stipend) for a few months. I had to beg to not get dropped, and paid rent with a credit card.

fridge corn posted:

America is a third world hellhole

ilkhan posted:

Fixed?

Queen Combat posted:

I thought I had a bad suspension bobble but after cleaning the trunk out the clunking stopped, so I think it was just junk shifting back and forth.

Queen Combat posted:

EMT-B won't touch EKG, it's more of a "package, stabilize, transport" job, so you're already ahead of the game. The class should be designed as the entry into healthcare, and ease you into it.

This isn't meant to be dismissive, though! The job EMTs do is the bedrock of care, and those skills are applicable at every level. They're going to pound into your head that your safety takes priority above all else, but patient safety is a close second. Don't forget that. Every scenario starts with "BSI, scene safe?" (BSI meaning body substance isolation stuff, like gloves), and both are ways to protect yourself. Even in day-to-day incidents, like someone choking in a restaurant or collapsing from an MI, you evaluate your safety before approaching and treating. Anything from panicked family members, bloody vomit with an HIV+ person, trying to treat in the middle of a roadway, or even being too physically small to heimlich Larry Bird without breaking your back, those all apply and are what 1/3rd of the class will probably be about.

In fact, studies show that BLS care (two EMTs) vs ALS care (paramedic or higher), has a vastly superior survival rate in nearly every category when they're standalone without extra equipment not usually available, due to the focus in the very important basics. The only category that ALS care shows higher survival rates, cardiac issues, is even superceded by an EMT if an AED is available to them at the time of incident.

I'd rather be surrounded by EMTs or people with a cellphone and an AED, than trusting myself in 99% of cases

SeaGoatSupreme posted:

Merry Christmas car friend! Don't follow the nremt protocol perfectly, in your first class or two you'll get your practical skills packet. THAT is your Bible, and that is what you'll be tested on in class. It is subtly different from nremt, though practically it'll all become automatic enough that the differences in what you need to say you are doing don't matter.

No one uses or has cravats to use for stabilizing limbs around here, so if your instructor is a motherfucker about it and they make you feel like you won't get it in the field, don't worry. Just pass the class and you'll be fine. I had four classmates have melt downs and drop out over an elbow sling with a single instructor.

You are smart and driven, you've got this. Also bug your local rescue to do some observer shifts. It's a lot of fun for everyone.

INCHI DICKARI posted:

On the last day promise me you'll mod me so I can send this place off proper

Goober Peas posted:

Can we talk about dicks? I hear they sell sporting goods. I hear they are spotted. I hear they have Van Dykes.

meltie posted:

Posting in the chat thread from a van on the Autobahn at 160kph

StormDrain posted:

Is there a New Years resolution thread? I forgot mine from last year.