anechka

Good luck to you too Haha, awesome! See you then! Yeah, I've been hearing conflicting opinions about wearing a camel pack. Don't think I'll be using it, seems like it'll just get in the way and the water stations should be enough. Do you think the vibrams are better than shoes?

Thanks so much Dirty! Yeah, I keep hearing the freezing water is one of the worst parts, not looking forward to that. NJGF team sounds like an awesome idea. As for matching donations, we're trying to get our company to sponsor/match donations, so hopefully that'll work out. Four?! And you enjoy the live wire obstacle?? Maybe they've scrambled the brain a bit... Any tips for a newcomer? Maybe we'll be seeing you at the one in NJ then! Thanks, and good luck to you as well.

Okay guys, here's the deal: A bunch of co-workers and I have registered for a "mud marathon" known as Tough Mudder. It's a 12 mile long run with mud, fire, live wires, freezing water, obstacles, etc. that takes place around the US throughout the year. We'll be attending the one on Oct. 20th in Englishtown, NJ (Raceway Park). Tough Mudder is not a race, but a challenge that you take on with your teammates. You must work together to overcome miles of obstacles. We're very excited to take on the challenge, but we're also excited at the opportunity to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. Tough Mudder is a sponsor of the program, which aims to aid and honor US service members that have sustained injuries in fights overseas post Sept. 11, 2001. Many veterans and currently enlisted "Wounded Warriors" participate in Tough Mudder. Every registrant for the run gets the chance to raise money for the organization if they wish. I figured it's a great way to give back to the inspiring men and women, who have fought and continue to fight for our country every day. If anyone's interested in donating, here's the link: https://www.raceit.com/fundraising/donate.aspx?event=10006&fundraiser=r2796419 Any amount is greatly appreciated and goes directly towards the Wounded Warrior Project (more info here if you're interested). Thanks for your time NJGF! My team will be sure to post pics from the race afterwards. We're a bunch of pharmacy techs and pharmacists, so it should be interesting!

Was going to +1 you for that, but then saw your answer for #9....

I worked for Walgreens briefly a couple of years ago for a full time summer job. While the job sucked and the manager was terribly annoying, I have to say that Walgreens is VERY thorough on informing its employees about the company policies, regulations, rules, etc. The first few days of training are solely dedicated to reading, learning, and being quizzed on company policies. The one that stands out to me in light of this discussion is of course that of what to do in the situation of a robbery. The policy of Walgreens is to without question hand over the cash drawer along with any other valuables that the robber may demand. You are NOT under any circumstances allowed to have any weapons, or to try and save the money/valuables. For the safety of yourself and other customers (and I'm sure for insurance purposes as well), you are taught to avoid eye contact and hand over the money, not try and fight the criminal. This procedure was stressed greatly in training, because Walgreens tend to be targets for criminals because of the money/ciggs/pharmaceutical drugs combo. While working there, anytime a Walgreens in the area was robbed at gunpoint, a notice went out to all of the other Walgreens in the area informing them of what happened. I always read the notices-the cashier handed over the money, and the criminal left without gunfire. Walgreens is very clear in telling employees that they are doing the right thing when they hand over the cash, and that a few hundred dollars lost is better than a dead employee/customer. The employee would suffer no risk of being fired for following this procedure. This is not to say that it's the right procedure, or that I agree with it, et cetera. But it is Walgreens policy and it is taught to us very thoroughly. EDIT: Forgot to add that I'm not sure if the weapons policy varies by state, but NJ Walgreens policy is pretty obvious. Regardless, he broke company policy and put others in danger. I think his being fired is justified.

BTW, can't make it out on Sunday. Have fun though!

Is it too late to be put down for a maybe?

Thanks for the videos!

happy birthday!

Not sure if you're serious or joking. I'm going to go with joking.

Lol, that was meant as a joke for Ray-Ray, took it down about 10/15 minutes ago, thinking "Someone's actually going to think I'm serious..." Lo and behold.

For $20 extra, I'll throw in a car wash.

To think that everyone from a formerly/currently communist country is a "commie" or supports the ideologies of their government speaks volumes about your perspective and knowledge of the world. Coming from someone born in a formerly Soviet country (though I don't recall much of it, being very young) and from a family of those who DID experience Soviet Russia for all of their lives-it is NOTHING to celebrate. Though I will always be proud of my nationality and my family history, I am very well aware of the pained past (and present) of the Russian people. Even to this day, the effects of the Cold War are still evident in Russia-it is a history we might never live down. But to think that we all just lived behind the iron curtain blindly believing everything and supporting the very government that killed millions of its own people-that's just foolish (though of course, there were supporters). Russia under Stalin's rule was one of the most catastrophic periods in recent history. It is an era that I assure you-no one wanted to live through. Kalashnikov's achievements should be celebrated-he designed a popular, reliable, and efficient rifle, one that was used to defend his country, and one that is used around the world to this day. Is it always used for the betterment of man? Not always. To celebrate him as a person-I can't do that, because I don't know him on a personal level, I can't say for sure our views of the world line up. But did Albert Einstein want his work to lead to a never-ending arms race? He urged that the atomic bomb be created because it was suspected Germany was doing the same-he urged it be created for protection, because he knew the power of Nazi Germany, and he believed it was needed should anything catastrophic happen. Kalashnikov wanted to create a rifle that worked, not necessarily to help his government, but to defend his country-his people. I doubt that while he was working on his rifle, he was hoping it would end up in the arms of every radical and lunatic this world has to offer-but like another poster quoted-terrorists are not fools in the sense that when it comes to choosing weaponry-they will choose the best weapons they can. If you have a goal to accomplish, and it requires arms-you're going to go for top-shelf stuff. Both men achieved their goals-with consequences, of course-but that is the nature of this world. Absolutely nothing comes without some kind of consequence. Sometimes they are unforeseen, unfortunately. Also-give yourself a history lesson and do some research on all of the countries the U.S. has invaded/been stationed in. The innocent people we've killed, with a variety of different weapons. We get in everyone's business. And yet we point fingers at other countries and denounce them for doing the same. It doesn't matter what weapons we use-"a rose by any other name would smell as sweet"-what matters is the person behind the weapon. Just agree that certain inventions benefited mankind somewhere somehow, and let's move on. And please get over your "commie" bs, it's unattractive and makes you look like an idiot. That **** is so 80s, just stfu and play with an AK, I think you'll enjoy it.