I started diving off of starting blocks when I was eight years old. I am now 51, and train at the Y, almost always alone, as there is no Masters program in the county where I live, or in any of the immediately adjacent counties. (There are several age group programs.) I want to work on my starts, but none of the Y's where I swim will let me use the blocks - saying that a national Y policy prohibits anyone from using the blocks unless a team/club coach is on the deck.
I have never heard of anyone suing a YMCA because of an accident on a starting block.
Yes, perhaps a coach would be valuable to me in this regard, but I'm not looking for a coach - I need and want a cooperative facility. The age groups' program schedules are not conducive to my schedule, and besides, the age group coaches already have enough on their hands during those times with lanes full of kids working their programs. I also am not excited about having to dodge those kids to do the work I need to do.
Anyone find a way to conquer this litigation-fear-induced insanity yet? Thank you.
(sigh) I thought I had escaped from this thread, only to have Connie suck me back into it. ;)
Edited: Nevermind what I had posted before. :D This is much better.
www.vanfirm.com/mcdonalds-coffee-lawsuit.htm
You'll notice in the article, that most of the jury felt the same way before the trial (when all they heard came from the media), but changed their minds after they heard all of the facts.
I thought this passage was interesting:
"I drink McDonald's coffee because it's hot, the hottest coffee around," says Robert Gregg, a Dallas defense attorney who consumes it during morning drives to the office. "But I've predicted for years that someone's going to win a suit, because I've spilled it on myself. And unlike the coffee I make at home, it's really hot. I mean, man, it hurts."
Originally posted by gull80
But the question that's on everyone's mind is, were you wearing a clown suit at the time, as promised?
Oh no, I forgot that angle. I'll have to try again. Dang it, gull, you and your memory.
Originally posted by mattson
...but changed their minds after they heard all of the
Was the jury asleep for the fact that the WOMAN SPILLED IT ON HERSELF? Did a McDonald's employee jump on the roof of her car causing it to spill while wearing a clown suit?
I don't care if McD's serves their coffee the temperature of molten metal on the surface of ten suns, any ole doofus who puts it between their legs while driving should be barred from a lawsuit.
I'll continue to risk life and limb and drink hot coffee. I'll also be sure to keep my lawyer buddy on speed dial in the event I need to blame someone else for my actions.
Originally posted by aquageek
For the record, He Who Shall Not Be Named's time is easy to eclipse by a wide margin. I credit Ellison's V02Max shampoo.
That's quite true!
Originally posted by gull80
60 degrees? C'mon, Gareth. I respect your swimming knowledge but you're off base here.
Since we don't have a Starbucks in our town (hard to believe, I know) my wife bought me an Italian espresso machine for my birthday. The temperature of the coffee is 180 degrees. I steam the milk to 160-170 degrees (which is what Starbucks does--I asked). Why does the machine produce such hot coffee? Is it due to negligence on the part of the manufacturer? Is there some intent to harm the consumer? Or is it because coffee tastes better hot (a fact which has been known for centuries)? I don't hold the cup between my legs, I use a travel mug in the car, I keep small children at a safe distance, and if I burn myself I curse my stupidity and/or clumsiness. Alternatively, I could always file a lawsuit.
Can I second what you said? :)
I just went downstairs and my Mr. Coffee is 170 degrees. Being a swamp dweller, I can't afford a fancy I-talian coffee machine. I keep my hot water heater at 120 so I filled up my coffee cup with hot water from the tap and drank it. Yuck, way too cold for coffee. I can't imagine 130 would be any better.
I have come to the following conclusions:
A - If you are a plaintiff atty or a male swimmer from the UK, you prefer luke warm coffee. I take that back, plaintiff atty's prefer hot coffee as it is better for lawsuits. Our British friends also like lukewarm beer so I respect their consistent approach to beverage temparature.
B - New Bern is the only town in America without a Starbucks but gull80 is serving fancy latte's after practice so who cares.
On a totally separate topic, some of you will recall I was roundly ridiculed for not being man enough to swim the 1000 last winter. Well, I'm still not man enough to do it regularly but was forced to in practice today in preparation for an open water swim. For the record, He Who Shall Not Be Named's time is easy to eclipse by a wide margin. I credit Ellison's V02Max shampoo.
Originally posted by aquageek
On a totally separate topic, some of you will recall I was roundly ridiculed for not being man enough to swim the 1000 last winter. Well, I'm still not man enough to do it regularly but was forced to in practice today in preparation for an open water swim. For the record, He Who Shall Not Be Named's time is easy to eclipse by a wide margin. I credit Ellison's V02Max shampoo.
But the question that's on everyone's mind is, were you wearing a clown suit at the time, as promised?
Originally posted by Conniekat8
Can I second what you said? :)
Yes you may, but be careful--the attorneys are out there, circling. I think I saw their dorsal fins.
Originally posted by Gareth Eckley
I am out of here, the point was made, if some want to ignore the extra 60 degrees of temp then so be it!
60 degrees? C'mon, Gareth. I respect your swimming knowledge but you're off base here.
Since we don't have a Starbucks in our town (hard to believe, I know) my wife bought me an Italian espresso machine for my birthday. The temperature of the coffee is 180 degrees. I steam the milk to 160-170 degrees (which is what Starbucks does--I asked). Why does the machine produce such hot coffee? Is it due to negligence on the part of the manufacturer? Is there some intent to harm the consumer? Or is it because coffee tastes better hot (a fact which has been known for centuries)? I don't hold the cup between my legs, I use a travel mug in the car, I keep small children at a safe distance, and if I burn myself I curse my stupidity and/or clumsiness. Alternatively, I could always file a lawsuit.
