Jim, it is the suit that is getting you on the valves. That 450 is like
wearing chainmail.

Pizzio needs to contribute more to the list and skip the private stuff. For
instance, I would like to hear about what happened when Pizzio sold that
piece of shit Inspiration that he had to one of Tom Mouth's students and
Mouth was stupid enough to teach the guy some course on it in a cave. I hear
the thing did the usual. Also, since Mike P is on the Inspiration list,
maybe he can pass on to us info about the death last week by another brave
Brit whose "buddies" watched him black out and drift away - good British
buddy system, tough guy, every man for himself solo rebreather diving with
the worst of the worst piece of shit ever invented, and maybe he can tell us
now what the body count for that unit is, and stop worrying so much about
things that are not going anyone any good.

If there were not such a code of silence on the rebreather death rate, we
might save a few lives. Pizzio has the information and first hand experience
to make that contribution.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Cobb [mailto:cobber@ci*.co*]
Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2002 10:39 PM
To: Paul Braunbehrens; techdiver@aquanaut.com
Subject: Re: Behind every dark cloud there is a silver lining


I figured I'd get a few boots in the ass on the way out. But all
considering, this is not too bad. This guy and Mike Pizzio (who at least had
the balls to use his real name) are the only ones who have decided to
torment me so far. And Pizzio pretty much said it was because of the hard
time we gave Barnett for trying to hide that embolism he had on one of his
trips. Pizzio also claims I wronged him on these lists but I cannot find any
posts where I did this. If anyone can find them, please forward them to Mike
as he can't find them either.

I've had a lot of strong discussions on this list, I call 'em as I see em,
and have always done it under my true name. Some of the discussions have
gotten a bit out of hand at times, but no hard feelings on my part. What
takes place on this list has no bearing at all on the real world, at least
my real world. Some accuse me of being a know-it-all, fine, they had every
opportunity to call me on it on this list and discuss it. If they decided
not to, well then I must have been right.

As far as being fat, I am a big guy, 6'3" and did weigh upwards of 290lbs at
one point. When I came down with pneumonia this winter I lost 15lbs and
decided to keep on going. I'm at a more reasonable 265 now. The pnumonia
thing was a reality check, anyone who has had it knows what I mean. It had
some bearing in how I view my life and particularly my family. I don't smoke
cigarettes and I don't do drugs. I do love a glass of fine Malmsey once in a
while, however.

And as far as the 450 is concerned, even at 265 I cannot reach the goddamn
valves.

Taking a break from tech diving was a hard decision. As all of you who
actually dive know, the sport has an addictive quality to it. I don't know
if it is the adventure, the adrenlin rush you get as you see that wreck come
out of the gloom or the comradarie of good friends (or the blind-drunk
narcosis for some of you) that causes this. But whatever it is, I will miss
it.

My only words of advice to you guys is to listen to George, he will save you
much time, money and grief, perhaps even your life. And take the DIR
fundamentals course. For the price of one tech trip you can improve your
survival skills 1000%.

And remember, boys and girls, there is nothing down there worth dieing for.
If you have doubts about your skills, then you need to practice until you
can resolve those doubts. If you see someone who is completely clueless and
is about to kill themselves, do them a favor and tell them that they are
about to kill themselves. Don't let them walk off the boat, like Chris
Murley did.

If they do go ahead and walk off, then at least your consience will be
clear.

   Jim


On 5/9/02 12:05 PM, "Paul Braunbehrens" <Bakalite@ba*.co*> wrote:

> It's because of assholes such as this, that people don't own up to
> their mistakes.  This hurts the diving community as a whole.  I for
> one have a lot of respect for Jim, for having the guts to come out
> and say that he's not ready.  The reason it takes guts is exactly
> because there are assholes like the one who posted the message below.
> I've had some disagreements with Jim in the past, and yes, he can be
> abrasive.  This does not, however, give one license to shoot him down
> in public when he does the right thing.
>
> I'd just like to add that whoever this asshole is, he's also a
> coward, since he doesn't have the guts to sign his name.
>
>
> CobbtheSlob@ao*.co* wrote:
> ~
>> Since I am too fat to dive and I have proudly announced my inept
stupidity to
>> the world I have decided to market my own line of dive gear to
accommodate
>> the morbidly obese diver.
>>
>>       COBB THE SLOB LTD. PROUDLY ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST PRODUCT!!!!
>>
>>
>>                                    THE COBBWINDER!
>>
>> The original slobbwinder was designed for fat slobs who can't reach their
>> valves.
>>
>> NOW!!!  THE NEW IMPROVED COBBWINDER controls all three valves and is
>> named after the self proclaimed expert and fat slob, JIM COBB.  The
>> COBBWINDER is US made of stainless 440 steel cable so when you decide you
are
>> totally worthless because you failed out of a DIR fundamentals course you
can
>> use it to hang yourself WHILE STILL WEARING YOUR DOUBLES from the highest
>> tree around without fear of the cable snapping under your tremendous
weight!
>>
>> Now you can stop blaming your constrictive drysuit instead of your
obesity.
>>
>> Get the new "COBBWINDER" today!  ACT NOW for BONUS McDonald's and Pizza
Hut
>> Coupons!!!  Pack on the pounds!
>>
>> ***Coupon offer void where prohibited.
>> --
>> Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'.
>> Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
>
> --
> Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'.
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>

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