It's hard to put a memorial to such an interesting and dynamic person as Gordon into a few words, but I need to say something.
Many of you know Gordon as the man behind the KISS, but I saw another side of him. Maybe you didn't get to see that side.
Gordon was an iconoclast of the first order. He questioned everything and everyone, deciding for himself. He read voraciously with a particular interest in economics and could discuss current world events with the best.
Gordon had a way of getting to the heart of complex issues. You may not always agree, but it was always worth listening.
Some of you will recognize Gordon in these:
Quote: (Originally Posted by Gordon Smith)
Regardless of the method employed the death rate worldwide still stands
at one per person.
Quote: (Originally Posted by Gordon Smith)
Peoples risk perception is almost always focused on the most dramatic rather than the most probable.
Quote: (Originally Posted by Gordon Smith)
And in America men wear suspenders in public and braces are something the orthodontist puts on your teeth, we name out daughters Fanny and shag is something we put on the floor rather than do on the floor. In England everyone can get knocked up every day but in America it only happens to women and at the most every nine months.
It's amazing we can communicate at all. Or do we?
Quote: (Originally Posted by Gordon Smith)
>Dear gordon,
>Do you really think that as soon as we get alarms we tend to rely on it and
>forget to monitor ppO2?
Absolutely! Though the degree depends on the attitude of the diver.
It is easy to test the phenomenon yourself:
Take your motorcycle (mountain bike will do), put on all of your protective
gear, (helmet, boots, gloves, knee pads, leathers,etc.). Now go find a nice
gravel road that winds up a steep hill and ride to the top at the highest
speed you feel comfortable. When you get to the top park the bike and take
off not just your protective equipment but your cloths as well. Now ride
back down the same road and notice the difference in your riding technique.
If there isn't any difference in your riding technique I would suggest
avoiding rebreathers altogether.
Quote: (Originally Posted by Gordon Smith)
Eventually everything (and everyone) f**ks up.