rpbobcat
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Posts posted by rpbobcat
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16 minutes ago, BigW said:
Common sense would have someone knowledgeable making safety checks on a structure, say weekly, in the case of a tour. Joints, fasteners, cracks in materials, etc. The thing then would be to make sure if this happens it can be quickly replaced or repaired.
The other trick, Jim, is to overengineer the prop with a high safety factor so it can withstand 2-3 times the actual weight and stresses that it bears at any time in a performance. Dad (Engineer) and I built the DM Podium for my HS and told them it had a 5 year life- Dad smartly built it well enough it was used for about 10-15 years with no incident, thankfully. Props can be safely and smartly designed.
I've posted on this topic before.
I'm an engineer and ,when it comes to props ,some of the things I've seen in DCI, scares the crap out of me.
1. Just for the sake of liability ,I would think that a prop's design should be certified by a Licensed Professional Engineer, Architect etc.
2.Again, if for no other reason then liability, I would think a corps would have one or more "qualified" individuals inspecting each time a prop is assembled and/or dismantled.
3.There should also be a signed maintenance log kept for each prop ,each time it is assembled/disassembled documenting its condition ,including any damage and repairs with dates and specifics as to that repair.
Maybe this comes off as "over kill" till someone gets hurt.
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1 hour ago, RiverCityAndTroopersFan said:
I’m pretty sick of the random person saying cadets are gonna shut down. We went through this with SCV and they are alive and kickin’
The situation with SCV was a lot different.
If I read correctly, their issues had to do with the state compliance, including their BINGO operation.
The Cadets are dealing with both financial and legal issues.
If the stories about The Cadets liquidating assets are true, they are in a dire financial situation.
Living in North Jersey, I know a number of Cadets alumni.
They all say the same thing about the Cadets selling off pretty much everything.
From the Board Chair's October 16,2023 "Message" I anticipated some type of "follow up". But, to date, nothing.
I would think if The Cadets planned on coming back, they'd be doing some type fund raising, including for the Maroon and Gold Club.
I've been a member of the Maroon and Gold Club going back to the early 80's but haven't heard a word from the organization.
The on going litigation just makes things worse.
The "Cadets Are Being Sued . . . " thread provides a pretty good analysis of the legal problems the organization faces.
I would love to see The Cadets back on the field.
Just doesn't seem like, even if it can happen ,it won't be anytime soon.
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49 minutes ago, Terri Schehr said:
I’ll bet @rpbobcat can answer that question.
Both he and Jim work on stadium projects in different fields of engineering. I’ll bet one thing that they can agree on is that the projects are seldom finished on the initially assigned deliverable date. Jim has worked on Hard Rock in Miami, The Niners stadium in San Jose, Raiders stadium in Las Vegas…more I can’t remember… he’s working on the Bills stadium as we speak.
I'll try.
Right now the state of the art synthetic turf system I use is Field Turf "CORE".
The technical definition of it is "multi-layer, dual -polymer fiber" (mono filament).
Its the next generation of synthetic turf.
Many synthetic turf fields, including ,it is my understanding ,LOS , are some type of "Slit Film" system.
A lot of players attribute "Slit Film" to injuries, including "non contact".
Met Life switched to "CORE" this season.
The players say its a big improvement over the "Slit Film ".
As far as synthetic turf projects not being finished on time, that's the norm,
not the exception.
I tell my clients to build plenty of "what if " time when they are planning on having a
project ready by a certain date.
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18 hours ago, IllianaLancerContra said:
US swim Olympic trials at LOS 15-23 June. Field ripped off & temporary pool(s) installed. After that new field installed. I know in NFL if for some reason stadium isn’t ready for a game then they typically play at other teams stadium.
So DCI better have a plan. Better to plan & not need than vice versa.
https://www.lucasoilstadium.com/event/2024-u-s-olympic-team-trials-swimming/DCI Finals start 8/08/24.
If my math is correct, that's 46 calendar days to remove the temporary pools, stands, etc.
Then repair any damage to the LOS concrete floor, that may occur during pool construction and or removal.
Then install and test the new synthetic turf.
That's tight at best.
I also wonder what LOS's contract says for a "drop dead" date for the contractor.
Somehow, I think the NFL Season, not DCI Finals is the priority.
As others have posted, DCI better have a plan, just in case.
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8 hours ago, denverjohn said:
I remember the year Cadets guard went to "comas" as a replacement to simulated rifles claiming that the rifles were too "militaristic".
I know that, "he whose name will not be mentioned" said, on several occasions, his goal was to eliminate any guard apparatus that
had a military " tie-in".
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20 minutes ago, IllianaLancerContra said:
I would add something like ‘If actual assault or other crime is suspected, local law enforcement is contacted immediately so evidence can be collected, witnesses interviewed, and proper legal jurisdiction established’.
I'd go a step further.
I'm sure every corps has legal representation.
In addition to what you suggest, I would like to see any allegation, of any type of direct abuse, be reviewed by the corps' legal council and he makes the call whether law enforcement should be contacted.
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1 hour ago, Jeff Ream said:
staff doesnt make a livable wage. they get paid when they are with the corps. and in todays world, you can't get many people to be able to take the entire summer off to go on tour. so you need this many people. some only do camps. some can only do a week on tour. some can do a week now, and a week later. the only folks making any "significant" amount are designers or caption heads. and most of them aren't raising their tax bracket just on what a corps pays them
"Not making a livable wage " doesn't really say much.
According to the posts on this thread, this is a side gig for a lot of teachers.
No issues with that.
I just want to know how (per hour, lump sum contract , etc. ) these people are being paid and how much corps are paying them for a Summer Job ?
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52 minutes ago, 84BDsop said:
*sigh* As has been said NUMEROUS TIMES over the YEARS this has been going on, they are NOT all full timers. They drift in and out a the season progresses.
You might see 2 plate techs if their schedules overlap, but for the most part they are NOT all there at the same time.
Read my post.
I never said they were all full timers.
I said " I presumed they were all getting paid".
Full time or not, they are all getting paid.
Questions to me are :
1. Why do you need that big a percussion staff ?
2.How much is each staff member being paid ?
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10 hours ago, Jeffe77 said:
SCV Percussion Staff!💚❤️
➡️ First percussion audition is coming up on November 25th-26th in San Jose, CA.
22 member percussion staff.
For a corps that's already had "issues".
I presume they are all getting paid ?
And people wonder why people say corps spending in "out of control".
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17 hours ago, dcifanforlife said:
Per DCI's 990 for year ending 12/31/22 they had a cash reserves of $5,596,240. On $14,677,561 revenue they paid $111,185 for insurance. Less than 1 percent which is what most corps pay. You are not going to get any news on this lawsuit until it is settled and documents sealed. Only way to get any details is to show up in court and watch proceedings. Instead you to come on DCP and make up all types of wild theories.
A couple of questions:
1. Where can you find DCI's 990's ?
2.Do the 990's "itemize" the sources for $14 M revenues ?
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5 hours ago, fighterkit said:
My assumption is being a corps director and an EE is hard
Hate to be stupid, but what is an E.E. ?
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2 hours ago, IllianaLancerContra said:
At the risk of starting a thread that will likely go off the rails at some point, court website says both DCI & SoA have been officially served w/ lawsuit. So the process is moving forward. Still no link to actual legal docs. Next step likely hearing (currently unscheduled) where defendants will likely argue that the case should be dismissed.
Also possible it settles out-of-court.
As I've posted, I do a lot of Expert Testimony in Civil and Criminal Cases.
In my experience , even requesting a dismissal is a ways off.
I wouldn't think a judge would consider it at least until there are Interrogatories and depositions.
A settlement is always possible.
But, if the point of the lawsuit is not primarily financial, but to bring light to the issue, plaintiffs may not want to settle.
If that's the case DCI & SoA could, depending on specifics of the case, "Summary Judgement ".
But a lot of judges out here in NJ can be hesitant to grant it.
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1 hour ago, TheOneWhoKnows said:
I've been told the board is coming out with an update tomorrow (Wednesday) with more information and ways the fans/community can help.
Ways other then send money ?
Send lots of money.
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2 hours ago, Terri Schehr said:
I was reading that the Ohio State Marching Band only has about 10% music majors. I expect it’s probably not much different with the Marching Illini. I don’t really know about other college Marching bands.
I know that the Ohio University Marching 110 (240 MM actually, long story) are less then 20% Music Majors.
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58 minutes ago, DAL-27 said:
It's likely that this lawsuit will be covered under the organizations insurance.
I'd change "likely" to "may be".
I'm an engineer and land surveyor.
I carry Professional Liability (Errors and Omissions ) Insurance.
If I get sued, and file a claim, my Insurance Company reviews the suit and my files to determine if I followed the "due diligence" required under my policy.
They find I didn't.
I'm SOL.
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9 hours ago, IllianaLancerContra said:
And it will be interesting (understatement) to read deposition/testimony of DCI BoD, ED, etc on what happened behind scenes in 2018. Not to mention trying to explain why they didn’t put in place an effective system to prevent it EVER happening again.
I do a lot of expert testimony.
I don't know how it works with entities like DCI or non-profits, that is, whether the depositions are a "public record".
But , in my experience, based on civil cases I've been involved in , the depositions may never see the "light of day".
A lot of the time, after depositions are taken, one side or the other will decide, based on the deposition testimony, to "settle".
If that happens, both sides can agree to have the records sealed.
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1 hour ago, Jeff Ream said:
wow. sorry you had that issue.... i have rarely had issues with their preorders
Been doing it for years too , going back to the days when you could keep the same seats year to
year.
First time I ever had a problem with a preorder "code" .
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6 hours ago, Jeff Ream said:
i got the email at 11:30
I'm glad you did.
It was supposed to go out at 11:45.
After I put up my post I got several PM's from people having the
same problem I did.
I called DCI and got a very nice guy on guy the phone.
(Don't remember his name)
After confirming I was eligible for the presale he was able to let me order
over the phone.
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I got an email from DCI on Friday for the 2024 Easts Presale.
Starts at 12:00 Today.
It said DCI would be sending out an email this morning with the code to buy tickets.
Its now after 11:00 and nothing.
Just wondering if anyone has gotten the email yet ?
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23 minutes ago, Tony Flores said:
MLS Owners want their clubs playing on natural grass, it attracts top talent to play for that club. With Messi playing MLS, hes starting to attract players to finish their careers in the US and most do not want to play on artificial turf, additionally FIFA will not play on artificial turf so thats fat revenue they could miss out on.
If Field Turf's "core" turf lives up to its advertising and if the checks are big enough,
soccer players may change their minds.
Same with FIFA, given the concessions they made for the last World Cup, they also seem open to anything, if the price is right.
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6 minutes ago, Tony Flores said:
1) NFLPA's CBA does not expire until 2030, i doubt the request for natural grass fields will be added to the CBA until then.
2) The remaining artificial turf stadiums could go with what the Santiago Bernabeu (CF Real Madrid) has done with their pitch, and it's pretty #### cool:
https://youtu.be/xZZs6BxLYHM?si=W9sp4chi5-fOuw87
As an engineer, that is a very interesting system.
I don't know how feasible it is for most stadiums.
Sounds like "real Madrid" is pretty much rebuilding the stadium.
Also it will be a few years before anyone knows how well the system
works.
I'd also like to know the cost.
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1 hour ago, keystone3ply said:
Is it ok to post a reddit link? Tried above but I wouldn't let me type. 🤷♂️
If you google "Chris Williams Drum Corps" ,the reddit thread is one of the things that comes up.
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13 hours ago, lawdn said:
I recall there is someone on DCP that has a fair amount of current expertise on artificial turf fields so perhaps they will weigh in. I vaguely recall that there was some experimentation in decades past with grass fields in domed stadiums, but that seems to have gone away, probably understandably.
I design natural and synthetic turf fields.
1.As far a growing grass in domes, the only place I know where it works is where you can move the grass outside then
move it back in for games.
2.This year Met Life replaced their "split filament" turf with Field Turf "Core".
Its a (to get technical) "multi -layered, dual polymer fiber".
I haven't used it yet.
Its intended to address problems , especially with "non contact" injuries that
are an issue with "slit filament".
Its also supposed to be "softer" (more like natural grass).
A lot of that is the "infill".
It did get generally positive reviews from Jets and Giants players.
3.Natural turf and synthetic turf have both positives and negatives.
Natural turf's biggest positive is that it can have better "cushioning".
Except in cold weather.
And cleats don't tend to get caught in it.
But its not as durable, and nightmare to maintain.
That was one of the issues at Met Life where you have 2 NFL teams.
If you play on it after a rain, it gets destroyed.
New sod takes months to "root".
Natural turf also has to "rest" between uses.
Normally you can only use natural turf 2-3 days a week.
Pretty much every field I do now is synthetic.
4. From listening to players and doctors on the radio, Rogers took a hit and
landed "awkwardly".
They said his leg "stretched " when he landed.
They also said that, in addition to his "football age " the fact that had has had calf issues could have
contributed to the injury.
What I can tell you is, despite concerns, and Rogers' injury, last night Ridgewood N.J.
approved a new synthetic turf field.
They said natural turf wasn't viable, given the use field will get .
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17 hours ago, LabMaster said:
I’m sure some have, but likely many don’t, because their orgs aren’t set up to coordinate with them, or may not be aware they can. If some corps joined together to improve their buying power and coordinate logistics with any of these companies, that may help.
I've brought this up before.
If DCI had a true governing body, it could negotiate contracts with companies
for all corps.
May not work for everything.
But no reason they couldn't negotiate for "non-perishable " food, cleaning supplies
even fuel.
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A Great Article on The Cadets
in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
Posted
I'm a Civil not a Structural Engineer or mechanical engineer.
So I don't know exactly.
A lot would depend on who designed the prop.
There's also no guarantee that, if an engineer reviews a design he'll be able to "sign off " on it.
Best approach would be to have an engineer do the design in the first place.
I would think that, if a corps works with a professional company that makes props, they would have people "in house" to handle/certify the design.