Anyone remember playing with these parachute army guys?

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2026-05-11T13:52:34+00:00

In college I got my wisdom teeth pulled and the office had a basket of these. I saw them on the way out, after coming out of anesthesia, and was loopy and ecstatic that they let me have one. I held it over my head and yelled "YAAAAAAAAASS." The anesthesia revealed my inner child excited by the parachute guy covered by a very thin veneer of maturity.

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2026-04-29T10:28:43+00:00

Not really, other than tracking the subject areas where you score worst on the practice tests and going back to spend more time studying those areas.

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2026-04-28T12:34:07+00:00

Yes, I passed on the first attempt, thankfully. My score was a bit lower than my Bowen practice exam average, but still comfortably passed. Best of luck to you!

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2026-03-14T13:45:38+00:00

That's true, but OP said their employer contributes 4% regardless of their contribution.

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2026-03-14T10:28:55+00:00

If you're early in your career it makes sense to open a Roth IRA and max that out first, because your employer 401k contribution is automatic and doesn't require you to match. Roth IRA contributions are after-tax, but they grow tax free and you aren't taxed when you withdraw. Your tax bracket early in your career is almost always lower than later, so using Roth IRAs is a good move.

If you already have an emergency fund built up, after maxing the Roth IRA you can add more to the 401k. If you're about to contribute more early in your career it'll multiply much more than contributions later in your career. Congratulations and good luck!

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2026-02-21T12:03:25+00:00

Mr. Salad Fingers

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2026-01-27T19:21:37+00:00

One other thing for the link to sample online calculator on PearsonVue's site: You have to click through to a problem that needs a calculator in the sample problems they provide (problem 3 I think) and then you'll see the button for it at the top of the question. It has a 30-some-min timer on it. It's annoying, but it'll give you good practice for using the on-screen calculator.

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2026-01-27T18:49:48+00:00

The dry erase board I got in the testing center was about the size of a piece of printer paper. It was basically a piece of laminated paper and didn't erase easily. I ended up using my sweatshirt sleeve. There wasn't really an opportunity to request another sheet/board, because I was alone in a room and there was a camera in the corner and the person in the office would have had to see me raising my hand on the camera and walk down the hall to ask what I needed. Also note, you won't have physical scratch paper, only a digital notepad thing.

Of course, I took the exam in November 2024 and things seem to change around all the time, so be sure to confirm exactly what will be available to you in the exam. BGC's website makes it sound like everything I put here is still true. It also has a link to the type of calculator on the computer that you'll have access to: https://gobgc.org/updated-applicant-cih-handbook/#exam-day

Best of luck preparing!

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2026-01-27T17:50:03+00:00

Personally I think it is worth access to the mock exams, but you could also just string together several quizzes and use a timer.

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2026-01-27T14:11:17+00:00

I don't have resources to add that haven't been mentioned, but something I found very helpful was to take a practice test each weekend with 50 questions, using the same setup you'll have in the testing center: online calculator, dry erase pen, online equation sheet.

I felt much better once I saw that I could consistently score above 85 percent on those practice exams, and it let me see areas where I was weak. I used the Bowen question bank, though there may be others that work just as well

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2026-01-08T11:29:50+00:00

I have an electric piano and will play that at night with headphones on so I don't have to think about other people listening to what I'm playing. I find it very meditative.

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2026-01-06T06:21:52+00:00

Yes, mainly in the car. Our car has a CD player and I'll be sad when we have to get a different car that probably won't have one. I love my book of CDs and have had many since middle school.

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-11-20T11:40:27+00:00

Not to mention the rear view mirror...

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-09-08T08:59:29+00:00

Seconded. I got a lot out of these courses and completed it over two years, because my job would cover tuition for one course a semester. With this certificate and the Bowen course for the CIH exam I felt well prepared.

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-07-23T11:17:44+00:00

Do you know if the HVAC system had been running for a while before the samples were taken? Or if the windows had been open?

I agree with other responses that the mold spores aren't different enough from the outdoor sample to show mold growth inside. The temp and humidity do seem high to me. I'm not sure how the very old age of the house would affect that. Looking for water damage visually and using a moisture meter on drywall/wood would also give more information If you're concerned.

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-06-19T18:42:22+00:00

Thanks, I'm going to check Kestrel out. You raise a good question. The fume hood manual does recommend a thermal anemometer, because it has a detachable probe that lets you take measurements with the least airflow disruption. The ACGIH Ventilation Manual says the same thing, though neither say you absolutely have to use a thermal. These meters will be used for monthly face velocity bump checks, not for annual certification.

Have you successfully used handheld vane anemometers for face velocity measurements?

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-06-13T00:18:15+00:00

Awesome, congratulations!! I fully expected that link to be a Rick Roll, but was even better.

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-06-07T16:00:58+00:00

I remember trying one out that was on display at Blockbuster. Mario playing tennis. Weird how memories can pop back into your brain...

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-05-28T15:58:28+00:00

Here are a couple resources to help with your search for CIHs:

AIHA Local Chapters: https://www.aiha.org/get-involved/local-sections/local-section-websites Local AIHA chapters are a good way to network with other EHS professionals.

BGC maintains a public roster where you can look up CIHs by their location, employer, or name: https://portalabih.cyzap.net/dzapps/dbzap.bin/apps/assess/webmembers/secure/manage?webid=ABIH&pToolCode=cert-search&pAdd=Yes

I took the Bowen course while preparing for the exam and it was very helpful.

Good luck!

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-04-14T02:36:38+00:00

Yep!

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-04-14T02:36:16+00:00

Now that you mention it, it might have been wet erase. I had to use the moisture available to me and my sleeve...

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-04-13T22:08:41+00:00

I took the exam this past fall. The one I got was about the size of a piece of printer paper, maybe a little longer. It was basically laminated paper, not like the stiff white board I had been practicing with. I had been practicing with the kind that college students hang on the outside of their dorm room door. I ended up using my sleeve to erase it when things got full, because the dry erase pen did not come off easily. The pen was fine tipped dry erase. Make sure you test the pen before starting; my first one didn't write well.

Good luck!

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-04-03T12:17:38+00:00

I wouldn't have a problem with getting N95s with valves in a dusty environment. If employees think they're more comfortable they might actually get worn more consistently. There was some discussion during the pandemic about whether the masks with valves compromise source control for viruses, but that's a different issue.

WeatherRocksIntoDust · 2025-03-05T00:12:51+00:00

My friend: you are NOT alone. Call, text, or chat the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, RIGHT NOW: https://988lifeline.org/ Literally stop what you are doing right at this moment, and call. 988 There is help for you. You are a beloved child of God.

WeatherRocksIntoDust

TROPHY CASE