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Seriously, you have my admiration. I hope I can show the same level of insight and humility if I'm ever wrong

I used to be a major lurker. Or I guess I lurked here and posted in bonfire or events. I think reading here views on events as they happen may have given me a bit of a more rounded perspective. Yobnoc you are correct about the embarrassment when your realize you did not make the wisest choices and that can definitely make someone defensive. I think that is where a lot of the divisiveness we see in our country now may come from. If you get defensive enough from not admitting when you are wrong it can make you double down on the very thing you are wrong about. Ha I hope I explained that in a way you all can understand.

It's a very uncomfortable feeling to admit to one's self that they got conned, no matter how big or small the issue. It seems like you have identified several areas where you had inadequate information and in hindsight you recognize those areas and want to do better. The discomfort of looking inward and admitting you may have been wrong about something dissuades a lot of folks from reflecting. I think the quote is from Bertrand Russel, and I've seen variations of it so I'm not sure which is the true quote, but it goes something like: "The problem with the world today is that the stupid are cocksure and the wise are riddled with doubt." I fear we've tipped the scales in this country toward the stupid side. But I'm heartened to see this exchange, even if you'd still make the same decision again, at least now you've identified that some of the reasons you made that decision were somewhat poorly informed. I try to believe as many true things as possible while withholding belief on as many false or unverifiable things as possible. Sometimes I fail, but I always try to let the data lead me rather than the other way around, and I try to identify propaganda and dismiss it no matter where it's coming from.

THIS is why we have divided ourselves. Rick and I have a personal experience with wildly opposing views on a few issues, yet we haven't (Yet!) divided our friendship. It's interesting to realize you can actually be friends with, support their right to chose, and still disagree with people unlike yourself. It's actually pretty informative to consider opposing stances, perspectives, experiences, and views on most topics/issues. Attacking people for having their own views on issues is anti-American IMO. We're all free to vote who and how we want. I still cannot understand the near violent approach we have to differing views.

I've been having really bad problems on my ride up. I am just getting so nervous, despite the cheery atmosphere in the cabin. This heat recently has made it even worse it seems. I'm having trouble with body position during free fall and I'm pretty sure this is what is causing my nervousness. I think I am having a hard time relaxing because I"m too busy concentrating on altitude, arching and my legs I can't work on my dive flow. I booked 10 minutes tunnel time next week and that should help a lot. If I'm nervous on the ride up I can't relax and it just starts the whole jump off on the wrong foot. The funny thing is when I step up to the door and stick my head out of the plane I"m no longer nervous and start feeling relaxed. Then as soon as I enter free fall I get so stuck concentrating on my body position I just can't relax my body. I was hoping someone here may have some suggestions

You hit a really significant hot button for me. I was in IT when cybersecurity was called data integrity and worked in the database field. Specifically from DB to Web (like, Cold Fusion) It didn't take a Welleian sense of foresight to realize the future of privacy. Other than dz.com; I have no social media footprint (never have; never will) I thought about MeWe awhile back - but just kept thinking about how FB had changed their settings in order to monetize everything. And now you can login to everything using your FB ID. For others on here and those I speak with F2F about digital security: Use a VPN (Ghost or Norton) - although I haven't trusted Norton as much over the years, since they learned how to bloat the shit out of everything)) Use DuckDuckGo - as your search engine. (Type a search into Gargle and then one into duckduckgo and see the different resultset - no agenda there. Like selling you on those that are paying Gargle to sell them to you. (Gargle incognito isn't) Use Signal - for your messaging. Use Tutanota.com - for your email. Encrypt your phone. If an app says they need access to your contacts or files. etc. Ask yourself why they need that access. Why it's a free app and there's your answer. Turn off the location feature on your phone - Google created an algorithm (Are you ready for this) that allows them to monitor your online shopping with your location to see what you shopped for online and where you actually bought. BING! Tell us about the restaurant X; write a review. Kinda unnerving that if you walk by someplace - you're being "watched" And, if that's not scary enough for you - type your name into fastpeoplesearch.com and you will not only be concerned about your cybersecurity, but you and your family's personal physical security. For your reading entertainment on this subject; the following page and its hyperlinks are helpful. https://clark.com/technology/how-to-reduce-or-delete-your-digital-footprint/ And, what did happen to phillykev?

This is hilarious. I wish I had the guts of this girl. For all of you > > out there who've had to deal with an irate customer, this one is for > > you. > > > > An award should go to the United Airlines gate agent in Denver for > > being smart and funny, while making her point, when confronted with a > > passenger who probably deserved to fly as cargo. > > > > A crowded United Airlines flight was canceled. A single agent was > > re-booking a long line of inconvenienced travelers. > > > > Suddenly an angry passenger pushed his way to the desk. He slapped his > > ticket on the counter and said "I HAVE to be on this flight and it has > > to be FIRST CLASS." > > > > The agent replied, "I am sorry, sir. I'll be happy to try to help you, > > but, I've got to help these folks first, and I'm sure we'll be able to > > work something out." > > > > The passenger was unimpressed.? He asked loudly, so that the > > passengers behind him could hear, "DO YOU? HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM?" > > > > Without hesitating, the agent smiled and grabbed her public address > > microphone, "May I have your attention please, " she began, her voice > > heard > > clearly throughout the terminal. "We have a passenger here at Gate > > 14 WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHO HE IS. If anyone can help him find his > > identity, please come to Gate 14." > > > > With the folks behind him in line laughing hysterically, the man > > glared at the United agent, gritted his teeth and swore "F*** You!". > > > > Without flinching, she smiled and said, "I'm sorry sir, you'll have > > to get in line for that too."

This is the best kind of discourse I’ve seen in here in a while. Please do keep posting here

sorry Joe I need to work on developing a thicker skin and not take things so personal. Bill I see where you are coming from now. I have tried recently to be more active on here so I can tell all you where I am coming from, and to try to understand other view points. For instance I have changed my position on the death penalty by reading what people on this forum have to say. Mark I hope that (yet) doesn't mean you are going to stop being my friend. :). Gowlerk I think the first thing that turned me away from Hillary is that we elected Bill. But it seemed that she immediately became a force in politics. Most other first ladies had there causes that they championed but it seemed she had more power than deserved. The 2 of them have made a good living out of being politicians and for some reason (I think Nigel hit on it) it turned me off that she took the power and ran with it and I did not see her doing it because she had the best interest of the country. I think she is mostly self serving. Having said that I can see how the media and not getting out of your bubble of friends that hold a certain opinion could cloud ones judgement . I hope this makes sense to you all. It would be so much easier if we were sitting in a bar over a beer and having this discussion.

I've seen that sentiment a lot and I used to share it. Now I don't. (Long before Trump.) Consider the case of a DZ trying to hire a new pilot after they had a scary almost-crash with their Otter. They look at several experienced commercial pilots - some with military experience, some with freight experience, some with thousands of hours of CFI time. Should they hire one of those guys, or hire the guy who runs the local liquor store and isn't a career pilot? After all, the liquor store owner will approach it with a new mindset and apply some "out of the box" thinking. And he had to run his own business, so he has real-world business experience instead of simulated flight time and socialist military experience, where you get paid no matter how bad you are. And the last pilot had commercial and multiengine ratings - and look how THAT turned out! Most DZO's (and pilots, and skydivers) would hear that and say "WTF! You hire a guy with experience if you want your airplane flown well and your DZ to succeed." Politicians are no different. Some are good, some are bad - but they all have experience in managing governments. And a good politician with experience managing a government will do a better job than a reality TV star and real estate guy with half a dozen bankruptcies to his name. The big difference between pilots and politicians is that pilots usually don't have fully half the country dedicated to finding fault with them.

Rick, I respect that you can admit you were wrong about Trump, that you are also embarrassed by what he say's and that you own it. I thought that by stating 'I'm not saying you" I would get there. I did not. For that I apologize. Joe

Well, Trump's tax cuts and trade war are going to be very damaging to the economy (and Trump has stated he 'doesn't care' because he won't be in office by then). And Alex Jones and his ilk, while not as overtly racist as Johnson, are just as despicable.

Something to consider, Bigun, is that grownups are supposed to be able to modify their behavior as a result of data. If the data is that a word is likely to be offensive to a significant number of people, it probably shouldn't be used, unless one is trying to offend. That an entire group of people doesn't count as being necessary to consider (minorities, women, handicapped, Polish, Aggies, whatever) is kind of a sign that either one really is prejudiced, or that one chooses not to be polite, or that one hasn't learned to modify behavior. The far reaches of PC are where these boundaries are being discussed; living where I do, I see PC very frequently, and it grates. But PC in the 60's was avoiding the n-word, wasn't it? I would prefer that our leaders show that they're able to modify their behavior to adapt to the times and situations. And in these days of tell-all, it's best probably not to have too much back-room banter, or even DZ banter if you want to be a public figure. Wendy P.

All operations around Montréal are very safety oriented but the vibe will change from DZ to DZ. My reply will be a little biased since I really like my DZ. My intention is not to start a DZ war just my personal impressions. I would also love to ear from people that jump at those DZ. I'm on the south shore of Montreal and Jump at Voltige: Voltige: 2 planes, 1 Caravan and 1 Twin Otter. The Caravan is usually the fun jumper load but the Twin usually go up with 6-8 fun jumpers on every load. Yesterday we had 32-33 loads during the day. Very laid back vibe, most fun jumpers are aged 25-40 but we have lots of fun with old timers too. As I said, we have around 100 PFF/PAC every summer. Parachute Montréal, St-Esprit: there has been a massive fun jumper exodus the last 2 years to Voltige because they are focussing more on tandem now. Fun jumpers are having a harder time getting on loads. Parachute Montréal, Farnham: Very similar to Voltige in the operation but the vibe is very different. Stories from people going there is that the vibe is very serious, I want to say military but it's too strong a word. I don't know how to describe it. Adrénaline in St-Jérôme has a very tight landing area and not many outs if you're ever not going to make it back. They also teach different pattern altitude compare to Flight 1 classes because they want to make sure you land on grass and not trees. Go Skydive, Gatineau: Nabz would be better than me to explain the DZ but lots of my friends go to Go Skydive for Springfest and other events and the vibe + installation seems to be very similar to Voltige. Another aspect is the discipline you'll want to focus toward after completing your license. Some DZ have a lot of people doing different things and other DZ are more focus toward 1 or 2. This will evolve over time for you and you'll try different things and you'll seek coaching for those new disciplines and friends to practice. These are pretty much your choices around Montréal. As I said it depends on what vibe you're looking for since skydiving is talking to people on the ground 3/4 of the time. Blue skies