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Maher nails it again.

Loved this line: "Allen says she has been replaced by Todd Shapiro, a former spokesperson for Lindsay Lohan’s family who also claims to have represented Trump properties, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), and Hooters of Long Island and New Jersey." At least he still has the Hooters guy! Now he will have a place to hold all his press conferences. Look for his next conference at (the Hooters next to the) The Four Seasons.

Bill Mayer said it exactly! North Americans have no idea how much we are spoiled with our soft lives, etc. I had a "soft" childhood in Canada, then visited: Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Cuba, Denmark, England, France, Greenland, Italy, Luxembourg, Leichtenstein, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain, Switzerland, USA, etc. but now am glad that I live in Canada with our excellent socialized medical system. I also find Canadian police to be boring ... the way all police should be. Canadian politicians are also boring ...

An explanation of Simpson's Paradox that is easy to understand. https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/08/31/covid-israel-hospitalization-rates-simpsons-paradox/

Biochemistry is not the same as immunology or virology. That’s why they’re called different things and have different degrees and specializations. I did a degree in neuroscience - that doesn’t mean I understand epidemiology or immunology the same way as a specialist would. What my bioscience background SHOULD do is give me the ability to read and evaluate scientific literature and data to some degree, and to make more informed opinions than a layman with no scientific background - but you’re not displaying that ability, despite a 4.0 in biochemistry.

Telling that he only chose 3rd world shitholes for his comparisons, however.

I can imagine where we would be right now without the near miracle that our current vaccines have been. We are very lucky to be living in a time where so much is possible.

Interesting. I’ll bet most of his patients are in favor of abortion doctors not being able to practice if they don’t have admitting privileges. Wendy P.

History suggests that outsiders should leave Afghanistan alone.

Why so touchy?

Of course you're right that it does,'t...especially if you are talking about group exits or freefly exits (always the one thing that the tunnel rats have problems with...well other than the whole canopy flight) BUT: I think for beginners it can actually help with that as well. The one thing it really does--if used correctly--is get your body used to the feeling of the air and how your body position affects your relative position in the air, and also simply to psychologically get used to that environment (which is a different component than psychologically getting used to "impending death" or the environment of the sky and "falling", which it doesn't do anything for.) Years back, I did my AFF, and then did not really want to continue jumping through the winter, so spent a lot of time in the tunnel. When I did my AFF, one of the main issues was the exit, and especially the fear on the exit, which did not help with control in that phase of the dive. When I did a lot of tunnel entries from the door, I realized that the exit from a turbine aircraft, really should feel exactly like entering the tunnel from the door on my belly: There is an existing airflow, and all I am doing is to slide my body belly-to-airflow into that stream, which then immediately "holds me up". This was completely different from how I previously approached exits from the aircraft, which I thought of as "jumping" or "falling down" (which isn't how they actually work.) So: When I came back to the sky, my exits were immediately different. All I had to do is imagine that the airstream from the tunnel wasn't coming straight from below, but from about 45 degrees down and forward. Then I could slide onto the wind, just as I did in the tunnel. Not only did that work from the first time I tried it, it also completely disappeared my fear of the exits: Even though the tunnel environment was so different in terms of the "death" and "falling" factor, my body immediately recognized the feeling of trusting the airflow and that simply made the fear disappear.

You have to remember some of the history of Afghanistan. One of the most important points is that the reason they have been so successful in fighting off invaders is because when they don't have an invader to resist, they spend a lot of their time fighting each other (that's also true when there is an invader to fight off). Once the Soviets left, the various factions that beat them off started turning on each other. They tried to form a central government, with some power sharing agreements among the different groups. Often, the disputes would boil over into actual fighting inside of Kabul. Imagine Mitch McConnell using the Kentucky National Guard to attack Chuck Schumer in New York. The fighting became so bad that a LOT of people decided to leave, rather than get killed (a reasonable choice). The 'least bad' option was Pakistan. Iran, China & what used to be the Soviet Union were worse, but each got some refugees. Pakistan had the most, many of whom were leftovers from the Soviet occupation era (there were a lot of those). There's some pretty convincing evidence that the Pakistanis more or less created the modern Taliban, primarily to stabilize the border region, slowing or stopping the flow or refugees. The Taliban, with support, did a good job of destroying the opposition. By 2001, the last of the holdouts were on their last legs. Don't forget that Al Queda assassins murdered Ahmed Shah Massoud (the new guy's dad) on Sept 9th, 2001. If Al Queda hadn't attacked the US, prompting the invasion, the Taliban would have had a solid hold on Afghanistan by the end of 01. And now they're back. There are reports that they've learned their lesson. That they aren't going to allow terrorists to hide out there. That they might actually try to be 'global citizens'. They've done a pretty good job forming a 'shadow government' the last few years. Taxation, infrastructure, the whole thing. They're finding out now that the Afghan economy was largely based on humanitarian aid from the West. If they want to keep the country viable, they'll have to find replacement funding for that. Or behave well enough that the aid isn't totally stopped. We shall see what happens. I don't think they will make the same mistakes. But there's lots and lots of different ones available for them to make.

But they will need to market it as a horse tranquilizer to overcome vaccine hesitancy. (I stole the idea from Borowitz).

Um, what? Vaccines don't kill viruses. They prepare your immune system to recognise the virus earlier. EDIT to clarify: no vaccine in the world for any disease kills viruses. It's in the definition of vaccine. "you're better off preparing your immune system and avoiding exposure to the virus than preparing your immune system". There's more than one way to prepare your immune system from the virus - one of them is the vaccine.

Nobody has ever said vaccines are 100% effective. But then again, nobody has ever said they lose 40% effectivity a month. Not even your source. I'd like to point out *again* that a vaccines' effectiveness (in %) is measured by comparing how many people in the vaccine group contract covid compared to the non-vaccine group. So if the virus changes, so might the effectiveness. If the number of cases spikes, a vaccinated person will have increased chance of (repeated) exposure to COVID. Hence more chance of the virus successfully infecting them. Lastly, I'm pro-vaccinating third world regions (which seem to include some regions in practically every first- and second world country as well) before mandating extra boosters. The longer the virus is allowed to run unchecked, the more chance of mutations. The more mutations, the more chance of a strain eventually popping up which lowers the vaccine efficacy even further. A mutation is a small change in the viral code, which happens when the virus reporoduces. Most mutations are harmless to the virus. Nothing changes. Some are harmful to the virus and will be weeded out as the new virus tries to compete with other strains. Some mutations are beneficial to the virus, for instance by giving it a shorter incubation time or improved resistance to the vaccine.

You definitely heard it but you can't remember the exact words or find any evidence of it? Hmmmmmm. The bullshit is strong with this one.

Hi rich, Re: #1 for me, School choice. If you are talking charter schools or religious schools; sorry, not going to support that insanity at all. I'm a product of public schools; and both of my kids are. We did/do better than the average Joe. I prefer not to have my tax money spent teaching someone about some so-called 'God.' Re: #2 Affordable housing I'm currently deeply involved in getting someone elected to our City Council. I had a rather long discussion with him last week on this issue. To me, the bottom line is that the only way to get so-called 'affordable housing' is by using tax money to lower the costs to the occupants; be they renters or buyers. So, unless you support an increase in your taxes, just how do you do it? As always, the devil is in the details. Re: #3 Mandates, Taxes, and regulation. No specifics, so nothing to discuss. Jerry Baumchen

Perhaps its time to start a thread about President Biden acting Presidential. Acting like a leader. Till then: "President Biden landed in Delaware on Sunday morning to join the families of the 13 members of the U.S. military who were killed in a bombing last week in Afghanistan....The president and first lady, Jill Biden, met with the families on Sunday morning. They then participated in 13 transfers — 11 for families who chose to allow media to observe the remains of their loved ones returning home, and two for families who chose to keep their transfers private." As for that previous loser still(last week) trying to steal the election: "Trump: Americans Who Died in War Are ‘Losers’ and ‘Suckers’ The president has repeatedly disparaged the intelligence of service members, and asked that wounded veterans be kept out of military parades, multiple sources tell The Atlantic."

Hi Rich, Re: Biden's mental health is a tragedy If you want to see true tragedy in mental health, read this: Book Review: 'I Alone Can Fix It' On Trump Presidency : NPR I finished it last week. In it, Ms. Leonnig & Mr. Rucker made their final interview with Trump to get his thoughts. It was scheduled for 1/2 hour. Due to Trump's ramblings, it went for 2 1/2 hours. Trump spent most of the interview going on about how he was really elected POTUS and that Biden was in the White House only because of fraudulent votes. Naw, Joe is doing just fine. Jerry Baumchen

I definitely don't and I'd rather not make shit up. What I do know is that this clusterfuck is on Trump and his deal to release the Taliban and their leaders. It also seems reasonable to add more blame for his refusal to give Biden's transition team access after he lost the election. Further, notice to get the hell out of Afghanistan started back in March. You guys are acting like he's Hitler always overruling his General Staff. I simply don't see that. It's a damn shit show, for sure, and the sooner we are away the better, seems to me.

The State Dept started telling Americans to leave (or make plans to leave) Afghanistan back in MARCH. Obviously, they can't force them to go, but they encouraged people both to leave and to 'enroll' with the Embassy. They've put a lot of effort into messaging those citizens still in country and enrolled with the Embassy. To pretend that "Biden abandoned US citizens!!!!" is both ignorant and stupid (note: Not saying that Zombie implied that). State Dept statement on this: https://www.state.gov/secretary-antony-j-blinken-on-afghanistan/

Public Service Announcement: At the top right of your screen is a link that allows you to put annoying trolls on an "Ignore List". (In many years on DZ.COM I have only put two people on mine.)

post hoc, ergo propter hoc. Unfortunately they don't have mental gymnastics as part of the Olympics, you'd win the brown medal for sure

You mean the military commanders that said to close down Bagram? https://www.newsweek.com/after-kabul-airport-carnage-trump-republicans-hammer-bidens-decision-abandon-bagram-1623536

Can you explain how deliberately "slow walking" visa applications from allied Afghanis fits into your narrative?

Before you spend hundreds of dollars and wait months for a custom jumpsuit jacket, or set your seamstress up for hours of exploratory work, try - a sweatshirt. A normal ordinary sweatshirt. The material is very porous, lots of drag. For AFF I've got 3 different sizes. Poke holes in the cuffs to stick your thumbs through and you've got swoop cords. Float for days. Way cheaper than a jumpsuit and you can have it this week.

We’ve so far had a lot of ‘pre FFC’ flyers who already learn all formation flying basics, docks, control etc that will make their actual first flight a much more relaxed experience. We offer a specific training for deployments etc as well. Of course this is coming from ‘the tunnel itself’ but from what Ive seen its a huge asset. JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

As I posted on FB here:https://www.facebook.com/james.boole/posts/713834132148403 So a lot of people have asked for my opinion on the Indoor Wingsuit Flying tunnel: Q. Is it worth going to the indoor wind tunnel? A. YES! Long read: After a plane ride and 2 buses I find myself outside the tunnel in Stockholm, Sweden. The green metallic structure resembles an alien spaceship, parked amongst industrial buildings. The 1.4 MW motor roars as the air flows around the loop, up the inclined tunnel and down again. The original structure was built in 1940, it played a fundamental role in the Swedish aerospace industry and was used to develop the SAAB fighter aircraft. Until recently the tunnel lay dormant - that is until 4 friends came up with a crazy idea! The refurbished structure has 3 levels, reception on the ground floor, viewing area and briefing rooms on the middle floor and the boarding area and flight control on the top floor. The impressive glass flight chamber cuts diagonally through the building and is currently fixed at a 32 degree angle (or 1.6 GR) with a wind speed up to 144km/h. The tunnel is operational but the building work is on going. Once fully completed the tunnel will be able to tilt during operation between 45 and 20 degrees (or from 1 to 3 GR) with wind speeds over 200 km/h! The team aims to complete the tunnel construction early in 2018. After a short safety briefing you are equipped with a "reverse tandem" harness, a Havok wingsuit and a G3 helmet. The harness is used to attach you to a cable system inside the tunnel which is cleverly designed to allow you to fly freely but without the danger of hitting the tunnel walls. Why the Havok wingsuit you ask? The reinforced suits have been especially made for tunnel use and have leg grips that help the instructors guide you through your initial flights safely. The Havok has also proven to be one of the easiest suits to fly in the tunnel. Once clipped in the speed is gradually increased, the suit inflates and starts to generate lift and in theory you take off - in reality these first attempts vary in elegance and success! The combination of nerves, low airspeed and fixed glide angle flying means that even experienced pilots need a moment or two to adjust. Sessions are generally 10 minutes long which is broken down into 2 minute blocks. Between each block you get a quick rest and chance to talk to your instructor. Once you can hover you progress on to 3D movement; up / down, forward / back and left / right, followed by some docks. The instructor uses hand signals during flight and can physically adjust your position if required. Most pilots require 2 or 3 sessions on the cables before they are allowed to progress to the "leash" - quite simply a tether attached to your waist which the instructor keeps hold of. You must also master taking off and landing which is something completely new to most of us. Initial attempts often result in you bowing towards the wind giving black hole and kissing the tunnel floor OR getting blown backwards and stuck upright "Han Solo'ed" on the net wall behind you :) Once you have demonstrated all the necessary skills on the "leash" you are certified and can then fly "freely" without any tether. The amount of flight time required to become certified varies but is usually between 30 - 45 minutes. You can use your own beginner or intermediate suit once you are certified but you will be required to do a short flight back on the cables and then on the leash to demonstrate you have complete control. Once you are certified you can also progress on to fly 2 ways with your instructor, back flying, acrobatics and beyond.. The tunnel is already an exceptional tool for first flights, flocking and acro. Sloppy body positions simply won't fly so if forces you to have good habits (solid core and strong legs). The enclosed tunnel also makes you much more aware of your control inputs, you can judge the accuracy of your movements to within centimetres. A 2 or 3 day trip flying around 30 minutes each day seems the best way to start. Some physical preparation and 3+ minute skydives will help you get even more out of your trip. There are tunnel bats who already fly multiple 20 minute sessions with 5 minute blocks ! With time you relax more and obviously become stronger. In 2018 the tunnel will become even more useful - offering trackers and large wingsuit pilots the chance to fly. The tunnel offers new possibilities and many that still need to be dreamt up! VR flying, competitions and also for suit R&D. The staff are friendly & welcoming and there was a warm atmosphere with all the flyers exchanging tips and experiences. The city of Stockholm is great to visit on your down time, lots of good restaurants and museums. For those who want to double up on their training there is also a vertical wind tunnel within walking distance! Overall I found flying in the tunnel great fun but was surprised by the physical effort and concentration required. Quite simply it makes you a better, stronger and more precise flyer. I went to Stockholm knowing how to fly a wingsuit but I just learnt how to fly a wingsuit again! The weather is always good for flying in Sweden. BASEstore.it

You can fly close to the same without backfly inlets, but the main difference is fatigue/arm pressure. And it tends to be a bit less stable, as you need to fight a bit more to keep a clean airfoil. So, yes, but with a lot more effort... Before 2006 or so we all flew on the back without inlets. Then it was normal. But if you have the option to switch/trade your suit for something with backfly inlets, it is worth it. JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

Jumping a canopy not suited for wingsuit flying, and asking about it online is a bit like smoking 5 packs of cigarettes per day. Everyone knows its just not good for your health, but there will always be someone posting about a grandpa or old friend who has done so for years, and is doing just fine. JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

most people try flying with fully open legwing, which (when making small mistakes) can cause a steeper angle. Closing the legwing halfway allows for a bit flatter glide... JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

Based on the video series Costyn and I did in 2006/2008, Ive now started working on a new/updated series of free instructional videos. Ive just put the first two up on YouTube. Video 1 - Backfly Exits - link Video 2 - Back 2 Belly Transitions - link Enjoy, and requests for various moves/subjects always welcome.. JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?