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The disconnect between anti-woke propaganda where the constitution has been kicked around and used like a football. Used to beat up minorities. As compared to an understanding of the constitution and what the fight for freedom really means. Freedom is not the majority or power over minorities. Its majorities and minorities equal and respectful Even when the message from the other side seems offensive.

Bullshit.

THIS veteran and many others I know, fully support the First Amendment. Sometimes it hurts to see a flag burned or destroyed during a protest, or refusing to participate in the celebration of the nation, that's the entire point though. Which is exactly why the First Amendment is so important and valued. This means we supported Mr, Kaepernick. He also happens to be correct. Institutionalized racism still exists. That nonsense needs to stop.

Seen on FB: "Every drag queen in Florida should rename themselves Rhonda Santis for the duration. "

No. The right wing called for his cancellation through boycotts and pledges to not watch the NFL until he was removed. That's cancellation. The suggestion for him to kneel CAME FROM A VET who was also an NFL player. And it came about BECAUSE OF HOW THEY PAY RESPECT TO SOLDIERS THEY BURY. Here's what that vet had to say when Colin asked him: Colin actually reached out, said he wanted to meet with me. And we sat in the lobby of the team hotel, discussed our situation, our different opinions and feelings about all this. And I suggested him taking a knee instead of sitting even though I wanted him to stand, and he wanted to sit. And it was, like, this compromise that we sort of came to. And that's where the kneeling began . . . People - in my opinions and in my experience, kneeling's never been in our history really seen as a disrespectful act. I mean, people kneel when they get knighted. You kneel to propose to your wife, and you take a knee to pray. And soldiers often take a knee in front of a fallen brother's grave to pay respects. So I thought, if anything, besides standing, that was the most respectful. But, of course, that's just my opinion. If you cared even a little bit about the facts - or about the veterans you claim to honor - you would have known this. But ignorance and hatred is a lot easier, eh? Just make him into a clueless black lib, cancel him and move on to your next target.

The Republican Party used to pride itself on being a “big tent” party. Seems its interpretation of the term "big tent" means giving every loony, flat earther, conspiracy theorist, ignoramus or bigot (or combination of the above) an equal role.

Yes, they do.

And they provide funding for CP competitors to perform the types of landings that kill people.

What is being said here is that USPA takes an active role in PROMOTING CP events. Promoting the events is a form of encouraging participation.

Hi Keith, Re: but many associate them with the military Re: In the military; the standard of hero is I believe that you were a lifer; yes/no? I think your military bias is shading your thinking. I might be wrong, but it is what I think. And, IMO it is for this very reason that the military is not in charge of this country. Jerry Baumchen

More accurately, the kneeling didn't start until Colin sought him out to ask him.

The most important phrase of that whole thing is, " . . . discussed our situation, our different opinions and feelings about all this." See, Nate didn't approve of what Colin was doing either. It was Colin's intention to put himself in the limelight as a social justice warrior. Nate being a team member knew that Colin was going to lose everything if he continued. Being the team player, Nate offered Colin a different path to hopefully keep him on the team. Colin a hero. No. The heroes are those who put their lives on the line every day, military, ER Doctors and nurses (think pandemic), Fire fighters, Police, the man who almost gets run over trying to save a kitten from a car, etc. Those are heroes. Not some football player pandering for likes on the internet.

Hi folks, Looks like some people do not believe that there is a collapse in EV sales: The South Korean automaker said in 2022 it would invest $5.5 billion to assemble electric vehicles and batteries in Ellabell, just west of Savannah. The site is supposed to have 8,100 employees and is slated to begin producing vehicles in 2025. Hyundai and LG announce $4.3 billion plant in Georgia to build batteries for electric vehicles | AP News The world, she is'a changing. Jerry Baumchen

Again, we'll just need to disagree on what encouragement means in this context but please know that, USPA or not, many of us on the sharp end of the stick don't see it as the "good look" that brings our sport to the masses. Also, good on you for medaling, that's a big deal. You wrote this: "I'll never be convinced that banning swooping or limiting its exposure in the public light will limit swooping deaths more than education can." You might be right but that's not the core issue. For example, I don't know what plumbing you keep between your pants legs pockets but mine has always enabled me to defeat the most well meaning education, no problemo, and from what I've seen in 34 years as a DZO I am not alone. "Support, teach, educate, and provide a path way to do it in a manner that limits the inherent dangers." No disagreement there, it's the how and where that needs some work. For my part I'm am over fearing another traumatizing to the viewer whomp in front of spectators or anyone else on my patch of skydiving. If swooping is such a great sport then it must have decent economic numbers from a business perspective, right? And it mustn't need buy-off from the highest levels at USPA, either. So, why hasn't someone formed the USSA and made a million by opening a swoop park DZ? Again, thank you for your thoughtful engagement.

Hi Mark, And, this veteran does also. Quite often I see someone saying something that I do not agree with. That is the trade-off for the First Amendment. And, I am sure that I have a neighbor or two who disagrees with my yard sign. Jerry Baumchen

Hi Marcel, Re: more than education can I made my first jump in Feb '64. I've listened to that old 'education' BS ever since. IMO it has never worked. At the end of the day, it is the DZO's who will make the decisions necessary. Some allow swooping, low pulls, etc; and, some do not. Jerry Baumchen

Fify

Marcel, It's maybe a bit too nuanced. Swooping is a dangerous thing to learn, by the numbers. My issue is that supporting it and educating participants has limits; moreover that approach can cause serious injuries and fatalities as I've personally witnessed. I've given up caring if people do it I simply think doing it in front of innocent bystanders is both reckless and careless: like base it's best done away from the public eye, a view that is exactly antithetical to the USPA position.

Rosa Parks, the woman worth $116 million at the time of her death? Yeah, she was so much poorer than Mulvaney, worth about $2 million. Why, it's a miracle that Parks could even survive her retirement, having to live on interest of only $10 million a year. You're right. There is no comparison.

Hi folks, Looks like he should have stood farther back: Rhodes, 58, is the first person charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack to be sentenced for seditious conspiracy Extremist Oath Keepers founder gets longest sentence yet in Jan. 6 attack - oregonlive.com He's now got 18 yrs to 'Stand back & Stand by.' Mark another one up for the good guys. Jerry Baumchen

Shoe Goo works well. I always have a tube of Shoe Goo on hand. Another option is to glue on a small sheet of rubber ... the same rubber that your shoe-maker uses to repair worn heels. As for the Cordura fabric sidewalls fraying ... I sew on Type 12 webbing sidewalls. I start by laying it upside down, so that only the edge overlaps on the seam. Lay the bottom portion (aka. edge of the sole) flat so that it gets caught in your first row of stitching. Then fold the Type 12 upwards and stitch around the edge of the Type 12 webbing. Finally, may I suggest sewing some sort of buckle or magnet near you knees so that they you don't drag your booties when they are not fastened tightly around your feet.

Unfortunately, to this day he’s unable to see the depth of his crimes.

FAFO: NYT: Oath Keepers Leader Is Sentenced to 18 Years in Jan. 6 Sedition Case

In February of last year I became a father fornthe first time, so I haven't had much time for Mr. Cooper

See. You're catching on. The goal isn't to wound them; it's to kill them. Ya know. To Eat. Not everything comes in saran wrapped packages at your grocery store. And, there's still a lot of folks that need to hunt to feed their families. What do have against poor country folk?

Looks like someone needs to cite their source and not cherry pick just the parts for their argument. From your source: https://ev-lectron.com/blogs/blog/do-electric-cars-depreciate-faster#:~:text=There have been reports that,34.3% drop within three years.

I also had a West Berlin experience back in 1988 but not as noteworthy as yours. While stationed with the US Army in West Germany, I jumped twice into the 1936 Olympic Stadium with the British Army of the Rhine Parachute Team in celebration of the British/American/French Armed Forces Day in West Berlin. Prior to being stationed in Germany I was on the 82nd Airborne Team. To this day, I have no idea how the Brits found me and invited me to participate. The view from above was spectacular and sad at the same time. Two years later when I was a civilian living in Germany, the Wall came down and thousands of refugees poured into West Germany. It was a great time to be alive!!

Brilliant! They get their own league, so all the normal people get to compete against other normal people, and the freaks get their own league! All the bigots love it, and those trans people should love it too. And if not, well . . . they're trans, who cares? But why stop there? We should have "separate but equal" schools for them. No more worries about who will see your precious little girl in the bathroom! And we fund both of them equally of course. Well, we fund the cis schools of course, and if the trans schools are a little short of funding, no big deal if you know what I mean. They like to change their genders; let them change some dirt into money or something! Hahaha. And we could have separate water fountains so cis people don't get that trans stuff on them. Separate bathrooms of course. We could make a law that says they have to sit in the back of the bus so that regular people aren't inconvenienced by them. And of course have a special section for them in restaurants and whatnot. I am amazed no one thought of this practical, and modest, solution decades ago!

Your using that word for something besides a muscle car transmission says a whole lot more about you than about whatever you're writing about. Do you use "bitches" for "women" in private? How about "queer," "faggot," "spic," "kike," and the best one of all (the n-word)? Or is "trannies" OK because it's still OK to hate them? Wendy P.

Much hype followed by a weak-ass execution. At least DeSantis is staying true to brand.

That stuff is such a smelly mess when putting it on, and not easy to make an even thickness. I decided to not use it and see the wear that would result. After approx 700 jumps on the suit they are in great condition, hardly worn. I minimize the walking around with the booties on. The shoe goo is awful.

Indeed. According to GINI index the US has more wealth and income inequality than any other wealthy western nation. The US has a major political party dedicated to keeping it that way. The US has more structural racism than any other wealthy western nation. The same major political party is dedicated to keeping it that way. The US has way way more guns per capita than any other wealthy western nation. The same major political party is dedicated to keeping it that way. The US imprisons a greater % of its population than any other nation. The same major political party is dedicated to keeping it that way. Kind of a pattern there, don't you think?

Yes, I do have a problem with it. There is a reason female athletes compete separately from men and this is not merely unfair, it is grossly unfair.