Marinus

Can't..... Resist...... OK, so how many feet do you go up after the parachute deploys, and how long do you have to wait with said deployment when you jump from a helicopter, and don't want to end up in the rotor? (I was actually wondering about the doors, btw, so now I know.

You responded with a similar argument on one of my posts, I reacted to that, but reacted to the wrong post, not the wrong argument.

It doesn't have to be a someone, but if something pulls the trigger, it's usually because someone failed. But then again I'm a commie, I've a radical different view on the world, and in my world guns do kill people. Well, the theoretical part is about the same as here, but in active duty there seems to be some differences. The situation were things often went wrong was in traffic. When our column (that's what a row of vehicles is called right?) overtook another column your guys too often forgot to point their weapons away from us. So I was too often driving through the line of fire of some idiot that probably shouldn't be allowed near a fire-arm in the first place. I'm sure someone who forgets to point his weapon away from me is probably the same type that forgets to put the weapon on safe, etc. I've had a theory about it. When I first was handed a fire arm it came with a man who promised me to stick said firearm up my ass in case I did something stupid with it. He looked like he was both able and willing to do just that. On your side of the pond I think chances are much bigger that the safety part of the weapon isn't as colourfully made clear to them. Would you want an idiot that made it possible for a 3 yo to shoot her 6 yo brother to teach someone else about fire-arm safety? But it does happen, and the result are probably the idiots that were pointing their gun at me.

FIFY And we see American cops killing people – particularly wives – at an alarming rate. It is by no means rare in the US of A. It looks like in the past few months, American cops may be responsible for more gun deaths than schizophrenics. It isn't exactly a worldwide problem you know. Our police force doesn't need to be fixed, and since there's an ocean between your cops and me, I don't really care about your killer cops.

Yeah, it's the anti-American liberal media. But I'll give you this, it happens in other countries too, but not to that extend and/or in countries I consider civilized. You can choose to ignore the statistics but you've got a problem with speeding lead on your side of the pond. We have that exact same problem too, but your problem is 20 times bigger.

Actually, a gun doesn't really care why who or what pulls it's trigger. And it certainly doesn't care about this American mantra. We can talk for ages about the semantics, but in the end firearms are deadly and intended to be just that. And not everyone seems to get that, people who can't wrap their mind about that simple fact, shouldn't even be allowed near a firearm. My experience with firearms isn't spectacular. I'm an average shoot with an assault rifle (Diemaco C7) and I'm full of fail when combined with a pistol (Glock 17) and I'm hardly experienced with a couple of other types of firearms, but the most important thing is that you can put a firearm in my hands and nothing dangerous will happen. I think that's a basic requirement for handling firearms. I've stared into the barrels of the guns of several professional American gun toters. I assume the guns were loaded, and some of the complacent shits even had their finger on the trigger. When I mentioned that to another American soldier he said that it didn't matter as long as the trigger wasn't pulled. Combatants of other nationalities seemed a lot more aware of the fact they were holding something deadly in their hands. So if basic gun safety is lacking in some of the professionals, I've no illusions about amateurs. I believe you if you say you're caring about safety, but idiots who won't or can't can get themselves a gun too. I don't know about you, but if I die I don't want "Sorry"coming from the idiot that accidentally shot me, the last thing I heard. I think an extensive safety course should be a requirement. Think of something akin to a drivers licence, and in case on your side of the pond driving isn't thought by safety Nazis, something akin a Dutch drivers licence. That is in case they ever relax the very strict fire arm restrictions over here.

I remember a story about a 3 yo shooting her 6 yo brother. Of course that happened in the USA. that shit always happens in the USA it seems. But anyway, the point is, you need one or more truly incompetent fucks to make that happen. And that's why it only seems to happen in the US of A. Every idiot is allowed to own a gun, also people that are less responsible then the average 8yo. How about a system where people are only allowed to own a firearm if they show basic understanding of the fact that guns DO kill people? For a commie I'm rather positive about firearm ownership, but I wouldn't want them in the hands of people who can't handle a firearm.

I once had a discussion with a law-abiding American who owned a couple of fire-arms but apparently had no clue what the phrase "firearm safety" meant. Of course there's no reason to fear that idiot, because bullets that are fired accidentally don't kill. ever.

Is it very specific anti-German sentiment? And does it take the form of humour, or is it more hateful than that? Dutch people are very direct in their way of communicating with others, and that's often mistaken for deliberate rudeness and/or bluntness. It doesn't really help that we aren't very politically correct either.... Personally I don't see a lot of hatred towards Germans, but then again, I live near the border. Border dwellers are often more tolerant in my experience...

Don't be surprised if people start to use the phrase "Freudian slip" after this :P

I doubt if that's still true. Where I live people have no issues with Germans. It probably helps that I live a couple of miles from the German border, but I don't get the impression the Dutch are very Germanophobic. Many of the oldies are still butt-hurt about WW II, I think, but the younger generations aren't bothered by it.

This might not be the best time to ask if you happen to know the whereabouts of a 71 yo Gazelle with wooden tires. Just make it profitable and dirty cheap so it's a good vacation destination for Dutchies. I'm probably the only Dutchie that thinks cheese is so disgusting, I've almost a Phobia for it, but I appreciate it that you call me names in my own language.

?que?

It is? Well, we did whined about it a lot, but then again, bicycles are an important part of the Dutch identity. Much more so than wind mills, cannabis, wooden shoes. tulips and Hansje Brinker sticking his "finger" in the "dike". Taking away our bicycles is worse then taking away fire-arms from Americans. So yeah, we moaned about it :P

Yes, but then again, if you say that "surrendering to a higher power" means "surrendering to Jaweh" or "believing in love" or even "eating apple pie on Saturdays" it's good too, as long as it keeps you from drinking. I've one brother that's sober with AA, and one brother that's dead without AA. Other than that I think I'm pragmatic enough to agree with you on this anyway. You huwt my feewings Other then that, there aren't many semantic issues to whine about because the twelve steps can mean about anything. But if it keeps you or anyone else sober: Good for you.

I know, my cunning plan needs some work... Actually it's usually: Halt die Klappe und gib mich meinem Fahrrad zurück (spelling/grammatics?) or in Dutch: Hou je bek en geef me mijn fiets terug (Shut your mouth, and give me my bicycle back) Granddad is optional But how the hell, did you know that one? that's indeed a rather classic statement but not widely known outside of NL, (me thinks). Or it was, anti-German sentiment has subsided for the most part, I think, but then again I'm living close to the German border so that could make a difference.

It might also be a good idea to just give Greece to Germany. They pulled off the "incorporate an economically unsound nation" trick before 2 decades ago, and passed it with flying colours. Of course people are still a bit sensitive about Germany occupying other nations, but if they leave the swastikas out this time, and if Merkel keeps her moustache cleanly shaven, I think the whole of Europe is prepared to look the other way. Yes I know, people like me should be in charge of this

I think we as Europeans just should go to Greece, cut it loose from Europe and push it to the other side of the Mediterranean pond. I think it would better belong there. I'd rather be doing something useful with my money (like using it to start the barbecue with or using it as toilet paper) then tossing it in that bottomless pit, btw.

I'm a bit puzzled as to why they left that one car in the first set of picturs, but other then that it's an excellent link, that I'm going to steal and share on Google +

Then instead of saying: "Surrender yourself to a higher power" they should say: "You should realize this isn't only about you" or "If you can't find reasons to quit within yourself, look for reasons to quit outside yourself." It's a difference between meaningless vagueness and clear & valid argumentation.

This is probably true, but $25.000.000 isn't compensation, it's an outrageous amount of money. But they try their best to fill that hole with money anyway it seems. Apparently mourning doesn't have to stand in the way of the extremer forms of greed.

The physical harm of tobacco addiction is extensive, and the addiction is rather severe, but other then that almost every smoker can fit their addiction into their lives without much problems. The first thing I did in the morning was lighting a cig and I smoked all day long. Doing the same with alcohol is a whole other kettle of fish. Both are the same stage of addiction (the final or junky stage) but one leads to a derailed life and one causes little problems (Well, you usually drop dead right after retirement) But anyway, if people want to quit smoking using a 12 step program, that's their business. I can't read the 12 steps program without having strong feelings of revulsion, so I'm probably better of with another method. And before people start whining again that I'm intolerant: I also have strong feelings of revulsion when I see people eat cheese, but I'm not judging people for eating cheese, this is about the same thing as far as I'm considered.

Congratulations!

Good luck to you too! And yes, it is awesome in the old-fashioned sense of the word, I think.

It might be a good idea to just book the AFF or tandemjump. I decided to do a tandem "in a month or two" in July 2010. I didn't actually pick up the phone to call the DZ to book it until September 2011. I jumped 5 days later. I had doubts, and I kept "forgetting" to actually make the phone call. It might not work the same for you, but I could've had my A licence by now, had I just Immediately booked the jump in 2010. Just my two cents.