Boomerdog

Even the desperate have a say in the process of republican democracy. I signed up for 22 years to defend it that way...I'd like to see it stay that way.

Seems as though I've taken big stick and whacked a hornet's nest.

War DOES NOT have to be fought with guns and violence...it is also fought with ideas and political maneuvering etc etc. It's called a "culture war" and it's ALREADY going on. In fact it's been going on since 1968!

Well now that you mention it, yup, the Gurka should have let the Taliban call for back up to make it a fair fight. But in war, you NEVER WANT a fair fight, you want more whoopass at your disposal than the other guy.

The results speak louder than the intent...the damage is done. The cop deserves nothing less than prosecution. I don't share your optimism.

Of soldiers, Gurkhas have no rival. They are loyal, disciplined and in a category of badass all their own. One Gurka against 30 Taliban, yea...it was fair fight.

...PULL!

For the record, I certainly thought (and still do) that you offered the question in good faith. It did pose a serious"what if" and "what would you do." It's a good theoretical to consider...until faced with actually having to make the decision itself in a real situation! Thanks for the effort.

Congratulations! Best wishes for maintaining your new lifestyle!

First welcome. As you can see I'm a new guy too; recently licensed. First talk to your instructors and get a sanity check from them on whether another tandem would be to your benefit. It's quite possible that they may say no and save you some money. The learning curve may look a little daunting at first but one jump at a time. What's already in the log book is great to take humble pride in and occassionally show the friends (if you wish). But I can say this unequivocally...the most important jump is the NEXT ONE!

Oh have no doubt, the math works in the total free fall mode only and admittedly, it was the lone basis for my response. I don't doubt the parameters you inject, but we both agree that the scenario you propose is cutting it way too close. With a good pilot, engine shutdown and hopefully fire extinguished, I'd stay in the airplane.

Respectfully yes and respectfully no. Acceleration due to gravity is constant. The fall will look like a parabola given the horizontal component but the impact to the ground will still take a little over 2,7 seconds.

Given all of that, Skydive Lake Tahoe was closed by the Douglas County Commissioner (Douglas County, Nevada). I searched the net for any articles pertaining to this action an could find nothing. Anyone know what happened that resulted in the closure of this DZ?

Since gravity is constant regardless of any horizontal component, the time is takes to hit the ground from 120 ft is 2.74 seconds. This is obtained by fixing the intial vertical velocity at 0. Then taking the square root of 2 times the vertical distance of 120 feet divided by 32 ft/sec/sec acceleration. Knowing this, stay with the plane. Others around here may know better but I fairly certain that's not enough time to clear the aircraft, "so silver" and have any assurance of walking away from that decision. I humbly beg everyone's pardo for "going geek" but the numbers pretty much provide the answer.

A Glock? I got a Glock Model 30! It's great for concealed carry! What model Glock do you have? It's got one round chambered and 9 waiting.

To quote one of my heroes; John McClain (spelling right?) WELCOME TO THE PARTY PAL!

Are you a conservative...well you said you had been mugged. I'm sorry to hear that. You could well be on your way to hanging that picture of William F. Buckley on your wall.

I think you said that. I neither said or implied anything of the sort. You are, however, free to think in any manner you choose! It's a saying I heard a few years back...it does seem to "punch a few buttons."

A liberal is just a conservative who hasn't been mugged yet.

In the recent scandal of clergy pedophilia, no excuses can be offered NOR should they be tolerated. At least the priests I've talked to or have commented on this scandal desire to see those accused receive a fair hearing and if wrong doing is revealed, defrockment and prosecution should result. How the Church responds to the rest of the world in light of its wrongdoing or any wrongdoing may seem bizarre, hypocritical, secretive, non-transparent etc etc. And to some Catholics such as myself, we too are mystified. Then we have to remember that the Church has close to two millenia of experiences in dealing with both the secular world as well as secular political power. Thus, is the response seen as circling the wagons OR is the response a result of facts the rest of us don't have at hand but the Church does? Personally I don't know. Some case resolutions have been at the surface questionable and I personally find myself torn between accepting the decision because I don't have all the facts or just flipping out and thinking "off with their heads no matter what." I have to remember that this Church is run by human beings who are tempted by the same passions and succumb to the same evils as the rest of us. On the issue of celibacy and some of the other hot button issues that critics cite to beckon modernity. Once again, the issues and their resolution are not that easy Agree or disagree with the conclusions, but the Church is blessed with a large body of scholarship in areas of Greek, Hebrew, Linguistics, History, Science (YES Science) etc. Study is contemplative and may take years to reach conclusion on some of the most difficult theological issues. As an example, reconciliation on the Doctrine of the Trinity took 200 years and was not resolved until St. Augustin of Hippo wrote the treatise "Dae Trinitate." While the Church does claim authority on a wide number of issues, it will also state that they have the authority to tell the world they have NO authority on certain issues simply because the matter has been Divinely settled. Again, not a cop out or an excuse but the result of many years (and sometimes centuries) of debate and struggle. This may not be the answer you want or agree with, but it is nonetheless the best answer I can give.

I also said I would not go any higher. Had three jumps with the new rig yesterday. Yup, the load factor brings me in a little faster...I expected that. I also had the advise and approval from my instructors at the DZ. My regrets if I did not make that plain.

Congratulations, I had a weight problem too, got the pounds off. Yea, after a jump, motorcycles and roller coasters at amusement parks just seem too tame. You're not alone, a fellow jumper at my DZ just sold his dirt bikes to buy a rig. It just get's in the blood don't it!

Good decision! My wife and I bought new. Sticker shock for certain but that is one of the realities of this sport and we bought Spectre 210's. For now I'll be loading it at 1.2 but I am on a diet and making noted progress in losing weight so it won't be long before the load factor is down between 1.0 to 1.1. I've flown other canopies at 1.2 and that load factor is not a problem. I would not, however, want to go any higher. We were on the boards and all over the net looking for used gear on sale. In some cases, the price of used gear compared to the cost of new gear was not appreciably different and I don't fault the seller(s). Hey if they can get their price, more power to them with my sincere compliments. Then there were a few used rigs I actually had for a rigger to look at where the cost of repairs as well as the projected longevity was prohibitive. The decision to buy new therefore, was to begin with a "clean slate baseline." Good luck with your new rig!

What are the arguments the Church has made in support of their position of which you disagree? Such decisions are not made "willy nilly" as many have taken years and sometimes centuries of thought, debate, and struggle before the decision is handed down. "And it is the only faith that has a 'little problem' with the clergy." If the 'little problem' is what I think you are referring to, then it is not a little problem, but criminal actions and there are no excuses for this. The Catholic Church is the most visible, but that 'little problem' is not confiend to the Catholic Chruch. The flawed human beings, the "Earthen Vessels" St. Paul refers to in 2Cor4:7 comprise the Church and yes have leadership and authority. It has not always worked perfectly, but it does seem to work in spite of the objections of many.

The Modern World? The funny thing is that in this modern world, technology has of course changed and perhaps the greatest impact is how technology reduces time to either communicate or get things done. What has NOT changed is human behavior; it's about the sam enow as it was say 5,000 years ago. What makes us better than say those who used "crude" technology to build the Pyramids? Could we do it better? As I posted here, I am Catholic. I am not offended by those who throw stones at my faith and I 'm not trying to proselytize or attempt to convert anyone here. What you choose to believe is quite frankly your choice and your business. Something I would caution. Do not be fooled by this Pope that he has "relaxed" the standards or teachings of the Church. To use the filter from the New York Times or any secular rag is a mistake. Read him in totality and make up your own mind. He is taking an approach I personally like. The Church has to accept the World as it is and minister accordingly. Whether the world accepts that message is of course another story, but the teachings have not gone away nor will they. You have to remember for all of its glorious as well as notorious past. The Catholic Church in 2,000 years of existence has outlived every major empire. Many have tried to destroy it from without as well as from within...it's still standing.