LyraM45

Here... let me fix that for you: You'd never see a democrat campaigning of family values, self riteousness, God, fidelity, non homosexuality, etc, etc, and then turn around and have an affair or have sex with another man and have to get divorced. There... that's better. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

So Riddler, you believe that Fox News is extremely partisan? OK, but does real, statistically valid research bear that claim out? Let's take a look at the huge UCLA media bias study of 2005 which objectively quantifies bias in 20 major media outlets. It is four years old, but I don't believe any of the media outlets have changed much since then. Here are two papers. http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/Media-Bias-Is-Real-Finds-UCLA-6664.aspx http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/polisci/faculty/groseclose/Media.Bias.8.htm Starting with Riddler's assertion that it is Fox News that is the problem, the study of 20 news organizations revealed: Think about it. Fox is the only news agency that isn't further left than the average voter. Given that industry baseline, it can be no surprise that the left views Fox News as incredibly biased, as their comparison group, all the other organizations, are biased to the left. I don't claim that Fox's news programs are not biased. But the studies demonstrate it is significantly less biased than many left leaning news organizations. Excluding Fox, 18 of the remaining 19 agencies studied were biased left. Riddler, you asked how much more biased could Fox News get? Perhaps you should ask that of sixteen remaining news shows, as the study found all of them more biased than Fox News. There is a huge difference between the "other media outlets that lean a LITTLE to the left," and Fox news which is just so far left it's ridiculous; so far right to the point where they exaggerate and make stuff up. At least the other news stations report fact. I'll take a little left spin over complete and udder false facts from Faux. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

+1. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Definitely take your time. I used to see jumpers come in with thousands of skydives and bounced around like a pin ball on their bellies let alone start back flying and head up flying. It sucks, and it sounds like a huge investment to get to the point where you can safefly fly head down in the tunnel, but it is definitely worth it. You will be all the more better flyer. And please remember the instructors and staff are just concerned for your safety. These guys know what they are talking about, so listen to them when they tell you they want to see XYZ first on your belly, and then XYZ done on your back and in a sit before you can be signed off to start head down on the net. Until you are comfortable bailing out to your back and all the other positions I really wouldn't be slap happy to get in that bad boy and go straight to my head IMO. (ps-- I think I was about 10 or so hours before I was starting to try HD on the net. I had about 125 skydives before I started in the tunnel.) Edited to add-- also, make sure you get some good coaching if your eventual plan in the tunnel is to do some serious freeflying and eventually get to your head. I don't know who is up at Montreal, but I am sure there are good staff up there who can help you out. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Other than going out for Sushi every now and then I really don't like to eat out, especially fast food. Will only eat it if I absolutely have to on the road or on vacation and even then I am particular-- like I like Chick-fil-a and thats about it. I cook organic fresh meals at home every single day. I bring the left overs to work for lunch. So far it's done me and the fiance well! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I'm getting mine done this month too, but first this week I need a jaw/gum scaling and scraping done to clear infection there and then I need a root canal/crown on an abscessed tooth to clear infection there... THEN they'll be able to take out my wisdoms. Luckily only 2 are impacted, but I don't mind waiting since more pain is coming from the two infections rather the impacted wisdoms. Did you get put out? I have the option, but since I'm already spending $4,000 on all the other work I figured I might as well save the $800 deductible I'd pay for getting knocked out and just suck on the gas and take some happy pills before I get them done at my regular dentist. Good luck healing up. I'm totally not looking forward to it, especially since I cook every night and LOVE food. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

VERY well said. Seriously....you took the words right out of my mouth for the most part. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Looks like the bastards that eat my tomato plants!! Tomato Hornworm I think. They can get a hook on the back that looks nasty. They will eat a whole plant in a night if you leave them to do it. Bastards! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

This isn't about allowing individuals to express their religious beliefs. It's about the government being prohibited from imposing religion on the people. You can pray all you want to whatever you want, but the government is not permitted to force you to pray. Perhaps you can explain how having a historical nativity scene in the town square forces you pray? I got news for you. The KKK putting up a display every year in downtown Cincinnati doesn't force me to be a racist. And a menorah there doesn't make me want to wear a yarmulke. So long as no public money is spent on it, what is the big concern? Or perhaps you can help me understand the pressure placed on stores a few years ago to say "Happy Holidays" instead of Merry Christmas. The holiday IS Christmas. That is why people are doing all the damn spending. Exactly how do any of these force you to do anything, except laugh at our stupidity. I am a elected school board member. There is no way in hell I would permit our staff to force students to pray, or even lead prayer. But even at the most extreme example, I have never seen a government force anyone to pray, only expecting that those present observe a bit of respectful silence as people do pray, and THAT is illegal already. Some idiots are now trying to force schools to not permit Boy Scouts to meet in their buildings, as they are a religious body, and they blocked our district from earning needed income by renting out the building on Sundays to a church. Somehow that violated their view of governments acting as a religious body. This has gone so far beyond your being forced to pray that it is way beyond absurd. You replied and missed the major point of ChangoLanzao's reply to your OP. You made a HUGE jump by linking a nativity scene in the center of town to being the driving force behind government forcing people to pray. He never said that. You're just saying that to try and justify your point. Stop reaching and just answer logically. The major problem he had, I think, was government tax dollars being spent on that nativity scene. Or things like government tax dollars to a church that end up paying for highway billboard advertisements in support of prop 8 and abortion laws or other legal/law issues that religion has ZERO business being involved in. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I get a small discount for bring an Embry Riddle student, but for my sprint plan with basically unlimited everything and anything my bill comes to 69 bucks AFTER taxes and everything that is tacked on. This is for a smart phone. Not a bad deal, which is why I stay with sprint despite the fact that I want an iPhone REALLY REALLY REALLY bad!!!!! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Honestly the only thing that helped me out was lots of flying. When I first started working at SVO I was so sore I didn't think I would ever fly again, but then my body built up to it and I could fly forever if I wanted. I know most people can't get in and fly daily to build up the muscle strength for it, so I just suggest stretching before and after flying, lots of water, healthy foods (maybe something high in potassium to help with circulation and stuff), and pop an aleve or anti inflamatory pain aid before getting in. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

[REPLY] I like what you said. I'm still a student but a couple months back I did a jump and it was great but the winds where almost to much for me when setting up. 20 minutes after getting my gear back in and my debrief they wanted me to load for the next jump and I said no because of the winds. One of the instructors said "winds are something you are going to have to learn to deal with." I understand that winds will always factor into it. I said to him, yes I get that, but I am uncomfortable with the winds right now(15mph steady gusting to 20mph on a 230). He kind of blew me off and left on the load. He wasn't my normal instructor just one of the jack asses that I have been told to ignore. But it does go back to what you feel is right for you. That can't be fully taught, if you feel it's unsafe then it's unsafe. If you feel you can land it safe then have at it. Wow... that's really disappointing to hear all of that happened with an instructor. I know how you feel though because there are days where it technically is safe/legal for people with my currency/license to jump but I still say no because I am not comfortable. Maybe down the road I'll look back on it and scoff at my level of comfort with the winds, but right now who cares? If I'm not comfy, then I sure as hell am not going to have as much fun on the jump if I am nervous. I feel that if I am ever in question of any situation (like the winds as said here), even if most people think it's not that bad and is OK to jump, I always tell myself there is always tomorrow. I pulled myself off a jump the other day because of a question with some rigging I had done on my rig since the last jump. I wanted the advice of a rigger before I did the jump. So what.. I missed one jump. It's not going to matter in the grand scheme of things. There is always another day and another jump. Just keep asking questions and don't be afraid to stay in your comfort zone even if the instructor or other jumpers think you're being too conservative. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Ditto what everybody else said on the jump numbers, currency, WL, etc, etc. For me personally I am a very conservative skydiver and especially so when it comes to winds. BUT, I have to ask a few questions-- Steady wind? Gusty wind? Turbulent? Varying in direction? There is a big difference for me between 15-18kt steady clean wind and then 10 gust 18kts over the hanger causing rotors. I sat on the ground during the Puerto Rico boogie this year because the winds were 20 gust the first two days. I jumped the other days where it was a steady 18 or 20, but that was even pushing my limits because I am lightly loaded. So, I guess it depends on what all the parameters are and what makes you comfortable. My windy is definitely not the next guys windy. For me personally I am not having too much fun fighting gusts and sinking straight down, so I'd rather not jump, and even more so if I see people with thousands of skydives sitting down and the B license holders are rushing to get on the plane. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

They sound shady like the people I am working for now. I got lied to from day one in the interview. Seriously... everything was exaggerated or a flat out lie. I just got a new job with the NWS out in California and I so can't wait to give my two weeks to them (my current employer) at the end of this month!!! Again like I said in my post above... I would seriously start looking to work some place else. You don't have to deal with that crap! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

What kind of compnay is this? Private/federal? Were you aware of all of this when you accepted the job? Is there holiday pay differential? I don't know what state you live in but each state varies with respect to employee rights. Here in TX it's almost like the employee has none compared to other states I have lived in. When I worked in the restaraunt business it was kind of like what you are saying. They already had the employees by the balls though because we were a bunch of young college kids and we REALLY needed the money, so people never complained because they were afraid to get fired. In my current work in a professional environment it's a little different. I guess it depends on where you work. I've been on both sides of the coin though and definitely know what you're going through. I would say start looking for another job. Just my opinion though. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I don't fly wingsuits (yet) but I'm a wingsuit groupie vicariously living their passion through my fiance, Matt. So, I don't know Steve as well as some of the boys, but I always looked forward to seeing him at events. We just recently started talking a little bit more and got to know eachother better since Ballunar here in Houston a few weeks ago. He just sent me an email before he left for Elsinore.... I keep looking at it, and honestly I am just still in shock. Any event I saw Steve at he was so happy go lucky. Even when the airline temporarily lost all of his gear/clothes in his suitcase during the Puerto Rico boogie he was just so easy going and no matter what has a smile on his face. He really was just a good soul. The wingsuit and skydiving community really lost one of the greats. **edited to add one of the pics Matt worked on last night. The Flock U guys have a really nice tribute set up: http://www.flockuniversity.org/ Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

If officials do the proper investigating just as they would do for any hate crime regardless of who on who it was and find that the person meets the criteria, then they should be charged. If this guys intent was to harm this woman because she is white, then he should be charged as such. If he makes racial comments previously in other situations it doesn't mean his sole reason for harming or targeting this woman was because she is white. How many white guys do you hear telling a racial joke or making racial references at some point in their life? It doesn't mean that if down the road that white guy gets into a bar fight with a black guy it was because he was black since he made a racial comment a long time ago. Who knows what the trigger was for the fight at that exact moment. There are a lot of reason why people do stupid things. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Turst me. STAY IN SCHOOL. I am not going to lie. It's going to suck huge ones while you're there because you so badly want to skydive but you can't really afford to jump head deep all the way in to it. I tried off and on through school to put in a few jumps here or there to just barely stay current, but it's really not worth it. I still hung around the local dz a lot, and I am sure there was crap said a lot of times about hanging out and not jumping, but it was totally worth it to wait. Get out, get your degree, your grown up job, and then you'll have all the funds you need to get all your spiffy gear, travel, and jump wherever you want. You will be a comfortable weekend warrior instead of just working for jumps and living on the dz. (not that it's a horrible thing if that's what you choose to do). I got the bug when I was still in high school and for a moment I seriously considered not going to college and instead living on the dz and working/jumping full time. 7 years later and now I am on the flip side and all I can say is that from my experience-- I'm glad I went to school. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I don't think shyness is a bad thing at all. I think what a lot of people think is a bad trait is what you highlighted-- the unconfident shy person. The people who are quietly confident still come out and surprise people when they least expect it as a mover and shaker, which is definitely not a bad thing. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I definitely don't think I was in your position because a.) my dropzone would have never put a level 4 AFF on a 150 anything, and B.) I definitely was not trying to jump or was even remotely interested in a Stiletto at 30 jumps. (and I won't be... probably ever) So, no. We're not quite all like you. I really do wish you good luck, but the reason why people are coming off as ass-holeish is because they have talked to people like you before, asking the same questions, and then they end up a wet spot. It gets kind of old through the years. So see it from their shoes since you are wishing they'd see it from yours. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

NNNNIIIICCCCCEEEEEE Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I wouldn't love them less but I would certainly talk to them about problems associated with fornication and sexual addiction. It would be the same if one of them told me they were experimenting with meth. You can get away with it for awhile but in the end it is a killer. In both cases it is a personal decision based on natural desire. As John Wayne is credited with saying, "Life is tough. It is a lot tougher if you're stupid." Wow... really? Like.... REALLY??? You are so misinformed and that it makes my stomach turn. So what you are saying is being gay is a sexual addiction? From medicine.net: The term "sexual addiction" is used to describe the behavior of a person who has an unusually intense sex drive or an obsession with sex. Sex and the thought of sex tend to dominate the sex addict's thinking, making it difficult to work or engage in healthy personal relationships. Maybe because I am a scientist I forgot how to read since my language is generally is mathematics, but if I am correct I don't see anything, not one thing, that mentions LBGT's in that definition. Sexual addiction effects everybody no matter what their race, religion, color, creed, or sexual orientation. So please don't try to take science and fact and twist it to convince yourself and your family that is why you are concerned with gays because being gay means it's a sex addiction. Sir, it is most definitely not. Please educate yourself before you use that as your foundation. And you really went as far as to say being gay is a choice just like somebody chooses to do meth? Have you read anything by the APA on this subject? Here, let me enlighten you a little. Here, let science enlighten you a little. Here are some COLD HARD FACTS: http://www.apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=31 IT IS NOT A CHOICE!!!! Do you love your wife or your significant other? Did you wake up when you were a teenager and decide, "Wow. I decide that I am going to love women?" Can you explain to me where that love for your wife comes from? You can't because it's something that comes from deep inside of you. From your biology, genetics, and chemical make up in your brain. You can't help that you love and are attracted to your wife, the opposite sex, just like gay people can not help that they love and are attracted to those of the same sex. Turn the tables here and imagine a world where most people were gay but you loved your wife-- a woman. Everybody starts saying that your love for her was a choice and you made that choice and you choose to be "evil" by loving her. You can sit here and tell me that you consciously made a choice to love her and can switch that feeling off for her at the drop of a hat because you can teach yourself to make the choice to love a man because that part of society was telling you it's the right thing to do?? I seriously don't think so. And lastly you say that in the end, like meth addiction, it is a killer? I am sorry to burst your bubble but I know PLENTY of LBGT's that live full and happy lives. Actually, some much better, fuller, happier, longer than some of my straight friends! I like John Wayne, but I'd rather end my rant with this: "Life is tough, but it is a lot tougher if you choose to be ignorant and not educate yourself past your own views in the box you choose to live in and never step out of." Sorry for the rant. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Dont be like that.... play the game. Why's it not in the media like other first ladies??? Why does she have such a media muzzle on her? I'm so confused!!!! When the Obama's are in the news the right's shout, "OMG, he's on a news spree. He should be running the country instead of being Mr. Popular on all the networks." Now Mrs. Obama is not so in the public eye (which doesn't make her acts of kindness with charities any less significant, which was the whole point of your thread BTW-- not this whole 'oh, ok, but it wasn't in the news,' bit.) and that is a problem????? So they are damned if they do and damned if they don't. Again, I will say what I have said before: Some people, no matter what the Obama(s) do, they will NEVER like it even if it is a policy they agree with. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Great advice!! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I don't know but I'd bet my first born that they watch fox news with the rest of the fear mongerers. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)