crwmike

Nancy Reagan was asked by a reporter what should a child do when preesured to use drugs. Her bewildered reply, " Just say no!" - The 'Just Say No' campaign was created and 'given' to the first lady as part of the usual muck that first ladies do. Michael

Agreed ...and hat's off to the good ones. The thing is, the dive is so fucking incredible, that even the most indifferent, freight hauling TM will be viewed as having done an incredible job. This is why most of us who have spent years instructing students (or even just hauling the meat), developed greatly exaggerated opinions of our efforts. WTF, it got us laid ...a lot Michael

Wow! From both directions????? :) Michael

That was last Sunday's news...and I've heard since then from several people that the funeral was well attended by the skydiving community. Kudos to those who were able to look past their own personal opinions, and reached out to those who desperately needed love and support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Ciels- Michele I agree, Michele. I didn't know Alister. I don't know what his thoughts were prior to taking his own life. I do know he was part of my family and he was obviously hurting. I'm glad to hear that members of his skydiving family chose to not turn their backs on him. Regardless of what happened, he was our brother. Good bye brother. Blue Skies, Michael

Did they get him out of the plane without bashing his head on exit? Michael

It's pragmatism, professor. (1) showed his core values and other things that he did not need to compromise. He had the power to fire those ATC's regardless of any compromise as the executive. On taxes, he lowered the tax rate, thereby bringin in more dollars. The dude actually found a way to lower taxes and raise them at the same time. Government growth - hey, I point out his weaknesses. But, he had to give in to many things to get anythign done. Anti-abortion? Isn't it amazing when a leader does what he believes necessary, even though he doesn't like it personally? That's great governing. That solidifying the vote of the extreme right.

Relax, brother. Not everybody can be as open, loving and caring as you. Michael

Women do it more than men, I read it in a book called The Day America Told The Truth. Bunch of weird stuff in that book. Did you know that women fantasize about their friends husbands/bf more often than men do their friends wife/gf? Tis true. I obviously wasn't part of their test group because I can honestly say that I don't. I wasn't part of that either. Thats pretty gross. Laurel, I've heard SO many guys jokes about having to pee 'but don't worry, I move the dishes first'..UGH But the 'whoo hoo' thing is pretty funny!!!~~April well ...you don't have to move them out of the sink, but any true gentleman will move them to the side. Michael

No we dont!! hehe Holy schniekeys. I guess I learned something new today. And it was icky. You guys realize that the potty is probably one-two steps away - right? Hold a sec .... OK, a bit harder that I thought ...gotta arch over the sink. A little splattering while establishing range and elevation but if it makes you happy ... Definitely more fun than just hitting the shower drain. Michael

Kallend, do you have to be so rude...all the time? FallRate I think he's blossomed nicely over the past few years :) Michael

>And that's exactly my point. Guess I missed it. >A bunch of WACKOS for some f'ed up reason decided that you wouldn't be allowed to associate and speak freely.What they didn't understand was that the Constitution of the United States says that you can. The constitution surely says that. I looked it up just last week to make sure it was still there. >McCarthy was an asshole, reactionary, whack-job Well, perhaps. I suspect he was a politician who latched onto an issue that tapped so deeply into the fears of the era, he was able to subvert the most fundamental freedoms of our great country for tremendous personal/politcal power. He was actually popularly viewed a hero ...a great American doing a dirty job that had to be done to make us safe. People were scared and generally grateful we had such a dedicated leader making the hard decisions to protect the American way of life. I can't quite put my finger on it, but this seems somehow ...familiar Michael

Oh my god, you're not joking! I suspect you were not around in the 50's. What we did to our citizens was far worse than adopting an ideological philosophy. Michael

You're joking ...right?

Just to clarify ...when I say solid metal lateral metal slats, I meant to differentiate from the coiled metal ones. The metal slats are hinged and usually contain 'stops' to prevent hyperextention. You can flex as much as you like. Wear the jeans ...but under the nylon. Michael

Well, as puppets go, he was quite talented.

The duct tape would help to some extent, but a brace would be a better idea. Go to a medical supply store and try some on. Move around the store, jog a bit. If if feels good there, it will probably work for you. Don't know about your particular injury, but a good brace with solid metal lateral slats will limit the side to side movement that causes most pain ...and further injury. Probably cost >$50. Now for landings. I have a reconstructed achilles tendon on my left leg, sewn on to a hook imbedded in my heel ...I'm very protective of reinjury. A couple of years ago my right knee started giving me problems. I wear the brace with an extra velcro strap over the brace right at the knee and tighten the strap before exit. I could run out most landings, but fear a mistep, chuck hole, stone, whatever could cause serious re-injury ...so I butt slide when I can land in a known (i.e. smooth and grassy) environment. Brief hit on my feet and lower down to the slide ...watch out our sticks and such Landing out, I'll run it out or PLF. Wear pants with a low coefficient of friction :) Jeans don't slide well :(. Cheap nylon jogging pants (some sort of nylon, I guess) slide nicely. Good luck! Michael

I've seen you bring this subject up before. And it's been my experience that people who constantly rebel against what the rest of society is doing are having their choices controlled more by societal influence than those who don't care what the rest of society is doing. I'm with Philly Kev. Your statement makes it sound like anyone who has a belief that is similar to the vast majority then they are just following the herd and have no mind of their own. Well, you have a bunch of absolutes in there, but ...yep, pretty much. I'll go even further, people go out of their way to avoid freedom. People go with the flow, value what they are raised to value and give little thought to who they are, what part they play in our society and what they, individually, can do to contribute to our world. They want the illusion or trappings of freedom ... what object to buy to be seen as part of the tribal collective, where to go on vacation, and what style clothes to wear. The vast majority of our interactions with other people consist of ritualistic behaviors to identify everyone's place in the culture and to soothe and calm the natives. Go outside of those rituals (even worse, challenge them!) and you find yourself wasting time trying to explain the world to indignant natives who can't see past their own culturally imprinted ideas ...or running for you life! Here's a starting point. Keep a daily log of what you actually say to other people and what they say to you. Do it for a week, then sit down and analyze the content. Of course you'll lose all the ritualistic genuflections and such, but it should be enlightening. You know, I'm not crazy about the way the world is either but I refuse to deny the realities of our existence just cause they don't fit with what I was told to believe. Some people don't have what it takes to accept what they see when they look behind the curtain, some won't even take a peek, and some deny the existence of a curtain, but a few have the strength of character and the courage to look at the world around them with eyes untainted by what is 'supposed' to be. Now, I know you're not going to buy any of this, but WTF, I had to give it a shot. Peace, Michael One never receives his convictions about values through intellectual debates. The things in a person's life which he actually does value--his children and his love for them and theirs for him, the pleasure he has in drama or listening to music or playing golf, the pride he has in his work--all these he accepts as realities...In actual life the real value is something we experience as connected with the reality of our activity, and any verbal discussion is on quite a secondary level. -Rollo May "..freedom has a twofold meaning for modern man: that he has been freed from traditional authorities and has become an 'individual,' but that at the same time he has become isolated, powerless and an instrument of purposes outside of himself, alienated from himself and others; furthermore, that this state undermines his self, weakens and frightens him, and makes him ready for submission to new kinds of bondage. Positive freedom on the other hand is identical with the full realization of the individual's potentialities, together with his ability to live actively and spontaneously." Eric Fromm Escape from Freedom

keith, with all due respect, could you please explain to me how someone's personal dating preferences can be ignorant? No disrespect to anyone answering this but it would be illustrative to look at what are personal choice and what are merely ingrained responses of the tribal collective. When your personal choices are the same as those of the vast majority of the members of your society ...they don't seem very personal. In answer to the original question, if I find someone I enjoy, love, trust and respect ...what else matters? Michael

I'm just guessing you believe Pinoccio to be one of the world's greatest works of literature. Michael

I, on the other hand, would be inclined to celebrate. What have I done with my life? Well, for the past quarter of a century I've worked the graveyard shift in south Florida's ER's and intensive care units ...trying to give something back to the society in which I live. How bout yourself? Michael

Tandems. I blame it all on tandems.

Quote hindsight is bliss. Quote Ignorance of quotations has 20/20 vision? Michael

Argument? Ahhh, kind of an internet Rorschach test I guess ..."I see someone who wants an argument" Michael

Blues, Dave I haven't read any of the responses to this ...yet. I'm hoping I don't see people attempting to justify giving up our most basic rights as a free people for a bit of false security ...but I know I will. Sigh, Michael

People sometimes perceive what they need to perceive when in emotional overload. I've seen many people die. I have never seen this and sincerely doubt it validity, but if it helps her cope with her emotions, I'll go along with it. Michael