rehmwa

Apples and oranges, don't ya think? Illegal voting is for one reason only - to artificially tip the will of the country and get a false result in the highest offices of power in the land illegal shooting spree - criminal gets a gun illegally and goes on a rampage - big tragedy, perhaps a dozen people could die illegal voting spree - tips the scales from one party being in power over another (perhaps a swing in power was due, like this election, or the last) - here's the worst case right? instead of a split party between legislative and exec, we get one party in power and they go nuts, pick a scenario - 1 - ridiculous pandering and expansion of social programs - country is impoverished, jobs lost, thousand commit suicide through excessive taxes, lower standard of living - worldwide economic collapse through triple dip recession and global depression - a few get really rich, the rest are essentially slaves - 2 - cronyism goes wild, excessive military buildup and invasion of countries - tens of thousands die, economy collapses, other countries have to follow suit to survive - a few get really rich, the rest are essentially slaves clearly you must hate children and puppies ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

tough one there - Dad did the right thing in stopping the attacker. 'Should' he have stopped the beating earlier? That's most likely. And the text of the last article that notes he's super concerned and trying to get an ambulance asap speaks highly to what actually happened - he lost it a little too long. But the circumstances....I wonder how many people could have regained their composure any earlier. I'm glad he didn't go to jail. It sounds like he 'lost it' for a little bit and the results were unintentional, and the trigger was justified and highly unusual. I have a real hard time taking an absolutist position on this case. If he were to have been all blustery and claimed he did it under total control and was just putting down a rabid dog? Then I'd want that guy in jail. This doesn't sound like that's the case. ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

If we didn't have that, then Speaker's Corner would be an empty street corner with a single lit light and nobody standing under it. crickets,,,,tumbleweed rolling by,,, ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

Just listen to your instructor like you are new. Sometimes retrains are harder than just first jump students because the retrains 'know it all already'. Though boys tend to be worse than girls on this..... Open mind, open ears, and they'll take good care of you. The bonus for you is that you already know you've been fine before, you can listen and apply with less tension than a 1st timer. If you've been practicing like crazy, that's great, you don't need to bring it up more than once, your ground performance will let the instructor know how you're doing. patience ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

So after all that, it turns out we're on pretty much the same page. And your definition of 'spirituality' is thin at best compared to how some use it in a wacky way. though, my revision in blue here: "That's why large scale organized religion pollutes it's pure form." I have no issue with people gathering together to practice or exercise their beliefs in their way - that's what I call 'religion'. No more issue than I'd have with a group of people going camping together every weekend - or meeting at the DZ to share those experiences on a regular basis (except for crw dogs, that's just objectionable due to their gear and hygiene) Not as fun as snark. But always revealing. ---faith - strong belief not founded on proof ---religion - the rituals or habits that some use to exercise or affirm their faith ---church - an organized power structure claiming to provide those rituals subject to abuse and corruption just like any other large power structure (like business, politics, large social agenda efforts) ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

I think the pictures are cool too. But I have no idea why they would provide any sort of religious or spiritual satisfaction. I don't think being esthetically or scientifically moved is a function of some obscure or perceive link to reality. it's just appreciating balance and nature - no need for labels Maybe since I equate religious ferver with those claiming spirituality, then my cynicism goes to those crystal holding, yoga chanting, bean eaters...... Just like religious types, assigning the label to themselves just seems a bit smug to me, like they think they need to be in a 'special' (i.e., superior) groups over others. New skydivers like to claim they are special because of their new club, too. But it's just another sport/activity...... ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

Again a better attempt to get my point across on a less snarky way. Spirituality is just the wonder and awe about the mystery that this universe is. It's naturally occurring in most humans and spirituality is not the proper name for it, it's just the name religious people made up for it. I only use it for lack of a better term. Religion isn't spirituality, it prostitutes spirituality and often devaluates it and dumbs it down. While the feelings of wonder and awe about the mystery is often approached in a religious fashion, it can be approached in a philosophical materialistic way, but that doesn't make it something else. If anything, in it's purest form it's much more powerful than the quality-free mass product religion usually offers. The Hubble Deep Field has offered me more spiritual satisfaction than all the tales of the Christian Sheep God in the world ever could. Nicely put - I'm cynical about "organized religion" in the same way. I don't mind snarky, BTW - it's pretty much expected in belief threads. the only difference is that I relate that to any organized power structure (applies to more than just churches) not the individual that practices his beliefs in any way. I don't see any difference for the individual - between those of your beliefs system or those that practice a formal religion. That's all. I don't have an issue with it if it helps all of you, but I am not very tolerant when one group claims a more high road than the other on such a subjective topic. If you feel 'wonder' at the universe, great. That other guy does too, he just expresses it in his own way by assigning a belief to that wonder. Both of you are just enjoying the equivalent of a drug induced buzz created naturally from your experience. Call it more "pure" if you like, frankly, I agree it's more "pure" for you, but it might be more "pure" for the next guy to practice it in a totally different way - and neither guy has any business belittling the other. ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

Because the level of anger you are displaying is usually driven by fear

Put your weight belt in the freezer in between jumps. Though, I would consider the ability of your buckles (if plastic) to handle that cycling (drop hazard if you wear it outside your suit). ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

I'm happen to tax that CEO. No problem. I'm also happy to label ACS as a charity-based business too. Go ahead and tax them. Real charity is personal and direct, anything else can, and will, be twisted into profit making eventually - no matter how good the original intentions. not that I have a problem with profits.....but let's call it what it is - I don't see why not, it's not despicable to make profits, nor is there anything wrong with doing that openly, especially for a good cause. Profits aren't evil, but misdirection is. Wouldn't it be more honest to start an organization with the goal to advance a cure and state up front that x% will be taken for our troubles? Rather than pretend otherwise and then sneak away high salaries and trips and perks from the funds? ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

They do charitable work. That doesn't make them equal to a charity. they are a business - they can deduct charitable contribution just like the rest of us - but businesses should be taxed equal to the others ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

mmmm - focused self reflection resulting in orientation or inspiration with claims of connecting to the transcendent nature of life....... So let's see that objective and physical proof that you're gaining anything from this. there is no way to view that as anything but religious in it's most basic state - it's pretty much the basis for all religions so now I see this as less of an anti-religion thing, and just more of a semantics thing - your mystic rituals aren't any better or worse - there are organizations that facilitate spiritual rituals of self awareness just like churches claim to do - etc etc etc (I bet there are even yogi's and meditation coaches that take advantage of their clients for money and sexual favors.......) what's different from holding a crystal and rubbing it and 'meditating' vs holding a cross and rubbing it and chanting a series of prayers? if someone is going to be pure about objectivity of practices and beliefs, they should at least be consistent in their disregard of all forms and not just those that make them uncomfortable because they are different "connecting with the universe" is the biggest and most successful mass produced business ever. Whether it's a worth it? well, there seems to be a demand from most of the population for what they are selling. ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

Start taxing churches. that's a good action - a church is a business, it provides a service and should be taxed. that's easy. And I do hate unicorns - one killed my brother in 'Nam ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

I find this just as silly as going to a building every week and praying to a statue. Spirituality = religion IMHO it's a just a more PC way of saying it ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

that's always a plus blue skies ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

you sound a lot like middle century bishops and cardinals did have a good weekend - partly cloudy here ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

Tin hat time don't laugh too fast - There's the "green" religion. The Social Agenda Religion, etc etc etc. Just as fanatical, and trendy in hollywood. ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

clearly this statement shows you aren't then reading my posts and are just trolling along - I'm agnostic, if that, I don't really care about the existence or non-existence of deities, though I lean to non, because the rationalization of the pro side is a bit silly to me for all the religions - though a giant bowl of spaghetti sounds awesome the ONLY belief I'm espousing is respecting and tolerating others the irony of your post in terms of tolerance is amazing here ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

Yep. That perhaps could be an average gun owner; frightening - and a real danger to everybody. Says the casual European hunter that has ZERO clue about what an 'average gun owner' in the US really is. I don't know, Mike. Clearly dumbasses are everywhere, and these kids are clearly 'posing' like some hollywood stereotype of a gangsta - you take any pair of highschool or college age boys and I offer to take a picture of them with a couple handguns, I bet 90% would forget to check the chamber and mag, and they would pose just like these idiots. You want to really place blame for bad image and poor education - put it on the arts' portrayals and on the LACK of responsible examples and teaching nowadays. I'm not thrilled with the idea of insulated city kids and adults that have no clue, that then get their guns. Me? I was raised with guns. It really is different. Even teaching my daughter correctly, she just doesn't have the culture that I did and I suspect the next generation after won't get the info and training that she did no matter how well I do it with her. the anti-gunners are completely wrong - but their actions are self fulfilling in the long run - they literally are creating a class of people that are too ignorant and careless to have any business using or owning firearms ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

I believe this (for freefall performance only) - I just don't buy that it's an age thing. And Dean (your "best response so far") was a personal anecdote - he might have had even more trouble if he started 10 or 20 years ago for all we know - sample size of 1. ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

here's a reword that is answerable or not depending on how you pause in the delivery of the question. A bat and ball cost a dollar and ten cents. How much does the ball cost? It's like the riddle - What crawls, is yellow, and can break a window? ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

My quick answer is 3.1416... miles. but that's flat geometry. I bet calculus makes me wrong again. Or something else does. Half of that + a little.

not ANY latitude to start - they'd still have to be 10 miles north of specifically defined latitudes with circumferences of 10, 5, 2.5, 1,25, ...... but yes, any longitude on those starting latitudes and the north pole ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

actually, he'd have been shot by 'gun blast' ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

and it often is a good thing I'd rather use my energy trying to knock down large organized and corrupt political groups. I think it's more productive than trying to knock out an individual's personal coping methods. and I'm changing my mind - You can't knock down someone's faith, but discussing respectfully that claims of 'proof' - seems fair game since proof is impossible and they are wasting their time with that tactic. But it might backfire as many might just agree and decide they don't need proof and come out even stronger in what would be real belief. ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants