Ron

OK, so what is my position? Since you know it so well. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Actually I tried...then you came in with this gem Then you tried to make it personal: I see a bill that has some questions left. I LIKE a member of Congress to not just pass any bill that the public wants. You bitched about the Patriot act....Well this could easily be another really stupid bill. Just because it was created by a task force does not make it good...The Patriot act was created by a task force INCLUDING Kerry. So the PA was bad and it was passed to fast. But you think this is good and is passing to slow? Given the choice of going with you (Who I am sure have not read the entire bill) or a guy that has to vote on it....I'd rather put my trust in the guy that has to vote for or against it and be held accountable for his vote. So since I have some trust in the system we have, and I am glad that ANY member of Congress has the right to question a bill, or parts of a bill. I support the members right to stop and askk questions. I think taking the ability to see, interpret and give information to the troops on the battle field as a BIG issue. You may not. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

In YOUR OPINION the reform bill is good. A few members of Congress don't agree. Sorry Doc, I will tend to listen to you over some members of Congress when it comes to Physics...But I will tend to listen to members of Congress when it comes to bills. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Is it impossible for you to grasp the fact that you guys are gonna bitch about anything? You bitch about the patriot act for being to fast, and now you bitch about this going to slow. The one common thing here is you guys bitching. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

So you blame him for not having control and not passing this fast, but you also blame him for having control and passing the patriot act? See you just want to complain. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

For liability reasons I will not take anyone that can't sign a waiver. I have refused underage tandem students. It has nothing to do with my confidence in my abilities....But in case shit happens, I have enough assests that I would like to keep. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You really can't go wrong with any DZ in this area.... I am partial to Zhills. It has a great vibe. We have LO for when you get off student status....ect. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I could have pulled higher to land last. I could have landed away from everyone. I could have not done the landing...But I thought I was clear. I could have told people what I was going to do. The canopies in question were Velo's....They descend mush faster than my Stiletto. They must have been above me with my canopy blocking my vision. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

While I agree sending jobs overseas is bad for the US as a whole....I also can understand why a CEO of a company forced to make the choice between sending jobs overseas and keeping the company in business is better than letting the company go bankrupt. Besides as others have pointed out, Kellogs plant was out dated, and needed removed. I can't fault a business guy for making good business choices. Why else have a company? Why work so much if not for profit? I get up everyday and got to work for money...Does that make me a profit seeking scum? Yes, please tell me about it...Since I work for an airline I'd love to hear your side of it. Thats not facsim. Thats the government giving money to try and protect the economy. The companies took that money and tried to stay afloat. An airline is not exacty a good business to be in. When you fiqure pilots make close to 100/hr, and MX guys make 30-40/hr. Here at my company the lowest paid Capt makes 140,000 a year. Thats for a 727. I know some guys making 250,000 a year working 2 days a week. Salaries in aviation are inflated. Trust me Seems like I was right on target with my guess. I'd further guess you work in aviation and were laid off.....And as I check your profile.....Snap! I see you listed as an Av MX....I call 'em like I see em. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

So let me see if I get this right.... The Republicans are in control, and you are upset that things are not just flying through and becoming law? OK so I don't want ILLEGAL immigrants getting a license either. So you would rather he just follow the party line and ignore his responsability to the troops? Don't you bitch about the government having to much power? I don't follow your logic at all. You bitched about the fact that the Reps being in control would make it easy for the evil Bush group to pass things that are not in the best interest of America...Then you bitch about people trying to do what they think is right.... Would you bitch so much if it was Dems that were holding it up? You bitch that the government has to much power....But you seem to be OK in THIS case? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

No, Bills gripe was this guy doing his job and keeping a company above water. So, you would rather companies go bankrupt? You think all business people are greedy scumbags? Let me guess...Democrat, and you voted for Kerry? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Id like to add: 1995 http://www.x-rates.com/d/EUR/USD/hist1995.html http://www.x-rates.com/d/JPY/USD/hist1995.html 1996 http://www.x-rates.com/d/EUR/USD/hist1996.html Why was it so bad in 95 and 96? Or was that Bush's fault? Seems to me it was climbing even after Bush was elected. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well here are two more....Well one just shit happens, and the other stupid. #1. I broke off from a 16way Saturday. There was one guy low and we lost him right before break off due to clouds. I turned and tracked as hard as I could to try and get the hell out of dodge. I entered a cloud at around 2800 feet and I broke out about 2500...The problem was there was a deploying parachute right below me....When I say right below me, I mean I not only saw the canopy, but the stitching on the canopy. I was maybe 150 feet above it. I had enough time to think "Shit" and "Keep Tracking"....In truth, I don't think anything Iwould could have done would have helped...I cleared the canopy by a few feet but only because I was already in a max track. Lessons: #1. Try like hell not to jump when there are clouds, when they are in the 2 grand to 4 grand range....I got lulled into being OK with this due to the fact that the 16 way was full of really great jumpers all but one of them had several thousand jumps. 2. Deploy before a cloud, or take a delay after passing through one....More so if you went low on breakoff. #2..(I had a busy weekend ) The bad hook on Saturday. The plan was a 180 degree hook from the mockup towards the deck with a 90 degree carve to the right towards the trailers after my surf was started. The problem was while I was in my dive towards the deck I saw two canopies coming in from the hanger towards the swoop pond accross my curent flight path. I had two options: 1. Continue my path and maybe collide with one of the two canopies, or if I make the carve before them, maybe make them turn to avoid me and maybe they get hurt....Both not good options. 2. Continue to turn my canopy so that I ended up parallel with their flight path taking the danger away from them and risk breaking my own leg. My stupid deed, so it should be my broken leg. So I turned. This is the turn people saw, not the first hook. I knew I was low and it took all of the dig I had...Any more and I risked a high speed stall. As it was, I planned out and never hit the ground. It was close, but the only part of me that touched was my feet, and only after a very short swoop. If it had not been for me having almost 2,000 jumps on the same size/type of canopy...I am not sure I would have been able to pull it off. Have fun "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Gee, I guess it would have been better for the company to go bankrupt and EVERYONE lose their jobs? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

After my talk with Bushman....And since I have known him for about 6 years and trust him...I don't think they would have. I could be wrong, but I don't think they would have. Bushman and Jody are two people who I really personally trust. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Even if it is cutting edge, I'd rather they not release it till its ready to be released. To release something before it is ready just to be the first is in my opinion bad for the company overall. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Talked with Bushman about this this weekend. He said that while it was a great flying wing he was not happy with the way it opened. He didn't want to release anything that was not in his eyes perfect and ready for the market. I respect him for that choice. To many companies are in a hurry to get the latest and greatist thing to market that they release a product they are not 100% happy with, or that still have a few issues. Aerodyne is not doing that. He told me that they have started over. The reputation that Aerodyne has is impressing me so far. The products seem great, but it is this kind of leadership in not releasing a product before it is ready that I really respect. In other news Bushman told me he has an A-Max that I can put some jumps on....I am really looking forward to that, and even though it will not be released, I will tell you all what I think about it. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yes, it is sad. But I learned Spanish (sort of) years ago in Memphis....So my Spanish was pathetic then, and with a southern drawl. "Mi hablo espanola un poco,.....partner". I never even tried to learn it once I lived here...And that I regret. So now I am trying to fix it. I am thinking of a three step approach. 1. A CD set that will refresh me some. 2. An Immersion course. 3. Talking to my Spanish speaking friends when I get back as much as I can. So, I have the Spanish speaking friends...I need a CD course, and then an immersion course. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I know some, but it is so rusty that I want to work on it. Two ways. 1. Anyone know of some good Audio CD's for learning it? 2. Anyone know a good immersion course? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Nah, I would have probley just broken a femur or something Gonna do stupid stuff? Expect to get hurt. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

If they are a GM DZ then they sort of have to require USPA membership. From the USPA Group Membership Manual: One could argue that while a person with 13 Tandem jumps is still just a tandem student and since they don't have an "A" license that they would not need the USPA membership....However, it could also be argued that a person with 13 tandem jumps that has no interest in getting a license is not a "Student" Since it seems this person has chosen to be only a Tandem skydiver.....They are not a student. And in this case it seem she WAS a member of the USPA. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1363700#1363700 So asking her to be a member if the DZ was a GM is a small request. And last I checked managment reserves the right to refuse service. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I live on the DZ in Zhills. Total travel time: 0 mins. Deland where I team train is about 1:30 mins. Lake Wales is about 1:15. I also have: Williston about 1.5 hrs. Skydive Tampa Bay about 45 mins. Space Center 2 hrs. Sebastian 2.2 hours. It's a playground for skydivers. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Never anyones business:12:3:????:1 Humps: No ones business but the two involved Jumps: 12 3 First place team wins in Zhills for 8,16 RW, and 10 way speed. ????I drank some this weekend...Spent Sat night quite buzzed with a friend Edit to add....Almost died. VERY close call. The closest I have ever been in. 1st jump Sat we had a guy low, and we broke off right above a cloud. I hit my max track to get the hell away from everyone. As I came out of the cloud at 2,500 feet RIGHT below me I saw a canopy coming out of a bag. I was *maybe* 100-150 feet above it.I had enough time to think "Oh" of the "Oh shit!" before I passed the canopy. If I had not been in a track, I would be dead. My momentum carried me over the canopy, I didn't have time to do anything about the situation. It seems to me that about once every thousand jumps something happens where my ticket should have been punched...The first was stupidity on my part, the second was a fluke, and this was just bad. Met Vinny the Anvil. Saw tons of old friends...One of them He brought up we have known each other for 10 years....WOW how time flies. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Short answer: No. Longer answer: As long as you were current (proof is your logbook) Gear was in Date. Waivers were signed. BOTH were USPA members. (She is not a one time student....SO I'd require USPA membership.) You were not taking away from my student pool...You brought her. I'd let you jump. If I saw you talking to my students, or trying to "steal" my students, you would be asked to leave. I doubt I would let you jump with students that were coming to my DZ to do a tandem. But if you brought your own, I would sell you slots on the plane and let you jump. Zhills does this. Bring your own gear and your own students, jump all ya want. John had the best plan...Next time call ahead and ask. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I also never said that. I said we were in a recession in Clintons last year and that was handed over to Bush. Then I said 9/11 happened. If you think 9/11 didn't have any influence on the economy, you are insane. People and companies drew back on plans to invest. I never said 9/11 cause the recession....We were already in a recession. I said 9/11 didn't help. Also two wars fronts don't help. You basicly provide more proof on my point that Bush was handed an economy in recession. We disagree on the influence of the 9/11 attack. I can't see how anyone can't see how consumer confidence was shaken. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334