mikkey

This is a very good observation. Outside the US the "extreme liberals" are either socialists or "greens". But it is true - people who are on the far edges of politics are annoying because they have a religious believe in their opinion and will only look at facts that suit them. And both want to tell you what to think and what to do. Totally agree. I would call myself a moderate conservative and the "right wing club" that posts here on Talk Back annoys me as much as the (real) extreme leftists and greens that try to run my live where I live. I think it was Winston Churchill who once described the political spectrum as circle shaped instead of a line where you go left or right from centre. When you go out from the centre to the left and right the 2 extremes will end up very close together. In many ways extreme right wingers and left wingers have a lot in common. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

I either want some of the stuff you are smoking or you must stop watching Fox News 24 hours a day... --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Unfortunately this does NOT exist. There are 2 type of bias in media. One is HOW something is reported and the second is IF or how prominent it is being reported. The media cannot report everything and every news with the same priority. By having Editors in place decisions are made which story is being "run" and "where" and how "much". By having to make these choices the media is exercising "bias" because they make a judgement call of what and how to report news. That is just the nature of the beast. Good journalists/editors try to make these choices without being influenced by ideology, own opinion or third party pressure groups. But total objectivity does not exist. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

If I can make a couple of points: 1) Nobody has really claimed that the Bush Tax cut (combined with record low interest rates) would not spur an increase in consumption, which again would lead to improved growth. 2) The question/criticism is: a) Is this the most effective way to regain growth and b) is it socially balanced. Re. a) Providing large unfunded tax cuts that are skewed towards the top 10% of income earners is not the most effective way. Firstly, you are creating a huge deficit that needs to be paid at some stage and will in the short to medium term limit the economic "instruments" at hand. There are different economic "levers" that could have been used that would have cost less (less deficit). The unemployment in the US is still comparably high, and the question is, if it is partly caused by the high-income earners spending the money on products that do not create jobs (e.g. imported luxury goods). I do not have any data on this but this could be an explanation. Re. b) The Tax cuts are skewed towards the highest incomes and some people might think that is not a balanced approach. Especially if the resulting budget deficit leads to cut in government spending on social programs that in turn will hit the lower income families. So while there is no doubt the measures will have some effect (difficult to say how much is tax cut and how much is low interest rate) – a lot of people (and a lot of economists) are criticizing the Bush administration because of the above issues. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

What I fail to understand is the extreme low voter turn out at elections in the US. I think it is the lowest for any democratic country. Anyone care to explain? Is the system screwed? Why do people don't care? I would think that if the majority of people does not think it is worth voting a democracy is in trouble...(?) --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Cool stuff. Just the right thing to get me in the mood as I am getting my gear together to go to the DZ for some week-day jumping Mon/Tue..... Weather forecast looks good too. Spring down here... --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Hmmm, I doubt many people in the UK, Canada and Australia are starving. There are developed and wealthy countries other then the US you know... Thinking about it, I would think there are more people living below the poverty line in the US then in some of the countries the Queen is the head of state of... --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

There are strict rules in Australia about who can jump/dock with a Tandem. Main regulation is that you have to be very current, i.e. a minimum of 200 RW (!) jumps within the last 12 month plus D license I think plus the TM, DZSO, CI etc. have to approve in each case.... I have been told that the key issue in regard to safety is that the Tandem is "all over the place", i.e. moves a lot around "in space" and the TM is not in total control due to the possible movements of the pax. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Depends on game plan. Firstly you should do it on a large plane where there are "groups" of toilets located. You do it when most people sleep and the crew is relaxing behind the curtains. Secondly you do not go together but take a 30 sec interval and then slip into the toilet. It can be easily done without anybody noticing. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

I know somebody (ahem) who tried to become a member of the club during an intercontinental flight. It is totally over rated - the bloody toilets are too small. The person I know (cough) gave up - too uncomfortable...... And yes, people mostly do it for the T-shirt (been there - done that) except if a really cute flight attendant hits on them. But when does that happen? Except in movies... --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

This is in the news today (not on Fox I guess ) The following is from the BBC web site. As the smoke clears over the next 12 month there might be a lot of "dirt" that will come to light. My guess is still he will be a 1 term Pres: --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

We will see. As times goes by it might be proven that Bush & Co knowingly were spreading incorrect information about Iraq and WMD. Every politician lies. I rather have them lie about sex then war... --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Correct and with my "blessing". And you are in my opinion more then welcome to comment on the policies of the Australian or any other Government. I was replying to a Troll who complained "foreigners" commenting about your administrations policy. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Correct. Technically. Still, IMO there is a big difference between lying about sex (after being "set up" by the K. Starr) and lying about serious issues of Government like Watergate, Arms for Hostages, WMD's, going to War etc. I prefer a leader who tells lies about sex compared to a leader that tells lies about corruption or war. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Seems you and juanesky share a lot. You are just a troll. So no more food for you. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Well I suggest that you instead participate in forums in which only US citizens participate. This way I do not have to read your ranting posts. As long as the US gets involved in other countries affairs or affects other countries security, I and others are entitled to have an opinion about your administration and its policies. That about says it all.... --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

I saw a documentary some years ago about the "composition" of combat troops in Vietnam (i.e. social status, education, race etc. ). Makes you wonder how come that if you have a draft system that so disproportional many soldiers were from the "lower" social layers of society and/or of non-Caucasian ethnic background…. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

I never studied whitewater in detail, but if I remember correctly the Clintons were fully exonerated. The “shredding” of evidence I can’t remember – sure about that i.e. any proof? Edit: I remember the enormous amount of resources spent on trying to "nail" Clinton for something and nothing came out of it - except Monica. K. Starr was not supposed to investigate Clinton's sex live. He was supposed to investigate Whitewater and could not come up with anything, so he turned to P. Jones and Monica.... Now this is what I was talking about. Everybody knows that this is not true. It was made up by some "Clinton haters" and shot down soon after it was thrown around in the media for a while (Fox loved it...). Yes I would agree that Bill seems to like to "bend" the truth. However, what is worse: Lying about shagging the Intern or lying about the reason for going to war? By the way, show me a politician you can fully trust.... --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

not quite sure what your angle is... Looking in from the outside I would think there is a big change of Bush jnr. following in his fathers footsteps as a “one termer”. "It is the economy stupid" and from what I read the economy is not that flash in the US (especially jobs)…. Plus the mess in Iraq does not help – including questions of credibility (“WMD’s presenting clear and present danger”). The whole thing depends on whom the democrats put up against him. But then again, If I remember correctly, in 1991 Clinton had big problems because he was seen as too young/in-experienced and “promiscuous”, which normally does not sit well with the “family values” crowd. But he still won because the US economy was bad and Bush’s credibility was doubtful (“read my lips – no more taxes”). My bet is that Bush is gone by the end of next year, unless the US economy improves (i.e. jobs) and the situation in Iraq has improved dramatically (minimal number of troops deployed and no daily body count). But who knows – things change quickly in politics – not just in the US. One thing I find amusing is the hate towards Clinton that is always expressed by the right wing club in this forum. The only criticism from American friends I heard was that he was a) a womaniser (and lied about it) b) in some peoples opinion cut defence spending too much. I visited the US quite a few times in the 90’s and it is my clear impression that the US had never a better economy, jobs and wealth improvement for all then during the Clinton years. Plus the relations with all of America’s allies were never better. But that is just my subjective impression. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Firstly talk to your instructors about your concerns. I think I read that the "average" is about 1 reserve ride per 2-300 jumps or so. BUT that is very mis-leading as many factors play into the likelihood of malfunction, including type of canopy, quality of pack job, experience, etc. etc. The good news is, that malfunctions and reserve rides are (in my experience) not that common during student status. Reason being that very experienced people are looking after you and checking your gear again and again and that good DZ's take good care of their student gear. For example here in Australia we have not had a student fatality for over 10 years and I do not hear about many reserve deployments (and then it is mostly the student panicking and pulling the SOS handle ). This said - it is important that you make yourself very familiar with the possible mal-functions and the emergency procedures. But again best thing to do is discussing these issues with your Instructors at the DZ where you are going to do the AFF. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

115 jumps in round main and 2 round reserves. 15 T-10, 60 C-9, 40 Competition Para Commander. All jumps in the 1970's. I loved the PC and would jump one in good condition any time. They turned fantastically and were great for accuracy. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

I got this one by e-mail today and found it quite funny. Thinking about it, maybe Aussies are quite similar to Americans?.... So I thought I share: Why We Are All Proud To Be Australian Citizens: 1) Only in Australia. can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance. 2) Only in Australia. is “are you awake?” the standard concept of foreplay 3) Only in Australia. do supermarkets make the sick people walk all the way to the back of the store to get their Panadol, etc., while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front. 4) Only in Australia. do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries... and a Diet Coke. 5) Only in Australia. do banks leave both doors open, have no armed guards but chain the pens to the counter. 6) Only in Australia. do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway, and store our junk in the garage. 7) Only in Australia. do we use answering machines to screen calls, and then have call waiting so we won’t miss a call from someone we didn’t want to talk to in the first place. 8) Only in Australia. do we use the word “politics” to describe the process of Government. “Poli” (poly) in Latin meaning “many”; and tics” meaning “blood sucking creatures”. 9) Only in Australia. do we live by the saying, “you’re never too pissed if you can still find the floor”. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Firstly, there are restrictions in regard to who can jump together/dock with a Tandem. If I remember correctly, one requirement is 200 RW jumps in the last 12 month. Plus the local staff has to be happy for you to do this. Best thing is to contact the DZ's in advance and explain what you want to do and see if it is possible. My recommendations are: Sydney: http://www.sydneyskydivers.com.au/ Melbourne: http://www.skydivenagambie.com.au/ Perth: http://www.skydive.com.au/ --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Yes you are a wimp ! Coldest jump I ever did was when I lived in Scandinavia. It was - 10C on the ground and - 40 C at altitude. I never forget that jump.. brrrrrrrrrrr. Now I live in Australia and do not worry about things like this Even in Winter it does not get much colder then -10 C or so at altitude. Jump all year

Sitting in the plane yesterday I was watching my alti and came to think about that it is probably 25-30 years old (I bought it second hand around 1980). This leads to my question, is there any “use by date” for an altimeter? Or can they last for ever? Anybody know? Mine is working just fine. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.