mr2mk1g

[snigger]

I believe China used to achieve a middle ground by providing benefits for couples with one child which were then cut were they to have a second. Might instigate a degree of hardship but it's not exactly meddling with people's rights - just the privileges they're given. I'm not sure if China's now moved to a somewhat more draconian measure of actually licensing childbirth.

The papers have an opinion. They expressed it. Just because you think they're wrong doesn't mean they aren't. Just because you disagree with what they say doesn't mean many people don't agree with it. You're not the only one allowed to have an opinion.

hehehe - "steers and queers" in the original language version so it rhymes. What was the translation for “How tall are you private?” “Sir, five foot nine Sir”. “five foot nine? I didn’t know they stacked shit that high” (edit - is he called Bush in the German language version? In the original he's called Pyle)

And they say Germans don't have a sense of humour. You just better hope Republicans do. Very funny.

Get both ends right and the middle will follow suit. Imagine porn stuck to the ceiling of the plane. Try to look at it for as long as possible, all the way through the exit and until you pull. That ought to sort your head out. Push your toes into the soles of your shoes. That ought to sort your legs out. Practice your exits from a mock up dozens of times and visualise. Practice makes perfect - practicing on the ground is free and develops muscle memory which promotes a good position in the air. Talk to your instructors. Ignore me if they contradict me. Run anything you come up with past them before you do it and rely on their advice. Relax.

So you're saying his hacky would be embroidered "Airforce One" and his reserve handle would be embroidered "Airforce Two" ?

I am a man. Society dictates that as a man I should wear trousers and not a dress. I work in an office. Society dictates that as I work in an office I should wear a suit. Tomorrow it is “dress down Friday”. I shall not wear a suit but I will still work in an office. Will that offend you? After all, I will be breaking with the rules laid down by society with regards to my attire. Are not these two things the same? Why should one rule laid down by society with regards to my attire be more important than another? They’re both from the same source and both relate to the same subject. Why would one cause deep offence to you and the other not? Some men enjoy dressing up as a woman. This does not harm you but you feel a sense of anger when you see them doing it. Some men enjoy skydiving. It does not harm passers by who see them under canopy. Do those passers by have any business feeling anger that some men are skydiving? Do those passers by have any business expressing that anger to the skydivers? Do those passers by have any business trying to stop the skydivers skydiving? Why would one personal choice be ok for someone to do without being attacked for it while another personal choice not be? Is there some difference between skydiving and cross-dressing in terms of rights or whom it affects?

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=34604; Well I found it funny...

I bill $220/hour for my opinions in real life... you lot get em for free.

A lot of EU countries are quietly happy with the result. Not exactly because they want Bush in... but simply because if Kerry had won they would have been under a lot of pressure to send troops to Iraq. With Bush still in the Whitehouse the question doesn't get raised and they don't have to deal with the issue.

Georgy again. By virtue of the emergency powers the Senate enacted after the war on terror in North Korea escalates and Russia and China become involved. The newly installed Prime Ministers of Iraq and Iran are the only world leaders to support the move, which is widely condemned… although the matter is a welcome area of common ground between all 4 of the warring factions of the Former Afghanistan. (Just kidding )

Isn’t it Dave Stanfield at skydive san marcos?? who makes those nice Skypimp helmets? I’ve seen a few photos of helmets he’s designed – they look good and you hear nothing but good about them if you ask around. He’s done some pretty unusual designs to order including some with jaw protection/full face designs IIRC, try giving him a call - it looks like he's in your neck of the woods.

A lot of people say "yes"... Remember there are also many other major factors to be taken into account such as comfort, aesthetics, safety and proximity to the customer. Many people may perceive such advantages in other helmets over the RAWA and come up with an overall decision that is different to yours. Don't be downhearted by the fact that not everyone agrees that the RAWA is the best helmet on the market for them. It does not necessarily mean they're not stoked for you that you feel it is the best for you.

Looks like it's a Batrack from Bonehead.

Try it. Specifically; try the one from the manufacturer you're buying from as there can be significant differences - not all puds are the same.

"It started out innocently enough. I began to think at parties. Now and then -- to loosen up. Inevitably, though, one thought led to another, and soon I was more than just a social thinker. I began to think alone -- "to relax," I told myself -- but I knew it wasn't true. Thinking became more and more important to me, and finally I was thinking all the time. That was when things began to sour at home. One evening I had turned off the TV and asked my wife about the meaning of life. She spent that night at her mother's. I began to think on the job. I knew that thinking and employment don't mix, but I couldn't stop myself. I began to avoid friends at lunchtime so I could read Thoreau and Kafka. I would return to the office dizzied and confused, asking, "What is it exactly we are doing here?" One day the boss called me in. He said, "Listen, I like you, and it hurts me to say this, but your thinking has become a real problem. If you don't stop thinking on the job, you'll have to find another job." This gave me a lot to think about. I came home early after my conversation with the boss. "Honey," I confessed, "I've been thinking ..." "I know you've been thinking," she said, "and I want a divorce!" "But honey, surely it's not that serious." "It is serious," she said, lower lip aquiver. "You think as much as college professors, and college professors don't make any money, so if you keep on thinking, we won't have any money!" "That's a faulty syllogism," I said impatiently. She exploded in tears of rage and frustration, but I was in no mood to deal with the emotional drama. "I'm going to the library," I snarled as I stomped out the door. I headed for the library, in the mood for some Nietzsche. I roared into the parking lot with NPR on the radio and ran up to the big glass doors... They didn't open. The library was closed. To this day, I believe that a Higher Power was looking out for me that night. As I sank to the ground, clawing at the unfeeling glass, whimpering for Zarathustra, a poster caught my eye. "Friend, is heavy thinking ruining your life?" it asked. You probably recognize that line. It comes from the standard Thinker's Anonymous poster. Which is why I am what I am today: a recovering thinker. I never miss a TA meeting. At each meeting we watch a non-educational video; last week it was "Porky's." Then we share experiences about how we avoided thinking. Since the last meeting. I still have my job, and things are a lot better at home. Life just seemed... easier, somehow, as soon as I stopped thinking. I think the road to recovery is nearly complete for me. Today, something I read on Speakers Corner actually influenced my outlook on something".

If they joined forces they could become a crime fighting duo of comic book legend. I can see the title's of the TV searies spin-off now. [The Adventures of Horse-face and his side-kick Monkey-boy] (or vice versa depending on if your a Dem. or a Republican). "Quick Monkey-boy - to the Campaign bus... Chief Election Commissioner Gordon needs us..."

hmmm... sounds a lot like skydiving to me...

I wanna see a clean fight boys – no pitching below the belt. Now who’s it gonna be... Horse face or Monkey boy?

[music] WoooHOOO When I feel heavy metal WoooHOOO And I’m pins and I’m needles WooHooo! Well I lie and I’m easy All of the time but I’m never sure when I need you... Pleased to meet you

Can I vote "other"?

I've got a feeling this is a lot more to do with Germany's history than anything else. I've got a good friend from Germany - we went to both Laserquest and Paintballing together last year and he was ecstatic to have done both while over here in the UK. He explained to me that both games were banned in Germany. The govt. and society in general is (to paraphrase his own words) so ashamed of their military past that such games are deemed to be - as the article suggests "an affront to human dignity". The same is not true in the UK or in the US where we are proud of our martial traditions. This case comes from the ECJ - when the Court "sided" with Germany, all they really did was say that where the Member State whished to impose a restriction on its citizens, the Court could not intervene where there exists a valid reason for doing so. What the article leaves out is that the police only acted in the first place because of widespread complaints about the game by German citizens. As “human dignity” is defended by the German Constitution the German Courts had the power to prevent what they held to be in violation of the constitution. They therefore acted to prevent against something that was causing a degree of public outcry. I can at least see the logical step between running round in a field or building shooting at each other and “human dignity” when viewed against the backdrop of Germany’s last 100 years. The ECJ in this instance held that where something is considered to be an "affront to human dignity" that is justification enough to allow the Member State to legislate against the act. It held that it was not down to the ECJ to overrule a Member State where such concerns existed. Those concerns were a matter for the Member State, not for the ECJ. Evidence that one Member State (UK) allows such games is not sufficient to fetter the rights of a Member State to legislate as it sees fit. Essentially, this case is an example of European institutions being unwilling to interfere with legislative process of a Member State. That’s a good thing isn’t it? It certainly would be seen as such in the UK – we hate it when the EU starts trying to meddle in matters which we feel should be legthe preserve of our own Parliament. Whether or not laserquest/quasar games amount to an affront as claimed by Germany is for the people of Germany to judge - not me. That was the point of the case – it’s a matter for the people of Germany – not the ECJ. The people of Germany spoke when they created their constitution. I personally, am perfectly happy with the games and enjoy indulging in them myself... but then I can see how I might not be so happy about the game if my country had caused 2 world wars last Century and initiated the death of more than 60 million on the last go alone. These games are after all the same as played by members of the armed services when training. I guess it's all about your outlook. In this instance the ECJ simply said that it was Germany's business, not theirs and declined to interfere in the matter. I'm not sure how that's such a big deal?

Jeez... I'm still trying to make my mind up between these two before ording one or the other at the start of next season. I've put about 10 jumps on the safire 2 and 20 odd on the pilot. I simply can't make my mind up which I liked more. A difficult choice between two very similar and very nice canopies.

hehehehe - that's why we call him "Cutaway Paul". Not all of them were his fault.