freeflybella

Ugh. One my biggest pet-peeves. Especially when it rains and they're all huddled up next to the door. The humidity acts like glue and sticks the smell all over you! Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Heath and Shani are heartbroken. Our love to Paul, and his family. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Backtracking is fun, and is a great way to break off from a freefly formation. I say for sure go out and try it - it is easier than you might think (as karenmeal has pointed out). A few things to keep in mind. On your solo attempts, you want make sure you know what direction your jump run is and that you don't fly up or down the line of flight. This is sometimes difficult due to my next point. You need to make sure you can track in a straight line before you use this method of break-off. When tracking on your belly, you have the ground for reference. On your back, you do not. You'll need to look between your feet at the invisible spot in the center of your group and then rely on muscle memory and the feel of the air, for symmetry. When looking around, left to right, etc., it's easy to lose that spot in the sky and start tracking toward someone else without knowing it. I'd suggest doing solos, then 2-ways with an experienced backtracker to help build awareness of what symmetry feels like on your back. Until then, and to your original question, up your breakoff altitude. Take your time to look around the sky and find your friends (including a 360 to check behind you). Back slowly out of the formation and roll to your belly to track. It's not the most graceful looking - but it might be the safest until you've got the backtracking thing down. Good luck!

The 'animals killing other animals' thing is interesting, too. We know, or at least we think we know that cats kill food and that they also kill to teach how to kill. It's possible when snowflake was having fun with a mouse, it was instinctive. I doubt she derived actual pleasure. Maybe more a satisfaction from fulfilling that instinct. The concept of right and wrong is human. This concept developed to regulate free will. Since we are able to reason and rationalize behaviours and actions that go beyond pure instinct, we need a definition of what is socially acceptable. Since we have evolved beyond instinct, I think it's a weak argument to say that we must fulfill instinct. Or be 'allowed' to. If that's truly the case, it must be applicable to all instincts. Of course, it isn't. It's only applied where it suits our desires. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

I guess that's really all any of us can do. Try not to take life for granted. Yours or anyone/thing else's. I also appreciate self-discovery. I try not to judge people because of that. We are all evolving daily.

I'm very outspoken regarding my feelings on this. I agree with you and PhillyKev. For me it is not OK. The argument I made was not about hunting for your food - it was about killing for pleasure. As a matter of fact, if I had to choose the lesser of 2 evils, I'd say we all had to hunt in order to eat meat. If I hadn't already made the choice to not eat any animal products, I sure would then.

You know, I might be way off on this one. As I wrote earlier, I have no real experience hunting. I understand the evolutionary aspect of it - although I'm sure about the relevancy. And I do understand to some degree hunting for food. I wasn't lumping all hunters together under one umbrella. I have strong feelings about wasted life. And taking life for pleasure confuses me. I'm not sure what constitutes being "above all that" but I know I couldn't do it. You write that killing for killings sake sickens you and that there is much more to it than that. I'd be interested to hear from you, who has expressed compassion for the animals you kill, what else there is? (There was no irony or sarcasm in the above question) As I said, I've never done it - I wouldn't have a clue. Explaining anything to someone who has never done it is like " trying to explain to a Wuffo, what jumping is all about". In this case, there are many clear differences in the details. Finally, for me, this subject is not entirely about the love of animals - although I have love for living things and for life. It's about the ability within one's self to take the life of another creature. And the process of doing that. To PhillyKev: I don't buy hamburger either. I would challenge every single meat eater out there to reject store bought meat and revert to a time when you had to kill what you ate. Or at the very least, you knew the family who did it and possibly 'knew' the cow you were eating. The Adkins Diet is a disgusting, greedy, gluttonous, indulgeant sick joke. (Not really relevant, I just like saying it - alot.

Nope. I wasn't indicting anyone. I quoted the exact paragraph I was responding to. I don't hunt. I never have. Therefore I have no first hand knowledge with which to speak. I'd guess that it must take an incredible strength of character to 'bear witness' to the death of another creature - especially at one's own hand. Without that, it's most likely one of the most cowardly things a man can do for pleasure. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

If that's your only contention with my post, I'll take it!

That is an incredibly self-serving and limited statement. We have devices that sound like the crying of a baby animal. We have fenced-safaris. FENCED! And just why do you think the Safari Club contributes millions to 'conserve' wildlife? So they can charge 'sportsman' thousands for a GUARANTEED KILL in these fenced ranges. Just like sherpas haul our fat-asses up Everest, The Safari Club dumps you into a fenced range, with traumatized herds (their proof that these animals are 'dangerous'), and practically aims your gun for you. You portray most hunters as blind and bumbling. Just how then, are you actually controlling the deer population? Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

For me, what I don't like about religious discussion is purely an issue of those who believe what's best for them is best for everyone. Whether it's religion, child-rearing, the kind of music or television you like or don't like. I love discussing religion with optimistic, faithful people - whatever that faith might be. I love hearing what your faith is about, and what you've learned and the beauty of living within your own spirituality. I'm fascinated, really. But sometimes people use religion either as a weapon or a sheild - and I'd prefer to walk away from that. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

And if you would know God be not therefore a solver of riddles. Rather look about you and you shall see Him playing with your children. And look into space; you shall see Him walking in the cloud, outstretching His arms in the lightning and descending in rain. You shall see Him smiling in flowers, then rising and waving His hands in trees. -Kahlil Gibran

Ooooh! Kinky! Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Well, it's IS Speaker's Corner. Controversy was imminent. I personally thought someone would be offended at the Lord's Name In Vain - thing. You're right, it would've been a great story no matter who it was. I only pointed out the way the guy looked because of the contrast. Boy Scout - Expected. Crew cut, suit, dress - Mundane during downtown rush hour. Chaps - Odd! Clown Costume - Scary! Tattoed/Pierced - Interesting and colorful. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Come on now.

You're right. It takes time. How long did it take for an entire generation of people to become obese? And how many factors contributed to it? It's not cut and dried. But it's something to strive for - in our own small way - everyday. We're talking about the next generation. Our kids and their kids. We have to take what we know now, and do something. Anything. Don't we? Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

I have to admit, I don't know what golden rice is. Or Frankenfood. All I know is, the US produces enough (real) food in one year to feed the entire world over. Yet, what do we do? Feed it to livestock - that way we have enough meat to feed one-seventh of the world. (Admittedly, another topic altogther.) I'm for REAL, healthy food being promoted, demanded, and available (locally and financially) to me and my children as well as to you and yours. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Gross. Gross. GROSS! YUCK! If eggs have too much cholesterol, don't eat them! And since when does corn need MORE vitamins! Corn had plenty of vitamins before we had to add more to replace what was lost in modern farming 'techniques'. Eggs, the perfect food. Meat, it's what's for dinner. High protein diets. Barf. Do you know that sea salt needs no extra anything to be healthful and actually good for you? It's cheaper to process salt, lose the nutrients and then add shit back in to it! Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Sorry, didn't mean to imply anything about the ink/piercings. I'm one of that kind myself. (In spirit) And he was the best person I never met today. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

As I was walking home from work today I saw something so small, so quick, it could've easily gone completely unnoticed. But so beautiful I wanted to burst into tears. I looked left across Broad street (the main artery in downtown Philly) wanting to cross. I noticed the Don't Walk light was flashing. In the middle of the street was an older lady limping slowly along with a cane. Suddenly, a young guy - of the shaved head, tattoos and piercings, bike messenger sort - ran up beside her, well, a little behind her so as not to startle her. He positioned himself between the old woman and the stopped cars at the light - and walked very slowly in step with her until she made the curb. As he did it, he glanced quickly back and forth from the lady to the cars he was passing to make sure they didn't start to nudge close to her when their light turned green. When she made the curb, he turned and proceeded on his way. She didn't even know he was there. Goddamned Right! It's a beautiful day here in Philly! (And more proof that you don't have to make bold statements and grand gestures to make a difference in this world.) Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

nice. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

They'll do a better job when we're not totally relying on them to do their job. When we educate ourselves and our children and demand and vote for healthier food choices with our wallets. Which puts us right back to labels that educate that public and pressure food manufacturers to make a healthier product. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Eggs are good. No, eggs are bad. No, eggs are good. No, eggs are bad. No, we really don't have any freaking idea. Ahhh...you're right about what you are talking about. And that is what nature offers us. I'm talking about what we do to food. Eggs are eggs. Corn is corn. Unless some scientist changes it's constitution for efficiency and profit and cuz 'really yellow' corn is more appealing than what corn looked like 100 years ago. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

No one said anything about not allowing farmers to make a profit. We're talking about FOOD. And a minimum standard should exist that doesn't harm us. And is not allowed to be ignored due to greed. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

You're right. We can't predict the future. And I say, regarding the cosmetic and elective things that you mentioned, you take your chances. When it comes to our nation's food supply - something every single person must have to survive, I'd prefer to know decisions weren't being made by people who will get rich from them. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi