pajarito

That's just f$%*#@g stupid. Please don't lump sum all Christians in with Catholics. The Eucharist is for all Christians and not just Catholics and certainly not just for those Christians who aren't allergic to wheat. It seems that Catholics are way more concerned with the tradition rather than the meaning behind it. It’s almost like the “tradition”, hierarchy, structure, organization, is their idol. It makes me think of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Pretty Gay!

Cool! Thanks.

2 years is a long time to be innactive with only 25 or so jumps. The beginning is probably the best place to start back. No getting around it. However, welcome back to the sport!!!

MonkeyONE is ONE tough hombre to hang with. I used to be able to when I was younger but I found out at the Convention that I'm way out of shape for that kind of foolishness. to MonkeyONE! While I'm slowing down, he seems to be picking up speed as he gets older.

Those are very nice pics!!! I'd like to know how he mounted the camera gear. We jump 2 C-182's at Moton Field in Tuskegee, AL (Opelika Skydiving Association). The pic of the tandem, however, kind of looks scary. Makes me think that hitting the step with the tandem student's face might be a possibility. I always dive 45 degrees to the rear while the camera man exits hanging off the wing strut. We then turn to face each other.

Farewell to the King - 1989, with Nick Nolte, directed by John Milias Excellent choice!

I am the Bird Man!

I haven't seen this movie since I was a teenager. It’s on AMC right now. I didn't remember the beginning at all. I've heard that nobody even conceived of a terrorist using a plane as a missile and driving it into a building prior to 9-11. Escape from NY shows Air Force One being flown into a building in Manhattan. I'm sure this has probably been posted before. Sorry if it has.

Who's got the link to that video. I missed it. NEVER MIND!!! Found it in Gen Skydive Discussions. That hanging from the rear risers thing at the end while he was about to jump off looks ugly.

Mmmmm....you know....that looks tasty....

Pretty sure the warning labels on different products are there because somebody, somewhere actually did it. It's funny or sad depending on how you want to look at it. I used to deal with a lot of explosives in the Army. There's a warning label on C-4 that says, "Do not eat." Gotta wonder about that... Some people just insist on stepping in and taking one for the team.

They are in fact transforming as I get older. I don’t like to admit it at age 35 but I’m not as resilient as I used to be when I was younger (that really hurts my pride to say ). I have to try harder to match up to the same level I used to meet without trying when I was 20, 25, and 30. My “natural” recovery time (heart, lung, and respiratory system) is slower after a run. Sure, I can improve that with work but it takes a lot more work than it used to. Although I consider myself in pretty good shape, I am past my prime and will continue to degrade until my “common biological functions” cease to operate and I will die (just like everybody else). We are all on one inevitable continuous “developmental” timeline that begins with birth and ends with death (physically). My immune system will probably weaken as I get older and I’ll get sick more often. I’ll heal much slower from wounds. I probably won’t be able to eat the same crap I do all the time now because my digestive system won’t be able to handle it as well when I’m older. I’m still f$&%#@g good looking, though. That won’t change!!!

Just got back in town and I defer my answer to peregrinerose. Nicely put! I think that Zen’s view that humanity only begins at viability and, even then, when it is performing those common biological functions apart from the mother is an extreme one. I hope I got that right and I'm not trying to speak for you Zen. I don’t expect to change your mind. I just adamantly disagree. That’s ok. I just won’t ever vote for you. By the way, peregrinerose, I’m not offended that you agree with me on something. I’m sure it won’t become a habit.

Here's the design for my G-4 that I ordered at the Convention. It will also have the alien in the center on the back. Should be here in about 6 weeks. I'm pumped! The colors are for Auburn University. War Eagle!

Thats the killer, cant argue with getting paid for it. Its funny coz my old man thinks that unless you are getting paid for jumping you are an idiot - period! My Granddad who passed away in 95 used to think anyone who jumped out of a plane was a complete idiot, paid or not. He landed on Utah Beach during WWII as an Infantry Platoon Sergeant, was shot through the hip at the Battle of the Bulge, received a purple heart, bronze star, and silver star for gallantry in action. He also received a battlefield commission and finished out his tour there as a 1st lieutenant. He was an extremely brave man but couldn't understand jumping out of a plane in the slightest.

Hmmmm....I like that kind betta...

Boobies

It is the most accurate, basic, and fundamental characteristic of being human. So what? Why must it perform everything on its own during development in order to be considered human? I’m just not following that logically. It is very much illogical to not. A few common data points??? It is our biological code. It is the source for everything about you. It is human and will grow up to be another person just like you. That is such a limited perspective on life IMHO. I realize that you’re set on this, as with other topics that we discuss, and so am I. It is fun to me to talk about, though.

That's a nice flying canopy. I jumped their 108 at WFFC. Surfed the whole pond. Sweet!

2 min 45 sec

Humans do generally have a set of basic biological functions and characteristics that they share once mature. They also have a set of basic biological functions and characteristics that they share at each stage of in-utero development. However, that’s not all inclusive of what makes them human. In the most basic sense, it is our DNA makeup. This evidence can also, as you put it, be accurately defined and scientifically verified. An embryo in a Petri dish has the same general DNA structure that you do. The organs required for all of the commonly shared biological functions, as you put it, required for similarity with the rest of us, is in that source code and will most likely develop normally if given the chance. It is illogical to declare something inhuman just because it is in an earlier developmental stage than you are. We’re all continually developing as humans.

We've found some common ground!

Er, No…You said: I just responded with an example proving otherwise. Why is reference to Military Free-fall (HALO) irrelevant? You can post anything you want no matter how many jumps you have as long as I can also post to refute it. I’m also an Army Static-line Jumpmaster. I have more static-line round parachute jumps than I can remember. I don’t count a single one of them toward my total free-fall jumps listed here. Static-line jumps have nothing to do with free-fall. HALO jumps do, however. I’ve also got a HALO, 15,000ft, night, combat equipment, oxygen, 4-way RW dive where we turned 8 points and I got paid by the Army to do it. By the way, thanks for the Latin lesson.

Ok…I agree that it is too shallow a view to reflect the complexity of this issue. This gets into the whole free-will/predestination thing (religious hijack). I’m going to do the rest here a favor and not get sidetracked when it’s not needed. However, if someone is incapable of immorality, why does that mean that he/she must be amoral? If he’s incapable of “not adhering to ethical and moral principles” then he would, by definition, be the opposite which is “Adhering to ethical and moral principles (i.e. Moral).” Amoral – Without moral standards or principles. Moral – Adhering to ethical and moral principles. Immoral – Not adhering to ethical and moral principles.