tbrown

Saw Bobby Kennedy once on the subway platform underneath the U.S. Capitol. Met a lot of interesting people who came to our college for lectures; Daniel Ellsberg, Alan Ginsburg, Gary Snyder, Rod Serling, and Gene McCarthy. Met Jerry Bird and Carl Boenish too ! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Doesn't the Constitution mention something about the troops purpose as defending our borders? Something about defending this country from attack? The first time any President sent any troops anywhere was when George Washington sent the troops to Morocco to straighten out the Barbary Pirates, sometime in the 1790's. Guess that would qualify for setting a precedent. As for their oath, it's to "protect the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic". They also answer to a civilian Commander in Chief (the Prez). I'd say they do a pretty good job of upholding their oath. Making policy isn't their job, that's up to the meatheads in Washington. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

It's like the garbage dump, or the local sewage plant - you gotta have it if you don't want it piling up in the street. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Your mom looks like she's going to tell you you're in BIG trouble when you get home ! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

So should the government have the right to take away smokers' children ? What if I like 2-3 drinks every night, not a drunk, but a few drinks ? Can they take my kids then ? Or if I like to watch x-rated DVDs, even if I'm careful not to watch them when the kids are home ? Or how about if I don't take the kids to church on Sunday, or worse yet, I don't take them to the "right" church ? Or if I give my kid ONE swat across the tail to focus his attention because I don't want him running into the street ? Do any of these things make me an abusive parent ? If I'm not starving, beating, or raping my kids, and if I give them a reasonably clean home and send them to school, then anything else that goes on is none of the government's damn business. If you want to experiment with the social engineering of the family, move somewhere like Sweden, or a kibbutz. The thing to remember about America and our revolution is that the Founding Fathers recognized human nature for what it was and didn't try to change it, only to regulate it worst extremes (laws against murder, robbery, rape, etc.). The other "great" revolutions; the French, Bolshevik, Chinese Cultural, and Cambodian revolutions were all about trying to reshape human nature into a "perfect" human. And all they ended up doing was killing people by the millions until the people had enough and put a stop to it. Compared with the nineteenth century, we've come a long way with kids. We've regulated child labor, kids don't smoke or chew tobacco the way they used to, they don't get brandy for breakfast or opium at bedtime (both were once considered "good for them"). We even strap the little shavers into car seats - which I'm all for. But when an activity like smoking is a.) legal, and b.) subsidized by the government, I don't see how you can charqacterize smokers as abusers. Even if they are stupid... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I would love to meet new people and act silly and crazy, I just don't drink or buy alcohol. I hope this will not be a problem. I just want to make sure right from the beginning that I can hang out with other skydivers and be myself as well. Not a problem. There are PLENTY of respected skydivers who don't drink. Some don't drink because they had to quit, some just never liked the stuff to begin with. If you're a confident person and fun to hang out with, people won't even notice you're not drinking, they'll just like you. For your "landmark" jumps, your "firsts", and "hundreds" and so forth, you probably should think of something nice and non-alcoholic to share that people will like. A nice cold watermelon all sliced up, or a fruit tray, fruit juices or sodas will do fine. I drink myself and bring beer, but I include some tall bottles of ginger ale as well for my non drinking friends. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Throw the stoner out before she gets YOU busted or evicted on a drug charge. If she's busted in the apartment, so are you and everyone else present at thhe time. Finding a new roomate in a college town shouldn't be that hard. Just stress to them that certain things like no drugs and paying your own way will be expected. You can do better - and she needs a wake up call to clean up her act. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Perris and Elsinore both go to 12,500 AGL. Perris is about 1420 ft MSL, and Elsinore is maybe 100 or so ft lower elevation. Up at Taft, 13,000 or so is not unusual from the PAC-750, but I think Taft is only 500 ft or so MSL. So any which way, we're getting up near the oxygen limits. Sitting in an Otter or the PAC-750 I don't notice it, but standing up in the Skyvan I do feel a tired light headed feeling, and it's not nerves either. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

This thread just went from serious and significant to ridiculous and scary. Agreed. Okay, how about the Flag Raising on Iwo Jima, Buzz Aldrin on the Moon, and The Beatles cowering in a boxing ring in front of a young Cassius Clay ? And, uh, oh yeah, the 1930's photo of a weathered looking Okie mom with her kids. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

We continue to get scared to some degree now and then, no matter how many jumps we have. A lot of us get some nerves on the first jump of the weekend, or if we've been away for a few weeks or months. Myself, I was out for a little over 22 years and finally got back in. I knew I really wanted to jump, but on the ride up and especially when the door was opened, I was thinking, "Why the HELL am I doing this again ?". It took several more jumps before the dry mouth went away (look around you sometime and notice the little mints or Tic-Tacs being passed around). It helps if you concentrate on what your job will be on the jump. It's good to close your eyes and visualize it, even moving your arms and head around a little bit. Maybe 2 or 3 times, then knock it off and relax. Look at some of the other people who are relaxing or telling nasty little jokes, seeing other people relaxing or enjoying themselves can help. And when it's time to get up and go, concentrate on the job, work at it. It will get you out the door. Once you're out, you'll be just fine. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

To tell you the truth, you'll feel more like you're being blown away on the wind. Most first jumpers are surprised at how windy it is in the door, from the forward speed of the plane. When you go, instead of feeling like you're falling, you'll feel like the wind just blew you off the doorstep. It's pretty cool. And if you stick around and decide to become a skydiver, you'll even learn how to fly on that wind when you leave. Which is even cooler. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Have you considered replacing the hackey sack with a cute little kitty head ? I ALWAYS tell my kitty what kind of a cute little hat I'm going to make out of her if she EVER pees on anything in my room. I go into great detail about the ostrich plumes and all the little mices and birdies that will be dancing around the hat. And you knoew what ? She believes me. (Actually I love my kitty and make her breakfast every morning, before I even make my own fucking coffee - and if THAT ain't love - well, then she starts biting my feets...). Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Thanks, my wife sent it to me and I immediately thought of all my horndog skydiving bros. Testicular generally IS a young man's disease, usually occurs between the onset of puberty and age forty (after which you can start worrying about the prostate instead). It's also more common among whites than non-whites, and among those guys who were born with an undescended testicle. You're also at higher risk if a brother has had it, so I'm at higher risk and keep checking even though I'm about to turn fifty. Bottom line is don't panic and don't be stupid - like my brother, who is 35 forever. Hell, Lance Armstrong not only went on to win seven Tours de France, he fathered at least one child with his ex-wife and is currently fucking Sheryl Crow's brains out - all on one nut. So there IS life after an early diagnosis. Sort of gives new meaning to the word "cutaway", though it's every bit as urgent and for all the same reasons. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Deuce, you're a real romantic and a very good writer. You should write greeting cards or something. To the fools who say "but you're married, or "you trying to get laid ?", all I can say as a man who's been married for 24 years, is they just don't have a clue. The kind of kiss you're talking about wouldn't bother my wife in the least - not even if it were right in front of her. You really put it all together in a nice little gem. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

There now, wasn't that fun. On the more serious side, I had a brother who died of this shit. What actually killed him was the denial he went through for probably close to six months. He self diagnosed and self medicated for infections & so on, then literally RAN out of his doctor's office and hid from the doc for another week, until the doctor personally walked him into the hospital. By then it had spread all over his body and multiple surgeries and rounds of chemo could not save him. It almost always happens in just one nut and the bad nut has to go. But life goes on with one nut. You can even father children bangin' on just one nut. But it's SO curable now there's just no excuse not to be on the lookout for it. Yet testicular cancer seems to remain the one cancer that's just not "polite" to talk about. Boys need to learn about it when they hit puberty, so if you've got teenage sons, they'd love to meet Rachel too (I'm sure...). Blue skies & healthy 'nads to all. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

All you guys out there, especially you younger ones (teens to about forty), Rachel here has some important news for you. http://rachelgetsfruity.com/flash.html Women do this with their boobies, but guys should be doing this with our 'nads too. Once a month, in the shower is a great place. (Then you can even kill a kitten to celebrate...) Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I don't really have a whole lot of specifics to offer, but 3 years ago we took my mother in law into our home so she could die of a mouth cancer. We didn't want her to die in some hospital, with some nitwit waking her up to take her vitals in the middle of the night just because the shifts changed at the nursing station. We set up our dining room as a bedroom, with a really nice view of the garden out back and one morning she flew away out the window and left her body behind. The most important thing I can urge anyone in a situation like this to do is to get in touch with your local hospice organization. They will make it SO much easier for you, your friend, and anyone else involved. For one thing, you won't have ANY more trouble getting the prescription narcotics your friend will need to control the pain. Once hospice is on board, your friend is THEIR patient, and THEY will take care of getting all the drugs. The paranoid suspicion, evil eye, and red tape at the pharmacy counter will VANISH. Then, as things progress, they'll come by your place more and more often, until they're stopping in every day near the end. And when your friend dies, you call hospice and they're at your house in MINUTES to help with taking care of the necessary stuff, the official report, and all that other crap you won't feel like dealing with. They also offer counseling to help you, your friend, and anyone else to understand and cope with each of your parts in this final act of life. Caring for a dying person isn't just a kind thing, it's a good thing. It may be difficult, but you will always be glad you did it. And your dying friend will just appreciate the shit out of it. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

We live within a mile of the beach, so when we heard a Tsunami Watch was in effect, we dropped in on some friends who live several miles further inland and had a little Tsunami Party with Bushmills on the rocks. What was really STUPID though, was how many radio stations simply didn't carry the warning at all. Way too complacent if you ask me. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I just figured this thread was worth a bump & it looks like I was right. (Besides, the wife would strangle me with a pull up cord...). You're right about the new generation too, they'd rather spend even MORE money - in a wind tunnel ! (Though I've heard some pretty good rumors about the things you can do in a wind tunnel if you bring plenty of lube...) Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Or just give him a bowling ball for his birthday (or Xmas, whichever comes sooner...). Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Don't forget that Father's Day is this Sunday ! This is the perfect gift for the dad who has everything !! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Oh you mean Terri's brain.....I thought you meant the President's... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

"My faith in the system is restored". And with that, it's time for beer #3. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

No, that doesn't necessarily follow. It MAY be true, but don't forget the prosecution believed in her story - and her son's. The fact that a jury didn't buy the story doesn't mean that she was necessarily lying. Also remember that the prosecution has the burden of proving their case. So it really was up to them to investigate what kind of "problems" this woman and her testimony might have before presenting it. I don't think they looked into it very hard. That or they wer just too excited at the prospect of "finally getting" Michael Jackson. And finally, would you really WANT to have such a chilling effect on other parents in other child molesting cases ? I don't know if you have kids or not, I have two. I'd like to believe I could bring a sexual assault charge without worrying about prison if the jury doesn't believe me. There is such a thing as prsecuting for the crime of perjury, but it's seldom used (except for the occasional Prezident of the United States, who lied about getting a little head from a consenting adult...) because it's so hard to prove. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

( I suggested bringing in a DC-3 just to rattle his winfows). Try an old reciprocating Beaver - I know there are still some flying around Lake Union. They're soooo much noisier - like a dentist's drill. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !