vonSanta

Clicky It's amazing what makeup can do, eh? I knew they had good makeup artists, but making a beauty queen outta that takes talent. How are female prisons - do they like pretty girls as much as the men like pretty boys? Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

That really sucks Dagny . Unfortunately, idiots are born every minute. What goes around comes around though. They'll go home to whatever they have to go to and sooner or later someone is going to fart in an elevator they're in. And then it'll get stuck for a few hours. Hang in there. And fart in elevators.

While I can agree with you in practical terms, this goes against my libertarian principles. Coercion through various means isn't my cup of tea. If the individual in question harms no one but him/herself, it really isn't any of my business. With personal liberty comes personal responsibility. In skydiving, the latter bit cannot be postponed, stalled or avoided. What the shop is doing is unethical, I agree. I vehemently disagree with their unsafe policies of selling stuff to people they know aren't qualified for it. And I have much, much respect for SkyBytch for not doing so, even though that has very negative financial consequences for her. That's what an ethical person would do. Yet the ultimate responsibility is not with the shop, but with the individual who buys it. Of course if the shop is really pushing a customer etc, part of the blame can be placed on the shop, but it ain't the shop that decides to jump a too small canopy. If you argue that his behaviour, should he be injured or crash, has an indirect effect on you (i.e calls for government regulation etc), I would agree. It's a fine line to walk though and there are valid arguments on both sides. It's not that I don't care - I do, and it upsets me when what I see as a bad ethical decision is taken by a shop owner. On the other hand I'm a firm believer in personal freedom. Our ideals, motives and so forth differ - were it up to a good part of the whuffo population, we wouldn't be allowed to skydive, because it's dangerous. Because of our diversity we need to maximize personal freedom. If a person doesn't match personal freedom with an equal amount of personal responsibility, in skydiving, he'll either get hurt or killed sooner or later. It's unfortunate but aside from strict rules that'll either be contested or ignored (just take the wingloading restriction discussion we've had here), not much can be done. Since I'm also a born again Capitalist, I say "vote with yer money". Without government intervention, over time Darwin will root out the irresponsible and capitalism the unethical shop owners and we'll get exactly what we're asking for (whether that is good or bad remains to be seen). Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Yurop Yurop Yurop! Ze furryners beats ze EHVL AMREEKHANS! Deth to Amreekhans! Long live Ze Fourz Reich (EU). I really need to have this insomnia problem resolved... Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Michele, if the war was indeed cancelled and they did not trot around with 50 pounds of gear "taking town after town", what would they feel like? I certainly agree that the quote was taken out of context, but on the other hand logic dictates that if there wasn't a war, they'd not feel the effects of going around with gear on their backs taking town after town. However, even that is really beside the point, since the author talks about a long haul war and is basically expressing sentiments that this will not be over soon, and we can deal with it. In other words, (s)he is saying "the war will be a long tough thing" and (s)he isn't really talking about a cancellation of the war, right? (S)he is talking about the soldiers (and the US civilians populations) ability to deal with a long term conflict with a good deal of casualties, no? And that the military will learn to deal with it. It's still true though, that had the war been cancelled, the discussion would have been academic at best. And I disagree with the author's assertion that the US population is tolerant of US casualties. They've never been. Hell, more Polish soldiers were killed in the initial stages of WWII than US soldiers in total. The US military machine has been created to be a very effective machine that through overwhelming technological superiority (and training) win wars with few casualties - because of the very fact that Americans are very intolerant of friendly casualties. As they should be. Oh now I am debating that article. Bleh, the woes of insomnia. 09:07 and not a minutes worth of sleep yet. Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Definitely a mischievous grin. Naughtyness beats looks nine times outta ten Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

It's the time of the year when Vikings drink themselves into stupor in order to be better connected with the supernatural forces. So let's start a thread about the odd Yuletide (that'd be "x-mas" for the Christians) memories. Mine must be some years ago when my best friend (the one who got me into skydiving) was a conscript in the Swedish army. He had an old arse car that always ran outta gas. One day he decided that the military had plenty of it, so all he had to do was get his car up near the fence, climb over it, drag two 5 gallon tanks to the fuel place, drag 'em back and be done! Dinnae work out. As he was having the big things, he was spotted. Being dumb as a brick, he continued on. Warning shots were fired. Anyway, I end up with him on the phone. I try to persuade him to come down to me for a visit over Yule. I've heard nothing of the incident. After much prodding I can hear him get sorta apprehensive and sorta unwilling to budge. When I ask him why, an exhausted "I can't coz I'm in FUCKING JAIL!" explodes from his lips. Too funny. He spent 14 days locked up. X-mas and New Year in jail. That's my best friend as I knew him back when we were teens! Too bad I haven't been able to jump with him though. He nearly killed himself doing a low hookturn under a Spinetto some years ago (that's ALSO my best friend as I knew him back when we were teens ). Thankfully he survived, but he won't be jumping again. Oh yeah, same dude. We were 15 or so, riding a tuned up moped. Lots of snow which was hard packed on the roads. He was driving - I was on the back with a pack of beer in each hand. He turns around and says "hey, what ya think happens if I hit the front brake on this thing?" "I dunno" is my reply. Don't cry over spilled beer. . He still lives in Sweden. Can't help to miss the bugger come X-mas. Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Hmm, might be true. The only other explanation would be that skydiving attracts nerds, geeks and outcasts and people that were picked upon in their teens. Or people who were popular - sort of a polarized pick of the population if you will. Maybe it's a little of both? Heh yah, same here. The only one I know that went to jail was actually my best friend. He was in the military, ran outta fuel for his car and decided to take some of theirs. Got shot at, arrested and thrown in jail some years ago. After that he took up skydiving . Hey, that supports the "polarized" theory! It probably is. However, there *are* clear statistics that indicate that those that do well academically in HS end up earning more later in life. I'll make that exact same pledge after I've riddled those who had "hormonal imbalance" in HS with bullets. Payback is a bitch, huh? Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Crude chart for the "visually impaired " based on Kallend's data. Kinda surprising, at least to me. See attachment. Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Heh, I landed in a tree on my first jump and WAY off (bad spot) on my second. Got some really odd looks from passing people in cars as I waited for the DZ people to come pick me up. And I landed *standing*, without radio guidance or anything. Only living things that witnessed it were bacteria, insects and a big fat cow. The next four landings were hard and unforgiving and only yards away from lots of spectators. There ya go

Heh, I can identify with this. Sort same happened when I was an AFF student doing my hop n' pop. "No fucking way! This is too low! These guys are crazy! At 3000 feet my canopy is supposed to BE out, not "maybe-it'll-come-maybe-it-won't"! Got out, counted to one before deciding it would take too long even at max speed to get to three, dumped PC, had bridle come up between arm and body, put bridle on correct side, saw container in the gap between my legs and got pissed for being so stupid in the first place. Had a long talk with some experienced instructors and on the next hop n' pop I took it veeery slowly - no problems despite a less than perfect exit. Practise makes perfect

Think I'm gonna use that. Last landing was a butt-surf. Surfed for what I felt was an eternity in zero wind under my (to me) super-duper 149 Safire. Surfed on my feet with my butt touching the top of the grass - flared it out and stood up. Walked by the student chicks and said "Intentional? Yeah, I wanted to do that. Grass to your ass is a great feeling". Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Hell yeah, well said. I've done one or two less-than-intelligent things (landing downwind accidentally for one) and I do have an ego. But if someone with more experience than me, in any field (work, hobbies whatever) gives me advice or a scolding, I pay attention, even though I may hate the guy in question. I'm 28 now and got over my the worst bit of my ego some years ago. It's all about remaining objective. The argument or advice should be seen without the influence of the personality that delivers it. Pretty hard to do at all times, but worth striving for. I've only got 80 jumps and I started out in june. My biggest fear is getting cocky. Skydiving is empowering and it's easy to have it run away with you. I just hope and pray that I'll be able to maintain a reasonable humble and objective personality as my jump numbers grow. For those that refuse to listen - Darwin is waiting. However hard it may sound, that is the ultimate truth. Egoes and situations where death might be an outcome don't mix easily. It's odd. At times I sorta think "shouldn't have started skydiving, coz it may kill me". It's just too damned good to not do though. Enriches my life. So, I hope I'll continue to pay attention to the ones who've been there. In the end, I jsut wanna live a good life and *live*, and these guys and girls will help me do just that. Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Hm, it's actually quite sobering reading this. Now I know that an approach to just jump and to hell with the rest is pretty good. Am not gonna get any special ratings. I jump with my sister and thus really don't have to socialize/listen to egoes/rumours etc. So, perhaps one way of avoiding burnout is to just skydive for the love of it, with persons you're close to and plain either ignore the rest or avoid it? I'll quit if I find it not worth it anymore, no qualms about that and fuk what others might think. There are many adventure sports out there to try. Right now, however, skydiving is the most exciting sport there is. Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

So, what if you land very very nicely in this nice and gusty winds. On yer feet. You stand there feeling smug for being able to land under the conditions. While your mind is commending the rest of your body for flawlessly carrying out its less than rational orders, a gust of wind grabs your canopy which you haven't gotten around to deflating yet because you were busy feeling good about yourself and you're sent sliding backwards, dragged after the canopy? Is it like in weight lifting - remain standing for a set amount of time or does that count as a butt landing? I've been caught in "Smug Mode" once or twice. I try to learn from it. Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Yeah Kitty, I saw that episode. I started to realize just how bad it must be in the US if Scully and Muldwr brings it up . Cool episode. How do you kill a man of dirt? Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Heh, definitely an Outcast. Tiny, skinny scrawny guy with a quick mouth and too much pride to stop the words from exiting his mouth. My teenage years consisted of almost daily violence at school or wherever the Big Dudes Who Wanted To Set Me Straight would meet me. I had a problem of doing and saying exactly what I wanted without much thought of the consequences so I guess I'm not totally innocent. So I bonded with other "freaks" and had a great time socially, at least when we weren't either fighting or running from the more numerous Big Dudes. They cannot run very well, btw, and they really hate when you laugh at them as you extend your lead. Haven't changed much except I got better impulse control and am more introverted, but that's aging, I gather. HS is in the past and I don't dwell on it or the persons involved back then. It just doesn't matter what they are or what they do or what they think about what I'm doing, so I see no point in ever going to a reunion. Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Thanks Phreezone, appreciate it. And great choice of music for the video. Now, just post MORE . I'm stuck on the ground due to the horrible Danish winter weather and to stane reasonably sane I'm downloading skydive vids....so post 'em dammit! Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Go jump. You'kk not regret it. You've overcome your fears in the past - and you'll do so now. And asSkyBytch said, yer gonna have a permagrin on yer face after you've done it. All the fear/nervousness disappears once you leave the brain and the fear part of your mind goes "oh screw you, I'm outta here" Go jump and have fun. I might get to jumpo on Monday, if it doesn't snow. Been 7-8 weeks since the weather was good enough/had a pilot that could fly. I'm gonna be nervous too, but I'll get over it, just as you will. Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Heh started off as unemployed, finishing the same way. Good news is that there's a very good chance I might have one come February. Voted good, coz I started skydiving backin...June I think? Found The Meaning of Life, The Universe And Everything. 42 is the number of beers you have to drink per night at a boogie :D. Got 80 jumps in before weather closed the season here in Denmark. 2003 was great - cannot wait for the 2004 season. Will be certified, RW qualified, have my own gear...it's going to be sweet

Hey Zeemax, hpow'd you make a screensaver outta it? And Phreezone - what's the soundtrack on the video? The second song is a remake of Seal's "Crazy", but by whom? Like it a lot. Great video! Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

You know, there are a couple of good things about living in a dump like I do. No real complaints about loud music. BBQs where we aren't supposed to have 'em. late night Monday parties that come up at an impulse of a resident. No one whining about the coming and going of people at odd times. After the police arrested and evicted the drug dealers, this place has turned out very nicely. And we can (and have) put up basketball hoops with no complaints. We did get a complaint when we built the underground beer cooler (long story) but the police were pretty understanding about it . Dumps like this aren't all bad

Heh, I experienced it once here - the Star Trek film with the Borg cube. But then we're talking Trekkies here... Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Just quit recently. It's doable, but I am far from "safe" still. Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

So this guy repeatedly violated the law and had a habit of running right through stops. He shouldda been tried for murder, not manslaughter. People who speed etc should think about these episodes. One thing to endanger oneself, another to endanger others... Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst