vonSanta

7/10, but wasn't wearing lenses Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Man, glad to hear this Michele! Love reading your posts - always intelligent and full of a feeling of 'being there'. You kick arse

Mm, and I recall some Boeings losing a cargo doors or just exploding. More seriously though; hadn't heard about that accident, will look it up Still, if ya can take a SAM hit to a wing full of fuel and land safely, I'd say "sturdy" or "lucky" are accurate enough Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

A DHL Airbus 300 got hit by an SA-7(?) "Strela" shoulder launched surface to air missile just after taking off from baghdad International airport. The pilot managed to turn around and land the plane which had extensive damage to one of the wings. This link shows the damage. Seems modern airliners are capable of taking a direct hit as long as it isn't on a critical part of the plane. With terrorists getting hold of MANPADS, this is good news. Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

So how long does plastic hook-knives last before they become brittle and unsafe? Got one on my rig. I better replace it. Also almost from day one with skydiving I worried about "but what if it's a spinning malfunction and you drop the hook knife?". Any way of dealing with/reducing the chance of this happening, except carrying a backup hook knife? Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Same way for me too. Bad weather for 6 weeks in a row - love Denmark during the "winter"... Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

I hate tgis question. One thing I loved about the skydiving community (at least in Denmark) was that it was a non issue. As was "what do yuo do for a living". I'm going back to study again so I earn nada btw, but that's beside the point. Now someone has taken the "how much do you make" question and polluted the wonderful skydiving world! Agh! Shot, you should be IamADam Heh Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Just a general comment, or question rather... It seems to me that there's a LOT of dislike/disrespect with regards to whoever is currently the president - if it's a Republican he is "hated" by lots (most?) of the loyal democrats - if it's a democrat it's the same story, except now the republicans do the "hating". A devaluation of the individual's skill as a politician, his intelligence, moral fibre and whatnot - based for the most part on his political stance rather than anything factual. It's a bad thing IMHO, as it hinders objectivity and promotes lazyness. It essentially promotes ad hominem and appeal to authority logical errors. Now it's worth noting that an ad hominem isn't (as most think) a direct attack on the person instead of the argument - rather it is taking some fact related to the person making the argument that's irrelevant as far as the argument goes and use it to "prove" the argument as false. No good. I'm a European liberal, which translated to the US system would make me a libertarian I gather (since we use an earlier definition of the word "liberal" in Europe). Even so, I respect the statemansship, know how and oratory skills of, say, our former social democratic prime minister.' I hope I just get the wrong impression from American online forums. In the sense that it is much more polarized than what the "general population" is. Oh: I dislike Bush's policies, but do find him to be one charming (if scary, due to his personal beliefs)bugger. He's really using the "hardworking, simple yet decisive blue jeans Texan" stereotype very well. As an orator he is not very good though. I saw his recent speech in GB. While it may be OK to talk really slow to people in the US, I think that at least in Denmark we feel a bit patronized if that happens. Like being a kid while a parent tells something about the big world out there. "Get on with it dammit, I ain't a retard" sorta reaction. He lacks Tony Blair's ability to improvise and his vocabulary isn't too good. I think his ability to talk "off the transcript" on complicated matters is his worst PR flaw, so to speak. However, he comes off as "just another guy from the street" to a large degree which compensates very well for his other deficiencies. Nope, I don't hate the guy even though I find myself disagreeing with his views more often than not. I reserve my hatred for pure bred DDR style socialists (just saw a documentary on DDR and the propaganda shite they had going, along with an old Marxist who got interviewed afterwards and was rationalizing everything). Oh and for the extreme right people; they can have a dose of my hatred too

Weird. I found skiing much harder than snowboarding. I just put the snowboard on and after an hour or so I'd worked out turns/stopping and how NOT to fall. Skiing - two skis that gotta be coordinated. A deliberate act of putting more load on one side of one ski than....never mind. Skiers think snowboarding is "too easy" and snowboarders think skiing is "for sissies" I think snowboarding is actually the mainstream way for 14-30 year olds. Heh, there goes the "rebel" label that is cultivated so hard Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Wow, 10 year prison sentence? You could kill someone in this country and get less... Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Just remember that most traffic laws are there for a reason. Granted, your violation was quite minor. But the road was only clear as far as you could ascertain. If you'd misread the situation or overlooked something, there could have been an avoidable accident. Whenever you break 'em, you're increasing the risks of injuries/death not only to yourself, but to others. That's why when someone brags about getting speeding tickets a lot or driving too fast, I don't go "wow, cool guy" but "shit, I hope he doesn't kill someone and if he does, I hope he'll learn from it.and have the willpower to make it through a mentally punishing time". Risk your own life all you want. Risk mine as well due to your stupidity and I get angry. Oh I should add that this is a general comment and as such not directed at stteve1 or anyone in particular

Alright, I get what you're saying. the thing is when someone says "the UN is worthless", they're asying the whole of the UN, which includes the blue helmeted dudes. I see where you're coming from so the rest of the text is just directed to anyone who bothers reading it. There might be factual blunders in there and there are a good deal of personal opinions/observations The soldiers are PART of the UN. When you blast the entire UN and you call it ineffective, you're indirectly and probably unintentionally blasting the soldiers. They're not mindless drones. The ones I know are professionals dedicated to their career. It is like the US armed forces - I believe that most US soldiers join the forces out of some sort of idealistic reason - at least that's part of the equation. Other things are escaping their socio-economic group, tradition and whatnot. Yet from talking to Americans that have served, they value freedom, patriotism etc very highly. Are US soldiers just pawns? Yes, as much as UN peacekeepers are - they go where they are ordered to and they do their job. There are great similarities between the relationship between the politicians in the UN and the soldiers and the US administration and American soldeirs. I agree completely - things aren't done on the political level for altruistic reasons by either of the organisations. The US administration protects American interests solely, whereas the UN tries, rather pragmatically and often in an ineffective way, to keep some sort of order and give some sort of legitimacy to things. It HAS to be pragmatic because it is NOT one nation. Nor can it be unilateralist just based on power like the US can. The US tends not to be unilateralistic though, although the current administration has taken a strategy (in a very difficult environment post 9/11) that is rather one sided. But the US admin has its job to do, just as my government has its own. I can understand why Americans are pissed at the UN. There are countries that the US doesn't like at all in it, doing their thing which is against US interests. These countries actions and votes might have a negative effect on US interests. The US might not be free as do as it pleases - in fact the UN limits US freedom of movement in a very real way. It also does the same to all the other member states - except these are much less powerful and are therefore limited less in a relative sense. Yet one must remember the context in which the UN was created - and the driving force behind it. A place were needed where things could be discussed on an international level, where troublesome situations could be debated and possible conflict be avoided. There was a need for a body where the world could come together and through pseudo-democratic means condemn or promote certain actions and values. It is also worth noticing the disparity in power-sharing in the UN. Several nations have the power of veto - a power that is immensely strong. Of course the winners of WWII - the big nations that is - got the veto power. I'd argue, based on the use of veto by these nations, that it has a LARGE part of the blame for the ineffectiveness of the UN (because it could be MUCH more effective, I agree). Look at how Russia, France, Germany, GB and China have used it. See how the US has used it. It's pretty hard to get something done when nations that at times have very different ideas and interests have to agree. All of them. How to solve that? Political horse-trading takes care of a little of it - the rest simply isn't solved. All the veto power countries are to blame for a large part of the inefficiency in the UN - the US included. Let's take a look at the Israel/Palestine situation for instance: Clicky. Just an example - I can dig up (if I google a lot) lists for the former USSR, current Russia, France, China and GB. There's an ugly and repetitive picture formed when vetoes are looked at in its entirety. But if one thinks about it, the UN is pretty good for the US with regards to voting power/values. The US has the power of veto. It shares the basic values with GB and France on human rights, democracy and freedom. Theocratic countries are underrepresented big time, as are neo-fascist states, nations with great corruption and so forth. So what stops the UN from being effective is the power of veto combined with silly nationalism (some prefer to call it patriotism) and really also the personal chemistry (or lack thereof) of the individual people sitting at the table. Egoes, basically. Yes, there needs to be changes in the UN. Just remember that the country with the most influence with regards to the UN charter at its creation and its administrative rules was the US - coming out on top after WWII as the mightiest nation ever to have existed on earth. Coming out well ahead of the Soviets, packing nukes, money and a post war agenda. Some will argue that all countries had as much influence. These people would be naeive and be lacking a clear understanding of realpolitik. There's a great many thing to critizise about the UN - for instance the way one member nation can undermine the whole organisation by a single action, the veto system, the lack of "fire power" for solving disputes definitely and quickly. But it's like democracy - it's a terrible system for governing - it's just not as terrible as the alternatives. It could do so much good, if only it was restructured. As globalisation continues, I see the role of a UN-like organisation growing, not diminishing. The UN could do so much good. It annoys me as much as anyone that the UN setup and real life hinders it. Ideals and reality in conflict. Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Send a PM to DrAvalanche. She's my sis and jsut about done with med school. Her books weight more than a bus full of people suing McDonalds, so she's bound to have some suggestions. Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Yeah sister, give it to 'em! She's right btw. Per definition. Even though I'm two years older than her. Don't ask why. I got a skydiving kid sister who dragged me (literally) into the sport, who kept pushing me past the "omygodiamgonnadieihatethisstuff" stage which lasted a good 30 jumps for me. And she'll lend me money for jump tickets. How cool is that? I won't sell her. Well, maybe if you throw in a new Odessey. She's blonde, in good shape and almost done as a medical doc. Any takers? Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

I get really pissed when Americans and others say UN is a no good organisation. I got friends and acquaintances wearing the blue helmet. Some were (and are) in former Yugoslavia. Others are spread over the world. They demine areas, bring food, protection and hope to a desperate population. They're shot at, intimidated, blown up and often live under harsh conditions. I can dig up (if I am allowed to post it) a picture of a Dutch fellow (also a skydiver) who's vehicle was blown to pieces by a landmine and who miraculously survived, although with pretty bad injuries. These guys are out there - not for their COUNTRY, like a blind patriot, but for the world. They're out not to conquer or secure some political or economical interest but to help their fellow man. Those that go are highly devoted men and let me assure you that what they do is in no way less than what the American soldiers have done and are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan. The world is full of thankless ignorant people who lay no energy or thought into the trials and tribulations of the man on the ground wearing the blue helmet, driving the white painted vehicles. I say give them their due. When you diss the whole of UN and call it ineffective, you're also dissing what these men and women are doing - and sometimes DIE doing. Why do they do it? A former class mate who's a mine clearer said, with a crooked smile, "for the money. And the chicks". But we were both aware that it was a combination of thrill seeking, an adventurous spirit and a desire to make a difference. Some of the finest qualities in the human animal, and some that have made humans what they are today. Off the soap box now. Just think about it - these guys/girls are risking their lives out there - some gratitude/appreciation is in order. Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

{{{Vibes}}} coming her way bigtime from Denmark. Hang in there Jeni: you're gonna kick this tumors arse. I wish for great strength for you and a speedy recovery. With all these skydivers sending vibes, I think it'll happen too. billy and jeni, yer gonna come through this! My heart goes out to you. Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Wish I could find the one where he's chasing after that retarded kid that runs in the Special Olympics... Bloody HD crash Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

She's not aspiring. She is one according to the Priests of Fluffy Things Which Falls Outta The Sky (really nice church they have btw). FFG, you'll have your jump tickets as soon as I got some money. But then I do hope that such a contribution will result in a rock steady HD. It's in your power... Gotta go sacrifice something. Kittens maybe? Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Dude, you sound like a hoopy frood who knows where his towel is. If I'm ever in the US, I'm going drinking with you. Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Pretty awesome paintjobs. That eye one looks so real it's scary too. I wish I had the talent to do stuff like that "Oh well" he sang, "what the hell", carbon fiber black is ok, I gather. Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Uh oh skymama, now you're beginning to sound like Bush and the Patriot I and II acts Seriously though, I agree completely with both you and Sangiro. IBTL are annoying. Mostly because you expect some really hotheaded reply and then it's just "IBTL". Now don't go preemptive on me and lock me out SKyMama Oh yeah, and what Faber said. Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Very cool WW :) Are you going to develop a lisp, wear a monocle and start strutting your arse when you walk now that you're famous? Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Now this is more like it! Me likee. Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

Yeah, hang in there. While 12-18 months may seem a long time, it sure beats "the rest of your life". What happened to you, if you don't mind me asking? Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

A can opener (coz I'm a bachelor and known for my rather primitive culinary taste). An eye-poker (coz I'm known for not being particularly particular with regards to sharp shiny things). And a fighting-device-knuckle-iron addition (coz I'd need any help I couuld get should I get into a fight). That's all so far. And I haven't even worn one; just shown pics of one. Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst