meltdown

I believe that the nation (not the world) owes its poor kids a public education every bit as good as the rich kids public education. That is not the way it works right now. The poor kids K-12 public education is definitely inferior. ___________________________________________ No amount of government interference or funding can make a parent sit down and read with his kid, or get involved in his kid's school, or help with homework, or discipline a child appropriately, etc. Parental involvement (or lack thereof) in kids' lives is one of the biggest contributing factors to the quality of a school. The government can't mandate that - it's up to the individual parent. And programs that try to provide those things for the poor kids with shitty parents are nothing more than a band aid on the problem. As long as there are shitty parents, there will be shitty schools. Teachers cannot simultaneously teach basic skills and act as a surrogate parent.

Just how exactly are those poor children supposed to improve themselves "from inside", when they start with k-12 years of disadvantage? Sure some do climb into the middle class, but they don't just have to be as good as the kids from the rich burbs, they have to be far better because they have way farther to climb. _________________________________________________ Well, ya know, that's just the way it is. My mother was part of a poor sharecropper family and spent her childhood picking cotton to support her family. My dad grew up on the poor side of Providence and never had any privileges either. Guess what: they made it. Nobody ever said life was fair - you are dealt your hand and do the best you can. You can decide to improve yourself and reap the benefits that come with that, or you can sit around complaining about "the man", waiting for your welfare check, and wondering why your life sucks. You're right, disadvantaged people have farther to climb, but you gotta start somewhere, and you'll never get there if you don't start. And you'll never start if you have a piss poor "the world owes me something" attitude.

My wife started first. When she was in AFF, she suggested we buy my dad a tandem jump for his 70th birthday. I said sure, and if he was gonna do it I would too. Well, he did, which means I did, and the rest is history.

They wouldn't go away if they were made permanent. And for your second point, the top 1% are vastly overtaxed to begin with - I don't see a problem with them getting back more of their overcharge. ------------------------------------------------------------You have a point. However they won't be permanent because of the massive debt that is accruing. And yes, tax burdens are not equitable across all incomes. However, I would argue that the higest income people also receive more governmental benefits. _____________________________ The massive debt is no doubt sickening. You are correct that the highest income people benefit the most, but I would call it "societal" benefits, not "governmental". They benefit from their contributions to the system, in the form of acquiring skills that result in high paying jobs, or starting a successful business, or whatever. Not from sucking from the system. That's what is so great (IMO) about the capitalist society we live in. For those with talent, skills, ambition and drive, the heights you can reach are limitless. And even regular guys like me can make a decent wage, live in a nice house, and have food to eat, once we stop complaining and start getting busy.

I say this: The poor don't have to remain poor. Poor people do make it to the middle and upper classes all the time in this country - if they have the will and ambition to do so. ------------------------------------------------------------ They also need the ability. What about stupid people or disabled people? They may have the will and ambition but not the resources. ______________________________________ I don't have a problem helping the disabled. Stupid people? Depends on how "stupid" you're talking about, but the average person can make it in this society. And as for the resources I repeat - it has to come from inside. Every person has the ability to make a decision to better himself, and act on it. Whether they do that or not will determine in large part how their life plays out.

They wouldn't go away if they were made permanent. And for your second point, the top 1% are vastly overtaxed to begin with - I don't see a problem with them getting back more of their overcharge. If it was Halliburton or Enron paying back overcharges, you'd probably be all for it.

It doesn't matter that the cost doesn't go down, for purposes of this analogy. The fact is the cost COULD go down if our suck ass politicians on both sides of the aisle would stop giving away the store and start acting responsibly. And to your second "fundamental flaw" I say this: The poor don't have to remain poor. Poor people do make it to the middle and upper classes all the time in this country - if they have the will and ambition to do so. And NO taxpayer handout can give them that - it has to come from inside.

Huh?

"No, she's a spinmeister. " Sure she is. But she's a damned entertaining one.

You should find out how he's paid and make sure you're comfortable with that. There are fee only, commission only, and fee/commission type setups. The fee only guys don't get paid for selling you stuff, but for dispensing advice primarily. In theory you will get more objective advice from someone who is fee only. Commission only guys might be more tempted to put you in a particular fund(s) that makes them lots of money but is perhaps not the best for you. I'm not saying commission only guys are no good, but you should be aware of how they get paid and above all know what they are doing and why.

Been to Germany, France, Netherlands, Austria, England, Switzerland, and Mexico. Going back to Amsterdam next weekend for a gig.

Wow! I'm voting Kerry! NOT!

Be prepared to adjust your landing pattern to accomodate the additional glide. I went from a Spectre 170 to a Sabre 150, and the difference is pretty substantial, especially on low/no wind days. You may find yourself coming in faster than you anticipated. Also, the flare is quite a bit different on a 9 versus 7 cell. Bear in mind I only have 48 jumps, but this is my experience.

Less talking - more doing; People taking care of themselves and their families and not relying on taxpayer handouts; Capitalism - the best system devised by man to get the most money in the most people's hands; The ability for the average person to do great things, unencumbered by an overbearing government and high taxes; private property ownership; kicking the living shit out of those that would kill or hurt you; standing on your own two goddamn feet! Etcetera.

Though imperfect, I'll take the US system any day. There is no "free" healthcare anywhere - everybody pays one way or another. Insurance companies can be difficult but I would rather deal with their bean counters than the government idiots who don't even know what a bean is.

Bet you never thought those 4 way independence drills would come in so handy. Signed: a fellow drummer

Dude, if you have a problem with Allen, why don't you take it up with Allen? And if you feel you must post it here on a public forum, the least you can do is identify yourself. If you want to be taken seriously, that is.

I don't think ANY Republican thought this piece of shit legislation would cost what Bush said. That's why every Republican I know was against it. Just another expansion of our already out of control government.

I didn't even have to read to know it was a Bush bashfest. Libertarian, right.

I love your attitude. You think like my boss. I just got a 25% raise in my base salary, plus my bonus structure has changed in my favor. My boss is still making out because I've taken on the duties of 2 people who recently left the company, allowing him to erase over 100K a year from the payroll. So, everyone wins, including the bottom line of the company.

Nice.

"We built a tiny one that used a "whippit" nitrous cartridge for the oxydizer. ** But we never ended up building the thing." Too many whippits spoiled the party, eh?

I do just a plain ole propack on my Spectre 170 and it opens consistently soft, but not real snivelly. I did however, jump a Safire 2 169 awhile back, and that thing sniveled for what seemed like forever.

Hanging in the closet on a special hanger made of 3" PVC and an eye bolt.

Check out the incidents forum (broken tib/fib) for a discussion on being blown backwards.