sdgregory

Congrats!

Hmm I hit post before I typed anything/. That is also what happens when you can't jump. Now I cannot remember what I was going to say. I must be retarded.

Hmm. And I did not imply that you did. I am implying that the parents of the underachievers are so worried about their child's self esteem that instead of teaching positive work ethics, they instead try to prevent those who do succeed from being recognized. I am implying that if your self esteem is so fragile that you cannot handle when someone who achchieves is recognized then maybe you should try a little harder. It is not my job to worry about whether you feel good about yourself. THAT is what I mean.

Damn now my secret is out. Oh well, now I need a self-esteem boost

Does anybody remember when Self-esteem was earned through hard work? I was an Honors student until I blew Senior year of High School by only showing up every 40 or so days. Hey I lieved by the beach. Now I am an honors student, I worked hard to be one and I deserve the recognition. And if somebody feels bad because they are a fuck-up, suck it up, be an adult and realize that nothing is handed to you in life. Man, is anything that happens to a person THEIR responsibility any more?

That sir, with the exception of procreation, is the best idea I've heard in a while. Hey buddy, you ARE a product of procreation.

Yes it is. But it doesn't matter how many terrorists you kill if you keep breeding new ones to take their place. At least consider world opinion before you act, or try to appear as if you've paid attention. Bush I'm afraid did neither. When I hear you say how many allies you have it makes me wonder how much you even know about them. I think you might find that they are a list of nations willing to put up with you rather than whole hearted supporters of your cause. I think, for the record, that Americans in general are great people. I just think that they should try to gain more insight into how the rest of the world sees them. Then, once they have seen that they can make up their minds as to whether they care what we think or not. Might just change your attitude. Or it might not. All I see here(as in all your posts) is that you think America is wrong and we should try thinking like the rest of the world and see your side. And all some of us are saying is why don't you stop thinking like the rest of the world and try to see our side? You want it your way and are accusing us of being bullies. We want it our way and are accusing you of being blind. What is the difference here? What? Because so much of Europe thinks America is wrong, then America must be wrong? Sometimes the majority is not always right. Sometimes the right thing to do is not the popular thing to do. Sometimes you have to go with your beliefs and damn the consequences. Sometimes, just because 9 out of ten people say it should be done this way, does not mean it is the best way. Sometimes you just gotta say to hell with what everyone else thinks, I know I am right and I am going to do what I know to be right, even if it later turns out to be wrong. (Not that I am saying we will end up being wrong here. I think it is good we got rid of Saddam.) And like StevenPhelps, I do not like the idea of someone who is not American (UN) having any input into American troop control. If I want to be French I will move to France. If I want to be Canadian I will move to Canada and if I want people in Europe determining how my country should be defended I will move to Europe. I am an American. I will not apologize for this. I will not apologize for us giving the UN the collective finger and saying you are too lenient with Saddam. He gave the world the collective finger and everyone just wanted to keep giving him another chance. We give the world the finger and it is Imperialistic America being a bully on the block. Especially since we are so oppressive to so much of the world. I miss the days when Countries were sovereign. Let's be allies, but you stick to your country's affairs and we will stick to ours. I hate the idea of the "global village". You have your views, prejudices and opinions based on a million factors like where your live, who you were raised by, what you were taught in school, the circumstance of your neighborhood, city, country, and economy and religious beliefs or lack there of. Same as everyone else and all those experiences sum up to different ideals for each person. And it stands to reason that different nations will will have different views. What other countries think of my country has no bearing on my day. I could not care less. (Do I think we could survive as an isolationist country? No, we need world trade as much as the world needs ours.) What does matter to me when it comes to the world? I do care when I hear of people being denied basic human freedoms, I do care when I hear of a starving people. I do care when someone cannot stick up for themselves and I have the ability to stick up for them. I believe it is our responsibility to not negotiate with people in power who oppress and slaughter the people they govern. I believe if you have the might and the might can be used for a greater good then you use it. Even if everyone else can only see the bully they want to see. But hey, I am just an American and really only care about my chevy, my house, my money and what small country Ican bully into giving up their natural resourcesfor my own financially gain. Blast away, but know it will probably fall on deaf ears just like my post will probably fall on deaf ears. (Or would that be blind eyes?) Now why don't we forget this crap and find a DZ half way between here and there and jump? THAT IS WHY I LIVE NOW. Well that and to procreate. SPeaking of . . . where's my wife?

Yeah, I think it is easier to land my Hornet than it is the others.

I am looking at my log book right now. Levels 1 thru 7 - Manta 290 Levels 8 thru 17 - Nav 260 Levels 18 thru 22 - 240 (Did not log whether it was a Manta or Nav but I think it was a Nav.) Levels 23-25 plus jumps 26 - 31 - Hornet 230. 32-33 I jumped a 7-cell F111 that I rented because my hornet was getting some things done to it. I do not remember the size but I think it was 210. If Phreezone reads this he could fill in that blank. (I forgot to write that bit of info in my log book.) Up until three weeks ago I weighed 240 lbs out the door. Now I am down to 230 and going down each day. So now I load at a little over 1:1 I think. I know that one of the chicas I was going through AFF at the same time with was downsizing a little more often than I was. But she still has not reached even a 1:1 loading. I see no reason why you would lie about the rate at which you dowqnsized. From the little I have seen most people downsize throughout their progression. That said, I do see how someone might think this is an exageration just because it sounds unbelievably dangerous to allow someone to downsize so rapidly. Even with my limited experience, the rate at which you are downsizing seems like a bad idea. Wing loading is only part of the thing to think about. Smaller canopies by nature are more agressive. If I am wrong here someone let me know. I am always open to educating.

Thanks for the advice. Do not worry though. I will not be doing this any time soon. I plan on moving slowly. I want longevity in this sport. I won't be doing anything really radical until I have the approval of those who run my home DZ.

The two that bit got bit back by my stun gun. They were more than submissive after that.

I have no problem with any of the limits they put. I will just do whatever I gotta do to make it next year. As far as the invite only, I am pretty sure the Tim told me that. I know they said that this was the biggest group they have ever had. ANd they are hoping to have it grow more next year.

Okay here goes. 1. GUNS ARE GOOD! 2. Learned to shoot the old fashioned way. I became a Marine! One shot one kill baby!. Qualified Dual Cross Rifles M-16. 3. Qualified Dual Cross Pistols Barretta 9-MM 92FS 4. Fired more rounds through SAW, M-60, .50 cal than I can possibly count. (Melted one SAW barrel just cause I wanted to see what would happen.) "Three to five round bursts, asshole!" That was fun. 6. Finished top five in my Toledo gun league of 75 shooters using Ruger 357 Magnum with Tasco red-dot sight. 7. Remington 700 Varmint just because. 8. 350 WIN SPFS. 9. Glock 23C 40 cal (I may be wrong, it bould have been a 27C)

Pucker up baby! If that is what it takes I gonna be brown nosing it next year!

No one is more qualified to teach a child than the parent. Public school has only been around for little over a few hundred years and the human race has been around for thousands of years. We did fine without public schooling prior to then. We will survive without it. Homeschooling kids as a whole are outperforming kids in "traditional" education systems. Encouraging curiosity, inquisitiveness and a thirst for knowledge, then giving them the tools necessary to discover things for them selves and guiding them toward knowledge, using your own knowledge as a guide. Furthermore, history is filled with self educated people who have achieved many great things. Alexander Hamilton comes to mind rather quickly. As far as needing specialization, by networking with the community of homeschooling parents you can find people who specialize in every subject you can ever imagine and help each other's children to learn should they feel the need. The public school system has outlived its usefulness in its current state. Since not everyone wants to nor is able to homeschool, I agree that the system needs revamping. First and foremost is raising salaries to attract those of us who would love to teach and have the gift of teaching but will not teach due to the current state of affairs. Second is get rid of those teachers who are incompetent. Third get rid of this "OBE" crap.

The current state of education is why we pulled our kids out of public school and homeschool. 1.) Teachers are paid as much as 40% less than others with the same degree in other fields. (this had no bearing on us removing our kids but is just pisses me off.) 2.) This concept of teaching toward standardized tests, of not allowing teachers to be dynamic and inspiring, of just passing kids through, has gotten out of hand. 3.) The shortage of GOOD teachers has seen many who should not be teaching receive jobs they should not. I do not subscribe to the adage "Those who can't, teach.". I believe it should be "THose who can, Teach." There are other reasons the current state of affairs really has me worried. As it does many other parents. That is why you see so many of us resorting to homeschooling. I do not envy the position teachers are in today. I always wanted to teach but because of the current state of things I have decided to go private industry and changed my major from Math and Education to Engineering. I will make more as an Engineer with a B.S. than most teachers with a M.A./M.S. will make. That is just sad.

Obee claybee. Works for me.

AerOhio is my Home DZ. I am so jealous of these guys getting to go to my home state this week. I think I heard it was invite only and I know for a fact only those with a C license or better can go. Maybe next year!

If I ever learn to fly on my head I may be dangerous. I have already hit 154 on my belly without really trying!

Absolutley true. Especially when it comes to so called "hyperactive" breeds like Dalmations. Each breed has a different design and the design determines what kind of exercise program, grooming, or feed patterns. And although there are certain things that will be the same between dogs of the same breed. They each have distinctively different personalities. Kinda like raising kids.

Like I said I am not sure whether this falls under the category but I just thought I would let you know. Take it with a grain of salt. Or tell me to shove it. I do not have any authority here. Someone who does will let me know if I am off base here.

I do not think I have ever agreed with anything Benny said but I think you need to read the rules of posting. One of them is NO PERSONAL ATTACKS and your final statement here may constitute as one. I am not sure but just to warn you, although a moderator might do that as well. edited because I typed like old people hump. Slow and sloppy.

I have always been around dogs my entire life. I used to train them, even attack train. I have gone against some nasty mean SOB's that most people are terrified of and I will not back down. I demonstrate that I am the Alpha male and they will try to keep their position until they realize I will not back down. Only twice has this resulted in a bite and I still would not back down. (I used sleeve when approaching them). In those instance I had to hurt the dog back but it established who was in charge. Someday I might find myself against a dog that scares me to the point I say no freakin way but that has not happened yet. People make dogs dangerous by their lack of knowledge or by their abusive behaviors. Even the "aggressive" Dobies, Rotties, Pit Bulls, etc are trained to be aggressive in this way. As a side note, I have had two of the breeds and my brother raises show Dobies and neither of us has ever had a problem with these breeds. They have gotten a bad rap. They are great breeds and really good with children. They just have to know their place. Oh and only because you mentioned them . . . Rotties are push overs. They love to play. I wrestled with mine on the floor all the time. Love them dogs. My favorite breed.

Cream O wheat is some nasty stuff! I'll tell you what. I'll pooh in a bowl and you can eat it. Oh and you hump the grits. I'll just eat em'.

I really have a problem with people who have pets and really do not know a damn thing about them. Dogs are pack animals. They understand a pack structure. They do not care how high they are in the pack they just want to know where their place is. This requires training. Otherwise, they will start at the bottom and work their way up until someone resists them or they will start at the top and work down till they win over someone. Either way they are looking for their place in the pack so they can learn their function. A dog should not ever have a place over a person in a home. Kids especially. In this instance the people in question do not live in the home but the woman should have enough control to prevent this kind of behaviour. The dog thinks it runs the home. And whether she warned the person or not, she is responsible for allowing it to happen. She should lock the dog up when company is coming. What if she had never had a chance to warn a child and the child just sat on the dogs territory and got bit before she could stop it? I have been to too many homes with dogs where the dog clearly thinks it is higher ranking than a child or a spouse. And in many cases it is aggressive enough to be dangerous to those it sees itself as head of. And I am not talking about the big dogs either. This woman clearly does not know how to manage dogs and should not have them. Of course that is just my opinion and it always stinks.