pirana

The question points out the fundamental flaw in how many people view healthcare - as a right. It is a responsibility, and like all responsibilities, is rooted in individual choice. Take care of yourself, take your own risks, and own up to any consequences, whether intended or not. Lack of foreseeability (or predictability) does not equal lack of responsibility for the choices people make. Healthcare, when provided for free, is nothing short of charity. Ideally, no person should be forced to contribute to charity. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

I've never understood the logic that makes punishing someone for a crime as evil as the crime itself. I don't see how executing a murderer makes me as evil as them. I see that it makes the world just a tad bit safer, since most criminals are repeat offenders. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

The spinal column. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

And less analysis of the statistics. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

I hear that on the next episode they are going to work over the At-that-speed-water-is-just-like-concrete myth. I love those Mythbusters guys. I hear they are good friends with Bil Murray. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

I can't remember. Go figure. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Yesiree bop! Being a parent is some sort of natural revenge for having been a child. BTW, I haveen't seen Bambi meets Godzilla in ages - I'll have to dig it out for the kids. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Dude, considering who you were responding to, that's a little disturbing! Blues Dave yes even MY mom is included in the ridicule! It wouldn't be right with out her....... I had to be carful of personal attacks here Oh what shocking posts! I'm shocked by the audacity, profanity, and depravity. I'm so, . . . what's the word? Oh yeah, shocked! It's just outlandish and, . . . uh, uh, . . . shocking! Now I must look away. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

OK, so I seriously sidetracked the thread by complaining about the NRA fighting any rules that threaten wide open gun ownership. Interesting and informative replies though - very appreciated. So, pulling back from that tangent, and retracing back to my earlier tangent about access. What are people's ideas of how to reduce (ideally eliminate) access to guns for those that should not have them. Clearly, most of the perpetrators of these crimes would have been legally denied access based on the criteria JohnRich provided. How does this get solved? " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Today, yes. 10 years ago, maybe not. Standards and attitudes do evolve. My confident opinion is that anybody in either legislative branch could kiss their political career goodbye if this happened to them today. I also think Hastert playing dumb is going to cost him dearly too. (Not that fessing up would have saved him). " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Tuck tabs of course. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Jumpsuit pocket for me. Maybe because I do not know enough to know it's not dangerous, but I would not put a pull up cord near any of my flaps, pins, lines, grommets, lanyards or any of that other deployment related stuff. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

There was no change in crime because there's no such thing as an assualt rifle. Feel free to try to offer me a definition, but it was typical grandstanding. Criminals continue to use handguns, shotguns, and illegal automatics. Banning a semi automatic uzi just means they'll buy one from their drug connections, or substitute in a different legal substitute. All it did was hassle the citizens. And for that reason, it was not renewed. I'm getting more confused instead of less. So there is no such thing as an assault rifle? What was being banned then? " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

I saw the thread title and thought "No fucking way, no way!" Opened it up, and sure as shit, yes way. These people are low beyond description. I like The Rockets idea - hit 'em in the pocketbook with civil suits. If nothing else they might be too busy defending suits to attend funerals. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Around #69 had my first (and only) reserve ride. Got complacent and grabbed the toggles before looking at anything. Had 4 or 5 twists. Kicked out of the twists, which thoroughly tangled the toggles. Could not clear them so cut away at 1600'. Safe outcome, though the alfalfa out that I found grabbed my feet and slammed me forward pretty good Around #470 (very recent) got a good lesson on how multiple little things can lead to a big disaster. #1, took the dive too low. Plan was to break at 4K, took it to almost 3K. #2, kept jumping goggles way past the lifetime of the elastic, and of course, on the dive I went low on, they slide up and the bottom edge of the lens digs into my eyes; totally blinding me. (When I turned to look over shoulder the wind hit the side of them and the lack of proper tension allowed them to move way too easily). #3, should have dumped blind (being at 2K) rather than adjusting goggles. But I had fixated on sticking to the routine and HAD to see over the shoulder and wave off. Dumped at about 1600, in saddle at 1200 - thanks to snappy opening Sabre. So 3 lessons in one really - altitude awareness; maintain everything, even goggle straps can be deadly; don't fixate on anything, including bottom of the dive procedures. Jumps 20 thru 480; I used to spiral a lot. Sometimes to get rid of altitude, but most often simply because I like to. I often did it in or very near the landing pattern. So I got well chewed out, deservedly. The worst part is nobody ever explained the dangers of this until very recently. Amazing that in almost 500 skydives 2 of my 3 moments of high humility have come in the last month. BTW, great stories. This is at least as good as a learning opportunity as Incidents - without all the barking. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Not doing the team thing yet myself, but last weekend had an interesting experience doing a few fun jumps with 3 of the 4 members of the local A team (not the one with Mr T, but some guys competing at the A level). I have more jumps than any of them, quite a few more than a couple; and I was the one screwing everything up. Really impressed on me how much team jumping can be a factor in improving skills. Communication, consistency, anticipation, etc. My excuse for the day is that they put me in the missing team members slot - the tail. That is my least practiced and worst performed position. But kudos to those guys - they click more than they know. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

It's a bit damp & musty; but it's home. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Ya know, I preach it constantly to kids and young adults, and I can tell that at least 75% don't believe me; at least not at first. Then you rattle off a couple dozen names of rich and famous dead celebreties and it starts to sink in. So many people are so convinced that the next level of materials will make everything different for them. They get there, and find it doesn't, but then think it's just one more level to success. After a few rounds of this most finally have the AHA! moment. They eventually recognize that their material wants will grow to whatever their income is, and that is totally separate from what provides true contentment. BTW, yes, belonging to things is one of the things to lead to true contentment. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Maybe I am misled. Certainly willing to stand corrected. Tell me more. What are the crimes that disqualify a person from owning a gun? I'd always assumed any felony, but know people who have a lesser record and own a gun. Also, you have a link to a site with crimes categorized by weapon? I find it hard to believe that in those 10 years there was no change in the number of crimes committed with assault rifles. Even if true, I still don't see why in the world anybody other than cops and soldiers needs an assault rifle. I could be swayed, but would still come down on the side of people wanting a gun needing to prove they are worthy, not the government needing to prove the applicant is unworthy. Kind of like drivers licenses. You need to pass written, driving, and visual exams. Considering the number of bad drivers this might be a poor example; but you probably get my drift. Do prospective gun owners need to demonstrate proficiency and knowledge prior to being able to buy a gun? " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

I'd say we know a lot of things. They may need to be stated in relative terms, but we still know them. Just because something is not absolute doesn't make it unknown. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

$10! Is that normal? Life appears cheap these days, but apparently sex has been put on clearance. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

3.5 million tons/year. Wow! That's a lot of, . . . uh, . . . stuff. Wait a minute. That's just over 1 pound of sex toys per person worldwide. Adjusting for children and the elderly, it's probably about 1 1/2 pounds per person. Adjusting for those that do not like them and don't use them, that's 1 1/2 pounds per person. About right. Not that there's anything wrong with that. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

They don't. The only common thread is that people died. Any other link is just fabricated to fulfill someone's agenda. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

then we could completely eliminate 'school shootings' by moving all classes to taverns. You know, in Wisconsin saying something like that could get you elected. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

I say sometimes. But to compare a school shooting to a religious jihadist, or imply that the answer to one is the answer to the other is absurd. One is a person tormented by their inividual memories. The other is part of a very unhealthy group dynamic. HUMONGOUS distinction. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley