pirana

Why do you tell them that? Is it how you really feel? " . . . 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 did make you read Animal Farm in Middle School, didn't they? " . . . 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 happen to agree with him that taxes must be raised, and that spending must be cut. Everybody with even half a brain recognizes what must be done at a high level. But then the talking heads and politicians get the partisan pot boiling, everybody turns off their brain, and we never get to agreement on how to actually do it. On the other side of the coin, he's quite the hypocrite for stating this position so soon after ramming one of the most expensive social welfare programs in history down everybody's throat. But then you remember he's just another politician so what else to expect. " . . . 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

So, an addict chooses to be addicted, a person with OCD chooses to compulsively wash his hands and a person, if he simply wills it, never has to sleep? Some of the examples given above lead me to believe voluntary versus involuntary are more accurate terms. " . . . 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

No a free society with a limited and transparent government will. Listen to Ron Paul, he is the only one that can say it how it is. I think certain freedoms are the cause of our problems. People, and organizations, are free to invest and spend pretty much as they wish. What we are experiencing is the consequence of USA not being a very attractive market. Not attractive as a labor pool, not attractive as a customer. Welcome to the globalization of labor & capital. Such a joke that the politicians promise improvement; improvements they have little influence to make. Our situation (working class) is going to remain shitty for a very long time, at least a decade, maybe a couple generations. Until we become relatively attractive (cheap) as a labor pool, what incentives do people have to invest here or hire here? How many promised dates for improvement have come and gone so far? I think 2 or 3. I've heard end of 2011 thrown out a few times. Gimme a fucking break. " . . . 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

+1. I really like how every one on this site fights for the conservatives or liberals as if their elected officials are on their "team". Democrats, republican, doesn't matter 99% of them who get elected don't represent the average citizen, they have fucked us for decades, and will continue to do so. Agreed. The public has been so completely hoodwinked, and behaves so childishly as a whole, that I'm coming around to the belief that they are getting what they deserve. The biggest fucking joke in the world is that our elitist politicians keep us hammering at each other. What we should be doing is giving the entire lot of them the boot. " . . . 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

Whenever possible, I walk thru the exit at the mock-up. I've found I get much better exits from those that physically simulate the movements to and in the door - even just once. " . . . 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 think we need a sign on the fridge: ATTENTION AFF STUDENTS If you feel the need to tip, put some beer in me instead. Good stuff though - if you are tempted to get Icehouse, Bud Light, Coors, etc - give the $$$ to a more experienced jumper and they will demonstrate proper execution of a beer transaction. Is that too much for a sticker? " . . . 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 sticker in our tandem room says something like 'appreciated but not required.' I think that fits well because people honestly do not know. I've had several people ask me before seeing the sign. It's not like a restaurant where everyone is familiar with the protocols - and many want to know. On a busy day (say a dozen tandems) on average I'll get tips from 2 or 3. I do my best to teach them as much about skydiving as I can in our short time together, and most people really appreciate that. The only tips I've gotten doing AFF (closing in on 200 of them) is 6 or 12-packs of beer. I agree with others here that it's better to tell them to go get some beer and stick around for the post-sunset debrief, videos, bull-session, etc. " . . . 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 must be a sissy. I want 9K. " . . . 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

Heck, Rambo could do that. Chuck Norris could do it just using his thumbnail. " . . . 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

You hit the nail on the head. If Jesus came only to show us how to live or if He would have just declared that his was only "a way" instead of "the way", nobody would have a problem. The world applauds the search for truth, however, condemns anyone who's arrogant enough to say that they've found it. nicely put How do you know that some guy named "Jesus" or the like didn't do it exactly as you say he should have? Maybe he did. But, some "organization" decided to exploit this guy's death and turn it into a power grabbing thing called "religion" - hey, they were just doing what people have done for centuries anyway, right? I have no issues with people of faith. I have big issues with large power grabbing organizations - like political parties, unions, terrorist organizations, churches, and POPS. So why have they been able to dupe people for so long? Is the average person that un-sharp. I mean I could see back when the masses thought everything was made of earth, wind, fire, and water; and that rotting wood produced salamanders, etc - people might be open to believing all the oogie-boogie that the early leaders of organized religion spouted. But in this day and age - WTF?! You gotta hand it to the leaders of organized religion though. They have managed to keep about a 1/4 of the world's population still believing in shit that is about as plausible as Santa Claus. I think one of their biggest weapons has been painting science and the aquisition of knowledge as just another belief system like theirs rather than the critical thinking system it is. " . . . 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

bacon bits OK, I'll give you bacon bits. But what else have the humans done for us? " . . . 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

No easy to find stats to compare countries; but did find some food for thought. US consumer debt (all personal non-mortgage debt) is about $3.2 trillion. That is pretty bad (just personal opinion) when you consider our workforce is only about 150 million people. So we appear to be about 2 1/2 years of income in hock, which is astounding when you remember this is just consumption debt - no mortgages included. I think private individual spending and saving habits (and the demand created by those habits and our entitlement mentality) are the prime cause of our economic woes. Consumer: "I WANT IT NOW AND I WANT IT CHEAP!" Supplier: "Very well then, here is your crappy merchandise - and by the way - your job just got shipped overseas. Can we assume you'll be needing even shittier cheaper stuff in the future?" It's a death spiral of consumer greed and suppliers all too willing to make it happen. " . . . 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 agree with him to some degree, but his analysis stops short by only going back a decade. Middle class purchasing power has been stagnant since at least the 80's, maybe the 70's. The responses to that have been several attempts to maintain or improve real income (or maybe better said as trying to create that perception) - all of which have not only failed - but which have exposed our inability to compete globally. A gullible public ate it up because of the unrealistic expectation that everybody ought to have everything. We are probably the worst society on the planet when it comes to living within means. Think I'll take a poke around to see what the income to debt ratio is for other countries. " . . . 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

Interesting fine line. I suppose those that disagree with you consider it acceptable to kill thousands of civilians if they are walking around free; but not OK to kill them if they are locked up or confined. I see it as situational ethics; with people's opinions largely based their sense of self-righteousness. " . . . 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 are smart enough to know hoo-ha when they hear it. Unfortunately, and especially when they have been indoctrinated from birth, they can also be easily manipulated. " . . . 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

Oh, ok, so let me guess...right after highschool at around 18, you knew everything? You don't need to be 18 or a high school graduate to know that talking snakes, virgin births, and zombies is a pile of hoo-ha. Why couldn't they just leave it as good stories that make some points about how to live? " . . . 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

Conflict over resources is a recurring natural state for all animals. Humans have simply invented the means to take those conflicts to levels not seen in any other species as far as ability to destroy other creatures, each other, and the environment. BTW - I strongly agree with Agent Smith's summation - humans are this planet's virus. " . . . 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

Read the Bible. It was probably the only thing more boring than going to church. From day one, as a kid, all I could think was "Do they really expect us to believe this stuff." Then I figured out it was just like fairy tales; highly extravagant and animated stories to learn lessons for life; like Jack & The Beanstalk, and Pinnochio. Good enough. Then a little later was dissappointed to find out some small portion of humans took this stuff literally and were at the least wacko, at worst dangerous. Nothing invented by humans is pure. " . . . 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

Same thing for lightning. I believe it is about 5 or 6 seconds per mile - for lightning. I have definitely heard bullets go by at about 20 feet; but we were where they were landing, and the fluttering sound led me to believe they were tumbling. Definitely subsonic. " . . . 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

My guess is USPA and/or manufacturers want some sort of medical/mental eval in place (and I think that is a very good idea). However, they offload the process to the FAA in order to not have to institute (and bear the burden) of doing it themselves. The unforunate result (as mentioned or alluded to by Ozzy) is one bureacracy borrowing another bureacracy's red tape - for a purpose it was not intended. It was certainly messy for me - though I'm told my average cycle time of 3 to 4 weeks per round with the FAA was actually quite quick. " . . . 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

This is my concern also. It cost me a comprehensive physical, a comprehensive eye exam, some modest fees for chasing down and sending records, and the better part of a season to get my certificate. It sounds like I had better keep all the forms and records handy. Are they really going to make me send all that shit every year? Even if the result is "no changes to health" from my annual visit to the doc? " . . . 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 doesn't exist. Doesn't need to. Doesn't nullify the law. I'm not saying it "nullifies the law". I'm merely pointing out that if "income " hasn't been legaly defined there is no way you can proove ,nor can I determine whether or not I had "income" under that section of law. Peace, Jim B Look at your W-2's and other funny little slips of paper sent to you shortly after New Year's. They will tell you if you had income. But go ahead and use your strategy to not pay taxes on it; let us know how it ends up. This supersillious arguement reminds me of Dennis Miller's comeback to the stoner who profoundly asks how he knows that the color red for him is the same color red for everybody else. Miller's reply" "Check the Crayola box momenschwanz." " . . . 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 stand corrected. Their goal is to pay shareholders as much as possible. Their chosen strategy to hit that goal is to market low quality merchandise as cheaply as possible. " . . . 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