pirana

The religious faithful absolutely do not want this to happen; and isn't it an irony that it is the skeptics that would most welcome it - because we are open to evidence and will follow it to whatever truth to which it leads. It would be game over for those that live by faith-based principles if we are ever presented with the answers to the big questions. Kind of like the philosophers in the Hitchhikers Guide who realize that if the ultimate questions get answered via actual observation and objective analysis of information; they'll be out of a job. " . . . 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

A couple of you sound like the people that occasionally knock on our door on Saturday mornings. " . . . 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

Could you finish the thought about necessity? What makes it necessary, or why is it necessary? Looking for you to finish the thought. Not disagreeing about necessity - just want to know exactly why you think it is necessary. " . . . 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

850 1 Improperly handled line twists on jump #70. Borrowed gear with riser connectors, 3 full twists, released brakes before kicking out of twists, made a mess of the steering lines, seemed marginally controllable but was not comfortable with it because of jump #'s. No AAD, no RSL. Thought I'd get a good chewing out (did get just a little) but mostly was congratulated for maintaining cool and saving myself. " . . . 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 they could just ring a bell the way most Christian churches do. I like the sounds of the real ones; and most of the electronic ones are tolerable. Anything resembling human voices would be creepy and Orwellian though. Although the bells me salivate. I think the law should clarify that if they are going to be playing bells or something there needs to be a 7-11 or White Hen or something nearby. " . . . 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 poked around on the site pretty extensively; including the downloadable file in English. Lots of good reading, but no explanation of why a system that specs out in testing is still considered expired after 12 years. Is it buried in some link I'm not seeing? Can anybody point me to the company's explanation for the expiration date policy? " . . . 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're doing it wrong. It's supposed to be . . . "Oh nooooooooooo, Mr. Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilllllllllllllllllllllllll." " . . . 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

255, and still having trouble with your, you're, and yer? " . . . 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

Silly man. CTer's deal in emotion - not evidence. " . . . 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

That line points to the power of your delsion. Saying you know indicates you feel you have irrefutable evidence. Exactly what is the evidence you have that proves what you feel you know? If your evidence consists of the kind of absolute BS and outright lies contained in Loose Change and the like (many of which the producers themselves have now admitted to) then you are seriously deluded. I suppose when those guys have been forced to rescind enough of what they have said (IMO we are past that point), then they automatically become part of the cover-up also? Pointing to the relatively small amount that is not known and claiming that as evidence for some outrageously outlandish alternative for which not one shred of actual evidence exists is simply silly. So again, what is it exactly that you "know" that supports your claim. " . . . 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 they pretty much gotta go when called. It probably came in as a domestic dispute, and while most are not lethal - enough are that they can not ignore based on what may or may not have been said during the call. There was one in our neighborhood (5 miles away where we live is considered the neighborhood) that started over what was for dinner. It got called in, but became a homicide by the time the police showed. Granted, there must have been more to the story than what was for dinner, just as there has to be more to this story than not wanting to take a shower; but I think they need to go when called. " . . . 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

QuoteThat makes me a skydiver, SCUBA diver, mountain climber, snowboarder, skier, soldier, biker, baseball player, football player, basketball player, tennis player, soccer player, lacrosse player, rugby player, softball player, kickball player, dodge ball player, kick boxer, runner, house painter, carpenter, construction worker, plumber, porn star (my personal favorite), race car driver, pilot, lawyer, loan officer, mason, writer, boat captain, mechanic, bum, guitar player, piano player, saxophone player, singer, drum player, bass player, trumpet player, banjo player, keyboard player... and much much more.Quote How about flowers? Ever done flower arrangements? " . . . 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

Understood, and agree. And got a good chuckle out of the last sentence of the first paragraph. " . . . 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

Too funny. Thought the thread was about punctuation until I got to the 3rd post. " . . . 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 could make some good money in a Create-the-best-euphemism contest. Forced loan - too controlling sounding. A good euphemism should make the imposed upon feel privileged. How about Key Contributor Stimulation Opportunity? " . . . 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

Military versus civilian, terrorism versus act of war, etc. . . , very complicated. What I really got a kick out of was Stewart's treatment of Giuliani. Typical politician playing to the crowd and the moment, yet claiming to be principle driven. In his press conference he directly contradicted his statements from 2006. Not sort of contradicted, not in some ways contradicted, but completely 180'd. This was not acheived with clever editing of sound bites. The clips were lengthy enough and in enough depth on the topic that it is very clear he is pandering to the crowd and playing to the current party line. What a lying, unprincipled scumbag (aka a professional politician). " . . . 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 humorous, and over the top. Does that really appeal to anyone? How about a DZ that specalizes in taking lumberjacks for their first "experience" or maybe one for recovering game-aholics? Any DZ or advertiasement that emphasizes something other than the skydive is pathetic. Now, to the real issue. Can anybody point me to a DZ that specializes in accomodating jumpers with really big feet? BTW, that parenthetical "very friendly" is a hoot. " . . . 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 my experience; but I am only one person. In my past management positions I hired a lot of people (about 40 to 50 per year) and fired a few (3 or 4 per year. My experience sitting across the table from terminated people and their lawyers is that the lawyer is aggressively trying to paint their client as the victim, regardless of the facts presented. It's what they are paid to do; it's their job. I've seen a few do it to the point of looking like idiots. I also did some consulting work for a very large firm (they claimed to be the nation's largest) that specialized in defending product liability suits. They made no qualms about following a scorched earth policy (their exact words) in defending their clients. My observation is that lawyering is more about 2 sides telling their stories and trying to convince the jury/judge that their's is better - often without regard to certain facts. If it were really only about discovering facts and truths, we would not need lawyers - just good investigators. Every party involved would simply be an officer of the court and be obligated to share all facts. Lawyers are there for their spin and story-telling ability. Maybe in the relatively small sampling of cases I experienced (maybe a dozen over 15 years) I just got unlucky and ran into a string of unthoughtful lawyers. " . . . 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 it's the jumpers you joined, not the fact that they were/are on their belly. As a guy in the middle (way more skills than the newbies, way less skills than the true veterans) I experience both. When the vets invite me, they know what they are getting. When I invite newbies, I know what I am getting. It might come down to expectations. If the newbie expresses concern they might "screw up" our dive I make it very clear that the expectation is that they be safe and learn something - everything else is icing on the cake - and we always have fun. I also really enjoy the opportunities for swoop practice. Standard response to "I'm not very good" is "There is only one way to get better." Too many people fade away for other reasons; very poor form to lose future fellow skydivers because of unrealistic expectations on the part of them or the experienced jumpers. " . . . 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

Jesus Christ - rushmc: Do you even know about what/to whom you are barking? - A spokesman? - billvon? - yourself? Outbursts like that are not healthy. Well, at least he went on long enough for us to figure out whether he meant disgusting tactic or discussion tactic. Digustion was just too much in the middle. " . . . 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

Agree 100%. Those taking the certificates are helping to perpetuate the problem. (Unfortunately, some of them maybe don't see it as a problem). If no DZ accepted the certificates, they would pretty much be shut down overnight. " . . . 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

Yes, very important to get the footwork correct so that it is a lean-in; and not the hip-grinding, leg-wrapping variety. If you have to think about who's legs go where - - YOU ARE TOO CLOSE! " . . . 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 call this a troll/tease post. " . . . 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

Yes, there is either an incredibly disproportionate number of extremely intelligent people in this forum, or there are factors gumming up the results - most likely improper administration. 132 puts a person in the top 2% of the population. Been a while since I looked at the numbers closely, but I believe somewhere in the mid to upper 140's puts a person in the top one-tenth of 1%. Being a pop-psych internet version, not being administered by a trained proctor, not being officially timed or measured by a 3rd party, etc makes the results very suspicious. If anybody wants to take a real one; buy one from a bookstore, hand it over to someone who will follow the testing rules to a T, then let them administer. Those results should be pretty accurate. And you won't get spammed. " . . . 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

If you have the means, the ability, and the opportunity to do something about it - do so. Otherwise get away, hide, help others do the same; and keep watching for an opening to do something about it. I'm definitely a doer, but I'm not suicidal. " . . . 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