pirana

I agree. No limits on type types we can own, background checks, or national registration except for ones we want to use in public for which we'll be granted an inexpensive license valid in all 50 states for the next 10 years following a simple practical and written test. I like the sound of that. Why are some people so fierce about registration? I'm guessing it's the gubmint-agents-will-be-watching crowd. Why would any law abiding citizen mind registering their weapons? You gotta register your vehicles, you gotta register to vote, you even gotta register your dogs, you even gotta register your marriage. What's the problem? " . . . 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 do not think greed is inherently evil, you lost me on the tree thing, but just to stay on topic; I'm going to disagree: I have never witnessed or heard of any behavior that struck me as purely altruistic. " . . . 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

Ditto on that. I've rolled my ankles so many times I can't even begin to remember. After a certain amount of abuse the ligaments get stretched to where they can never be expected to perform as if they were never injured. Probably goes without saying, but after a few sprains and strains, you are more susceptible to repeats. I have found that the high tops do help; possibly for the reason given above. I taped for the last few years I played buckets and volleyball, but do not tape for skydiving. My experiecne is that it is a much easier sport on the knees and ankles. Something about the way athletic shoes stick to a wood floor that puts tremendous stress on those joints. For skydiving, I agree with the comments about going with it versus trying to stick it or slide it in a pre-determined direction just because that was the original plan. " . . . 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

Capitalism taking its course led to the mess we are in. It also led to Madoff's scheme. And Enron. And Tyco. And Worldcom... If you are going to lay the few messes at the feet of capitalism, then you also have to give it credit for the tremendous growth and standard of living increase seen in the last couple hundred years. Every system has it's advantages and disadvantages. We're witnessing one of the occassional bubbles that are bound to happen when capital rules. Bottom line is that most of the mess can be blamed on human greed. Which, of course, is the prime driver of capitalism. I disagree. There can be capitalism without greed, and there can be greed without capitalism. To say greed is the driver of capitalism is like saying burnt toast is the driver of having breakfast. Not every capitalist is possessed by the kind of greed that causes the problems we see today; any more than every cook is so in a hurry that they burn the toast on the way to serving breakfast. The driving force of capitalism is growth. Sometimes, in a hurry for growth, capitalists create bubbless. Sometimes in a hurry to get done, cooks serve up some real shit. It doesn't mean serving up shit is the primary driver to being a cook. " . . . 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

Buddy of mine just took delivery last week of a top of the line, fully loaded Challenger. Outrageous car. I was used car shopping over Thanksgiving weekend and they had one on the floor (the NASCAR commemorative one with all the goodies). Incredible what they are doing to extract the last bits of power. Each cylinder has it's own coil. I guess distributors are a thing of the past, and tune-ups are pretty much eliminated. Being in the market for a gently used medium AWD, they wouldn't even let me sit in it. " . . . 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

Capitalism taking its course led to the mess we are in. It also led to Madoff's scheme. And Enron. And Tyco. And Worldcom... If you are going to lay the few messes at the feet of capitalism, then you also have to give it credit for the tremendous growth and standard of living increase seen in the last couple hundred years. Every system has it's advantages and disadvantages. We're witnessing one of the occassional bubbles that are bound to happen when capital rules. Bottom line is that most of the mess can be blamed on human greed. " . . . 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

Now they'll REALLY be in trouble. Multiply that by half of the American's that don't support the bailout, plus the fact that they were already in trouble... I had not thought of the irony before that some good sized chunk of Americans probably will refuse to purchase their product purely because of the bailout, whilst our government continues shovelling our tax dolars towards them. It's almost like the government is telling us we had better buy their product, because they are going to shovel our tax money at them until we do. I can see the fat cats at GM reclining in their mahagony lined boardrooms with a big smile on their faces saying "You can pay me now, or you can pay me later, but your government is going to make sure you pay me one way or another." We are witnessing some of the ugly characteristics of capitalism. " . . . 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 suppose it really is just a matter of opinion with a term like "waste." Mine is the war in Iraq. No real benefit that I can see, and a pretty frickin' humongous tab. The "War on Drugs" has got to be another biggie. It's already gotta be way more than was spent trying to suppress alcohol consumption during prohibition (even taking inflation into account). " . . . 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 don't think it is hate. Maybe a few are that way, but they are a minority. I think it is more that the number of people that do not regularly practice religion has hit a critical mass. Despite pockets of resistance, I sense a growing revulsion against Neolithic beliefs and oogie-boogie supernatural stuff in general. I believe the last I saw was that fewer than 50% of Americans actually practice religion, and about a quarter do not believe in any kind of diety whatsoever. We have reached a point where questioning religion in general, and especially organized religion (which has become not much more than just another political party) can be carried out loudly and in the open without getting all that much attention. It was only a century ago (a blink of an eye in historical terms) that such behavior could get you seriously shunned. If it feels to you like hate at times, imagine what an atheist who spoke openly felt like just 100 years ago. I think over the long-term religion's influence will continue to wain, with only a few pockets of fanatical (and ironically very violent) factions living with organized religion as the central theme in their lives. Spritiuality will continue, but religion as a central theme controlling behavior is fading fast (again, from a historical perspective). " . . . 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

BINGO! News is part of the entertainment industry. Arguing about which radio host is more correct, or what level of truth there is to what any one individual has to say is very similar to debating Letterman versus Leno. They are all politically driven and they all take great license with the truth in order to attract, entertain, and retain their audiences. It is interesting to note that the conservative crowd goes in for this stuff in a much bigger way than the liberal crowd. My observation is that conservative talk radio is such a success because their audience has a slightly stronger tendency to not question their leaders. " . . . 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

In the do as I say and not as I do category; borrowed gear, leg strap mountd pilot chute, no AAD, no RSL, and transitioning off of student gear. It was jump 69, or something really close to that. But I've lost my first log book and I like the sound of 69. Had gotten into a bad habit of reaching for and pulling the toggles before doing the canopy check. Yanked em down as I looked up, then noticed several line twists. Kicked out of them without any problem, then noticed that the kicking out of the twists had really messed up the steering lines. Relatively slow turn (it seemed faster back then) that I could not control consistently. Messed with the lines trying to undo the tangles. Made them worse and sped up the turn a bit. At about 1800 feet decided it was time to stop messing around and made mental note I had no AAD or RSL. Cut away, took about 2 or 3 seconds delay and deployed in perfect belly to Earth position. Noticed right away the reserve was smaller than the Fury (remember, borrowed gear) and flying just a bit faster than anything I had ever piloted. Wouldn't you know it, my best out was an alfalfa field. That shit is like landing in velcro. As soon as my foot made contact I did a massive faceplant. Came up with alfalfa sticking out of my mouth, helmet, rig, everywhere. Was probably quite a sight but since I landed a mile off, no witnesses. The farmer let me climb up on the roof of his chicken coop so I could find everything. Gathered up the gear just as my ride back showed up. I thought people might be pissed; but there was a generally celebratory mood because I had saved my ass from the shit I caused. And there was much rejoicing. " . . . 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 don't get it. " . . . 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 title of the thread reminds me of one of my favorite lines from the original Batman movie: "Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb." You know, sounds kind of like a proverb. " . . . 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 not that they went too far, it's that they picked the wrong topic. I think it's perfectly acceptable to mock whatever a person does that he had control over. It's not really funny to mock a person for things they have no control over whatsoever. Hmm, Well, I look forward to the conversation based on your perspective. Not that I agree with it. I mean, who picks what is the right topic and what is not? You? Me? My thoughts exactly. Someone says "That's not funny!" I say "Says who?" Is there one person that holds golden rules for humor? I say there is no morality rule in humor. There is nothing in this world that is beyond making fun of. The correct response would be "That's not funny to me." " . . . 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

Was that an intended irony (in your criticism of violence)? " . . . 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

Smoke enough of that North Slope Sao Paulo Widowmaker and all of your definitions tend to get very flexible. " . . . 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 just had to try it myself. So I Googled that. Did you know that Honda makes a car (if you want to call it that) named the That's. 656 cc engine. Looks more like a tractor cab on an oversized go-kart frame. And that's all I got to say about 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

I agree in general that our society has become way too litiguous; but I think it is a good thing that parents can not sign away a kids rights. IMO, it is each participants duty to know the risks, and each provider of services duty to not be negligent. Regardless of what's in a waiver, if you fuck up you should own up. I really don't understand why it is legal to include language in a contract which absolves people of negligence. As a basketball coach, I could personally care less if they sign the waiver or not, I am going to make every effort to not be negligent. If I am negligent, I deserve to be fucked over, regardless of the paperwork on file. The thing that makes a mess out of it is that the courts appear to be biased on the side of participants/offenders not being responsible for much. As an aside, our school system makes the parents and the kids sign all forms. I don't think they intend to hold the kids legally responsible, just trying to send a message about owning up. Still very bizarre. " . . . 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 are gonna do something, do it right. You need to go here: http://www.godlikeproductions.com/ for the very best in psuedo-science, conspiracy theories, the latest on alien anal probing, end-of-the-world wackiness, and all other such needs. These people are Simply The Best. You can not beat them for heaping helpings of absolute bullshit. That site you referenced, . . . child's play in the wacko world. Rank amatuers; like little kids telling a fib, you know they are lying, but sometimes it is so damn cute. " . . . 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

Close ... it was Fermi (U of Chicago) who proposed the back-of-the-envelope wager that the Trinity test might ignite the atmosphere, either of New Mexico or around the planet. Hans Bethe (Cornell) & Robert Serber (the-UIUC/later Columbia) showed that it was wrongly theoretically; the Trinity test showed that the wager was wrong experimentally. VR/Marg It's always good when experiment confirms theory - especially when the destruction of the atmosphere is involved. Those theoretical guys get too much of the fame. The experimental physicists, the guys who actually have to test whether or not we will Ignite The Earth (a new movement I plan on founding - one of our causes is the capitalization of articles) deserve more of the glory. " . . . 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

Because they can make policy changes (which do not require passage of a law) that significantly impact the dealings of government, including it's relationships with business; especially the ones that our supposed leaders work for/have worked for/own stock in. Why do you think the governement continues to develop and buy weapons that are obsolete from private companies? " . . . 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've just described Burning Man Apologies for my not reading the entire thread before posting a duplicate of someone else's comments. It won't happen again. Actually, that is a lie. I do it all the time and will continue to do so. I'm just not one to read an entire thread before responding. " . . . 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 did a little research on this a few years ago. From 1900 to 2000, it is either right around 60, or right around 100 well documented cases of some significant sized following of people (whatever that means) claiming the end was near, and giving at least a range of dates, if not a specific date. People like Reverend Jones and his followers, Nancy Lieder and her minions, and other various goofballs. The world is stubborn though, it just keeps on going on regardless of what the wackos say or do. It might be good if they all took the Jonestown approach and killed themselves just before they thought the end was upon us. That way, they would all eventually be gone and the human gene pool would have gotten a much needed purge. " . . . 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

Don't they call it Burning Man? " . . . 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

Guaran-fucking-teed that just before the date, or immediately following, there will be another adjustment. They just keep peddling the pablum and moving the date. Anybody here familiar with a deranged goof named Nancy Lieder? I think she originally had Planet X slamming into Earth back in 2002. She had quite a following in the woo-woo crowd for a while, but now even they have abandoned her. She claimed that Planet X was hiding behind the Sun or Moon or other such nonsense, that she was channeling information from aliens (Zeta somebodys), and a whole load of other crap. The last Big Date she had given was end of May 2005 (that I am aware of). After several non-events, and subsequent date changes, I think she finally quieted down. Or maybe her family finally was able to get her committed. That is the only reason I can figure for her not getting into the 2012 thing in a big way. " . . . 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