bertusgeert

same here same here have another beer --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

I sat down at this computer in the library and just looked at the background for a while. The picture of a dessedrt landscape was very impressive because of its clarity and brightness. With the ever improving graphics and video cards that are coming around, how do you measure the quality? It used to be pixels, but now pixels are so small that it probably doesn't matter any more. Will we then get to a point where graphics on a computer screen can't get better because it is so close to the real thing, or will is surpass what we can see around us? disclaimer: I don't want to sift through hours of information when someone here probably knows the answer or can tell me where to find it. and THAT is why I didn't google it. --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

I have learned to do that before I post, as I did in this case. Unfortunatly the allmightyallknowingsuperfreakingcool google didn't give me the right response, and the benefit of posting here and receiving a quick answer from slappie outweighed the cost of searching through multiple google repsonses. I simply asked a question that the more-than-me motivated slappie (probably) decided to google himself. But thanks...

I have often thought the same thing! in any case, I see that I will have to take this discussion to a more appropriate (serious) context to get the responses I want. Thats OK, we are a bunch of skydiver around a bonfire after all!

When I saw gollum for the first time, I thought, he must be a wicked climber, his power to weight ratio must be outstanding, and then later on he did climb around "like a monkay". --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

When did you have your first one? and where does the name come from? Snickers? WTF mate? --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

yeah...thats true man... --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Seems to me that people don't like the IQ indication. I see at simply as an indication of intellect, not what your intellect actually is. It think it is somewhat valid. The reason I asked is because it seems to me that people like to think they are smarter than they are. I was raised by a mother who always told me how smart I am and that I am "special". (sometimes I think she meant special in a different way though). This has developed into a inflated self-concept, judging myself higher than others when I am really not that great at all. But I recently realized something. I used to be pissed when others are smarter than me, I don't want to be insignificant. But...I realized I would rather have others smarter than me, to some extent, because then I would always have a vast amount of thing to read and learn, which is alwys fun. I learned to like learning more than actually just having the knowledge. Anyhow...just my thoughts for today... --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Take all the people you know, have known, have known about, then compare yourself intelectually to them. The dumbest person you know is a 0.00001 and the smartest is 100. Where do you rank yourself and why? (Based in intellegence, wisdom, insight, intellect.) Just wondering... --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Dude.... C'mon....why do you wanna be a lawyer... For that matter, why do you wanna study. You are wasting your life away man, college is a drain of money while you could be working making big bucks. Some people just dont see reality.....Geeeeesss... --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

From what I have heard the allo II's are some pretty scary stuff to fly. But what do I know. CHICKENHAWK. GET IT READ IT NOW..... --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Ok, so I smoke a cigarette a day, maybe two. At a party I will smoke maybe 5. (when I'm drinking). One of my friends told me a long time ago what his cricket coach told him. If you smoke one cigarette the night after the practice (aerobic, running around the field), then you might as well not smoke and not come to practice. It cancels out. Is this even vaguely true? What is the true affect on you areobic capacity? Thanks dude --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Why not? Ever since I was a kid (grew up with a pool) I loved being underwater. I guess that helped me a lot in having the capacity that I do now. (which is better than most, but not great) Just lying on the bottom of the pool watching the surface from the other end is AWESOME. just lie there. I can't wait to jump in and swim with fish in the reef and all that. One day... One question for anyone.... When I was a kid, water up the node never bothered me. It never hurt. Now, I roll my kayak and it hurts more and more. Is there a way to remedy this without wearing goofy/annoying noseplugs? What allowed me to make them not hurt when I was a kid? The same thing happens when I am upside down in the pool (practicing my head down for instance) --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Sure sure, Mr.googler. I did. I was just wondering if there were any sky/freedivers here. Just chatting about it. Thanks tho.

Ok, who can tell me how to get started. I have a good lung capacity built up when I was in South Africa waiting for my visa to the US. I stayed at my aunts house with nothing else to do but jump in the pool. It has deteriorated since then, but I want to build it up again. (Pooldiving, no oceans near kentucky). So is there anyone on here with any experience that can offer me any advice, training etc? PS: If you dont know what it is (and you are too silly to figure it out from my post), then get "the Big blue" - its a good movie. 1988 --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

ok, i have tried from multiple locations to get this link, but neither the full link nor rockclimbing.com works. Can sum1 post the pic? thankyaverymuch --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

So I see the thread on scary jumps, and it reminded me to ask the question. A friend and I had a discussion about this, and he, as a former jump-pilot, was upset that I didn't recognize the dangers at hand. Me and my buddies would get in the 206, take off and get to about 2000 or 3000 feet before we would intermittently hear the stall warning go off. THis raised some concern with one of my buddies, but back on the ground he couldn't back up why he was scared, simply that the warning is there for a reason. Whenever this one pilot flew, the same thing would happen all the way to altitude, full load or light. The pilot did have extensive training (Embry Riddle) and a good few hours. My former jump pilot buddy said that riding the stall warning means you are about to stall, (sure) and if you are climbing, with a bunch of weight in the back, it would be extremely hard if not impossible to break the stall, and it could result in a spin, and eventually death. Now that you have all the facts, what would you have done in this situation? Is it really THAT dangerous? --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

I think that when kids lose a Mom or a Dad, that's a sad thing for both sides. How happy is Mom going to be in heaven, when she can't be with her kids any more? And how happy are the kids going to be, growing up without a Mom? That view of things which you expressed does not make sense to me - the true believers mystify me. Once again, clear and simple. We experience pain on this earth because we chose against God. If Adam didn't sin, we'd all be happy without pain and death. YOU chose to suffer, don't blame God. But God is infinitely wise, and the child that grows up without a mum suffers immensely, but also has a great skill set that many children take years to develop. There are also advantages to the situation, and if this person chooses for God to use them, he will use them where he couldn't use the other people. Once again we have no idea of the infinite complexity of Gods plans, which are all for our eventual benefit if you want it to be. But it seems like you don't. I apreciate your peaceful argument John, I quite enjoy it, it has been a while since I had to answer to any of these questions and it is making me think through it again. Also, if you could explain to me what YOU believe, I would be grateful. You don't need to write a book, simply a definition of your beliefs I guess. I'm sure I have heard a similar theory. Cheers. Bertus G --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Although it is late, I have an overworked brain and it is past my bedtime, I will quickly try to reply. Please do not take the accusations contained within personally, see it rather as a frustration against the incomprehension of the general public of this "christian" country. This is probably THE most argued argument against Christianity. People struggle to see why the harshness of this world is allowed by a God they are told is loving. But God is a God of Wrath just as much as a God of Love. The fact of the matter is this. We were given a choice by God, through our representatives, Adam and Eve. They chose not to obey God, and suffered the consequences. We may argue that we never had a chance to represent ourselves, but think about that for a second. A man created by God turns against him, what will a man do that is not created by God. You would have done much worse, and so would I. If you want to argue, try not to sin for a day first, then come back to me. You comitted an act against a loving God that gave you one rule to live by, and now we suffer the consequences that manifests itself everyday in pain, hurt, and sadly, death. It is simple, so don't go around accusing God when you are the one in the wrong. I agree. Deism (the belief that God created this and left it) does not make much sense. As stated earlier, God is also a God of Wrath. We have absolutely no concept of his plans, but through what we can learn through the Bible, if we choose him he will take care of you. Even if that is to kill you and bring you to heaven. And if this is so hard to comprehend, why did you not yell in outrage when you heard about the story of the ark? Why now? People die, whether that be today alone or tomorrow in a natural disaster, people die. YOU CHOSE to die. A massive misconception taught by an unbelieving sacriligious culture. And I thought my mum was stupid when she told us to turn off the Simpsons when they made these sacriligous comments. God created heaven so that we can enjoy his presence without the hindrance of Satan. We can enjoy eternity with God, and worship him forever. God created us to worship him, not like slaves, but as fulfilled joyous souls. As we often realize, the joy lies in the satisfaction of doing the work rather than the benefits gained. It is hard to explain why, and in the same way we are satisfied spiritually to an incomprehensible level when we will finally praise God as it was meant to be. As stated earlier, YOU chose to die, we have no idea what God's plan is, but it is for the better if you are n the right side. God offers a way out of the suffering, mayhem dispair and grief. You chose all these things against God's will, and he gave you ANOTHER chance. Let me give you an idea. We, as in us, the awesome fantabulastic human race, took thousands of years to explore our own planet. We could only draw a global map somewhere in the last 150 or so years. (took us what, 4000 years to get to this point?) Now we think we have discovered all, and that if we could conquer the oceans and the mountains we win. We have no idea. We think everest is big. We think the empty voids of the Sahara and the Pacific is big. oh man.... the earth is one of 9 planets in our Solar system. (Jupiter is what, something like 76times the size of earth. We think that is big...oh man....)) Our solar system is one of 100 BILLION in our galaxy, the Milkyway. There are another 100BILLION stars beside our sun, only in out galaxy. Our galaxy is one of the two largest out of THIRTY galxies in the local group. Our local group lies on the outskirts of the local supercluster. Our supercluster FADES into the background of the universe. the point is, we have NO IDEA about scale. What we think is big is incredibly small. John, tell me now that we are not insignificant. BUT! God chose to love us and give us the opportunity to be with Him. THerefore he does not consider us insignificant, even thought we are, without a doubt, insignificant. In any case, I am now about ready to slam my head into the table as I fall asleep. Then I'll wake up tomorrow and realize how much I wrote and in how mnay fewer words I could have said it...oh well.... and as always, hope you have a good insignificant day.

N/A

Do you think God does things for one reason? There is most likely a myriad of reasons that God does ANYTHING. This goes from anything like someone realizing God's awesome power (several personal accounts which I have read) to political events leading up to the end of the world. When something as serious as that happens and many people lose friends and relatives, you ask a lot of questions, and this is a way in which God could ultimately lead people to him. He could also have decided that now is the time for some of his people to come to him, and that others had enough time to choose him and didn't. It's God's world and we live here by grace. We really have no concept or clue what God's idea or plan or reasons are. But we all know that. So... your question is then more directed at the deaths overall, wondering why God could possibly kill a 150, 000 people just like that. He has many times before though, we simply didn't see the tragedy constantly on televisions and in the newspapers. Many people die all over, and we dont ask why. No one cares about the almost constant civil wars in Africa where thousands die, children and women as well. The point is it happens every day, people die, we don't know why. It is God's decision, and we should take it as that. We are only insignificant humans. Anyways....

Getcho shoes! BOULDERING TIME! That looks like a sweetass problem up the crack on the right...

You think god killed 150,000 people just so America could have a "strategic" opportunity? Whoa, that's one mean dude. I agree that you could take it that way. Personally I don't. I dont think he meant that God did it JUST so that America will prevail. It is simply a side effect. And why not? Why can there not be any good to come out of a bad situation? It is certainly 100% accurate to say that America is better off in some way because of this tragedy. That does not ignore all the lives lost, injuries obtained, money spent and buildings wrecked, that happened, but America still has gained from the event. What a great opportunity for America to go show the world what a great people you all are!! To walk amongst the muslims that hates your guts and give them water and food! certainly this will have an effect on the average affected individual's opinion of the greatest country in the world! (Politically this country is sometimes extremely arrogant. We all know that, and that, combined with some other reasons is why the world hates the U.S. But after I moved here and met you all, I learned the truth. The average American is VERY caring and loving. - When I did my shopping at Krogers the other day, and they annnounced that you can simply add your donation to your shopping, it showed me what America truly is. Even though the average American cannot tell you where Sri Lanka or Banda Aceh is, they care about those individuals. It took me one step closer to wanting to belong here. And I'm sorry, I probaly should just have just done it in the first place, but you can now take this "shit" to speakers corner!

I realize this might get moved to speakers corner, but my intentions are not to create a political thread. I simply want to communicate how significant the earthquake can be in world history. If you all decide to argue politically/religiously, go ahead, the thread is now in your hands. My mum found this, and I thought it was very insightful. THE MIRACLE OF BANDA ACEH Posted on 01/01/2005 7:23:40 AM PST by Prospero "Words fail," they say, and they do, they do indeed. Having just finished a first-stage restoration of my father's 45 year-old home movies, which included scenes of Djakarta, where our family briefly lived, I've always felt a sub vocal kinship with Indonesia and her millions. They say I spoke Bhasha, the Malay tongue spoken there, and would translate for my parents instructions for the house servants, who were probably also spies for the Junta, the Communists, or both. Perhaps I dream in that language, occasionally, but this week I retreated into a walking nightmare, early on after the first indications that the Banda Aceh Christmas Earthquake of 2004 had swamped the parameter of the east Indian Ocean, strongly hinting at what the world would find when the northern end of Sumatra was finally heard from. In America, for days, we could watch a handful of the same "amateur videos," from Phuket and Sri Lanka, and the horror there was bad enough. The only such video I've seen of the torrent that scraped over Banda Aceh, however, appears to have taken almost a week to make it to the Internet. I have yet to see it's like on television. It makes what happed to the beaches in Thailand and Sri Lanka look like a creek over running its banks after a brief summer storm. Let's just say, what happened to the sex tourism spots and coasts and more distant islands elsewhere is nothing in comparison to the fate of Banda Aceh and the western shore of Sumatra. Since so many can't find the words, here are a thousand of them: PICTURE WAS INSERTED HERE - SEE BELOW Now, if you had told me a week ago that an American Marine expeditionary force would be in Banda Aceh on New Years Day, my first reaction would have been that the President had decided upon a bold and unexpected strike in the War on Terror, jumping ahead on the timeline of that effort's multi-generational strategy. I might have thought it was a bold and necessary move, and I would have believed you if you had said they had located and captured Osama Bin Laden there. As it was, in our shock, probing in from the parameter toward the epicenter of the Banda Aceh Earthquake, only a few have considered whether the hand of the Almighty reached out and sliced off a decade from what still promises to be a protracted conflict with Islamo-Fascism. Consider that Indonesia is largely a Muslim country with a population similar to that of the United States, and developments there have been "the elephant in the living room" few wanted to consider as we cleaned out Islamo-Fascist terror nests in Iraq, Afghanistan and the southern Philippines. Banda Aceh was, until a week ago, home of a Taliban-like, semi-autonomous government that had succeeded in establishing the Sharhia Islamic law, though the central government on Java nominally "allowed" this legal code on a "separate but equal" basis, for Muslims only. That was in 2002, and it was hoped the restive Islamo-Fascist insurgents who have fought for independence from Djakarta for more than twenty years would be satisfied. The locals had even just recently succeeded in putting into place, shall we say, "heavy legal penalties" for anyone who tried to prosthletize a citizen of Greater Islam... meaning Christians, of course. Not a week passes without stories emerging from Indonesia of an on-going persecution of its Christian minorities, and the central governments failure to put a stop to it, especially the further one travels further from Djakarta to the myriad islands of the Indonesian archipelago. Remember the bombing of the nightclub in Denpasar on Bali, the only refuge for Hindus in Indonesia? The Australians haven't. When he was forced to leave Sudan, Osama Bin Laden considered moving to Yemen, Afghanistan and Banda Aceh. He decided upon Afghanistan, of course, and may still be holed up there, or on the border with Pakistan, or under the nervous refuge of the Mullah regime of Iran. In fact, the Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh is right up there with Karbala, Qom, Medina and Mecca in everyone's top ten list of Muslim "holy places." Today, it's an open air morgue, and if they find Osama among the dead there, I wouldn't be a bit surprised. Sooner or later, we were going to have to deal with Indonesia, in general, and Aceh in particular. And things weren't looking too good. Things are looking up. Consider that the Christian Reformation, perhaps even the American Republic, has roots in the Black Death of 1349. People faced with such tragedy question their Worldview, abandon or are, at least, forced to examine their beliefs and habits, and the rebirth of Philosophy and the scientific method in the West began again in the centuries immediately after the plagues of the 14th Christian Century. They certainly questioned the magic of their priests and closely examined the "mysteries," resulting in a rebirth of Bible study that continues to this day. Unquestioned obedience to Rome ended with the Black Plague, and the True Belief of many a young muslim, of their Imams, may come to an end in the aftermath of the Christmas Earthquake. Now, some might think I'm suggesting the God of Abraham did an angry thing of "biblical proportions" when He decided to shake Sumatra, and that he's on our side, loves George W. Bush, answered the humble prayers of the persecuted, etc., etc. But, this natural tragedy doesn't strike me that way at all. You won't find me cheering the deaths of a million people on Sumatra, and particularly in Aceh. "Rather fear," I would think, betting on the "beginning of wisdom" might be the best response to this Catastrophe. But... after you've digested the indigestible scope of the Christmas Earthquake, consider what you might have thought if Kabul under the Taliban had been wiped off the face of the Earth a week or so before our first boots hit the ground there after the destruction of the World Trade Center. What has happened in Banda Aceh is no less miraculous and undreamed of a possibility, and, at this hour, American Marines are handing out water and food to the pitiable handful who escaped the 20 foot high, hundred mile wide river that swept over their island, again, making what happened in Thailand and Sri Lanka look like a simple storm surge in comparison. The Epicenter of fierce hatred, a sanctuary of Islamo-fascism is no more, as though Falluja had been hit with several hydrogen bombs. Now you see them, now you don't. Some of those locals, who have waited for almost a week for food and water, helping off-load our nation's charity are wearing T-Shirts with the image of Osama on them. We certainly didn't cause this tragedy, but we'd be fools not to take advantage of the strategic miracle God has handed to us. --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Hey! God not god! Does quade just know everything? c'mon. This is ridiculous. Thanks, it makes a little bit more sense now. But only a little... --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!