aftermid

Amen

"Weaseling out of things is important. To do it separates us from the animals. Except for the weasels" -HS

She can probably can pack better than me. I would like to think that if I'm renting a rig it's been packed by someone who is qualified to pack a rig for someone else not some student or newbie(like me) that is exhausted after a long day of jumping and just wants to get the rig returned without being charged 10 euro's. From what I remember from my a liscense course other than the person who is jumping the rig the only people that can pack a main parachute for another jumper is a rigger or a packer being directly supervised by a rigger. I think that is the rule according to the USPA but I could be wrong. I'm sure she is a completly competent packer as am I; however, if I packed a rig that was going to be jumped by another jumper, I think the person should at least know that the person packing the rig is an UNEXPERIENCED packer.

Note to self: NEVER RENT GEAR IN GERMANY WITHOUT DOING MY OWN INITIAL REPACK.

Practice. Everyone sucks at packing when they're learning. Just remember: "Either you're rich or you pack your own" Once you learn it is really empowering to know. I'm my short time I've run into a far amount of people that never pack their own. I'd hate to have to rely on someone else to make the next load.

I tend to take a much more pacifistic view on most issues and don't claim to be any kind of historical expert, but I'll chime in with my two cents. Unfortunately, nothing less then pure annihilation was necessary to defeat Japan in WWII. Japan was not ruled by a leader but instead a divinely recognized God under the Shinto faith. God's have a way of rationalizing a lot of excuses and justifications. Part of the final surrender was Hirohito renouncing his divinity. Does it make killing thousands of civilians justified? Unfortunately, Japan was reluctant to surrender after Hiroshima. Gods have a strange way of looking at things.

State issued child gags. If every child has to wear one then no child would develop a complex. Even move, they would prepare the child for an adulthood of sitting ideally by and not speaking up. But you're right. Some things you can't change: People driving like a$$holes! If I'm an unaware, irresponsible, bad driver I'll find something to be distracted by like bumperstickers or billboards and when I drive recklessly because of such distractions I should be ticketed, fined, have my insurence rates jacked up, or my licsensed suspended.

What's an AAD card?

What steps should I take either way to prevent security from fiddle f#cking with my rig. Thanks

__________________________________________________ Driving is definitely more of a privilege than a right, in so much that it is initially earned, maintained, and subject to be taken away if abused. However, I have to question this notion that it is awarded to us by the 'POWERS THAT BE';. In much of the United States, driving is essential both to the individual and the economic structure as a whole. The idea that it can be arbitrarily taken away by the 'POWERS THAT BE'; is (or at least should be) preposterous. The problem is that typically when they 'DECREE'; something the result is more government intrusion, and people twiddle their thumbs and say 'they know whats best' or if it will make us safer I'm all for it.' Politicians use the notion of fear to whittle away at our freedoms. Driving is inherently dangerous! Risks can be moderated and legislated but not completely eliminated, and the more risks are legislated the more masses have to pay for the mistakes of the few. You're exactly correct; I have no right to drive. However, I should have the right to operate my licensed vehicle in a safe way without the intrusion of the government. Moreover, I also shouldn't have additional taxes levied while I'm operating my vehicle in a safe manner. We pay enough taxes and fees as it is, we ought not be punished for what could happen. It is just one more way for the government to stop us, interrogate us, and take our money. PS I don't smoke

"I was called to the scene of a car accident...." He should be charged with reckless driving and any other charge that fits the circumstances. He should have his liscensed revoked along with any other statatory punishments for his crimes. He should/will also be sued civilly for any damage he caused to other peoples property. __________________________________________________ "I think it’s ridiculous for someone to think they can just flick their nasty trash out the window…" They shouldn't be able to. Every state has laws against littering, many with quite substantial fines. In very arid areas they have escalated fines for throwing out cigarette butts because of the potential for fire hazards. __________________________________________________ The point is punish someone for acting in a way that causes a reckless atmospher. Enforce the laws on the books. Don't create new laws under the umbrella of public safty that are nothing more than sources of revenue.

But changing the station or CD exponentially increases the chance for an accident. We must draw the line somewher or it'll be anarchy.

I'm a nonsmoker. Statistically, crime would go down if a nationwide 10pm curfew was rigorously enforced; thus saving lives. Would you be in favor of such a curfew? Why can't we pass judgment on people when their actions actually cause consequences don't just have the potential for consequence? Talking to or being distracted by passenger adds an additional cause for alarm. Should there be some kind plexiglass partition installed to isolate the driver from being distracted? Riding in a car is an inherently dangerous activity. You assume somewhat of a risk by getting behind the wheel or in the passenger seat. If some a$$hole runs into you because he or she is smoking or talking on their cell phone then you (or your estate) have infinite legal recourse. If a police officer observes an individual driving recklessly because of such activities there are any number of laws already on the books that can be enforced. It's all additional tax revenue wrapped up in the package of public safety.

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It's all additional tax revenue wrapped up in the package of public saftey. In Maryland last month State Troopers were using night vision googles to catch people not wearing their seatbelts. Fortunatly, there was enough of an immediate reaction that the governor immediately suspended the practice. But once a law is passed it can't just be suspended.

The New Jersey legislator is debating a bill that would make it illegal for automobile drivers to smoke. The CRIME would be punishable by a $250 fine. I'm an non-smoker but floored none the less. What do you think? Why does our government continue to criminalize our daily activates?

Fair enough that was a pretty lame comment. Slow day. The way Bush is going 60 years from now the same ignorant comment will be made about the US. My appoligies.

Why would anyone want to burn a German flag after such a storied past?

On the news this morning some school commitee proposed elimitating the term 'failed' and replacing it with 'deferred success'. -The cashier had deferred success giving me the proper change. -I had deferred success opening my parachute before hitting the ground. -Sir we've had deferred success removing that rash from your genitals -Your honor I had deferred success paying my taxes. -Ociffer I had deferred success obeying the speed limit. -Members of Congress we've had deferred success finding weapons of mass destruction. "YOU'RE ALL WINNERS!" -Seinfeld Episode

Add Belgium too. AAD's became mandatory in Belgium in the very same year that a Belgian company released a new AAD product Even for CRW?

I totally agree repeating level IV wasn't a failure in the least. I found that I stayed remarkablly calm, focused, and altitude aware while spinning more or less out of control at 120mph. I remembered to arch my ass off and the spinning stopped. The next jumped I did a toe tap to make sure my legs/knees were square and everything went well. I was more trying to reflect that 50 jumps and thousands of $$$$ later, the $180 it cost to work that out has long been forgotten. I'm by no means a seasoned skydiver but it's important to remind new students and potential students that repeating levels of AFF is just a part of AFF. Skydiving is an expensive sport, especially in the beginning, as a student I felt like a cash machine a lot of the time. Now as a liscensed skydiver with my own gear it is an extreamly affordable, exciting, and rewarding pasttime.

skydive without tunnel time to learning to drive in a stick shift car ----------------------------------------------------------- I learned to drive on a stick shift, because my first car was going to be a stick shift; therefore, I better already know how to drive a stick. Nothing worse than when you're way too drunk to drive and the only half sober person can't drive a stick. I'm a 1000 miles from a tunnel and can't wait to get in one eventually.

Just curious. I had to repeat Level IV. I dropped my knee and and spun like a top. I was pretty devistated at the time($$) even though prior to starting AFF I budgeted and I was told, "Everyone repeats at least one level."

I was told to budget repeating at least on level into the total cost. When one asks me about the cost of AFF I tell them the same.

Ociffer, I thought about becoming a cop but I decided to go to college instead.