Iflyme

Agreed! That is the best thing about living in the West... we can have our own opinions, and defend them as we see fit! Let's go for beers now...

Salt Lake City, ya sure put on a great Winter Olympics. And what better way to finish off the last day of competition with the greatest team in hockey winning the Gold Medal! Told ya so!

None in 130 jumps, but I was about to go for the handles once on a long snivel ...

Who the hell do you think the military works for??? THE CITIZENS! How government spends the citizens tax dollars IS the business of every single taxpayer. A military operating without an informed public is as dangerous as the enemy itself. And the country of Afghanistan didn't atack the WTC -- a group of terrorists hiding there, and in many other countries around the world, did. Remember -- the foreign policy of the American government -- screwing around in Afghanistan 20 years ago, not to help the people who live there, but rather to manipulate the region solely for the benefit of American interests, had lot's to do with how things have ended up. Sounds like the brainwashing experiment is working... I find it amusing your are making reference to a movie -- entertainment for the masses, full of actors -- when we are talking about people losing their lives... My countrymen lost their lives in the WTC, too What - you don't have any advertising in YOUR magazine? Isn't that what pays YOUR mortgage? Anyway, I did not intend to show any disrespect for the men and women in uniform who are serving their countries... nor for those who have died in the process.

Ya, right ... the richest, most heavily armed country in the world at war with one of the poorest, most poverty ridden countries on the planet??? Many Afghan soldiers still do battle on horseback! Anyway, soldiers sign up knowing full well that they are expected to kill or be killed. Journalists sign up to tell their viewers/readers the truth. So what is this method you profess to have ?

Use to have an Orb Weaver (big spider with beautiful web) in one corner of the house, and my brothers and I used to catch flys and toss them in the web, then watch out "pet" spider suck the life outta them,,, just have a big dog and two "not too friendly" cats now.

Man, I fell like I was right there with the whole time! Thanks for sharing in such detail! Kinda brings back the rush of my first few skydives! I better go and read part one now...

Agreed! Few people are aware how many journalists around the world die performing their duties... I feel for his friends and family. Anytime you go into a volatile country, and try to make your way to the trouble makers, you are taking huge risks. Daniel put it on the line to get the story, but paid the ultimate price. Go ahead and cry, Jessica... you will feel a bit better after. I've wept at work. In our business, we distance ourselves from the emotion of a story, but sometimes those protective walls we build are broken down, and our humanity surfaces. I edited an award winning series several years ago about the murder of a six year old girl - when my daughters were very young - Iand as I was receiving the award at the banquet, I reminded everyone in the audience that while the newsteam was very proud of our work, it was a very difficult project, and the elation I felt in winning the award paled in comparison to the grief I felt for little Dawn Shaw and her family... sometimes we have to step back and just admit to ourselves that the world is really a dangerous place, filled with violence, hatred, and ignorance..... I think I'm rambling now, so I'll just stop here...

Not if ya have to pay all them J/Ts to get yer drive back!

Well -- NO! I haven't. But I don't believe in omnipotent beings, either... and like someone else said - it's my opinion ... and I'm entitled! The cool thing about living in where I do is that we (well, most of us, anyway) CAN have our own opinions. While I may not agree with your opinion, I will defend your right to it!

Unfortunately, it doesn't take too many pricks to get everyone else all pissed off ... remember wazzzzupp?

No, I don't believe in that .If you take a life, you are no different than the person you execute -- a murderer. Fortunately, my country was wise enough to do away with the death penalty decades ago. Flame on, I don't give a shit.

I was just watching "Good Stuff on DVD" with my kids, and mentioned to them that Patrick and Rob died skydiving, and my 9 year old daughter said "at least they died doing something they loved" ... Pammi, I think your idea is a good one ... too many times people die suddenly, and I'm sure there are many things they would have like to have said if they could have known their time was up.

I don't think that nice girls swallow... Anyway, hope yer all better when the sky is blue!

Kell, I'm so very sorry for your loss -- and for the loss of what sounds like a great person. I didn't know Chris - nor do I know the circumstances of his passing, but after reading your post, I feel the pain of losing a skydiving brother. It's funny how I have only met 3 of the other people who post here, but I kinda feel like many of you are good friends... what we share is impossible to describe in words -- it is too wonderful, too incredible. But I also share the pain you feel when tragedy strikes. Live life - LIVE it while you can, because you never really know when it will end... Frank

Tee, that is just sooo cool!!! You have my warmest congratulations! Being a parent is a wonderful thing... I have two daughters, 9, and 7, who love hanging out at the DZ. (I called them everyday from Kamloops!) I agree with your sweetiesapproach of being more careful. Missing some skydives may seem tough now, but after your child is born, and the birthdays start flying past, you will be glad you did the right thing -- and you'll be back in the skies like you hadn't missed a beat! Hugs 'n kisses! Frank

Skydivers represent a cross section of all types of people -- and unfortunately, some people are dickheads! Thus, some skydivers are dickheads, too... just be true to yourself!

Giddyap!!!

Jess, I was shocked and deeply saddened when I learned today that a fellow journalist had died at the hands of his captors. I can only hope that justice prevails, and the people who did this to him spend the rest of their lives confined to a prison cell.

Ya -- but not by your good neighbours!!! Anyway - the gold medal game is gonna be a GREAT game ... and as far as the Olpymics being full of NHL players -- if we want the the gold medal to be contested by the best players in the world, then we have to permit the NHLers to be involved, because they ARE the best in the world! As for Belarus -- they are gonna be history by mid-day tomorrow!

Despite the most biased officiating I have ever seen (how can you have an American referee officiating a gold medal game when the American team is playing is well beyond me), the Canadian Women have demonstrated Canada's hockey supremecy!!! And the fact that the American women put my nations flag on the fu@king floor of their dressing room says alot about sportsmanship, doesn't it?!? Now just wait 'till the gold medal mens game on Sunday! And if you don't want to talk about hockey, then why the hell are you reading this??? GO CANADA GO!!!!!

... no - and fortunately my family and I aren't starving either ... I must be honest and say that I don't have the solutions, but I won't shop at big box stores (Costco, Home Depot, etc), and I definitely won't wear any article of clothing with a corporate logo, like Nike...

The pilot musta cut a stinky one!

***We are much more environmentally aware and are coming up with new ideas all the time on how to allow for progress and protect the environment at the same time. ***Bullshit. Your President is NOT interested in portecting the environment -- he, and his wealthy oil friends are exploiting the environment to increase the standard of living in your country -- if they were truly concerned about the environment, they would increase spending on research into alternative energies, and stop expanding the search for oil. And very few First Nation peoples were wasteful before the Europeans arrived in North America. When an animal was killed, almost every bit of it was used -- for food, tools, clothing, etc. No "trophy hunters" who killed for pleasure. Anyway - one world, one people. I don't believe in billionaires when there are people on the planet who die from starvation.

Ya, I remember waiting excitedly as the big day approached... I logged on shortly after the new site hit the cyberspace!