NWFlyer

CNN just announced that she knows how to eat a mooseburger, shoot a gun, and drive a snowmobile. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

But ultimately, it's still a choice. There's really only a couple things that truly force us from the sport, death and catastrophic injury being two that spring to mind. The rest are just choices. And despite being one of those yuppie scum skydivers who came into the sport after I was already well-established in my career (so I've "had it easy") I've managed to forge some friendships with some of the "crusty" old-timers, including some who have posted in this thread, by also respecting the choices THEY made and the wide variety of paths people take to get into this sport (and stay in this sport). Be aware that in "defending your position" you are also coming off as very dismissive of people who are willing or have been willing to make different lifestyle choices. Careful about that because those are often some of the folks from whom you'll learn the most and get the best stories. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I brush all my veggies with olive oil. Never had any issues. If you have cheaper olive oil this is a good use for it - don't waste the primo extra extra virgin stuff here! "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Brush 'em with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and grill them. Squeeze with lemon after they're done. Yum! "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

The basic point that I think folks are trying to get you to concede is that you aren't being FORCED to do anything. You're making a choice to prioritize different things right now. Which is a very different, and perfectly acceptable thing to do, but given that you've been offered opportunities and help so that you won't be "forced" to put it on hold, perhaps you can see where people are less sympathetic than you might have hoped. There's a big difference between saying you're "forced to put dream on hold" and now saying "I don't WANT to focus on skydiving right now." People are attacking, and you're getting defensive, but perhaps you can step back and see where some of these interpretations of your words are coming from? "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

A sleep test. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

You wanted to put on women's clothing and hang around in bars? "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Happy birthday! We really must meet someday! "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

No you don't, you just need a recipe. Here's my favorite: 3 cups flour 1 tablespoon sugar 1 1/2 tablespoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 12 ounces beer 1 tablespoon dried dill weed OR 3 tablespoons fresh dill Directions: Heat oven to 375. Butter a loaf pan. Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into a mixing bowl. Stir in the beer and dill. Scrape the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake 55-60 minutes or until brown on top and knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to sit in the pan 10 minutes, then cool on rack. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I just read this today and am really glad my two can't read. http://cats.about.com/library/guest/ucfeature17a.htm "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Always seems to pile on, doesn't it? I hope you can find comfort in the loved ones that will be around you for your grandmother's viewing and services. Glad to hear the little guy's going to be okay, too. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Weren't you at Skyfest? "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

This is the story of 'Twardo's early days in the sport, right? I've been wanting to see that one. Maybe we can see it when I'm down there for work! "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

And here I thought we were going to talk about a great cellist. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Is this about LisaH's avatar(s)? "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Look which poll option is winning. That's why! "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I could maybe understand the DZ wanting the final pack job (before it's put back up on the rack for someone else to rent) to be done by a DZ packer so there's some level of "quality control" on the pack job. But to require you to use DZ packers on rental gear during the time that you're renting it seems like a pretty stupid policy. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I had a similar one when I was still a student, except I was more worried about steering. I pitched, and stayed belly to earth, even though my canopy did come out fine ... the lines just got really, really long (because I stayed belly-to-earth, you see ... it all makes sense in dreamland). Eventually I thought "oh, I should probably sit up in the harness" so I did and checked the canopy. "Square. Yep. Stable. Yep. Steerable? Hmmm.... maybe not." "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I loved Matthew McConnaughey as the agent ... I was laughing my ass off every time "The Pecker" was on screen.

Not married, but been in a 3+ year relationship. Where's the option for "whatever, it's just a bodily function?" "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Lack of drama. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

For the zucchini or squash: Slice in half lengthwise. Brush both sides with olive oil, toss on some salt and pepper. Toss on grill. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I'm surprised to see that the cameraman turned the camera around. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I missed ya too... it meant I had to stay awake all the way back from Spokane. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

:3:0 3-way with JohnMitchell and vskydiver, 2-way with brucet7, and a 3-way with propslop and brucet7 ... I actually had to arch for a change on that last one to catch up with Nick (who stubbornly refused to wear a jumpsuit in the 95+ heat). "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke