Zennie

72 Question: ENTP "Inventors are apt to express interest in finding out about everything they come into contact with" "They tend to have a perverse sense of humor as well, and enjoy playing devil's advocate. They sometimes confuse, even inadvertently hurt, those who don't understand or accept the concept of argument as a sport." "Both at work and at home, ENTPs are very fond of "toys"--physical or intellectual, the more sophisticated the better. They tend to tire of these quickly, however, and move on to new ones." Boy that's me and how. 32 Question: ISTJ 4 Question: ISTP What's interesting is that historically I've vacillated between INTP and ENTP. Just depends on how social I'm feeling. The descriptions for ENTP fit my personality better than the others. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

If y'all are there Friday too, 7. If you're there just Sat & Sun, 5. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

I was wondering what they were calling themselves. Cool name! - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

As the old Zen saying goes... No matter where you go, there you are. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

I don't even know who the teams are (other than Stevie, Jed & Trent). Have they posted the teams on OmniSkore yet? - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

I can and do. It's interesting though, I seem to have the same problem only in reverse. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Correction... organized religion is one of the greatest causes of suffering in the world (but also sometimes a tool for good). My take on God & saviors is naturally a bit different than most. Jesus was a historical figure. There is no reasonable dispute over that. I also believe the things he taught were "ultimate truths", for lack of a better description. Love others as yourself. Be honest. Be kind. Be forgiving. Be firm in your convictions. Don't cling to things with no spiritual substance (such as material things or social/religious status). Even though I'm agnostic, theology is still a big interest of mine. I've read the Bible (Old & New Testaments), the Dhammapada, Tao Te Ching, gobs of Zen books (go figure). I need to read the Koran. A really good "comparative religion" overview is "The World's Religions" by Huston Smith. What I've come to learn is that each religion really provides different takes on the same ultimate truths. I call it "facets of the diamond". Each facet offers a unique view into into the diamond. But each facet alone isn't the diamond. I think you get a clearer picture by studying as many facets as you can. So in my mind, Jesus was enlightened. The Buddha (Shakyamuni) was enlightened. Lao Tsu was enlightened. Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King & Mother Teresa were enlightened. And I guess my view on God is that God is everything. God is the universe and everything in it. God is you, me and the computer I'm writing this post on. So for me, trying to be in touch with everything, trying to learn from and follow (as best I can) the examples of the enlightened people that came before me, is being in touch with God. OK, so I'm weird. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Trying to be in tune with myself and the world around me is sort of my prayer. I used to meditate for 1/2 hour daily. I've since fallen off that. I really need to get back into it. It's amazing how much better I am able to deal with things when I meditate regularly. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

I love my Vengeance. I've flown a Stiletto of identical size and it seemed sluggish in comparison to my Vengeance. Riser input were way heavier and toggle inputs weren't as responsive. YMMV. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

And if it's a demo they may have the brakes set a little on the short side to avoid "pilot error" issues. I've seen that with a few demos. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Maybe I'm too trusting. But I've had my full name, city & home DZ since day 1. It's nice to be able to know people by their first name. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Hey man, rules were made to be broken. MMMMmmmmmmm.... sacred cow barbeque..... Lookin forward to doing some freeflying with ya! I have a camera helmet on order but I dunno if Ill be able to get a camera in it in time. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Hey now! I'm pushing 40 and there ain't no grippers on my suit. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

37 I'll leave it to others as to whether I look my age or not. I know I don't act it. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

OK my mind is officially mush. Sorry. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

It sort of depends on what you plan on using the camera for. In my case, I'm doing it solely for freefly video. You might want to check out the Diamond .3 as well. I've seen it in action and it is truly amazing. I figure the .3 will be good for close-in freefly stuff. I'm vacillating on the .42 and .45 for outside freefly video. I like the fact that the .45 makes things appear a bit closer, but I'm afraid it may be too narrow. I could be wrong. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Man, I'm really having a bad communications day. I know your Yuppie Skydiving #s are just satire. I don't have a problem with what you're doing. IIRC you started that after someone was calling people who showed up at the DZ in expensive cars and color-coordinated equipment "Yuppie Skydivers". According to their definition I would be. I was just following Jennifer's thread of discussion regarding what a Yuppie truly is and noting that I don't really care to associate myself with those kinds of people. That's all. What you're doing is just good fun and there's no harm in it. If anything it sort of tweaks the people who are equaly shallow and immediately label those who drive nice cars and have nice things "yuppies". That's equally unfair and dehumanizing. I hate class warfare crap (from both sides). - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

I'll be there. Unless work chains me to my desk. Yeah this is gonna be a blast! I'm looking forward to meeting a bunch of you and hooking up again with others. And count me in on any of the dz.com whatever-ways. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

I must be having one of those bad online communications nights cuz everyone keeps taking what I'm saying the wrong way. I don't have a problem with that either. Heck I drive a BMW myself (cuz I like the performance and they run forever). I like my electronic gadgets & skydiving toys. What I'm talking about is priorities. Sure I like having nice things and doing what I want to do (like skydiving my butt off). But that's not what makes me me. If all that went away tomorrow, sure I'd be bummed, but I still have myself, my family and hopefully my friends. What I have a problem with are people who define themselves, their worth and the worth of others by their material possessions and socio-economic status. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

I figured I'd prolly rankle some people with my comments. There's a very fine line between patriotism (which is honorable) and mindless nationalism (which is extremely dangerous). I'm as grateful to live in this country as anyone, and I'm grateful for the sacrifices that have been made to protect those freedoms. And if those freedoms were threatened I'd do what I could (I still have a problem with killing) to protect them. But I also won't just blindly do what the government (i.e. politicians) say I should do. I won't blindly agree that some action we take is good just because a bunch of politicians say so. That isn't a commentary on any particular issue. And it isn't a commentary on this administration as opposed to any other ones. It's just a general sentiment of mine that I've had for years. My point is that mindless nationalism is every much a threat to freedom as an invasion by an outside entity. Patriotism is fighting for the things which make our country great. There is a big, big difference. Like I said, I don't have a personal problem with the pledge. But I can also see how Goat and others would feel uncomfortable being peer-pressured, if not forced, to utter something they didn't believe in. I mean, how do you think teachers and other students would react if a kid actually refused to recite it? I've felt it in the other context I mentioned, and trust me it isn't a very good feeling. Just because I choose to not trust my government, because it's run by politicians with personal agendas, doesn't mean I'm not patriotic. Actually, now that I think of it, I'd prefer to pledge allegiance to the flag and what it stands for than to pledge allegiance to the federal government. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Technically true, but Yuppie (at least in my mind) connotes arrogance & materialism... often at the expense of ethics. I'd fit the m-w definition technically, but I stay as far away as I possibly can from the true Yuppie crowd. I'd rather hang with someone who is dirt poor and a decent person (hell, I'd rather be dirt poor and a decent person) than some superficial snob who measures personal worth by the car one drives, the house one lives in and the trophy wife one parades around at cocktail parties. No thanks. They can keep it. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

There's a difference between a healthy debate and fighting. Fighting connotes anger, and I generally don't get angry with those who disagree with me. Heck, I've changed my mind on a lot of things because someone presented a view on an issue that I hadn't considered. You ought to see me and my Dad go at it. People think we're fighting but neither of us is angry and both of us enjoy the discussion. I can't speak for the others here, but this thread (or really any other) hasn't angered me. I was just presenting my take on the issue. People are free to take it or leave it... agree or disagree. Doesn't bother me. Maybe people are taking my long diatribes the wrong way. I try to present my views in as non-confrontational and even tone as I can. I tend to be a lttle long-winded not because I'm upset, but because I want to clearly express where I'm coming from. I view these things as educational opporunities (for myself and others). It's all good. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

If you're gonna do it, that's probably the best way to handle it. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

As the token agnostic, I like that! I really don't feel threatened by the references to God in the pledge of allegiance, or being printed on money, or when taking oaths. I guess I view it as more of a longstanding tradition than an imposition of religious values. Actually, in some ways, making a pledge to any entity, particularly a government, is far more dangerous than a reference to God within the pledge. I'm living with a couple who are very devout Christians. They pray at the table before eating and I say "amen" with them. They know my religious (dis)orientation and I have never felt threatened in any way by participating in the pre-meal prayer. My "amen" is basically to affirm the sentiments of the prayer, not the belief in God. I don't have a problem with kids bringing their bibles to school. As long as they don't try to pressure others they have a right to read whatever they want. I draw the line at the recent case involving the pre-football game prayer led by one of the band members who was a devout Baptist. Sort of for the same reason I felt uncomfortable when I'd go to Catholic Mass with my wife... I can't in good conscience recite the Apostles Creed because I don't believe those things. I'd be uttering a lie in a church of all places. Yet I feel uncomfortable being the only one not saying these things when surrounded by others who are. Same deal with the pre-game invocation. It's my understanding that people in the audience were also participating, and that's when pressure is felt by those who don't participate. And I don't condone that in a government-sanctioned setting. And unlike my Christian friends who know me, understand me and accept me, the people at church and at a football game don't know me from Adam. You just feel pressure to conform in those settings, and you shouldn't have to. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Water. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon