steveorino

Anyone for Josephus? steveOrino

Get what you've been jonesing for. Another non-PC DZ comic is up. www.dzcomic.com steveOrino

ya think so? seriously guys ... are we that quick to lump a whole generation as the entitlement generation? Sadly, that sounds more like people of my generation and my father's generation lumping people together based on color and ethnic origin. It all appears stupid to me. steveOrino

If you think this present generation has a monopoly on an entitlement attitudes, you have obviously have a very narrow view. But that is just my opinion. steveOrino

Sadly, it sounds as if you too believe it is the"other" generation that is THE problem. The entitlement attitude is not a problem of one generation. It is a problem of one's mindset, that is pervasive in every generation and culture. Again, you can look at this younger generation and color them with a broad stroke of disdain. I prefer to see men like my middle son who volunteered in 2003 to go to Afghanistan. Yep, Sgt Drew Phelps, skydiver? Yes! Entitlement brat? Hardly. steveOrino

Actually, I think I can see the difference in pointing out one person's negative condescending attitude that labels everyone not like them as a detriment to the society. I'm an 52 year old old fart, so I'm certainly not railing against our senior citizens, or the young up and coming studs. I'm merely pointing out that at a DZ if you get "object fixation" you'll likely strike said object. steveOrino

We often see what we look for. If I want, I can see old farts complaining of how it use to be, and kids ruining skydiving with their "entitlemnet" attitude. Is that all there is? Not unless that is all you want to see. steveOrino

This money-shot I took is in front of the tandem. it places no one in danger. As a TM, I never want the vidiot underneath me! steveOrino

A mantra I repeat in my head as I land that I used when I started jumping and continue to this day. "Fly it - fly it - fly it" Never stop flying the canopy until you are completely stopped. steveOrino

40 years (from birth) took another 12 to earn two masters. I hope to have a Ph.D. before i turn 70. I once told a friend, I'll be 52 when I graduate next year! (emphasizing how I was getting too old to keep going to school) his simple reply was, "How will you be next year if you don't graduate?" Sara, have you checked into SNU's (www.snu.edu)adult program? They have a good undergrad pysch degree that is easy to get done in 18 months. (since I assume you have basics taken care of) http://tulsa.snu.edu/?p={FDE6FD49-949D-4784-8084-680CE3CA863F} steveOrino

Considering this test rated me as "midland" and everywhere I have lived, NC, CA, WA, AK & OK EVERYONE knew the minute I opened my mouth I was born and raised in Texas, I'd say the test is bogus as in Bo, my friend's name, and Gus, my dad's friend's name. steveOrino

Amen! Christians, take seriously your life, your walk, your words. Why should anyone want to follow us when he are the same as the rest of the world when it comes to judging, immorality, commitment, integrity, etc. If the only way we can stand out is by our habit of attending church or listening to Christian music (or worse, wearing clothes with 'christian" logos) then I think we'd be better off saying nothing. Perhaps too many "christians' suffer the same problems as the Sadducees .... "Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God." Matthew 22:29 steveOrino

thanks! that means a lot.

Today is my middle son's birthday. He is 23. I wish I could hug him aand tell him 'happy birthday!" but he is serving in Afghanistan. "Come home safely, warrior, son!" steveOrino

Sadly, I believe the Christian church as a whole has left me. I just can't go the route of judge of everyone, marketer of "christian" wares, and creator of niches in music, clothes, etc. Thankfully, JC is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow. steveOrino

my beautiful wife of 33 years! She is absolutely terrified of heights. I discovered that crossing a mountain crevass with her when we lived in Alaska. (How does one know they are afraid of heights when they are reaised in the Great Plains? ) She jumped with me (I was the vidiot and Mule was the tandem master) on my 1000th jump. She is the bravest woman I know -- living with me so long, raising 4 great kids, and facing her fears to make my 1000th jump very special. I asked her if she'd jump again, and she said "No, way!" But after I earned my TM rating she said she might go with me on my 2000th steveOrino

Thanks for being so forgiving .... man, I hate getting old! steveOrino

Well, it is my TOTAL BAD. I guess I forgot to log the payment in my books. I sent 2 emails inquiring about the deal that got returned. So I made a very bad assumption. So, since I made the bad mistake I will make it right as best I can. 1) I apologize right here. 2) Your next image is on me. Again I'm sorry for the confusion. I'd try and make an excuse but I guess I have none other than my bad bookkeeping and crappy memory. I'm very sorry. I hope you will forgive me. steveOrino

I didn't mean to imply that they did but I did draw the sketch they wanted and reworked it with revisions to boot. Typically I expect 1/2 down before I draw a sketch but I let that slide with skydivers. (I've been stiffed by skydivers too, though. ) However, I don't send the high resolution drawing until payment arrives and clears. I thought they were on a time constrait, thus my concern. Plus my email to her is always returned. steveOrino

Anyone know them? Jennifer Galbraith contacted me to draw a cartoon for an event they were having. I sent them a sketch and they gave me revisions to make. I redrew the cartoon with revisions, and she said they loved it and my check was on the way. That was April 30th. I've sent a few emails her way asking what is going on, but they keep coming back as undeliverable. Any suggestions? steveOrino

Up by Shania Twain steveOrino

A couple of snidbits from a Master's level paper I did on skydiving that indicate some of the same findings (in general) In Western society it is the norm to avoid risk and eliminate all dangers. For example look at all the precautions the typical parent takes when equipping their child for either skating or bicycling today, such as helmets, elbow and wrist guards. Compare this to other countries or the USA prior to the 1960s. If our culture is continually striving for a zero-risk society, then those who go against these social norms are deemed foolish, or at the very least different. Contrary to the belief that one must be crazy to desire to jump from “perfectly good airplanes” Ogilvie (1974) discovered that neither emotional instability nor neuroticism increased as the risk increased. He suggested that high-risk athletes are addicted to the rush they feel when participating in risky sports. In other words they need the stimulus from high-risk sports that will extend their emotional, physical and intellectual limits to escape the mundane state of everyday life. According to Freudian interpretation, skydivers, and other high-risk takers have a death wish; their repetitive life threatening behaviors among the general populace would be considered as expressing suicide tendencies. However there is strong evidence that high risk activities are hard-wired into our brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter commonly associated with pleasure sensations in our brain. Activities such as eating and sex trigger release of dopamine. Other activities that are intense, such as high-risk sports like skydiving, also trigger a dopamine reaction. Those who repeatedly seek sensations from high-risk sports, such as skydiving, have been associated with lower levels of dopamine circulating in their bodies. Therefore, because they are often in a state of under-arousal, their desire to exercise risky behaviors is not necessarily associated with bringing on a high, but to bring them to a more normal state of arousal. Despite the public’s perception, extreme sport participants require constant care, intense training, and above all discipline and control. “In direct contrast to the Freudian position, we put ourselves at risk not because we have a death wish, but because we wish to confront and overcome our deepest fears.” (Pain & Pain, 2005, p. 534) steveOrino

Sorry, I just couldn't let that one go. No problem, I can spell, but I can't type. Hook 'em! steveOrino

North of Dallas or German hill country in TX (New Braunfels, San Antonio, etc) steveOrino

Me either. Just wanted to pipe in. steveOrino