DanG

If that article is right it is a 180 degree change from what I saw. I was a civil affairs officer (US) in Helmand Province (poppy capital of the world) on my second tour. My whole job was hearts and minds. Shortly after I left, the Brits took over our base, and from what I heard stopped all the reconstruction and ramped up the conventional operations. Before I left, we'd get British units showing up with no other purpose than poppy eradication and busting drug operations. They really didn't care about the adverse effects of their operations on our CA mission. My first tour was October 2002-August 2003 in Gardez. I went back for September 2004-June 2005 in Helmand. - Dan G

You're in Afghanistan to stop the poppy trade. That's the only thing I saw the Brits caring about when I was over there. - Dan G

Paraclete is a skydiving simulator. Flyaway is an amusement park ride. Go to Paraclete and let the instructors know your situation (better yet call ahead and talk to someone other that the booking girl). You won't be disappointed, it's awesome. - Dan G

The legality of that as a "tie-in" purchase is debatable. I'm not a lawyer (and I don't think you are either) but as long as the requirement is advertised up front, I don't see why that would be a problem. The same thing happens at USPA GM dropzones all the time right now. In order to jump at a USPA dropzone, up-jumpers need to be USPA members. Are you implying that this practice is illegal? Is this an example of a supposedly illegal "tie-in purchase"? I'm not sure that I like the idea of tandem students becoming USPA members, but what I really don't like is the way you try to make everything regarding USPA out to be either illegal, immoral, or some kind of evil plot. If your arguments were more intellectually honest, and your motives were laid open, maybe more people would take what you have to say seriously and you'd actually get something done. - Dan G

I think a lot of people delude themselves into thinking they are acting more safely than they actually are. You see it here all the time with newer jumpers and smaller canopies. Or 100 jump wonders jumping cameras or wingsuits. To imply that skydivers as a group are fully aware of the risks they take and act rationally regarding those risks is what's crazy. Next time you're at the DZ, read the waiver you signed and remember that it is not exagerated for effect. What we do is extremely dangerous, but many people don't want to face it. - Dan G

USPA doesn't require anyone to be a member, nor do they require dropzones to be Group Members. Only if you choose to jump at a given DZ that has chosen to be a Group Member do you need to become a member yourself. There are plenty on non-GM DZ's. You don't want to join USPA? Fine, jump at a non-GM DZ. - Dan G

It's a problem if even one person does it. It is not, however, realistic to blame all of our country's problems on that one person. Welfare abuse is wrong no matter how widespread it is, but fixing the welare system will not solve our current financial crisis. In fact, that guy spending money on his car and at the casino does more to stimulate the economy that if he put it in a savings account. The fact that he got the money from the government is not ideal, but at least that cash is circulating. - Dan G

OK, so that is one example of someone with some pretty fucked up priorities. I just don't think the implication that everyone who is on welfare is blowing their money on rims and craps is very accurate. When I was a kid, my family used food stamps for a short time. My father was working his way though law school. We had shitty old cars and a single black and white TV. I bet that a lot of people these days, in fact the vast majority, who are using government assistance actually need it and use it fairly wisely. They also, like we did, use it in emergencies and get off it as fast as possible. I do, however, agree that the system can and is being abused by some people. I just think that the scale of it is not as widespread as you imply. - Dan G

Do you really, no shit, see these people every day? What business are you in that these are the people with whom you associate? - Dan G

I'm not sure I agree 100%. If there is only one response to a given situation (for instance a bag lock) checking the altimeter before or during EP's is a waste of time. If the only posssible thing you can do is cut away and pull your reserve, then knowing what altitude you are at gives no useful information. Get to work. For a horseshoe, I agree that you will want to remain altitude aware if your procedures include attempts to fix the horseshoe by removing the extra attachment point (PC, bridle, whatever). Once you've decided to give up and go red then silver, altitude awareness is no longer that important. Once the decision has been made, your eyes should be on your handles and you mind should be on getting them both pulled quickly. If you are in a situation where there is a decision tree based on altitude, I absolutely think that maintaining altitude awareness is key. Experienced jumpers may be able to rely more on their total situational awareness, including ground references, but as you say, it is easy for even highly experienced folks to lose track of where they are in an emergency. This all points to the fact that emergency procedures are not simple. There are a lot of variables, and the only way to deal with complexity is through repetitive training. EP's are also a perishable skill, so up jumpers need to get in the hanging harness often, too. And don't just drill the simple things. You'd be suprised how easy it is to flumox an experienced jumper with a horseshoe or two-out in the hanging harness. Better to figure out, and drill, your response on the ground than when screaming though 1000ft. - Dan G

Around the same time the Persians brought down the twin towers. Oh wait, that was the Arabs. Well, they look like Arabs, so that's enough for me. Frickin' brown people with funny names. They're all the same, you know. - Dan G

I've been thinking about doing something like that for a while, just haven't had the time or motivation. I'll bet Kallend could modify his separation program to do what you want quite easily. - Dan G

Um yeah. International diplomacy is not the same as WWE Smackdown banter. - Dan G

Um, Obama didn't say that. He said he wants a dialogue. I guess some people confuse dialogue with concession, but they're not actually the same thing. - Dan G

Wow. What does that have to do with torture? - Dan G

Nice cop out. - Dan G

So people soliciting help for Bangs' wife's breast cancer is now somehow linked to the Skyride debacle? Did she fake her breast cancer? Are you implying that the breast cancer fund was set up as a cover for Skyride to bribe Bangs? If so, again I urge you to seek the nearest US Attorney, because you have now added wire and mail fraud to your list of federal felony accusations. Let me get this straight once and for all: Bangs is buddy-buddy with Skyride people. He knows there will be pressure for USPA to deal with their questionable business practices. He conspires with them, in exchange for money surrepititiously donated to help with medical bills, to botch the investigation and screw up their expulsion, thereby providing grounds for the subsequent lawsuit to be settled in their favor. Is that what you are trying to say? If he knew all along that Skyride/ASC would be back in business (in fact had orchestrated the whole thing), why solicit their staff to go to Crosskeys? Was that just to cover his tracks? Maybe I'm having a hard time reading between the lines, but from what I gather you're making some pretty wild accusations. - Dan G

I'm fine with all that. The implication from the first paragraph in Jan's post is that Skyride and Bangs were in cahoots. That's the part I'm having trouble believing. The fact that USPA screwed up the expulsion seems clear. I'm just protesting the implication (never stated, but clearly implied) that the screw-up was purposeful. That, to me, is getting into tin foil hat territory. - Dan G

So I'm supposed to believe that the whole Skyride thing was planned from the start? What, exactly, was gained by the conspirators? Conspiracy needs a motive, usually financial. I fail to see how anyone benefited from this plot. It seems both parties (Skyride and Bangs) would have been better served if Bangs just arranged to sweep criticism under the rug. If he's capable of pulling off the elobarate plot described in your post, certainly he's capable of quelling internal dissent. Sorry, it seems a bit of a stretch. And if you really believe what you're implying, you need to go speak with your local US Attorney. What you're describing is felony conspiracy. If this is all true, you can get rid of Glen Bangs once and for all by turning state's evidence. And no, I have no involvement with Glen Bangs or Skyride. - Dan G

Thanks. I appreciate the thoughtful post. - Dan G

We're just asking you to define "better". mnealtx gave a concrete example of what he wants to see in climate studies. Can you? - Dan G

Man, I tell you, ain't nuttin' so fun as killin' me some babies. The younger the better, is what I say! Yeah, who needs some babies killed? Find your nearest bleeding heart liberal, we love killin' babies. Wooo! Get over yourself. Everyone who has responded "in favor of infanticide" has said that they wish there were no abortions, but they're glad that women have the right to choose. If you can't understand that, I can't explain it any clearer. - Dan G

The point is that countless studies have shown just that, but people like you ignore them and say, "That's not enough proof." Her question was, "What would be enough proof?" I suspect the answer is that there is no amount of evidence that would be acceptable to show a need for change. - Dan G

Um, you forgot Jack Bauer. That's the only "reality" some people understand. - Dan G

Okay, my meaning is that there are biased media sources on both sides. People on the right think that "leftist" media sources are predominant and so far to the left that Marx is shaking his head. People on the left thing that "right wing" media sources are so far right that Hilter is proud. The truth is that most media sources are biased one way or the other, but most intelligent people can tell what that bias is and filter it out. The continuation of that point is that bitching about media biases in every other post is fucking stupid. We get the point. Substantive enough for you? - Dan G