gemini

FYI: We had a jumper land hard and crush her heel and starburst fracture her L5. Instead of fusion or other lengthy surgery on the back, the docs in Houston tried a new technique where they pin the vertebrae above and below the damaged one and stretch the damaged area back to its normal height. Then they inject a calcium carbide? glue into the cracks. The pins are removed and the glue hardens in 24 hrs. The glue is eventually asorbed into the bone. The hardened glue is stronger than the original bone. She was out of bed and hopping with a walker due to her heel the next day. Never had any pain and the prognosis is very good for full movement of the back. This technique was used to mend fractured elbows and wrists in elderly patients in the past with great success, but we have been told that this is the first attempt on the vertebrae. Blue skies, Jim

I'm having a little trouble understanding what the fuss is about... Let's see, this is a private event with restricted access on private property paid for by a political organization and promoted as a rally for the organizations candidate. Were opposing political party members invited? Was dissent incouraged? Did the teachers (and other people at other events) tell the people issuing the tickets what they had planned? Did the teachers go there with the intent of raising a stink? Were the teachers republicans? It sounds to me like it was a private RNC event and they can invite or throw out anyone they want. If you come to my house and attempt to raise hell, I'm damn sure throwing you out. This is not a freedom of speech issue. Hell it's not even a "equal time" issue. If the Dems let protestors raise hell at their private events, it's their own fault. Other political parties don't have to follow their lead. Blue skies, Jim

Shane, thanks for the great dinner in Toronto. Really enjoyed meeting everyone. Go figure! You guys do aircraft parts that we buy...it's a small world sometimes. Blues & see you in the air sometime! Jim Blue skies, Jim

Damn I was hoping this was your way of seeking "happy birthday" greetings. Shoulda' known it wouldn't be in SC. Blue skies, Jim

I take mine on all cross country jumps plus I have a pullup cord, closing loop, and five bucks in my jumpsuit pocket. Blue skies, Jim

Heard it from a lot of jumpers before and 99% were partying the next weekend. Blue skies, Jim

Prayers for Ryan, his family and yours. Blue skies, Jim

Shane you will be about 20 miles east of Burlington just off the QEW. Blue skies, Jim

Since it was Sunday the spa was closed. Even with the rain decided to drive down to Burnaby anyway. Got to visit with the DZO (his new house is looking really good), Scott, Krista and met several new people. Then drove to a local winery and drank wine and bought a few bottles to take back to Houston. Think I'll come back next summer when the Otter returns. Looks like a cool place to hang out. Blue skies, Jim

Oops you may have upset the PC crowd, but that is a great comment! Blue skies, Jim

Wow that would make my day! Come on, I know there are some Burnaby jumpers around here who don't have anything to do either... Blue skies, Jim

Bigway has given you some good advise. Your life may depend on the gear. Would you really trust something you know very little about? I would buy gear on-line only from a gear store, manufacturer, or other jumper who could give me the gear details, describe the wear and tear, etc. Blue skies, Jim

Help! I'm trapped in burlington with grey, low overcast skies and drizzle. Yesterday morning was ok, but had to work so today is only day off til Friday. Anyone around here? Any ideas of something fun to do? Thanks & blues (I wish!), Jim Blue skies, Jim

I pulled it off Saturday's drudge report. I also wondered if the Secret Service would be interested in the comment. Blue skies, Jim

Way to go Nate! Can't wait till you both have 100. Think you can get those on the same day? Two pieings are better than one any day. Blue skies, Jim

Thanks Kate. Have a great camp! Fred the Iceman and I will be there in May. And for all you Big Way campers, remember rule #12 DON'T HURT KATE! Blues, Jim Blue skies, Jim

Is this guy really implying that assassination of a President is preferable to reelection? Charlie Brooker The Guardian 10-23-2004 "...Throughout the debate, John Kerry, for his part, looks and sounds a bit like a haunted tree. But at least he's not a lying, sniggering, drink-driving, selfish, reckless, ignorant, dangerous, backward, drooling, twitching, blinking, mouse-faced little cheat. And besides, in a fight between a tree and a bush, I know who I'd favour. On November 2, the entire civilised world will be praying, praying Bush loses. And Sod's law dictates he'll probably win, thereby disproving the existence of God once and for all. The world will endure four more years of idiocy, arrogance and unwarranted bloodshed, with no benevolent deity to watch over and save us. John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald, John Hinckley Jr - where are you now that we need you?" Blue skies, Jim

Kelli I am sorry to hear about Angus. Please express my sympathy to all his family and friends. Blues, Jim Blue skies, Jim

Congrats! Have a great time and stay aware, think ahead, stay safe. Blue skies, Jim

Hey I'm 100% behind John on this Paul. I'm due 2 or 3 from the Sequentials. Appreciate anything you can find out. Blues, Jim Blue skies, Jim

Hey I want to know too! Will be in Atlanta for 6 months starting around mid November. Have not been to GA since being at Ft Benning in 67/68. Blue skies, Jim

That's your opinion and you are entitled to it. I don't have to try and run down a man that went to Vietnam because he did that to himself. He's a liar, a fraud, and an ambitious leftist-elitist who is out for himself. He caused harm to US POWs and got away with it because of the turmoil in the country at the time. He will say anything, anytime about anything if he thinks it will gain him another ounce of power. This means he will abandon his friends and supporters if they cease being valuable to him. He did not go to Vietnam like the rest of us...he went to add a bullet point on his resume' just like Al did. It was nothing but a political ploy, a necessary evil to accomplish another step toward his goal of entering politics. I wouldn't be surprised to learn he knew about the 3 wound exclusion before he even got overseas. The men in the video were there for 3, 4, 7, 13 years and are fully entitled to hate the SOB. Why does that bother you? Good luck with your last gasp! Blue skies, Jim

I'm sure he didn't mind, especially since the pants and suit coat were split up the back and wrapped around his body. I was appalled when I found out funeral homes did that...and then realized it really didn't make any difference anyway. Blue skies, Jim

You've heard all the stink...now see it for yourself. You may not agree with what is said, but I believe that the people in the video are sincere and have the right to voice their opinions without ridicule and censure. http://www.buttondepress.com/BostonManifesto/stolenhonor.wmv In another lifetime, I was a 1Lt, MACV Advisory Team 46, Dien Khanh District, Khanh Hoa Province, Republic of South Vietnam. Blue skies, Jim

Heated exchanges after film canceled By JODI ARTHUR Bucks County Courier Times Police had to separate two war veterans after one grabbed the other by the neck Tuesday as tempers flared outside Abington's Baederwood Theater following the cancellation of a premiere showing of a film critical of Sen. John Kerry's anti-war testimony. Frustrated by the theater's decision, several prospective viewers of "Stolen Honor, Wounds that Never Heal" got into shouting matches with opponents of the documentary. Among them was Joanne Dalbey of Warrington. "My rights as an American were denied," she said. "Soldiers are dying for my right to choose what movie I want to see." Dalbey was one of about 50 people who showed up at the theater on The Fairway. Some were there to get copies of the movie on DVD or videotape from filmmaker Carlton Sherwood, who was autographing them, and some were there to protest it. Others arrived unaware that the showing had been canceled. Theater manager Robert Smith and several others sat just outside the theater doors giving refunds to ticket holders. He said he had "no comment" about the theater's decision not to show the film as promised. Sherwood said 600 tickets had been sold. During one heated exchange, Korean War veteran Dan Sweeney of Philadelphia grabbed Bill Perry, a member of Vietnam Veterans Against the War, by the neck. Asked why, he said, "because I felt like it, that's why." "Kerry can't handle the words that he said himself. Otherwise this film would be shown tonight," Sweeney said. "They don't want anybody to see what he said." Perry, who said he was one of 120 soldiers who testified during the 1971 "Winter Soldier Investigation" of atrocities they witnessed in Vietnam, called the film no good. At one point, he and Dalbey stood nose-to-nose arguing its merits. "The movie's a sack of lies," Perry said. "I was in Vietnam. I witnessed these things." "How can you comment about what you haven't seen," Dalbey shouted, referring to the 42-minute film. "Get him here to debate this. Get Kerry here." Others, although opposed to the film, did not object to the right of others to see it. Holding a sign that read, "Kerry Supporters Support the Troops," Evan Machlan of Pennington, N.J., a self-described devoted Kerry supporter, said he believed the theater should have shown the film. That's despite the fact, he said, that "I think it's full of lies." Sherwood said the film is about the direct and indirect consequences of Kerry's anti-war testimony. It is told, he said, by the men who were most affected by it - prisoners of war being held in North Vietnam. "He placed their lives in jeopardy," Sherwood said. "He increased their peril." Perry said Kerry was quoting those who testified in the Winter Soldier Investigation. "When he testified to Congress, he was quoting us directly," Perry said. Sherwood said his production company started getting indications from the theater owners last week that they were having second thoughts about showing the film, which was being hosted by conservative talk radio station 1210 AM. He said the cinema "claimed they were getting threatening calls and e-mail and just threats generally." A fax came from the theater's attorney Monday, saying they were canceling the showing "due to threats of civil disobedience," Sherwood said. Perry said that's untrue. He said the theater was afraid of being included in a class action libel suit. "There were never any threats of civil disobedience." On Monday, Kenneth J. Campbell, a University of Delaware professor who is one of the veterans included in the film, sued the producer for libel, saying the film falsely portrays him as a fraud and a liar. Jodi Arthur can be reached at 215-957-8148 or jarthur@phillyBurbs.com. Blue skies, Jim