SivaGanesha

There seem to be differing opinions as to who took him into custody. The following link says "police"--ie local law enforcement and not federal agents: Watertown Suspect Alive And In Police Custody The subject line in the thread says "should". This thread IS about what people want to be so/not so, not what actually is so/not so. Consistent with the subject of the thread I am offering my opinions of what should/should have happened, not what actually did/will happen. Which is partly why I think he should have remained in state/local custody. But I understand there may be differing opinions as to who--state/local or feds--initially had custody. "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

You are missing my point. I'm not denying that it might be POSSIBLE to prosecute this guy at the federal level. Rather I am stating my OPINION--that the prosecution should be at the state level. Others might have different opinions but simply showing me that federal prosecution is POSSIBLE isn't going to persuade me to change my opinion. This thread originally asked for people's opinions. I stated that not only should it be a civilian criminal prosecution--it should be at the state level not the federal level. If the only interstate element of the crime was the purchase of bomb materials in NH I don't feel that is sufficient justification for the feds to get involved. Now if he'd also killed people in NH--as well as MA--I might feel differently. If you feel he SHOULD be prosecuted at the federal level then I'm interested in hearing your reasons for thinking so. If you are simply saying that he CAN be prosecuted at the federal level, then there is nothing more to say because I agree that that CAN be done--I just don't think it SHOULD be done. "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

A strong argument could, indeed, be made that he should lose his US citizenship if he was associated with established terrorist organizations before becoming a citizen and therefore did not legitimately become a citizen. This is quite possible given that he became a US citizen quite recently. This could be done either through civil denaturalization proceedings or criminal charges for obtaining US citizenship through fraud. However--IMHO--all federal action against this guy should have taken a back seat given the gravity of his state crimes and the fact that there is only one state involved (hence no question of which state has jurisdiction). "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

It doesn't. In certain cases, crossing state lines to commit a crime turns it--legitimately--into a federal crime. For example, both kidnapping and violation of a protection order are generally state crimes, but can be charged federally if someone crosses state lines in committing the crime. I don't know if a similar principle would apply to any of this guy's crimes. The fact that he is a MA resident would make it hard to argue that he crossed state lines to commit his crimes. "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

I'm not claiming that he hasn't committed both state and federal crimes. What I'm claiming is that he was captured by state/local law enforcement and is accused of extremely grave crimes at the state level. If he's now in federal custody that means that at some point a decision was made to release him from state custody to turn him over to the feds. I'm questioning that decision given the seriousness of his state crimes. If he had originally been captured by the feds--or if this were fundamentally a federal matter with the state crimes minor as compared with the federal issue--I'd have no problem with his being tried by the feds. Among other things, the decision to turn him over to the feds probably means he won't be prosecuted for the murder of the local law enforcement officer who died trying to capture this guy. I think that does a disservice to that officer's family. In general, indeed, that is why I oppose the prosecution of mass murderers at the federal level, because it often means they are prosecuted only for those murders for which a federal crime exists. That is insulting to the other victims--all victims should be treated equally. At the state level you can prosecute for ALL murders. Basically I prefer to see prosecution at the state level. Murder is a very human crime and the state/local courts are just closer to the human beings who were killed. Federal prosecution should be a last resort only if the states aren't up to the task for some reason. Now the only argument here could be that he deserves the death penalty and that is possible--in this case--only at the federal level (since MA has no state death penalty). I'd still argue, though, for initial state prosecution and federal prosecution only later after the state case has been resolved. "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

I would put it slightly differently. I would say that this case should have involved an American and Massachusetts citizen, a Massachusetts resident, accused of criminal conduct on Massachusetts soil and safely in Massachusetts custody. This was fundamentally a state crime this young man is accused of. A very, very horrific state crime to be sure. But fundamentally a state crime. I don't see a legitimate federal issue here for the feds to get involved. So if you ask whether the feds should be dealing with this guy as an enemy combatant or a common criminal: my answer is that the feds shouldn't even be involved. This is Massachusetts business. Now I do think that Massachusetts might come to realize that they have made a mistake by not having a state death penalty on the books for state crimes of this magnitude. But that mistake is Massachusetts' to make. Certainly this guy, being quite young, will have many years ahead of him rotting in a Massachusetts prison contemplating the evil of his ways. "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

You might want to read an interesting book that I read recently, "Waking up to War", by Falkland Islander Lisa Watson. The book describes Ms. Watson's experiences as a 12-year-old girl during the Falklands War. The Falkland Islanders were illegally invaded by the junta that then controlled Argentina--and you folks from the UK certainly took your sweet time in responding. It is clear that, in the interim, the presence of guns--a well regulated militia--on the Falkland Islands was a big factor in empowering the Falkland Islanders to stand up to the junta while waiting for the UK troops taking their time rolling in to town on their cruise ships. Make no mistake--ultimately I support the long standing claim of a democratic Argentina to Las Malvinas. But I also like the kick ass attitude of the Falkland Islanders especially Ms. Watson. "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

Outsourcing works best when the work to be outsourced is carefully selected to be that which requires a somewhat lower level of trust--for example not requiring knowledge of key business secrets or being somewhat less sensitive to missed deadlines. The cost is lower but the risk is higher for outsourced work. "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

I'm sure the company was keeping the work in the USA rather than outsourcing for good reason--they didn't want to share their core business secrets with individuals or businesses in China they felt couldn't be trusted as well as USA-based people. The employee was being paid much more than a Chinese counterpart for something very important--his trustworthiness. Unfortunately he clearly betrayed that trust. "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

:0:0 None for me. Poured most of the weekend here but I did get my newly purchased first rig in to my rigger for inspection. Hopefully it will be ready to jump by next weekend when the WX forecast is a bit better. The weather did clear up a lot by Sunday afternoon and I called the DZ to see if they might be turning the aircraft. However I was told they were closed for the weekend. Guess the pilot had either gone home or started drinking or both! "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

Really? I'm not sure actual research supports your claim: http://www.uspa.org/Portals/0/MembershipSurveys/memsurvey10.pdf This shows 53% of USPA members--a clear majority--as being age 39 or younger--the same age group in which you'd find most professional athletes. 12.8% of the US population (and that includes minors) is over age 65 but only 8% of skydivers (who generally must be adults) are over age 60. The sport as a whole has definitely aged since my first try at skydiving in the 1980's. However, at age 47 (my current age), I'm definitely above the average age of skydivers--although I'm by no means the oldest person on the drop zone. The demographic of skydivers IS, in general, fairly young. There are two things that prevent the average age being even younger IMHO. One is that the cost of the sport is high and one needs to be somewhat established financially to really pursue it. And the second is that people usually must be 18 to skydive so you don't have people reaching adulthood already well established in the sport like you might have in other sports. OTOH I'd agree it isn't that "extreme" an activity. "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

Thanks skybytch!! If you and Keith are still teaching the canopy course I will see you on Sunday! :) "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

Thx!!! Actually I met a dude at a DZ (not Skydance) last weekend with 150 jumps but no license. Many of my jumps were from years ago for which I no longer have a logbook. But I do have over 50 logged jumps so I should get my 'B' soon. "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

Didn't jump this weekend but a couple of weeks ago I finally got my 'A'--this weekend I completed the deal to purchase my (first) rig. It will be delivered this coming week and I will need to have it inspected by Action Air before jumping it of course! Looking forward to getting my 'B' very soon--I am doing the canopy course at Skydance next weekend weather permitting and am told with my jump total I should be very close to my 'B' as well. Then it will be off to some boogies during the winter months! "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

Just to let folks know--it has been a drawn out process but I finally got my A license a couple of weeks ago. Thanks to all at Skydance Skydiving for their support in getting me to this point--you guys are awesome!! I also have my first rig (used) being delivered this coming week but will need to have it inspected by Action Air before trying to jump it. With my jump totals I should also be able to get my 'B' very soon--I'm taking the canopy course at Skydance next weekend. Now I'm looking for some boogies in warm weather places to attend over the winter months.

I've done recurrency training a number of times over the years. In 2009, I had 6 logged jumps (I had other jumps from years ago in Canada but no logbook and those were a LONG time ago). These included 1 tandem, passed AFF-1 twice, had to redo AFF-2 three times. I had to do the whole FJC again in 2009 but I believe they charged me only for a regular recurrency jump+a 2 instructor AFF jump--which was slightly cheaper than the regular FJC price. Since your experience level and time away from the sport is similar to mine in 2009, I'd expect you would probably need to do the full FJC again. OTOH in 2012 I had 61 logged jumps and only had a little bit remaining to do to get my 'A'. This time the recurrency consisted of a thorough review of emergency procedures, gear checks, and flying the pattern--but a much more perfunctory discussion of other subjects. Finally officially got my 'A' shortly thereafter--hopefully I'll stay current this time.

Thanks DrewEckhardt--very good feecback!! "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

My understanding is that adherents of the Jewish faith--IMHO with some justification--consider themselves to be more purely monotheistic than some of the other faiths you've mentioned. The reason is that they believe in G-d alone--they don't feel the need to throw in wildcards like 'the father', 'the son', and the 'holy ghost'. Not to mention those folks who believe in ridiculous things like 'siva' and 'ganesha'.

I recently got my 'A' and am now looking to buy my first rig. My question is pretty simple--if used gear is advertised as having been made for a jumper of a certain height, how different from that height can I be before the gear wouldn't fit me well? I'll talk to my rigger on Saturday but am interested in any preliminary opinions people on here might have before then. "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

It's an interesting question. So far I have not--however I'm beginning to wonder whether I should begin doing so. I've tended to pursue skydiving in fits and starts and only recently obtained my A license. I think I would feel more comfortable mentioning it now that I'm a licensed skydiver (which shows a certain ability to stick to and reach a goal--potentially relevant to an employer) as opposed to it simply being a bucket list item (less relevant). However it would only really come up if one made it a certain way in the interview process. You wouldn't mention skydiving on a resume except near the bottom under 'interests and activities' unless it were a skydiving related job. And only the first few lines of a resume are likely to be scanned by the employer the first time they look at it. So you are going to need some real skills in the job to get your foot in the door--it would only be relevant later in the process. "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

You were deaf and dumb? They must have called you the Pinball Whizard. "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

I'm an Aussie citizen by birthright--born in Australia before 1986 when Australia tweaked its citizenship laws a bit. Although I've never paid a penny in Aussie taxes and probably never will, I hold an Aussie passport (triple citizen USA/AUS/CAN). It's very good of you as an Australian taxpayer to offer to pay tens or hundreds of thousands for my health care should I ever get sick--despite the fact that we've never met and, as I said, I've never paid a penny in Aussie taxes. Thank you. I mean it. "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

But TK Hayes did NOT react in the same way that the person in the article you quoted did. TK Hayes researched the situation--talked to an accountant--and at a certain point decided it was time to make his own decision--regardless of what the accountants said. The person in the article you quoted appeared not to even know that he was still a US citizen when the IRS contacted him. Not keeping up to date on every nuance of the US tax code when you don't even live in the US anymore is one thing. But not to even know whether you are still a US citizen or not is something else--and a situation I find it difficult to believe a responsible, intelligent adult would allow themselves to get into. "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

SSN's weren't typically assigned at birth 40-55 years ago. In the 80's or 90's it began to be required for a child/infant to have an SSN for the parents to claim them on their tax returns--so that is when it began to become common to apply for SSN's for infants. Before then there was no real need for someone really young to have one. I know that in high school we were encouraged to apply for SIN's even if we weren't working a part time job yet--because it would eventually be required and one might as well get it out of the way. I'm guessing that people typically applied for SSN's at a similar age in the US before the tax deduction rules came in. "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

I'm not sure if you are referring here to my comments or to someone else's. I, myself, was responding to the situation described in the article you quoted--which was referring to someone who moved to Canada apparently as an ADULT, not a teenager. It looks like he was a young adult just finishing up his PhD, but he was an adult nevertheless. Yes I expect an adult to educate themselves on these kinds of responsibilities. Moving internationally is a serious decision and I certainly think it is reasonable to expect an adult to think through the consequences of such a decision. Understand that I have no problem with someone researching the rules, deciding that the rules are unfair and abusive, and making the decision to ignore the rules and living with any consequences. It's not even taking the time to figure out what the rules are--for a tenured professor at a Canadian university not to even know whether they are still a US citizen or not--that I find hard to understand when someone has made the decision to emigrate as an adult. For someone who is a teenager when they emigrate--and who is moving because of their parents' decision, not their own--one would not expect the same adult level of responsibility. In that case the parents should be researching the consequences of the move, both for themselves and their children. But if the parents fail to do so, I would still expect that as that person reaches adulthood, they would eventually research whether they are still a citizen of their birth country and, if so, whether they still have any responsibilities to that country. How they choose to respond to those responsibilities--ignore them, follow through, whatever--is their own decision. It just really surprises me that someone wouldn't take the time to find out where they stand. Isn't there a warning in Canadian passports stating that Canadians born in another country may still be citizens of that country--and should understand the responsibilities of that dual citizenship before traveling abroad? "It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014