livendive

Man, that's a lotta steaks! Wonder what his fall rate would be like. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

For some reason, this sounds dirty... Ahh...so it isn't just me. Yeah, yeah...it was my first reaction too. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Yes the guys I skied with who could do it always said it wasn't that difficult; It's just that you were going so damn fast that every fall was spectacular. We didn't have the side boom, so I had to try to drop the ski. Dropping the ski wasn't that bad, but everything that happened in the split second afterward was. I have exactly one day of barefoot attempts under my belt. My wrecks were so spectacular that despite no *serious* injuries, I wasn't relieved of all the bruises, aches, and pains till several weeks later. The look of determined terror on my face every time I was actually up for a second or two stands out in every picture (all of which have since been destroyed). Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

What makes you think they jeapordized lives by not performing properly under stress? You are clearly ignorant of PTSD and the men who suffer from it. Let me tell you this, if you met my friends and brothers who torture themselves day in and day out, and you had the quality of character it takes to get close enough to hear their stories, cowardice would be the last thing you would accuse them of. Personally, I don't care if PTSD cases get Purple Hearts. The medal is not an award for performance, it's a sign of gratitude for sacrifice. Clearly, the prevailing opinion here is that some sacrifices aren't as deserving as others, and I suppose I'd agree with that to some extent. I wouldn't disqualify a class of injuries based on their visibility though. I have in my office a purple heart and a silver star, among several others. My grandfather was awarded both as a result of his time at Guadal Canal. His performance in earning that silver star make me proud. His luck in surviving the wound that made him eligible for the purple heart would be appreciated (by me) regardless of whether or not he'd gotten a medal. Still, I think it's almost required of any civilization deserving of that classification that they give out tangible thanks to those who've had harm come to them while serving in their countrymen's stead. In my opinion, those who suffer from PTSD deserve at least as much gratitude as those who've gotten a shrapnel wound in the buttock. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

??? Care to expound? lots of SF parents talk the tolerance line, and then send their kids to private schools. Many other examples of hypocritical nimby'isms. This assumes the reason parents send their students to private school is to avoid socialization with children belonging to different ethnic or socioeconomic groups. Would you say that's also why some parents send their kids to the best colleges they can afford? Personally, the only things I ever considered with regard to public or private schools for my daughter were cost and quality of education. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

That all sounds good to me, with the exception that I'm not horribly opposed to limited global treaties. Like it or not, we have to share this planet with others, and sometimes I think we ought to compromise to reach agreements that are good for the whole community. Edit to add: Also I want a Congress that isn't a bunch of pushovers. The executive branch has grabbed far too much power in recent decades. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

And that is exactly why I will be voting republican in the next election. Democratic congress + republican executive = only the really important shit gets done and nobody runs amok with their own agenda. While I haven't ever actually used a vote in that manner, I completely agree with the sentiment and have stated as much here during previous elections. Unfortunately in this case, I don't think I can do it. I want a true statesman in the white house dealing with foreign policy matters. Congress can't tell the Executive what he can and cannot say to other countries. Another saber-rattler would be disastrous, so I'll risk the possibility of some domestic social "reform" to ensure we have more wisdom than bravado. I'm surprised you'll be voting for McCain, given the number of supreme court jurists he'll potentially be appointing. You think the DNC controlled Congress will be able to sufficiently moderate his appointments? Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Those are some pretty big qualifiers there. If my girlfriend and I had been married last year instead of "living in sin", we'd have paid somewhere around $8,000 less in taxes (and this doesn't take into account the fact that we'd also be getting twice as much "stimulus" money). Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Perhaps those people should have first changed the Constitution before they voted for a piece of legislation that didn't pass Constitutional muster. On 9/15/01, an emergency referendum banning the practice of Islam in the US might have gotten a majority vote, but that wouldn't have made it constitutionally legitimate. At any given time, enough people might be motivated to vote in favor of a nationwide CCW ban. It would of course be subsequently struck down by virtue of the second amendment. Presumably you'd be ok with courts overturning that piece of passed legislation. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Ba-dum-dum... Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

One plane taxiing, one plane landing, a couple drinks and some small talk, followed by a quickie on the tarmac...that's just plane disgusting. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

You are making an unstated argument that a person has an obligation to impose their sense of right and wrong on others. I do not believe it would be "right" for ME to marry another man, but that does not mean that I should stop two men who believe differently. (Note there is a substantial distinction between right/wrong and moral/immoral) Laws should protect victims and the vulnerable. What consenting adults choose to do with each other is neither my nor your business. The government certainly should not discriminate on the basis of who people decide to commit themselves to. I'll go back to your first sentence. Everyone should be accountable for what they believe to be right and wrong. As with anything, not everyone will agree on what is right and wrong, and that's just fine. So you be held accountable for what you believe to be right and wrong, and let women who promise love, monogamy, and flannel Tuesdays with other women be accountable for their decisions too. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

To whose morals do you refer? I'm fairly certain there are more than a few moral muslims with more than one wife. In any case, nobody is changing the definition of *your* marriage. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

It's pretty much exactly what I've been advocating for years. The government should never ask nor care who is "married". Responsibilities, privileges, taxes, and benefits assigned or recognized by the government should not differentiate between heterosexuals and homosexuals, nuns and priestesses, or anything else of the sort. Marriage should be whatever the parties involved want it to be (most commonly a religous ritual) and none of the government's business. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

I kid you not...the Democrats tried to fund the war into next year and the Republicans blocked the funding. Unpatriotic bastards...someone needs to show them the door. America - Love it or leave it! Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

I got an email from the Paul campaign last night talking about closing up shop in our state in anticipation of our state convention. I wrote a short reply to the director of his campaign in our state. The gist of my message was that although he was unlikely to listen, I sincerely hoped she would encourage him to run as a third party candidate. And I spelled out why, from this Libertarian's point of view, Obama is more desirable than Barr or McCain. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Turtle asked me where he could find a movie about vaginal teeth and I figured this was as good a place as any to answer. DrDive, Ladydyver, TheStepchild and I watched this and laughed, cringed, and groaned together at the DZ last weekend. Talk about a unique concept for a "mainstream" movie! Teeth! (vagina dentata) Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Eclairs? I'll take one anytime and leave the donuts for the cops!

I know what you are Gareth...and you sure as hell are a closer fit to a Libertarian than any of the far righties here who proclaim they are. The fact remains that over the years I have seen a preponderance of so called self pronounced "Libertarians" here who have been the staunchest of supporters for any right wing incompetence that Bush and his cronies have dreamt up to fuck over the american people. Which version am I? Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Is *that* where the "Chauffeur of YETI ASS" sigline comes from? If anyone has recent knowledge of Bolas' ass, its gotta be Shane. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Not in the least. In my opinion, it's our best option. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Do we think he'll actually lift off this time? And if so, what's the over/under on altitude he achieves? Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Why shouldn't John the Ditchdigger get a wider, more comfortable seat and the chance to get on and off the plane first? I'll bet John works as hard or harder than Joe the CEO does. What makes Joe more worthy of physical comfort than John? First of all, it's not about being "worthy" of first class seats. First class seats inherently carry higher fixed and variable costs. In order to recoup those costs, they should go to those willing (and able) to pay the difference. Why would Joe want to pay for an upgrade to first class if he knows John is going to get it instead of himself? Second, it's quite common for people to opine that those with better jobs don't work their asses off to get them or to keep them. IIRC, you're going to school...that's work. I've got a pretty good job, and I worked my ass off to get it, working better than full-time while also taking as many as 25 credits at once. I now work about 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 6 months out of the year, and more than 40 hours a week in the other 6 months. I do this so I can afford nicer things. If I could get them by simply being nice (except when bitching about having to work a Saturday for only time and a half when I could get double time on a Sunday), I'd go be a handy-man in a heartbeat...as would most anyone. Suddenly there'd be a lot fewer college-educated professionals in our society. In my opinion, if John the Ditchdigger wants nicer things than digging ditches will get him, he should do more difficult work that pays better. You prove the point. As long as we agree that the way it is is the way it should always be and nothing we can do will change it, it won't change. Some rich and powerful people aren't asshats. Some working class people are. How about rewarding people for not being asshats instead of for having a lot of money? I like nice people far more than I like asshats, but when it comes time to pay my monthly bills, my creditors won't accept the compliments I've received. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Much congratulations! Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)