livendive

This hints at my suspicion...that a fundamental sense of morality is built into the human animal as a means of propogating the species. Just out of curiousity though, what do you mean by "productive" relationships? Edit to add...in retrospect, I'm not answering my own question. The survival of the species thing is why I suspect we are relatively moral creatures, and not necessarily why we should be moral. I guess I mostly agree. I think most of us recognize that immoral (as opposed to amoral) people do not lead happy, mentally healthy lives. Amoral people may be perfectly happy, though they will almost certainly qualify as insane. The question then becomes a bit deeper. Do we classify an amoral person as insane solely because our definition of sanity includes an inate sense of morality? OK, I disagree with this one on two points. Obviously I don't believe we have a "creator" and I doubt you're referring to our parents. But additionally, if I were to accept that such a creator exists, how would a person being moral, immoral, or amoral change the intended relationship between him/her and their creator? If a man commits an immoral act, how does that upset the intended relationship between him and his God? Aw what the heck, 2 out of 3 ain't bad. :-) Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

I've had several arguments with religious people who believed that there can be no morality without God. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

A good point that touches on the hows of consequentialist morality (egoism versus utilitarianism) but doesn't explain "why" humans should subscribe to either tenet. Why should people respect themselves and/or others? Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Talk about blind faith. You equate the probability of Bush losing his temper to that of space aliens abducting and experimenting on rednecks? People are fallible and power corrupts. It seems entirely plausible that Bush could throw a temper tantrum if someone wouldn't give him what he wants. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

How do you know it is true? I don't. For that reason I have not claimed it to be true or fictional. Cool. You're entitled to believe whatever you want. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

I'm taking an ethics class and we came across this question last night. At first it sounded simple to answer, but the more I thought about it the more complicated it became. I've got a general thought on the subject now, but I'm wondering what the rest of you think? Please read the question carefully before answering. Note it refers to people as a whole, not me, you, or any other specific person. I'm particularly interested in answers that are more complex than "because God commands us to". Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Why can't two people make the same promise without the piece of paper, especially if they don't intend to raise children together? Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

The government has an interest in the continued production of new citizens (i.e. taxpayers). When most of the "breaks for being married" originated creating new citizens outside of marriage was, according to society, a bad thing. New citizens cost money to raise. Many of the "breaks" seem to me to be intended to free up income so the couple can better care for their future taxpayers. By providing "breaks" for those who were married (and therefore more likely to produce 2.5 new taxpayers) the government encourages said new citizen production and ensures it's own future revenues... Note I'm not saying you're wrong, but what a crock of shit. I live in a very Mormon community. Those people have a SHITLOAD of kids (6-9 is not all that uncommon). Between public schools, using public roads to transport those kids everywhere, etc, they use substantially more tax dollars than my girlfriend and I, yet they get more tax breaks for each kid and we have to pick up the slack for them. That's bullshit. I think the tax laws should be amended to make no distinction between single and married adults, nor offer tax breaks for having kids. If people can't afford to have a kid without a tax break, they shouldn't have the kid. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

How do you know the story is fictional? Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Along those lines, putting some cellophane/saran warp/scotch tape inside the mouthpiece of his phone is always pretty funny. Every time he tries to talk to someone they're just saying "What??!" "I can't understand you?" My personal favorite costs about 5 bucks. Place a classified ad in the local paper for a garage/yard sale at the guy's house next Saturday morning starting at 7 AM. The early-birders will kick his ass! :-) For something not quite so mean, you can place an ad for a ridiculously good buy on a car, listing his home (or work) phone number. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

I'm actually very, very surprized we haven't seen any more successful large-scale operations in the US since 9/11/01, because your point above is right on. The methods by which an interested person could cause death, and for that matter real terror, are countless. I know I've had nightmares about things that would be ridiculously easy to carry out. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Of course you WILL run any advice you read on here past me or one of the other instructors before putting it to use, right Chet?!

1. Do they have a 4th of July in England? Yes 2. How many birthdays does the average man have? 1 3. Some months have 31 days; how many have 28? 12 4. A woman gives a beggar 50 cents; the woman is the beggar's sister, but the beggar is not the woman's brother. How come? The beggar is the woman's sister 5. Why can't a man living in the USA be buried in Canada? Because he's still living 6. How many outs are there in an inning? 6 7. Is it legal for a man in California to marry his widow's sister? Why? No, because he's dead 8. Two men play five games of checkers. Each man wins the same number of games. There are no ties. Explain this. They were not playing against each other 9. Divide 30 by 1/2 and add 10. What is the answer? 70 10. A man builds a house rectangular in shape. All sides have southern exposure. A big bear walks by, what color is the bear? Why? White, because he built at the north pole. 11. If there are 3 apples and you take away 2, how many do you have? 2 12. I have two U.S. coins totaling 55 cents. One is not a nickel. What are the coins? a nickel and a fifty cent piece 13. If you have only one match and you walked into a room where there was an oil burner, a kerosene lamp, and a wood burning stove, which one would you light first? The match. 14. How far can a dog run into the woods? Halfway 15. A doctor gives you three pills telling you to take one every half hour. How long would the pills last? 1 hour 16. A farmer has 17 sheep, and all but 9 die. How many are left? 9 17. How many animals of each sex did Moses take on the ark? None. He was too busy getting the 10 commandments. 18. A clerk in the butcher shop is 5' 10" tall. What does he weigh? meat 19. How many two cent stamps are there in a dozen? 12 20. What was the President's name in 1950? George Walker Bush "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

It's no freak occurence. I haven't counted the number of times a contact has flown out of my eye, but probably around a dozen times. In every single case it stuck to the inside of my goggles so I could re-wet it (gets all hard & crinkly) and pop it back in on the ground. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

It's already been done. "I support affirmative action." John Kerry, January 29, 2004 Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

That's 2 for Sock Monkey...c'mon gang - who else? Let's ELECT Sock Monkey for President! We already have a sock monkey for President. :-) Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

"In spite of the wildly speculative and false stories of arms for hostages and alleged ransom payments, we did not -- repeat did not -- trade weapons or anything else for hostages nor will we." Ronald Reagan, November 13, 1986 Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

ROFL! Blues, Dave P.S. Bush is an idiot, and a liar, and a coward. "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

But it was the liberal bias in the media that caused all his negative press? Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

How do you feel about our government basing tax, social security, and inheritance laws on religion? Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

I sent in for my falcon and eagle when I was new. I filled out/got signatures on forms for several more awards (double falcon, silver falcon, double eagle, 4-stack, 8-stack, SCR, SCS) but never sent them in...I think they're still in my logbook cover. I have not even bothered to complete the forms for my gold wings or freefall badge, however have been advised to do so by others with a lot more experience than me, so I still might. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

I'm with Diablopilot on this one. I'm now rated in all 4 methods of instruction, so the other day I looked up the I/E requirements. I'd like to get into some more bigway stuff, so I usually try to "shop" myself when jumping with big name organizers. I find my goals of being a competitive swooper and of being a good example for my students to be in conflict with each other...still trying to resolve that one but flying solid patterns in the interim. Still, other times it's just about goofing off. It was 105 degrees here yesterday, so when I got off work I went to the DZ and made a hop & pop at 10,500 with a nice cold beverage to enjoy during my descent. Nothing to learn or work towards on that jump, just relaxing and getting some air. I'd say I'm working toward something (improved skills, better student, etc) on probably 75% of my jumps, with the other 25% simply being low-pressure exercises in fun & relaxation. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Well if that's how you feel, I have no choice but to contribute the following attachment. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Weren't the posted pictures mocking the man as opposed to the office? Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

I guess so. I seem to remember the liberal GOP obsessing over a blowjob and a stained dress a few years back. Blues, Dave Differance between Liberals and Conservatives, according to your above post, is spelled out in the following: Fantasy Vs. Reality LOL! Bush=Liberal his fantasy=Lewinsky his reality=OBL Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)