Ion01

Hey! You ever seen a movie where someone jumps out of a moving vehicle? Notice that they don't try to slide but roll instead. Same thing here.

Hey! i am glad you got things worked out. I was having some problems with my practice pulls because i wasn't having fun. I wanted to move on so bad and was so afraid of messing up I would get really nervous and end up doing what I didn't want to do....mess up! I knew what I was supposed to do and what I was doing wrong I just couldn't relax and my desire was getting the best of me. Once I decided, with the advice of my instructor, to just say screw it and have fun everything just happened right! The first time after he told me that he noticed I was getting nervous on the way up and he said, "look you know what to do, just think, how cool is this! I am jumping out of a airplane." Seriously, that is what I think about on the way up and when we get to altitude I am focused, exited, and ready to go. Anyways, I did 4 jumps over the weekend and my 4 was my first clear and pull and it was the most amazing thing I have ever done. Its really a mental game more than anything. I had been through the frustrations and had a few more practice pulls than others but none of that matters now that I did it and it was all more than worth it. I almost feel stupid for getting so frustrated in the first place. Anyways, just keep having fun. No matter what you doing something that so few do and you are adding another jump to your jump number every time! THIS IS THE COOLEST MOST AMAZING SPORT EVER!!!!!!!![:)

Memorable for me was my first time to jump as a tandem student, not because it was my first jump but because it was also on the 3 day of my honeymoon and my wife was jumping too! She had taken the time to find a place near where we were going. She new I had always wanted to skydive but had never had just not gotten around to it. Anwyays, it went great and we got video. Her tandem instructor was great as he was cracking jokes the whole time and just made it so fun. Anyways, that was almost 4 months ago and I now have 7 staticline jumps and am hoping to do my first actual pull tomorrow!

Everyone wants change right? Well, this seems like she actually changes things. If shes the mayor then shes the boss so it should be her way. I expect that from my employees. This also shows that she is not swayed by peoples thoughts and opinions but will take the necessary measures to accomplish what she believes needs to be done. Is Obama going to get ripped like this if he goes in as president and gets rid of a bunch of republicans? No that would be what is expected of him. The same would go the opposite direction for her and this is just proof that she will actually do it. This is simply confirmation that she is doing her job as boss and changing things. If I just did whatever my employees wanted and didn't get rid of those who wouldn't carry out my commands and hire those that will then I am not a good boss.

The company is completely wrong in thier actions. Please read title VII of the civil rights act before commenting on this issue in regards to what the law actually says on this matter. Opinions on what you think the law should be is one matter but what the law actually is is here:http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/vii.html Here is one of the key aspects of the Law:(j) The term ``religion'' includes all aspects of religious observance and practice, as well as belief, unless an employer demonstrates that he is unable to reasonably accommodate to an employee's or prospective employee's religious observance or practice without undue hardship on the conduct of the employer's business. This shows that a company must accommodate the employee's religious practices unless it brings "undue hardship" on the employeer. I don't see how moving their breaktime to sundown would cause undue hardship on the company.

Try again. Blues, Dave Wow, if that is all you have as a responces (no evidence or references, just a statement that I am supposed to believe with a blind faith) then I am convinced.....

Actually the fatal leap of logic is to conclude that natural forces can accomplish, over millions of years, something that we cannot accomplish in any lab even with the help or aid of the scientist. It is not science unless it is observable (we have yet to observe any evolution) and testable (we have yet to test evolutionary processes in the lab). Lets also keep in mind that any test that could be conducted or have been attempted ultimately require the input or control of the scientist which would ultimately point to some being controlling the evolutionary process if evolution actually happened. "With time anything is possible. This myth is the ultimate argument of those who attempt to "explain" the origin of the Cosmos and all life by CHANCE and the natural properties of matter and energy. Evolutionists hope that by invoking immense amounts of time, highly improbable events can somehow be made probable. But with this type of argument it is possible to "explain" ANYTHING. We've all heard it said, for example, that "given enough monkeys and enough typewriters, EVENTUALLY one of them is bound to type the sonnets of Shakespeare error free." But this outrageous myth violates the statistical foundation on which all modern science rests. Statistically controlled experiments are useless if we do not assume that highly improbable events simply do not occur. The probability of any event which has a known number of possible outcomes can be calculated quite easily. The probability of rolling a particular number on a die, for example, is one chance out of six (the total number of possible sides) or 1/6. The probability of getting TWO particular numbers on two successive rolls of the die is 1/6 x 1/6 or 1/36, which is to say you would expect to succeed once in 36 rolls. What then is the probability of randomly selecting the appropriate letters and spaces from a Scrabble set to spell "THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION"? There are 26 different letters and a space in the alphabet (total 27) and there is a total of 23 of these letters and spaces in our sentence. The probability of spelling this sentence without error by blindly drawing and replacing letters from our 27 character set is calculated by multiplying 1/27 x 1/27 x 1/27 .... 23 times. The answer reveals that we would expect to spell this simple sentence correctly by CHANCE approximately ONCE IN 8 HUNDRED MILLION, TRILLION, TRILLION draws!! If we drew and replaced letters at the rate of a billion a second we would expect to succeed once in 26 THOUSAND, TRILLION YEARS!! Now the simplest living organism is so vastly more complex than our simple sentence, that we have no way of really calculating its probability. If, however, we consider just one one particular protein of average size (say 500 amino acids) from among the thousands of proteins in a living organism, we can easily calculate the probability of forming it by CHANCE. Proteins are made of a tightly linked chain of amino acids. There are only 20 different amino acids used in the proteins of ALL living organisms and they are arranged in a linear sequence much like the letters of a long paragraph. Assuming an inexhaustible supply of each of the 20 different amino acids, the probability calculation would be 1/20 x 1/20 x 1/20 ... 500 times. The number of possible combinations of the amino acids in this protein is 1 with over 600 zeros after it! Even if we were to begin with the proper mixture of 500 amino acids to make our particular protein, we could never get the correct sequence for them by CHANCE. Even if the entire universe were packed tight with computers the size of electrons, each trying a billion combinations of our 500 amino acids a second, we could sample only an infinitesimally small fraction of all of the possible combinations in 300 billion years! Even if every medium sized protein molecule that ever existed on earth were ALL DIFFERENT, our vast "fleet" of busy computers could not be expected to come up with the combination of amino acids in ANY ONE OF THEM in a mere 300 billion years!! What all this means is that if the whole of evolution were reduced to the question of the probability of forming ANY ONE biologically useful protein of average size, we could safely conclude that evolution would be a VIRTUAL IMPOSSIBILITY by reason of the fact that there would be INSUFFICIENT TIME AND MATTER IN THE UNIVERSE!!! Now calculate how much faith it takes to believe in evolution." Also, if some others will read some of the earlier links they will find the numerous problems with evolution and fossil records and other such things. Finding like lucy are such incomplete skeletons that little can be concluded from them, especially when one considers that when lucy was first introduced the scientific community wouldn't accept that it walked upright so the researcher went back to find another knee "in a location some two to three kilometers away, and in a layer of rock some 200 feet lower. Clearly, the knee does not belong with the rests, but even if they do go together, the knee is not diagnostically upright, and; points more specifically to tree-climbing abilities, according to Oxnard and other authorities." Also, if we are going to be truely scientific then why can it not also be concluded that this is just another animal which has become extinct instead of the missing link? Lets also consider, if evolution is true then Hitler was on the right track with the haulcaust and his "super race". This really is the only logical conclusion. Yes there are theories that morality of the next step in evolution, but lets remember they are only theories. Survival of the fittest is the force behind evolution. It is put as simply as if you are more fit you live and reproduce and if you are less fit you will die off. If evolution is what got us from a primordial mud to today why would it not longer work in this fasion all of a sudden? Evolution is about genetics is it not? Let use the example of breading dogs. If the slow dogs are not removed from the equation they won't get any faster. (this is also a reason the example is not in good support of evolution as it required an intelligence and not "natural forces" in the process.) So if it "refines" the gene pool and furthers evolution by removing the less fit dog why would this not apply to humans? Lets also consider that morals are ultimately abstract ideas so how can they be a product of evolution. If the idea or morals is a result of evolution then we have no free will as we are only subject to our genetics. If evolution has resulted in the idea of morals and we are only subject to them then why so many different ideas of what is actually right and wrong? If its just that the gene pool hasn't been refined yet then why not use our intelligence to clean up the gene pool like we do with dogs? Even if this results in a world war wouldn't that be a good thing as the most fit will prevail and evolution has once again done its job? Even if we destroy ourselves evolution would have certainly created life elsewhere so its not like we will be missed. There would be no afterlife so we wouldn't even no we ever existed in the first place. Since there is no afterlife wouldn't we want to make sure that our good genes went on. Hilter thought he was providing for the greater good of man by helping evolution to move forward. Yes, many people would have to die as a result but eventually there would be no more disease, genetic faults, and people would live much longer worry free lives. (How is aborting a retarded or down syndrome child any different.) The point is that by his moral which he received through evolution he was doing what was right to mankind. People get to this point and have a hard time accepting the end result. They then trace back the steps to find the flaw only they don't go back far enough. The flaw is the theory of evolution. However, if evolution is true the everything else follows. Regarding morals as a evolutionary process: "A determinist insists that both determinists and non-determinists are determined to believe what they believe. However determinists believe non-determinists are wrong and ought to change their view. But, 'ought to change' implies they are free to change, which is contrary to determinism.... CS Lewis argued that naturalistic, complete determinism is irrational. For determinism to be true there would have to be a rational basis for their thought. But if determinism is true, then there is no rational basis for thought, since all is determined by non-rational forces. So, if determinism claims to be true then it must be false." “The complete title of Darwin's most famous work, often abbreviated to The Origin of Species, was The Origin. of Species by Means of Natural Selection or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. As Koster notes about Darwin's view on race, he: 'never considered "the less civilized races" to be authentically human. For all his decent hatred of slavery, his writings reek with all kinds of contempt for "primitive" people. Racism was culturally conditioned into educated Victorians by such "scientific" parlor tricks as Morton's measuring of brainpans with BB shot to prove that Africans and Indians had small brains, and hence, had deficient minds and intellects. Meeting the simple Indians of Tierra del Fuego, Darwin wrote: "I could not have believed how wide was the difference between savage and civilized man; it is greater than between a wild and domesticated animal . . . Viewing such a man, one can hardly make oneself believe that they are fellow creatures and inhabitants of the same world."44” http://www.biblebelievers.net/CreationScience/kjcevol1.htm Racism is also ultimately true. There is no possible way that every race has evolved at the exact same rate and evolved to equal status. This is inescapable. "A determinist insists that both determinists and non-determinists are determined to believe what they believe. However determinists believe non-determinists are wrong and ought to change their view. But, 'ought to change' implies they are free to change, which is contrary to determinism.... CS Lewis argued that naturalistic, complete determinism is irrational. For determinism to be true there would have to be a rational basis for their thought. But if determinism is true, then there is no rational basis for thought, since all is determined by non-rational forces. So, if determinism claims to be true then it must be false."

Just thought I should leave you with this quote from Darwin "If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down..." (remember irreducible complexity?)

www.designinference.com/ http://www.icr.org/ http://www.icr.org/article/242/ http://www.icr.org/index.php?module=home&action=submitsearch&f_context_any=any&f_search_type=articles&f_keyword_any=carbon+dating http://www.creationevolution.net/irreducible_complexity.htm http://www.icr.org/index.php?module=home&action=submitsearch&f_context_any=any&f_search_type=articles&f_keyword_any=evolution http://www.discovery.org/ http://www.apologetics.com http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=submitSearchQuery&query=Stephen%20C.%20Meyer&orderBy=date&orderDir=DESC&searchBy=author&searchType=all&includeBlogPosts=true "To say intelligent causes are empirically detectable is to say there exist well-defined methods that, on the basis of observational features of the world, are capable of reliably distinguishing intelligent causes from undirected natural causes. Many special sciences have already developed such methods for drawing this distinction-notably forensic science, cryptography, archeology, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (as in the movie Contact).... Whenever these methods detect intelligent causation, the underlying entity they uncover is information. Intelligent Design properly formulated is a theory of information. Within such a theory, information becomes a reliable indicator of intelligent causation as well as a proper object for scientific investigation. Intelligent Design thereby becomes a theory for detecting and measuring information, explaining its origin, and tracing its flow. Intelligent Design is therefore not the study of intelligent causes per se, but of informational pathways induced by intelligent causes." The point here is that we, maybe I should just say “I”, don't come the a creator as the answer in the way your question details. I use the same methods as an forensic science, cryptography, archeology, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence does. I have found the simplest question that works in all areas - Can natural forces create what I have found? If I have found a piece of fire hardened clay with a carving in it I can easily concluded that it was created; Same with a painting in a cave; Same with an electric motor, which many hold as one of the biggest signs of our scientifically advanced society. When we look in some cells we find an electric motor called a flagella. Why can we not conclude that it was created? Are you familiar with irreducible complexity and Meyer? Here is his site to help http://www.discovery.org/a/3408 Also, as stated in the quote, information is also a key. If we received a series of radio wave pulses from outer space which could be interpreted into a single sentence such as “We are here” everyone would conclude that aliens sent the message, and rightfully so. We now know of something called DNA which contains so much information that it results in beings, such as us, which are more complex than anything we have every created or even imagined. Just as an archeologist would do, we conclude from such evidence that we were created. This is sound science. On the other hand evolution requires that you not only ignore such evidence but that you simply have faith (a greater faith than I could ever have) that one day we will find a way to explain how DNA and the Flagella Motor can come about. Yes there are a lot of theories. Do they have a good foundation in observation and experimentation? I can theorize that invisible knomes do my work while I am at home. I may even give all kinds of “evidence” such as the simple fact that when I leave work and set the alarm there is no one left at work and when I get there the next day my spread sheet is on my pc and is done. I, of course, have over look many details in the formulation of my theory such as my computer is connected to a network and can be accessed by other employees who have the same job as I do. Anyways, I think you see my point. People can develop all kinds of ideas but unless they are based in the real world in which we live and takes all evidence into consideration they are nothing more than ideas. Here is something else regarding evolution as science: http://www.icr.org/article/773/ So please look at your own statement and take a body of facts (not assumptions and theories and false evidence) and come to a rational, truely scientific decision. Regarding fossils, if you will read some of the above material you will find that fossils actually provide a huge challenge for evolution such as partically fossilized dinosaur bones with DNA present in blood cells, that they are found near the surface, the cambrian explosion just for starters. So the fact that you do believe in evolution enough to call you a unscientific, irrational, illogical, closeminded idiot? (I am not actually calling you this just making a point regarding labels and name calling.)

If you got out of the twists why did you have to cut away? Just curious.

Obviously it would all depend on the situation but I think one thing that should be considered: Which is worse? Have someone pissed and you and maybe hurt your reputation or someone die that you know you could have saved? I, of course, have only 7 jumps so I really can't provide any input regarding this particular situation but I sure would hope that even if I had 10,000 jumps that if the only solution were to take action that would save my life that someone would take do it and not worry about me being mad later or them having their reputation hurt. (of course, it better actually save me and not make matters worse. )

I would still like a direct answer to this question: Why should a innocent person DIE (the unborn child) because someone else did something wrong? Also, abstinence did work for both me and my wife. I am also not advicating it be enforced by law.

I won't waste my time in replying to this as you obviously have a minimal understanding of the Bible and the relations between the old and new testaments. Simply put the old testament is no longer in effect and no longer governs gods people.

I found the best way to deal with fear is education. Learning about all the different possible malfunctions and situations, what caused them, and (most importantly) how to deal with them removes the fear because fear is usually a result of the unknown. Also, people often have misconceptions regarding the actual risks. Once you are educated and trained the fear is greatly reduced if not removed.

Just a couple of comments: The constitution or bill of rights never says seperation of church and state. That phrase came from a letter by Thomas Jefferson which basically said that is what he wanted stated. Second, this country is founded on the idea that we have rights because they were god given. Without this it is simply survival of the fittest and there are no morals. This does not mean that the country is run by religion and does not mean that muslims or buddist aren't as free as anyone else.

A couple of things: A rape victim: Why should a innocent person DIE (the unborn child) because someone else did something wrong? Also, if one murders a pregnant persone they are charged for the murder of two so even according to the law abortion should be murder. As for palin's congregation praying for gays: They would be praying for them out of compassion and care beause they want everyone to be saved. Acts 26:29And Paul said, "I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains." God loves everyone but, as you can see here, not everyone will be saved. Thats according to God, not palin or the congregation she attends. But, just like God, she and her congregation cares for all people and wants everyone to be saved and, as a result, they pray for them. Once, again, it is out of love and compassion for all people that they pray. Also, abstinence is not an unrealistic idea. All because some cannot restrain themselves doesn't mean nobody can! Finally, simply because someone attends church and beleives in God does not make them a nut. Science ultimately points to a creator as it is simply inescapable. http://books.google.com/books?id=Wg66gWttf-cC&dq=the+case+for+a+creator+by+lee+strobel&pg=PP1&ots=kcg3-rlWKr&sig=G2Exfo19V3lPFUt0meYU7nahnyM&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result www.designinference.com/ http://www.nwcreation.net/videos/ http://www.icr.org/ http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/behe.html http://www.expelledthemovie.com http://www.discovery.org/csc/ Non-creation: http://www.thunderbolts.info/home.htm http://www.holoscience.com/ http://www.rense.com/general53/bbng.htm

Well, I got my pull this weekend and if I get my next one this next weekend I will be doing my own pulls!! 2 Keys to my success. 1. The instructor made my dummy chute for the pull so it didn't fall out in the wind. 2. relaxing! This is such a high energy sport that relaxing really is one of the best things one can do. I have noticed that in alot of different areas discussed here when people are having difficulty they are simply told to relax. It really makes that big of a difference! My instructor, who is incredible by the way, talked to me quite a bit before going up. I, of course, have been taking the attitude that no matter what happens I am still making a jump, so that helps. He told me that once I make my way to the wing and am hanging, and once he gives me the go ahead, to just hang for a second or two and take a big breath and relax, go over what I have to do in my head and take my time to execute it. Also, on the way up he asked if I was ready, I said yep, then he was like "dude, your getting ready to jump out of a plane, how cool is that! Come on...are you ready!" So I answered "I"M READY!!!" This was the best advice I could have been given. Its not that I am scared or anything but this being such a high energy event you really have to relax. Taking a second and breath while hanging and taking my time to execute made it almost too easy! Thats another thing, taking your time and enjoying the experience. While it is happening it may feel like you are taking forever but your brain is actually moving so fast because of the exitement that you are still acting fast even though you think you are going slow. I thought I had taken entirely to long to get the pull but when I got on the ground he said I got it really fast. Anyways, I can't wait for next saterday. We talked and I will get there early and if it takes all day he said he will have me pulling by the end of the day. Of course if I do as good as this last time I will be pulling before the end of the day! P.S. Relaxing also makes the jump a lot more fun. I think this was the most fun jump I have done so far!

I just wonder why its a bad thing that men and women are different? Why can't we be different and celebrate our differences? We are all given the same opportunities so in that sense we are all veiwed equal but I am not equal to the next guy or girl. That doesn't mean that, as a whole I am better or they are better just that they may be better at one thing and I may be better at another. It all comes down to a simple word = respect! As far as the banning goes, there is this thing called freedom, and that also means that people are free to be sexist even if its wrong. As for comercials showing a girl with a lawnmower, this would simply alienate the target group who, coincidentally and not because of sexists, are predominantly men. Its that plain and simple. Besides, how does forcing them to have a woman sell a mower any better? Either portrail can be viewed as sexist and be offensive to someone. Besides, someone somewhere will be offended no matter what is said or done. On top of that, when has it become the governments job to ensure people aren't offended? I have the right to say or do what I want and no matter what I say or do people will be offended.....and I may get offended that you are offended...so who has to stop what they are doing in this situation? I am offended that you may call me sexist because I said that men and women are different, so should the government shut you up? On another note, one of my soap boxes is the fact that models and celebs photos are so highly altered that, even with surgery none could actually look the way they are portrayed. I know because I studied this as part of my degree in graphic arts. I had to learn how to make these alterations to photos. It makes me angery that girls are given a completely impossible concept of beauty and frankly, what the industry sometimes puts forth as beautiful is sometimes revolting like the anorexic stoner look! However, is it the governments job to stop this? NO!! It is the governements job to govern the country not the thoughts of the people which make up the country! A government should have its limits regarding where its power can reach because without limits the only end result is total power and total control.

Thats kind of why I chose static line. The first few jumps there is actually very little to think about. That way you can concentrate on each aspect of the jump as you progress instead of having to deal with everything right from the start. Now that I know I can handle things on my own once under canopy its a lot easier to think about what I have to do before it opens.

Those are great stories! I can't wait to get back up and try it again but I can't go this weekend. I will hopefully get a couple in next weekend though. I have so much fun flying the canopy that not doing any real freefall isn't that big a deal right now, especially since I am off the radio. I think the funnest thing about training in this sport is the sense of accomplishment. Each step I take twards my liscence is exiting!

Thanks for the replies. We are using crate paper with knots tied on each end. I was going to make the knots bigger on the next one so it doesn't fall out. Of course even if I keep missing it I still get to keep jumping and piloting my chute so as long as I am still jumping there really isn't anything to complain about.

Maybe I am wanting to progress faster than I am but my last three jumps were pretty frustrating. They were all practice pulls in the stactic line style training. The first one I reached back, had a little trouble finding the knotted line I was supposed to pull and throw, but I found it as soon as I felt it it fell out and went flying past me. I was a little down but it was only my first attempt. My second one was really my fault. I found it and pulled it but my body position was not good when I finally got it so it didn't count. My third was the same as the first. I found it almost immediately but it fell out! The falling out thing is really frustrating me. Of course the other part is that your chute is already coming out so the bag has moved up and without the chute in the bag the place where the pilot chute normally goes, that I am reaching for, is flopping around. Anyways, is it normally this frustrating or am I just being impatient about my progress. I think I am wanting to progess to fast as I am on jump number 6, I just don't want to feel like I am behind. On the upside my 6th jump was off of the radio. I flew back myself in the pattern and did a great stand up landing that was slow enough that I only took to steps forward before stopping. Anyways, are the practice pulls always this frustrating and does it usually take a few jumps before you get it?

A lot of good discussion here. I have to say it doesn't make a lot of sense to me to spend a twice as much money if there is actually less protection.

Well, I only have 3 jumps so I haven't had to chop yet. Last night I did have a dream that I was doing a training jump and had to demonstrate a cutaway. Its kindof funny because I distinctly remember going through the steps I was trained to do in my dream. Look, grab, arch, pull right, pull left. I even reminded myself, in my dream, to be sure to hook my thumb through the reserve handle.

thanks for all the input! I was also looking at full face motorcycle helmets that are for crotch rockets and they actually run about the same price. Anyways, I will get me one of the protec helmets and then I may save for a nice full face skydiving helmet. Of course I only have a few jumps so my wants may change by the time I get licensed so starting with something cheap will be nice so I don't get something expensive only to find later that its not really what I prefer.