RhondaLea

Oh come on..............even beginner stalkers should be doubling or tripling that number. I'm only three behind him. He sent 16; I sent back 13. I'm in debt for three. (Look at me, look at me!! I can add. ) My wrists hurt. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I do have more questions. But they require paragraphs, not one-liners, and my wrists hurt...because I'm posting too damn much. But it's nice of you to call them pearls.

And women think we can read their minds. No we don't. But we do think that when you've been bad, you should own up to it instead of playing the "What's wrong, honey? What did I do?" game. That's where the trouble always starts--when men try to act innocent, even though they know before they do it that the action they're about to take is going to cause the roof to come off the house. Something about lack of impulse control... If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I've sent you 13 PMs in less than 24 hours. Are you a glutton or what? Not to mention that sometimes I should think before I write. And that part of your post I didn't quote...I'm ignoring it. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

The first 90 days of most jobs are a trial period where you get to look at them and they get to look at you. Firings and quits during that time are generally perceived on both sides as being a failure of "fit," which is why there is a trial period to begin with. I understand that with a friend involved it isn't so easy, but he sees this all the time, and if he's a professional, he knows it's better for you to take the job that suits you, rather than staying in a job where you're going to be unhappy. He will find someone else to fill the position--it's what he does, after all--and all will be well. In the days of corporate loyalty, things were a little different, but the companies themselves changed the ethics, so it's not for you to follow an old standard that holds no meaning in today's world. My answer to you is that nothing you're doing is wrong. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

That is one of my pet peeves..........Gee, you don't think she' going to see the 1Messages? It's a guy thing. They always think women need explicit, specific instruction. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Uh...your creditors still get paid from your estate, y'know...unless, of course, you don't have anything. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Rather than "often," it's "most of the time." I've rarely seen an article that didn't make the even the smartest people I know look a little stupid. And even if I (and everyone who knows them) understand they didn't say it the way it was written, it's still out there for public consumption. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I hope you're aware of elective share law. It's not all going to the kids if your wife elects to take against the will. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

835 from 1980 to date in North America alone. 699 from 1996 to date worldwide. 1980 and 1981 were bad years, as was 1998, but the numbers from other years are pretty consistent. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I don't think it has anything to do with anonymity. Some people have good reasons for not filling out their profiles. That said, if it's a PM critical of a post, it belongs in the thread. If the PM sender doesn't have the balls to post his opinion publicly, he is not worthy of attention, completed profile or not. You may now return to the nonsense this thread has become.

The only correct answer to the question. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

No. I didn't. We just see things differently. I agree with this. What I'm saying, however, is that when they don't, you help them anyway. Observers always have an idea of why someone else's life or plans went wrong and how it could've been prevented. But all the renditions in the world of "I told you so" aren't going to do much for someone who is at the end of their rope. Me, I've been at the end of my rope. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I'll grant you--there are some people who need to go to the gutter before they'll get help for themselves. That's an entirely different situation. And only you can decide if what you do makes you an enabler or if you're simply helping someone who made a mistake or is down on their luck. I don't know that anyone I've ever helped has "expected" the help. "Surprised and grateful" describes it much better. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Y'know, I only remember jumping a few times without insurance. Most of the time I was jumping (even when I was working for the dz), I had a pretty good health plan. It even paid for my one skydiving-related accident that required a hospital visit. But the judgment that people should have insurance isn't the same discussion as the one about what we do for our skydiving family when the shit hits the fan, and mixing the two discussions just isn't right. There are a lot of people--especially those who have been in the sport for a long time--who are pretty disconnected from the "real world." We did a benefit for one of 'em here in DeLand a few years ago, and I think we raised nearly $50k. In my mind, with what the beneficiary of that largess has done for and within the sport over the years...well, I figure he earned it. Some people pay forward, some pay back. You never know what outcomes will be. Me, I've been in a couple of situations where I've felt compelled to donate the grocery money. The reason for that is the person who would benefit from that money was in a whole lot worse situation than me. Or there was a child left fatherless or motherless. Or...something. Once I won a sizable sum in a 50/50 benefit for a dead skydiver's child. The amount I won was almost the exact amount I was short that month. It was hard to explain to my daughter why I donated that money back to the fund for the half-orphaned kid, but in the end, she seemed to understand my reasoning. And at the end of that month, I ended up not being short after all. Funny thing. I don't routinely give to charity. I buy coupons for the food bank at the grocery store because it's local and it feels right. Otherwise, I give when it strikes me that giving is worthwhile, and I don't stop to ask myself if someone had insurance or if they are worthy or if they did enough to protect their own interests, because the fact is that as we go through life, we all get into places where it seems like there's nowhere to go. And when that happens, one hand reaching out can be the difference between life and death. And then, too, there's karma. Because what I've found is that people remember the strangest things. And when the shit hits your own fan, you may find yourself surprised by who remembers something you did so long ago that you don't even remember it yourself. Or it may just be that because you are the sort of person who gives when there's need, you find that you are given when you're needy. I've had some really bad years in my life, but I've never gone hungry, and I've never gone without anything I've really needed, even if I've had to do without things I've wanted. But if having things I want means neglecting someone who has touched my life--for whatever reason--in a time of need...well, I 'spect I'd never enjoy it much anyway. I don't really understand how it all works. All I know is that if it feels right to me, I give. And the circumstances that surround the need are irrelevant. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

A few months out of date at the moment. Hoping to catch up soon. Stop dying people. :'-( That would be the best solution. You've done a great job holding down the fort, Craig, but it would be better if there were no fort. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Most recently, it was to make Brigitta and Thunder happy. They think they're famous...and it made their daddy laugh. The rest of the time, it's just about a particular post I've made or mood I'm in. Generally, I take a really shitty picture--I'm not the photogenic type. If I had one that I really liked... I'd probably change it anyway. note to Sudsy (just to keep it on-topic): Skydive Cross Keys a/k/a Freefall Adventures is not known as SDCK. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

And when capitalized, it stands for "Real Life," something I'm fast losing sight of because I spend so much time "here." Note to Sudsy: I have a usenet group for ya: alt.peeves. Note to sinker: What's with the fast-cycling avatars? Note to self: Stop posting. Stop posting now. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I'm with you. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Are you addressing me or is this a general gripe? I think he was changing the topic from "Abbreviation Pet Peeves" to "General Pet Peeves." That said, Skydive DeLand is SDI: "Skydive DeLand, Inc." Not everyone is totally illiterate. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

"Remember when you were a little kid and your dad would toss you wayyyyyyy up in the air...?" All in all, base jumpers have never made a great showing for the media. Even the most intelligent and articulate among you somehow manage to get your words mangled. One of my favorite misquotes was the ('96 or was it '97? I have all those years mixed up in my mind...) BD interview with Nik that had him talking about "the strange eroticism of death." A lot of people wondered "who the %&#$ is this guy?" It didn't take them long to find out.

Skydiving Fatalities 1963 through 1997 I had to go to archive.org to get this. I think Kallend may have additional information. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

This is a little off the topic, but in hunting for the graph, I found this little nugget: http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil/media/seashore/issues/fall05/pdf/skydiving.pdf About 30 people die annually in parachuting accidents in the United States, or roughly one person per 100,000 jumps. According to U.S. Parachute Association (USPA) statistics, 1998 was the worst year on record for U.S. skydiving fatalities, with 44. The numbers in subsequent years were as follows: 1999 – 27, 2000 – 32, 2001 – 35, 2002 – 33, 2003 – 25, 2004 – 23. To put those numbers in perspective, consider that roughly 40,000 people die each year in traffic accidents in the United States. That’s 1.7 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles. Therefore, if you drive 10,000 miles a year, your chance of dying in a car crash is something like 1 in 6,000. You would have to jump 17 times per year for your risk of dying in a skydiving incident to equal your risk of dying in a car wreck if you drive 10,000 miles a year. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

And a heartfelt thank you to our veterans for everything they've sacrificed on our behalf. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Craig picked up and ran with Barry's database, so the years from 1995 to date are available. (Thank you, Craig. Thank you, Barry.) I have seen a graph somewhere that shows fatalities going back to the late 70s-early 80s, but I can't find it now. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

http://www.compfused.com/directlink/982/ It's a repost of the guy hitting the pole.