RhondaLea

Do we know this AFF is safer? AFF has a statistically lower overall fatality rate (even with the adjustment for tandem usually being two fatalities in one jump). I can't find the numbers, but this used to come up periodically when someone would ask "First Jump: Tandem or AFF?" rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

If parents were to start teaching their children early--i.e., as soon as their children start to ask questions--this wouldn't be an issue. I always answered my daughter's questions, and when she was four, she found a copy of A Child is Born in the discount bin at the grocery store (go figure). She wanted it, I bought it, we talked about the things she didn't understand. She has never been afraid to talk to me about sex...or anything else, for that matter (although sometimes she would procrastinate too long, to her detriment). rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

My mother, among others. Sudsy had the best advice: "Role reversal. Ask him how he'd feel if you were constantly pushing atheism on him (in the same way that he is doing to you), and how it would impact your relationship." The only thing I can add is that you might want to say to him: "Look, you know I don't believe, but you believe that God has the power to open my eyes. Very learned men have tried for years to prove the existence of God, and all of them have failed. There is no proof--belief is faith. You should realize that pushing any belief is going to turn someone off--it's just human nature, because everyone learns in their own way, in their own time. I don't mind if you pray for me, and perhaps if you focus your efforts on asking God to intervene instead of on trying to change my mind yourself, you'll have better results." My mother and I have a much better relationship since she calmed down and limited herself to praying for my eventual salvation. It could work. Maybe. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I hate replying to myself, but I received a rather venomous PM today from a tandem instructor (five years in sport) who took issue with a statement I made in another thread that tandem is not safe. He insisted that it is. He also insisted that because I'm not a TI, I have no business making this statement. Much of the rest of the PM was self-aggrandization and verbal abuse. I asked him to take it public (he refused), went two rounds with him anyway, and then I blocked him. That being said, if tandem instructors are telling their students this, and we know for a fact that AFF is statistically safer than tandem, what are AFF students hearing? There was a poll in the base forum awhile back: "Is skydiving safe?" 138 people responded and 64 of them (46%) said it is. It makes me wonder how people define safe. My daughter was 11 when I started jumping. I never lied to her. I never told her it was safe for me to jump. I talked to her instead about quality of life and relative risk, and I made provision for her in the event something should happen to me. She never saw me get hurt, but she witnessed a femur-in very early in my skydiving career--someone she knew and liked--and later she saw other bad injuries, until finally (when she was 16), she watched one of her dearest friends on the dz die. It was hard, but she dealt with it better than a lot of the other people around her. If people don't know that skydiving can kill them, how can they do that? If they don't know what they're getting into, how can they talk to their families responsibly about the subject, and how are their families going to react when they go in if they had no preparation for the possibility? But if a TI is telling me that tandems are safe, he got the idea from somewhere, and if he's disseminating the idea, it means there are going to be more and more people who believe that skydiving is no more risky than going to Great Adventure. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Being nice is worth it. But there are a lot of really wonderful people in the world, and there isn't a single reason to give them short shrift for the sake of an asshole. If you cut out the toxic people, you'll have more time for those who are non-toxic and willing to give back when you give to them. There's no reason to make time for anyone who doesn't make time for you, to be nice to someone who is mean to you, to give to someone who only takes from you. And if you are making time for, being nice to, and giving to people like that, it's not just that they're abusing you but that you are abusing yourself. And you're worth more than that. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

As a student, it never occurred to me to tip. I learned to jump on the East Coast, and there was nothing to indicate that tipping was expected or appreciated. I did buy beer, though. When my daughter did her tandem (18th birthday present), I tipped the TI $50, the videographer...shit, I don't remember...not as much as the TI, but more than the manifestor ($20). (Manifestors earn tips for all the shit they take from the rest of you.) And we brought a case of beer as well. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

C'mon, Faber. You need to give all these good people a fair chance to take a detour. Danes. Can't live with 'em. Can't shoot 'em. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Thats why some fantasy is fun... Only if it's about sex. rl Oh, I dunno. My lottery-never-having-to-work-again fantasy is a pretty good one. Okay...here's the point: a fantasy comes to an end, and you're still the way you were before you had the fantasy. In your case, you've had the pleasure of spending all that money in your mind, but you have nothing to show for it when you open your eyes. A sex fantasy, on the other hand, at least leaves you with the release of sexual tension, not to mention that you may have some new ideas to try out next time you have a partner. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Thats why some fantasy is fun... Only if it's about sex. rl

To get the photographer to cease and desist, you have to sue. Even if you want an apology, nothing more, and the person isn't willing, you still have to sue. Either that, or you need to send Guido to his house to give him a talking to. More seriously, if this person is a jumper, peer pressure is a great tool. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Try here: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=994699;#994699 If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Uh... ...he can see 'em in a mirror. The alternative is to put them on his chest, where he will have to see them upside-down...unless he looks in a mirror. I'm just sayin'...there're people who resemble this remark who do not resemble Agnos in any other way. I wouldn't use tattoos as a litmus test if I were you. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

PM sent. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I know your question was directed to Tom, and I think I understand his context for answering it, but I also think you need to define your context for asking it. What, exactly, do you mean by "attentive"? rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Maybe she is a castrating, suffocating shrew. Maybe she has no problem finding them, but has trouble keeping them. Maybe none of them are worth keeping. The conventional wisdom from her era (and mine) boils down to: "A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle." and, more to the point, "Before you meet the handsome prince, you have to kiss a lot of toads." Bitter jabs aside , I get the distinct impression that she's a workaholic who is only now finding time in her life to nurture a relationship. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Clearly, none of their reporters are bothering to read this website. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Not entirely on topic (), but sheepish: Why Sheep Are Better Than Women · Sheep don't have a gag reflex, or upper teeth · You can get a better grip on a sheep's ear · Sheep don't shy away from boots and leather · Cotton mouth is easier to get rid of than a social disease · Nuttin' beats mutton · Sheep won't argue about whose turn it is to go get a towel · Sheep won't drink your liquor, smoke your weed, snort your coke, and then tell you they have to be home early · Sheep never ask if you're ready to settle down · Sheep never ask about you former lovers and then get pissed off when you tell them · No matter how old or ugly you are, you can always find a willing ewe · Sheep are never concerened about their reputation · Sheep won't tell all their friends about the time you couldn't get it up · Sheep won't ask if you're gay the first time you can't get it up for the second time · Sheep never insist on eating out · You'll never catch your sheep masturbating to a picture of Mel Gibson · Sheep don't get suspicious if you have to work late · Sheep don't smell like tuna fish · Sheep don't get moody once a month · You can eat a lamb chop without getting wool stuck in your teeth · A sheep doesn't expect you to support her for the rest of her life after one roll in the hay · A sheep never wears curlers and a mud pack to bed · A sheep doesn't stop screwing after the honeymoon · A sheep won't get drunk and throw up in your car · A sheep won't think that a weekend stay-over entitles her to rearrange your furniture and put up new curtains · A sheep won't expect you to pay...and pay...and pay...and pay · A sheep will never complain about the spittoon in your pickup · A sheep will never throw out your old copies of Playboy · A sheep won't care of you keep your fish bait in the refrigerator · A sheep won't get even with you by spending your paycheck on new clothes, none of which are see-through or meant to be worn in the bedroom · A sheep will never sue you for palimony · A sheep won't care if you screw her sister · A sheep won't care if your secretary is better looking than she is · A sheep will never tell you the ceiling needs to be painted while you're screwing · A sheep won't use you razor to shave its legs, or your pocketknife to open a paint can · Sheep never have a headache · A sheep won't give your favorite hunting shirt to Goodwill · A sheep won't leave wet nylons hanging all over the bathroom · A sheep will never ask you to stop on the way home from work and pick up a box of tampons · Sheep grow their own fur coats · A sheep will never leave a vibrator on the living room couch when you're having friends over to watch football · Sheep won't cheat on you with your best friend · A sheep will never ask if you'll still respect her in the morning · Sheep aren't into talking before or after sex · A sheep never yells at you for leaving the lid up · A sheep won't send you out for batteries for her vibrator · A sheep doesn't think it's demeaning or kinky to do it doggy style · A sheep won't mind if you put up mirrors in the bedroom · Sheep are "ram tough" · A sheep won't think your cheap and tacky if you: send daisies instead of long-stemmed red roses, tip less than 20%, wear levis with a hole in the seat, open beer bottles with your teeth · Sheep don't mind if you leave the lights on · Sheep don't mind doing it in the morning · Sheep don't mind doing it in a pickup truck · A sheep will never use the excuse that: she just did her nails, it's too hot, it's too cold, you'll wake the kids, you'll wake the neighbors, she's too drunk to enjoy it, she's not drunk enough to enjoy it · A sheep will never leave you for a cucumber If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I have a pretty vivid imagination. I can assure you that nothing compares to the real thing. As for reading the incident forums, it may have worked for you, but in reading some of the posts on these forums, it's pretty clear it doesn't work for a lot of people. That said, there are those who don't learn from anything, even their own experience. I know a guy who managed to femur himself more than once. He doesn't jump anymore--the last time around, he ended up brain-damaged too. But if even one person is subjected to what you refer to as "bounce porn" and rethinks his reasons for jumping, it's worth trying...if only to spare those who must deal with the aftermath of someone else's bad judgment. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Or maybe "His dudeness"? What about "Duderino"? What about the women? What do you call them? If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

The law is pretty clear on the subject. From: Dan Heller's Photography Business Series: Model Releases "In the case of advertising, let's say you wanted to license the soccer game photo to a soccer ball company for a magazine advertisement depicting the photo you took of the kid scoring the winning goal. If you did not have a model release, all the parties involved could sue you, and the company that used your photo. The reason is because people are entitled to be compensated for using their "likeness" for purposes of promoting a product, idea, political or religious view (or to imply support for any of those things). The law regarding this subject can be found at http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cacodes/civ/3344-3346.html." 3344. (a) Any person who knowingly uses another's name, voice, signature, photograph, or likeness, in any manner, on or in products, merchandise, or goods, or for purposes of advertising or selling, or soliciting purchases of, products, merchandise, goods or services, without such person's prior consent, or, in the case of a minor, the prior consent of his parent or legal guardian, shall be liable for any damages sustained by the person or persons injured as a result thereof. In addition, in any action brought under this section, the person who violated the section shall be liable to the injured party or parties in an amount equal to the greater of seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) or the actual damages suffered by him or her as a result of the unauthorized use, and any profits from the unauthorized use that are attributable to the use and are not taken into account in computing the actual damages. In establishing such profits, the injured party or parties are required to present proof only of the gross revenue attributable to such use, and the person who violated this section is required to prove his or her deductible expenses. Punitive damages may also be awarded to the injured party or parties. The prevailing party in any action under this section shall also be entitled to attorney's fees and costs. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

This is actually a very clever gimmick to sell the house. Her business--and apparently, her life--is in Albuquerque. This appears to have been a second home that she purchased several years ago, and has decided that she no longer wants the expense of. So she came up with this marketing gimmick, and in a way, she can't lose. She has received all kinds of publicity for the sale of the house, and there's always the possibility that she'll find a guy who thinks she's worth the $600k she's asking. The woman is smart. You have to give her that. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I rarely have asthma attacks anymore. I take capsaicin and ginger every day, and it seems to solve that specific problem for me. [Andrea: This is not a recommendation. It works for me, but it may not work for everyone, and kids in particular have weird reactions to herbal remedies.] I'm more prone to the "wonky thyroid" bronchitis thing, and that's like a two-week long asthma attack, with residual breathing problems for another month or more. I don't ever remember my chest feeling cold, but I was too focused on trying to get enough air to think about such things. I think kids are just more observant, because they know less and feel more, i.e., they're not thinking, "I can't breathe, I'm gonna die," but instead are experiencing the various sensations associated with the attack. Just as an experiment, I'll try to run this weekend, and see what happens. I'll let you know. (I don't run--I hate running, and I think people who run are crazy--but I know if anything is going to start me wheezing soonest, that'll be it.) rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

You might want to look at this. http://www.jacionline.org/article/PIIS0091674905013588/fulltext Conclusion Antiasthma herbal medicine intervention appears to be a safe and effective alternative medicine for treating asthma. In contrast with prednisone, ASHMI had no adverse effect on adrenal function and had a beneficial effect on TH1 and TH2 balance. I have exercise-induced asthma, as well as "wonky thyroid"-induced asthmatic bronchitis, and I've lived with it for nearly all my 47 years. I don't like inhalers, and I've given up on the usual combinations prescribed when I have bronchitis, so I stick to herbal remedies. That's not what I'd ordinarily recommend to anyone for treating a child, but the study cited above is interesting. Good luck with it. rl P.S. I've never not had a cat. In the grand scheme of things, having a pet is well worth the occasional wheeze. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

You're missing the point entirely - this discussion is about physical punishments (in which harm is done to another person's body). Cheers, T That's fine, but it has to be a logical consequence. There are people who can paint with their feet or with their mouth. No thumbs required. So what do you take from a graffiti artist that would fit the "crime"? rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Better to see the video than to be the video. It's also better to see the video than to be present for the real thing. If you can't accept either scenario, then maybe you need to rethink jumping...at the start. I've heard all too many people, including instructors, apply the word "safe" to skydiving. Usually, the word "relatively" precedes it, but most people don't hear the qualifier. Better to take the full dose at the beginning than to get in, make a bunch of jumps, lose your best friend and spend the rest of your life wondering what the fuck you were doing. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb