NotBond

Haha I don't care about this for the same reason that I don't care that the Federal government perpetrated the 9/11 attacks. It's simply not true. That's a reason that you don't like bama? Um, Ok I never said I didn't like Obama. I don't think he has proven eligibility for the office. And, if you read the OP, you will see I thought his speech was well done. That comment is based on a complete lack of knowledge of Roman history. Really? "Bread and circuses" (or Bread and games) (from Latin: panem et circenses) is an ancient Roman metaphor for people choosing food and fun over freedom. It often appears in commentary that accuses people of giving up their civic duty and following whichever political leader offers to satisfy their decadent desires. The phrase is commonly used to refer to short-term government solutions for persistent, long-term problems. - source - Wikipedia "Those scornful words "bread and circuses," panem et circenses in Latin, become more meaningful when you understand that Roman citizens became increasingly addicted to free distributions of food and the violent gladiatorial and other contests held in the Coliseum and the chariot races of the Circus Maximus. He felt that Romans had lost the capacity to govern themselves so distracted by mindless self-gratification had they become." source - Thomas Martin, 2003 I'm not going to get into a p***ing match - I stated my opinion in the OP. You are free to agree or disagree - it's a (semi :)) free country. Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

OK billvon, here you go. Some obvious changes have been made, and some that you will probably never find - (if anyone has a burning desire private message me with your guesses). Everything I have read states that the Governor of Hawaii has sealed the birth records - so no one has seen the "original". Another point - I don't HAVE to prove my eligibility. I am not running for President - I am not leader of the free world, head of one of the most prosperous nations on the planet, able to incinerate another country with a phone call and a spoken code word - and yet I provided proof of native birth promptly. Why won't BO do the same? Seems to me I've just proven, by Constitutional requirement, that I'm more eligible to be President than Barack Obama is - not that I would want the job! Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=86325 Please note paragraph four. Jan 23 has another review on the docket. I said I would gladly "show" you. I was thinking in person, but decided to meet your terms with some protections. I said nothing about posting unaltered. The changes I make are to protect my privacy, and most likely you won't even see them, with one obvious exception, which I will note. If you still insist on a "viewing" with no security precautions, we can meet at Sky Knights in East Troy Wis. sometime and I will show you the original, hard copy. Fair enough? As for the "original" that Obama posted, funny how there is no seal, no wrinkles, no fading, no fraying of the edges.....but this is my opinion, you have yours, and my post was not designed to change anyones. Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

Hey.. it shows a lot of character that you've responded so graciously. Now... share with us anything you've done to verify the other facts you've presented? http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Blogs/Message.aspx/3074 http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=78671 The incidence of stories should compel most people to discredit them by providing proof - he has done the opposite. I find that telling. Hey, if he provides the original BC tomorrow, great - case closed, he's legit. All I'm asking for is the same response that was demanded of John McCain when his eligibility was questioned. Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

4 previous Presidents named Roosevelt, Grant, Kennedy, and Clinton were younger. Jeez, man... if you can't get the undisputed facts correct how can you expect to be taken seriously? You know, you are absolutely correct. I apologize. I was originally going to say "one of the youngest" but I remembered a news article that said "youngest" and put that down instead. I should have verified my source. Sorry. Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

Yup. Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

Gonna call me on it, eh? Ok, fine. I'll do it tonight - I WILL black out any info that could be used for identity theft purposes, of course. Not gonna be stupid, you know. And the Supreme Court has not decided yet - there is another conference on another lawsuit scheduled for this Friday. Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

Barack Obama was sworn in as President of the United States today, and that makes me sad. Not because of his color, not because of his experience, not because he's younger than all previous Presidents - but because we, as a Nation, have demonstrated that principle and respect don't matter anymore. For the record - I do not believe that Obama meets the native birth requirements dictated by the US Constitution. Either he was born outside of the country, as his own grandmother has stated, or was born as the son of a British subject, which also disqualifies him. Why else would he hire lawyers and spend thousands of dollars to SEAL all birth records and educational records that would list birthplace? If you asked me for my proof of birth, I would gladly show you right now - I have a copy in my wallet, and the original at home. Be glad to show you. He won't - why? But more than that, it's that more people DON'T CARE. We are conferring the leadership of the most powerful nation on the planet on him - don't you care if he WILL faithfully execute the Office and defend the Constitution, the founding document of our Nation? Don't the founding principles mean anything anymore? Add to that the SHAMEFULL treatment Bush got when walking to his seat from members of the audience - Hey, I'm no Bush fan anymore (he got really nutso these last few years!), but would NEVER chant derogatory comments in public, at an Inauguration of all places. It's rude, crass, childish and petty. Friggin grow up people - you don't have to like the man, but try to be an adult in public places. There's way too much of that these days. We've become a Nation that has discovered we can vote ourselves "Bread and Circuses" (look it up if you're not sure what I mean) - and that may very well signal the downfall of this great country if we don't change our ways. That makes me sadder than anything else. BTW, before some of you jump all over me, I read Barack's speech - it was pretty good, and I give him high points for it. Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

My first tandem I was stupendously terrified. Not screaming or anything, more paralyzed. Second was much better as I had to focus on tasks. Having to wait over the winter, the "pre-fear" is coming back - my heart starts to race when I watch diving vids that have a real "first person" view - but just the exit part. The rest just gives me an adrenaline surge, but not a fear feeling. Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

Very good description of a first jump. However, I did feel the "falling" part for a couple seconds, until I built up speed. Don't forget the fear some people get, it can be extreme - you're going against millions of years of evolution telling you "Jump off cliff bad idea! Hurt lot. Let Junior go!" Until you actually do it, you will have difficulty understanding the experience - and afterwards you will have difficulty explaining it! Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

From a newbie to the sport: THANK YOU! Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

Spring. Too long. Been having a bout of jump withdrawal lately, too. Considered leaping from my office chair, but will hit the floor before I get to terminal, so what's the point? Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

Welcome to the other side! Your experience is perfectly normal, and so is the realization that you need to be up there again. Blue Skies! Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

I have no idea who you are, but I admire your courage to try to right the wrongs in your past. Takes a big person to do that. Good luck to you. Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

Who's gonna read it? Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

Very true. One can double inspect their gear every time, be at their mental, physical, and emotional peak, etc., and still get hit by a falling chunk of frozen urine from the 747 20,000 feet overhead. You can REDUCE your chances by practicing due diligence, but never eliminate it. Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

I got my copy of Jump! from Amazon in about a week. The SIM is available online. Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

Hi! And welcome! I too have a fear of heights, but once you are out the door, it's gone. There is no real feel of falling, you're supported by the airstream. Overcoming your fear by jumping out of a plane at 13000 feet will give you a) such a rush, and b) such a shot of confidence that it truly can be a life changing experience. When are you doing your first jump? There are a few tips that people can give you to make the experience a bit less scary and a bit more fun! Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

Almost forgot - I had to be respectable, so I put a 100 watt Alpine stereo system in, with big honking speakers on the rear shelf. I think the stereo store still has the picture they took....... Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

I kind of miss mine....Now wait, before you all go nutso on me, here me out... I bought it used for a delivery car on my side job as pizza delivery, figuring I'd drive it into the ground and not miss it. A real disposable car. Only thing was, it wouldn't die! The camber was off, so I bolted the front spring loops together to correct it. Changed the oil every 5-7000 or so. Air cleaner - what's that? I would put 20K per year on it, all city stop and go. Burned up two clutches. Made a couple body mods that allowed me to a) get 38mpg city, and 45hwy, and b)go fast - I had it up to 115 one time, damn thing is skaking all over, (the manual four speed was geared so low you could cruise in fourth gear at 30mph without lugging!) tranny is screaming like a crying child...and it still ran. Retired it when the second clutch began to go, but she still didn't burn or leak any oil. 87000 miles. It was kind fun to drive - real basic. You heard and felt EVERYTHING! Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

Ok, you got some good answers and some not-so-good answers. Being totally new, you can split the questions into two groups - procedure related, and other. Procedure related is the stuff in the SIM, and what you will learn from your Instructors, like altitude awareness, how to pull, how to fly the canopy, the PLF, etc.. "Other" is everything else - what if I get dizzy, what if I puke, do I need gloves, helmets, goggles, what are the "beer rules", etc. See what I mean? Sit down and carefully visualize a jump from start to finish, and I'll bet you will have questions popping up all over! Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

So this would be the Skydive Square Dance? Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

Have a great time! It will be unlike ANYTHING you have ever experienced! Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

I was wondering if there was some phycology (sp)involved here If the passenger/student KNOWS you're going to leap on three, they might grab the bar or door frame, so if we exit on TWO, it catches them by surprise..... Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne

I'm pretty sure that's me in your picture. After we get in position in the door I make eye contact with the cameraman to make sure he is ready and to let him know we're ready. Then I rock forward (ready), rock back (set), and launch out the door (go). I'm also yelling "ready, set, go" out loud. Yeah Brian, it sure is! Ok, that makes sense, and it's kinda what I suspected. From an outsider viewpoint, you don't see the initial "ready". And if you were yelling, it's news to me! I was a pretty poor passenger that time - sorry! Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne