TriGirl

I think we're all looking at this "law" from the wrong angle. It started with the bakery that didn't want to participate in a same-sex couple's wedding, right? Umm -- since when is the hired help "participating?" That bakery was being hired to bake a freakin' cake. No one at the wedding would consider that bakery "family," or part of the event. The couple tried to buy a CAKE. What would have been the result if one person went into the bakery, ordered a cake with a particular design, and just left? Later, it was discovered that the cake was served after his infant son had been circumsized? Would anyone have cared that the cake was from a particular bakery, aside from the occassional, "wow, this cake is wonderful. Where did you get it?" Unless the answer was, "Oh, David's aunt made it!", no one would consider that bakery part of the event. The thought process after, "David got it from that lovely little bakery on the corner of 1st and Main" would have been, "I'll have to remember that the next time I want a cake!" Not: "damn, that bakery endorses the mutilation of infants! I'll be sure to avoid THAT place!" Bottom line, if you don't want to be hired for the job, don't take it. But don't for a minute think that your working any kind of event somehow makes you a part of it. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

And yet, many states/workplaces do not have the same bereavement policy for a miscarrage as for the death of a child, regarless of term. It's treated as a medical recovery issue, not as a mourning issue. Another legal point that places a fetus in a separate legal status as an infant. WRT the law, the line must be drawn somewhere. Personally, I agree with mistercwood as well. It would be nice if it wasn't needed, but if a woman feels it's needed, it should be safe and available. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

I'm not surprised at the answers here, but I am surprised no one plans (or has done) what I plan to do with my best friend. He's getting the same treatment I want -- cremation, then an ash dive.

Wow!! Your description was spot-on -- I had almost the exact images in my head before I even opened the photos. But of course, since you didnt' describe yourself, the photos of you were such a lovely addition. You two should open a wedding/event planning side business! Congratulations. It looks like it was perfect (right down to the "asshole" particpation!). Well done.

Add me to that list! But I'm happy to share your happiness from afar.

Put 'em in your mouth! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Amen, sistah! Testify!! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

A diplomat's job is never done. I'm attending a dinner tonight. Thought about turning on the beer light here in the office, but remembered I still have to be on my game until about 10 pm tonight! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

How YOU doin'? See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Yeah, yeah. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Absolutely, Thin Mints rock! It's probably a good thing that they are available only once a year, for a short time. I agree with Krip. I usually order 10-12 boxes. When I sold them, they would tell us to be sure to tell our would-be customers that they freeze well. I've always remembered that, and yes, they do. No more than one box per month for me!

I haven't seen the available varieties yet. What are the new options this year? See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

I think this was more of a case of, "when you start opening windows, the door often closes." However, when you were planning to choose which open window through which you wanted to exit, the closed door actually helps. ETA -- good luck, Keith!

When an interviewer asks loaded questions stemming from a biased or slanted premise, the only recourse is to respond, not to answer (giving an answer accepts the premise. A response turns the interview into what the subject wants to talk about). On the one hand, it seems I've spent too many years spent in military public affairs! However, I can actually watch almost any interview and get the real story out of it, since I know what I'm looking for, how to read between the talking points, and what a good interviewer (even one with an agenda) sounds like. (disclaimer -- I didn't see the interview, but from your description I could guess at how it went.) See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

What's up with losing Siamese this weekend? My friends here just had to let theirs go on Friday. He was only 12. When you have a breed that is known for VERY long lives (like, 20-22 years), it's much tougher to think that the 18 (or 12 in my friend's case) years was too short. Then again, even when they exceed our expectations, we feel it's too short. Needless to say, I spent the weekend cuddling my own 9-yr-old Siamese. He's spend his whole life in relative luxury -- I know he has no idea how good he has it! And I hope he never has to find out. But did he appreciate the extra attention? Hell no! He begged for more. Best wishes to you, sweetie. I know it's tough.

Chloroform . . . It is rare that I never have any on me. FIFY See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

And he played Truman Capote brilliantly. Such a sad loss. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

If you're concerned about price, I use the Eddie Bauer Expedition Rolling bag. They've changed the design a little, so if you go on the website you won't necessarily see the one I got. It has the solid bottom portion (when horizontal), but that portion isn't quite as deep as how the Ogio looks. I put only my rig in the bottom portion. In the main portion, I can fit everything else around the rig (I get a slightly bowed shape in the middle, due to the shallower bottom section). Nothing actually touches the rig, and my helmet, jumpsuit, pants, shoes and gear box fit around it just fine. Mine has a couple of small, flat pockets on the top of it, so I use those for keys, money, jump tickets, etc while I'm on the DZ (stuff I need to get to quickly). I use what I call a gear box for all of my extra stuff -- logbooks (jumping and judging), altimeters, jump tickets, power tool, extra stows, gloves, pen, and USPA license. I was using a plastic shoebox type like you described, but it broke. Now I use a small Sterilite box. It has the clamps at either end to hold the lid in place. In fact, it looks like the lid has a crack in it, but it is in no danger of falling apart, so I'm good until I can replace the lid. I do have to pack it carefully -- my jumping log book has to fit just right, at an angle, to fit in there. That should give you an idea what size it is. This whole gear configuration has worked for me for multiple international flights, domestic flights, hauling my gear around in my car, having my gear in one place and out of everyone else's way on the DZ, and stowing it in the house. No issues whatsoever, and I do check my rig through when I'm flying. And, it's about half the price of the Ogio. In order to check it out, I just took my rig into the store. The sales rep didn't mind me putting the rig into a couple of the bags and walking around the store pulling it behind. Good luck! T See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Seriously? 100 jumps before you can jump a Storm? I got my 170 (Loaded at 1) at Jump 29, and have never looked back. I LOVE my Storm! I'm still working on low-wind landings (I have a tendency to flare too hard or not enough on low-wind days), but otherwise I totally agree with everything you said. To the OP -- when I was looking at canopies, I had been flying a Spectre 190, ready to go to 170. This Storm came up, so I asked my rigger what he thought of the Storm. He described it as a Spectre on a mild dose of steroids. While you're going on with your training, ask a lot of questions about they canopies you are flying and how your instructors & rigger would compare other models to those. Your instructors & coaches see how you fly. They'll be able to give you great guidance. Incidentally, I do not fly CRW, and do not intend to downsize for AT LEAST another 150 or so jumps. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Woo Hoo! No, I don't live in a cave. But I'm out of the country and therefore not near a US DZ. Thanks for the update!! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Hey, Lou! For those of us not on Facebook, what's the latest news with this adventure? I'm still waiting for the monitors to work out the slate, so I'm not even sure I'll be moving to DC this year (the Quantico gig fell through with the force downsize, but I may have something lined up in DC). Looking forward to jumping around the area! T See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Why does Style get misspelled? Oops! Typo. That's what I get for trying to reply quickly in the middle of a busy work day! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Where did you decide to train? (your reply was to Andy, who did not recommend any particular DZ). And let us know how your weekend went.

Woot!! Looks like fun! (and is that where you live? Holy crap I'm jealous!) Enjoy, and congrats.

There is no doubt that GB is in Europe. Trying to figure out if a turk is european is at least a bit more challenging. Geographically, only the ones living west of the Straits! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!