ccowden

YOU, give me shit? I don't believe it! Now put that donut down!

Guess we are in the same boat, since I weigh almost exactly the same as you. But then again, I am also 6'1"

Funny... I thought the same thing when I saw your post.

I don't think the ones who are fighting the weight problem, or "come in all shapes and sizes" are the problem here. Of course there are people with different body types and weight issues who try very hard to fight it and we should all be compasionate to them, becuase it is a hard thing to deal with. The problem comes from the people who say "Fuck it, I am going to eat whatever I want and get as heavy as I want and the rest of the world can just deal with it cuz it is my right," who are the root of the problem. It is the parents who let their children be lazy and eat junk and choose not to promote a healthy lifestyle. It is the ones who go on disability because they have let themselves go to a point of not being able to work. It is the ones who need an electric cart to shop at Wal-Mart. It is the ones who take up handicap spaces in the parking lot because they get a doctor to give them the permit because they are plain fat and lazy. It isthe ones who have to be lifted by 3 or 4 people to have their ass wiped because they have become bed-ridden. It is the guy next to you on the plane who smells and makes you push uncomfortably into the far part of your seat because he wants to consume 6000 calories a day and not bathe. The issue is with the ones who just don't care and have no problem with them being morbidly obese costing people money or inconveniences because they have let themselves go, out of sheer laziness, to a point of needing larger everything, which the rest of society has to foot the bill for. I understand that there are many more issues in society of similar effects. This post is just about an article I read about obesity in America and how it is effecting everyone. If people want to post about smoking, drinking, crime, whatever... feel free.

Problem is, the tickets keep going up because the payload is getting heavier.

They mentioned that in the article too. Childrens clothes now come in a "husky" size.

There is an article in today's local paper about how maufacturers across the board are having to make new products to accomodate obese people in America. Products that simply weren't needed NEARLY as much as little as 10 years ago. For instance, they talk about Emergency Medical Services needing to buy 700lb. power-lift stretchers because what was once a need every now and again, has now become a very common occurance. Also, hospitals have had to "upgrade" for wider beds with beefier supports and motors, wider more hefty wheelchairs, wider doorways, longer needles to get through the fat layers, larger CT scan machines, wider showers, wider more hefty toilets, larger gowns and extra-sized slippers. All this at a cost to taxpayers of $117 billion a year. The article goes on to talk about how even funeral homes have had to invest in wider and deeper caskets to accomodate the obese. One funeral director said that 10 years ago there was one model of larger casket that was not needed very often, but now they have 15 to 20 different models available and a pretty high need for them. And it goes on and on. Pretty much every business in America has had to make the same "upgrades" with chairs, doorways, clothes, handrails, bathrooms, furniture, couch and seat cushions, tractors, motorcycles, bicycles, car interiors and seats, etc, etc..... Pretty intersting article.

Interestingly, there are a lot more semi-serious golfers than bowlers. Stats are relative. But for the average/good golfer or bowler, they are lucky if they ever get a hole in one or perfect game in their entire life. THAT'S how it equates.

I would equate a strike in bowling to a par in golf. An average/good bowler should get at least a few each game, as an average/good golfer should get a few pars a round. A hole in one in golf would be more like a perfect game in bowling. You just don't see it much, and almost no average/good golfer or bowler will get one.

What the heck is a cow-orker?

Yeah, we got to jump back in a couple times, which was a blast cuz we didn't have to wear anything but our uniforms and didn't have to have any gear on. There was always a decent size crowd there to watch when we did.

Yes, the Rangers use a T-10 Bravo that is unmodified. There were some modifications to the T-10 for civilian use to slow the openings, land them softer and make them more "steerable." But there are civilian rounds that are designed to be much more maneuverable and land softer.

As far as getting troops to the ground from airborne delivery during a combat scenerio, yeah... it's as simple as they can make it.

We don't even have a reserve when we go from 600 feet. It's combat, not an afternoon at the dz. If you are jumping into combat from 600 feet with 75lbs of gear on you, then things have already gone "tits up."

I won't lie, I was crapping my pants! Thank YOU for your appreciation!

Yes, I was thinking more along the lines of an altitude you could do squares from. I was in 3rd Ranger Battalion and we typically got out at 700-900 feet for training and as low as 600 feet. The one combat jump I did was from about 500 feet. Weeee!

Basically, you need to get as many troops to the ground as fast as possible in a small area. The rounds that the Army uses are designed to get them to the ground as quick as they can without causing injury and not leaving them hanging in the air any longer than they have to. If they used squares, they would have to get out higher and come down slower, which is not good when you are being shot at. Plus, you don't need 200 guys getting out at 1,000 feet and all steering their parachutes around. It would be a mess. The rounds do the job they are designed for very well. And from experience being an Army Ranger, yes you do hit the ground very hard, but I would rather that than staying up there any longer than I have to.

Ah, that's obviously Photoshopped! I would NEVER make gestures like that!

As long as I get some royalties!

It is not so much the pants as it is the training harness wrenched up my ass from them pulling me to the ceiling over and over, so I think you are safe!

I do, I do!

Man, I wish we had the video of me actually doing the cutaway and reserve pull while holding the beer! Good to know I can save my life, even while drunk and holding a beer! See kids... it's cool to be drunk and not take your emergency procedures serious! How's that for sending a message?

You got a point there!

Those slitty eyes make her look like an alien... You must be going to the Rainbow Boogie?

Read my post again.... He is a dork with lots of MONEY!