Douva

And a person can drive a vehicle full of open alcohol containers without drinking, but it's very hard to prosecute someone for drinking and driving or drinking and carrying if they are basically on the honor system. I don't like disarmament zones. Fortunately, the ban on carrying in churches was lifted in Texas a few years ago. I hope someday they lift the ban on schools. But those are different scenarios from bars. You made the point, "Laws of prior restraint only work on people who have no wish to break other laws anyway." My point is that "people who have no wish to break other laws anyway" can loose track of exactly what their wishes are, after a few drinks. Many people have no intention of drinking and driving until they've had six beers and the bartender announces "last call." Likewise, a man might not think it's worth drawing his weapon to defend the honor of his woman until he's had a few, at which point it might seem to him to be completely justified. Part of the responsibility of carrying a concealed weapon is being able to make snap decisions about the justifiable use of lethal force. Making good snap decisions is not one of the earmarks of drunkenness. Sure, some people could carry and not drink, but how many people really go to a bar and not drink? How many people are going to change their lifestyle and their drinking habits to be able to carry in a bar? A more likely scenario is that people will enter under the pretense of not drinking and then decide it's okay to drink if they just use their best judgment. And as we've already established, judgment goes downhill with each drink. If bars are your scene, go drink and have fun with your friends and accept it as a bad time to operate heavy machinery or carry a firearm. If that's really not good enough for you, propose a system whereby nondrinkers (concealed carriers and designated drivers) are "flagged" with some non-removeable identifier when they enter a bar so that they can't be served. That way you and I can go to bars with our friends, as the designated driver/group protector, and carry our concealed weapons. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

You're comparing apples to oranges. Nobody says you can't drink at a bar before driving home. The laws do say, however, that you can't drive home with an open container of alcohol in the car. Carrying in a bar is akin to having an open container of alcohol in your car. You can hang out at a bar and even drink, then drive home; you just can't have an open container of alcohol while driving home. Likewise, you can hang out in a bar and even drink, then carry on the street; you simply can't carry while in the bar. Both laws are built around the same principal of preventing people from "loosing control" while in a position to do serious harm. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Who are the "us" and "we" you refer to? Is it "we the people?" Do you disagree that "we the people" should occasionally make laws to protect our common interest? I'm not suggesting doing anything for anybody's "own good," I'm suggesting protecting myself and protecting the gun rights I've fought for by not allowing assholes to carry their firearms into a bar and have a few too many. The big argument against concealed handgun laws was that it would turn America back into the wild west. That scenario was avoided by screening applicants and, in most states, eliminating the deadly guns/alcohol mix that was the catalyst for so many old west gunfights. Concealed carry works because of common sense--You don't threaten someone if they may be armed. As most skydivers can attest, common sense goes out the window, with enough liquor. Maybe everything would work out okay if every state started allowing concealed carry in bars--I don't really know. I can only explain my own personal philosophy on the subject. But don't use that broad, ultra-right wing, closed minded paint brush of yours to paint me as some sort of socialist just because I think there might need to be a few minor limitations on what American citizens can do with their firearms. --Douva I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I figure this has to be right up somebody's alley: http://www.reelsports.net/news/125 I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Alcohol further impairs your judgment with each drink, making it very difficult for many people to make intelligent decisions about when they've had enough. Texas allows concealed carry while drinking in a restaurant because, unlike bars, restaurants do not provide an atmosphere that promotes drunkenness. I suppose the law could be changed to allow carrying in bars but disallow carrying by anyone who's had a drink, but I prefer it the way it stands. There has been so little misuse of concealed handguns in Texas because CHL holders use their heads, something that is often hard to do when you've been drinking. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Low pull contests out of the helicopter when low clouds postponed jet day in '99. When you can see somebody's fingers as they reach for the hackey, they're too low. --Douva I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I'm about as strong a concealed carry proponent as you'll find, but I've heard studies that say alcohol was the catalyst for most old west shootouts. I'd love to be able to carry my pistol in bars (one of the few places I can't carry in Texas), but I've seen enough normally sensible people do really stupid stuff under the influence without the help of firearms. If you want to drink, hand over your car keys and your gun. --Douva I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

No they don't and the IOC agreed that the use of the plane for skydiving is the same thing as a chair lift. You're right, I misread that. I thought it said the FAI was arguing that a using a plane to get to altitude does not constitute mechanical assistance; I didn't see the part where it said the IOC had consented that fact. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

If you read: http://www.fai.org:81/news_archives/fai/000127.asp It shows that the FAI has been asking for Skydiving to be allowed into the olympics. Asking for the IOC to include a sport is kinda standard practice. There is an application process and such. Your right though, skydiving is fun just because... but thats a whole other point. Also, the IOC said that skydiving is NOT a "powered" sport because: Do snow skiers in the Winter Olympics hike back up the mountain between runs? That's all I'm saying. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

You have a 99 main and a 218 reserve? What container do you have? I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Do you think this is what they mean when they say, "This is not a scientific poll?" I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

If the person was jumping over the Arizona desert, they pulled the reserve handle right out the door, and they didn't try to steer, they'd probably survive. There's a pretty good chance they'd end up with at least a broken leg, though. --Douva I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

You mean comments like, "Florida is demanding a recount after 'Skydiving' jumped from a dismal last place showing with only 3% of the vote to the front runner position with a whopping 25% of the vote in only THREE AND A HALF HOURS, yesterday?" --Douva EDITED TO ADD: CNBC's Squawkbox airs at the following times: 7:00am-10:00am EST 6:00am-9:00am CST 5:00am-8:00am MST 4:00am-7:00am PST EDITED AGAIN TO ADD: If you haven't already voted, you should still vote so that we can hold the lead. If you consider yourself a fairly eloquent writer, be sure you also send Squawkbox a brief email explaining your position. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

PARTY OVER HERE! PARTY OVER HERE! (Now we just have to maintain it until the results are aired on CNBC's Squakbox!) I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Although there may be a little ballot stuffing going on, I think it does merit pointing out that we are currently one percentage point from tying golf and karate for second place. We are three points from tying tug-of-war for first. Let 'em know we're out there! --Douva EDITED TO ADD: No sooner had I posted this message and we were already tied for second. EDITED AGAIN TO ADD: Karate and golf are going down! We just jumped ahead of both of them. One more point and we've tied tug-of-war for first. So, if you haven't voted yet, GO VOTE! I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

If you've already voted, take CNBC up on their request for emails explaining your position. Send them a brief, intelligently written email explaining why you think adding a particular skydiving discipline or simply skydiving in general would benefit the Olympic games. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Come on, everybody, we're about to kick ballroom dancing's ass!!!! I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Alright, folks, we're already at 5%. KEEP IT COMING! I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/CNBCTV/Promos/P92123.asp Come on, folks, we're only getting 3% of the vote. Let's try to at least break the 5% barrier. --Douva I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Multi-stage deployment system. Unstable body position do to space suit characteristics. This was a military test, not a civilian skydive. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I came in with about 15 minutes left. I'm watching the ending right now. Was it a good show? What all did it cover? I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I bet if we could promise at least one accident per event, we could draw in the TV audience the way NASCAR does. "Dale Earnhardt, Jr. picks up the the grip on the 'left doughnut,' and OH, WAIT A MINUTE, FOLKS...he just funneled it, and wait....yes, it looks like he knocked loose Jeff Gordon's pilotchute, and Gordon is fighting with a nasty horseshoe. This disaster comes on the heels of Kyle Petty's premature reserve deployment during the free fly competition." Or maybe we could just get some bigger than life personalities like pro-wrestling. "I will cut your risers and spot you over your mother's house, you flailing sack of dog excrement! I am going to take you DOWWWWNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!" I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I just heard this one this week. I thought it was pretty funny, and I'm usually pretty sensitive to insensitive jokes, so hopefully nobody will find it seriously offensive. ------------------------------------------------------------ An elementary school teacher was just finishing up the spelling lesson with her third grade class. She told the children that she would let them go outside early for afternoon recess if they could spell what they did in morning recess. She first asked Johnny, "Johnny, what did you do at morning recess?" Johnny answered, "I played basketball." "Good," replied the teacher. "Can you spell 'basketball?'" "B-A-S-K-E-T-B-A-L-L," answered Johnny. "That's correct, Johnny; you can go outside and play." Next she asked Jose, "Jose, what did you do at morning recess?" "I played baseball," replied Jose. "Can you spell 'baseball,'" asked the teacher? "B-A-S-E-B-A-L-L," answered Jose. "That's correct, Jose; you can go outside and play." Then she came to Jerome and asked, "Jerome, what did you do at morning recess?" "Well," answered Jerome, "none of the white kids would let me play basketball, and none of the Mexican kids would let me play baseball, so I just played by myself." "Jerome, do you know what that sounds like to me?" asked the teacher. "That sounds like racial discrimination. "Jerome, can you spell 'racial discrimination?'" ------------------------------------------------------------ I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I don't think your assessment is accurate, Quade. Unlike the X-Games, which are primarily a marketing tool, the Olympics have never been an event to simply aim for ratings grabbers. Both the summer and winter Olympics include events that are mostly ignored by the general public. I think my previous post does a better job of explaining why newer, trendier events seldom find their way into the Olympics. Blue skies, Douva I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Yes, skydiving could never be as exciting to the general public as classic nail biters like synchronized swimming and badminton. The truth is, the absence of Olympic skydiving has nothing to do with being boring or exciting--The way things are setup, the Olympic committee can't add a new sport without removing an old sport. Any proposal to remove an old sport obviously meets with a LOT of resistance. Every modern "sport," from skateboarding to video gaming, is trying to get into the Olympics. The winter Olympics have always kind of starved for sports, so the Olympic committee is lot more open to "trend sports" for the winter games than the summer games, which have always had more than enough sports to fill the schedule. --Douva I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.