dgm458

Not bad...

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Solution - tell the unions (which are corporations) to refund the dues money to these employees. After all, the unions are there for the workers, right?

Ohhhh. Wrong. A union giving money to anyone but a politician? Not gonna happen.

Most people who work in a union shop do so for the purpose of being represented by a union. I work in a union shop, we're right to work and we're 92% organized. That means that 92 out of 100 of our workers have chosen, voluntarily, to pay union dues to that evil union. I should point out that I am one of the 92% and wouldn't have it any other way.

Why? Because I know that my elected leaders look out for my benefit, the benefit of my family and my workplace. They also negotiate fairly with my employer, especially when times are tough financially.

Union's are responsible for the 8 hour work day, the 40 hour work week, vacation pay, sick time pay, etc. If those benchmarks weren't set by unions and their workers, the non-union employers would not be providing them today. They provide them to stay competitive and to keep the employees from voluntarily unionizing.

Only individuals and political action committees can make direct contributions; unions are barred from donating treasury funds to a political campaign. In layman's terms that means they can't use my dues money that I VOLUNTARILY give for political uses. Instead, they have developed a Political Action Committee Fund (PAC). I voluntarily donate to that fund also. Why? Because I know that overall they work to educate members of Congress and support those that support me and my employer.

Yes they sometimes donate some of my voluntarily given funds to a candidate that may support an issue that I'm not on board with but they still have my best interest in mind overall because my union doesn't take a stand on those hot topic issues such as gun control, abortion, gay marriage, etc.

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it's too bad you cannot see all sides of this. It's too bad that you care so damned little about the taxpayers that you think they all should support chosen class. Go tell the 75 percent of the people making less than these poor government employees how they should pay more taxes in order to make sure they are okay,

I dare you! Because you don't give a rats ass - PERIOD - about the rest of the people. You've got your chosen class. The anointed.

And face it - you're a lackey for the greed of corporations. Namely unions, who cut millions off the top of the salaries of these people. While you're telling the working man and woman that they should poay more to support the government employees, tell the unions that they should quit taking millions from these employees.

Yeah, right. You like those corporations. They can fuck over their members without any accusations, right?

You don't give two shits about taxpayers. Or about workers. You give a rats ass about corporations, greed, and the chosen elites whom you feel everyone should just pay up to support.

You DESPISE the working class. You HATE Joe sixpack. You CANNOT STAND that they don't want to pay taxes so that your cronies can receive more benefits.

FUCK THE WORKING MAN!!!! GO FICK HIM! FUCK HIS KIDS! FUCK THEM ALL! Government employees need free health care and retirements! And FUCK THE ASSHOLES WHO WON'T PAY FOR IT.

You just don't give a shit about the working people. Only those who work for the government.

Is it safe to assume that you're a fan of Senator Tom Coburn? You seem to have a huge disdain for those employed by the United States Government. For years, the USG has been considered as a model employer for the private sector. Is everything perfect? Of course not. But you seem to advocate having a workforce that has no employer sponsored retirement program at all.

Do you even know how government employees retirement works? For those hired after 1984 they have the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS is only 1/3 of their retirement package, with 1/3 being intended to come from the Thrift Savigns Plan (which carries a 5% employer matching contribution) and Social Security.

So in the last four years, the GOP has attempted to attack 2/3 of this retirement program. Former President Bush wanted to privatize Social Security and turn it into a quasi-401K program. Now, Senator's Coburn (R-OK) and Richard Burr (R-NC) have proposed to completely eliminate FERS for new-hire government employees. In the end, the GOP would have government employees relying solely upon their Thrift Savings Plan, which I'm sure at some point in a GOP controlled future government would no longer have an employer matching contribution.

So you're saying, "Hey, we appreciate the 30 years of service you've given to the United States Government. Here's you're last check and hopefully you've invested wisely in the Thrift Savings Plan (aka Stock Market) over the last 30 years. Yes, we know you're wife has cancer so another way to say thanks is we've increased your employee contribution to your health benefits plan too."

Well that makes me feel a little better. I guess I didn't realize that the entire class of airplane was referred to as the "Flying Fortress."

It's still sad to lose a relic to such an accident.

*Edited to add - I just clicked on the original story. They've now changed it to "made an emergency landing" rather than "crashed" as originally reported.

N/A

I didn't to post this under "incidents' because as far as I can tell this wasn't a skydiving operation, but it appears that the B-17 Flying Fortress has crashed after takeoff. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_bomber_crash

It appears to have caught fire while taking off and the pilot set it down in a field. Prelim reports show 7 on board with no injuries.

The only proper thing to do here in this situation is to POST THE PICTURES for all to see. Why should only a few enjoy the fun?

People go topless for a reason...they want to be seen.

dgm

I was 57% pure...somebody spank me with a sex toy (bring blood...it'll improve my score)

Updated:

cloudseeker2001-----11%-----
tutlespeed-----12%-----
Amazon-----14%-----
wartload-----14%-----
meatmissile-----16%-----
mujie96-----16%-----
Girlfalldown-----20%-----
livendive-----21%-----
TheRus-----21%-----
bdbrown----21%-----
caress-----22%-----
BASE813-----23%-----
freeflygoddess-----24%-----
freeflier29-----24%-----
chopchop-----27%-----
Typicalfish-----27%-----
RhondaLea-----28%-----
feuergnom-----28%-----
mr2mk1g-----28%-----
Dshiznit-----29%-----
Skyant-----29%-----
mnealtx-----30%-----
hookitt-----31%-----
KevinMcGuire -----31%-----
meatbomb-----31%-----
Salsa_john----31%----
Salsa_john----31%----
Zeemax-----32%-----
KRIS-----32%-----
Samurai136-----33%-----
Salsa_John-----33%-----
freeflynNicki-----34%-----
GQ jumper-----35%-----
RoysPlayThing-----36%-----
fireflytx-----37%-----
Remster-----38%-----
Scratch-----38%-----
Squeak-----38%-----
hooligan-----39%-----
LoudDan-----39%-----
RevJim-----39%-----
jumpsisters-----40%-----
vamp-----40%-----
AndyMan-----41%-----
peacefuljeffrey-----41%-----
Keith-----41%-----
lisamariewillbe ------42%----
craichead-----42%-----
D22369-----42%-----
jtval-----42%-----
bmcd308-----43%-----
moodyskydiver-----44%-----
flifree-----44%-----
christoofar-----44%-----
brits17-----45%-----
popsjumper-----45%-----
skykittykat-----46%-----
Shawndiver-----46%-----
SkyDivaChristie-----46%-----
Slappie-----46%-----
flypunk-----47%-----
manifestbitch-----47%-----
TribalTalon-----47%-----
antifnsocial-----47%-----
beavdog-----48%-----
kansasskydiver-----48%-----
nate_1979-----48%-----
mcneill79%-----49%-----
Tailgate-----49%-----
yardhippie-----49%-----

Frenchy68-----50%-----
EMSchick98-----50%-----
Brains-----50%-----
AcmeSkydiver-----52%-----
Headoverheels-----52%-----
smiles-----53%-----
tinfoil-----53%-----
mfnren-----54%-----
ChileRelleno-----54%-----
justaflygirl-----56%-----
dgm458-----57%-----
VanillaSkyGirl-----58%-----
Lee03-----59%-----
rebecca-----60%-----
airdweller-----61%-----
dixieskydiver-----62%-----
thechad-----63%-----
my-----dog-----steve-----64%-----
ladyskydiver-----64%-----
Cookees68-----65%-----
weegegirl-----65%-----
buckleme-----66%-----
GogglesNTeeth-----66%-----
FIREFLYR-----66%-----
Unstable-----66%-----
sburkart-----67%-----
MyOwnWay-----68%-----
selbub78-----69%-----
sinker-----69%-----
Casie-----70%-----
themitchyone-----70%-----
genoyamamoto-----71%-----
kelel01-----71%-----
Tintin-----72%-----
SpeedRacer-----74%-----
swedishcelt-----74%-----
skycutie-----77%-----
sdgregory-----80%-----
Viking-----80%-----
nvanduyn-----80%-----
skysprite-----81%-----
jumper03-----81%-----
Skyrose7-----83%-----
ripper0289-----84%-----
Samhussey-----86%-----
flygirl03-----88%-----
dustin19d-----93%-----
klingeme-----94%-----

Hey Jordan,

Fires have been popping up all over OK, but the most serious around the OKC metro area have been in NE Oklahoma City at NE 63rd between Coltrane Rd. and Sooner Rd. That fire burned for several hours and took at least four homes.

There was a smaller grass fire near the Quail Springs Mall shopping area at 122nd and N. Penn yesterday. No structures burned.

Mustang caught fire last week and burned 400 acres in the middle of town. That fire took several homes and it was on CNN showing Wal-Mart employees holding the fire back from the Wal-Mart shopping center with shovels and other gardening equip. Hwy 152 through Mustang is charred from 1/2 mile east of Hwy 4 for about one mile going past Sara Rd.

Tuttle is the name of the town you can't remember and we're 6 miles south of Mustang.

A large fire near Guthrie closed I-35 in both directions for several hours. No word of structure damage.

No one in Oklahoma has died yet, although there have been some minor injuries, mostly to firefighters. We have fire crews from Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky and Georgia helping with the fire. The winds have been so strong that the Blackhawk's and Chinook's can't help - they're justing sitting on the tarmac.

Yesterday the winds were sustained at 35 mph with gusts in the upper 50's. Tuesday is supposed to be the same way.

Keep your head down over there Jordan. I've gotta go-my lawn needs watered.

david

My brother and I both jumped at PSC back in July of '04 and we were treated great as fun jumpers. They give a good debrief about the layout of the land, the outs, the winds, etc. The winds are better early in the morning.

I think the owners name was Guy (he's French). He was very nice and very helpful. As fun jumpers, we didn't have any problem getting on a load and we went on Tuesday and Friday of the week we were there. The plane ride was worth the jump ticket by itself. The pilot does one huge circle around and if you sit by the door the view is awesome.

Since we were there, they've cleared trees from the roadside that make things a little better for landing since there is less turbulence. This time of the year though the trade winds are pushing you OUT TO SEA. Be prepared for that. If you have a very conservative canopy, this time of year may not be for you.

It's about a 1 hour drive from Honolulu and the drive is very scenic.

If I absolutely had to pick one song...
(Can you figure it out without peeking at the bottom?)

Click here for musical lyrics.

Hello, I've waited here for you, everlong
Tonight, I throw myself into and out of the red,
Out of her head she sang

Come down and waste away with me,
down with me
Slow how, you wanted it to be,
I'm over my head, out of her head she sang

And I wonder, when I sing along with you
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
She sang

Breathe out, so I can breathe you in, hold you in
And now, I know you've always been, out of your head,
Out of my head I sang

And I wonder when I sing along with you
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when,
she sang

And I wonder, when I sing along with you,
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when

Everlong by the Foo Fighters

Lew worked her ass off this convention. She got great pics of our 16 way, one of which made the front page of the Rantoul newspaper.

Clicky

Thanks again Lew.

Uh, do I owe ?

Hey Jordan.

Sux to hear your back in hell. I saw Lisa post that she's back in SC with family. Keep us updated on your happenings.

Piss on some insurgents for me.

David (Mike's brother)
Powerline dodger

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I hate that stupid show... I don't watch TV any way...

Yet, you read the thread away.

My thoughts on the past survivors making a reappearance: Ethan and Jenna or Rob and Amber. As a couple, only those make sense. If it's not a couple (some commercials are portraying it to be), I kind of think that Tom from last season may be back just from listening to an interview with him a couple of mornings ago.

My 2 cents

I am the man of many hats:

First and foremost, I drop those nasty bills into your mailbox.

Aside from that, I am a Local Business Agent for the National Assoc. of Letter Carriers representing 15,000 letter carriers on an as needed basis throughout the states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Colorado and Arizona.

I am an officer for my union local in Oklahoma.

I am an arbitration advocate for my union, representing our interests in about 30 arbitration hearings per year.

I am also a "Train the Trainer" facilitator for the Southwest Area of the United States Postal Service.

Then on the weekends I sometimes stuff zero-P into D-bags.

david

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It's "free fallers," not "free flyers." Hence the "duh." It's not wrong, it's just not useful information.

My point was that the guys running the DC-3 didn't seem to know what they were doing. They had to be told who gets in first before they even blurted the "freefallers" comment.

They gave a briefing before each load about what to expect from a DC-3, the jumprun, the light (which didn't always work), the spot, etc., but then when loading the plane they let others on the load that weren't there for the briefing (which the FAA got onto to them for).

I went on two loads on the DC-3. The first was amusing watching everyone trying to load and figure out what order to do it with no organizer. It's not bad on smaller planes, like the King Air, because you have less than 20 jumpers. The DC-3 held over forty.

My second (and last) was better, but that's when the freefallers comment came in. Those guys reminded me of the article in the last issue of Parachutist where they were talking about going up with pilots and only taking the pilots word for how they can fly. More than one plane didn't make it.

The FAA had to talk with these guys at least twice, as did the Air Boss.

david

I went out right after you two BM's on load 2; it was kind of funny watching you guys trying to figure out your exit strategy and then when Rev motioned to go, you had that look on your face like, "Who, me?"

david

My first convention, so take my 2 cents for what it's worth:

* I agree with everyone on the pro-rated boogie fees. I was there for six days so it wasn't an issue with me for the fee, but I know some didn't go because it wasn't worth it for three days.

* Deliver the advertised aircraft or at least have an arrival schedule posted for all to see. The girls in manifest answered questions to the best of their knowledge, but we shouldn't have to ask on Wednesday "Where's the Pac?"

* Check the background a little better of the specialty aircraft-make sure the pilots really can fly. I didn't see a single spot from the DC-3 that was good for the entire load with some entire loads landing miles off. I landed 2 or 3 miles on the otherside of Wal Mart. In addition, the pilots damn near crashed that thing on take off because they forgot to lock the rear wheel for take off.

* Have a schedule of events for everything, swoop contests, RW contests, Wet T-shirts contests; all of it and stick to the schedule as best as possible. I never did see any CRW.

* Don't bump loads. My four-way and a six-way were all bumped from a CASA that we had already waited 25 minutes for in favor of Airspeed. We ended up waiting an hour for that lift. I didn't jump the CASA anymore after that.

* Kids on golf carts are a no no. Someone made the comment that none of them broke any limbs. Maybe not, but they don't recognize the common sense rules of the road such as pedestrians having the right of way. I almost got clipped twice by the same driver who wasn't a day over fourteen.

* Better security. The backgate was unmanned at night allowing anyone who wanted to come in; the gate by the hot showers was not manned and locals were coming in through there also.

* Better load organizing for loading the aircraft. It seemed that the owners of the aircraft were left in charge of this. The guys in the DC-3 kept saying, "Freefallers in first." Duh!

* I didn't have any problems with the dogs, but one owner liked to leave their dog in the vehicle during the day. Bad Karma comes your way.

Props to give:
* Putting that arrow up in the landing area and announcing the changes in direction. I landed by the spectators for multiple reasons, but the confusion of which way to land in that sometimes congested area was enough of a reason.

* Mobile IGA-what an outstanding idea. They could even expand it a little to sell camping gear. A lot of people went to Wal Mart for misc. things.

* Locals are great folks and the kids were great. I never expected that kind of reception upon landing.

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no one else ever drove anything in landing area just him.

Did you miss the mini-van parked right smack in the middle of the landing zone on Tuesday? Others didn't fare as well if you did.

I heard some of the funniest shit ever late one night at WFFC. I think it was Wednesday night...whichever night it was it happened at about 2:30 AM.

I wake up in my tent to the sound of some girl yelling, "No, take it all off." So I get up to see WTF and they are playing Naked Golfcard Tag on the tarmac area by where the Carvair airplane was parked. I guess when you get tagged, you lose a piece of clothing.

3 hours of sleep thanks to the excitement/noise...thanks guys!

Jump # 104 for both my brother and I.

2 pt 16-way.

Tried to upload other photos and am having difficulty....maybe later.

CLICK ME!!

If you plan to jump, plan it early in the mornings when they open. Both DZ's are tandem oriented so when the tandem's dry up, the doors begin to close.

It's a great place to jump. Both DZ's had king air's a year ago, but the dz I went up with put free fliers out first which could screw up a spot for belly fliers. There are plenty outs, a soccor field down the road and the beach which stretches for miles.

If you go down the road a couple of miles from the dz's towards the NW you'll see the filming locale for the ABC show Lost

My brother and I did our 100th together at WFFC this week and we were both pied that evening in the food tent.

Props to those who set that thing up because when Patrick asked to see my hat (he liked the color), I kept thinking 'what kind of nut is this guy?'

I guess I need to update my profile now.

david

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3 1/2 hours from door to door going East. 4 hours (with a fuel stop in Pueblo, CO) coming home.

I heard there was a story behind this (no fuel stop on first leg). Care to share?

I just did my 100th at WFFC and I didn't do it naked. I don't think the WFFC organizers would have allowed it if I wanted to and some of the spectators might not have liked it either (they were ooooold).

But who knows, maybe one of these days. It all depends on many factors because some DZ's won't allow it.

My .02

Speaking of thongs....and fat chicks.

[disclaimer]
I have nothing against big folks. I'm not exactly a thin man myself anymore. If you're a fat chick-God luv ya and thanks for tuning in.
[/disclaimer]

I certainly dig the fad of chicks wearing thongs with the appropriate clothing that allows as much as possible to be seen.

However, I was at the ball fields the other evening watching a friend play from the stands. A girl sat in front of me that was at least 260 lbs-she was tall and big. She goes to sit in front me and several others (men and women), bends forward and leans back to take a seat and exposes what looks like leather strap downs that a truckers uses that she's wearing as a thong. Innocent bystanders thought a pop fly was hit into the air above the stands because everyone, simultaneously, looked up and away.

Wear what's appropriate for your body style (guys included). Once our eyesite goes, there will only be so many seeing-eye dogs to go around.

david