Croc

Great advice. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

Some years back we had a student who could not get out of the plane on three occasions over three days. He left and went to another dropzone with a larger plane (we have 182's) and did just fine. He came back two years later and by then had several hundred jumps. While skydiving is not for everyone, it is also true that not every dropzone and not every instructor is for everyone. Give yourself a break. When I had a student who had more fear than normal I would remind them to smile. It never failed. You can't smile (even a fake one) and still be totally afraid. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

Due to a general lack of imagination of the human race we had to invent gods who are like us, only bigger. They are no more omniscient than we are. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

Why can't an omnipotent god overcome Satan? "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

As a matter of fact, I have. Republicans are better, though, because they espouse "law and order", "personal responsibility" and "family values" so loudly that when their hypocrisy is exposed it makes it so much more interesting. Well, there is no shortage of scumbag politicians, but it is hard to believe that one party has more than the other. For every Cruz there is a Hilary. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

Not that he's not a scumbag, but have you ever pointed out the scumbags who are Democrats? Just sayin. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

Bout time they fessed up. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

No kidding. That's one responsibility-dodging way to look at it. Wut? "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

Never a good plan to try to change anyone's mind. A fool's errand to try to change a spouse's mind. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

No kidding. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

That is a bit of a stretch. The CinC who LIED to Congress about the intel and who ordered the invasion was GWB. The Secretary of State who lied to the UN was Colin Powell. There is no reason to believe Colin Powell lied to anyone. He stated what he thought was the truth. He resigned when he realized he had been duped. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

Single payer system. Repeal the Affordable Care Act? "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

What can anyone do about it? It is a private company owned by shareholders. If the board of directors approves of the deal, who's business is it but theirs? "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

Blue skies! "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

Best: Defend the Constitution; primarily by acting within the limits of the office he or she holds. (That ship has long ago sailed, me thinks.) Worst: During wartime, micro manage the military and at the same time provide no clear leadership. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

Indeed they didn't: no votes for women, no votes for much of the male population either, an Electoral College to make sure that the wealthy elite got its way despite the wishes of the common people. You make it sound like a bad thing. Though attributed to de Toqueville, Alexander Fraser Tytler, Lord Woodhouselee seems to have originated the following "A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilisations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to complacency; From complacency to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage." We are pretty much in the apathy to dependence stage. Beyond the "Meeting House Democracy" scale, have-nots are thus the bane of attempts at pure Democracy. Switzerland works pretty well, but there are precious few have-nots amongst them. BSBD, Winsor Not only have the voters discovered they can vote themselves generous gifts, there are hordes of politicians willing to say anything in order to get themselves a place at the Federal trough. The whole thing stinks. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

Pretty much sums it up for me. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

+1 "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

My point exactly. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

I think I read this years ago when I had a couple of hundred jumps. Now I have over a thousand and his advice is still excellent.

Another analogous situation: you are driving past a middle school on the way to work. You are smoking. But the school is a "tobacco free zone" that includes the street you are driving on. Are you commiting a crime? Another: you are driving past the same middle school. You have a loaded gun in your belt. You have a gun permit. But the school is in a "gun free zone" that includes the street as well. Are you committing a crime? Another: you are driving past the same middle school. You are listening to talk radio. You respond to a listener's comments by shouting a racial epithet. But the school is in a "racial epithet free zone," and you are in it. Have you commited a crime? "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

I'm pretty sure the Supreme Court has taken this view. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

A tour de force. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

Agreed, and yet I have heard of several polls that suggest he has attracted a good number of people who have never voted Republican. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

A CEO is hired by the owners of the corporation as represented by the board of directors. No one's business but theirs. "Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy