ninjaswooper

The question is where the burden of proof lays, and at what level that burden is (beyond a reasonable doubt, simply convincing?) in terms of USPA. Though the USPA is a governing body, it seems at the very least unbecoming of such a governing body to act as prosecutor, judge and jury all rolled into one. All the plantiffs have to do is convince a majority and, ahem, "off with his head". If skyride is breaking laws, that is really the job of state, or federal attorney's general to prosecute, judges to officiate, and juries to decide. USPA doesn't decide who is or is not breaking the law, neither do you or I unless we sit on a duly appointed jury. Fortunately were it ever to come to such, the odds of a skydiver familiar with skyride sitting on that jury would be slim to none.

Well Nate, you've amassed an amazing 52 jumps in one year in the sport, and have spent a self-professed "way to [sic] much time reading about skyride..." I'm guessing from your tone that most, if not all of that which you have read has been negative. This is understandable when you consider that pissed off people are much more likely to waste their time ranting on forums like this than happy people are. But let me ask you something, during this year of way too much reading and jumping your ass off, did you ever take the time to see for yourself what any skyride related DZs are about? Or did you just take the words of so many who post on these forums as absolute truth. These people on the internet couldn't possibly be wrong could they? Please, before you pass judgement, come make a jump or two with some of us, if you still think we're assholes after that, by all means, take your business elsewhere. That, after all if what it all comes down to, the most powerful vote in a capitalist economy, a dollar. OK, let me clarify, all the parties involved in the dispute are members, USPA taking sides is equivalent to me calling up USPA and saying, skydiver XYZ is a asshole, kick him out. And, simply by the fact that I made a really big stink about about, they comply. That's the problem. DZs are businesses, businesses which happen to compete regardless of the fact they belong to the same organization. Now businesses who despise competition (when they may be suffering) are asking the USPA to take away the competition.

Not really. Since I am a memeber and I contacted my USPA rep and asked what was being done, asked that more be done, and offered some suggestions to would could be done. Because quite honestly, skyride hurts me by giving my DZ and my favorite sport a bad name. Guilt by association is not ideal, but its a reality. So, since I jump at a skyride supported DZ and am a member of the USPA, your telling me that I should support the organization's attempt to impose punishment on my home DZ by continuing to pay my dues? Basically what the USPA is currently doing is picking one side of an argument between two different segments of its membership without any sort of means of arbitration.

I would only change this to "...is not surrounded by complete and utter morons..."

It really makes sense that he takes this stance now... if it had been prior to the election the media would have jumped on it: "PRESIDENT ADMITS HE WAS W-R-O-N-G!!! Details at 11." Now, it just makes him seem magnanimous for the history books: "the president even went so far as to say that he might have done something inappropriate at one time or another. This was a sign of great humility from a man given a popular mandate by those fearful of world domination by homosexuals or muslims." I guess what I'm getting at is the fact that the only reason he did this was to quiet those who, maybe correctly, would say that his actions (and words) directly caused the lives of American citizens. So, par for the course.

ha, japan, me no know sensei, cedartown, Ga, low to mid 60s, ceiling above 14k, no gloves, no frostbight, me practice ninja arts in US

i estimate my exit from the twin o at about 7 sec before midnight, it was aaawwwwwesome, to say the least.

Holy shit, I jumped out of a twin otter at fourteen thousand feet just a few seconds before the beginning of 2005, thus guaranteeing I'd be in freefall for new years. First night jump to boot! I took aboiut 7 grand in freefall and then deployed. Wow. The lights of Atlanta in the distance, fireworks everywhere on the ground, what a way to ring in "05, only 499 to go and i'll hit my mark.

lost count :245:lost count

Maybe the DoD should start selling tv rights to their adventures....... CNN and Fox could get into a bidding war on who gets to put their spin on it..... Stop watching NBA or any pro-sports for that matter and these overgrown, steroid pumping thugs won't get paid as much. Ding ding ding, we have a winner. Most of us should realize that advertising is where the real money comes from. Stop buyin' all the products that they're sellin' ya... And maybe those who played games for a living wouldn't get paid more than those that do more, shall we say, productive jobs. Though economists would argue that by continuing the cycle thos athletes may be worth just what they are paid. Hey, I wanna be a sponsored swooper, can you blame me? And though Dekker's right, I don't think advertised, televised, and glorified wars are the answers... Can you imagine Nike sponsoring an infantry-man? "Check out his stats folks, 36 kills in the past months, 4 bombs disarmed and only 5 of his unit lost in action this year! Stayed tuned for tonite's exiting siege of Fallujah, only on FOX!"

we should push for an introduction of swoop events at collegiates, including swoop accuracy

I think the school holds a fairly good reputation, but this is just remembering from way back when I was applying to colleges back in '95. I think Terre Haute is a decent sized city with some industry so I'm sure your man could find work. But then again, it is Indiana... the richmond boogie wouldn't be so far but then again it is Indiana. So, I guess if you can deal with Indiana, go for it. Go Colts!

right there with ya kel... miss you, not alcohol...

Sorry Kev, wasn't referring to the "feeling" of them, merely the health consequences? and messing with mother nature type shit.

Yep, America also loves Hum-vees, McDonald's, and silicone breast implants. Not to mention the Yankees and "Survivor". Hmm, Americans love it, it must be good, go figure.

Make 500 or more jumps Tandem Rating AFF Rating Buy new complete rig and video system learn headdown go to the pond for the first time ever enter at least 3 swoop competitions

Direct style? Direct style of what, avoiding any and all accountability for his actions and those of his subordinates? Direct style of avoiding questions by embarking upon meandering and vague answers devoid of any meaning and usually ending by posing the question back to the originator?