johnnyboydan

Billvon, Right on time to move on! johnnyboy

JUST THE SAME .. IT'S ALL BUSH'S FAULT > > Now here's something you probably didn't know about Louisiana and > Hurricane Katrina. At the very time Katrina was bearing down on New > Orleans, there were several top-level officials in the very department > of Louisiana government that prepares for emergencies such as Katrina > sitting around and waiting for their trial. Trial, you say? Trial > for what? Let's try corruption and throw in a bit of fraud. > > It seems that these Louisiana officials either misspent or misplaced > or ... worse ... about 60 million federal taxpayer bucks. Here are > some details ... > > In March of this year -- that's about five months before Katrina -- > FEMA was asking for the return of $30.4 million that the federal government had > sent to Louisiana for emergency planning and preparedness. Most of this > money was sent to some state office called the Louisiana Office of > Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. Wait .. it gets worse. > According to the Los Angeles Times, much of that money was sent to > Louisiana under some federal program called the Hazard Mitigation > Grant program. That is a program that is, in part, supposed to help > states improve flood control facilities. Flood? Did someone say > flood? > > Hazard mitigation would have been a great idea in New Orleans, don't > you think? Especially that "improve flood control facilities" part, > but nobody seems to know where the money went! OK ... let's follow > the trail of $15.4 million dollars that was spent by the Louisiana > Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. The $15.4 > million was part of a $40.5 million grant of your money that was sent > to Louisiana for the Hazard Mitigation Program. You know ... flood > control and all that. Oops! Hold on a second here. My bad. It seems > we can't follow that $15.4 million.. You see, the Louisiana officials > say that they awarded that money to subcontractors for 19 major hazard > mitigation programs, but they just can't seem to find any receipts to > account of 97% of the funds. Ninety-seven percent of $15.4 million, my > friends. No receipts. That's $14.94 million .. gone, and nobody can > trace it. > > Do any of you think that something good might have been done with some of > this money? Lives saved? Flooding prevented? If you're thinking that, > remember .. we're talking Hurricane Katrina here, and we all know that > every bad thing that happened in Hurricane Katrina was --- all > together now ---- Bush's Fault! > > Perhaps if these Louisiana officials ever actually go to trial now > they will be able to use the "Blame Bush" defense. > > [Marker][Marker][Marker][Image][Marker][Marker][Marker][Marker]AND > THAT'S NOT ALL ..... > > Let's see ... what else have we learned in the past week about the > response to Katrina. > > Doctors from across the United States poured into Louisiana to offer > their services in shelters and hospitals treating Katrina's victims. > They could do nothing. They just sat. You see, they weren't licensed > to practice medicine in Louisiana[Marker]. It took the amazing > Governor of Louisiana, Kathleen Blanco, five days to sign a waiver to > allow these doctors to practice medicine in Louisiana. Five days, > while people were suffering and dying. Don't blame Blanco, though. > It was clearly Bush's fault. > > > > > [Image] > New Orleans' Mayor Ray Nagin > > > > > On the Saturday before the hurricane New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin > received a call from Amtrak[Marker]. There was a passenger train > sitting in the New Orleans station with 900 empty seats. Did the > Mayor want to put some evacuees in those seats? No thanks. The train > left nearly empty. You cannot blame Mayor Nagin for this decision, > that clearly would be racist. It just has to be Bush's fault. > > In 1997 the U.S. Congress appropriated $500,000 of your money -- not > federal money, taxpayer's money -- to the State of Louisiana. The > money was set aside to create a "comprehensive analysis and plan of > all evacuation alternatives for New Orleans." Now correct me if I'm > wrong, but that's the big deal here, isn't it? New Orleans didn't get > evacuated, right? Well, for two years nothing happened. Then the > Congress demanded of Louisiana a plan for evacuation in the event of a > category 3 story, a levee break, a flood or some other natural > disaster. The $500,000 of your money got to Louisiana .. but then > what? It was spent by the Greater New Orleans Expressway > Commission[Marker], not on an evacuation plan, but things that needed > to be done to the Lake Pontchartrain causeway over the next fifteen > years or so. What does the incredible Louisiana Office of Homeland > Security and Emergency Preparedness have to say about the funds and > the causeway study? The spokesman says that they can't find any > information. Actually, we shouldn't be holding the Louisiana > emergency preparedness folks or the state responsible for this ... not > when we all know it was Bush's fault. > > Speaking of flood control. You did know, didn't you, that in 1996 the > U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was going to raise and strengthen the > very levees that failed in New Orleans. They were going to, but they > didn't. And why not? Because of a lawsuit[Marker], that's why. The > plaintiff in the lawsuit didn't want the work done until extensive and > expensive environmental impact statements were prepared by the Corps > of Engineers and approved by the EPA. And who filed that lawsuit? > Why .. it was the Sierra Club. The very same Sierra Club, by the way, > that listened with rapt attention in San Francisco on September 9th > while Al Gore told them that the leaders of this country ought to be > held accountable for the flooding in New Orleans. Now, some of us > might be so twisted as to think that the very Sierra Club that was so > enthralled by Gore's rantings should bear some of the blame here ... > but that's only because we just don't realize that it was all Bush's > fault. Oh .. and by the way. Why haven't we heard more about this > Sierra Club lawsuit in the mainstream media? Remember the template. > > Mayor Ray Nagin is inviting residents of some areas of New Orleans to > come back to their homes and businesses[Marker] and begin the cleanup > process. There's another possible hurricane bearing down on the Florida > Keys --- a tropical storm that could become a hurricane and could head > toward New Orleans. Now it's possible that if over 100,000 residents > return to New Orleans and are further victimized by another hurricane > and another flood .. will it be Mayor Ray Nagin's fault? Of course > not, you idiot! It will be George Bush's fault! Haven't you been > paying attention? You guys will never get it. johnnyboy

I had a lay of about the same. I only had 307 jumps when returning. I sat through a first jump course to get refreshed and went out and jumped. Although my flying skills were lacking, basic flying and being safe was all there. But the hard part for me was the flaring on landing. A few PLFs and I got smart and went to Deland and took the Scott Miller canpy course. It was great on the first jump he got me doing it the right way. After that he gave me about 10 years of expereince in the other 9 jumps. He is a great teacher, think about doing something like that. johnnyboy

First of all we only jump every two weeks or so. And that's only when they can get the plane. It is very expensive, even when you jump your own gear. It cost about $32.00 per jump to 1250-1300. On the day we jump we only get 4- 5 jumps and then wait until next two weeks oh yeah it's only on Sundays. The grass is almost never cut. Last time I had to paid the DZ owner half of the cost to get it cut. As far as coaching goes or AFF they do follow USPA guidelines. None of the instructors have formal training and most of them do not even have a license. They just have to do whatever the DZ owner says. Anyway because I live here and love to jump I'm stuck until I come back the USA. If here and you don't mind the money or 5 foot high grass or waiting two weeks for a one day thing come down the people are actually great people.

This very same situation just happened to me. I was away about 5 years. I just went through the Scott Miller canopy courses and found it very educational. It's the best way; either find a canopy courses near you or find someone who can really re-explain teach the landing. Myself I had down sized and went to a new canopy when returning, I was having a little trouble getting the hang of it again but Scott really straighted me out in the first hour after that it was just learning, appling and having fun. And it all would depend on the person's expereince before the lay off. Anyway I would recommend Scott's course for anyone, at any time but especially for someone new or returning to from a lay off. He is a great insrtuctor. johnnyboy

I have to agree with Bill on this one. It is true also that when you are final you should not have someone else destory your safe approach. But in a real world Bill is right if you don't want to take that risk you must skydive alone. This is not to say we should not strive for safety. But in all high risk sports it's always there. Just like a race car driver who is crashed into the wall at 200 miles per hour by someone else, before he started the race he knew the risks. We should too. johnnyboy

Are you kidding, I spent 22 yaers in the USArmy Special Forces and if I told you some of the retarded gross stuff we did to out do each other at times; they would put me in the funny farm. My girl friend says I'm very twisted just with what comes out of my mouth at times (and ass). My old SF nickname was dirty dick dan go figure. johnnyboy

Just say; Yeah so what's your point, then you have to fart or let alittle drool come out of the conner of your mouth, breath heavy and ask if they want to come have a beer with you. johnnyboy

Yeah that's grue johnnyboy

Cool! It's great having your own gear. Now every time you jump you will know exactly what to expect. And your landings will just get better and better now that you will not have to adjust for differnent chute sizes and makes. Have fun with your OWN gear! johnnyboy

A parachute that packs itself good idea. But how about a plane that runs off of water so the jump costs come down and we have more time jumps to push and find new ideals. johnnyboy

looks kind of girly to me. Hey combine A and C and you got it. johnnyboy

I think it looks sexy and will look even sexer on you! i also think grue doesn't have one yet, lol. johnnyboy

Looks great new gear is always the best! johnnyboy

Yes but that was changed because the majority again wanted it. I will agree that it all confusing on why somethings are changed and others aren't. I'm just saying in using the Bible people will have a good solid backdrop for not changing it. Myself I think should all people should live like they want. In other words It's not my business to tell my neighbors how to live. And actually i don't really care about the law either way, not for or against it. But just pointing out that through history people use the Bible to make laws and that makes them hard to change and gives people or they think it gives them the right to not change it. johnnyboy