Sneakerz

P- eople for the E- ating of T- asty A-nimals Proud member --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

Split a piece of wood and you will find me, turn over a stone and I am there. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Actually, Stigmata got this from the Gospel of St. Thomas. Not my point --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

*** Please excuse the little disorganization in this post, I was half asleep as I wrote it (also there are prob some spelling errors too) ****** I have actually been having a conversation about this with many people around me over the past couple of weeks. Let me start off by saying that I was brought up Roman Catholic, I went to catholic school, church every sunday when I was a kid, etc. etc. I consider myself a religious person, just not one that follows an organized religion. Yes I believe the bible to be faulty and I really find it quite amusing that there are so many people that blindly follow a one sided story, which it in itself is incomplete thanks to some editing by Constantine back in the forth century. The best way to make a descision, is to make a well informed one. Just because you were brought up a baptist or a catholic from a baby, you must remember that members of other religions were brought up from children that their religion is the one and only true. And some of those have been around MUCH longer than christianity. They beleive just as strongly about their religion, if not stronger, than you do yours. One word- hypocrisy- This runs very abundant in ANY religion that I have began to educate myself about. Some more guilty than others. Cristians (especially catholics) pay attention to this part. "Love thy neighbor as you would thyself"------ that is unless you are gay, had an abortion, or not part of the registered congregation. But wait, "He who has not sinned shall cast the first stone"----see previous exception. You really want me to continue on this one cause I can go on for a while. -The purpose for an organized religion- Keep their congregations stubborn and naive, collect money, which ends with the people being more comfortable with death. I am not going to argue this with anyone because there are 3 local churches near where I live that I personally checked out and while finding out info about registering at such places, I was turned away becuase I would not give them a copy of last years tax returns so that they could make sure that I was giving at least 10 % of my salary. How about Vatican City anyone? Need a bigger more expensive more elaborate church with more marble?? Again, I could go on. Listen, I am not knockin the people who are part of organized religion, I am more or less just saying, because of what I have educated myself on, it is not right for me. I will say that I wish more of you "bible bangers" would at least educate yourself more about your so called flawless (yet very incomplete) book. Don't not believe in evolution just because your "guiding words" deem it impossible. Remember, that book was edited by someone who wanted to have control over his people (which is why religious factions were and still are in some cases, governing bodies) I hate to use a line from a movie, but in the movie Stigmata, it is said that religion is not a building or a gather of people it is what is inside of YOU. It is what YOu make it to be. Split a piece of wood and you will find me, turn over a stone and I am there. *********** For all of you who have read this and deduced that I myself am being hypocritical-------- READ ON PLEASE----- I say that I am religious because although I dont believe in organized religions I still believe in a god. However, I am damn sure that this earth was not created in 7 days, (dinos before humans, etc.) but, all the stuff that makes up everything we see had to have come from somewhere, you can make something from nothing and that is where the person I believe to be god comes into play, that stuff hd to be created by someone. I live a decent life, I help people, I donate a lot of my time, I stop for accidents and help out, etc. I dont need to give money to build a church or hang out with a group of people that share the same thoughts I do about religion to make me think what I am doing is right. The way I look at it, especially for all you religion fanatics-why do you think that a god who created you would not want you to think for yourself and make your life and you thoughts and your dreams special to yourself? PLease at least look at the rest of the information that is out there for you to see that you may not have the full story, make the most out of what you can of yourself, think for yourself. Find what it all really means to you and why it means that too you, Not just because one book or a preacher tells you too --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

Actually bearded dragons do quite well here in florida as long as you keep the heat and the give them enough UVB (not just UVA) . Some of the biggest breeders of them are here in FL. Have you seen some of the colors they have bred out of them? Quite cool. Only bad thing about reptiles, for the most part, they aren't good companion pets. They arent like a dog, or a macaw or cockatoo that are affectionate. ( I do like beardys though, one of my fav lizards) --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

Reptiles can be the best low maint. pets. Especially some snakes. They do not have to be fed or cared for as often and can be left alone for extended periods of time. no kennels, nobody to watch for you etc etc --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

I absolutly agree with you. I am very content with how I have lived my life so far. I have done many things, and still do alot, I am always busy but also, for the most part, always happy. I told myself long ago, I dont want to ever have to say to myself " I wish I would have done that when I could". I get interested in alot of things very easily, mostly aviation and animal related and get involved and learn as much as I can as quick as I can. I just try to take advantage of everything that I have available to me now. The best part of getting involved in many things is the people that I have met throughout my life who, I am sure, have had a lot to do with making me the person I am now. Just wished I would have started jumping sooner --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

It cant be that big of a deal, I have seen plenty of pictures, alot of them are CRW pics where someone will have a twist or two to reverse their direction. --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

Yeah, but you can leave a snake alone for a couple of weeks while you are on vacation with no problem and also, there are snakes that can fly all on their own --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

I usually respond like this, "I do not choose to live my life this way because I want to die, I choose to live like this because I love life. I want to see all there is to be seen, do all there is to do, I dont want to ever sit back and say to myself, damn, I wish I would have done that. And at this point, if for some reason I was on my death bed, I could say that I have enjoyed my life. Can you say the same?" On top of that, the people and friends I have gotten to know through this sport are the best in the world, and that is the part that I would really not trade for anything. I would rather not get taken out by falling down the steps in my house. --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

my kiteboarding friends think I am nuts for skydiving, some of my skydiving friends think I am nuts for kiteboarding, they both think I am nuts for working with venemous snakes. To each their own. --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

Time to move to Florida --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

Buy a neptune

The only thing that I can really suggest is to not only plan on doing one. --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

I am 6 foot 4, have hit my head going out of the skyvan, 16 size shoe has caught doorway of otter and poter a few times. Nothing too bad, just some funky exits. --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

Skyvan --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

congrats --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

hmmmmm, cant really think of what he/she was trying to figure out, we'll see --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

Saw a guy not too long ago at my DZ, he was from south florida, many many many jumps, he was on a 300 sq ft main in a military rig that he bought --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

First off I would like to say "Thank You" to Mr. Booth for everything he has done for the sport, and two, I would like to give the award for the best flip-flopper on position since Senator John Kerry to....................Silvere For posts # 1 and #48 of this topic. Keep up the good work, I, most certainly like others here, enjoy the entertainment. --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

Honestly you should wear earplugs all the time because of the noise level from the reciprocating engines but especially from the turbine engines. That will definatly damage your hearing to a degree over time --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

There needs to be more choices for the answer to the poll. Anyway, I am about to become an Air Traffic Controller, I dont think me saying that I am a procrastinator would be a good thing --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

Most definatly, ever since I was a little kid. But as I got older they were more accepting of everything that I like to do. I didnt start skydiving till last year and the way I brpke it to my parents was by showing them my AFF level I and VII videos. They didnt act surprised, they wondered why I waited till last year to start, think they saw it coming. --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

If I were to ever do a BASE jump I think it would only be at bridge day and then only after a few jumps from a hot air balloon --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

The way I look at it is, where I go skydiving, I have to drive on one of the deadliest roads to get to my home DZ(central FL section of I-95) . The drive to the DZ is probably more dangerous than the jump itself. I had a lot of thought when I first started as to the dangers and possibilities of accidents etc, etc and what didnt help much is that we have had a couple accidents this year one of which I was there for and was someone I knew quite well. But ya know, I have been flying since I have been about 13 and my first instructor warned me that being involved with aviation (same as with skydiving) pretty much eveyone is friends and you really dont forget anyone you meet and that accidents can and do happen. I have lost a few friends flying just the same as with jumping. I think one of the things that makes it so hard to go through is the fact something you love to do has taken the life of someone you knew or had an attachment to, but the bigger picture is, we are all out there and wether its flying and/or skydiving, we are living life instead of letting life pass us by. And to all of those who critcize is by saying "everytime you jump its like commiting suicide" or something to that nature, I believe you to be more jealous than anything because you arent courageous enough to truly live your lives. I have been happy with everything that I have done and experienced in life so far. If I for some reason were to fall ill and be on my death bed right now, I can say that I have done everything that I have wanted to do up to this point of my life. Can you say the same? Live it up, you are only here once. "Those who dance are considered insane by those who cannot hear the music" -dont remember who said it --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"

Thought about quitting jumping while I was in the middle of about a month lay off. After the lay off and I jumped again, relized that was the stupidest thing that I have ever thought about doing because the best part of my week is the sunday I spend at the DZ --------------- "Once you find a job that you like, you never have to work another day in your life"