tbrown

There have been a number of high profile cases where I felt the killer got what he deserved (John Wayne Gacy or Ted Bundy for instance). There are some undoubtably guilty people who have committed really horrifying crimes and otherwise led worthless garbage lives. I don't feel a thing for them. But those are my emotions speaking. The FACT is that far too many people have been erroneously convicted of crimes they did not commit. Some of them have been proven innocent by DNA and released, after losing years or whole decades of their lives in prison. Others have gone to their deaths. Not even DNA is a foolproof safeguard. Not when police are under pressure to solve a highly emotional case (a child murdered, an elderly woman raped and murdered, a police officer killed in the line of duty). Not when the police are stumped and they've got "some asshole" in custody who they don't like anyway. Not when police and prosecutors are willing to give perjured testimony, offer breaks to convicted and unreliable felon witnesses, or to withold evidence from the defense, which they are by law required to share - but don't anyway. Not when judges are up for re-election and don't want to be viewed as "soft on crime" because they may have put the pursuit of justice, or the truth, ahead of everyone else's desire for revenge. Consider that when eastern Europe got free of Communist domination in the early 1990's, the first thing ALL of those countries did was to abolish their death penalties. They knew from their own hard experience how the death penalty is abused by the state in the name of "public safety". Finally, if you can't even trust the goverment to deliver a letter, why would you trust that same government to excercise the power of life or death over ANYONE ? Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Fuck you ! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Never goes away completely. But it's worse in the morning, especially if you haven't jumped in a couple weeks. After a jump or two you're fine. But a little honest fear keeps you respectful - and sharp & honest. Don't ever lose sight of the fear, just learn to understand and USE it to your advantage. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

If it works, then why not ? God bless & good luck ! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

When somebody bounces. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Either way though, it comes down to whether or not the single person knows. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I think it's just one of those unfortunate things that happen to most boys, it's part of growing up. Hurts like hell.... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

It's really this simple - your jump is FREE. You're paying for the ride and any equipment, coaching, camera, whatever, you may have hired for your jump. But the jump itself is free. At Perris, when conditions are marginal, they make an anouncement that you will be charged for whatever altitude the plane reaches, regardless of whether or not you jump. The DZO is paying for aircraft, the pilot, fuel, insurance, maintenance, and probably a bunch of other compliance issues with the Feds, state & local authorities. Why should he lose money for trying to let you jump ? In this sport you really do pay your money and take your chances. It's not just a cute phrase we use over a couple beers. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Shiver me timbers ! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

A girl blew up her Security LoPo at the 1978 Nationals Boogie in richmond. She'd had a hard pull on her p/c, so pulled silver and the reserve blew. Fortunately, she had NOT cutaway (think hard about that...) and was finally able to extract her p/c just in time. Her Strato Star main opened about 100 ft off the deck. She was a weeping wreck, but alive. Her reserve looked like someone had driven a lawnmower over it. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

So sorry to see these pics, I'm just grateful the poor guy wasn't killed. Days like this are the days when experienced jumpers sit back and watch everyone else get experience. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I counted three in a row - was this some kind of wipeout contest ? Who won ? Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I really like my Pilot a lot too, but my reserve is still a PD. If I ever get another reserve, I'm thinking hard about the Opti first. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Far out man....(I'm old enough to say that too !). Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Aside from being a coercive power trip, keeping it forbidden makes it more dangerous, and therefore even hotter ! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Does that make me a whuffo now? You can no more be a whuffo than a porn star can be a virgin. Skydiving has and always will leave its indelible mark on you, whether or not you ever return. Whether or not to jump is a very personal choice and every one of us has to make our own choice. And respect the choice of our friends who decide to move on. I was away for 22 years and at times never believed I'd ever be back, but I am. Maybe you will too. Maybe you won't. It's your life, live it well and take what skydiving has given with you. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I've always wanted to, ever since I was five years old and my dad told me what a parachute is. He made me a toy with some plastic, string, and a clothes pin. I was hooked right then and there. Watching "Ripcord" on Friday night TV (1962) only made matters worse. Skydiving has always been a release from the stress, boredom, and conformity of ordinary living. It's just too beautiful not to jump. I took a break for 22 years, but had to come back because I missed it and life was getting me down. Skydiving brought back something powerful and beautiful. My wife says it's given her back the man she first fell in love with (so there...). Some people tell me they're surprised that I jump. They say I'm a very quiet, "reasonable", laid back kind of a citizen. It's the one place I can cut loose. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Very edifying, should make somebody some good reading. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Nice ! So the canopy on top is a Strao Star, what are the others ? I'm thinking Cruisairs, or maybe Strao Cloud Lites from the look of the stabilizers ? Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7668448/Christian-preacher-arrested-for-saying-homosexuality-is-a-sin.html Let's factor what happened here: Baptist extremist is calling people out and creating a nuisance by shouting religious rhetoric at passers by. He was disorderly and w/o a permit; he is in violation of several misdemanors. The 1st doesn't allow you to intentionally harrass people with your beliefs, just as the 2nd dosn't allow you to own a tank. There are limits to all constitutional rights. I disagree. Although I don't think homosexuality is a sin, I also don't think the state has any business judging or prosecuting religious teachings. Now IF this preacher had been inciting people (hypothetically) to follow him and burn down a gay bar, I could see arresting him on the spot for the offense of inciting a riot or other illegal acts. But for preaching that gays sin against God ? Even though I disagree with that, it's as clear a religious freedom case as you can make - and I'd bet a lot of gay lawyers would agree. I hate the bastards who picket funerals, "giving thanks" for IEDs. I still think there's some Constitutional way to shut that bullshit down (or maybe give the bastards a taste of a real IED themselves.....). But this preacher can only feel more justified and resolved in his faith for having suffered persecution for it. A lot of Paul's letters in the New Testament were written from prisons, so they're not discouraging this guy in the least. England has no Constitution as we know it, and they regularly circumvent their own subjects' rights. It's why we sent them packing 234 years ago. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

The max sentence for murder in Peru is 35 years. Read that buried deep in an online report on the investigation. A lot of countries don't even hand down life sentences for murder anymore, 20 - 30 years is fairly typical in Europe too. But we are talking about 35 years in a Peruvian prison. I wouldn't be surprised, or shed a tear, if he hangs himself. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Honest to God Nick, are you really angry at EVERYONE ? Sure seems like it... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

All I can say is that even with the worst malfunction, I could always breathe. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

It's already been 30 years, but yeah, I did. Considering something like 30% of all sexually active adults have it, people just need to grow up and practice safer sex. I told my neighbor, when I saw she was dating some shitbag guy I knew, who had already told me he had it. I didn't want her to get it. So sue me. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Dude - he is SUCH a great guy that he helped me on a windy day to get the tail wrapped around my Pilot canopy ! I'm so glad the FAA finally pooped & got off the pot and TSO'd the Opti. I've got a daughter in college right now, so new gear will have to wait, but when I finally do get a new rig, I'll probably go Opti, with the same size canopy in a smaller container. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !