PeteH

About six hours ago. -10 (Celsius) on the ground level, didn't check out temp at 3000 meters, but it was quite cold. Didn't stop me wanting more, but the wind was too much for our jump master to allow students have another try. Now it's work work work

Today I skipped work and opened my skydiving season.

Remember the steel tariffs? GWB put import tolls for foreign (to you) steel. That helped American steel companies, 'cos they could sell their steel at higher price for American companies that use steel. Foreign steel using companies had access to cheaper steel and they could sell their products cheaper -> American companies suffered from this. Only way companies could compete equally on global market would be totally free market market with no tariffs, no label restrictrions, no supportive benefits (for example for agricultural products or shipyards).

War heroes to me are those who refuse to be blind pawns. Like the Israeli soldiers who refuse to attack on Palestinean camps. Or German soldiers at WWII who didn't follow orders and slay the civilians. That takes much more balls than just to kill people the big brother calls the enemy.

Great song. It's on NIB and my play list too.

You can't go wrong with Lombardo-era Slayer About the original question. I think fast and aggressive punk/rock/metal is only way to go as skydiving music. What I've been listening lately: Nativity In Black - Tribute To Black Sabbath Some great songs that might do. Kreator - Coma Of Souls Premium thrash metal from Germany. Some songs from their latest album Violent Revolution would fit better for your purpose. Cynic - Focus Technical (death) metal. Not good for you. Accept - Restless And Wild Fast As A Shark might do. Witchery's version is heavier, but you can't compete with Udo's voice Brides Of Destruction - Here Come The Brides (promo) Song I Don't Care is what rock 'n' roll is all about. Brilliant song that would fit any skydiving soundtrack. Sadly rest of the album isn't that great so I only gave it 3/5. Chastisement: Alleviation Of Pain (promo) Swedish deathrash. Pretty good, but might be too heavy for most. If you want fast and aggressive swedish stuff, I'd go with The Haunted's Hate Song (+most of the songs on their debut) or Blinded By Fear by At The Gates (from Slaughter Of The Soul album) Sähköinen Ekstaasi - Horisontti On Lähellä (demo) Finnish band that has lots of Black Sabbath influence. Groovy stuff. Some songs would sound great with skydiving. As you don't have this one (that can be arranged), I recommend Cathedral's stoner stuff. Songs like Midnight Mountain, Urko's Conquest, Utopian Blaster and many more are worth to check out.

And other companies who want the employees will pay bigger salary. Competition on both sides balances things. That would be possible if one major company owned everything. I really can't see that happening in totally free market. I know regular people have to work to eat, so they can't say no to work forever. That gives the edge to the corporations that can survive longer without workers. But when they have to compete with other companies, they really can't afford to do nothing and loose their business. Current situation with laws/borders making healthy competition impossible helps some company owners that surprisingly do have connections with the politicians making these laws.

I know that. American or EU workers lose their jobs 'cos companies move into countries with cheaper salaries. These companies however make lots of money with this. You know why that's possible? Because it's American or EU company behind the product. 3rd world companies make same stuff and would sell 'em cheaper, but our governments protect these companies (that are owned by their friends or even themselves) and put tolls and tariffs for "foreign" products that are actually the same product with different name. With partly closed markets companies can also sell same stuff with different price in different countries. They do this with CDs, DVDs, software etc. You pay as much as you can. That kind of regulations are against the idea free market. If somebody does the same job cheaper, he gets it. If somebody does it better, it's not the same job and he/she deserves more money for it. Then the employer (and customer) has a choise to make: Do I want shitty quality for cheaper price or good quality for higher price. And eventually in totally free global market the salaries would be close everywhere. That would be mean less money for workers in America and EU, and more money for workers in India etc. This would also force living costs closer. I'm fine with this kind of scenario, but most people don't see the big picture.

Maybe. I'd have no problems moving to another country. That's true. And I can guarantee that all farmers in Finland and USA would be out of jobs if USA and EU allowed cheap 3rd world agricultural products in their markets. I'd like to see that happen, 'cos I really don't see the point that I must pay higher price (includes taxes) for bread just 'cos Finnish farmers don't want to anything else. You pay higher price for American food too, 'cos US goverment also protects local farmers. True. That's what I'd like to see, world without borders. I know that's an utopia, but I think that's only reasonable way to deal with world trade. Borders are ok if they are totally closed, but if something goes through, everything should.

Why does it suck in reality? If somebody does the same job cheaper, what's the reason to pay somebody else more? I pay a lot of taxes because Finnish government wants to keep Finnish farmers busy. Some of 'em even get paid to do nothing. If you can't compete in free market, you need to do something else.

Why thank you very much! It's about time you came around and recognized that the Dems have no solution. Why even though the great one was asked several posts up, HE CAN COME UP WITH NO SOLUTION EITHER! It is very, very easy to cast stones my friend. Where's you're answer Raf? I'm not American, but I know one thing I would've made differently. Bush (who has been saying he supports free trade!), used steel tariffs to protect American steel industry. He saved some steel workers jobs and helped steel industry, but afterwards it's been calculated that the steel-using industry suffered about tariffs and lost more jobs and money than steel industry gained. And don't say it's easy to say this afterwards. I've been a free trade (that is really free and includes everything) supporter for long time.

Milhouse: Well Bart, we've learned that war is not the answer Bart: Except to all of America's problems

Four tattoos. Before getting real ones I tried to ink myself, but these didn't last. Some selfmade scarifications and burning marks Have had few piercings made (septum, vertical bridge and labret) but took 'em of quite soon. I'm not into wearing jewelry, but I'm into piercing process. I've also pierced my own ears, navel and nose, but took those off right away/after few days. I like nipple and tongue piercings on women, also lower back tattoos are very sexy.

This is what's it all about. Only people who benefit from illegal drugs are those who produce and sell 'em. Drug trade is second largest business in the world. More money moves only in weapons, and that includes nuclear warheads, aircraft carriers etc. Besides heroin is very cheap to produce and if addicts could buy their dose for $1 per day, then they wouldn't have to commit crimes to pay their drugs. I support everyones choise to do harm themselves if they want to. Skydiving is dangerous sport. Should it be illegal too?

You call it crap 'cos there was a tit out? It's ok to show some britney spears simulating masturbation on MTV, 'cos her tits are covered. Or some rap videos with 20 girls shaking their asses in front of camera. I don't see why titless MTV is ok, but it's porn and dangerous for children when you see a nipple for 2 seconds. To me TV is mostly crap, but I don't want it to be banned. I'm free to do something better. If your wife and daughters were shocked, that's because the society teaches you to be shocked about nudity. You teach it to your daughters too while trying to protect them from nudity and acting like it might harm them. If they are small children, they'll see how you react and follow your way. If you don't react at all, then they'll do the same. I The point many people already noticed was that why is it ok to show violence on TV but nudity is big no-no? Maybe the reason they did it was to start conversation about censorship in America. I doubt it, since it was MTV.

I agree with much of what you wrote, but this is silly. Atheism means that one doesn't believe in god(s). Nothing more. There is no claim or requirement to disprove anything at all. Nor is any sort of denial involved. I should've used word atheist and not atheism. However you are not right about that claim / denial part. So-called strong atheists believe there are no gods, and that means they say gods don't exist. Some even clearly say that it's impossible that gods would exist. I know there are weak atheists that are closer to agnostics as they are only sceptical about gods but 'cos both call themselves atheists, I don't want myself to be mistaken for them. Besides agnostism describes me fine as only thing I know is we can't be sure of anything. I don't believe in tooth fairy (in a way that it surely exists). Nobody can prove tooth fairy exists / doesn't exist. There's only probability that's between 0 and 1. I don't say tooth fairy exists or doesn't exist (strong atheist would say that tooth fairy doesn't exist), since I can't prove it. But existence of tooth fairy (or gods) doesn't affect in my life.

Apparently biggest thing currently in US is that a tit was shown in TV program. Why is that such a big deal over there? In Europe (most) people are ok with nudity and don't make a big deal of it.

I believe in myself. If I want to achieve something, I have to work for it. I can't rely on any other person or fictional character. I try to live my life in a way that in the end I'd have as few regrets as possible. And so far I've learned that I end up regretting things I didn't do rather than things I've done. If I'd die tomorrow, I'd be happy with my life so far. I'm an agnostic. Used to call myself atheist, but I soon realized that atheism denies the existence of gods. It's not possible to prove gods exist/doesn't exist. And even if someone could prove there's a god, I wouldn't waste my life worshipping him. I'd just continue to live for myself. I really do hope (and think there's 99.999999999999... % chance for me being right) that when I die, that's the end of my conscious. Worst thing I can imagine is living forever (in any place/form). That would be my hell.

PADI AOWD, RD after first aid training

Bart: Soul? Come on, Milhouse, there is no such thing as a soul. It's just something they made up to scare kids, like the bogeyman, or Michael Jackson. Milhouse: But every religion says there's a soul, Bart. Why would they lie? What would they have to gain? [Lovejoy, in his office, works a change sorting machine] Sideshow Bob: Even murder has its ugly side. Homer: Marge, I'm going to miss you so much. And it's not just the sex. It's also the food preparation. Bart: Hey, Grampa, we need to know your first name. Grampa: You're making my tombstone!? Grampa Simpson: I'm an old man. I hate everything but Matlock.

Homer The Heretic (#9F01, Season 4) This was also voted best episode at Homer's birthday party in Finland couple years ago. Some brilliant stuff in this episode: "And what if we picked the wrong religion? Every week, we're just making God madder and madder!" - Homer God: Thou hast forsaken My Church! Homer: [in fear] Uh, kind-of... b-but... God: But what! Homer: I'm not a bad guy! I work hard, and I love my kids. So why should I spend half my Sunday hearing about how I'm going to Hell? God: [pause] Hmm... You've got a point there. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to appear in a tortilla in Mexico." -God Insurance agent: Any valuables in the house? Homer: Well, the Picasso, my collection of classic cars... Insurance agent: Sorry, this policy only covers actualy losses, not made-up stuff. Homer: [miffed] Well that's just great! "That's game Hendrix!" - Benjamin Franklin (wins Jimi in airhockey on cloud background when Homer talks with god) "Don't worry, Homer. Nine out of ten religions fail in their first year." - God

You mean besides the fact that Kings is part of the "Old Testament" and had nothing to do with the Christians? My bad. Fingers were faster than thoughts. I meant Judeans (or whatever Moses&pals were) that were/are the link between Egyptians and christians.

http://www.cecm.sfu.ca/projects/ISC/Pihistory.html Babylonians 2000? BCE 1 3.125 = 3 + 1/8 Egyptians 2000? BCE 1 3.16045 China 1200? BCE 1 3 Bible (1 Kings 7:23) 550? BCE 1 3 Archimedes 250? BCE 3 3.1418 (ave.) Hon Han Shu 130 AD 1 3.1622 = sqrt(10) ? Ptolemy 150 3 3.14166 Chung Hing 250? 1 3.16227 = sqrt(10) Wang Fau 250? 1 3.15555 = 142/45 Liu Hui 263 5 3.14159 Siddhanta 380 3 3.1416 Tsu Ch'ung Chi 480? 7 3.1415926 Aryabhata 499 4 3.14156 Brahmagupta 640? 1 3.162277 = sqrt(10) Al-Khowarizmi 800 4 3.1416 Fibonacci 1220 3 3.141818 Al-Kashi 1429 14 Otho 1573 6 3.1415929 Viete 1593 9 3.1415926536 (ave.) Christians copied base of their religion from Egyptians. Why not closer estimation for pi

Achilles problem is about geometric series. There's infinite distance intervals, but 'cos these intervals decrease geometrically the total distance Achilles needs is finite 11.1111111m (10 m + 10/9 m)

Nope, there's no need for speed in solving this problem.