Male and Female Imponderables - Zwitter by Nicodemus

Nico - it's a long flight, but I suggest saving your money for when you get here.I always hate being put on a tight budget on vacation.But I'm used to annoying children .
Are you really going to visit PR ? Shiny !

Hi Tristan , good morning, dear.I've got some coffee brewing.
Remember your velcro solution for unruly children ? I'm seriously condidering it today.They are driving me nuts.

And hello there Verseexplorer & Spaceanjl, good to see you.How's life treating you ?

Bryce
*********************************

I swallowed a bug.

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 7:57 AM

See now I and my siblings were taken on airplanes regularly and my mom was very strict about our behavior. She made sure we sat together and had games and snacks and such and kept us busy, but she made it clear we were to be quiet and stay in our seats. Always timed the flight round nap time for when we were younger so we'd sleep the flight away. She'd also give us warm milk and chamomile right before take off so we'd be out the whole time. I think there's no excuse for ill behaved kids on a plane. If the parent carefully chooses flight time for when the kids are at their best and makes sure they have everything they need...there's no reason for badly behaved kids

I choose to rise instead of fall- U2

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 8:02 AM

Msg ,
I totally agree with you.My boys, although they can be annoying (like any other kids) know when & how to behave.Like in stores or restaurants.Their grandmothers say I'm strict, but my children are well behaved.And Dylan even says thank you without being told to !It amazes me every time.

Bryce
**********************************8

I swallowed a bug.

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 8:04 AM

See good parenting always shows!!! How are you doing LA? HUGS

Oh and I thought of your kids when I saw this

I choose to rise instead of fall- U2

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 8:21 AM

Look at the cute kitty !
I actually do that to them all the time.Or I tell them Mommy left the building. But really, thank you for the compliment .I try very hard to raise them with respect for themselves & others around them.

I'm ok , all is well here.The marriage counselling seems to be working & aside from some trust issues on my part, we're back to being a loving, tight couple.I also made it clear that I will never play the victim again.
And I found that courage with your help.I keep hearing your advice " if you keep doing the same ,you'll keep getting the same ".Words to live by !

Are you feeling better ?

Bryce
****************************8

I swallowed a bug.

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 8:21 AM

Sorry, double post there.Sean rushed at me screaming "uppie me Mommy !"

Look at the cute kitty !
I actually do that to them all the time.Or I tell them Mommy left the building. But really, thank you for the compliment .I try very hard to raise them with respect for themselves & others around them.

I'm ok , all is well here.The marriage counselling seems to be working & aside from some trust issues on my part, we're back to being a loving, tight couple.I also made it clear that I will never play the victim again.
And I found that courage with your help.I keep hearing your advice " if you keep doing the same ,you'll keep getting the same ".Words to live by !

Are you feeling better ?

Bryce
****************************

I swallowed a bug.

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 8:39 AM

LOL- yeah the interruption factor can have interesting results..I am definitely feeling better and I'm so glad things are getting better for you too. I do think my principal is very wise. He's the one who said, " If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten." It's his teaching philosophy. Thinks that if you like your results you should keep doing something, but if you don't, you need to change what you are doing to change the outcome...such a smart man:)

Here's another cute cat one

I choose to rise instead of fall- U2

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 8:41 AM

WHIMSICALNBRAINPAN

I have taken a trans-oceanic flight both in first class and in coach. First class was better hands down but I also wasn't the one paying for the vacation. Coach really wasn't all that bad but I was lucky enough not to get stuck near any any screaming babies. If it were me I would go with coach, maybe deprive myself of sleep the night before, and just try and sleep for most of the flight.

"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle." http://whimsicalnbrainpan.blogspot.com/

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 8:44 AM

That principal is one smart man indeed.Does he look like Principal Woods from Buffy ? 'Cause then I might have to fantasize !

I love cats. I worked in a vets office when I was a teen & had as many as 9 at once.I don't have any now, but eventually I will talk hubby into one or 2.

Bryce
**************************************

I swallowed a bug.

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 8:52 AM

PENGUIN

I want a kitty in a box!!!

King of the Mythical Land that is Iowa

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 9:18 AM

Here penguin this is for you

and a cat in the box

I choose to rise instead of fall- U2

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 9:20 AM

PENGUIN

Thanks!

King of the Mythical Land that is Iowa

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 10:44 AM

RIVERTWIN

Kitties! Awwwww.

How is everyone today? I haven't been online for a few days. Well, not here, anyway. I miss my Browncoats! *huggles to all*

I've never flown anywhere longer than about 15 hours from Phoenix to London and I've never flown anything but coach since I'm broke most of the time. So I'm not much help there! But my dad flew 1st class from FL to London and they had LazyBoy kinds of seats with footrests and you could actually stretch out. But if you just get up and wander around every hour or 2 on a coach flight so you don't get deep vein thrombosis and die, it makes it a little easier to tolerate. Frankly, I don't sit still no matter where I am most of the time, so I doubt coach would be much worse than 1st anyway.

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 11:31 AM

DANCINGNEKO

'morning coats.

Nico! You're gonna visit PR? Shiny!

My suggestions for the flight:
1) If you can afford it, buisness class is good. The same amount of space and type of seats as first class (I've heard).

2) If you want to save even more money, go coach class but choose either a) the front row after the divders/bulkheads, or b) see if you can choose the wing exit row. Both have a bit more leg space than any other row.

3) If it's the same price, consider a stopover in Hawaii. The flight from Austraila to Hawaii is very long (something I learned from b

d ex1)

and you might like some time to get out and strech your legs a bit.
(Plus, if the timing is right, you can get PR a few more 'exotic' type things when you get there.

)

....
Kids misbehaving on long flights?

I don't get it. With all the portable electronic toys that are available for them to play with...why? It should be easier for parents to have the "little darlings" sittting and distracted for longer amounts of time.

'Course growing up where my family had to take 1-hour flights to go from island to island so we got used to flying around (and entertaining ourselves). (I think my parents may have also tried to work the airlines schedule so that us kids would be a little calmer...

.....
Okay, that's it for now...gotta get ready for this afternoon/evening: movie (Hawaii International Film Festival is this weekend and I wanna see the Robotech movie -- shiny!), and a ho`ike. (Hula performance for my co-worker's daughter.)

I'll see you shiny folk later.

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 1:34 PM

KELKHIL

As far as flight class.....

I flew back from Iraq in first class. I actually got the Captain Kirk chair (yes it is there). It was the best flight I have ever taken.
Nico, usually when you check in you can request a first class bump. They do it for free if there is an open seat in first class. I would go first class but if you are on a tight budget I would sugest going coach and trying for a bump.

Kelkhil

The Shirtless Forsaken

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 1:56 PM

KELKHIL

OK I have to double post for this...

New ponderable:
Is there anything better than a handful of pumpkin seeds fresh out of the oven?
I ask this as my hand is warmed by FRESH BAKED PUMPKIN SEEDS for the munching!

Kelkhil

The Shirtless Forsaken

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 2:48 PM

TRAVELER

Hello Kelkhil:

It is that time year. Pumpkins, turkeys with stuffing, cranberrys, and yams. We are getting a cold spell in this neck of the woods. A little to early this year. So much for global warming.

I like to sit back with something chocolate. A candy bar, brownie, or cake. Also need chocolate milk to was it down with. It is becoming my last addiction, since I'm getting to old for the others. All my books have chocolate stains on them from my fingers. Forget to lick them off before turning the page.

I don't know if my parents did anything special when we traveled. My sister and I were well behaved. I an introvert, so that helps. Can sit for hours working on just about anything without disturbing a soul. Put me in front of a TV when I was a kid and forget about me till dinner.

As far as what seats to get. I have not done much air travel. Forget window seats. Ocean gets boring after a while.

Traveler

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 4:06 PM

JAMESTHEDARK

I've only been on planes twice in my life, and it was about a decade back for the later of them, so I don't have much to say on the subject. All I know is that I'm only comfortable when others can look at me and say "are those supposed to bend like that?", so I get along fine in confined areas.

PR: Nuts. Looks like somebody beat me to the gate

Ah well, that's what I get for bein' a pennyless Canadian student.

Damn, I need a vacation.

--------------
I ain't lookin' for help from on high. That's a damn long wait for a train don't come.

98% of teens have smoked pot, if you are one of the 2% that haven't, copy this into your signature.

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 4:49 PM

I've actually jumped out of more aircraft than I've landed in, so I can't vouch for seating arrangements.

I can, however, recomend the MC5 Ram Air Parachute for any and all exit craft proceedures. It can't carry as much weight as a T-10D or an MC1-1D, but it's more menuverable and could conceivably carry you over 30 miles towards your destination.

And remember, keep your head out of your 4th point of contact.

[IMG]

Place my body on a ship and burn it on the sea,
Let my spirit rise, Valkiries carry me.
Take me to Valhalla where my brothers wait for me.
Fires burn into the sky, my spirit will never die.

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 5:08 PM

Hey CMH question.... Have you ever done a HALO jump and if so, what's it like?? I've always wantd to try it, but you have to be millitary to train for it:(

I choose to rise instead of fall- U2

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 5:10 PM

FUTUREMRSFILLION

Quote:
Originally posted by Kelkhil:
OK I have to double post for this...

New ponderable:
Is there anything better than a handful of pumpkin seeds fresh out of the oven?
I ask this as my hand is warmed by FRESH BAKED PUMPKIN SEEDS for the munching!

Kelkhil

The Shirtless Forsaken

I think so. The giggles of delight your teenagers let loose when they are lighting their newly carved Jack o Lantern's!

----
Bestower of Titles, Designer of Tshirts, Maker of Mottos, Keeper of the Pyre

I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

FORSAKEN original

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 5:45 PM

VERSEEXPLORER

Kelkhil, I do like "FRESH BAKED PUMPKIN SEEDS" right out of the oven, but they are not my favorite thing. I think I'd have to go with Traveler. Chocolate would be one of my favorite foods of choice.

I made a web site to introduce my friends to the 'Verse.
http://web.mac.com/arcadianlc

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 5:49 PM

Ok that is fun, but don't they giggle while carving them?

I choose to rise instead of fall- U2

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 5:57 PM

A lot of my class described it as being akin to having sex, but then, I've heard military personell refer to firing a fully automatic weapon the same way. So I don't know how dependable that description is.

Anyways, you pre-breathe in pure oxygen for about 25 minutes before take off, then continue until you reach jumping altitude. That's probably the closest to being high that I've ever been, except it doesn't string you out. More of a feeling of exhileration; excited but euphoric. Eventually you get the signal to switch to your personal reserve, which is pretty much equivilent to clearing a gas mask. Still had one guy do it wrong on my first jump, started going into seizures from hypoxia.

Once you get the green, you ideally perform a no-hands exit (exit the aircraft without touching the in or outside of the craft itself, but ESPECIALLY not the outside). This can change in difficulty depending on if you're exiting a cargo-drop bay door or a personell side door. Whichever one you're doing, your legs feel like jello by that time. I didn't think I was nervouse, but upon questioning my Jumpmaster afterwards, I was told it's an unavoidable effect of breathing pure oxygen for so long.

The free fall itself varies for person to person. It wasn't too choppy my first time, and I got in some solid training on the Dragon's Breath at Bragg, so my Jumpmaster didn't have to correct my body positioning too much. Some guys have a tendancey to panic, though, and end up elbowing one of the JM's in the face.

Landing's always rough, no matter how you slice it. First couple of Hollywood's are called that because you don't have any equipment on. By graduation you're doing combats with 90+ pounds of equipment, always frontloaded. Even though my class had the one washout from hypoxia, no one dog legged their landings. If you're wondering what that means, remember that a dog's leg bends backwards at the knee, and you'll have a pretty good idea.

But that's the first jump. Like everything, it gets easier, even though adding new eliments to it (night jumps, high openings, etc.) always makes it feel like a completley new experience. I suppose the fall itself, which is what most everybody thinks of when they think of sky diving, depends on if you open high or low. Open high, and you do something similar to hang-gliding for 10+ minutes. Open low, you're probably gonna circle down to your LZ after a full minute or more of free falling.

And by the by, I don't think you'd be elligable for HALO training even if you were in the military. All pertinent military careers are male exclusive, so although it was never told to me outright, I'm assuming HALO is the same.

[IMG]

Place my body on a ship and burn it on the sea,
Let my spirit rise, Valkiries carry me.
Take me to Valhalla where my brothers wait for me.
Fires burn into the sky, my spirit will never die.

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 6:05 PM

yeah plus my height and weight would make me a danger to the others ( 5'2" 115lbs) Which is also why I can't fire an assualt rifle. The kick spins me wildly:(
It's sounds seriously cool though...wish I could. I mean it was fun jumping from a regular plane and all
I choose to rise instead of fall- U2

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 6:14 PM

"Did he just go crazy and fall asleep?"

Why do they call it a "Halo" jump?

"Well, here I am...Does that seem right to you?"

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 6:15 PM

"Did he just go crazy and fall asleep?"

Double Post in mid air!!

"Well, here I am...Does that seem right to you?"

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 6:16 PM

High Altitude Low Opening

Mean jumping from a plane that's waaaaay up there and the jump target is really narrow and small...it's way dangerous and you have to wear oxygen and such

One of my best friends is a Navy SEAL so I hear all kinds of fun stories ( well at least the ones he's legally allowed to share)

I choose to rise instead of fall- U2

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 6:20 PM

"Did he just go crazy and fall asleep?"

*feels like such a rube. gets ready to go to bed*

Thanks MsG. G'night.

"Well, here I am...Does that seem right to you?"

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 6:22 PM

Night Jonny- you're not a rube hon just not a military guy...all my friends are cops or military, makes for some weird trivia info

I choose to rise instead of fall- U2

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 6:26 PM

"Did he just go crazy and fall asleep?"

Thanks for the pep up. Eyes drooping. Sweet dreams for you and MisterG. Once you get to sleep. (Still waiting for next round of maybe-baby. Keep us posted. Er, we don't need details, just results...)

"Well, here I am...Does that seem right to you?"

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 6:34 PM

You're tiny.

Beleive it or not, there was a guy almost your size in my ITB platoon. He and I lost contact during Airborne, but met up again in SFQC. He washed out there, though, tiny little legs just couldn't make the marches. He was about two days from getting peered out, anyways, but that had more to do with the bias of him being small more than his actual lack of ability.

Whatever anybody said about him, he was a true warrior. And I'm not just talking in a figurative "He's got heart" sense. Guy could whip people 1 1/2 times his size hand to hand, and made 39/40 Expert for BRM. More important than that, though, he agreed with just about everything I said.

[IMG]

Place my body on a ship and burn it on the sea,
Let my spirit rise, Valkiries carry me.
Take me to Valhalla where my brothers wait for me.
Fires burn into the sky, my spirit will never die.

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 6:42 PM

LOL- yes sadly I am very tiny. My students often give me a hard time about it. I do fine in hand to hand, but many weapons have too strong a recoil for me to manage...because , lets just face it, women have very pitiful upper body strength...which is again why I totally agreed with you about the " women putting themselves in a bad situation and getting raped" thing. Equality will only get you so far and I know full well that even if I were 6 feet a guy could still take me out because they have better upper body strength. It's why I think women are more suited to less combat intensive areas of the military, police, and firefighters( it always makes me nervous that women have to pass a less rigorous drill to be firefighters as I frankly don't want the firefighter who couldn't run as far or lift as much saving me)
I mean I am relatively tough and can reasonably hold my own ( because I've had training to do so) but I still wouldn't place myself in a situation where I was seriously physically confronting a guy...I couldn't win.

I choose to rise instead of fall- U2

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 6:45 PM

Outstanding. Well, I'm off to bed. G'night.

[IMG]

Place my body on a ship and burn it on the sea,
Let my spirit rise, Valkiries carry me.
Take me to Valhalla where my brothers wait for me.
Fires burn into the sky, my spirit will never die.

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Saturday, October 28, 2006 6:47 PM

NIght ...sleep well

I choose to rise instead of fall- U2

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Sunday, October 29, 2006 2:09 AM

MAGDALENA

"No power in the 'verse can stop me!"

Hello everyone! I'm back - I missed you all heaps and had FFF.net withdrawals - but it's good to be home again!

So - I didn't have any weapons - 'cept my acid like tongue on occassion - and none of you really want to know about that... do you?

Nico - I know there is a huge difference in the cost of airfare between ecconomy & business not to mention 1st class - I've been to the UK by ecconomy, and that's the only way I'll be able to afford to go to Dragon Con next year... but it's a bit of an adventure - I've had a dream flight where I got to stretch out across 3 seats and sleep well,and I have been in front of a chain smoker on a packed plane without a single empty seat...

... but it makes one hell of a story!

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Sunday, October 29, 2006 4:11 AM

MAGDALENA

"No power in the 'verse can stop me!"

Well - it seems so very unfair - but I have to go to bed, coz I have to be up for work in 6 hours... and I haven't even said...

hello my beautiful LittleAlbatross

- I am so glad about the councelling helping - I felt it would if you could get him to go - you're doing an amazing job with your boys - I do hope i get to meet them one day!! Oh - and I totally love Fleetwood Mac too!!

Hello sweet MsG!

- I missed my Li'l Sis this weekend - and I am sending all the right kind of big sisterly love and vibes your way too!

Hello Tristan!

- thank you for the pics - they are terrific! Did everyone see the picture thread? Tristan's too sexy for his sword... just so you all know!

Hey, Chris! Thank you for the description of HALO parachuting! Wow! I have heard much more clinical descriptions of what it is, what is involved and all that - but your description made me feel it with you! You really do write well when you describe something like that! Gave me goose-bumps!

Mei Mei, Nico, Mavourneen, Traveler, JohnnyQ, Kelkhil... Everyone! - sorry to have missed you all - will catch up soon - I promise!

Good night my FFFfamily! - Magda x x x

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Sunday, October 29, 2006 4:30 AM

PENGUIN

Quote:
Originally posted by msg:
LOL- yes sadly I am very tiny. My students often give me a hard time about it. I do fine in hand to hand, but many weapons have too strong a recoil for me to manage...because , lets just face it, women have very pitiful upper body strength...which is again why I totally agreed with you about the " women putting themselves in a bad situation and getting raped" thing. Equality will only get you so far and I know full well that even if I were 6 feet a guy could still take me out because they have better upper body strength. It's why I think women are more suited to less combat intensive areas of the military, police, and firefighters( it always makes me nervous that women have to pass a less rigorous drill to be firefighters as I frankly don't want the firefighter who couldn't run as far or lift as much saving me)
I mean I am relatively tough and can reasonably hold my own ( because I've had training to do so) but I still wouldn't place myself in a situation where I was seriously physically confronting a guy...I couldn't win.

I couldn't agree with you more, MSG...Equality aside, I don't think women belong in combat. Frankly I don't think men do either!

That's just the idealist in me talking...

By the way...you have an e-mail!

King of the Mythical Land that is Iowa

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Sunday, October 29, 2006 6:18 AM

JAMESTHEDARK

There's another imponderable, the likes of which has kept good kings pondering in their thrones for weeks, and didn't bother the vicious kings in the slightest:

Is it better to prepare for war, to make oneself as strong as possible for when war comes, or is it better to avoid it completely.

Personally, I can't think of a satisfactory answer. War is hell, no question about that, but time and time again, like the proverbial moths to a flame, humanity just keeps on flitting back to it. I couldn't fight for anything that I didn't believe in, besides the fact that I'm not exactly in military trim (well, from the waist down, I am, but above...). I'd rather there not be wars, at the least, wars I'm involved in, but that's entirely too optimistic. Heh. Now I'm going to be pondering for the next few hours...

--------------
I ain't lookin' for help from on high. That's a damn long wait for a train don't come.

98% of teens have smoked pot, if you are one of the 2% that haven't, copy this into your signature.

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Sunday, October 29, 2006 7:51 AM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

In answer to everyone: Yes, Nic is coming to see me

At least, assuming it's possible and things go relatively smoothly. Don't expect to hear the crazy squees of joy for a couple months, though. *wills the clock to speed up*
To answer AnJL: Yes, you've missed our 'courtship' because it has mostly been on chatzy, but you can see my sweet qing ren swooning and flirting in several picture threads.

I have to say that fresh mango is the best food in the 'verse, hands down. But that is me. Chocolate is good, too, but it's so sticky. I can't just eat and eat until I'm stuffed and happy the way I can with mango.

James, I think if it were realistic, it would be better to avoid war. Of course, since there are so many violent people in the world, and those who will literally kill those who don't agree with them and feel it's right, and those hungry for conquest, etc etc etc... Since all that is true, it's not realistic to avoid war because there are many who will take advantage of that, so it's best to be prepared. Look at Switzerland; great weapons, basically population-wide army, stellar training, and they get to be all nuetral because of it.
At least, that's how I understand it.

to all and sundry, I should really go to bed.

[]

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Sunday, October 29, 2006 7:58 AM

MAGDALENA - Glad you enjoyed it. It's hard relating an experience like that to other people. If anyone has thought about trying sky diving for recreational purposes, don't give it a second thought, just do it. I've heard lots of people wishing that they could do it, and never once have I heard someone who did it say that they were regretfull.

JamesTheDark - You're talking about a subject that usually sends me on 3 hour long tangents, but I'll try and keep this short.

I keep a gas mask, NBC suit, clean water, two canteens and water purification tablets in the back of my car, amongst other things. I have large rations of canned food in my pantry at home, all good until May 2009, with a cycling schedual that begins in January 2008 to ensure a freshly supplied stock good for another 5 years by May 2009, and ensuring that the previous stick hasn't gone to waste. I also have typed and practiced SOP's to adhere to given the nature of an emergencey. And this is just a small chunk of my life.

War is inevitable. In a way, conflict in itself is the spark of life. Animals hunt one another, germs and disease find hosts to kill, even plants have developed defenses against predetors. If things stopped conflicting with one another, then nothing would live to begin with. I don't see why anyone thinks that, as humans, we should not be subject to this. War, famine and disease are not horrible atrocities; they are life.

A poem, if I may:

"Glory is the sun, too, and the sun of suns,
and down the shafts of his splendid pinions
run tiny rivers of peace.

Most of his time, the tiger pads and slouches in a burning peace.
And the small hawk high up turns round on the slow pivot of peace.
Peace comes from behind the sun, with the peregrine falcon, and the owl.
Yet all of these drink blood."

D.H. Lawrence

So what's better? To prepare for life, or to ignore it?

[IMG]

Place my body on a ship and burn it on the sea,
Let my spirit rise, Valkiries carry me.
Take me to Valhalla where my brothers wait for me.
Fires burn into the sky, my spirit will never die.

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Sunday, October 29, 2006 7:59 AM