Inspector Clouseau

I’m going to come out and say it. Most of the opinions on this thread come from positions of extreme ignorance. Saying that the horse does all the work or whinging that crops are abusive doesn’t help. Riders, and especially jockeys, put a titanic amount of time, fitness, and energy into being the best. If you actually think you are going to injure a horse with a racing crop, you either don’t know how one is used, or overestimate the effectiveness. Horse racing is not itself an abusive or harmful sport, much like any other equestrian pursuit. Santa Anita has been infamous for its poor track and jumping conditions for a while. Catch 22 is that you can’t fix that without money, and the track doesn’t make money if the horses don’t run. That said, morally bankrupt owners and trainers do not help at all. Doping, certain kinds of shoeing, riding less experienced jockeys because they tend to be lighter and cheaper, weighted crops, and a whole host of other actions make it more dangerous for horse and rider. This is not just an issue in the racing community, but everywhere. That’s why the eventing world has been replacing most of the jumps it is possible to replace on cross country courses with pinned jumps. These are ones that under a certain amount of weight collapse, so that if a horse makes substantive contact the jump falls out of the way, instead of the horse falling over the jump. 

On the whole, equestrian sports are just dangerous. For horses, for riders, for spectators. That should not take the worth from them. The ever present argument is that horses would be much happier just grazing in a pasture or set free. This is not true. Domesticated horses have specialized needs that only humans can provide for. One of them is meaningful work and mental challenge for growth. That is why dressage is so good for both horse and rider. Racing is different, but many horses love the racing as well. The question is never so simple as cruel or kind, black or white. Try talking to the people involved as well as the opposition. You might learn a lot.

And then there was me

It is neither. @Starswirl the Trixie You opinion doesn’t seem to be grounded in reality. Logic and reason, and the development of such are a pretty high priority for most home school families. I am not really sure it is any different than a usually more quality private school, as the emphasis on quality education and not being caught up in the same kind of distractions available in the public school system is universal to both concepts. I was homeschooled, mostly because the education system in BFE North Carolina doesn’t have enough teachers or money to be even remotely good. The lack of socialization is also basically a myth. Again, there are exceptions, but I have been at the number one public university in the country for three years, and nobody, not even my roommates knew I was homeschooled. In fact, all three of us were, and no one found out until we all talked about it one night. I’ve had a lot of different roommates as well, none of whom, before that group were homeschooled. 

@Warbalist I would disagree. Most homeschool families don’t exactly isolate their children from those realities of the world. In fact, I would say they are probably more exposed to professionalism and workplaces from an early age, and learn how to deal with the BS more effectively.

@Electrobolt I am very sorry to hear you were treated that way. I don’t agree with that form, and I think online classes and homeschool communes have a lot to offer of which your parents could have taken advantage. Most states have annual conferences to refine curriculum and disseminate information about local groups and good online teachers. They also usually have socials, graduation ceremonies, and a prom for the kids of various grades of school. Good luck with your standardized testing though! College is a whole new experience, and as one homeschool kid to another, you can always dm me for advice if you get lost in the sauce. Trust me, it happens to normal people just as much as it happens to homeschoolers.

Also, most county communities actually run sports teams open to homeschoolers that are not associated with a school. Even the communes have their own sprint football leagues sometimes on top of a lot of other sports. Let’s not forget the specialty athletes like myself riding for the USA Polocrosse team during high school, or even most olympians who are certainly homeschooled.

Oh yes, nothing beats a physical book which I can hold in my hand!

I used to get them kinda bad before the army. But I can’t remember having one since basic. I think they just kinda beat it outta me 

Haha, nope! The army and school has all of my time right now, and despite a crush I am terrible at texting/doing the whole mating dance game thing people seem to want these days.

I think that all cultures and societies have to some degree. It seems though that neither side of any environmental debate realize that there is a balance to be struck with mankind’s mastery of nature. We can exploit material, but we should also be good stewards, which means preserving a balance and maintaining our surroundings.

1. Get the NYC metro app and a metro card ASAP when you get there, it will be the biggest time and money saver. Do not use Lyft or Uber or the taxis, they are ridiculously expensive. I’m from outside the city limits NC, and am just a transplant as I go to West Point.

2. Wander Manhattan and the surrounding area. Little Soho and the various little culture towns are pretty high speed. The museums are good, and croton Harmon park and central are pretty craic.

3. Really any local non chain place. Just read the area and if you don’t get a welcoming sort of feel, probably use the better part of valor (discretion).

4. Its gonna be hell. I drove a delivery truck down 5th ave once, never again. Don’t drive if possible. 

5. See above.

6. Stay away from any protests, and generally don’t go to NJ, especially Newark. Harlem and the Bronx are a little sketch, but Queens is ok. 

Gonna say Fluttershy. 

IRL, there is this Mongolian girl on my pipe and drums corps who I’m crushing on, but can’t ever really find a good time to ask her to dinner. Sucks we are both crazy busy  C’est la vie though.

God no! This one is unique, and all the struggle, pain, and triumph is what makes it such. This one hasn’t always been good to me, but in the end, life can only take so much. I still have my health, my education(such as it is), and my faith.  The sun still rises, and as long as I can walk with my two feet and work with my hands, I’ll make it. Rock bottom is a beautiful place from which to build a foundation.

 Most practical option for me would be to escape and evade with my tools into the wilderness.  If it was a more permanent breakdown, head back to my home, secure my family and friends, arm myself, and keep mobile and deadly.  

This is just my theory, but I think humans are not designed to live alone and cut off from either a community or a companion who balances us and brings out our better nature.  That striving for balance and the heartbreak it can cause is why I think love is such a huge topic in cinema, music, and even litterateur.

It also depends heavily on the season and social context. For formal I have a well fitted Brooks Brothers suit. For church, khakis and a good polo that fits in the arms and chest is fine. But a nice tweed jacket with a fitted shirt and tie is a nice way to mix it up. Casual wear wise, I’m a big fan of jeans and a hoodie, or even jeans/slacks and a good sweater over a long sleeve shirt with a flat cap.  I do think that unless you have one hell of a beard though, clean shaven is the way to go.  Working clothes tend to be a good pair of durable cargo pants, boots, and either a work shirt on whether it is office work or manual work.  Beach and summer is definitely tommy Bahamas shorts, a good Hawaiian shirt, and boat shoes without socks.  Flip flops also work.  Men should be cognoscente of their socks as well. Nothing makes you look like a hillbilly (which I certainly am) like white socks with either slacks and boat shoes or formal shoes.  

Wake up, swear, get out of bed. Drop a deuce, shower, shave. Put my uniform on, clean up my room and make my bed. Go to morning formation, eat breakfast. Grab my stuff and go to work

I attend an Academy with a lot of military instructors, so yes, swearing is on the table you could say

Apocalypse? No. Conventional war that will be really freaking bad? Probably within the next ten years.

I think it’s not just overdone, but ultimately impracticable. People don’t get along well, and future people will be no exception. Depending on the level of technology, fragmentary governments and independent colonies would not at all surprise me. In fact, that is part of why the Spartans of the Halo universe were created was to repress rebellion and secession on further out colonies.

On 8/14/2018 at 11:14 AM, Meson Bolt said:

Woo, guard. That one time when you finally get a day off, only for your first line supervisor to tell you that you're going to be sitting in a Conex for 12 hours.

I feels ya.

Ohhhh yeah, straight off to an ADVON tastings to move other companies crap. All the fun

52 minutes ago, Sondash Studios said:

Thats my friend. but I'm as ripped as he is.

May want to hit the protein and increase your bench weight my man

Psssh. Easy, take fluttershy to the forests of my homeland. An appreciation of nature is an easy thing the share.

Give a confused look. Wonder what just happened. Be more confused since im a rider and horses slobbering on me is pretty much par for the course. Still be confused because this pony is talking to me and has wings.

“New Cadet, what the hell are you doing?”

On 8/9/2018 at 5:21 PM, Simply Cerberus said:

Ah, guard duty, truly the most exciting duty of a soldier (not), I feel you, though we weren't even allowed to use phones. 

Yep, the point is a little more lax on cq than other posts. At airborne school we pulled actual cq and I read a ton of veritas magazine. It was a loooooong cq shift. Should have brought a book in retrospect 

I see a bearded ninja, sitting on a hill. His name is chuck norris, and its me he wants to kill. 

If you can see chuck norris, then he can see you too. And if you cant see him, hes probly right behind you.

Dont break the law in Texas, lest you put your life in danger, chuck norris twin brother, is walker texas ranger.

“Assault through and shoot those MFers in the Fing face.”

ckassice one, gotta chase the dream