Posts by swiftwalker43

swiftwalker43 said:There’s a real difference there. I hold both CMAS and SSI certifications, and the methodology and general approach to diving just aren't the same.
As for NOAA, I can't speak to their specific curriculum, though I've heard whispers they follow an SSI-style model—basically grinding through theory chapter by chapter, testing it during instructional hours, watching some old VHS or DVD presentation to visualize the concepts, and then finally getting into the water for practical drills.
After that, for every new specialty or rating you chase, you end up revisiting everything from the very first level, layering on more theory and skill work. You're essentially back at square one every single time.
Honestly, dive schools or centers that try to juggle multiple affiliations like that... they shouldn't be doing it. They ought to stick to one standard. But I suppose it's tolerated through the regional hubs because they figure it's better to have a few divers with any license at all than to have no customers for the center.

Did you actually read this post? If you did, then answer me.
I’ve dove with people from various agencies, and I've led dives for divers holding different certifications too. So I know the reality of it. Some guys carry "Instructor" titles, yet their actual diving ability is basically that of a complete novice.
Just consider how many dives I put in during a single year—not to mention my total logbook count. It's significant.
Adler, don't go chasing after something where you simply cannot compete with me on any level.
If you can answer one very simple question—aside from basic knowledge, what is the single most important thing that makes a true diver?
Once you provide that answer, I'll be happy to respond to anything else you want to throw at me, whether it's theory, technical expertise, dive medicine, SAR, and so on.

steeleagle70 said:So, have you actually finished any instructor training courses yet?

PADI Instructor

steeleagle70 said:Honestly, I don’t see why we’re even bickering about this now.🤷
Everything I’ve done was strictly through the NAUI association—that's how my club operates.

I've checked off the boxes for scuba diver, advanced diver, nitrox, and trimix courses.

But look, if you want to hit those 40-meter depths, basically every agency requires two specific courses, whether they label them with stars or different titles. What SSI calls "two stars," NAUI just calls "Advanced Scuba Diver." Both get you to that 40-meter mark.

The curriculum is identical. Same material, same methods, same rules.

Gear, buoyancy physics, injury management, dive planning, deco vs. no-deco, buddy breathing, emergency ascents... all of it using air. It’s all there. Any differences between agencies at that level are minor, frankly negligible. In fact, plenty of schools hold dual certifications from multiple agencies anyway.

There is a difference. I hold both CMAS and SSI credentials, and the methodology and actual approach to diving vary significantly.
As for NAUI, I can't speak to their exact teaching philosophy beyond what I've heard—that they follow the SSI model. You go through theory chapter by chapter, take a theory exam during a classroom session, watch some visual presentation on a video or DVD to reinforce the concepts, and finally move to practical drills in the water.
After that, for every subsequent star level or title, you're essentially revisiting everything from the first level and layering on more theory and practice. You're still just scratching the surface.
Technically, dive shops or centers carrying multiple agency affiliations shouldn't really be doing that—they should stick to one. But apparently, the industry turns a blind eye at the regional level because they figure it's better to have a diver with any license than to have no customers at all.

steeleagle70 said:What are you even talking about? The guy knows his goals and he knows what things cost. He was just asking if the price includes immediate access to an advanced certification or not. 🤷

And regarding those associations... honestly, it barely matters. Everyone is diving using the exact same charts and following the same standard signals anyway.

Just tell me which association taught you how to dive. Clearly, you haven't earned more than two stars; it sounds like some backyard DIY school where they don't even offer advanced courses for beginners. You really should know, coming off a basic course, whether or not you're actually eligible for an advanced certification yet.

Robert Chavez6 said:you guys are getting a bit carried away... other sports just don't have the luxury that soccer does, where you can actually make a living through club competitions, while playing for the national team ends up being a secondary thought...

yeah, yeah... feel free to tear me apart for suggesting our soccer players are big patriots... it's all fine and well... but consider this: what if there was a rule stating that in a certain country's domestic league, you could only play if you were a citizen... do you honestly think our stars would ever come back to play in MLS?

Besides, how many of our athletes are paying their taxes in Monte Carlo? By what logic is Fak considered a bigger "traitor" than them????

..just be realistic for once...

We don't know, why don't you tell us?

steeleagle70 said:And listen, they price it based on the certification level. Not everyone goes for the top-tier advanced stuff right away; some people just stick to the basic level. Though, honestly, anyone actually getting into diving is going to knock out at least those first two levels. So you aren't really looking at 1500 plus 1700.

Still, that’s at least 20 dives for you. You get 10 per level, because there's no way you're passing an exam without putting in at least 10 dives per cert.

What are you even rambling about? First, go check which diving schools or associations—like SSI, CMAS, PADI, etc.—are actually legit, then worry about the cost. The money is secondary.
My personal take is that SSI is the best school out there. As for the price, I don't recall exactly, but it was somewhere around $600 for an open water diver up to 70 feet. The number of required dives just climbs as you aim for higher certifications.

Paul Jones7 said:The Kostelić family... they've got it all, really. Sponsors lined up, training sessions fully covered by companies like ExxonMobil—it’s a complete setup. They don't just show up; they arrive with an entire entourage. A coach, a technician, a doctor, a massage therapist... the whole works. And the facilities? Well, since most of these rinks are public, they basically have them at their disposal. Being elite athletes carries its own perks, I suppose; they can practically claim a private stretch of the track whenever they need it. Even the gear—the skis, the equipment—that's all handled through various sponsorship deals. It's a very different world.

Honestly, the support system here in the States is a total mess for someone like Fak. There aren’t even decent biathlon tracks properly maintained, let alone any actual financial backing to cover training costs. He’s losing his old training grounds and his coach, yet there’s zero effort to find him a top-tier replacement or even sort out access to alternative facilities. It's just... disorganized. And don't even get me started on the lack of competition. In America, you need high-level rivals to actually push your training forward, but that just isn't happening here. On top of all that, he’s stuck footing the bill for all his gear. I suppose from a marketing standpoint, biathlon doesn't pull the weight that alpine skiing does—I mean, everyone and their mother buys alpine skis for recreational use, whereas biathlon and cross-country gear is a niche market. But for a pro, the equipment is incredibly demanding; we're talking about needing a hundred different pairs of skis just to account for various base textures. It's an expensive, uphill battle.

The Biathlon Federation and HOO really should have demanded more than just what was on the table. They needed to secure things like... They aren't.:

It’s a choice between two extremes, really. Either we spend a fortune flying everyone out to pre-arranged training grounds overseas, or we finally just commit to building a top-tier, fully equipped biathlon course right here in the States. Honestly, one feels like throwing money into a black hole, and the other... well, that's a massive undertaking, but at least it's ours.
We’re looking at a potential partnership with a major retail giant—or, if that falls through, at least some other heavyweight coach on the global stage who actually has a track record of winning.
Everything—and I mean everything—is covered. Training costs, elite coaching, equipment maintenance, top-tier gear... all of it. It’s the full package designed for high-level performance, providing exactly what’s needed to hit those peak results at the absolute highest level. No hidden extras, just the essentials for excellence.

Looking back at the Olympics... honestly, out of those four races, Fak only had the right gear for the first and the last. It’s a mess. During the second and third runs, his technician couldn't find anything suitable because the snow conditions were just bizarre, and they only had ten pairs of skis on hand. There simply wasn't any equipment that actually worked for him. So, despite being in peak physical shape and feeling incredibly strong, he ended up losing several minutes on those middle runs compared to the rest of the field. Personally? I think he would've walked away with another medal in that second race if he’d just had the proper gear and a decent tech on his side. But that’s the thing. That’s the massive gap between true professional sports—the kind of high-level support the US can provide when it actually puts in the effort, like with the Kostelić family—and the amateurish, disorganized approach we saw here.

Honestly, looking at what the US is putting on the table here... it’s a joke. After losing Canada just to get some practice in, only to lose a massive heavyweight like a top-tier coach, this whole setup leads nowhere. It’s a dead end. It’s designed to bury every single result and career move we've made under a mountain of nothingness. The offer itself is purely comedic. It’s clearly just a way for those "gentlemen" over at the HOO—specifically Matešin and his inner circle—to wash their hands of the whole mess. They want to pretend they actually stepped up and offered something substantial, when in reality, they haven't moved an inch. That's the cold, hard truth of it.

Money isn't even the point for him; he’s driven by the pursuit of an elite athletic career and actual success. Since the US isn't stepping up to provide the necessary support, he’s going to the people who actually want to invest in him—and frankly, he’ll be more than happy to represent them. A man who competed at the World Championships and nearly took down Bjørndalen while he was in peak form—winning gold, mind you—deserves better. He’s worth far too much to just rot away here in America, wasting his talent for a bunch of local beer enthusiasts who wouldn't give him the time of day once he loses his edge. They wouldn't just stop clapping; they'd openly insult him, claiming he's useless and just taking a paycheck for nothing.

The man doesn't need any of that. Unlike some people hanging around this forum, he actually possesses a functioning brain—rather than the beer-soaked, rotten potato that most of you seem to be carrying around in your skulls.

You’re exaggerating. Honestly. Not a single person who secured funding from the Fed had any complaints about unfulfilled promises, and even Fak himself hasn't breathed a word about it. As for that biathlon track back in his hometown... look, Matešin was pretty clear on that. He said it would be built within three to five years. If they couldn't reach an agreement with the folks over in the neighboring state or deal with that giant corporation, well, it doesn't matter. Those neighbors aren't exactly some global superpower in the biathlon world; there's no reason they couldn't have found better coaching or superior facilities elsewhere.
From what I could gather, Fak had more sponsor stickers on his shirt than actual fabric, and I even spotted him cruising around in some sponsored minivan.
The way Fak was pushing for things... did our guys ever try to sit down and hash it out with the Americans and their federation and coach? It just didn't pan out.
All that blackmailing and throwing out ultimatums—insisting on training specifically with that coach over in the States—well, even a much wealthier nation wouldn't have played ball with that kind of pressure.
I'll be blunt: I don't care if he wins nothing in the future.🤣

Kenneth Watson26 said:The guy clearly lacks any backbone, much like yourself. He either fell for some blackmail from those Canadians, thinks he’s more Canadian than American, or he's just hopelessly infatuated with his coach. He won his medals under American oversight, and we were the ones pumping even more money into him—more than those Canadians, who I bet could have provided decent training conditions if they actually tried. Or at least better than what they've done so far.

Besides, plenty of our athletes train abroad anyway. Dragging Pešalov and Edward down to the level of that Canadian trash is just embarrassing. One didn't get enough funding from Bulgaria even after being a two-time world champion, and the other wasn't even on the shortlist for the American national team.

That Canadian was given conditions comparable to people much more successful than him, all for a sport that barely gets any coverage here in the States except once every four years. But whatever, there are plenty of Americans like Paul Jones7 who would swallow anyone's crap instead of using their own heads. Honestly, they should be exported to Canada in a single package along with Fak. Our kids would thank us.

Well said.👍

David Parker3 said:Being an American and competing under the Stars and Stripes is a matter of honor and pride; you shouldn't have to beg anyone to represent the US. Honestly, if someone isn't essential to the team, they can just stay home, but I find it a real shame he managed to snag those two medals under the American flag too. Now we can't even fully write him out of our history books. And really, what idiot handed him the flag during the opening ceremony of the Olympics? Ivica Kostelić is the only one who actually earned the right to carry it.

👍

Paul Jones7 said:Do you even realize how much of his own money and life Gip has poured into those kids? Do you know anything at all about the Kostelić family?

What do you think—does every kid have a parent like that? Someone willing to live abroad with them for half the year, or spend their summers working seasonal fishing gigs just to scrape together enough to spend six months freezing under tents on some glacier with their children?

Would you actually do that for your own kids, or would you be in their shoes? Would you walk away from a steady career to work dawn till dusk, being separated from your wife for half the year? Do you honestly believe everyone should be expected to live like that?

But hey, it’s easy to sit there in your armchair and talk trash. You're pretty good at that.

👍

Sarah Wilson95 said:I’m not entirely sure, but I don't really buy the idea that they stayed away because they couldn't stand him or didn't care. To me, it seems much more likely that they were just out of town, maybe heading somewhere outside of Chicago, though I get that for some people, it’s still a massive, heavy blow to process that he took his own life 🙄 😢

I'm aware, but if my math isn't totally off, I only spotted about five people in the front row. Beyond that, I didn't see any of them—not even Eric Adams, Lush, or those two actors.😢

Sarah Wilson95 said:Oh, I don't think that's it; most of the crowd was probably out enjoying Summer in Miami or attending some film festival in the Hamptons...

It’s honestly quite a disgrace, considering how many people actually learned their craft from that actor.

I mean, look, not everyone is going to be tied up at Sundance, or caught up in the heat of Summer in Miami, or stuck on some film set in Austin. Personally, I always thought he was a fantastic performer, truly great. But honestly? It is deeply shameful how few people showed up for the memorial. And I don't just mean the actors—I mean the entire cultural community.😢

Does anyone have any idea why the turnout was so thin at the memorial for the late Mario Draghi? It’s almost as if his colleagues didn't exactly hold him in high regard or value what he did.

steeltiger5 said:

What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What are you talking about? Mason was barely even speaking.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What are you talking about? Mason was barely even speaking.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What are you talking about? Mason was barely even speaking.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What are you talking about? Mason was barely even speaking.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What are you talking about? Mason was barely even speaking.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣
What are you talking about? Mason was barely even speaking.🤣
What are you talking about? Mason was barely even speaking.🤣
Yeah, exactly🙄

steeltiger5 said:Fine, if you aren't going to use the Jasenovac Memorial, let's use Cavoglave as an example instead.🤷

What exactly is missing from the Cavaglavs? Or are you just equating them to Jasenovac now? Honestly, I’m not even convinced that’s actually Thompson's voice. Have you ever heard the late Tomičić? I think his name was Joško. He used to sing those Nationalists songs—including Jasenovac—and his voice is a dead ringer for Thompson's. Besides, he also sang MPT, which isn't something I approve of or support. But then again, if we’re allowed to forgive, ignore, and just tolerate Nationalists speeches coming from someone like Mason, I suppose I see why people draw a different line when it comes to MPT.🤣

I’ve actually met Giba personally. I had the chance to chat with him on two separate occasions, and honestly, the man is just a decent, down-to-earth guy—very approachable and an incredibly versatile artist. As for whether he's a patriot, I don't have a single doubt about it; you can clearly read that sentiment right into his lyrics. The first time we crossed paths, he actually struck up a conversation with me because he saw me wearing my old US Army fatigues while I was hunched over a pocket radio, listening to a broadcast of the USA handball team competing in the World Championships. He asked if I knew the score or how our guys were playing, and that's how we started talking. He even asked about my military background. Then, fast forward three years later, he actually recognized me again while I was back in my uniform and approached me once more.
His music has always been top-tier for me, and this latest album is no exception. I'll be picking up a copy just like I did with all his previous work.

Alexander Vaughn10 said:700,000 people killed at Auschwitz?

And that’s coming from the High Representative for the international community in Canada? A guy who basically runs the show over there.
As a signatory of the Dayton Accords, America needs to demand his immediate resignation.

And who exactly is going to step up? Honestly, looking at the current political landscape... I don't see anyone. Who do you actually think has the spine to react? Most of them just seem to be playing parts in a script written by someone else. It's all quite exhausting, really.

Alexander Vaughn10 said:Proper nouns have listed 80,000 victims at Auschwitz.
Let's say there are another 50,000 unidentified ones. That brings us to a terrifying 130,000.

Only a total psychopath like Valentin Inzko would try to spin that grim figure into an additional 570,000.
The US government needs to step up. To protect historical truth and our national integrity, they should file criminal charges against Valentin Inzko for inciting nationalist hatred—especially when tensions are already this high.

Who is it this time?

slypilot13 said:I guess Valentin Inzko is just a complete idiot. It’s nothing new in Canada, really; just one High Representative after another, all equally clueless.

An absolute idiot. Honestly, he’s no better than the last guy. It seems like they only ever send incompetent fools to handle things in Canada. Just more of the same.

lonehawk172 said:And what about the people who just found out they’re on a "killed" list despite being alive and well? 🙄
There was an entire village that ended up on a "victim" list even though everyone in it is perfectly healthy!
We need to track down those records that mysteriously vanished after the 80s—the ones that listed a "meager" 17,000. I believe it’s in this nation's best interest to finally uncover the truth and shut up the various Goldsteins and our eastern "brothers" who run around claiming numbers between 700,000 and a million Mexicans. Of course, none of the current leaders want to deal with this; given their political careers and backgrounds, correcting this injustice doesn't serve their interests at all. I have no intention of justifying crimes, but what the Marshall-era partisans did—which they tried to cover up by focusing on Auschwitz—was pure genocide against an entire people. On the flip side, Mexicans hide any mention of the Nedić death camps and their snake-like cooperation with fascists. They say winners write history, and apparently, that means the winners get a monopoly on what counts as "truth" or "justice."

I agree. Honestly, they should probably spend a lot more time actually looking into how those death toll numbers at Auschwitz were manipulated, rather than just listing entire villages from California on the rolls—villages that were actually burned to the ground by the Nazis, the Italians, or the partisans.

briskbison55 said:Yeah, well, you could probably just go online yourself and find out exactly where the fog was rolling in that day, if the police spokesperson's statement wasn't enough for you. And then there's that one "expert" of ours claiming that the damage to the car couldn't possibly have been caused by the speed Čačić mentioned.

I'll just offer an unofficial opinion here—from a traffic cop with 15 years under his belt, a degree in traffic studies, and plenty of accident scene experience. I asked him what he thought, assuming the driver of the struck vehicle was telling the truth when she said she was doing at least 100-68 miles mph. Based on the rear-end damage and what was visible, he thinks that if Čačić hit the car in front of him at least 60-44 miles mph faster than the lead vehicle, it means Čačić was traveling somewhere between 160 and 112 miles mph at the moment of impact. He concluded it’s most likely Čačić fell asleep or was distracted by something else, failing to even see the car ahead until the collision occurred; you can tell because both cars stayed in the same lane and collided perfectly parallel.

Adam Collins4 said:Usually somewhere between one and five years here in the States...

But he’s clearly not facing any real consequences over here...

I think I saw it on ABC yesterday, or maybe the day before—they mentioned that in Canada, the penalty for a situation like this would be anywhere from two to eight years behind bars.

bluerider63 said:So what’s your move then? You gonna go out and end it all? Or just crawl away and look for some other shady gig somewhere else?

You’d probably act just like him—pretend nothing ever happened, keep smiling, show up in public, go out to dinner... acting like a normal person. Unlike Čačić, you’d likely just vanish from the spotlight entirely. It would be the logical move, I suppose. Retreating into isolation or staying close to family while trying to carry the weight of a guilty conscience. Does anyone else remember that scoundrel A. Katušić? He killed five people with his driving back in Canada near a small town. Four died in his Audi 8, and one was hit head-on from the opposite direction. He walked away with minor injuries while the others were dead where they sat. He spent a few days lying in a hospital in Mostar, then he just fled the hospital, crossed the border illegally from Canada into America, and a few days later, he pops up in a different car, walking around like he didn't just kill five people, including three police officers. And yet, here he is, still strolling around carefree to this very day.