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Kind of like saying "Bless her heart" in the South... Wendy P.

Actually, you get more honeys being fly. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

She is also 'crowdfunding' her campaign. She doesn't need the 'big money' donors. So that crowd has no control over her. THAT is what terrifies them.

My mom was very much not happy about my decision to skydive. I was a single parent at the time, so I guess she did have a point. It took a few years and a lot of me telling her that I am a very conservative jumper, but eventually she learned enough about what I was doing and how I was doing it to be (mostly) comfortable with the whole thing. She has been to dz's to watch many times since. Unfortunately she is not physically able to do a tandem, but she would if she could. Most people think it's cool and want to know how they can do it. When someone says I am crazy, I reply "Yes. Yes I am. And your point would be?" ;-) The whole death wish thing? I tell them it's a living life thing and leave it at that. You will lose friends because you are a skydiver. But you will gain an extended family because you are a skydiver. Seems a fair trade off to me. :-D

New ideas are scary. That's where progress comes from. And progress means change. And change is bad.

The deniers can't take it. Snowflakes, all of 'em.

Put one crab in a pan, it can easily climb out. Add more crabs to the pan, and when one begins its escape, the others pull it back into the pan. From the Wikipedia article on "Crab Mentality:" 'The analogy in human behavior is claimed to be that members of a group will attempt to reduce the self-confidence of any member who achieves success beyond the others, out of envy, resentment, spite, conspiracy, or competitive feelings, to halt their progress.' Strangely, I never experienced this to any significant degree in my skydiving career (professional and personal) - perhaps because of its military origin. I did, however experience this to the nth degree with a serious life decision I made a few years ago. Countless "friends" and acquaintances called, emailed, texted, stopped by to tell me why it was a wrong decision. I can't think of a single one of them that I am still in touch with. One good friend warned me that was going to happen (we are friends to this day). Two others asked me - once - if I had taken the time to think it through and if I was sure. My affirmative response was good enough - they supported me completely after that and we remain the closest of friends. Strong opposers likely do not understand the sport or the motivation behind your participation. In may opinion, you don't owe them and explanation nor do you have to defend yourself. Acknowledge the risk, place high value on training and methodical progression, currency, proficiency, and mitigating the risk. We all know that across the bridge of risk lies a great reward - it's different for everyone, but I applaud your choice to seize it. It will be a shame not to be able to share your experiences with those who have already called them to question, but you can always share them here Blue Skies, Fair Winds, and Safe Arrivals, Mate.

If their opinions are important enough to go to the trouble:- Invite these people to spend a day at the DZ. Let them chat to other 'family and friends', as well as other jumpers. Perhaps walk them through the various areas - training, packing, manifest. From the ground, talk them through a jump - show the aircraft running in, the exits, the openings, the pattern, the landings.

I'd go with this. Without context, it's hard to say, but I would take 'black skies' as wishing bad things towards someone. Intentionally wishing harm on them. The 'can I be on your ash dive?' comment is generally directed at people who are doing stupid shit, have been told how bad of an idea it is, and keep on doing it. It's not wishing bad things as much as predicting them. Somewhat similar to bounce bingo. I have my list. People who make bad choices and ignore lessons learned by themselves and others. Or the 'black skies' comment could have been sheer stupidity. While I started well after the real BS/BD days, my understanding is that it basically means 'enjoy the good but understand that the bad will happen.' The sport has changed to the point that some people don't even think it's 'dangerous'.

I used to print a t-shirt, "CAN I BE ON YOUR ASH DIVE?" DZ is not a place for thin skinned snow flakes. If words bother you what are you going to do when your friend bounces and you get his gooey stuff all over you? Say what is all that stuff? When I was a student I figured there would be a lot of blood but when peoples bodies break open it's all this clear gooey stuff that dries and looks kind of like thin snot. Any body know what it is? Lee

Tunnel is just the freefall. Skydiving is more than just the freefall. While tunnel is fun and educational, it's not the DZ and it's not jumping. General observations: Freefall (and freefly) skills are well up. Gear knowledge, airplane procedure knowledge and canopy skills are not. My DZ still has a good fun jumper base, although the freeflyers are becoming more prevalent. Finding other belly fliers can be challenging sometimes. A lot of this is dependent on the DZ and it's 'vibe'. The DZO where I jump is an active jumper (competes in vert at nationals) and the DZ sponsors several teams. The 'fun jumper community' is actively supported. Events, classes (instructional rating and canopy courses), even 'after hours' stuff, like potluck dinners and the annual chili cookoff. That sort of action by the DZ makes all the difference in the world.

The point is, that there was NOT some severe drought (or any state of drought for that matter) and the temperature was not abnormally high (unless you think 75 is sweltering. The fact of the matter is, despite the earnest desires of many, the Paradise fire CANNOT be attributed to man made climate change.

Where did I say anything about a conspiracy? History is full of examples of enterprising capitalists cashing in on public phobias, bomb/survival shelters to name one. Oh and BTW "Super Storm Sandy" wasn't even a category one hurricane when it made landfall.

No conspiracy, just a way to make some money off of a tragedy by characterizing it as the “new normal”. Remember after hurricane Katerina we were told that was going to be the norm due to climate change, necessitating higher premiums? What followed? A ten year hurricane drought. The insurance companies laughed all the way to the bank, having fleeced the all of the sheeple.

No just opportunists. Jump on the climate change bandwagon and justify higher premiums.

Governments subsidize the transportation system in many ways. But I agree, electric vehicles will need to pay an equivalent road use fee sooner or later.

Hi Brent, It has been a number of years since I last looked into this; but, in Oregon there are options should one not want to buy automobile insurance. 'Free market' and all of that. Jerry Baumchen

Free market capitalism requires a voluntary exchange between parties. If insurance companies can convince consumers to pay more because of climate change, well that is just marketing genius.

You have got to be kidding me. Insurance companies LOVE climate alarmism! "We have to raise your rates and cut your coverage because uh.....climate change, yeah yeah that's the ticket, climate change."

Obviously I'm not the only on who thought the GND was a load of horse shit, it got exactly ZERO votes in the senate, even its co sponsors were too embarrassed to support it.

No, I'm pretty sure that I started this thread about how the GND was magical thinking. Any thread drift was in reply to other respondents.

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I got one too and so far really like it. I made a short quick video if you want to see the hardware, at https://youtu.be/FOAA37bgdlw