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Here in the UK the Royal British Legion had similar problems with dropping membership numbers. They got around it by creating two types of membership, full membership (for all veterans - regular, reserve or emergency services) and associate membership (for anyone who wished to support the aims of the RBL but who had not served). Both groups pay the same membership, roughly £18 p.a. and work to fundraise for the RBL particularly around November in the run up to Remembrance Sunday.

You're missing out. Borrow a couple open face helmets and go do a real kiss pass.

Not really responding. It was a leaked cable. It's not like the ambassador tweeted to call him an idiot, he was merely giving his assessment to back home. You would hope that ambassadors could give their honest opinions without fear - indeed that's the point of their position. It's not the ambassadors fault the memo subsequently got leaked.

There are Christians out there who don't conflate politics with Christ. They might not be in your family, but family is important, too -- find directed activities to do with family that don't really allow for too much BS talking, like games night, or movies, etc. Then you can join in fellowship with others, and not feel bad about your family, or feeling like they think you're not 'doing Christianity "right".' Or maybe that's not what's happening at all -- I'm 1000+ miles away and have no real insight. Just a thought. But if you take the social lead, then you're the one designing how it works. Wendy P.

I owned a Falcon 235 which I bought used with about 400 jumps on it when I had about 120 jumps. At the time I weighed about 200. It took me a while to learn to land it on no-wind days, but I never had a hard opening, the worst was an occassioinal 90 - 180 twist (flatpacked - usually quickly). That canopy has Dacron lines, which may have something to do with the soft openings. When I moved to a Batwing about 450 jumps later, I sold it with a lot of regret. That same canopy is now on its fourth owner, each having put about 400 jumps on it. As far as I know the total now is roughly 1500 with ZERO malfunctions and even more amazing, still the original lines. I trust it enough to use a Falcon 195 as a Reserve. Nuff said.

I'm becoming a slacker,I'm down to 2 jobs Medic/Rescue and Teaching in the fall. So, I finally made it official and put in my notice with the Department that I'm officially done. I know the timing looks pretty bad to outsiders with all the fires going on in our state,but I have been on/off training for the last few months and nothings more dangerous then not being current. I've really been focusing my attention on EMS,and haven't felt that strong pull to be out with the Fire Dept. so I knew it was time. Hubby finishing his Fire science degree and accepting a job at another department also made it easier.

Moral and ethical consistency from anyone who identifies as Republican or Christian? That is not possible. Not in this day and age. For those people, morals and ethics are completely fungible. It depends on who is doing what, and what their beliefs and skin color are. Then, and only then, can a decision be made as to what iteration of their version of ethics and morals apply.

Agreed. Unfortunately it is usually taught as described by the above poster, namely: I've been taught and used for all of my 17 jumps - 2 stage flare. Simply:- flare first to half brakes (hands around shoulder level)- then finish all the way down

Be strong in the Lord. Satan's job is to steal, kill, and destroy. The breakdown of families is paramount in his goal. Keep the faith Pray Study the Word

Regarding jumper34... This is all very fascinating stuff, but I have a few questions. If this was a preplanned inside job with ties all the way up to the president, and extreme covert coverups afterward, what was the purpose of it? It was a blatantly public event. Also - I'm not a researcher in this case, I'm just a curious long time skydiver. My thoughts focus a lot on the logistics of the jump itself. So he jumps with a pilot's bailout rig with a non-steerable canopy. If he opens that thing at 10 grand he's got no influence over where he lands. A chosen LZ? He's literally at the mercy of the winds. And 80 mph uppers? You seem to have much different wind estimates than the other researchers. Earlier I posited a theory whereby his best chance at landing in a chosen LZ might have been to get over it in freefall, then open so low so as to stay there. I mentioned maneuvering over it in freefall, which is doable, but within a very limited range. You'd have to start out with a very accurate 'spot', which is determining exactly when to exit the plane so as to be over the desired LZ. That would require good visibility of the ground from the plane. It was night. I've heard varying reports of the weather, from completely cloudy and rainy, to partially cloudy and drizzly. Does anyone know what the moon was that night? The ratio of moonlight to cloudiness would affect how well he could see the ground and determine his exit point. Also, was there cities, towns, or other features on the ground nearby that would be lit up, giving him a better bearing of exactly where he was exiting the plane?

Jumper 34 wrote: "Also had a Herc break apart there from the 304th where I was stationed. One survivor out of PDX." I'm familiar with that tragic accident. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19961122-1 I always thought Lockheed should have been held liable. Amazingly that model Herc could not be restarted in the air if all four engines flamed out (e.g. from fuel starvation). What a monumentally stupid design error. The crew accidentally ran the interior Fulton Tank dry leading to loss of all four engines. There was plenty of fuel in other tanks but there was not enough electrical power from the battery buss to do an engine relight, so down they went. The only possible way to have saved the day was if the FE had cut safety wire on the terminal box that had squat switch terminals that inhibited starting the GPU after wheels up and disconnected (or jumpered?) the wires that prevented a GPU inflight start. That's asking way too much in a critical or chaotic emergency situation. It's truly amazing that a survivor was found at night offshore. I find conspiracy theories and inside job allegations fascinating but I normally discount them because I do not believe that they could stay secret for so long. Many people would be involved and when lots of people are involved leaks are inevitable. I have a Cooper 20. I wonder if it might have any traces or residue that would link it to the unique chemistry and ecology of La Camas Lake? I do not believe Norjack was an inside job, but your landing zone theories are worth exploring. Wouldnt dragging the lake for the canopy using a grapnel hook be more effective and far less dangerous than diving for it? As far as I have been able to discover in my research, the SAT 727 test airdrops over Korat Thailand were the only 727 airdrops made during the war. No 727 airdrops were made in Vietnam. Dr. Joe Leeker, the premier historian of covert air ops in SE Asia, agrees. The MAC SOG guys I've talked to said they never jumped from or heard about any jumps from 727s in Vietnam. Far more suitable aircraft were available such as Hercs, C 123s, C 119s and Caribous. There was no need to masquerade as a civil airliner. If you have info to the contrary post it here. I'll keep an open mind. Cossey's murder was very odd. If it was connected with his gambling it seems that leads would have developed. Grudges and player to player animosity at casinos gets noticed. What relevant evidence has been found by the authorities? Zero. Nada. Nothing of value appears to have been taken. A junkie burglar would definitely have taken stuff. The murder weapon was a club, not a gun. No loud noise to attract police. A thief could have taken his time to look for and steal valuables. BTW, what does the 34 in your screen name mean? 377

He's parroting baseless predictions from an imaginary leaker within the intelligence agencies who claims to be leading a group of true patriots against the 'deep state' govenrment takeover by hardline democrat child sex traffickers. It's the most well known, ludicrous and absurd conspiracy theory of the past few years. Just because you aren't aware that it's batshit crazy doesn't mean it's any less batshit crazy. And it is batshit crazy. Like, genuinely beyond insane.

Good for them. Sounds like it was a bad decision by an employee and not an attitude of Starbucks.

I'm pretty stocky too - 5'4" and a little on the heavy side. I'm also a pretty damn good skydiver. It's much more a mental game than physical. Join us!

Hi jakee, Nope; they lost their soul when they went with Trump. And, I say this as someone who was a member of the Rep. Party for over 40 yrs. Jerry Baumchen

Yes and yes, I believe so. And while I'm not particularly fond of the whole guilt by association thing, these two leaders' sexual appetites and history of scandal really fucking creeps me out. . . .and I don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves, but damn, if they were involved somehow, how satisfying would it be for lady justice to finally serve up those two juicy fuckers on a fat platter? Maybe then this country could finally find some common ground and wake up from this nightmare. . .