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Your (you're) a tool then, sorry to be so blunt. You have no Ideas (idea) what the silent majority is about to do to your reality. Since were (we're) both in SoCal I've got an Experiment for you, actually Bill, (space)I dare you. (no space) Put a Trump Flag over your solar array.(space) See what Happens (not capitalized).(space) Put a Trump sticker on your Tesla see what happens. As I drive down the freeway I just figure every car without a sticker is the silent supporter.( space and moment of silence) So much for the liberal idea of freedom of speech, to prove my point..(another moment of silence) We can go to N (period) Hollywood (and) have some sushi (and) saki and a couple (of) beers all on me. We'll both dress up in Pink Toto's (tutu's) and walk the streets (take your pick) we'll have a blast.(space) On the way back I'll put a red hat on your head and we'll see how the rest of the night goes. (distracting sexual connotation) Rich, you might work on your presentation a bit if you want to be taken seriously.

You're an amusing story teller. Hard working uneducated immigrant workers will send their children to school. They will learn that GOP special interest groups like pharma, the military industrial complex, the largest- the health care industry, etc. All keep the GOP alive. Those educated children will teach their parents not to fear equal rights for all. Not to fear the KKK, the Proud Boys and others. But to vote out those that use them for political advantage. Vote out those that sow fear and division. So all Americans can picnic and drink cold beers under the American flag. A multicolored flag crafted to symbolize the many colors of Americans.

OMG, thank you, thank you, everyone who made an effort to respond to my questions. "Mbohu", you are correct. I did not ask the question but my main purpose was to make sure that I don't get hurt. I did not ask the question because I understand and respect, as in all things, that I have to pay my dues in learning the step by step process of becoming proficient at this sport. Also, I did not want to influence the responses so that I may receive information/guidance/assistance that I may not have thought about as a student of the craft. All of you have inspired me to continue while having fun. 2 days ago, I just passed my level 5 and going on my level 6 next week. I'm more confident now and I have taken on a different mind set after reading all of your responses in addition to enjoying my last 2 jumps even more. This is NOOB statement here, "I made my first landing on my feet on my level 4 jump". That was so exciting! Thank you for all the book recommendations. I'm sure they will be a fun read and of great value. Once I become a license skydiver, I hope that some day I meet all of you and fly together. =) Again, thank you everyone who posted because you made a difference in my journey to learning and participating in this sport / life style.

Hi Joe, Jerry Baumchen

The biggest worry about temp swings would be condensation. The desiccant should reduce that. Cold isn't really good for the batteries, but if you aren't turning the AAD on, I wouldn't worry about it. Pests would also be a concern. But that depends on the conditions of the storage location. One thing I do for long(er) term storage is to pull the pilot chute out of the BOC. Easier on the spandex.

You do it frequently. Have you been arrested? Indicted? Convicted?

I posted this earlier this year and thought I would post it again. If you didn't read it earlier, you may be interested. I was wondering what happened to the virus that caused the Spanish flu in 1918 and found an interesting article. In the article, they dug up two bodies at different times in Alaska that had been buried and frozen in permafrost and took samples of lung tissue. It is a long article but worth reading. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/reconstruction-1918-virus.html

What an original idea...build a wall to keep brown people out and refer to it as justice!

Skydiving's not for everyone. After waiting 31 years, I joined a group of 16 planning our first jumps...13 backed out. Second try we gathered 14...11 backed out. (Common story.) So I paid for my entire AFF course up front and never looked back. Embrace your skydiving community and allow them to do the same for you. My greatest blessing entered my life through skydiving. Blue skies...fly fast, fly safe!

I started at 50. I read Brian Germain's "The parachutist and it's pilot" four or five times. The first time I read it, was before I ever jumped. I'm sure it helped me, but it also kept me from getting depressed while I couldn't jump (not because of injury, but because of weather, work, life, etc.) Others already wrote pretty much most of the things I'd write. I know that "knowing how to fall", something I learned way back as a kid, when I learned Judo and never really forgot, helped me a lot. If you haven't learned that (Judo, gymnastics and parkour, seem to be some good ways to learn it), this would be my main suggestion. Somehow, for me the first 100 jumps were really different in terms of my chance of getting hurt. Even though I continually got better at landings--looking back it feels like every one of those jumps had the potential of some landing injury. I never got seriously injured, but had minor hurts to my ankles and coccyx. I'd say: have some respect for landings and really learn to fly your parachute in those last 300 ft. Know how it reacts to every input and never stop flying it, even (and especially) when your feet (or whatever other body parts) are already on the ground.--I know you didn't ask about this, but I gathered that not getting hurt was one of the intentions for your questions. Have an awesome time. Don't think anything is out of reach (as kallend obviously proves--respect, brother!)

No need to comment on these items except to say that if you examined your comments to the same level that you expect the other side to examine their comment then some of this wouldn't get posted. The typical political BS shown below is why Trump got elected.

Try not to mess up the feels. It's unkind.

This is hands down the best advice you will receive, that's assuming you are aware enough to get your weight normalized before any elective surgery. I call it pre-hab. Even if it hurts it'll save you from a lot of more painful rehab.

She has a majority, unlike Kagan. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/21/amy-coney-barrett-poll-430632

Coming back to skydiving after a 25-year break I noticed two big differences to when I jumped in my 20's. Loss of upper body strength and ability to run. I found the freefall was fine, just the undercarriage wasn't what it once was. If you have spent the last 30 years sitting behind a desk then you might want to take up jogging with regular sprints. You just need to do it until you can jump off a 2.5 foot high wall and land running. The upper body strength comes in handy when things go wrong. Sorting out twists and stuff. I was surprised how quickly my arms got tired when I was working with my risers above my head. Best motivation I have ever had to go to the gym regularly.

1st jump at 52. Nationals medal at 57 Wingsuit world record at 70 3300 jumps now, at 75. I found that general cardio/vascular fitness was all I ever needed, no special exercises. Good eyesight helps too, not that there's much you can do about it.

I replaced my Left Knee in April 2016 - I was jumping by June and doing tandems by July - It was sore, and originally hard to bend fully, but I rehabbed that mother like no tomorrow. I replaced my Right Knee in December and didn't jump until March or April. It stayed stiff until this month. I rehabbed it hard this time too, but I'm older 65+ so the time to heal was a lot slower. My surgeon brags to his patients I have 1600 jumps on my new left knee.

I’ve done 3500 jumps, mostly tandem since having a knee replaced. It has never been a factor, and my birthday coincides with the cooling of the earth’s crust.

I had knee surgery 6 years ago. My knee started dis-locating 5 years afteer an airplane crash. Doctors diagnosed me with three torn ligaments in my left knee. Since they could not repair my posterior cruxiate ligament, they re-aligned the top of my tibia. In the months leading up to surgery, I did plenty of half-hour hikes to build up my leg muscles and stamina. Unfortunately, I could not afford physio-therapy, so my healing process was considerably delayed. Since knee surgery, I did another 300 tandem jumps, then retired from skydiving.