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Someone needs to make it 510, you know.........

Is the emoticon supposed to be you? I'd have chosen differently. Look, a country is many things but more than anything it is a society of people who choose to adopt a common identity and who work toward common goals for the common good. Those things generally come together very slowly for the whole. It's just reasonable that when most people have decided things like racism and racist behavior are no longer a part of their identity then they also no longer see it as a part of their national identity and, by extension, no longer identify with certain symbols of their racist past. It's not about starting over or denying our past it's about standing up for who we are now as a people. That's a good thing.

Qanon: The religion for people who find Scientology too rational and boring.

And that would be his problem. I think your skills are better spent slapping me around. At least I enjoy it.

David - One thing that you might try : Take your folks out on a day that you aren't jumping (which is all the time right now). Show them how much care is taken with everything. Maybe have them sit in on a tandem training class, watch some rigs being packed, talk to the fun jumpers, that sort of thing. Let them see how the whole process works without any of the distraction worrying about you. Many fears are based on ignorance and preconceived notions. Maybe if they can see that it really isn't a bunch of reckless yahoos, they might have a bit less fear of it. That was one of the things that really impressed my mom. When she was first coming up to hang out while I packed the left over student gear, when she came out to watch the other guys jump, and finally came when I was jumping. She saw the way we carefully packed, how we planned out each jump, how the tandem students were treated, even the professionalism with which the pilots approached the whole process She said several times that the care and thoroughness she could clearly see made her feel a lot more comfortable about the whole thing.

Can anyone re-post these pictures? They don't seem to be on the site anymore. Probably this,

Are you sure? Its worked for you 509 times!

Can anyone re-post these pictures? They don't seem to be on the site anymore.

From my own experience as a big flyer, I would add one more thing: I would not overdo it with the "slowing down". The problem is, that if you get used to constantly flying near the minimum fall rate you are capable of, you will develop a style that you will later have to unlearn, because it is not the most efficient and flexible style of flying, especially if you get into more competitive formation skydiving, such as 4-way or 8-way. Now, some of that may be unavoidable, and there will probably be multiple times, when you have to unlearn some things and update your flying style. Nevertheless I think it's best if you mostly try to fly somewhere near the middle of your range and, if anything, try to increase your range in BOTH directions--which, as others have pointed out, is best achieved in a tunnel: For example, if you are currently most comfortable flying at 74% speed in the tunnel, but can fly between 72% and 76%: Don't just try to get to 64%. Instead try to increase your range to be able to fly between 68% and 80%, etc. That way, when you DO fly with really slow fallers, you can match them, but you'll be aware that you are flying on the low end of your speed--rather than just unconsciously adopting an extra-slow flying style. Ultimately, in teams, the slower fallers will wear weights. The only way the faster fallers should probably adjust to the slower ones is by loosing weight! ...but for beginners, wearing weights is not a good idea, because of canopy loading--so don't ask them to do it...yet! Suits will definitely help. A little bit of extra fabric between the upper arms and body can greatly help. I got my first RW suit, by talking to Bev from BEV Suits, and 400 jumps later it still works great. tony suits is a bit more expensive and takes much longer to get, but everyone says they are absolutely excellent. Anyway, just wanted to add that.

I can find fault with this. I do sometimes post topics, but because they'd usually be about UK politics no-one really cares. However, if you are being honest instead of just trying to find fault with how I post you'd admit that I do post and defend my political opinions on a regular basis.

Do you think it's because he read an article from April which said the virus had peaked and was about to fade away?