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Well see, Joe. You're getting old and so you're not well-versed on the science of staircases. The staircase tread depth used to be a maximum of 10 inches. But, with people like you falling down the stairs, the code changed to 11 inches, so the staircases had to be retrofitted to extend the inch. So, they added a "lip" on the stair case and when you lift your feet up to the required 7 3/4" riser height to climb the stairs - anyone with a size 10 foot or greater will catch on that lip and so we see a greater number of people falling up the stairs; than down. Note: Of course this is all bullshit, but it sounds good. Well, it's all bullshit after the part about you getting old.

Brent, I'm about as right-wing as one can get and I'm probably the one most responsible for suggesting that thread be shut down. In 2007, I was not unlike you. I believed that AGW was bullshit and was deeply resolute in our party's platform. But, when people started using scientific data to erode my political beliefs; it began a period of exploration. One of the things that I reflected on was - we were the party of conservationism, environmentalism . . . From Ulysses S. Grant to the late 70's/early 80's; it was our party that vested the most in the environment. I can point to the time of change - 1973-1974. The first US oil crisis. Lack of oil/fuel, long lines at the gas stations, people fighting with each other at gas stations as to who was in line first. Price of gas for those who could get it was ridiculously high. And, the fight for cheap energy began. Then, in the early years of Reagan, there was this sudden stratospheric ozone hole which had been attributed to CFCs and HCFCs and the world shit its pants. It was the Reagan administration that pushed for an international agreement based on the work of atmospheric scientists and then began substantive regulations to address the world's greatest environmental issue of the time. But, the problem is/was you cannot fight for clean air, conservationism, environmentalism and cheap energy at the same time. So, the Republicans sided with the purses that were getting them re-elected and shifted from the party of conservationism to the party of Oil & Gas and abandoned what was for me - one our biggest core values - conservationism. So, with the help of several one here. some still here, some not; I asked for and received a path to understanding their side and to be honest; it wasn't with the intentions of learning their position as much as poking holes in it. Debate 101 shit. Learn what they know, so you can be prepared to defend against it. (this is where you're stuck). What happened was the opposite. I found out they were right and it unnerved me. So, I set out to learn more. Same result. The more learned the more I realized the "right" became so dug into being vested in cheap energy; we'd lost our way. But, there is an entire new faction of young republicans and it may interest you to know that young republicans between 18 and 38 actually score two percentage points higher than democrats in the same age range regarding their concern for the environment. For the first time in almost fifty years, both republicans and democrats are looking to discuss AGW and have real conversations about it. But, you are not. Your don't want to have an open dialogue. You want to dig your heels in deeper and go from stubborn to obstinate to defiance. And, it was a really bad game of cat and mouse. Populist BS versus scientists. Mercy rule? yeah, it was me calling for mercy on you.

"Cancel culture". Brought to you by the party that tried to cancel George Michael, the dixie chicks, dungeons and dragons, explicit lyrics, MTV, etc. Watching you get owned by Olof is quite enjoyable.

Hello everybody, I understand that UPT's patent on the Collin's lanyard has expired. So I was wondering: does that mean that a master rigger is allowed now to modify the RSL of any rig with a Collin's lanyard? Or is that something that only can and may be done by the manufacturer because regulations state that that kind of modification requires (drop)testing of the complete system before it is allowed to use?

Interesting outlook. I've been doing fixed object skydiving since 1981. Every BASE specific canopy I've bought since about 1987 has had a tailpocket (for stowless line control) that also incorporates the capability to add a single rubber band controlled stow for what is known as indirect line control. I think that qualifies as a line stow for base jumping. Craig

In fact, there is even more compelling proof that the world is not warming here:

Hi Keith, As our new President said: Help is on the way. Jerry Baumchen PS) Maybe it made a difference: Hi Wendy, No. Most excellent would be to lock the Global Warning thread. It is going no where & is a waste. Jerry Baumchen

Save My Lifestyle Sandy Grillet I personally always want the largest reserve I can safely put into my container. This is just one of the reasons I like the low bulk Optimum by Performance Designs. After having a malfunctioning main canopy and cutting away or just going straight to your reserve, you will always have more adrenaline and stress. People often make poor decisions when we are stressed. Add to that - you are flying a 7 cell F-111 type canopy on which few people have much experience, which can also lead to poor landings. With a larger reserve, I have a canopy that is more forgiving of mistakes I might make while landing. And it will stay in the air longer, giving me more time to calm down and more time to make better decisions on where to land and might even get me over that tree line to a clear area. In addition – if you have an AAD save, you may very well be unconscious under canopy. Common sense tells us we have a better chance of survival under a larger reserve canopy. Many people think of their reserve as saving their "life". That's important of course, but my life revolves around skydiving. If I get hurt while landing my reserve (most likely while trying to land off the DZ) then I may not be able to skydive any more. I not only want my reserve to save my life - I want it to save my “Life Style”. I choose my reserve based on that criteria. Then I choose my container. Be the canopy pilot you want that other guy to be

Exactly. I remember all of those incidents and this thread has more. They sent out a whole batch of AAD's without cutters WTF? And most of their recalls they always seemed to expect you to pay for their recalls. And as a rigger, Vigil AAD's are double the pack volume of a Cypres or Mars. And with everyone nowadays wanting the super tiny rig its a nightmare to pack a gigantic Vigil in them. Especially if you plan on maxing out the limits on your container size - pick a smaller AAD. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2n0hJD01WCqaG1ob3BtT0lSOG1uUWlDZVgzWDFyQQ/view?usp=drivesdk

Regarding fire/no-fire parameters: We should remember some incidents where the logic of an AAD wasn't smart enough to realize that it was being fooled by environmental conditions into thinking it needed to fire. Wasn't the C182 door opening incident with a Vigil? The incidents of units firing when trunk lids closed were Vigils, correct? The world record big way team suffered from units firing because of pressurization on a C-130, weren't those units Vigils? My memory is that the original Cypres units turned themselves off, and the Cypres II units didn't do anything (desirable). It would seem there is more "smarts" in the logic for a Cypres which allows it to realize you actually should try to detect unrealistic data, to recognize the pressure changes aren't realistic for a skydive. The other AAD manufacturers had a clear market they were going after when they decided to compete, they cut corners when it came time to the logic. Perhaps my memory is wrong.

Just like the others have said, hands down cypres is my only choice, their track record, reliability and customer service. It's used by most skydivers i know

I remember on my final I had to straighten out a round reserve before packing, and I remember Dave telling me Don't Cut my Lines! Rest in peace Dave.

I wonder if the media will hold President Biden to the same standards as they held President Trump. Crazy thought?

President Biden has cancelled the XL pipeline permit. This is a mistake and short sighted. pipelines are the safest most effective way to move petroleum products. "On Wednesday, Jason Kenney, the premier, demanded that Mr. Trudeau also bring trade sanctions against the United States if he is unable to persuade the American president to reverse course. “This is a gut punch for the Canadian and Alberta economies,” Mr. Kenney said at a news conference. “It is an insult directed at the United States’ most important ally and trading partner on Day 1 of a new administration.”