CanuckInUSA

Becoming a certified pilot is a great accomplishment. But it is also a very expensive proposition in terms of time, effort and yes $$$. In the spring of 2001 I set out to achieve my life long goal of becoming a pilot and became certified in November of the same year (9/11 delayed things a good 6 weeks if not more). I was on cloud 9 as I built enough experience and got my mountain checkout to fly in the Colorado rockies (I've got about 10 hours of solo mountain flight). But then on July 14th 2002 my life changed. I went skydiving. I continued to fly during my early skydiving days, but I began to notice that skydiving was the cheaper hobby. Well not really cheaper in terms of total money spent. But for the same money I spent for one hour of flight (Hobbs time), I could do 5 skydives (which would take up much of the day). The last time I was at the controls of an airplane as PIC was April of 2003 (I have 170 hours of Hobbs time and over 400 landings) and I have made over 600 skydives since then. Personally I get everything I need from skydiving. I get to check out the scenery on the way to altitude, I get to fly my body in freefall and I get to fly my canopy and have more fun landing my canopy than I did landing airplanes. Once again, flying airplanes is really cool (I miss interacting with ATC as my home airport was in Class D airspace), but the bottom line is that I just like being in the air. And anyway I can get there is fine by me. I can spend more time in the air through skydiving than I ever did flying airplanes. Of course you're not me, so who knows how you will feel. But flying (and skydiving) and staying current enough where you are safe requires much-o dollars. Good luck which ever way you choose to go. Being in the air rocks and I know why the birds sing in the morning. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Upon further review, I will respectfully decline on PhillyKev's BASE jumping party. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I'll static line it!!! Actually I'm not really into 210 foot jumps at the moment. But that may change in the coming months. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Hey I want in on any BASE jumping parties at PhillyKev's place. There can't be that much traffic out there at 4 in the morning. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

If I'm not mistaken, didn't GWB say in a speach yesterday that he wants to be remembered as a "Peace President"? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Yes the Berlin wall existed to keep the people within the wall contained while this West Bank wall will exist to keep the so called undesirable people out. So a better analogy would have been to compare gated communities. The world is one fucked up place and things are going to get a lot worse before they get better (if they get better). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Am I guilty of not searching the "Speakers Corner"? Oh well. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I'm surprised nobody has said anything about this story yet. Remember the Berlin Wall? Would you agree that tearing that thing down was a good thing for Germany, Europe and the world in general? What about this new wall that Israel is building in the West Bank? 150 Nations in the UN voted that it was a bad thing while 6 nations (including the USA) voted to let Israel continue with what they are doing (10 nations were absent from the vote). I would love to say that GWB is up to no good again. But I'm not that naive. I know the Democrates support Israel just as much if not more than the Republicans. So what do you think? Is building walls around people a good thing for the world we live in today? And is there any wonder why the Arab world is frustrated to say the least with the USA's continued bias support of Israel. Edited to add: Using the Berlin Wall wasn't the best analogy. This has already been addressed in posts below, so there is no need to continue down that road. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Of course it's not news. But what would be newsworthy was if the twins were to enlist in the military with the expressed desire to be shipped off to Iraq (hey there is a shortage of fighting men and women isn't there) to support their daddy with his war. Now that would be news. But it'll never happen. So we must be content with news stories about them sticking their tongues out to the media. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

You sound like a child ... they (the Democratres) started it. When will you realize that all politicians are scum bags. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

LOL ... and did you notice that the first two people to reply to this were quick to demonise the Democrates with no mention of any wrong doing by the Republicans. You're right on about the polarization going on in US politics right now and it gets uglier by the day. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Just as long as you all understand that while I have an immense dislike for GWB, historically I've always like to make fun of those "Girlie Man Trouser Gate Democrates". (said in whatever Russian accent I can come up with). Honestly I need to get my mind off of politics and back onto jumping from aircraft and from fixed objects. All this politcal mumbo-jumbo is not good for controlling my blood pressure. Make it stop ... tell me to get lost ... or to get a life. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I don't want to flame you either, but I witnessed plenty of carnage at the Perrine Bridge over the Memorial Day long weekend this year. And this span in Twin Falls ID is considered one of the safer BASE jumps you can make. Yet plenty of people had to visit the hospital on that dark Sunday afternoon. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Well if the Republicans can have "Watergate" on their hands, why can't the Democrates have "TrouserGate". That's actually kind of funny. Those dirty rotten "Girlie Man Trouser Gate Democrates". Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I'm still waiting for you to answer PhreeZone's question. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Hey Jamie ... you and I have similar BASE experience so obviously neither one of us is Mr Experienced. But are you willing to jump your skydiving rig after being away from the sport a few weeks? How about that reserve in your rig? When was it last packed? If I'm ever in doubt concerning a given pack job, then I repack it. But our BASE pack jobs and the pack job for a skydiving reserve are remarkably similar. It's only been 8 days since my BASE rig was last packed, but I'd still jump it even if it was several months old. But if you're in doubt, repack it. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

One thing to remember is that we all get our beef from different locations based on our geography. I have little experience with Texas beef (shit I have yet to step foot in Texas even though it is on my list of places to visit before I die). But I can tell you that the beef in Alberta is top notch. I just don't have access to it here in CO. Oh and in case you didn't know this, Alberta and Texas do have a lot in common. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Scared in that you might actually like the food and want to eat there again despite it's fairly expensive price tag? Hmmm ... I had a tasty 12 ounce Outback Special Steak just last Sunday afternoon. But then I told you people last week that I was part of PETA. People Eating Tasty Animals Then again, I don't live in Texas where everything is BIG. But if you want good beef, try some Alberta beef. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I want one. I want one. But me thinks me has me work cut out for me before me gets one (how do you like my grammar?). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I'm with you on this one. My biggest problem with GWB is that he is the most dangerous, arrogant and reckless president I've seen since I've been of voting age. And before people start labeling me as this or that, I have never ever voted for a Liberal government in my life. As a western Canadian, I am extremely frustrated with the liberal control Ontario and Quebec has had with Canadian politics these last 15 years (part of the reason why I left Canada almost 7 years ago). And if I was an American, you can pretty much guess that I would be a Republican. But GWB has gone too far. He is pushing the world into uncharted territory and could very well go down in the history books as the guy who started it. And for what? WMD? What WMD? To control the Oil? I'm not so sure of this. No it looks like he's started it so that him and his pals can first destroy nations and the people in those nations and to then make much-o $$$ rebuilding these nations (and who cares if the nations are in termoil and not rebuildable, just as long as the people who funded GWB get richer in the process, it's all good ... for them). The man is dangerous, ignorant and arrogant and must be stopped (at least in my mind). But America is a democracy and if enough Americans are happy with GWB, then so be it. At least Americans have the option of choosing who they want to lead themselves into ... Just my two cents ... Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

AggieDave is right. Let's not tarnish our great sport of skydiving with political mumbo-jumbo. Politics suck ... the people in politics suck ... the same can not be said of most skydivers. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

It was brilliant. It paints both candidates as the arrogant morons they both are. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Thanks for the info Zennie. I just needed to know if it was the same or different dumbass footage. But now that I know I'd be seeing different footage, then I may look into picking up a copy (even though I've yet to set foot on the NRGB and unfortunately won't be there in '04 as well). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Maybe you can't answer this question, but hopefully other can asnwer it. Is this dumbass Bridge Day skydiving footage you speak of the same footage as seen in the "Bridge Day Safety Video"? Or is this additional dumbass footage which took place last year? Also what are people's opinions about the over entertainment value of the Bridge Day 2003 DVD? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Hey Rauk One of the lines I like from the movie Adrenaline Rush is "sometimes the greatest risk in life is not taking a risk at all". So I'm with you on the comfort level stuff. But personally I don't think jumping gear designed for high performance skydiving canopy flight in the BASE environment is all that smart. But then what do I know? I'm new to BASE and I'm not on the PST circuit either. I should be up in Potato Land at least once in August (and for the Labor Day long weekend) so I'll see you then. Are you holding off on all jumping until your move? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over