Boomerdog

What is a non-extremist? Someone who does not agree with you at the other end of the political spectrum?

I like A & B. How choice C is going to solve this problem is a mystery to me. Sorry you're still in California, I got out of there in '98. Grew up in North Sacramento so I know the trouble of what you speak and the areas to avoid. But the birth certificate says Virginia so I am a Son of Virginia (I've also been called a Son of B.... but that's another argument). Could you do me a favor? Stay in California please. Too too many Californians are coming out here and living in Virginia, particularly Northern Virginia and bringing their kooky politics with them. Many don't like our gun laws but we have a low violent crime rate here compared to Maryland and the District of Columbia because a lot of people here like to pack heat and protect themselves. More guns les crime! Now we got this dirtbag McAullife who's about to become our governor and probably got elected with the help of ex-Californians. If McAuliffe thinks he's going to disarm Virginians, he's gonna get the surprise of his life,

Well...what do you propose?

First, good subject to discuss and thanks for posting! I participate in both sports. I don't know how many SCUBA certifications are issued. In rough numbers, USPA has issued about 36,000 licenses in the US. Given the current US population, this is approximately 0.1% or 1/10,000. Soooo...get 10,000 people together through random selection and at least one of them will have a skydiving license. Both sports are hazardous. In SCUBA diving, however, the lists of hazards are variable in terms of the potential wider range of injury with respect to degree of severity and yes there are some hazards that are just flat fatal. Skydiving on the other hand seems to have a set of injuries that range from severe to fatal...or at least that is the public perception. A lot of marketing and travel packages for SCUBA divers advertise the warmer climes with crystal clear water. For the rugged diver, all you need is wet water with some degree of visiblity, put on a dry suit (to protect against the cold) and enjoy. In the short time I've been skydiving, it does not appear to me at least that a lot of marketing is required. We all know where the DZ's are and there are skydivers who travel from DZ to DZ as climate is a factor. So how much marketing is required to a committed clientele?

Sadly, I have limited confidence in this possibility. The enticement factor is in getting away with it as the LEO's cannot be everywhere at once. Surveillance cameras notwithsanding, will LE put major effort to stop this in its present form and intensity? Probably not until we see either a number of victims killed or a number of assailants shot. It's only a matter of time when a "target" is picked out and engaged and ooops, the attacker is looking down the barrel of a gun. The "target" has a concealed carry permit! Funny thing, we've not had any of that stuff happen in Virginia. Why? Because there are a lot of people here that pack heat legally....and the "lil' darlins" knwo it.

The ground will (obviously) look a little closer and this may or may not be a little unnerving the first time...I know it was for me. Remember, the first 1,000 feet takes 10 seconds. Talk to your instructor about your pull altitude minimums and dive flow. An H&P is a lot of fun.

Took me 29 jumps and 30 minutes of tunnel time! Whats's the OBJECTIVE...GET YOUR "A" License! So you fail one or two...big deal! You won't be the first and CERTAINLY NOT the last! Remember..there are OLD skydivers and there are BOLD skydivers BUT THERE ARE NO OLD BOLD SKYDIVERS!

The sun don't shine on the same dog's @$$ all the time. Harry Reid can enjoy this now. Remember this...payback is a b!tch and payback is coming.

"Get over it already" NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If I may speaking "newb" to "newb." You are not alone on your concerns. It has happened to me on several occassions. I decide on a solo jump to work on skills. I plan the dive flow, the maneuvers, cease manuever altitude. I manifest going up as a solo and someone says, c'mon if you join us, we can do a four-way in which I acquiese but this breaks my plans as it is hard to say no. On another occassion, we had very limited ceiling to 3,800' and two people wanted to get at least a low pass in and I declined. Yes I've had to do a 3,500' jump for my license but I am just beginning to get that jump into my comfort zone. I'm fortunate that I have exceptional friends at my DZ and it has been hard to say NO at times. Juxtaposed against this is the desire to improve skills jumping with others and jumping with others is a heck of a lot of fun. Soooo I went back to my instructor. I don't and I don't think you either want to stay at your current level of experience and it was my instructor who provided the best perspective and plan to "push the envelope" a little at a time and that's what I do. So your instructor does not stop being your instructor per se once you get your license. Continue to seek their advise. Plan your jump, jump your plan and if you're not ready to do a 2,,3,4, 5 way etc. politely tell your friends you'll let them know when you're ready! Blue Skies

That's why I call them a "low pass" as I'm going to get about 10 -15 seconds of free fall and pull! I have more confidence in a good deploymenet when I'm terminal V.

Play a piano...go to jail! The world has either become a more intersting place OR it's already gone to the batshit point of no return!

...and that of course is both the point and purpose!

Congratulations and welcome! I've heard great things about Virginia Skydiving Center and will do some jumping there next Spring. Accordingly, spend some time with us at Blue Ridge Skydiving Adventures in New Market. We are a very friendly bunch!

It's curtains for the new health care plan? It's certainly my hope but never underestimate the all too frequent gullability of the American People toward their elcted political leaders.

Finishing up on the Normandy Invasion by Stephen Ambrose and just started "Washington's Secret Six." It's about General George Washington's spy network in New York City during the American Revolution.

Oh...I don't tell you?!?! I got thrown out of North Korea!

...and I'll keep "shatting"!

Rugby's good! Australian Rules Football is fun to watch. Soccer er...Football for the rest of the World...I rather watch f@%&*!g paint dry!

My favorite team...s. The Oakland Raiders and whoever is playing the Pittsburgh Steelers! Raider fans will NEVER forget the 1974 AFC Championship Game...Bradshaw's pass CLEARLY hit Frenchy Fuqua...the ball was dead, then Franco Harris catches it...and welll...Immaculate Reception my @$$!

Of sinners…i am chief! Besides…if one is going to sin, it might as well be glorious!

Does this propose the possibility that you are a dirtbag and your weapon is a saint? P.S. Just kidding (truly) about the dirtbag stuff!

With respect, I disagree with you on several levels and you'll notice I'm an "A" license w/80 jumps. My first jump tomorrow will be an H&P from 5K' I just want to get reoriented with my canopy, work some ideas out I was thinking about during the week. Then I'll repack and do the rest of my jumps "all the way up." I also make it a point to make one H&P between 4K and 3.5K' a month and I might add a few more jumps at that altitude range. Why? To stay trained and familiar with this particular jump profile. Now, I'll admit freely the two USPA jumps at 5.5K and 3.5K' respectively was not something I relished the first time...particularly the one at 3.5K. But I jumped both successfully. Recalling from my USAF flying training years ago, we were constantly drilling Emergency Procedures and scenarios because having the training provded the confidence to quickly assess the problem and execute the solution with minimal time spent. Simply put as others have stated so well here, these jumps are designed to help give the skydiver some idea of the altitude issues of getting out of a bad aircraft and that they should not hesitate. If I have to get out of a bad aircraft, I don't want to be "frozen" in terror NOR do I want another newly licensed skydiver to freeze at the door either. GO!!!...you either have enough altitude to deploy the main or "go silver" and get the reserve deployed quicker. Skydiving is fun but it has to be one of the top three hazrdous sports out there (base jumping, mountain climbing and SCUBA diving in caves also come to mind). Every skydiver should keep it in the back of their mind (and I have the confidence all do) is that in any part of the jump, $#!t can happen and it usually happens when least expected. Those two H&P jumps are there for good reasons or two quote an instructor pilot many years ago, "It's a tough program, it's gotta be that way!"

The problem is that over half the country will forgive this liar and the Republicans are either too scared or just too dumb to mount a credible opposition.

A step in the right direction!?!?!?! The only time any elected politician is"sorry" is when they get caught with their hands in the wrong cookie jar, caught in compromising positions, or just plain lying. But if you're willing to buy the line, far be it me to deny you of your delusion.