ChrisD

thanks for the reminder, Bill is quite a character, someone else, I'll leave it for someone else to describe bill to ya, but you won't be jumping with him!

Wow. But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

No, if you take a herd look at the OP's title you can clearly see that someone is trying to point out that global warming is being used in the same sentence as a ship being trapped in the ice. Since the beginning of human exploration ships being in clear seas and than being trapped in ice has been a problem from the beginning of ocean travel. Once again creating a connection when the data as many of you point out, clearly doesn't support this claim. The current data however clearly shows new sea lanes for more northerly winter passages that didn't exists last year, of course many ignore that because it obviously refutes this exact same logic. What you don't say is, once again, like holding up a really, really big sign! And once again everyone's arguments are more about cheep rhetorical public speaking techniques than real world information. But on the other hand it is great fun to see what you write and the passion behind it is genuine as compared with some of the others here!!!

Please, please, please, expand on a few items with sparke's list: Reline your canopy before it starts to show strange flight characteristics, you don't have to wait that long. Change your pc for the same reasons, most can't tell when it's worn or less than in new condition, and certainly by the time it has more than 500 jumps, replace it! C (And I'm not saying wait till 500, that's just a high time number IMO.) But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

I love ya, but do you think you could ask the same question and leave LODI out of this? I mean really,... you have turned this into a popularity question as compared with the idea of "banging" out jumps. Yo want to go anywhere and jump to your hearts content

This thing has some promise, or the idea sounds "economically feasible," I wish some one would try it??? I mean stick one to a streamer or something and throw it out over the woods and see if it does help. I have to somewhat disagree with ya about the finding your canopy if it's only 50 feet away or so.

Thanks Big Mike! I was also trying to draw some attention to this purportedly unbiased computer mediation site, that if you carefully read it,... It clearly takes a stand against Eugene skydivers. In addition to the fact that the way the site works in search engines it's designed to come up as fresh daily news. To me someone is funding this sophisticated smear tactic and whilst at the same time trying very hard to appear fair. This sucks and is at the heart of the treachery this "board" of supervisors has demonstrated time and time again. At the very heart of this are a few individuals that are very opinionated, and most likely operate their own GA aircraft, the real shame is that in order to advance their own agenda they have no moral compulsion against using public funds to advance their own agenda and their own personal wish's. Creswell isn't the kind of community that I would want to consider moving to, one only wonders how much other forms of bigotry and discrimination exist there with such a close minded sense of misguided leadership??? I don't believe that this is the wish of the "City of Creswell," the citizens are being kept in the dark by the use of their very own hard won tax dollars by a few that are used to getting their way. C But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

And todays (2/3/14) response about mediation is: http://www.mediation.com/articles/mediation-over-skydiving-hits-snags-in-creswell-oregon.aspx If you don't want to click here is the jist of it: "Mediation Over Skydiving Hits Snags in Creswell Oregon Monday, February, 3, 2014 In Creswell Oregon, there has been a long running dispute over whether Eugene Skydivers should be able to skydive near Hobby Field. Originally, the skydiving club's owner, Urban Moore, had filed a complaint against the city with the Federal Aviation Administration. On suggestion from an anonymous email, Moore decided to pursue mediation with the city. The City Council Balks at Civil Mediation Due to the complaint with the FAA, Creswell's City Council is not agreeing to enter mediation with Mr. Moore. The basic argument is that they are too busy preparing for the litigation to concern themselves with mediation. If Mr. Moore drops the complaint with the FAA, they would agree to the civil mediation. Moore has yet to agree to drop the complaint. From his perspective, the city council should be able to handle both litigation and mediation, and compares it to “walking and chewing gum.” Moore said that he would agree to drop the complaint if some kind of compromise is worked out. This dispute has been deadlocked this way for the past 6 years. Trust Is the Issue in This Government Mediation The primary snag in this mediation is that neither party is truly acting in good faith. Neither side trusts the other, and the process of entering mediation itself needs to be mediated. This dispute has already been plagued by complaints, responses, counter responses and lawsuits. Of course, distrust is often an issue with mediation, and it isn't even necessary that the parties act fully in good faith. However, to get to a resolution, there has to be an olive branch somewhere. Already, some of the Council members are pushing for agreeing to the mediation, arguing that it would save the city from spending the $100,000 allotted for the litigation." The thing is this is over 3 years old, but the way the opposition has the web site set up it list's this as "new" news. This to me speaks volumes about the people opposing the access and how they operate. Old news really, but create a little derision and public sympathy by implying that both sides won't come to the table??? Is this a shitty technique or am I missing something again? C (On another note can someone tell me who Amy Aul is???) But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

I agree with ya Sean

I cannot understand for the life of me why newbies come here to the forums asking questions about gear, landing patterns you name it do a search for the Love of crickets! Here's where I have conflict with these questions, why can't you just simply ask your DZO, AFF1's S&TA. There's plenty of support (Or should be) there you just have to ask for it. I was sky Diving for 2 years before I knew DZ.Com even existed. I relied on the DZO (Steve) of SDSL in Rosharon, along with the input of Hook-N-Swoop (Derek) and Super Swooper (Chris Miller). They hooked me right up making really good suggestions and I wound up with primo gear! Thanks Steve, Derek and Chris! Best- Richard "Information for novice and experienced skydivers, including global dropzone and skydivers databases, DZ reviews, skydiving classifieds, safety and training ..." AND Something like this: Dropzone.com - The single best source for skydiving information that's why "newbies come here. (Bit of a hypocrisy don't you think? They actually believe the moniker? At least for a time.) And on a side note I can't begin to tell you the number of times I have suggested others do searches, and only been severely chastised and have had boots held to the side of my head when making that suggestion. Whilst a great idea, no - one is doing searches, probably takes too much time??? Additionally many long time users here won't or don't make decent gear reviews, in other words decent gear reviews are hard to find. And more than half the time "questions" are deferred or just plain old blown off, just have you have just done. By saying just go ask someone else? Yes I agree, there should be lots of support at your local dz, you would think that, but with so many busy tandems and such, the message I have heard from many students is that when they have asked, they have felt personally intrusive and like they are bothering their own people! You asked and this is the answer I have received in person from actually taking the time with real students.

While I think that preparing for the future, if you do plan on some night jumps and if this is the reason that your thinking about the glow in the dark feature, is a great idea, there is a world of difference between those altimeters that have the luminescence material painted on as compared with those that are backlighted. IMO I haven't found an altimeter like the F40 / 50 / 60s or the altimasters with the painted on glow in the dark to actually be all that bright. Actually I find them to be very dim. Amongst others I currently own a FT50 and find it to be a fine piece of equipment, as the other ones as well. But it really isn't bright enough in comparison to some of the others with batteries. You really have to see this luminescence difference to see for yourself. Something to consider if this is a reason or purchasing point in your decision making process.

You also lead the way on this topic here, with over 1000 posts on the subject,... I will be the first to agree with you that your bullshit pile is the largest here. I suppose that's why you can't smell it. They say "everyone, loves their own brand."? See, we do agree! C But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

I think part of the problem that the alarmist crowd has is that they just aren't effective communicators. The DHS program is one designed to have neighbors and associates all snitching on each other to get government to sweep in, take them in and protect everyone. This is why Mann's metaphor is ill-considered. He says he needs to say something about the danger. Okay. But he's equating it with police state. If you carefully read what I said about receding ice, I was agreeing with you at some point in there. It was an off hand comment about the locals and their attempts to keep the tourists away from the snow, I thank the other person for giving us an update about the hike up there, but I was more interested in some of the antics the local "guides" were doing to keep people off the snow. I heard that bringing up a pair of skies for example, (never mind the difficulty) but to bring up a pair of ski's is illegal??? Yo also don't get my point about mass? The point is that one one hundredths of a degree with large mass's do in fact matter, they matter a great deal! Considering in this country our politicians do little funding and even less actual action to support or not GWT. I fail to see how you continue to speak about actual political realities?? Especially compared with many Euro and Asian countries. I am extremely concerned about how our society has turned from community to a snitching society. I think there is great truth in that statement! As far as science speaking for itself I have pointed out on numerous occasions that I'm not going to have a science debate with you , only because of your lack of an education, there is no point having such a discussion, it would be like a kindergarten kid speaking with a PHD, well that is closer to the truth I know, but I say that in the nicest way I can.

A couple of thoughts: (1) See the attached graph of Antarctic sea ice extent on December 28. The trend is higher. (2) The overall trend of Antarctic sea ice is higher over the last thirty years. It's been above 2 standard deviations all year. (3) Sea ice isn't exactly "gone one day and 3 meters thick the next." Meteorologists could have said, "um. That path is closed." Or seen, "Hey. We have this high pressure system developing and it's going to push a bunch of ice over at us within the next three or four days. Let's beat it. Now." Anybody can watch "Deadliest Catch" and see that sea ice can be seen and avoided. All you have to do is... (4) Look out the damned windows! The collective scientific expertise could have been used to say, "Hey. Captain. Our looks at imagery are showing a solid ice field blocking our route. Looking out the window we sure can see it. What say we back off a few miles and figure out what to do?" (5) I cannot help but think that these scientists are so heavily invested in their belief that sea ice is decresing, thinner, weaker, etc., that they ignored all the raw, unadjusted data that their computers and their their own damned eyes were showing them. Either that or "go fever" seriously affected the judgment of all. This was not a "calculated risk." This was a ship's captain (my blame goes straight to him first) who damned the figurative torpedoes. But it was also several score of experts (was there a more concentrated group of experts anywhere on the planet?) who, at best, remained willfully ignorant of the facts surrounding them - those facts being the subject of their expertise. (6) They put themselves at risk. The captain put them at risk. And everybody trying to get them out is being put at risk. (7) The expedition was to be scientific, but recreated another expedition that killed 2 out of the 3 people on it. (8) This is the Antarctic summer. And they're getting clobbered by sea ice and blizzards. I'm wondering if that ship will be able to get out of the ice this year at all. I think this is a fine example of a case where weather can be reasonably foreseen on the basis of the known climate. It's not like it's a freak sea ice occurrence. It's not a freak Antarctic blizzard. It's par for the course where they are. Number 3 Since the Seventh Century and Shackleton, sea ice has in fact been there one day and in fact 3 feet thick the next. Once again your advancing the principle of I know an instance of and ignoring the long range trends. We could easily point out using your logic that because it snowed this past week in southern CA that the deep freezz is here. It's just as bizarre as your ill informed attempts at persuasion.

I respect new skydivers a great deal, but it is hard to take someone seriously when they have not filled out their profile. That is one of the local customs on dropzone.com, letting people know who you are. In all seriousness, thanks for the heads up

I'm sorry that you are under the impression that I have only one tandem jump. I have recently used: a Spectre 170, 190, Sabre 2 190, 150, and a 200 or whatever, as well as a Tri 190, a Storm 190, and a 170, when travelling I have recently used a nav 220 and 240, I gave up my old stiletto and a few others a couple of years ago....and there have been a few others in here as well. But what is the point? I point out upsizing in response to this persons statements about gear and wanting gear that is safer than other gear. Lower wing loadings mean slower speeds, more gradual rates of descent and more time to practice, I would have though this was obvious? Perhaps if yo want to pick on my logic you could stick to the points she has raised to help her out rather than paltry attempts to discredit anything said here??? You could also follow your own advice and take some time to explain what you have to say, as you point out, " to help educate her as well." C (hypothetically what if this person had suggested that they want a 120 sized canopy for the future or something similar? She didn't, I want to make this perfectly clear, but what would have the responses been if she had?) But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

I'm not making any hidden comment or anything here!

How yo making out? I think with the canopy choices you have mentioned there really isn't any canopy listed that is going to be a "bad choice." I think one of the things yo have laid out by saying you want a canopy that will maximize what you call: "easiest and safest" would be to upsize a size, using a 200 ~ 210 something that puts your wing loading at about 0.8 ~ 0.75 ?? Or so?? This is the only sure thing you can actually do. Not without controversy for some, but it will make learning to flare much easier and for the same reasons students use larger canopies in the first place. Everything will be a little slower and certainly a little gentler for you! Just in case. I think the many responses about a canopy course is just to increase your jump numbers in front of a more experienced eye, just in case they see something your doing that you your self can not see at the moment!

What a great vid to add to the collection!

People should be temporarily sterilized & banned from marriage until age 35. When the state steps in on behalf of the injured party, I really don't care what they call it, nor is my grammar perfect, nor do I really care. You claim to be a lawyer, given that you are in a position to actually post some of the many cases from places like the Buena Vista Companies, (Disney) Six flags, and the many times that the state has stepped in to litigate, especially in CA, regarding minors and the whole issue of implied contracts such as the ticket you receive at a ski area and such. You could take the time to actually comment on the topic at hand, you have done neither??? I think if some readers here could actually see some of the paperwork generated by some of these lawsuits and the age of majority is the subject they might walk away from this subject actually learning something of how out there in the real world these issues are actually handled. The bottom line is with this subject of how to tell,... well,... you can't tell. Until after they have jumped. Why some continue to support this sink or swim attitude is beyond me. And this is the real issue that so many are ignoring at the moment. I do enjoy the few that have brought up the fact that individuals as young as 14 can solo in a glider, but this is after exhaustive and through training, proving that they can cope with every contingency possible. This said this casts serious doubts about the efficacy of static line training. Especially considering that we have Tandem students that can practice canopy flying to their hearts content well before they are ever released to jump solo. C But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

When is Freeze fest this year? C But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

that's the point Airtwardo is trying to make - it isn't just about the individual with something like this. If a half dozen adults go in on a dz over a year, the world isn't going to care more than they do now. It likely won't change the scenery of skydiving much. If a half a dozen minors were to go in on the other hand, the press would go crazy: If you can't see the potential headlines, you've not been around long enough. The likelihood of big, powerful organizations stamping their whuffo boots all over a sport they know nothing about increases drastically. Risk / Benefit - there's basically NO benefit to skydiving as an industry to jump at a young age. There's a huge increase in risk... I don't want to hijack this thread, sort of, but how many drop zones have current civil litigation pending, ongoing at the current moment? What sucks is that I can't post some of what I currently know at the moment, but many of you can travel to your local courthouse and before a settlement is reached and the non-disclosure, gag orders are signed, go to the clerk and get the public, limited records that are available! Here are just a sampling of DZ's, parties, at the moment that I know for a fact have some sort of lawsuits against them: Eloy, DeLand, Perris, Monteray Bay, Jumptown, Z Hills, and this isn't even a complete list!!!! All you have to do is head down to your local courthouse get the original complaint, and post it here for some very interesting reading. Before the silence order is entered and you can see the insanity that passes for law in this day and age. I can only imagine what skydiving would look like if a few minors went in, thanks for tonight's nightmares yoink!

There is a small club that operates out of Northern Maine, way north of SNE, that frequently puts together loads on weekends and they have told me that also during the week on occasion. They operate a 182 and have an e-mail pick up list and they all have all of each others phone numbers. In the past I have spoken to some of these guys and they are very friendly and welcome anyone who can find them! I'd call SNE or some of the posters here to find out more, be proactive and yo can probably find them? Al king might know of them, I'd start with leaving a message with SNE or calling SNE's list face book page as a start. C But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

Ya, agreed but one of the big things you left out is,... that also should be included, is the fact that the "ward" of the injured party frequently will sue anyone and everyone they can. The ward in many instances then is the "state," it's not always the parents and in many past incidents involving under 18 youth the state has stepped in regardless of the parents wishes ! This whole subject really begs the question of why the US of A DZ let this happen? So we all can debate the issues but it's kind of a moot point when most states are going to do what they will regardless of the individuals involved. C But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."