riddler

So this is an interesting point. It's tempting to think that if it's only Velcro, it would get ripped off in an entanglement (and thereby reduce the risk of a malfunction). My experience with Velcro is that it's amazingly strong, and the bond gets even stronger in a vibrational environment (I've mounted engine-monitoring equipment with Velcro, and I swear that it was virtually impossible to disconnect it after the tests). It makes me think that I'm probably wrong, and that there's a chance the Velcro would not disconnect in an entanglement. What do you all think? This should probably be a separate thread Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I would expect turbulence over (or in the wind-path of) trees, hangers, buildings, towers and anything else that is good-sized. This loads you at 1.31. I think that's on the high side for 100 jumps. Check out the Dutch canopy regulations for a starting point. Turbulence is tricky. It's best to play it safe until you really start to get some more experience. Ask the previous load what they thought of the winds. Watch the old-timers - are they jumping? Remember, just because you have 100 jumps doesn't mean you're no longer a student. Find good mentors to continue your education - the instructors and experienced coaches at the DZ can help you understand what winds do there, and what to watch out for. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Think that they aren't making billions from your student loans? Think they don't use organized crime tactics, fees and interest rates to collect? Think again. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Personally, I'm waiting for this: http://www.alti-2.com/Titan/sportvue.htm 'cause I don't have enough toys Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Well, I'm a dog, and I certainly have my prejudices. I think we all do, but we can get ahead of them by recognizing them and not letting them affect our better judgement. For those of you that are dogs, this is supposed to be a good year. If you have had obstacles in previous years, you will overcome them, and you will really shine this year. Personally, I'm planning on making it a great year! My girl is a dragon, though, and dogs and dragons are supposed to be mortal enemies I guess the rule is don't date anyone six years older or younger than yourself. Or 18 years, either Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I've owned a lot of cats, and I've never seen one try to clear a fence like that. Usually, they jump up and put their feet on the top, then jump down again. This fellow was going for the high-jump, I guess. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I just hope he paid for it. There ain't no free tunnel time for me, and I'll be pissed if they gave it to a bird. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Dude, you look like an extra on a Wes Craven set. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Heh. Fresh-Squeezed Orange juice Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Dude - a linux OS reboot after only a year and a half? What are you doing to that thing?? I swear I can throw one of those things out of a second story window and it'll still keep going. I have redhat on one of my laptops now that I use for all my development work. Don't have to worry about the thing shutting down in the middle of important coding. Personally, I think Debian is a bit more stable, but it's easier to get tech info for Redhat. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Galapagos Islands. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

One more pic just to show off the view Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

More new pics

Don't want to sound harsh here, but, um: guns -> speaker's corner? Nothing wrong with your post about something you think is cool, but it is gonna offend some people. Heck, I even take my strong opinions about food to speaker's corner Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Guacamole. You can make it vegan (even raw) to keep up with everyone's particular diet, and serve it with veggies (carrots, cauliflower, etc) as well as chips. It's pretty easy to make and I've had good luck with recipes from web sites. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

That's a very cool formation dive in your avatar. Does that count? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Hmm, that's funny. I own a business and I don't charge my customers until the work is complete. I guess I'm not a smart business. Or maybe I believe that good business is developing a relationship with customers. Yes. For the record, the other DZ is my home DZ that I've been going to for five years and teach at. It had been ten days since I mailed my renewal in - I didn't know USPA would still be sitting on their butts not bothering to update their systems - especially five days after they cashed the check. I faxed in the form with the understanding that they might charge a second time (even though there were written instructions on BOTH sides asking not to), but not expecting they would charge a second AND third time. How many times do you screw up the same thing? Also for the record, I think USPA should be supported, and I do support it. They complain that members are leaving right and left, but they have no idea why. I'm suggesting that if they can't take people's money the right way, maybe they should start there. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Considering how you're laying your reputation and freedom on the line to help this guy out, he better be sending you jump tickets in the mail to support your addiction. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Yeah, death has faked me out a few times. So I plan never to die. And I think it'll work. Here's my plan: 1. Having been fooled by death a few times, I've decided to never die until I'm actually dead. That's the only way to be sure. 2. Once I'm dead, I probably won't know it anyway, so it won't be such a bummer. And I saved myself a bunch of stress in the process. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Good advice, Bill. And I like the fact that it's cheaper than USPA - only $39. Maybe I'll do that when I get my refund from USPA. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Oh, it gets better, Gary My bank shows the check cleared on January 5th. Today, my back shows that I have, not one, but TWO charges to my credit card. One for $69 and one for $49. I called USPA to find out what happened. Apparently, they ignored the request on both sides of the application, and processed the credit card again for $69. Then, according to them, my dropzone only faxed one side of the application form. The instructional rating side was not faxed. So, USPA decided to charge my credit card AGAIN for $49, just for the membership renewal, not for the instructional rating renewal. Now, according to the person I just spoke with, I should get a refund for all these charges in about a month. So, I'm out $187 for what should have been a $69 charge. And hopefully, I'll get the remainder back in a month. 1. USPA should process paperwork before they cash checks. 2. USPA should be able to determine if a payment has already been sent, and not charge for it a second time. 3. USPA should never, ever, charge a third time for something that should have been caught the first and second time. How many parachutes do you wear? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Cool! Have a great day

I kinda have a beef with USPA right now. They mailed me my renewal in plenty of time. I filled it out and wrote a check write away. But I couldn't send it in right away because I needed a signature for my instructional rating. I don't jump much in the winter, so I didn't go the DZ every weekend and try to get sign-off. I figured I was going to be out in Eloy with skr and mustard for the Holiday Boogie anyway, so I took it out there, had mustard sign it and I mailed it right then, from Eloy on Dec 29th. On Saturday, Jan 7th, I was back at my home DZ and ready to jump. But they wouldn't let me jump because the UPSA membership expired at the end of the year, and USPA didn't have the renewal in yet. I was OK with that because I mailed it in only a few days before the expiration, and this was only about 10 days later. So I had to fill out another USPA form, this time with a credit card for $69, and let the DZ fax it to them. That was OK with me, because the DZ is just protecting themselves. mustard was standing right there to sign the form again, which was pretty darn convenient

So it's January in Colorado. That means it's pretty cold. Not unbearable on the ground, but the type of cold that makes your sinuses freeze when you step out the door at altitude. In Colorado, we jump all year around. I'm using "we" as in the royal "we", because "I" (as in the selfish, self-centered "I") stay home when it's cold. The reason we jump all year is because Colorado has amazingly blue skies almost every day of the year, even when it's below freezing on the ground. It must have been a bitch for the first ground squirrels that came here from other parts, looked outside at the clear blue sky on a chilly January morning, stepped out that door in hopes to find an old cheeto somewhere in the park, and instead had their nuts freeze to the porch step. But I digress. So jumping in Colorado in January. When you first get your license, the cold weather can't stop you. You come every weekend. You can't understand why the old farts think 20 below zero at altitude is such a big deal. OK, sure, you have a slight frostbite on your fingers from jumping last weekend, but that just means you need thicker gloves, right? After a few years, you start looking for quality jumps. It's kinda like when you turn 21 and go to the bar looking for anyone to take home. After a few years waking up with Extreme Makeover contestents (and I'm talking before the makeover, and no I definitely don't want to cuddle this morning ), you start to look for quality. Same with jumping. Quality jumps means warm jumps. Suddenly, you are one of the old farts that doesn't want to jump in the winter. So while other Colorado dropzones have scaled down their winter jumping to one or two days a week (and rightly so)), Mile Hi Skydiving has graciously decided to have the dropzone open over a four-day weekend for those looking to get their winter fix. I thought that was pretty cool. I didn't go, due to family obligations, but kudos to the dz for doing something good for the fun jumpers. Boy do I miss Eloy right now Brrr. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Hey wait - I have a 99 F-150. Should I be worried? So far it sounds like this has been a bad Friday 13th for cars and computers. But in the words of Morpheus, how would that be different than any other day? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD