riddler

Just a guess that in the future, we will see more people that start with Tandems. Maybe. The DZ that I started at doesn't even teach static line, and they don't let anyone do AFF without starting on a tandem first. I wanted to go right for AFF, but I didn't have a choice at that DZ, and in the end I'm glad I did the tandem first. I wouldn't be surprised if more DZs in the future start requiring a tandem before anything else. Pros - student gets better understanding of the sensation and experience. Cons - cost/time. I still see static line programs around, but I'm guessing that most of the people that started with static line have been jumping for several years. It is cheaper and you get more jumps, but there seem to be much fewer classes than AFF. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Got a motel room for $20 in Holbrook, AZ on the way back from the Christmas boogie. It wasn't exactly first-rate, but it was cheap and we made the most of the squeaky bed-springs. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I can understand not watching TV - I don't either. But just how the heck are you 18 and have 1800+ jumps? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Poor kid has to wait 14 more years to jump. But you can have him pack in only 6 or 7 years

This is totally unfair! The dog has a muzzle. At least give him a fighting chance. Also, how is he supposed to hang his tongue out at 120 MPH if he's wearing a muzzle? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

This is cool. I also have a goal of getting in 200 jumps this year - I figure if I can average 20 per month, I'll make it with room to spare. Unfortunately, I only got 6 in for January. And it's looking like the first half of Feb may be weathered out as well. I'll just have to make up for it at boogies

I was tempted to take your kitty home the other day - he looks like a cranky old man with that face. He's a cutie! But I think Derek is more fond of the dog. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Nice arch! not. Personally, I think that skydiving birthdays should see other skydivers buying you beer, some to drink, some to pour on your head, etc. But that's just me. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

3:0:0 I was at the DZ all day Saturday, but no jumps! Had to sit in on AFF class for my coaching requirement. Then the wind picked up afterwards and grounded everyone. Yesterday it snowed. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I am an American and I think that the shuttle should have been retired years ago. I also used to work in the space program and with missions that launched off the space shuttle - I had to work with flight software that interfaced with it. I did work on one program that was supposed to be a replacement for the space shuttle. We got funding and even built a half-scale prototype. It got axed - the prototype didn't perform as well as expected. But that wasn't the reason that the program was canceled - the government just felt that the space shuttle was the most reliable and cost-effective way into space. I personally feel their decision came down to money more than anything. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Some people think I ask a lot of questions. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Are we talking a round with seven cells, or square? I would have guessed round. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

LOL - I should. But no - I got the hardback of all the books for $15 on sale. I have the DVD of the BBS series as well. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

For those that aren't - HHGG, Restaurant at the End of the Universe (for me, I have the hardback compendium of all books, it's on page 306). The answer is 42, and the question is "What do you get when you multiply 6 by 9?" The fact that the answer is wrong, and it took millions of years to compute is part of the joke. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Get LASIK - not PRK. Lasik, they cut a flap on the top, drill underneath, then reseat the flap. Not much healing required for the procedure, since your eye doesn't need to heal underneath the flap. With PRK, they cut the surface of your eye, which will need to heal over and potentially scar more, so the outcome isn't nearly as good. I got LASIK, and I was driving without glasses the next day. They made me wait 6 months to jump and SCUBA, though. Three month wait to climb and off-road bike and ski. I am now at 20/15 (I was 20/400 before). Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

2044 ??? I don't want to live that long either. I best get into more extreme sports! Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I agree completely. Then, is it the job of the DZO to pick certain packers to pack at boogies there? And do they get anything out of allowing only a handful of selected people to pack for money? I could understand this if someone said that the DZO gets money from the sanctioned packers, but I don't think this is the case. If you are a DZO, and everyone is packing, and some people get paid, why not let anyone get paid to pack? Why just a few people. Is is liability? I'm not asking these questions to make a point. I honestly don't know and I am curious. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Well, more precisely, I was more interested in the subject of having people you know and trust pack for you, vs. the local pack boss that you don't know. I just feel I should have my pick without causing tension. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

OK - I'll bite. Is this thing for fuckin' real, or what? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I'll let you pack for me if you promise to never pack naked in public. That thread was a little much for me Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Personally, I would not. To point out the obvious, we are dealing with life and death choices, and to me that's more significant than the morals of who gets paid. I should have the choice to choose whomever I feel comfortable with doing this. It is my life, and as much as I respect other skydivers, that is more important than someone else's AFF or their first car. Of course, all this is aside of good emergency procedures Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Just want to add here that I am not trying to slight anyone or question their ability. I'm sure most or all of the pro outfits or even individuals are very good - they wouldn't be in the business long if they weren't. But again, if I feel more comfortable paying someone I know and trust $5, rather than someone I don't know from Adam (or Eve) is that wrong? And why exactly? I just want to get a better understanding of this issue. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

OK, going to boogies has me sensitized to the whole politics of packing. I'm talking about the people that pack professionally. To start off with, my understanding of the letter of the law is that only a few people are legally allowed to pack a main: the person jumping it, or a qualified rigger or someone under the direct supervision of a qualified rigger. With that understanding (please correct me if I'm wrong), the accepted practice is that at a DZ, there are many packers that pack student rigs and most are not 100% under the direct supervision of the rigger. Also, I've packed for friends and they've packed for me - a bit shady, perhaps, but this happens often and no one runs to the USPA or FAA and whines about it. And finally, there are professional packers that get paid (usually $5) to pack, and most of them (I think) are not riggers. I can accept all this. So ... It seems that there is some sort of packing "turf-war" that goes on at most DZs and most boogies. There are people who are sanctioned by some authority to pack at these functions and then there are others that are qualified to pack, that maybe I would prefer to pack my main, that are not part of the "union" and aren't supposed to get paid to pack there. So if I'm at a boogie, for instance, and there are several sanctioned packers, but I would prefer to pay $5 to a friend that I trust but is not in the local union, this is not allowed? Am I correct here, or not? If I am, something there doesn't seem right to me. If I'm jumping the rig, I should be able to pay whomever I feel comfortable to pack the main for me. I'm not asking to use anyone else's space or equipment - just a patch of land on the DZ. I just don't understand the whole turf issue. Is it a liability one for the DZ? Does the DZ get some sort of percentage from authorized packers? Or is this just a fight for territory and profit? Please let me know what you think or your experiences with this matter. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

What was your A number? Is that one included? I sent off for my C license five weeks ago, and I've heard nothing. I want my card! Wahhhh. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Nothing wrong with paying someone else, in my book. There are people that argue anyone that drives a car should be able to change their own oil, but I don't agree with that. You have what you do for work, and skydiving is your time off to relax. Personally, I pack very slow and it causes me much grief. I can afford to pay someone else to pack, but I don't. Why? Because I like packing. I like understanding the opening characteristics of the canopy, I like changing something a little different and seeing how that affects the opening. I like inspecting my gear after every jump. If something goes wrong, there's only one person to blame. I feel like it makes me understand the sport and the equipment a tiny bit better. Of course, I've only packed about 100 times I might not feel the same after a few thousand pack jobs. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD