LyraM45

OK. So if that is your postmortem on what happened, what can the republican party do to combat that in the future? How can they convince the middle voters to believe they are the "feel good" party with the "feel good" guy? Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I usually don't talk like this on the forum........ but get a clue! You almost sound as bad as this asshat (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFcAzIWOHpU&feature=share) talking about the people just voting for Obama because 'they want things.' Sure, I'm a woman and I leaned towards Obama for 'wanting things,' like you and Bill say. Sure, I wanted things like equal rights for all, decisions for laws not being based around any one religion, etc. Sorry, I don't feel bad for wanting those things! Sounds to me like you're going to be the part of the republican party that continues to kick and scream and cry through all of this. That it's everybody but your own faults that this is happening. While some have taken the approach that the party needs to change and realign itself with the changing society. The far right religious 'white establishment' will not win elections anymore. Especially not as more time goes by and newer generations of young Americans are more open minded and progressive. There have been many articles on exactly this topic the past few years, and many more the last few days since the election because this was a wake up call for an issue they were afraid was going to happen. Just read this one this morn: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/07/election-results-raise-questions-about-christian-rights-influence/?hpt=hp_bn3 You can continue to kick, scream, and cry, or you can step out of the box and realize that the party needs to make changes and become a little more centrist with some social issues if they want to get the centrist or independent voters. As an independent, I hope they realize this and makes change in time for 2016. I'd love to give them consideration for my vote! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

If dz.com had a smiley smacking a nail on the head, I would insert it here

How so? Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Dave really hits the nail on the head in his posts, and has pretty much taken the words out of my mouth with what I was going to respond with. I don't think anybody is saying that FTL is a bad thing, but most will agree it may not be the best thing out of all choices for students in their first few jumps. Put it this way..... I'm sure there's at least one student out there who has been saved from absolute carnage or even death because the instructor gave them input on a radio. Maybe the instructor stayed quiet the whole time and only piped up at that one moment when desperately needed before the student turned himself into some trees, powerlines, another canopy, or whatever. If it's helped in any of those situations, then I just don't see how you can argue against it's use at all, even if just used as an absolute worst case scenario back up if the student is about to hurt their self or somebody else under canopy. Maybe I think this way because that's how my AFF went. The instructors at this DZ didn't baby people on radios, or encourage dependency on them. Only used if absolutely necessary, and even then you knew there was a chance of it not functioning properly, so you're taught right off the bat not to rely on them. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I'm not an Obama fan, but I don't see, based on the polling data that I've seen on everything from RCP to 538.com, how he could get to that number. So let's make it interesting and test our confidence - I bet Romney gets fewer than 300 electoral votes. Maybe the polls have been consistently wrong. I guess we'll see. Loser donates (and gets written confirmation of the donation) $300 to the charity of the winner's selection, and posts the donation in this thread. Game on? I would bet you..... but I agree with you. How about we just donate to charity anyway

And it's exactly why government HAS to be involved with rights issues. If you have the majority vote for or control the issue involving the minority, then the majority will always win. If that were the case, we would have segregation still, blacks would not be able to marry whites, women may have less rights then they currently have, etc, etc. I am glad we have a system to step and and say when enough is enough and slaps the majority on the wrist with the fair stick when they need it and they do it with guidance from the constitution. Not rules from any one religion. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I used to say the same thing when I saw a few of my gay friends vote republican. For me the social issues weighed more, so that steered my vote in this election. BUT, if I had for some reason felt so strongly for a candidate economically (like, would have to be the return of Jesus will come back and save us quickly from this mess kinda awesome) and felt that issue, at the time, weighed more despite his lack of support on some of the social issues I found important, then I could see being swung in that direction to vote republican. I get what you're saying, but I can kind of step outside and see the bigger picture and understand the thought process of why some women, especially moderates or centrists on the fence, may go with the republican vote for this one. I will say that I am socially liberal, and as a social liberal I don't know if I would go as far to say as all republicans don't care about what a woman needs or wants. I just think they care about their needs/wants of their religion first, which I believe has no place in politics. So, take that for what it's worth. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

^^THIS!^^ Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

This is pretty much how I feel on it. If I do 15 mins and they really helped me out spotting and giving some great advice, then hopefully I can throw them 10 or 20 bucks and meet them up to buy a few beers after the shift if they're getting off soon. I also try to bring cookies or something for all the guys to munch on.....those boys burn a lot of calories and need the energy! :) Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Funny....considering weather is in imperfect science and we have to make assumptions more often then you'd think. You see, there it is again.... that whole talking about something you know nothing about. I thought I mentioned something about that earlier? You should leave this to us aviation (and weather) professionals. Really.

He'd have to record himself running red lights, the video go viral, and the police asked to comment. The FAA was blndsided by this so they had to do something. While the TI royally fucked up, whomever allowed that video to go home with the customer fucked up too. She should have been told there were camera issues and either offered a free jump or her money for the video and/or the jump back. Exactly! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Exactly. Robin is not the first person I've heard crying that there has not been due process in this.... and any other recent incidences where the FAA has been involved at Lodi for that matter. I am really sorry, but if you don't know anything about the process that happens when you are fined by the FAA, then don't say anything. Both in the aircraft fines AND this fine for the tandem instructor, everybody is given the same due process. You are notified, you have a date, and you can file for an appeal. You can request to appeal to a board. What happened here is the instructor may not want to appeal to something he is obviously guilty of and has no chance in fighting. It's not worth the money or time. This is NOT the same of robbing him of his due process. It's craziness to think that everybody is throwing this guy to the wolves. You held this same defensive position with regards to Bill when he screwed the pooch on the whole aircraft mx thing. I'm sorry, but if it looks like a turd, and smells like a turd, people aren't going to look the other way. Neither is the FAA. So don't make us or the FAA out to be the bad guys. If you'll notice, the FAA did nothing until more than a year after the fact, after the video went viral. Then it acted with great dispatch and a heavy hand, and you can snivel all you want about it, but this was due process in form but not substance, and specifically designed to set precedence by going after someone no one on our side is smart enough to defend on principle. Please keep in mind the Euro weathermen who were recently arrested for not warning people sufficiently about a storm or something. When judgment calls at this level become legally actionable by regulatory agencies that are answerable to no one, freedom has a big problem. THAT is the focus of my comments, not 9th grade civics class debate points, but we can revisit this when you've been around a few more years. 44 The FAA probably didn't know about the incident until the video. I'm pretty sure Bill or any other employees from Lodi didn't give a courtesy 'just to let you know' call to the FAA after granny almost fell out of her harness. I'm sure if the FAA knew about it, they would have done something from the start; and I'm sure they still would have been 'quick and heavy' since Bill is already on their shit list from previous fines and allegations. Honestly, if the DZ hadn't 'polished a turd' (as somebody so eloquently put it in another thread a few months ago) by releasing the jump video, then the FAA still probably wouldn't know about it right now. The rest of what you have stated is opinion. You feel 'in substance' that there was no due process. Well, good for you. Majority of folks will probably disagree. Point still stands, the employee has been afforded the same due process as anybody else fined by the FAA. And I have no clue how you even equated this with the stuff that just happened with the scientists in Europe. And trust me, I should be the first to understand what you're trying to say because I'm a meteorologist and have been keeping a close eye on what happened to these scientists who were supposed to predict the ultimately unpredictable, like I do. You're really rambling and grasping here....which is something you'll still do if we talk down the road after I've had a few more years in (past the 11 I already have in) the sport. Both in this incident and in previous Lodi incidents-- Guy was wrong. Guy got charged by a regulating agency. You continue to cry foul. I just don't get it. Tell me something, if you blatantly ran a red light and just paid the fine/ticket instead of going to court, would you feel you were robbed your due process? Would you say the local authorities acted too heavy and swift? Or that they shouldn't be up in your business fining you at all? Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Exactly. Robin is not the first person I've heard crying that there has not been due process in this.... and any other recent incidences where the FAA has been involved at Lodi for that matter. I am really sorry, but if you don't know anything about the process that happens when you are fined by the FAA, then don't say anything. Both in the aircraft fines AND this fine for the tandem instructor, everybody is given the same due process. You are notified, you have a date, and you can file for an appeal. You can request to appeal to a board. What happened here is the instructor may not want to appeal to something he is obviously guilty of and has no chance in fighting. It's not worth the money or time. This is NOT the same of robbing him of his due process. It's craziness to think that everybody is throwing this guy to the wolves. You held this same defensive position with regards to Bill when he screwed the pooch on the whole aircraft mx thing. I'm sorry, but if it looks like a turd, and smells like a turd, people aren't going to look the other way. Neither is the FAA. So don't make us or the FAA out to be the bad guys. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I don't know about that. I've heard plenty say that Obama is actually too centrist and doesn't do enough to appeal to his far left base. I think most political analysts have agreed with that statement. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

That is a given. A true liberal considers such behavior as normal. If they consider that kind of behavior normal, then that is their business. What I have a problem with is when somebody is out to get another person for doing something that they consider not normal based on their own beliefs. Or make a law surrounding it. Or base their entire political platform and run on 'good family values,' yet they are hiding in closets having gay sex and/or sleeping with random hookers or something. What you consider 'normal' in this area is your business. Keep it to yourself. Nobody would be thinking anything of this guy if he wasn't out bashing other people for their lack of 'family values.' It seems this is a huge problem in the republican party, which is why they are always attacked for it. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Kudos to SDC for doing that. I know fuel ain't cheap and I understand why some DZ's would really need a good reason for a go around, but I like jumping at a DZ where I know that if I call "stop" on the exit for a good safety concern like traffic passing below or something, that people: A.) won't be upset with me, or scream "go!" at me, and B.) we will get time for another pass if needed. The DZ's that have a no go around policy no matter what really foster an environment for some bad decisions in the door; like one that would force a person, perhaps a new skydiver who didn't know any better, to think twice and maybe get out over traffic or whatever else is out there because people were shouting at them. I really loose a lot of respect for places that are like that. Hats off to SDC for not being one of them! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

*Muah* Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Over the years I've not returned to 2 DZ's because of the policy there that green means go and everybody shouts at you to get the feck out of the plane as soon as the light comes on. One DZ it happened over towering CB clouds that totally obscured the DZ, and another DZ it happened when I spotted traffic underneath of us. When we were all back on the ground, I said to a videographer/instructor that I hesitated because I saw traffic under us, and the response from this person was "it doesn't matter. You have to get out here. There are no go arounds, and if you don't like it, go jump some place else." So, I did exactly that and never looked back. Just last month I was 5th out from the end of an otter load, saw it was a long spot, told the people behind me and preceded to let them go ahead of me if they wanted. I was going to ride the plane down if I didn't get another pass, but the pilot was kind enough to give it to me even though I was the last one out. The 5 ahead of me landed out. For the most part, green does NOT mean go, especially if it means getting out and busting FAR's (traffic, weather, etc). But, it doesn't mean screwing a whole load behind you if you're first out. So, make smart decisions and keep a good balance with the rest of the load in mind. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

She was probably told things like there was no chance of her falling out of the harness because if she could have, she would have. Must have just been an unfortunate occurrence, as "these things can happen sometimes," and he "saved her life." Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

From the story: "She couldn't have fallen out of the harness, because if she could have, she would have." Does anybody else think this sounds nuts? I think even to an inexperienced person watching the video, it looks like she could have fallen out! ::face palm:: I am not sure if this action the FAA has taken is unprecedented, but it's definitely not surprising since this particular DZ is fresh under their radar still from other fines/allegations. They would be hard pressed to just walk away from this incident without doing something; especially since it went so viral too. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I'm paying about 70K back in loans for my aviation degree, and it sucks, but I don't regret a damn bit of it. It's worth it if you go to work every day doing something that you love, and if you think this is the start for you to get down the path to fly for a living, then I say go for it. Just have a back up plan in mind if everything does not go as planned. This business is a tough business to get in to! Good luck!

::cough:: or just doing tandems without a rating. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I call it my first world problems, but one of the issues I have (especially since moving to CA which offers a lot of my activities) with jumping is I will never be a hardcore weekend warrior for two reasons-- one, my career field keeps me shift working wacky hours, so I'm not always off on the weekends, and two, I have so many other competing things I like to do. Many of which are the same you listed, plus a few more. So, you have to pick and choose your battles. I just recently became more comfortable with knowing I will never be the person to rack up jumps in the hundreds each year after jumping every weekend. BUT, I know I also jump enough that I don't feel sketched out or un-current. And flying in the wind tunnel helps a little too, but it's no substitute for situational awareness and things you only get through an actual jump. Anyway.... if you enjoy all of that stuff, then you'll find a way to get it done. Plenty of us do. Just go for it! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I can't go without contacts or glasses. My Rx really isn't that bad, but my astigmatisms are awful and I have no depth perception. I hate contacts. I've been fitted for every kind of thing out there and now have the lesser of all evils. They suck to put in, they suck to keep in all day, and I usually can't wait to take them out. But I don't go without them while I'm jumping. I do have wiley-x Rx wrap arounds that have transition lenses in them if I'm without contacts. They're nice, but I'd rather jump in goggles, which I can only do with the contacts. I'm really looking forward to getting a G3, which I can wear my glasses under-- score!