LyraM45

Williamstown, New Jersey.... born, bred, and raised. Lucky girl to grow up and live around the corner from one of the bestest DZ's ever! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

This individual in particular based his campaign on this, but classicly the democratic party does not. They don't stand up at the podium and preach morals-- no gays allowed, marriage is a man and a woman, replace sex ed in school with religious classes; and why? Because the bible says so?? They are so loud about it, and the louder they are, the more of a huge story its going to be when they are found being a hypocrite of all these morals they preached so loudly about. Democrats don't rush to preach all of that, so it doesn't make them as much a hypocrite as the republican that did. It doesn't make the act any less wrong, but just not as big a hypocrite. But, if this Mahoney guy prided himself on family morals and was all republican like with his campaign, then I think he deserves the same finger pointing as the rest of the people before him who have done the same thing and gotten in the same trouble. So, it's not a load of hooey, just basic logic and definition of "hypocrite." Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Ding, ding, ding!! This, one top of many things, sealed the last nail in the coffin for me. I wouldn't be surprised if this was really what he meant to say, since in his eyes, military people can do no wrong . There are a whole lot of intelligent military people out there for sure, but I also know a whole lot of people with the IQ of a bag of rocks who went into the military right out of high school because they couldn't get into any schools or go on for a trade and the military is always looking for a warm body to put on the front lines and attempt to reform into a better individual. Sure, they grow up and learn to behave, but you can't teach them intelligence and how to pass that intelligence and knowledge on to our kids in the classrooms. Like I said, I know a ton of great military people. All of my co-workers at my aviation weather job are former meteorology officers from the air force and they can forecast just as well as any ivy league graduates I know, but its the type of military person I was talking about above who I'm worried about just getting thrusted into a classroom. Any person, military or not, shouldn't just be thrown into a classroom. Whats the sense of having the standards where people have a passion to go into teaching, take exams to get into a good school, take specific classes for that particular subject in education they are interested in pursuing, and get all the necessary certification and training needed to be responsible for teaching our next generation? There is no sense then. We might as well let troops come back and become a medical resident without any training, a pilot even though they've never flown a day in their life, or a broadway performer even though they have no passion for music or theater and never stepped foot on a stage in their life. Let's help troops come back and apply for school if they meet all the same requirements everybody else faces in those programs, help fund their educations, and take the proper steps needed to start a career post military; don't just destroy the standards we have set in place, especially when it comes to teaching. Just my two cents, I guess..... sorry for the rant! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Does anybody posting know anything about the Webster/Clear Lake area? I work in the meteorology department of a private sector company in Houston and they evacuated a crew of us up to Dallas to take over ops if our headquarters got stomped on and they couldn't take care of our 24/7 ops worldwide. I'm still in Dallas, could be until the weekend at least since our building in Houston is still without power. I'm glad to hear all the DZ's made it through OK and that everybody is alright. Since I'm up in Dallas, I haven't been able to get a report on the Webster/Clear Lake area and figured I would ask you guys. I really hope my house is OK.... Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

crap.... I missed the NSFW! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Any pictures of Cross Keys you guys have seen from above is my hometown. Williamstown, NJ-- born and raised. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Are you 185 out the door or 185 without your rig? If so, then I would consider getting a BIGGER reserve, and while you're at it, something you feel comfortable on. That sounds like your loading this reserve pretty high for having 60 jumps. My rigger brought up a good point to me the other day when I downsized my reserve to 1:1; he said think about the worst case senario and you're unconscious and you have a cypress fire-- are you comfortable just burying it into the ground unconscious under your reserve? They are definitely not made for highly loaded performance landings. Just my 2 cents..... Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

An updated pic of everything that got assembled yesterday. Hasn't even been jumped yet! Wings Vision W-8. PS-- this is a little off topic, but has anybody else been effected by the service bulliten they just put out? I was going to have my rigger take the plasic out of the main closing flap yesterday and we decided to hold off. I don't know what to do. ------ Edited to add -------- Another question... has anybody had problems with stiff ring covers? I feel like mine are so stiff and broad that even when I'm not moving they are hurting the inside part of my arm where they are rubbing up against it. I'm a little bruised just by taking it on and off at the rigger yesterday! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Out of all the threads/posts I've read related to this topic it doesn't sound like anybody is making it out to be about that kind of reasoning. Nobody is blaming the improper ratings on causing the suicide, but instead this tragic incident happened to reveal that the pilot did not have the proper ticket and it is discussed independent of anything else except that he wasn't supposed to be flying jumpers at all; suicidal or not. I mean, the guy could have blow a tire on landing, dinged the aircraft or something and gotten the FAA's attention, which would have shed light on his ratings after investigation of even something so small. Either way, what we're talking about now is what would have been talked about no matter how the situation allowed this fact to come out. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I've been taking "breaks" for the past five years since I started jumping. Jumped some the first year as I was still in high school, but when I went away to college and had to sell the gear to help pay for school and all, it was on and off throughout the five years of school. My longest break was on two occasions; a year each time, and I'm just over a year for the second occasion and ready to get back in the game since I graduated (finally) and got some new gear (finally). BUT... then again theres "life"-- bills, student loans, gas prices going up, so I might be holding onto that gear for a while. So... just do whatever you need to do and take it as it rolls is the best thing I can tell you. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Hmmm.... let me guess. What are you? About 18? Maybe 20 years old? You sound like it right off the bat (not that I'm saying every young person is like this) You think you're young and invincable and it doesn't take me seeing you under canopy to know what a hot dog 100 jump wonder packs skill wise under canopy. I have a hundred-something jumps too and I'm in a similar boat to yourself, so I think I can see where you're coming from. I'm not trying to down you dude (or us for that matter, since I too have the low jump numbers), I'm just trying to shed some light and be a little realistic and on the safe side. Congrats on getting around to different places in the world so young. Good for you. Instead of of using those experiences of a what a dropzone here or there did (or didn't do) about your kit, you should really stop to take a look at whats going on around you and listen to the collective group of experienced jumpers, not just the manifest girl or S&TA who talked to you for 30 seconds and thought your logbook looked alright. Years ago, a dz I was jumping at let a guy jump a Kata120 (or something similar, I can't exactly remember what it was.) when he had 200 jumps and no eliptical canopy experience because he had a cool log book with him and he was from a foreign DZ. Well, this guy ended up a vegtable after that jump and needless to say, they tightened their standards a bit after that. All because the CCI or S&TA (who at a foreign dropzone has never seen you under canopy either, just as myself) says its OK still doesn't mean it's the best decision. I think getting all the training you can is part of being a smart skydiver as long as you don't walk away thinking, "oh, I've had training, so I can do what I want and thats that." I worked at Skyventure and have about 9 or 10 hours tunnel time, but it doesn't mean I am going out on a big way freefly on my next skydive and think it's OK to do, but instead stick with the stuff I should be doing with 150 jumps and just know that the training I have has helped make me (and others) safer at this point and the rest will come when it comes. I'm sorry to take this thread off topic, even though it does kinda respond to how 'extreme' your actions are; not just in this thread, but in previous ones as well. I'm probably not the person to give you advice either, since I too don't have a lot of jumps, but I can offer my opinion and the experiences I have had. I've been around the sport for five years and try to listen and learn as much as possible to be as safe as possible and hope you could be as safe as possible too; not just for yourself, but for everybody else on the load. Have you ever seen somebody go in under canopy? Have you ever helped give CPR to somebody who beefed it in bad? Hopefull you'll be fortunate and be around for enough time to be unfortunate enough to witness an accident like that, because maybe thats what it will take to turn you around. Seeing somebody's femur poking through their skin is enough to humble a person real quick. I know people have said their piece to you in other posts similar to everything I've said above, but I just had to get this out. Again, I'm not trying to be harsh, just realistic and as safe as I can be, which sometimes means raising my opinion of a red flag to a fellow jumper that could one day be on the same plane with me and do something stupid enough to endanger me and friends I'm jumping with. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

My advice would not be to "estimate" anything. I would seriously jump rental gear until you found something you were comfortable on and could see yourself jumping for a little while. My friend bought brand spankin' new gear after he got his A license, and by the end of the year and 3-400 jumps later, he was stuck with 220 square foot of canopy above his head because he didn't want to get rid of the new gear that matched his custom suit and all. Not only that, but you also don't want to buy gear you'll "grow into." Don't let buying new gear make you downsize too fast and hurt yourself. You'll also be able to jump different manufactueres and different canopies while renting gear, and this will help you decide what you want to spend the big bucks on when you order your own. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Oh, man... my tummy hurts from laughing. This is the best thing I've read in General Discussions in a long time!!!! You've totally made my day, dude! BTW, congrats on the B. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Boy, did you hit it on the head. Why do we keep entertaining these future wetspots.....eerrrr.... .I mean, cool novice skydivers looking for legit advice? Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

the inserts seem like a good way to go because the one thing about buying one perscription pair of oakleys is a case where if I get them tinted and you're on that sunset load, which sometimes get a little dark when you least expect it, I'll be jumping tinted lenses when I need to be able to see the ground. I guess you could always bust out some cash and go for two pairs: tinted and not tinted, but I would rather go the insert route if it'll take care of the problem for less money. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

yea... I second that! Drew is the man!!!! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Yeah... I'm on the astigmatism train too. I can't stand to have the contacts in my eye for even five minutes, but for the past few years I have been putting up with them for just a few hours a jumping and as soon as my feet touch the ground from the last jump, before I even take gear off, I'm taking the contacts out. I had an issue with over the glasses goggles coming off and flying over my head while freeflying, so they are out the windown now. I have seen that sportRX page before, but afraid to commit to goggles/glasses that I can't actually physically check out before I spend the money for them. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Thanks! (I like the stripes too... the silver in the stripes matches the reserve pop top not assembled yet.) Post pics when you get yours! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I just got a new vision in a few weeks ago. Hopefully I can get it assembled soon! PS-- I wanted to add that I LOVE the back/leg padding they are offerering now. For anybody who is ordering a new one soon, it's well worth the money!!!! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I bet you this would sell like hot cakes to some of those meatheads who post in general skydiving discussions about how they are so cool for jumping a canopy at 1.X with 50 jumps!!! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

My degree is in Aviation Meteorology, so here's my geeky two cents: 1.) Usually you can never go wrong with the National Weather Service. They are the guys that DO the science. I worked an internship with them and it was so funny to have all the private sector people calling to check and see what our forecast was so they could make theirs. 2.) Weather.com, or the weather channel, is a pretty large scale general forecast tool that isn't going to be as great as the NWS because the computer putting out the forecast for everywhere all over the world for them is not as familiar with local climatology effects like the forecasters at an NWS office would be. A model may predict clear skies at one airport on weather.com, but the airport may be fogged in because it sits in a valley or may be just off the coast, and the model didn't know that. To me, weather channel is just a bunch of pretty faces trying to look cute-- Oh! and try and do a little bit of weather. 3.) Weather underground is OK, but if you are into aviation forecasts it can be a nice tool. You can get on and search by ICAO, which is nice when you're looking at a major or local airport. (IE, if you want the Orlando weather, just search KMCO.) They also break it down in TAF, metars, airreps/pireps, etc. (which you could also get through NWS, but are more user friendly on this site.) They also have live video feed/picture of the location you're looking up. Does anybody know what ever happened to the Skydiving Weather site? Was it skydivingweather.com or something? EDITED TO ADD: if anybody is interested and wants to geek out over these sites, my school's meteorology homepage had some cool stuff: http://my.fit.edu/wx_fit/index.php Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I'm pretty petite, and was looking for a rig had with a harness to fit a small chick yet had the container capacity for a larger main around 150. Very tough to do in a certain price range, but if you take the time to look around, it''ll all come together eventually. Took me a good year or two, but eventually pieced everything together. Keep your eyes peeled on the ads, ebay, as well as stock sales from manufacturers. Good luck!

[REPLY]It's not about fucking anyone. If someone is dumb enough to spend several thousand dollars buying something in another country without researching exactly who they are buying from, they can't be too surprised when they find out it's a scam. It's basic common sense, not a PhD dissertation Crazy This is true of any higher dollar purchase, whether skydiving or not. I don't have a lot of sympathy for people who blindly wire money overseas. Ditto.... it doesn't have anything to do with screwing anybody. In fact, this doesn't even have to have anything to do with skydiving in general, but instead proper etiquette and procedures of what one should know (and imo, what is common sense) when you purchase things over the internet; ebay, dropzone.com, whatever. There is only so much dz.com can do to safegard the classifieds for users and sellers, and I think they are doing an OK job, but in a situation like this if a person misses the very obvious red flags and warnings, there is really not much they can do. They can police the community but will have a hard time protecting each individual purchase, especially if done impulsively and without thought or notice to all the warning signs. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

MUST be cooked? awww, damn.... you're missing all the good stuff then!!! I used to work in a Japanese/Korean place, so here's a few of my suggestions for cooked: anything tempura, salad with ginger dressing, eddamame, gyoza, shumai (shrimp is yummy!), fried oyster rolls, cali rolls, salmon skin rolls, smoked salmon, anything with fresh/saltwater eel. If you want to do something raw and have it cooked, ask the server if they could tempura batter the whole roll and fry it up. IE, if you like cooked salmon, get a raw or smoked salmon roll and ask them to batter the whole thing and fry it up in the seasame oil fryer in the back kitchen. MMM.... yummy! Also, for dessert, try the weird flavor ice creams. I didn't know what I was missing out on all these years until I tried green tea ice cream! It's really smooth. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

hey! not all women are that bad.... I got's me a squeeky clean driving record (no tickets or accidents) for the past 8 years since I learned how to drive. (knock on wood) Rule one of the smarter driver... don't assume the other person is going in any direction because of their turn signals. Actually, don't assume anything with anything. As Jimmy Dugan would say, 'just gotta use that lump 3 feet above your ass,' and you'll be OK. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)