ypelchat

There are jobs worse than others.... For example: Rectal thermometer testing, for Johnson & Johnson. Just purchase a J&J rectal thermometer, and, in fine print, it is written on the booklet: "all rectal thermometers have been tested for accuracy by our trained personnel" Yves.

Coleco! Yves.

I've been there once! Yup! I liked it. Did not see the movie. I prefer the original. Yves.

Sounds like vietnam to me.... with probably the same outcome. Yves.

What I see is the difference in behavior from DZOs who get into it because of love of the sport versus DZOs that get into it because they see dollar signs. The issues I'm concerned about arise from the latter. I totally understand that DZOs need to make a living, but when their heart's in the right place, and with decent business skills, the money needed to put food on the table will follow. Other than the small number of mega DZ's (mostly in fair weather states that can stay busy year-round) I do not think DZO's got into it because they thought it was a good way to get rich. It appears to me there are very few people getting rich off of skydiving. I think most became DZO's because it was there chance to live what they love while paying the bills for all of life's little necessities. There are far easier ways to generate the kind of income the average non-mega DZO makes. In the end, I think what people choose to do for a livelihood is really not much about the money. I agree with what you said 100%

SAD but true.... IMHO, long term survival for skydiving, and DZ's, remains a blend of tandems jumps, and regular jumper jumps. Gas is not free anymore...... And for those of you who think DZO's are millionaires, well...think again....... Yves.

Yves, unfortunately i guess it's a long time you've not been to atmosphair .... while you certainly are right about Peter (probably the best i've seen in the air in terms of willingness ... INCREDIBLE !) ... the global ambiance is not there anymore, a tandem passenger got a «2 for 1» on beer when regular members have ... well ... nothing else than a bill to pay at the end of the day ! not even speaking of the «old days» where the bonfire was a place to be ... nowadays we're even satisfied when there's actually a bonfire :( nowadays, regulars are just taking «dates» with their mates over the phones for jump sessions and soon get away once the jumps are done ... the business is now the rule and tandem passengers are buying their tickets just as the'd do on a roller coaster .... there's no grunt here ... just a constatation of what have become your «home DZ» today ... cheers ! Well..Yes, I haven't jumped at Atmosphair for some time now.... I'll ask Martin, what's going on.. Blue Skies. Yves

The sport has evolved. For the better, or the worse... only time will tell. Aviation related cost have risen exponentially. Fuel prices have reached sky high prices, a/c maintenance costs, have reached an all time high, insurance premiums and liability insurance for DZ's, are now to the point of being almost unaffordable .... so yes, skydiving has become an expensive sport, over the years. But, hey!!!! Skydiving is fun. Then again, tandem skydives are still skydives. Yes, tandems skydives are profitable for the DZ's. The key to success, IMHO, is to introduce more and more people to the sport. But at the same time, we must do everything that is necessary to try to steer those who make tandem jumps, in becoming regular skydivers (at least get them to their "A"). A lot of DZ's just try to do that, but, unfortunately, on the other end, we have the so called "Tandem Mills", where profit is the only thing that counts. You're lucky to get on a load, at those DZ's..... At the end of the day, the people who made tandems at those Tandem factories, well... they just go home.... No bonfire there, at the end of the day... no stories to be told......... 5:00pm, and the place is closed........... Thank you for your business!!!! end of the story........ Over the years, I have seen quite a lot of handicaped people, who did a safe tandem skydive, at my home DZ. You should have seen the big grin on their faces, when they landed.

Thanks Karen for the pic. Yves.

So much for your tax dollars. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/06/AR2005060601715.html?sub=new Yves.

http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/Wilkerson%20Speech%20--%20WEB.htm Interesting ! Yves.

I wish you a speedy recovery Gawain. Yves.

Gracchus, in the movie Gladiator. Yves.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/13/bush.poll/index.html It's good to see more and more Americans coming to their senses. I've been saying from day one that a man who has failed just about every business he has ever touched, should not be allowed to lay his hands on this country. He is a screw up. I do appreciate the fact that as an American citizen I at least have the right to say that. That wouldn't fly far back when I was living in the USSR. "I think he knows what Rome is. Rome is the mob. Conjure magic for them and they'll be distracted. Take away their freedom and still they'll roar. The beating heart of Rome is not the marble of the senate, it's the sand of the coliseum. He'll bring them death - and they will love him for it. " So true..... Yves.

[thread hijack]John! I never thought i'd ever agree with you, on anything, but in this case, I do! Yves.[/thread hijack]

We bass players, keep the beat going, while drummers err into oblivion ! Yves.

Yup! Yves.

What about Bass players? Yves.

Our prayers are with your mother, and with you also. Let's hope she's OK. Yves.

Hi guys, for those who are interested. helicopter jumps will be made (Eurocopter Astar 350) on march 25th, or 26th (depending on the weather )) at Atmosphair, near Quebec city. So, if you're interested, please contact manifest at: 418-834-7272 The Astar 350 looks like this: http://www.zimmerair.com/Aircraft_Specs/AS350.asp http://oopv.free.fr/membres.php Yves.

There's also a CSS twin otter at CEPQ (about a 30 minute drive from Quebec city) for the CEPQ boogie, in july. Lots of fun there too. Yves.

Atmosphair is only a 10 minute drive from Quebec city. So next time you come to Quebec city, bring your rig and your tent, and... have fun! Yves.

And don't forget we have a Caravan here at Atmosphair! Skydiving is definately in good health in Canada. By the way! Nice pics of your #100 jump in the Canpara. Congrats dude. Yves.

I know what you are going through... I wish you good luck for tomorrows surgery.

It looks like your puppy isn't too fond of skydiving! Yves.