DrDom

Thanks. That's what I was looking for. I just applied as well, buying it solo stunk, got terrible rates; groups tend to get better coverage for sure Being part of the USPA doesn't qualify us as a group? Alot of professions (ex, actors) form unions that help with issues like this. Maybe that is something at least people who work in skydiving could do. No, I'm saying I currently buy as an individual at a huge penalty, the USPA I believe is a group style insurance I sent them my info and already had a call! These guys are quick though it was to clarify my medical history. :\ You are not the contents of your wallet.

dont rely on milk to improve bone health, http://saveourbones.com/osteoporosis-milk-myth/ You are not the contents of your wallet.

this is why america fails. You are not the contents of your wallet.

Very, very true. Like I said. Wait untill you have atleast a C license. Maybe even your D so you can get all of your ratings and have more opportunity for a job. I'll say this, being able to make money and jump as a hobby is better than having to depend on your hobby to make money. I know people can do it, but having a "plan B" and some skills is also nice Realize your non-skydiving friends wont get it, but its not for them to "get", its for you to escape the grind. NOTHING feels better to me than leaving work and knowing the next day I'll be jumping. You are not the contents of your wallet.

Thanks. That's what I was looking for. I just applied as well, buying it solo stunk, got terrible rates; groups tend to get better coverage for sure You are not the contents of your wallet.

Did this happen BECAUSE of skydiving? You are not the contents of your wallet.

of course it was! You are not the contents of your wallet.

To wager a guess, loud noises often elicit a stress response in animals, so its likely related to the inflammatory condition of chronic loud noise. I wonder how it relates to perceived noise (I.e. people with better hearing protection). Fascinating study, but most of us that don't work at a busy airport likely wont experience enough loud noise to be problematic. You are not the contents of your wallet.

Aircraft Noise and CVD: Two New Studies Bolster Link Shelley Wood Oct 09, 2013 LONDON, UK — Aircraft noise from some of the world's busiest airports is linked to an increased risk of hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease, according to two new papers. The studies broaden concerns about the impact of living close to airports; previously, aircraft noise, as well as other "sound pollutants," has been linked to hypertension. In the first of two studies published online October 8, 2013 in BMJ, Dr Anna L Hansell (Imperial College London, UK) and colleagues assessed hospital admissions for 3.6 million people living near Heathrow Airport[1]. Their paper linked daytime and nighttime aircraft noise and hospital visits for stroke, coronary heart disease, and cardiovascular disease by comparing residents in the noisiest areas with those living farther from the airport. They found that, after adjustment for confounders, high-noise areas (>63 dB) had significantly increased risks for all three diagnostic codes as compared with the quieter areas (

I laughed so hard at this I spilled my coffee. Thank you

Good advice ... You are not the contents of your wallet.

I know, but its one of those things I have to tell people. Its not ethical as a physician to be dishonest. Things that cause cancer: obesity, high-fructose-corn-syrup, casein, red meat, anything "charred", and cigarettes. There are more but that helps. If people wont listen, I still have to tell them. Most patients turn off right after any discussion of diet, obesity, smoking, etc. Doesn't mean I'm absolved from telling them. You are not the contents of your wallet.

Also if you take a gander onto google type "casein cancer gene" and look at the research articles Casein turns on cancer genes and has been a proven direct cause of cancer. Rarely is research so robust Why don't you hear about it? It's called the USDA and dairy industry. You are not the contents of your wallet.

Having studied a LOT about nutrition and supplementation all the literature says nobody needs protein shakes, multivitamins, or supplements. The companies wont tell you that, but if you REALLY look at the facts and study nutrition you actually only need vitamins and mineral supplements if your diet is nothing but protein shakes and meat. The key is vary your diet WILDLY. Don't stress the protein as much as everyone says (good lord are people brainwashed by the meat/dairy industry). Get exercise and realize you have ample protein to increase muscle mass even on a lot protein diet (you need some, but there are vegan athletes who don't get high protein.. few MMA fighters and Olympic athletes). All I can say is if you want HEALTH there is the saying in the nutrition community: "Eat Food, Not Too Much, Mostly Plants". If you want to be "cut" or some other non health related thing I cant really help you much. But I can tell you how to live a life free of major diet-related medical maladies If you want to lose weight... I went vegan and the pounds poured off at first and I just had to eat more to maintain stable. Also realize in my house we eat nothing from a box, nothing with high-fructose-corn-syrup, and mostly we shop in the produce aisle for fruits, veggies, nuts etc. As a doctor I get tested on occasion for deficiencies, and I have none. Even my body protein levels are normal ;) Looking cut is "cool", but I've seen athletes with kidney failure from supplements, a few with acute hepatitis and liver failure (another one of those supplements was just noted as killing a bunch of folks), a few cases of "hypervitiminosis" from vitamin intake, and lots of heart attacks and strokes in otherwise normal weight people who exercise and eat like crap. You are not the contents of your wallet.

Not sure what happened... since Jump 4 I have no fear of the door. Now what I'm left with is "performance anxiety" (not the bedroom kind). So much to learn and its always a little more awkward! Thanks for the encouragement from EVERYONE getting me out that door. Door Monster = DEFEATED! You are not the contents of your wallet.

Best thing to do is call and ask! I'm sure every place is a little different. You'll do great. The fear and anxiety a little less each jump. Relax and enjoy, I think anyone who jumps out of planes is pretty awesome. It contradicts our survival instinct, and we do it for play. That... is beautiful. You are not the contents of your wallet.

Couple things coming from a fellow student (take with grain of salt, I'm not a pro). I read my dive flows until I knew it in my sleep. Read the sections in the SIM that pertain to what you will do next. If you have a long train ride, you can even do some directed visualization of your jumps. Go through emergency procedures in your mind. Race car drivers do it because practice is pricey; and it has been shown in studies to help. Don't overload too much, your instructors will make sure you know whats needed for the next jump. If you aren't sure, ask them! They are a wealth of knowledge. Welcome to AFF. Its what in New England we call "Wicked Fun" You are not the contents of your wallet.

This same advice was given to me from the same person with awesome results :) I'm 35, married, job... and all I could do was think of the "what ifs". I drove myself nuts. So I did a tandem with a friend, and felt like it was "OK", but something... something kept pulling me back. I did FJC and we were weathered out. I though I'd never go back. Seriously. Considered not going. I'm a big chicken. I cant get on ladders. I get nervous standing on the counters to get to the top of the cupboards. I work in a Trauma Center. Then, there I was with Jacqueline and Meghan in the door of a Twin Otter on a Thursday afternoon. Meghan reminding me "Just breathe and relax and you're going to do AWESOME". Jacqueline perched outside ALL smiles. All smiles. There I was a grown man with these two lovely, FEARLESS, ladies holding onto me. Big smile! And out we went.... Once you do it, you'll crave it. The fear becomes anxiety, the anxiety becomes anticipation, and then anticipation becomes overwhelming EXCITEMENT. I had the door monster with me for 3 jumps. terror at the door. Could have written a book about the things that went through my mind. 4th jump I have no idea what happened but I was like "get me in the door!". What you are NOT, is a wimp. Why? Because even CONTEMPLATING skydiving is more than most people can do. When people hear I am in an AFF course they think I'm insane. Your evolutionary drive says "no" yet you keep saying "maybe". THAT is progress. It certainly is not for everyone, but a good school with good instructors, and a little courage will get you there. And once you do it ONCE... the confidence it gives you will be amazing. That and the grin that gets stuck for a few weeks. Its like that old expression "if you make that face and someone hits you it will stick"... well.. you leave with a smile and it will be noticeable for miles as you head for your next jump I, like you, read a lot. SIM cover to cover. The Parachute and Its Pilot. Parachuting: The Skydivers Handbook. and "Jump! - Skydiving made fun and easy". Fun reads, but nothing.... NOTHING... helped me as much as the already mentioned "Transcending Fear" by Brian Germain. I hope you have had a chance to get up there. It does change your life. Just remember to relax, smile, and breathe :) You are not the contents of your wallet.

Recommendation: Learn to PLF before you need it. I flared a bit high and stalled at about 10 feet leaving me a bit of a drop to the ground. PLF and was like "that was soft". Level 6 I came in and flared late, right into a mud puddle... and another PLF saved the day. Get a box about 2-3 feet high and just practice practice practice. My experience is limited but as a student I've found it an ESSENTIAL skill to prevent my ankles from exploding or hurting my back... You are not the contents of your wallet.

I love Portland, and I think you guys will too. If youre here soon you'll be in some lovely fall weather with beautiful foliage (looked nice on the way to the DZ today, and from 10,000!) Added: you could also go to Mt Washington. I wouldnt hike it, the weather is GNARLY and unpredictable in fall, 80mph winds 2 days ago, clear and calm yesterday. GO figure. But you can drive it for the view (or.. hike if youre daring... I wouldnt). You are not the contents of your wallet.

I can make my own clothes (yes yes yes, I'm a man with a sewing machine who loves to use it!) I can make my wife mad at the drop of a hat I can make plants that are edible from my garden (even the hot peppers!) I'm NOT handy in any useful way otherwise. My last attempts at plumbing, carpentry, and mechanic work all ended up with the respective specialist called to bail me out. I can occasionally make people who would be dead still be alive. I don't know if that counts though. That's just work. You are not the contents of your wallet.

I'll tell you what, they can blame him for whatever they want, but I didnt see any of those nerds in mission control up there in space. These early explorers really were traversing into the unknown with nerves and balls of steel. Second man to orbit the earth. That falls into my "Epic Awesome" category. I'll drink to him tonight. You are not the contents of your wallet.

Well, I have a "Shopping List" and we can see how this goes. I will be cleared solo soon so I figure I'll buy myself a helmet and gloves for that milestone and then pick up some parts over the winter when I'm not spending my $$$ jumping. I'll lose my currency but I can fix that in the spring and I'm not super ready to just push hard for my A when I want to methodically learn. But I digress I have a friend who has a barely used Cookie Fuel open face helmet. Few scratches, all blank panels. He figures I could use it as my first helmet, or eventually turn it into a camera helmet if I ever went that route. But its a nice looking piece of gear and I'm going to scratch it up anyhow so may as well buy one secondhand. Picking up a pair of gloves from ChutingStar, just a basic summer glove. Also will grab some decent goggles. The student ones are good and all (I know they clean them) but I feel like its something I should "own". Over the winter I'm going to pick up an Altimaster Galaxy, it seems like the student standard and would be nice to have a good, reliable, basic altimeter. Looking at some jumpsuits (the ones are huge on me at the DZ) but no idea what I'm really going for yet. It may not be a purchase until A license honestly. I just wear some wool underclothes and dont feel gross. I figure I can dirty up the student suits and get my own when I can properly LAND! Other stuff is a Visio II eventually, will transition to digital over time (will be nice to have a backup though), and an Optima II audible. That is at the end of my list though, since I don't think I can use one until cleared solo anyhow. I want to be in the habit of being altitude aware. I feel like its a skill I could stall the development of if I get a crutch "too early". I'll deal with full face helmets someday. I like the protection, but its just not a priority. I prefer people see me SMILING on the way out! You are not the contents of your wallet.

god I love that movie most definitely one of the best. You are not the contents of your wallet.

Portsmouth is on the short list. You just moved it up a notch or two. Thanks.