marcandalysse

is by Jared Diamond. His new one "Collapse" is about the Fall of civilizations and cultures. Also excellent! By the way, I think 'Collapse' first chapter is also available as free link at NYTIMES.com book review section.....that's a great place to see how you like a book... marc

Its a tough call, but understandable if you are buying plane tixs in advance. Weather changes from one hour to the next at zhills. Summertime is usually sunny all day till 3 or 4pm when a shower will pass through, and often sunny enough for a sunset jump. You may want to hold off a few weeks. Actually, I just checked accuweather.com.....it doesn't look so bad for this weekend, maybe a little breezy again: Saturday, May 7 Partly sunny. Winds from the N at 13 mph. High: 83° F Saturday Night: Patchy clouds. Winds from the NE at 11 mph. Low: 58° Sunday, May 8 Sunshine and patchy clouds. Winds from the NE at 13 mph. see ya there, marc

They Made America.....from the pbs series about innovators in American History, from the steam engine to the search engine. Animals in Translation by Temple Grandin. Awesome book by an autistic woman who became one of the world's specialists on cattle and behavior. You can read the entire first chapter on NYTIMES.com in the book section. Just finished her book 'Thinking in Pictures' which talks more about autism. Just picked up a copy of 'Purpose Driven Life', and 'The Four Agreements' that everyone has been posting about here. Also have to catch up on the latest editions of tech stuff in my field, boring but necessary: Data Quality Data Mining Techiniques (2nd edition) OLAP Techiniques (2nd edition) Data Modeling Essentials (3rd edition) RFID wow, my ass hurts just thinking about all that sitting around! marc "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton

Wow, good for you, that's a fantastic book! It has been translated as 'Captains of the Sands' by Jorge Amado. Written in the 1930s in Salvador, Bahia Brazil, its stories about homeless street kids and gangs seems even more real today (only now they would be using guns) Have you read 'Quincas Berro D'Agua' by Amado? Translated as 'The Two Deaths of Quincas Wateryell ', it is a very funny short novel also about lowlifes in Bahia in the 40s.....Highly recommended! Another Jorge Amado book worth reading and available on video is 'Tent of Miracles' (Tenda das Milagres) tudo de bom! Marc

They've been talking for years about extending the Rails Bike Trail through Sarasota County....having legal issues with the railroad owners, but eventually it will happen..... For all the Chicago area people, do you know the forest preserve trails west of town? I used to rollerblade for 40 miles round trip all the way through Morton Grove, Skokie, Glenview up to the Botanic Gardens in Highland Park....it is forested all the way....see deer wondering around at sunsets....and winter time it makes a great XCountry Ski trail....(brrr....) marc

Don't worry about that, check out the other DZs, you'll have fun! And if you want company, I'm sure there's some dz.com people that will be glad to meet you at their local DZ, and you could ask ZHills regulars to join you too...many of them jump at Lake Wales and Sebastian and Deland also.... Just make sure you talk to the locals at each one, don't be shy.... they will help you get a feeling for the landing areas, weather etc...and hopefully invite you on a skydive! I recommend getting a coach jump with an instructor, it's a great way to start off in a different DZ. As for ZHills, many of us go there even when other DZs may be closer. We get frequent visits from friends in Deland, JVille, South FL....because they all know that there is always a good, friendly time at ZHills.... See ya around, muff muff muff! marc "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton

Yes Bill, but did you 'land out' at the end of your bike ride? Or cross the 'beer line'? mp "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton

I just caught the landing portion....Jonathon landed out, but Sebastian was right on camera.... Didn't see who the other tandem master was, but congrats to everyone....it was fun to see you on TV (we miss you here at zhills!)..... looked like a nice morning at the Ranch! Marc "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton

I didn't realize that no one had spoken with you prior to the skydive. A few of us spoke to two of your 4 way(the third was already waiting at the mockup) and mentioned our concern....and they took you up anyway. Then I thought someone had pulled you off the load because I saw you walking back to the deck before the load went up. So I was surprised to see you landing (happily with no problems)...but also saw two of your 4 way landed out... So here are some suggestions to help better observe and decide on jump weather and winds... All during the day people were having problems landing....watch how people run out to help grab the tandems' canopies as they land, that's a sure sign...notice when the people who normally land closer to the beer line are landing farther out.....see people sliding in more on landing....or land safely but have their canopies billow up and twist around.... Notice when you see people are standing around the post checking out the wind measurements. Go over there and check out the wind speed of the gusts... Notice when the AFF students are getting pulled off loads or waiting around to get the okay to get on a load...yesterday all three sat around awhile, the third finally got up towards the end of the day when things calmed down. ****Very important!!!...Notice when most of the bomb squad is sitting around the corner table instead of suiting up and heading to the plane...If more of them are sitting around than getting on loads, chances are that the weather is not the best **** ****Above all, ask the instructors!!**** We are glad to see you at the dz and joining the family....and hope to see you safely skydiving for a long time.....so please take our comments in a positive way. Marc

It's nice to be wanted, Ron.....Don't keep him hanging on.....although a little 'mystery' is good for a budding relationship! marc "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton

maybe we should all do a dz.com/muff jump on saturday! Lots of us are muff bros and dz.commers.... see y'all at the bomb squad table! marc

TUDO BOM GENTE? even our parrots speak brasilian portuguese at home!! MINNA SAN, O GENKI DES KA? VAYA CON DIOS, LOCO! "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton

I've noticed that there are A LOT of Michelle, Mel, and variations of that name among skydiving ladies! marc "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton

thanks for posting all those pics. as you know from one of your previous threads, i am really into these ancient cultures' art and etc. glad you have a chance to experience them, floods and all! very cool! wish i was in that part of the country now! it is interesting though, we tend to think that 1000 year old petroglyphs, nazca lines, etc are 'ancient history', because those civilizations aren't around anymore and didn't leave written records. Yet in places like India or Egypt, Greece and Israel, exist temples with art and writing from 2500-5000 years ago. marc

make sure you use those condoms....

HEY ASSHOLE! COUNT OFF!

accuweather says 20mph winds saturday....so we probably will head up late afternoon tomorrow and skydive sunday.... and we will bring the Saintly JRAF along for the ride! Fun jumps anyone? see y'all then.....

zhills is still open 7 days till sundown, until end of april....

will we see you all at zhills this weekend? "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton

not if it was from 13500above the dz.... "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton

if any skydivers are working at tyco....that would be a plus in my book! "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton

actually there are more prizes as seen on the dz.com "article" on the home page: heck, i'm buying one today!! "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton

Does anyone have any war stories about tyco IT depts? they are all over the USA and world....and recruiting me .....I've had 2 phone interviews today already and have another in an hour....whew....what is the rush??? Just thot I'd network with my dz.com friends and see if anyone has anything to say about working for tyco. thanks! marc

Her band is excellent! Half of them are Brazilians. She did a great disk called Black Ivory Soul, recorded partly in Brazil.....Highly recommended. If you like her music, check out Chico César from Brazil. Mixes rock with traditional sounds. marc

Comes from Goa India, very stinky stuff....cashew or coconut flavors. It comes from Coconut trees, also called Toddy I have both flavors at home, tried to drink it....can't handle the taste. Arrack is even stronger than feni....they gave it to me with 7up....yuck! "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton