JPA

Damn good day as a matter of fact. Moving out of home tomorrow into the inner city to be close to uni...today I found out some good news about the courses I applied for. Now if I can somehow work a jump and a root into the remainder of the day I'll be set

Sorry to gloat but I just received my university offer for this year...the course I wanted had a cut-off of 98.5% and I GOT IN. I need a jump to celebrate!

I've jumped a lot of talon 2 t4's...it seems to hold a sabre 150 perfectly and most of the ones I've jumped contained them or a very similar canopy. You could probably squeeze a 170 in there if you had to. Very nice rig altogether, I like them.

Shouldn't it be titled 'crack-whore mall-rat of the day'

If you do make it through, be sure to engage in plenty of deep and meaningful conversations and hug everyone at least five times a day, while making sure to mention deep seated issues involving your parents. Quality...it's all about quality

Have fun...if you don't feel anything at first wait a little longer, nothing like bombing 12 because you think they don't work and then spend the rest of the day a blathering mess.

Vegamite and avocado on toast is one of my favorites, otherwise a cheese, apple and salami sandwich.

That is f@$#ing wicked!!! Is it just me, or does the canopy appear to have two bridals coming from it?

Deal with it

It was a peace-keeping force in East Timor, which Indonesia very reluctantly allowed us to take part in. Believe me, we were thoroughly un-prepared, we had to borrow 4000 flak jackets from the US to protect our troops. In part we were attempting to clean up a mess we helped create 25 years previously. It's good to be aware of things, but I think it is equally important to be aware of hidden (or not so hidden) political agendas. I don't blame you for not knowing much about our politics...that's why we spend days watching cricket and drinking beer, because it's so damn boring

I don't know what you'd like me to do...enlist in the military because some idiot is talking shit? Bali was a massive tragedy and I know people who lost loves ones, but it seems to me that our politicians and media have grabbed this horrific act with both hands in an attempt to portray it as act of terrorism directed exclusively at Australians. From where I sit, it looks very much like the media and politicians attempting to manufacture some form of consent for any military action the US takes against Iraq. This is necessary because the Australian public has been very reluctant to endorse such action. While what happened in Bali was sickening and I'd like to see the fuckers responsible in pain, I for one am hesitant to hop on this media band-wagon. Firstly, our Prime Minister is in my opinion, a complete fool. His disregard for letting facts get in the way of his political ambitions is well documented . His comments regarding pre-emptive strikes are absolutely ridiculous and have done nothing but en-flame the situation further. Now, before I am labelled a liberal communist, let me explain why. Australia's military is sub-standard. We could not defend ourselves if we had too. Any attempt to attack Indonesian soverinty would be very silly indeed, with out our good mates America doing most of the work. Secondly, there is no way Australia has the capacity, or indeed the intent to launch a strike. John Howard is essentially talking out his arse in a pathetic attempt to grab more support because of the high emotions present after the Bali bombing. As much as I detest Abu Baker (sp?) his comments are no surprise, and quite frankly, are reasonably accurate regarding the stupidity of John Howard and his remarks. As much as Bali was a national tragedy, Australia has not been attacked. Of course it is possible that this can and will change, but the present fact remains the same. As much as I do understand the motivation behind such remarks (and believe me, I do) as "don't take this laying down"...it does seem to be a reasonably uninformed view of the situation propagated by various media conglomerates. These guys are evil, no doubt about it, but engaging in a rhetoric war for the sole purpose of furthering one's political agenda makes me sick. Finally, as much as I hate to say it, lets not forget other's right to respond to potentially aggressive statements. Freedom of speech is not a right only enjoyed by us. If push comes to shove, I'll fight, but right now, that to me is certainly not warranted. JP out.

The gauntlet has been thrown down. The tourists finished up with 251 with 2 wickets in hand. Unfortunately I have to go watch a years worth of Aussie BASE action on a big screen TV at a beach-front pub so I can't watch the rest of the game. All we need is some quick flashes of the bat and the poms can continue with their proud tradition of humiliation at the hands of Australians

After a dismal start to the one-day cricket in Australia the bleeding poms are finally showing some form. So far 2/119 from 21 overs. They're only delaying the inevitable however, once Slater and Gilchrist get behind the crease the annihilation will begin and the rampant lion will go back to where it belongs, lying wounded on the pitch

Unrolling the nose before a low-pull comp

Respect. Guys like you testing the limits are what this sport is all about.

Let me clarify. If someone is obviously endangering other people then something should be done. Hooking/pulling low, while it may conceivably harm someone else, does not usually have any negative effect on others. Therefore people doing it should not be grounded in my opinion. The point is, unless you know someone else is going to get hurt, mandatory grounding is ridiculous. If people want to take risks we should let them!!! As I already said, enforcing your standards onto someone else is arrogant at best. I don't condone ANY behavior as you say, I just like to let people make their own choices, even if those choices might hurt them. Regulation and punishment is not the key! Peace all, and safe swoops.

How do you tell in advance if risky behavior will put other people at risk? There have been several incidents where self proclaimed hot-dog canopy pilots have maimed others. Someone who cares little for their own safety probably cares little for yours and mine too. How do you tell anything in advance? Of course there will never be a way to adequately protect ourselves from every conceivable form of harm. The incidents you refer to above are unfortunate, but they don't prompt me to want to introduce mandatory grounding of anyone pushing the limits. If someone pulls/hooks low I really don't care and I think it is the height of arrogance to enforce my standards of personal safety on someone else. Some will argue that grounding a potential risk may in fact save someone else...and yeah, it might, but this is skydiving, this sport was founded by loose-canons and is in part why I like it. I'd hate to get to the point were I have to ask permission to go hard or risk punishment by doing it.

Oh god no. Skydiving is regulated enough as it is. If people want to hook low and do other "dangerous" stuff then let 'em...it's their bones and lives. I know accidents are distressing and usually require more work from the people organizing a boogie to get them help, but I don't think the answer lies in increased regulation. However, if someone is putting other people's lives at risk then that may be a different story. I just feel that people have the right to kill themselves parachuting if they so desire ...I don't like it, but I'm not going to try and stop it.

Another gauge could be Australia, and again, one of my friends down under may have to correct me, but after the enactment of significantly tighter guns laws down there, didn't gun related crimes surge in the double-digits?? No. Australia's gun-related crime rate has dropped dramatically. The laws you refer to were brought in after a 35 person massacre in Tasmania. However, although the gun-related crime rate has dropped, the overall crime rate has increased. Rape, assault and robbery are increasing to the same extent as before the laws were introduced, the criminals just don't use guns as often.

"Standard Issue" is another skydiving/BASE video that is insane...you can get through the ABA website.

Forgive me if your first post was in good humor. I have my doubts. You're still missing my point. I was saying all along that postponing travels because of the fear aroused by september 11 is silly. And believe me, my sense of humor is definitely still alive, why, your very last sentence made me laugh quite hard.

Why is that mate, would my obvious stupidity somehow have conveyed a message that terrorism is only confined to the US, thereby giving Al-Queda the necessary mandate to strike somewhere else. Apparently I struck a cord with you for some reason, but if you are unable for whatever reason to use the comprehension skills required to determine the rather simple point I was making, then by all means consider me stupid. It wasn't complicated, in fact my point was almost exactly what you so eloquently put into words, that the US is of course no safer than anywhere else, and gee, maybe they're still a higher target priority than Finland. Geeezzzzzzz.

Why would anyone take offense at that. I understand your fear, to an extent. Didn't 9/11 happen in America and not Finland? Wouldn't staying in the US be more of a safety risk? Then again, I've heard that those silly Finnish people have to cover their faces in vasaline during winter before going outside...I can picture those nudie jumps now...everyone already lubed up and shiny

Good advice dogdog, I'll call the girl now to tell her ...you're not by any chance the infamous "captain spanky" I had the pleasure of jumping with at Elderslie last week are you?

Ha also did a double gainer from a 186 foot bridge. Stowed of course.