JohnMitchell

I would pay good $$ and bring a sack lunch to jump out of either one of those.

We may be in an era of refinement and optimization. The planes from 50 years ago and today operate at 3/4 the speed of sound. Why? Because that's the best tradeoff between speed and efficiency. To go faster (supersonically) is very expensive. We all want cheap flying. Today's planes are much more efficient, reliable and safe compared to those jets of the 60's. Same with flying cars. They've been done many times over, but they are a clunky compromise of performance at best. No one really wants one except for the impractical novelty of it all. Teleportation? Hmmm, I've read we've done that on an atomic level. But there's still a long way to go before you shoot my molecules across the ether. Why didn't Leonardo da Vinci build a nuclear reactor? Sorry, but there are just too many pieces of the puzzle missing for some inventions to be invented . . . today. Is there a Warp Drive a la Star Trek? Perhaps. I like to imagine there are physical principals and forces, as elementary as electricity and magnetism, that we will discover and harness. The repulsive force that seems to be accelerating the expansion of the universe? Sounds like something that could be harnessed for anti-gravity machines. But sure as hell not in my life time. I've often said that the Egyptians could have been flying hang gliders made of wood, bamboo and papyrus if they had understood the physics of flight. They had the materials, just not the knowledge. It took until the 1790's for the Montgolfier brothers to combine old technology, fire and paper, to make the first hot air balloon ascents. What miracle of science is staring US right in the face now, in our carbon-fiber post-nuclear robotic state of technology? So I feel like a Dutch trader of the 1600's, very comfortable in an age of sailing ships, nice pottery, oil paintings and printing presses. Life is good and comfortable. Small innovations make my life better and better, but there are no fundamental changes. In fact, I'm hard pressed to imagine what they could be. But they are on the horizon, two centuries in the future, with steam, electricity, industry and oil. Maybe radical advances in our technology just can't be sustained. There's a leap, then a rest, then another quantum leap. One thing is for certain, though. The faster communication can occur, the faster things change.

Everclear

Gotcha! And everyone thinks I'm so nice.

I had a beautiful Windsor 10 speed, skinny tires, etc. Got stolen from my apartment landing years ago. It'd be about 40 years old now and I'd still be riding that. Very well made.

I know you. You're waiting for her to get a chest cold, aren't you?

You're kidding, right? You need lessons . . . badly.

Thanks for that. Never got a chance to catch them live. Pink Floyd, the original shoe gazers.

Damn! I don't really remember mine. Pretty sure it was out of a Cessna or Twin Beech though, I sure as hell didn't turn 36 points.

A classic. I'm pretty sure I have that on vinyl tucked away.

Chambers Brothers Dancer, Prancer and Nervous Sugar Ray The Turbans The Necromantix

Trapeze bar? WTF! What could go wrong?

Are you saying anyone takes Mel Gibson seriously? Lessee, didn't what's-his-name show his junk in "The Piano"? That was a highly acclaimed, artsy-fartsy movie that totally droned me to sleep.

Perfect!

Same here. I live on a great 20 mile bike trail that winds thru the valley and along the Puyallup river, beautiful scenery. My old Schwinn combo 10 spd may be heavier than the touring bikes and have fatter tires, but I'm riding for fresh air and exercise, not to set a Tour de France record.

No kidding. Besides, I heard it's a meat substitute. Sad.

Some people? I thought it was everybody.

Hard of hearing dry cleaner "Good day, Monica, how are you?" "Oh, just fine. I have a slight stain on my skirt." Cupping his ear, he says "Come again?" "No" she says, "just ranch dressing this time."

Poo?

From what I've seen in 38 years, there's about an 80% turnover each decade at most DZ's. But that's fine. There's a lot of sports I've drifted into and out of. It's fun to travel to boogies and see old friends from 20-30 years ago still jumping.

Thanks for the flag tips and the damn solid advice, Twardo.

Oh no, you don't want to date a radiologist. They can see right through you.

Age 40 requires a doctor's note? Freakin' Nanny State.

Glad it all went okay. Demos are a lot of fun.

I also like that technique for helping people who are having trouble finding the right time to flare. Remember that it's a training "crutch", not the best way to flare. Another way to approach flaring too early? Learn to watch and react to your changing rate of descent as you're flaring. If you realize you flared to early, STOP your flare and then start again moments later when you feel it's time to complete your flare. It's this feedback loop between toggle input-canopy response that will fine tune your landings.