JohnMitchell

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Everything posted by JohnMitchell

  1. JohnMitchell
    $250 ski googles?!? Damn, I've been out of that sport for 30 years. It sure has gotten spendy while I was gone.
  2. JohnMitchell
    3 steps to spotting. First step starts before you even get on the plane. From winds aloft readouts, asking other jumpers, looking at the clouds and the windsock, determine where the spot actually IS.
  3. JohnMitchell
    Damn, that's a lot of work.
  4. JohnMitchell
    Cute costume. We were Batman and Robin this year. Sorry, don't have a pic.
  5. JohnMitchell
    I didn't know that. I've washed my visor a few times with soap and water but always let it air dry. I think it's still okay. I learned something about snorkel masks the other day. They DO need to be scrubbed quite well before use or they will fog up. I had a brand new mask that fogged constantly. Salesman told me to scrub the factory "oils" off of it.
  6. JohnMitchell
    Their, they're, don't worry your pretty little head over that.
  7. JohnMitchell
    I'm guessing that one would have killed you if you hadn't been belted in.
  8. JohnMitchell
    Damn, it's bad when you gotta bring in the Caravans. . .
  9. JohnMitchell
    Perfect analogy. And motorcycles have had more chances to kill me than skydiving. Let's not forget there's a large societal cost from increased injuries from not wearing seatbelts. That comes from all our pockets. Auto death rate is down 80% from when I was a kid. This is due largely to better engineering of our cars and roadways. But it all starts with buckling the damn seatbelt to stay in the car. Give me one good reason not to buckle that belt.
  10. JohnMitchell
    Frankly that's a great idea. And a HANS system to boot. I would prefer a 5 point harness, same as airline pilots have up front on the flight deck too. Or at least shoulder straps on my airliner seat. But as you set up your extreme argument, the invention of airbags, both front and side, make the need for a helmet less likely in a regular auto crash. Also, a seat belt is a minor inconvenience for a huge improvement in safety. I feel crash helmets would be a bit too much for most drivers, with a lesser improvement in safety.
  11. JohnMitchell
    Very interesting question that I've pondered before. Could it be that motorcycles' inherent risks are obvious, but so are the rewards, so we accept that tradeoff for the less-than-mainstream people that ride them? It's a situation similar to our jumping out of planes. And many states require crash helmets to be worn when riding. Why not require seatbelts when riding in an automobile? As much as I don't like the "Nanny state" approach to many things, people can be very unwise in their choices. One of the most benign, possibly life saving devices, is a common seatbelt. I know people that only buckle up because it's the law. Many that's the law is the only thing that keeps them from doing heroin too.
  12. JohnMitchell
    Anyone who doesn't wear a seat belt is a total moron and not allowed in any vehicle with me. Not even a motorcycle? Whole 'nother story there, Turtle. That's accepting a whole new level of risk. I don't do bikes much anymore.
  13. JohnMitchell
    Super good advice. I've sold containers and canopies to people on trust alone, and haven't been burned yet, but escrow is a good way to go. This is a relatively small sport and someone always knows someone else and can recommend a trusted agent.
  14. JohnMitchell
    We have a Metars station 100 yards from our landing area, so I use that. Luckily I speak fluent Metars.
  15. JohnMitchell
    Yeah, Andy keep stringin' Helen along for all those years. . . Free milk and cows, ya know..
  16. JohnMitchell
    Anyone who doesn't wear a seat belt is a total moron and not allowed in any vehicle with me.
  17. JohnMitchell
    Funny how I never heard the term "lahar" until after the first year of living there. But you gotta admit, it was great soil for gardening.
  18. JohnMitchell
    I'm glad we sold our big house on the Puyallup River in Orting. I don't miss flood watches and warnings at ALL!
  19. JohnMitchell
    Proper preplanning and sound techniques, right?
  20. JohnMitchell
    My son, who's very tech savvy, investigated and said PP let someone call in with minimal information and change the password. I was pretty incensed by that and wanted to get involved, but my son didn't want me to (very independent) so I'm not sure the details. But it sounded like a rotten deal. I wanted to unleash "pissed-off middle aged man" on PP, but didn't get to this time.
  21. JohnMitchell
    Tell everyone! Or maybe call a select few.
  22. JohnMitchell
    Hell yeah, now that you mention it, I agree. I've done quite a few night demos and they were all pretty easy.
  23. JohnMitchell
    S/L is a valid method of learning to skydive. Many of the "great" skydivers we have today started that way. But I still prefer AFF for most. BTW, I've trained several tunnel instructors via AFF. Always a pleasure to jump with a student that makes my job that easy.
  24. JohnMitchell
    You're right. It's usually pointing straight up.
  25. JohnMitchell
    Night demos into the state fair. Got the whole midway full of rides to light the way down. Incredible visuals.