Ron

After your eye has healed there is very little risk of this. I have made several jumps with nothing for eye protection, and a few with just sunglasses...I had to hold them on, I did't even have a strap. No problems. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Buy a CYPRES to help you out...But don't let them see you arming it, so may I suggest arming it at home before you drive to the DZ? *NOTE, NO ONE REALLY EVER DO THAT!!!!! "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The trick is you say, "Mrs. Smith, we are sorry about John. We took a pool....Er, I mean *collection*, yeah thats it COLLECTION at the DZ." "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

OK I have to admit that was damn good. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Ya know what else? Someone CUT my closing loop! Not all the way through, and they do it a little at a time after each jump, but my closing loop was starting to get so bad I had to replace it. Why are people trying to kill me? Just last weekend someone took the batteries in my Neptune out and replaced them with dead ones!!! No shit, my audible was working fine, and then nothing!!! They KNEW I was jumping my rig without the Alti on it. Devious bastards. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well thank God I'm not they guy thats on a death list at a major DZ huh? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

OMG why would he hate US? I mean you I kinda understand, but what would anyone have against me? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

No, what I said was you are acting like a small child and claiming that a torn that YOU most likely stepped on will kill you. YOU most likely didn't uncock the slider. And you would rather blame anyone but yourself...You must be perfect since you can't seem to take blame for anything. Let me guess, if your car ran out of gas it was due to someone draining the tank right? Try to follow along...I'll say it again: "I think you screwed up and forgot something. I think your ego will not let you admit you fucked up, and you are pissed that some folks at the Ranch think you are dangerous. So you made up some stupid story saying people are out to get you. I think you are full of shit." NONE of these things happened to you. YOU FORGOT TO DO SOMETHING. Now you are trying to blame anyone but youself. We don't bet on your death. We bet on you continuing to do stupid things against our best advice that results in you killing yourself. We try to prevent it, but you don't. Case in point...Several on here have told you that your slider was most likely an accident by you, but you claim to be so perfect that it could never happen that way.[sarcasm] Yes, it is MUCH more likely that someone wanted to hurt you than you just being stupid[/sarcasm]. Then several on here said that if you feel unsafe then you should not jump there....You ignored them. More advice ignored. THEN we said that you should maybe not slander the place...But you ignored that as well. If I had my say, I'd ground you from the Ranch for being antagonistic and dense PLUS a saftey hazzard. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

If you maintain you gear (clean your cables/flex your three rings...ect) and things like riser inserts help. High WL's can increase the pull force needed. The #1 cause of a hard pull? People don't PEEL the velcro before they try to punch the handle. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I sit corrected.... What does that mean anyway? What is the "final word" I thought the cops ahd the final say? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yes, I can think of a few right off my head. One was in Italy and the prson made a cover for the reserve pin. If you pulled the reserve handle the cover stayed and the reserve didn't open...Really nice work, very hard to see. Kirk Verners rig was sabotaged, the reserve riser was cut and the main bridle was also cut. A packer in Deland had a reserve riser cut. A friend of mine had a reserve riser cut. A guy in Germany cut the reserve cable, routed the cutter of the AAD around the loop packed his GF a mal. There are more. The key word being MAY. Chances are you just screwed up yourself. People do it, you would not be the first. I know a guy that accidently packed a guys rig with the slider completly stowed....It was an accident. How do I KNOW it was an accident? It was me that packed the rig. I had 20 jumps and had no idea that there were collapsable sliders. More like your head up your ass. Or just forget to uncollapse it after the jump. Which is what most likely happend here. Also, it will not kill you anyway. Ah the FAA is gonna ask a rigger what they think happend. And if you walk in the FAA office with a collapsed slider they are gonna ask you if you uncollapsed it....They are gonna ask you that alot once they realize that you collapsed it. And it will not kill you. I very much doubt the FAA will give a rats ass. And once they find out how you are calling wolf on here and SEVERAL others with tons more experince think you just forgot....Well good luck. You rant against the Ranch will hurt you in any investigation. And if you were really afraid and you still jump there you are quite foolish. Hey Mr. FAA guy: "I think this guy just forgot to unstow it, it happens."-Ron. AFF Instructor, Tandem Instructor, SL Instructor, Pro (expired), Member of the 82d Airborne Division Demo team (99-02), Private Pilot SEL. 3600 jumps over 13 years. And then slamming the people there will not help you any: Jerm, how much are slots on this guy going for? He seems to be the kind of guy that will never admit to making a mistake and would rather try to blame anyone else than admit he screwed up....Guys like this are good to bet on. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I think the cops ruled it suicide since the scissors used to cut his risers were found in his trunk with his fingerprints on them. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You most likley could not anyway. I had a jumper ask me to drill a different procedure into their brain that they had learned. I told them its not a good idea...Guess what? After the first ride they had they admitted that they did the old one. Two hands on each handle: You look at the Cutaway and grab it with both hands...You then LOOK at the reserve handle and pull right (Some add a strip of the cables) then left. Good things: If you have a hard pull you have both hands to grab and pull. Almost impossible to have an out of sequence deployment, and this has killed people. Bad things: Well it takes time to grab the reserve, and you just cut away your main and are going to be falling fast again. I find it hard to arch and hold a good body position using this method...Most people when they look they bend forward. Since they have to look at the reserve they tend to stay in a jacked up body position. One hand each handle: You look at the cutaway and grab it with your right hand, then look at the reserve and grab it with your left. Pull right then left. Good things: Well your hand is ON the reserve handle. So you will not have to look for it, and its not going to shift when the cutaway happens. (I think this is the best reason for this method). It is fairly easy to arch with both hands on both handles, you can kick your head back before the pulls and thet really helps. I think its a faster reserve after cutaway. If you ever plan on doing tandems this is the method you will have to use for them. Bad things: Well, you can have a hard cutaway that would require both hands. I have never had this problem and I have had 6 mals and never needed more than one hand. (Mals with a WL up to 1.8) You can pull out the handles in the wrong order...And this can kill you. I use one hand on each handle....Why? I was taught that way in my FJC 13 years ago. Thats the only reason. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

If I could start over. I would have waited till after I got a degree. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yes. You may think its "special", but other members of other groups think theirs is "special" as well. A Running forum I am on thinks they have the best network and coolest people, a Flying forum thinks the SAME thing. #1. If a person is taking advice from here and not checking with an instructor...They are fools. #2. I can think of several other forums that someone who takes what is written as fact could kill them. a. SCUBA forum b. Flying forum c. Motorcycle forum I bet there are others from other forums that can say the SAME thing. I have met others from other forums. This forum *is* like other forums. Remove your personal feelings about it and you will see the same things that go on here on other forums. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Used to do that for fun with donuts....Get video its worth it. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The title of this thread is "What to do about unsupportive parents". Thats sure seems like you are crying about them not supporting you. But the fact is they are spending plenty of money supporting you. You just don't like they are not supporting THIS. And they have no reason to support it. Its expensive and its dangerous. They have every right to be concerned. You may not like it, which is why I gave you the two GOOD options you have, There are more. 3. You could still skydive against their wishes, and not tell them. If they find out expect a giant argument. 4. You could argue with them now. I personally would thank my parents for supporting me, work like hell to make them proud of me and once I got out of school and become solvent on my own, do as I damn well please with my money. But as long as they are paying for you to go to school you OWE it to them to do your best and not take them for granted. You will of course not agree. You think that you have the right to do as you please. But the simple fact is as long as you are attached to your parents pocketbook thats just not true. Get a degree, make tons of money and skydive your heart out. And call your parent's right now and thank them for all they do for you everyday. They are really doing what they think is best for you, and in this case they are correct. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

There is a BIG difference between going out and getting some food or getting drunk and spending several grand on an activity. I would say they probley would not let her go blow several grand on a European Vacation either. She can: 1. Cut the puse strings, then she can do as she pleases. 2. Suck it up be thankful that her parents are trying to set her up for life and stop crying that they are not supporting her cause she wants a "hobby" that costs several grand. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Oh, I know he is a troll. I however do see the PC, I wanna hug thing being a problem with newer jumpers. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You are being selfish. Your parents are paying for your school. They have the right to not have you blow money on an activity that is not towards that goal. Options? (Your not going to like them): 1. Cut the purse strings and pay your own way through school. 2. Suck it up and finish school. Realize that your parents ARE supporting you. They are trying to set you up for LIFE, not some stupid hobby. Once you get out of school without any loans (thank your parents). Get a job and make your own money and you can do anything you want with it. Skydiving is expensive. If you can't afford it, don't do it. And really don't think your parents are not being supportive of you casue you want to do something expensive WHILE THEY PAY YOUR WAY THROUGH SCHOOL. I had my own money. I bought gear and then told them whay I was doing. It had been YEARS since I had accepted a DIME from them. If they were paying for my life, they get a say in how I live it. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I read that as they are going to take the remaining rounds *to include* the tie breaker round and put them into a hat and repull them back out. Makes me think "A". "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I think its more 1 than 2. Perfectly fine. He is also a hypocrite. You say this, but then you tell me to keep my door closed? Why should I have to change MY life for your failure to be a responsible pet owner? Again, why do I have to deal with YOUR pet, or change MY life for YOUR pet? It is irresponsible to let your animals run free. Seems like its just like noise. We like OUR noise, but not anyone elses. You like your cat, but its clear he does not like your cat. Yep, not the cats fault, it is the OWNERS fault. Why not? My dog loved to run, he loved to swim in the swoop pond, he loved to chase cats. He was happy outside. But I would never let him run free. Thats being responsible. Letting your animal, any animal, run around unwatched is not responsible ownership. Look Im sorry you are pissed, I am even sorry your cat was shot. But it is not your right to make others deal with your pet. Yes, this guy is an asshat. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Love to, but these are "DZ" cats. They don't seem to really have owners. Only people who feed them. Anyway my spraying them with water works. But my point was about responsible ownership and how while you may love your pet, not everyone does. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

See tact has been used. It also has been ignored. Which is why people make up these lists. If a person does something stupid and when approached about it they say,"Yeah, I screwed up, how can I fix it?" Then life goes on. If they respond with, "You don't know me, Leave me alone, Your just jelious....." Well then these kinds of folks end up on these kinds of lists. No, I am not politically correct. Yes, I am blunt and to the point. People not being honest is a problem in this sport, people want to be hugged when they should be yelled at. If you think *I* am hard on people who do stupid things, you should see what the ground does to them. This sport is not for eveyone. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

So what are you REALLY pissed at? Its not harm to the cat since you said if a Coyote got it it would be OK. It could be just animal cruelty....But I suspect your anger is at him. You trusted him and he back stabbed you in your thinking. But what is a person to do if he wants to let his cat out, but not have his cat attacked? What is a guy like me to do that is allergic to cats but cats just love to walk into my place? Why should I have to live my life differently due to your cat? How should a person prevent a cat that you let roam from messing in his garden, hurting his cat, pissing in his house ect? Responsible animal ownership is not just letting your animal run loose. Even if it WANTS to. I had a big black lab. I didn't let it run loose, it sure wanted to run loose, but I didn't let it since it would not be responsible "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334