Ron

The filibuster is stupid...If you don't want something, just vote "no" and move along. It just wastes time and energy. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I think it is a GOOD thing that two students one black one white can joke like that. It is really clear that this in not a racist picture...If it was I could see someone being pissed, but please, it was his idea. The parents need to let go of their racism "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

No, I swoop because it is a different aspect of the sport to work on. Lest say I do an AFF level 1 and the student nails it and does not try to kill me. I pull and I don't have a mal.....I need something to work on to make the jump fun for me. Swooping is a skill I can work on by myself, I don't need my 4way team to achieve something. It can easily be added to any skydive for no extra cost. But its not fear. BTW the fear is many times related to currency....But not always. Even when I am "Florida Current" it still can sneak up and say "Hi!" But when I am uncurrent it is more likely to pop up. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

They are doing AFP...A program that uses Tandem as Instructional levels. It is a good program in most cases since the student gets three jumps of really hands on instruction. It really helps with canopy control. I think ALL students should do a Tandem first. It is more cost effective and does tons of good. That being said, it is your money and your life. A Tandem is not *required* by the USPA. So any DZ that does harness hold jumps can do AFF levels 1-3 to replace those tandems. For that matter SL can be used. If that DZ refuses to start you on AFF...Find a DZ that will. But I really do like the idea of a tandem first. Skydive City where I teach will take big boys....In fact we had a guy so big he had a custom rig made for him to do the program. SDC www.skydivecity.com "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The USPA has no requirments to wear a full face. I would just do what the instructors at the DZ I am going to tell me to do. One issue might be that a fullface could make hearing the radio harder. Relax and wait to get gear till you know a bit more and are off student status. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The webbing used in the harness degrades over time. UV damages the gear very badly...And it is not visible damage. A manufactorer found a roll of webbing that had been sitting in a controlled environment of about 7 years...After blowing the dust off they ran some pull tests on it....It had degraded almost 50% Some suppliers of webbing are actually shipping stuff that is already several years old. What does this mean? Not much since the harnesses are over engineered. However there is talk about some companies grounding all gear after a certain number of years. Why should company "A" be held accountable for a failure of a rig that was 15 years old? It happend with aviation where companies were being sued for planes that did not have the latest saftey equipment...even though back in 1930 when that plane was made no one had them. Liability almost killed general Aviation... To answer the question....It should be OK, as always have a rigger you trust check it out. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Normal. With over 3500 jumps I still get it once in a while. Just last weekend on jump #16 I took a second to watch the ground zoom up at me right before I deployed. Knowing what a high speed impact can do to a human body.....It was kinda freaky. Most times you are busy doing things to notice...But if you think about it, it can give you a chill. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I have a friend from Peru....He became a US citizen three years ago. He calls himself "American" and dam proud of it. It seems that most that call themselves (blank)-American are really not from that country...Now maybe the FAMILY is from that country, but they are not. If you were born in the US, or swore in as a Citizen...You are AMERICAN. I am not Irish/English/Italian/America Indian-American. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Now thats just funny. If we have to give them ponys...Can we get them those little Shetland ponys? I want a "mini farm" A buddy of mine has mini goats and this made me think. Get Mini Pony's, sheep, goats....Anyone know if they hahve small cows and chickens? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I don't agree with shipping anyone back since they are American citizens....However I do like the idea of one mule and 40 acres for the *entire line of desendants*... Thats just funny. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well if you had just posted the pictures like I aksed this whole thread would have gone a totally different direction. BTW its never to late "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

It really is. Did you really think that you could not workout and still eat like you did? For a 20 year old that should not be news. Its like if someone told me today that they did not know that smoking was bad for them. The label says that right on it. If you read the label you will see it printed right there. People should read the label, not just the ad. People will not just buy a car without reading the fine print, why would you eat something without knowing what is in it? In todays world with all the TV programs and the internet, not to mention programs like Weight Watchers I find it very hard to believe that the information is not out there. It is a persons responsibility to go forth and seek it out. I really fail to understand how people can't know that you cannot eat more calories than you burn and not gain weight. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well then the children of those slaves are as quilty as I am then. They are also US citizens. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Oh I do...when someone bitches to me about something as soon as they finish I ask, "What are you doing about it?" Not to be an ass, but how much more info do you need to know that supersized value meals and sitting on the couch watching TV are bad for you, and salids and going for walks are good for you? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I agree and thats what I told her. She already had the damn Land Rover and "was not able to pay for it"...I helped her out till it became quite clear she was not going to go out and get a job anytime soon. I became an "asshole" for not continuing to pay for her lifestyle. The only reason I allowed myself to be used for so long was my nephew. But one day she just flat out told me that she was not looking for a job so she could spend more time with her son. I told her not on my dime, and that she and Hudson would always have food and a place to live, but I was not paying for her toys anymore. I soon became the asshole, and not allowed to see my nephew anymore (unless she needs to go out of town of course). OK, now you all know way to much about me. Anyway if she was TRYING I have no problem helping. That goes for just about anything. Someone on here said that a large person in the gym gets more respect form them...I agree. Bitch to find out what is bothering you...Once you find out make a move to fix it THEN. If you don't try to fix it, quit bitching. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

No but he is right....The biggest pet peave of mine is when someone complains about something but does nothing about it. My ex wife gained weight...That did not bother me. What bothered me was she would bitch about gaining weight, but not do a damn thing about it BUT bitch about it. She would also go out and buy crap food and eat it like it was going out of style. My secretary is always on a fad diet...Every week I hear about some no carb, all carb, only white things, liquid only, or the avoid things wrapped in plastic on Tuesday's diet. All the time she parks right by the door, and waits for the elevator to go up ONE floor. And when I go to lunch she asks me to bring her back food...OK, but she always orders the supersize meals! I get a salid with no dressing and she gets a big Mac. She then bitches about her weight gain. That I don't get. I also don't understand how people want to pick on them, or people who want to pick on skinny folk. But I have NO tolerance for anyone that knows they have a problem but does nothing about it but bitches about it. The same can be said of my Sister that claims to be poor and not able to make her car payments. All the time she has a Land Rover (that I have to pay for) and goes out drinking and dancing. She can afford to go out, but not to pay her car payment? And I am the bad guy since I quit paying it? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Why so shocked? Last I checked we only disagree on one thing...But we do disagree alot on it. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

OK neither have I. I have no problem with the people who did bad things being held accountable. My problem is that most "reparations" punish people that had nothing to do with it, but giving something to someone that did not endure the situation. Why make me (who had no slaves, and whoes family had no slaves) pay money to a guy that was not a slave? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Having been in the 82d....I disagree. Its a flag folks. I don't like the idea of someone burning it....But they have the right. I may not hangout with that person, but he has the right to do it...I think it makes him a twit, but I would be a bigger twit if I let some jackass burning fabric piss me off. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

OK find me some folks that were slaves. Just because your great grandfather was, does not mean you should get somehting now....Especially if you expect to take it from me, who never owned slaves. If fact my family never owned slaves...So why punish me for someone else's crimes? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

OK. There are two "types" of MA. Hard and Soft. Hard is when the focus is on striking...Karate, TaeKwon Do ect..... Soft are ones like several styles of Gung fu, Tai Chi Chuan, Akido...ext. Mostly circular motions. Almost all styles have both, but the focus is whats important. Also there are 4 "distances" Kicking, Punching, Grapling, and Wrestling. A good art will include all of them in some way. I learned from the inside out taking TKD, then learning to box/kickbox, going to Akido, and then finally Ju Jitsu. If I had known then what I know now, I would do it the other way since while it is nice to stop an opponent farther away from you....Most will get in, and you had better know close in fighting. That being said, you need to decide what styles fit you best...based on physical size/type/fitness and your goals. But the MOST important thing is to find a good school....Even if the style is not "ideal" for you, I'd rather see you learn at a good school than a bad one. My right wrist will NEVER be 100% due to some jackass Akido Instructor trying to show off. If *I* had the time I would find a place to take Ju Jitsu or Wing Chung....I really like both of those styles. Don't spend too much time looking...The truth is you will only find the style you want after you get started...And even then you may never find the "right" style. But really.....and I do mean this....Make sure its a good school with good instructors. The school is more important hat the style. Goose had some good points...I think he would agree that the teacher is more important than the style. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

If you even think i'll take that as an insult.....think again. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Without pics. we can't be sure if you are the right weight.... So attach some with as little clothes as possible so we can check. We will fource ourselves to look at them, and let you know. All in the name of your health of course "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Brakes slow the canopy down both in sink and in drive. If what you said were true our glide slope would be much better than the 2.6 or so we get, and we could stay aloft a lot longer...However, in truth while we could stay afloat, we would land over almost the very spot we were over when we started unless the winds push us. This is why half brakes can work when UP wind. We stay aloft and the wind speed pushes us towards the landing area. However when DOWN wind going into brakes will reduce our airspeed, and while yes it will reduce the sink rate, the fact that we are now slowing the canopy down AND facing into the wind will mean we will cover LESS ground...Although we will be aloft longer. If the canopy has a fwd speed of say 20 MPH and the winds are 10...You have a downwind speed of 30 MPH in full flight, and a speed into the wind of 10 MPH. If you are flying you go to half brakes you will slow the desent rate AND the forward speed. Lets just play and say that half brakes halves everything. So now your canopy has a FWD speed of 10 MPH and will stay aloft twice as long. So if you are flying DW you have a canopy speed of 10 MPH + a wind speed of 10 MPH that will give you a 20 MPH ground speed. The fact that you now have twice as long to travel will take you farther. The reverse is true for into the wind. If you have a canopy speed of 20 MPH and a wind speed of 10 MPH you will have a ground speed of 10 MPH. If half brakes halves everything then you will have twice as long to go ZERO MPH across the ground. Again from PD: Which is why brakes should not be used to try and get upwind to the target. Why do you think brakes are called "brakes"? They produce lift, but lift is a function of airspeed. Once you go past say quarter brakes your airspeed starts to reduce and your ability to generate lift will drop.....This is why students are told to "let it fly" before landing, and you don't see experienced jumpers on final in half brakes till the landing flare. This continues until you stall the canopy and it falls. Modern canopies have a much greater range before they start to get into the reigion of reversed command, but they still do. Wrong, a Parafoil, Sharpchutter, Startrac...ect will sink at half brakes, not plane out. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Ah so you can't provide proof, you know you have no leg to stand on on your BS claims, so you try to act like a third grader....Good job. Oh, and I love this part from you: So, only YOU are qualified to make comments...Glad we cleared that up. No reason to post on these boards anymore unless I guess we all agree with your anti-American myopic view. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334