mr2mk1g

Nor do I, just thinking outside the box. As for putting someone in harms way on a tandem... is that not the system in the states? Over here before someone can get their TM ticket they attend the appropriate courses etc and are then required to do X many (I think 10 or so - not sure myself) tandems with a licensed jumper as the pax before they're let loose on real customers. That was the situation I was referring to - having them 'volunteer' to be one of these licensed passengers. If it's not how the system works in the states though then it's not relevant.

They're not being asked to vote for Clinton

How about you make them sign up to be a pax for a trainee tandem master. They're grounded till they do the jump. If there's no one training they're just going to have to pursuade one of the qualified TM's to do the jump with them... thus the length of time they're grounded is directly linked to how good an attitude they have about it - good attitude, helpful TM's... bad attitude...

It's called CRW. Talk to your DZ staff - they've been there and done this before. You're not getting them in trouble, you're saving their (and others) life. Sounds like your social group would back you up anyway as you say they won't jump with this person.

Reserve docs are kept in a pouch on the reverse of the right hand side of the harness. Look just lower than the three ring circus where it touches your chest - there will be a pull out data panel inside which you can store your paperwork.

I look forward to the day when the cry of "back on the rope" is as well understood as the cry of "beer" at DZ's. It's becoming more and more common at the DZ's I frequent to hear the cry or even chant of "back on the rope" whenever someone does something stupid. I've yet to see it carried out though... but I wholeheartedly agree with the idea.

Sony VCL-0630s Nice, high quality lens with 30mm thread. 0.6 by label but generally comparable to lenses between 0.43 - 0.46 depending on the manufacturer. Also relatively low profile. Far less susceptible to fogging than most but nothing is immune. I hear good things about "Catcrap" (the product not the deposit).

I've got both on my rig.

I wouldn't give two tosses. But apparently a good rule of thumb is to divide your age by 2 then add 7 rounding down. So 39/2 = 19.5 + 7 = 26.5 = the minimum age for you to date... But 22's not that far from 26 right

It may well save more lives in the end. But mutiny is mutiny. The British Army had the same issue last year where combat troops went in without the proper armour. No one took the step of mutinying simply because it was dangerous. War is dangerous. A tank commander was sadly killed after he lent his armour to an infantryman as he felt that he needed it more. No one mutinied, but we heard about it all the same. The shit hit the fan and our troops are now in a much better supply situation while heads roll up the chain of command. Mutiny, even in a situation where it is entirely laudable sets an incredibly dangerous precedent. What if the troops were delivering ammunition to a surrounded garrison? The entire garrison just gets massacred because 18 troops didn't do as ordered? It's ok - those 18 with the possibly tainted fuel were let off so we don't need to deliver this ammo… after all, we haven't got the armour the combat manual said we should have. It's about setting a very very dangerous precedent. Acts of mutiny cannot be allowed under any circumstances.

who's 0.6? The Sony 0.6 is generally considered to be about 0.45ish when compaired to most other lenses.

Welsh usually, actually. (them and the anzacs)

If the chain of command is sending troops in unprepared that is a matter for the chain of command – NOT an excuse for the troops on the ground to start voting with their feet, disobeying orders and mutinying. Dangerous orders are not necessarily illegal orders and the only order a soldier can refuse is an illegal order. This was mutiny, pure and simple. The reason behind it may condemn their superiors, but does not excuse their actions.

Nethers is a nice DZ. It's right next door to you too. Take photo ID to get in as it's a military base.

Who needs Velcro – we make use of a retro invention dating back to the end of the 18th Century. Lord Wellesely, the Duke of Wellington invented a set of boots see... If you stick their back legs in there, they can’t run off. Someday the rest of the world will catch up.

if you want cheap you wont find a lens in the 25mm. type in "step ring" and "25mm" to ebay and you'll find em out there for about $5.

Well, it showed some promise and started out all right... but then it just deteriorated into vitriol. There was no need. Obesity really is a problem that ought to be discussed. Yes it currently affects the US more than any other country, but it should also be recognised that it’s spreading across the globe. It is a serious matter, but there was absolutely no need for it to degenerate into the slanging match it did. What a pitty some people couldn't stick to the topic and stay away from name calling.

Um... am I missing something? You're asking for medals per capita statistics... America came in very low down the tables in per capita stats... Certainly a LOT lower down than NZ, which appears to be where Bigway comes from. They're consistently amongst the top countries in the tables you're asking him to produce. The US is consistently in the bottom countries – hell, for Gold medals per GDP you came last out of all those that got Golds! Check out this site: http://www.simon.forsyth.net/olympics.html I just don't understand the point you're trying to make. You state that the US is the "most athletic country" and yet you ask him to produce the statistics that disprove your very argument. I don't think an argument about Olympic medals is particularly indicative of much though when it comes to nationwide obesity problems... but at least make logical arguments if you're going to make them.

Still do on a lable inside the helmet - but you missed out UV light - v important risk an' all

The only sport involving the position "silly mid on".

I had exactly the same problem during my training. I did the full static line course and for my tracking was shown how to do a max track. Instructor who observed it (different to who gave the training) told me I shouldn't be doing a max track as a student as it's too unstable and difficult to control. He re-trained me to do a delta track explaning why it was superior for me at my level. I went up with another instructor who failed me as I had not transitioned from the delta into a max track and had therefore not demonstrated the full skill set required to pass the level. OK... I then made sure I grabbed the guy who was to be observing me on my next jump and made sure I clarified exactly what HE wanted me to do, regardless of what I had been trained. Ironically I was informed by this last guy that either would do for him as they both demonstrate the basic skill required.

Sadly that's been true for the last 25 years or more. My signing up is not at all far from the realms of possabiliy. I'll let you know if I do or not. I have far more than enough military knowlege to get in, I'm way over qualified, and as I understand it the Red Cap's are recruiting at the moment... it's certainly one of my back up plans.

Yup - that is one of the exceptions - war crimes. If you're being asked to kill jews etc... following orders is not a defense.

ok, first off, It's 2.30 am and I'm ha;f a bottle of scotch down... er... lets see... where were we... no not signed up, although many times tempted... ass on the line other than a court room - no, but it's nice to see you know who I am. (have you any idea how long it took me to type that). Accepted, I do no know the specifics of this case - there may well be things unique to these circumstnaces that render it outside of the norm... but I would stand by my position that under most circumstances, a soldier is under a duty to do as ordered regardless of the personal peril it put's them in. That is the tradition of the British army and I personally would not hesitate in signing up to that creaed if my country was theatened. I know that probably counts for little to a person who actually has served their country but in my case it really is a genuine wish. I am a scholar of british military history and know better than most what the king's shilling really means. If the fuel was bad then that makes it a pointlesss mission... BUT what if the private on the ground does not KNOW that for sure - they are being told to do something which they THINK is a bad idea, but don't know. We don't pay private's to second guess their superior commands. They should do as ordered - they may be wrong. If they are right that is an error on behalf of their CO which will have ramifications within the chain of command. But that does not (at least withing British doctorine) give them the right to start disibeying orders. Now off for more scotch.

No it's not - it's friday night! I've drunk half a bottle of whiskey and it's done wonder's for my flu... I no longer feel like shit. (I suspect that's the alcohol... but don't tell anyone). Anyway... it's just past 2 in the morning, and I still can't stop the hiccups I've had for the last half hour. No matter how much more scotch I swallow they just won't go away. Ah well, perhpas that's a sign to go to bed. Night then Mr. Poopy Head. Slainte, Nostrovia, and Cheers to you all.