jeiber

I've had this canopy for a year and several hundred jumps - don't know the exact number, hell, I don't even know what my total jump numbers are up to for that matter. Roughly estimating, I have almost as many swoops under this canopy as you do total jumps. I certainly wouldn't call myself an expert, but I definitely wouldn't say that I'm not familiar with the canopy.... further, I took Scott Miller's Advanced course under this canopy, so he was able to share LOTS of good info based on his experience with the Vengeance. Very sorry to hear about your friend. If he was hit from behind, his horizonal separation was 0... i.e the swooper was directly behind him, not next to him, which is what we're talking about. Not only that, but the airspace was (obviously) NOT clear. Again, not what I'm talking about here. Huh? This has nothing to do with anything.... 100' of separation next to another jumper on a parallel flight path. Not 100' in front of, not 100' behind. My vertical decent rate is well over 30mph, leaving me ALOT less time than your talking. When the canopy is finishing it's recovery, I'm at around 10 mph vertical speed. In straight, level flight (no swoop), my canopy drops at 18mph vertical. 30mph is a pretty arbitrary number... Jeff Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

Welcome? Interesting choice of words.... now I remember why NOT to post here. Anyway, nearly 100 of my last 150 jumps in the past six months have been hop n pops - sometimes from 14k, mostly from 5.5k. Prior to that, it was a little less, I'd guess about 40/100 were hop n pops. I'm competing this year, so I'd expect the ratio to be even higher over the next few months as I train more heavily. Far, far, from it. Vertically it drops almost exactly as fast as a Velo at 2+, but it doesn't have the forward drive. I've got lots of video if you don't believe me. Just had it relined about 2 months ago... The entire point I was making is that a 270 set up requires alot more awareness in the pattern than a 180. At least I feel it does, having recently switched from 180 to 270. I was simply trying to reinforce what the original poster was saying. Jeff Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

Yes, I keep hatred in my heart. It's kept locked away, though. That negative energy can really come in handy sometimes.... Jeff Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

So, unless a 'system' has 100% foolproof safegaurds, it shouldn't be allowed... Let's abolish wiretaps altogether, since there's no way to guarantee an agent won't tap his girlfriend/wife's phone. Let's abolish computers, because they're prone to abuse in too many ways to list. Let's take away their power to arrest, because an officer may arrest someone, just to inconvenience them. Jeff Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

I took the Essentials and Advanced course with Scott Miller in DeLand. Both are excellent courses, and I'd highly recommend them to everyone. I'm actually planning on taking the Advanced Course again, prior to joining the CPC this year. Maybe you'll grace us with your presense in DeLand sometime in the next couple months?

I don't pick my way through for a number of reasons. Two of them are 1- lack of experience on my part and 2- risk of panicking other jumpers. Picking your way through a gaggle of canopies is MUCH different than simply landing at the same time... even if it is 30mph faster. 100' of horizontal separation is really alot.... I've never seen a DZ where people consistently land over 100' away from each other. Not easy to do unless you're first out and you spiral down, or last out and pull high... I'm a fat ass, even in brakes I fall faster than alot of other canopies in full flight. Not all DZ's have the luxury of multiple landing areas. Jeff Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

Huh? What the hell is that supposed to mean? He did, and he got caught. What's your point? As I said, let's take all computers, vehicles, surveillance devices, and anything else that can be abused, away from the government. No more abuse - happy now? Jeff Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

Uh, yeah.... I know... The airspace is clear. Where did I say anything contrary to me being responsible? I start my swoop at 600'. Someone flying straight in on their final leg is below 50' as they prepare to land. Therefore they are below me. I'm flying perpendicular to the landing direction as I set up for a 270. The jumper below is naturally going to be moving away from me, unless I learn to fly my canopy sideways. Unless their canopy is hooked up backwards, they will be facing away from me. Are you saying two jumpers 50 - 100' apart, cannot land in the same direction, at the same time? Please explain the huge mistake - I seriously don't see it. Jeff Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

At least we have oral hygiene over here! Jeff Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

Actually I was referring to a few others agreeing with you. I could not agree more. Some people (not necessarily you) seem to want to reject great ideas, just because there's a potential for government abuse... cameras on street corners, for example! Jeff Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

You guys are such conspiracy theorists, good God! I work for the phone company. I have access to everybody's phone records in the entire Southeast US - even unlisted numbers. Do I just go in there, trying to check up on ex's, or girlfriends? Absolutely not. There are detailed records kept on who accesses those systems. At an absolute minumum, I lose my job. Maximum, it's time in a Federal 'pound you in the ass' Prison. I know. Let's just get rid of all today's technology, that way it can't be abused. Problem solved. Sometimes I think you guys would complain about finding a cure for cancer. Jeff Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

Ummm. That's usually considered stalking. Horrible analogy. Come to think of it, while gambling in Vegas, I was under constant surveillance in the casinos. I got off the plane, and cameras in the airport recorded my journey through the airport, to baggage claim, and then all the way to my car in the parking garage. On the way home, I stopped at the bank, and cameras recorded me parking, walking in the door, conducting business, and then leaving. I went to the dropzone and a webcam was feeding streaming video over the internet for everyone to see. On the way home, I bought some gas, and cameras recorded my actions, as well as my license plate and beer purchase. Afterwards, I walked into WalMart, and video camera's were overhead, recording my every move from the parking lot to the checkout lines as I bought condoms. On the way home, traffic cameras mounted over the highways recorded my travels as I exceeded the speed limit. I got pulled over by a cop because my tail light was out, and his cruiser had a camera on the front recording my every move. This morning I walked into work, and cameras recorded me walking in the door and riding the elevator 19 floors to my office. Here's the best part -there are no cameras on the public street between the parking garage and my office building, but it's a shady part of town at night. All of us, especially the ladies, are appreciative that people like you are trying to prevent the city from putting up cameras to protect us, while you conveniently ignore the fact that there are cameras everywhere else we go in our day to day lives. Jeff Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

I agree. I just don't think cameras on public streets is that big of a deal. Just out of curiousity, do you think we should remove the video cameras from police cars? Due process hasn't been followed, yet... Jeff Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

I'm just starting to do 270's, and that's a significant issue I'm trying to adjust to. Other jumpers flying a normal pattern have their backs to me as I'm diving from above and behind them.... Obviously much more awareness required on the swooper's part... Jeff Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

The anniversary to the event below is coming up. Just thought I'd share. It's good for a laugh. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1775714#1775714 Jeff Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

I did! I'd be very careful what you do, because it can come back to haunt you... Don't take his check card, you'll end up in jail. Someone's suggestion to cool down first, is wise advice. If, after you cool down, you still want to get him back... Have a threesome with another girl and one of his friends... Every guy wants that, and he'll be pissed beyond words that you didn't do it with him! Be warned, you may feel like crap (emotionally) afterwards... don't know your personality. Who knows though, you might like it! Jeff Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

Please.... Jeff Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

Hmmmm. An enlisted (E6) Ranger, getting ready to deploy for his fourth tour, viewed things in Iraq much differently than the press writer. It was about a month ago that I was talking to him. I'm sure opinions vary, depending on who you ask. I have to laugh at this 'critics calling for a drawdown'. Well, duh! I'm calling for the sun to rise tomorrow morning! See how influential I am! Ok, back on topic now. Jeff Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

[sarcasm]Are you kidding? That's horrible! If I walk down a public street, I want my privacy dammit! If I get mugged, I certainly don't want the cops to see it, how embarassing! Besides, it's not like video is actually useful in prosecuting criminals.[/sarcasm] J Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

I was enlisted in the US Army for 8 years (4 active duty); however this isn't the forum for my resume. Each branch picks on the other. Deal with it. When it comes down to it, we're all brothers in arms. Now, after that 'how fucking sad' tirade, who is it that's being anal retentive? I put the smily faces in there for a reason.... relax. Details please. Which holdings? Didn't Clinton use Haliburton in Bosnia, Haiti, and others? Maybe they were awarded contracts due to their experience and stability as a company. It's not like there are companies like Haliburton on every street corner, begging for the business. It's a pretty specialized market - I wouldn't imagine there are a whole lot of players trying to compete. I'm sure the IRS is spending many dollars investigating your accusations of cooking the books. If there's any truth to it, people will be going to jail, and rightfully so. Wow, the entire administration really only consists of six people. Such an unbiased biography, I'm impressed.... What is it you said? and what is it that link you posted does to Rumsfeld's military career? They criticize him for not dropping out of the military academy and enlisting. That's brilliant... If we empty the military academies and ROTC, where is it that we're supposed to get our officers from again? I get it, only cadets that are going to hold political office are expected to do that.... Jeff Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

[whisper] Psssst. Wrong war! Taliban are/were in Afghanistan! Sorry you feel that way. I can't see why someone would think you hated him. I think he's better than the alternatives, so I'm not complaining. Perhaps for the same reason you need to stereotype an entire administration as 'BUTTSTAIN COWARDS'; further adding that most of those buttstain's dodged the draft... Damn, the cable's out again! Just a joke, you'd have to see the cartoon. What about the many US troops in Iraq that say that leaving would be a mistake, and they are doing so much good there? I have friends that are still in that I occassionally talk to... Interesting choice of words, but I disagree. I guess we'll see in the coming years. Ok, now we've got something of substance. What is this personal gain you're referring to? Previous comments above were 'tongue in cheek', this one I'd really like to hear about though... Jeff Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

Seems there are ALOT of 'anomolies' in our nations history... I just picked a couple from around the birth of our nation. Do some research on Presidential Directives (most are classified); our current president is an angel!

Oooops, you're right. American history prior to The Constitution is irrelevant to the fundamentals of todays freedoms. It's not like people crossed the Atlantic seeking freedom of religion or anything! Yes... that damn Constitution. We have the French and Spanish (now THAT'S ironic! ) to blame for helping us defeat the British! Obviously they're not going to make the same 'mistake' twice; they're sitting this one out... odd how they thought it was ok to go to war back then, but not now. Jeff Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

Sorry you feel that way. Have fun in Canada.

No spying without a warrant? Ahem... November 20, 1775 - Continental Congress establishes a Committee to review intercepted mail to determine who is authorized to conduct such operations. No imprisonment without a trial?!?! Ahem... July 6, 1798 - The Alien Enemies Act passed. This act made any aliens subject to arrest during a time of war. Invading sovereign nations that do not pose any threat to us? (I live in Florida, BTW). 15 January, 1811 - President Madison obtained secret Congressional approval for covert action to acquire the Florida’s. I'm sure that in the day of amputations and leaches, prisoners were treated with kindness, dignity, and respect. Read about these country club prisons yourself... http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/powcampsuscivilwar/ Again, in hindsite, I guess we can just selectively pick and choose what makes America great. I say you just pick all the 'good' events in history and use those to support your argument.... Bush is the only one who's done anything 'bad'... Jeff Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!