lurch

Thanks for posting this. I hadn't seen it. I'm kinda knocked flat by it, actually. The ending we're trying to avoid, but man, can I relate to the feeling depicted during the flight. The artist who did that is sheer off the top of the scale gifted genius. His ability to communicate a deep complex emotion with simple graphics is so effective it borders on applied telepathy. I'm impressed. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Useful information: 1: Angeles city is within rock-throwing distance of the runways in what used to be Clark airbase and is now "Clark special economic zone." The local girls are spectacularly beautiful. Filipina Britney lookalikes on every corner. 2: there is no operational DZ. I stopped by Clark last year for some wingsuiting on my way to Subic and had to charter a private pilot to get altitude. Approximate cost for a rented cessna to take 1 jumper to altitude: 96$/jump. There is a small flight school, "omni aviation". There are still a few skydivers left in the area but no actual jumping activity. The people in the area are pretty cool and friendly. 3: Your friend's investment idea is a thoroughly developed well established elaborate trap. When visiting there I hear about retirees intending to live out the golden years running a bar full of girls on a constant basis. There is an entire sub-industry dedicated to parting expats from their investments in attempts to start pool halls/girlie clubs/bars. This industry can be observed in action on P.Burgos street in Manila where there are endless numbers of short-lived nightclubs whose names change with stunning frequency. It works like this: You get offered a great deal on a fixer-upper and buy it. You do not know that the guy offering the deal is working for the guy who owns the bar next to yours, who in fact already owns the one you are considering buying. As soon as you open your doors your neighbor uses the money he made selling you the bar next door to renovate his own bar to far higher standards than you can afford. The locals avoid your place like the plague. Foreigners are all attracted to the glitzy place next door. When you go under he offers to take it off your hands for 1% of what you paid for it. He then sells it to the next guy and repeats the cycle. You're just a food item. The bar scene there is a financial pitcher plant, fall in drown and get digested. Your role in the local economy is to provide capital and leave when you are broke. Think brooklyn bridge/undevelopable everglades property setup with a different wrapper. This one has been done to death... make a few friends who have been there for years and ask around. If the friends you make there are trustworthy they will probably tell you about all this. Mine did. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Ok Reed and Ray are out, but I just hit up Ken, see if he can make it. So we're looking at 3, maybe 5 northeast birds if Nik and Ken show up. Tweet! Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

I'm running an old Sabre 1 135 loaded about 1.23. Not a rocket, but sporty enough. I figured a canopy with a rep for hard openings ought to work out well deployed at half-terminal. It does so far...about half a dozen jumps on it so far. One real nasty set of twists under it, my fault, had a hard time getting the PC out (bunched up a bit) and when I did get it, it went with a horribly asymmetrical one armed yank that tilted me into a half barrel roll and I knew this was going to be an interesting ride. Thing flew nice and straight and didn't do anything uncivilized while I thrashed out of half a dozen twists. Your mileage may vary. -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

OK. THAT is huge. Next time you and I fly, I'm just going to have to give my 6 everything its got and start thinking really light thoughts. Hope you're working out, man. Remember my first few max flights on my 6 I came down with a giant grin, bitching about how the 6 trashed my arms? I kept having to back off the power and take rest breaks on the way down. You're packing far more wing area than THAT. Tomorrow we're going to find out what you can do with it. Video!!!!! -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Um, Steve, you're not actually going to FLY that thing, are you? Holy shit that thing makes my 6 look small. J, post a pic of your own will you? I gotta see what I'm up against here. You guys'll be staring down at my used-to-be uncatchable ass while I get used to the idea that I'm not the floatiest thing in the sky around here anymore. I'm hoping my 6 and all the time I've spent at max flight will at least allow me to keep up. This is SO cool. tweet! -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Steve-sounds good, but I made a promise to back Reed up with moving some stuff Sunday. I'll talk to him, maybe I can talk him into flying instead. I just talked to J, told me about the suits...I'm frikkin' jealous but not too much... haven't even worn the new off my 6 yet. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

I was hoping you guys would show up here.... My grin just got bigger. I think Reed and Ray might be coming too. Ray doesn't fly suit, but he makes an insane margarita, a skill much in demand at such a gathering. Anyone got confirmation from Nik yet? Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Start the list here, then. I will be there. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

The biggest difference is a 42 shoots in 16:9 widescreen and is worth the extra cost. I been using one for years and was pleased enough with it that when it finally wore it out I ebayed for another. The 42 can take an insane amount of abuse. -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Title: Manufacturing Technician Job description: Robot surgeon. I run around in a cleanroom with a little toolbag full of hex keys and micrometers. Spend my time playing with frickin lasers, machine vision systems and cute little industrial robots that break a lot. Fun job, actually. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

The headlights are cool. Get over it. I want a set myself. They look very techy and modern and I can usually see better by the blue lights on the car next to me than I can by my own... Dim yellow halogens or bright bluish HID? I'd pick HID. Now the mufflers on the other hand.... Irritate. Favored by the wannabe ganksta crowd in a feeble attempt to make a beat up honda civic sound fast, I call em potato sockets. Application of the potato should be obvious. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Jenn, I strongly suggest next time you spring for the extended bumper to bumper 100,000 mile warranty or pick a different make and model canine. Had you considered contacting the manufacturer? -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Interesting work. Surprisingly close to the real-world results I've seen with a couple new stars in the sky around here. Both started out with fallrates in the 80-90+ range. Both somewhere around 200 lbs, one just managed a phenomenal pop down to 51 mph in a Phantom. I just did a fallrate exercise with the other guy who, with less than 30 WS flights under his belt translated his weight into so much speed and lift I had to bust out most of the ninja tricks all at once to climb back up to him. Caught me by surprise... I was expecting the maneuver, just wasn't expecting him to do it THAT effectively. He outweighs me by 60 lbs easy, and was cruising at 64 mph at 9 grand flying a raggedy old GTI against my new S6. I gave the usual effort to go get him, and was like "Huh?" when the distance didn't change. I did catch him, but only after using techniques I normally only use for solo flights. Ruined my video, cause I couldn't fly like that and keep him in frame at the same time. -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Whoa. That looks like the most transcendant flight experience imaginable. I wonder what it feels like when he begins to climb... If that was me I'd have been howling my lungs out. Congratulations, Mr. Rossy. Someday I'll learn to fly like that. -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

You just put waaay too much thought into that, man. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

My final comment for the weekend: -Owie! My arms hurt- Last jump of the evening tonight 121 seconds from 10,300 feet open by 2100 so I don't get scolded again. Highest fallrate was 53 mph right before I pitched. Nothing I couldn't do in my GTI, but where the GTI maxes out of available lift, the 6 is just getting started. The S6 was worth waiting for. I can fly it, but man does it whup my ass. When I get my arms used to the loading I bet 3:30 from 14 is doable... More flocks this weekend! And we got a bunch of jumpers here closing on the 200 mark who have stated intentions of joining the flock... I bet by next season's end we can do an entire 20+ bird planeload... Nik got some AWESOME exit shots... I had a blast exiting last, standing on my tail and dropping to the group watching it form up... Flying with more and more birds has been forcing me fly in some really creative directions and I haven't had this much fun since crowd-surfing the security people in front of the sound stage in the mosh pit at the Nine Inch Nails show at The Centrum in '96. Hell yeah! Tweet! -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Birdman GTI, '02. Bought brand new to my measurements. Still fits perfect... Wear status: All skydives. Maybe 375-400 jumps on it, somewhat shabby looking by now but still in the game... Toes a little frayed, color faded somewhat but no grass stains, big crudely patched rip in top right armwing from CASA bite, and one slightly torn wing tab. Zippers have never failed. Its kinda neat looking at it because when I look at it I see the story of how it got all shabby looking, and that story was one hell of a grand adventure. I'll be retiring it to student suit status when my S6 gets here but I'll NEVER sell it. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Steve... I'll be showing up right about 11:30 AM, get one, maybe 2 jumps before I got to scram for work by 2:30... -B Stacey... do we got tandems scheduled? Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

(Lurch perks up and looks around quickly) ...Coffee? Where? Feed me enough coffee and I'll FLAP my way to altitude.... I'll be there at 5am! Ok maybe more like 10-11. Night shift jobs....ugh. Keep close eye on weather though, guys, cause last I checked it was rain scheduled... Lets see now: The list: Definites: Steve Justin Reed Lurch Possibles: Nik Rich Call and invite-ems: Ben Dave Godin We can try to get Sam Joseph if she can snag a suit from somewhere... I just checked weather again, still says rain, but it could decide to go away... Anyone up for a hit-n-run mission Thursday? Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

"We are to obey him." An amazing display of unknowing arrogance. Do you know how deeply offensive that sort of thinking is to free men? Maybe YOU are to obey him... Me? I are to do whatever the hell I want which doesn't include subservience to the imagined wishes of a long-dead itinerant prophet. What is it with hardcore religious types making emperor-like statements about "you will proclaim the lord" "you will drop to your knees" or whatever? Personally I want to be brought into the Necromonger faith... They got cool armor, they kill everything, they keep what they kill, whats not to like? Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

AAAAARRRGGH! Nice outfit, J. Guess you won't be needing that old purple Classic anymore, eh? It can return to its comfy retirement till the next student comes along... Still waiting on my S6... Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Got some positive press going on, yeah baby... http://www.lowellsun.com/fastsearchresults/ci_4146717 Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

The coolest magnetic robbon I've seen was a gray one on some car in a parking lot that said "Support absolutely nothing." I laughed all the way back to my jeep. Gotta get me one of them one of these days.... Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

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