tbrown

That depends. FDR and Ronald Reagan were both able to push very different agendas through Congress in their first 100 days. The mess we're in right now would seem to be a good time to get something going right away, whoever wins (Obama's going to win and it won't even be close. That's just my "non-partisan" reading of the tea leaves, even if I have already voted for the Obamanator). But some years, in times of great national crisis (FDR), or after a huge electoral mandate (Reagan), a President who gets elected along with a same party majority in Congress can do some rather big stuff. And considering the mess we're in, whether you're a Demo or a Republicat, what's the point if your choice for Prez can't get a whole bunch done - and soon ? Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

The guy who runs the operation at Acampo has over 30,000 jumps, or so I am told, which something like the world record. I agree with Skymama that you should NOT waste any more time or money on tandems. If you're already in love with the sport, then you should start a training program. Lodi is central CA, which might not be as warm as SoCal, but is still warmer than most parts of the US. There's no reason why a good fleece shirt and some thin light gloves shouldn't see you through 60 seconds of rreefall in the winter up there. AFF can be spendy and I'm not going to criticize the program. It CAN teach you to be a skydiver in as little as 8 jumps. On the other hand though, don't sell the static line program short, especially if you're on a tight budget. Static line starts you off at lower altitudes, but builds you up higher as you gain control. It's the way ALL of us "old timers" learned, and you shouldn't be shy OR embarrassed about opting for it, if it suits you, and if it's available. The bottom line though is that you sound like you're hooked. And YES, it will most definitely change your life, inside out. And that's a GOOD thing ! You just need to decide what the best way is for you to get in as fast as possible. Best of luck !! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

What you're saying makes sense - it's your honest reaction. Jumping out of an airplane is NOT a natural act. The fear of falling is one of the two instinctive fears humans are born with, the other being fear of loud noises, which skydiving is also full of. Skydiving is NOT for everyone. We ARE a self selected bunch of people who are odd enough to enjoy, to LOVE the experience. And it even scares us, which I have to believe is part of the reason we love it. Whether you find enough excitement/joy/ecstasy from the experience is really up to you, It's a very personal evaluation. The fact that some of us have thousands, or even tens of thousands of jumps, or may go for as many as 2000 jumps or more without using the reserve, may be of no comfort, even though it's true. Even so, you're not "abnormal". You've still made one more jump than 99.999% of the human race, if only because you had the curiosity and resolve to do it once. So congratulations ! And if that's all you ever do, then so be it. But if you're examining yourself and your motivation, and still want to give it a go, then I'd encourage you to make that second jump. A second jump is often scarier than the first - I know mine was. But if you get past numero two-o, and I'd definitely recommend you make yours as another tandem - you might just find that you're hooked. For a second tandem, if that's what you decide to do, I would suggest you tell your instructor you want to get more involved and use the jump as a training experience. You should insist on wearing your own altimeter on your wrist and tell your instructor you want to pull the main release handle yourself at 5 grand (don't worry - if you don't, he WILL). Also tell him you want to fly the canopy, even if he wants to take over for the final landing approach and flare. The main point is to get as involved in the jump as you possibly can. Because two tandems will teach you about as much as there is to learn form them. After that, if you still want to jump, you'll need to take AFF, static line, or IAD. Good luck !! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

First, I wear small glasses, which are pretty much the style anyway. Goggles that fit over glasses, especially small glasses, are easy to find and only cost about $19. I just bought my second pair of goggles in five years, and only because the first pair was finally starting to crack. For backup, I also put a "leash" on my glasses. I just don't want to lose them, because I can't drive home without them. I've experimented with some full face helmets on the ground and so far haven't found one I can put on or take off without removing my glasses first. But I've heard there are some full face models out there that will allow that. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Whether you want to become a freeflyer or not, you need belly skills. I'm a belly flyer from the old days and one reason I don't jump on hybrids anymore is that the freeflyers either can't get to the base in the first place, or if they do they haven't got a clue about how to dock without slamming the base and taking it out. I got tired of taking slammer hits from freeflyers that I just don't get on belly loads. Getting beat up hurts and it's dangerous. It's all about learning CONTROL. I'll probably take a lot of shit for having said this, but it's the god's honest truth. I KNOW there are plenty of ACCOMPLISHED freefliers who can dock gracefully with zero momentum, but that's only because they took the time to learn their belly skills first. Too many kids are skidding around around on their butts and thinking they're freeflying. It ain't so. They're not doing themselves, or anyone else any favors. And too many dropzones aren't providing the kind of belly coaching and load organizing that NEEDS to be done. They're just running a tandem mill and producing a generation of clueless butt skidders. So when you hear belly flyers talking ominously about "the dark side", that's what we're talking about. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Now THAT'S the spirit ! I used to LOVE taking our two girls out trick or treating and I still love seeing all the little spooks, Tigrs, and Snow Whites who come to our door. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Grateful Dead, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, and the Cranberries. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Janis Joplin, 1969 at the Eastman Theater in Rochester, NY. Grateful Dead, 1970 at the University of Rochester. The Dead dosed the audience with jugs of doctored apple cider. Then Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen from Jefferson Airplane (who were playing at a different hall across the river that night) showed up and jammed until nearly 3am. Paul McCartney at the Seattle Kingdome, 1990. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Already voted - against it - for I forget how many times now. Seems like 4's backers can't take "no" for an answer... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

The plain fact is that there have been NO documented cases of widespread voter fraud anywhere in the US in recent years. Why would anyone do it ? What's to be gained ? A prison sentence for casting a vote that doesn't put a dime in your pocket ? It makes no sense. "Voter fraud" is a fraud perpetrated by the Republican Party to prevent lower income and Un-white types from voting. If you won't "vote right", you have no right to vote. In their eyes anyway. By the way, The Colbert Report aired a 2006 video of McCain telling ACORN what a "beautiful" job they were doing (his words). Case CLOSED. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Do not call the Feds. They will not "help" you. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

American forces attacked an Al Qaeda camp inside Syria. They did not attack legitimate Syrian armed forces. This should serve as a remeinder to Syria to keep their own house - and border - in order. Syria's been destabilizing Iraq and Lebanon both for a long time. Now the Syrians are boo-hooing about civilian causualties, women and children. Maybe so and that's really unfortunate (really). But the Syrians also wouldn't be above rounding up some of their own women and children and shooting them, just to dump the bodies in the camp to show off for impressionable Euro journalists. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Who knows ? Stay tuned and we'll see. All I can say is that there were a lot of very happy looking military enlisted types crowding around him for pics in Iraq. Some of them were even white..... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Well, Hugo sez he forgives her.....so what's the focking problema ?? Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Has nothing to do with Christian values. I'm an Episcopalian and I'm going to stand up and say enough of the broad swipes against Christians in general. We're not all assholes. I'm also an ex-Catholic (born into it) and simply think that some of these Catholic Dioceses should be prosecuted under the RIOOH laws as organized criminal enterprises for the shell game they're playing to hide pedophile clergy AND their assets. That said, I'd also like to point out that a Protestant minister, once one of Dr MLK Jr's aids, was recently convicted of fucking his own teenage daughter - something that disgusts every cell of my Christian mind and body. So it's not just a Catholic problem either, though they've been getting most of the press. It has to do with the abuse of power, authority, and trust. It also happens with doctors, psychologists, cops, teachers. judges, and politicians. Just don't paint ME with the same brush ! Some us actually TRY to live like Christians. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

OK, now I don't like Palin, but I don't think that she deserves to be called such nasty names. Good for you darlin'. I hate the "rhymes with witch" too, but thanks for sticking up for a shred of decency. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Oh, it's GONNA be Obama, by landslide proportions. Regardless of who you're for, the writing is on the wall, even a blind man can read it. By the way, my vote's official, I cast my ballot at an early voting station in So Cal last week. The landslide has begun.... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I bet if somebody threw a bucket of water on her, she'd melt. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Not a movie exactly, but from the old 1950's George Reeves "Superman" TV series. Anyone remember the two part episode with the little egghead guys from the center of the earth ? They climbed up one night out of an oil well. The locals hunted them down with dogs and torches and even shot one of the little guys. Then they brought a big gun of their own up to the surface with them.... One of my alltime bad, BAD favorites ! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I've been married for 27 years and feel pretty much the same way as you. Actually I disagree about the value of marriage, as I DO think it makes a difference. But that's where you and I have room to simply disagree with each other. But if marriage weren't so important, then WHY would it matter to same sex couples (just asking) ? But the upshot of what you and I are both saying is that we don't feel threatened OR the need to be stingy about our married status. Marriage has a lot of obligations that go with it, as anyone with kids, or who has an ill spuse, or is widowed, or who has been divorced will tell you. In point of fact, the first generation of kids with same sex parents has already grown to adulthood, and guess what ? They're just as normal and no more screwed up than anyone else's kids from hetero or single parents. They're not even any gayer. Inspite of the many gay couples we know, I'm not sure if I'm totally "comfortable" with it. But the point is - I don't have to be ! I just need to respect it, the way I respect a lot of other people I'm not exactly warm or fuzzy about (hell, some of my best friends are Republicans...). People, if we can just let this whole marriage thing ride for a bit, twenty years from now we'll all be wondering what the fuss was all about. It might even seem silly by then - unless we turn on our fellow law abiding, tax paying Americans, and even some of our friends we may not even know about - and deny them this simple basic RIGHT. Anyway, I've already voted, and I'm proud to say I voted against Prop 8. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Not too surprised (or judgemental) that more Republicans own guns than Democrats. But I am surprised that twice as many Republicans say they DON'T own guns than Democrats. I'm an independent who chooses not to own a firearm as I don't see the need to. If things (the economy & crime) really do go down the shitter, or if we move to rural Montana, then I'll buy a gun. I am opposed to gun control (Hurricane Katrina changed my mind about that for keeps). Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

The Republicans seem to think of the White House as their private property. There may be a lot of Bush haters out there, but they've been nothing compared to the way the Republicans tried from Day One to drive Bill clinton out of office. The fact that he'd been elected TWICE (with no help from the Supreme Court) was utterly lost on them. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I can't explain in my pants. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Gays and lesbians should not be immune from marriage and divorce. But seriously, let them do it. It aint like heteros have done a good job of preserving the sanctity of marriage. Just look at Britney Speers.... Dan Savage once said he should have the same rights to make a mess of marriage as her. I agree. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !