tbrown

Well, I've thought about them too, but they're too damned expensive. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Nope. They're real. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I have already publically stated my views. A little wacky tabbacy is good for freefall but not so good for the canopy ride (especially if someone happens to be doing HPLs) and this is all from personal experience where I learned that while I like freefall, I like the canopy ride more and thus need to keep my wits about me while in that environment. On the ground I'm as libertarian as can be - a genuine ex hippie, ex-pot smoker and ex-psychedelic space cadet (references available on request). Nowadays I don't touch anything but the booze, oh and caffeine. I think pot should be legalized, or at least as tolerated as it is in Canada and most of Europe. But I disagree with its use in the sky. I personally witnessed a fatality in 1980 where some stoned guy flailed away and finally pulled his reserve around 100 ft. he hadn't even hit line stretch when he bounced, it was just pathetic. I didn't know at the time the guy was stoned, but some friends of mine told me they'd smoked a joint with him before the load. Nowadays an AAD would probably have saved him, but I don't think AADs were invented so people could get lit before the load. Your remark about high performance landings is on the mark, as the guy who cashed in at Skydive Chicago 3 years ago (?) was also lit. Pot today is just too damned powerful. Even back in the seventies, when everyone was doing it, we were only smoking Columbian, which was like drinking wine. Today's bud is like Everclear - one hit and your F-U-C-K-E-D up for way too many hours. I'm no neo-Puritan. It's just not cool. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

In the old days, it was quite common for people to jump on pot or cocaine and various amounts of alcohol. "Safety meetings" in somebody's van were quite common. Someone who was obviously drunk was never really accepted, though then as now there are cheaters who will jump after having a beer in the afternoon. In the most extreme cases, I know people who for a fact jumped on 'shrooms and LSD. Nowadays the drug scene in the sport is hugely more discreet. As I'm not a part of it, I don't see any of it going on. In the old days you'd see it whether you liked it or not. Nowadays I won't jump under the influence of anything. Mostly for simple safety, but also because I think the high of skydiving is too perfect to ruin with anything. I won't jump with anyone who I think is using, but that hasn't come up either. Things really have changed for the better. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I like to pull around 3 grand. If there are more people on the load I'll track to 3 grand and pull somewhere lower, probably 2.5'ish. On organized big stuff, I'll pull where I'm told to pull. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I'm not sure I remember how. I think it was a link from either the Perris or Elsinore website. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Not in this century, so far anyway. Two in 1980. One I packed soaking wet. It actually opened just fine, but the right brakeline was swollen and wouldn't release. It was a gusty day and the canopy was unmanageable. Dicked around with it down to 1200 ft before chopping it, which was really stupid. But my round reserve opened quickly. Hurt my shoulder on the landing, so didn't jump again for a couple weeks. Second cutaway was a streamer mal. I was trying a new deployment bag for the first time. Not really sure what I did wrong, but the thing ( a 7 cell) streamered hideously and the deployment bag was destroyed - torn to shreds, never did figure out why. Round reserve (26 ft Security LoPo) opened so hard I had bruises up my chest, neck, and face - looked like I'd been in a fight. But I stood up the landing and was back in the air within 2 hrs with another rig borrowed from a good friend. So far in the four years since I've returned and been jumping 21st century gear, I haven't had a chop yet. I wouldn't mind going for a perfect record and never needing to again - but am ready every time. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Actually he is more accurately called "George the Lesser" or "King George the Unelected." But I like Boy george, because it's MY tag for another son of a rich guy ruining the family business, though unfortunately it's all our families' business. But only for 624 more days, then we'll be under new management. I think Ugly Betty could do a better job, pity she's not 35 years old. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Once again, an honest open relationship can hardly be called cheating, though it would be hard to imagine an open relationship without its own set of rules. And even those rules can be broken and create the feelings of betrayal and mistrust. It's the lying and attempts to conceal and explain away our most intimate form of behavior that make cheating so doubly painful. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

"Shark Air" is our first shark, properly named because her tail number ends in "SA". What goes (properly) with PV? Well they've always called her "Perris Super" at manifest and not "Papa Victor". "Papa Vicious" might be nice. Somethin' with "pearly" for the nice set of chops might work. "Prince Valiant" was always a favorite comic strip of mine, but he wasn't a fish either. Is there still time to make it into a cobra ? then it could be the Perris Viper - that would be way too cool ! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Usually you'll have to sign some kind of a rental agreement that should clearly state what your responsibilities are if you lose or damage a rig or canopy. As an aside to this issue, has anyone ever lost a chopped canopy and had their howmeowner's insurance pay for the loss ? Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Anyone looking for a challenging government post might want to drop a resume on the White House. Boy George is still looking for a War Czar. maybe you'll even get to wear a flight suit and say things like "bring it on". The job is only good for the next 625 days though, after that someone from either party will be booting your ass out the door and want your office space. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

According to Yahoo!, the post is still open. So anyone out there looking for a fat govt job with benefits and perks should dust off their resumes. Though so far I haven't found a listing at monster.com - but you never know ! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I'm not morally opposed to the concept of the death penalty. There are some people who by their actions have put themselves beyond the reach of human decency and have forfeit their right to live. But the world will have to be a much more perfect place before I can support the right of the state to decide whose life should be taken. That's what I can't understand about people who support the death penalty. Most of them won't even trust the government to deliver the mail, but they'd let that same government hand down and execute life and death rulings ? Makes no sense to me, none at all. Consider that the first thing the nations of Eastern Europe did when they broke free of Soviet rule was to abolish their death penalties. Countries like Poland, the former Czechoslovakia, Romania, and Hungary knew too well how the death penalty was abused by corrupt and dictatorial rulers. Consider also that most European countries have not only abolished capital punsihment, but life sentences as well. A typical stretch for murder in Europe is no more than 20 - 30 years. I'm not saying that's the course for us to follow, but in fact we do release plenty of murderers after similar lengths of time and they have shown themselves to be the least likely group of criminals to re-offend. So while I'm not endorsing it, I wouldn't reject it out of hand either, it's worthy of more debate. DNA and medical evidence are no magic wand to protect the innocent either. Some DNA crime labs have been run so badly they've been shut down by court orders. And sadly, there are doctors and technicians who are little more than paid perjurers, who will repeat any testimony they're given by corrupt prosecutors. And those same prosecutors have often fought tooth and nail to PREVENT the re-examination of DNA evidence in old cases where strong doubts exist as to a person's guilt. Even when the DNA evidence has shown clearly that the convicted person could not have committed a crime, prosecutors issue cute statements like, "this still doesn't prove his innocence". Which of course it does prove, but what else would you expect from government officials trying to protect their sorry asses. And finally, the death penalty presents too much of an opportunity for politicians to wave the bloody shirt at election time. That's simply disgusting, that anyone would waste a vote on any candidate who runs around promising to kill more people. Robespierre kept coming back and telling the French people he just needed to kill a few thousand more "traitors" and things could go back to normal. the French finally decided to make things normal by whacking his head instead and making an end of it. As long as the average citizen cannot afford the kind of lawyers OJ, Robert Blake, or Phil Spector can hire, I don't see how the death penalty can be fairly applied to anyone. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Maybe this year she could make a tour of the boogie circuit ? Just a thought..... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

So that's why a bunch of do nothing, no legitimate ideas, cry babies decided to start the race before the gun has sounded? Well, one of those people is going to be our next President. They're not all crybabies either. I hardly think anyone would call John McCain a crybaby after his extended stay in the Hanoi Hilton. Not that I'm a McCain supporter myself, I'm more of a Bill Richardson guy going into the primaries. There's no starting gun either, there is no offical starting date. But this year the entire pack, in both parties, was off and running a full year ahead of the Iowa Caucuses. And there's only 626 days left, 'til Bush is GONE. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Or just save the AAD cash for more jumps.... AADs aren't cheap and neither is the expense and hassle of sending them in for maintenance every few years. But I've already known two people who were saved by them because they were injured too badly to pull anything and a third person who admits he lost track of his altitude. They'd all be dead without their AADs. I think that fact alone makes them worth their price, but droquette, if you really think your life's not worth $1200 or whatever, then I'm not going to argue the point. I got a nice original Cypres with my second hand rig and it still has six years to go on it, so I see no need to change. I know it works because it fired once for the previous owner. I also know you can fool an AAD into not firing if you cutaway below a grand from a low speed malfunction. And sometimes things just break down no matter what you do. But for now I'm comfy with my Cypres. I would like to see Vigil and Argus get past their problems, because I think the competition will benefit us all. But for now, I'm sold on Airtec and either one of their Cypres models. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

"The Hustler", with Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, George C. Scott, and Piper Laurie. That long night of shooting pool, where Minnesota Fats wears down Eddy Felson until he just collapses on the poolroom floor is a real masterpiece. A very elegant film. Shows what can be done with black & white too. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Well she IS going to jail (yea) for 45 days, but apparently not until June 5th (boo). She won't be eligible for work release, early release, house arrest, community service, or any other alternative means of serving her sentence (yea), but still has a good month to skip the country altogeter because I don't think the judge yanked her passport (boo - and stupid). He should've locked the bitch up immediately for pulling her little "late as usual" entrance stunt. Hope that girl like eatin' pussy.... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Anytime you don't end up with one (1) completely opened canopy. Some are entanglements, some are a malfunction or canopy damage after a cutaway. Some are survivable, some are not. None of them are pleasant to think about. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

And so to bed. Pleasant dreams and good night. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Only 629 days until Bush is gone. Part of the reason for this theme is that I'm struck with how early the presidential campaigns got started this time around. Per the Constitution (yeah, THAT pesky old thing), W can't run again. And unlike 2000, 1988or 1960, the sitting Vice President's not going to run either, so the field is truly "wide open", as least as wide as it gets. But I think it runs deeper. I think the reason all the anouncements are off to such an early start is that this country is in a desperate search for a COMPETENT President next time around. This is NOT a Liberals vs Conservatives issue. I think everyone, at both end of the spectrum and all points between, is fed up with this idiot. I've been following Presidential elections since 1964 (I was a nerdy kid) and I have NEVER seen so many candidates declare so early. So I would encourage all of us to think hard about who we'd like to see in the White House for the next 4 - 8 years and not just fall for some chimpanzee who makes idiot statements about "putting food on your family". Let's elect someone who can speak the English language this time, how's that for a start ? Also, as I might get busy or be out of town some days, please don't feel like I have to update the countdown. Any of you can lead off or chime in with a countdown update and anything else you'd like to say about The Dear Leader. And let's all celebrate as those numbers shrink away - things can only get better without him. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Welcome to the Bush Countdown. As we mark each day to Bush's departure from the White House, we can keep track of the dear leader's glorious accomplishments. Today marks the fourth anniversary of the end of hostilities in Iraq. I would suggest a national holiday. To celebrate, immature behavior would be appropriate. Rent a flight suit and strut around like John Wayne. Say things like "bring it on". Only 630 days until Bush is gone. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

You forgot about the angle of the dangle.... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Those bombs didn't kill people, they killed Nazis who were killing people. The B-17 is a beautiful tough old bird of an airplane. Most of them have died by now, but I used to know several older guys who served on B-17s. And almost every one of them had been shot down in them more than once. A few even cooled their heels in a German Stalag for the duration of the war. If it weren't for B-17's dropping bombs, you'd be speaking German today and doing the cutest goose step. Unless you're one of those "undesirable" types, in which case you'd have discovered the wonders of inhaling Zyklon B in a concrete "shower" room. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !