flyingferret

Ferrets are awesome. I would love to help you out. But a) I think you are probably not in Texas, in which there is probably a better owner closer, and b) I really don't have time for one right now. I would not want to take one if I did not have the time to take care of it, and my IT job and commute really would not let me do that. But, I do pose the question.....ferret in your garage? stray? Maybe it is just me, but I have never heard of ferrets running around wild. Plus your neighbor works with them? Is she sure she did not bring it home accidentally or something

Yeah I know Air Liquide, we used to try and get them to refill our paintball CO2, but that is a whole nother story. Sounds like they hired you as a general IT go-fer. But that can be good. You control lots of stuff, job security. Man I hear that. That is exactly the same with me. I am happy just to have a job right now. My base salary is not that good, but I get paid overtime. With that bonuses, I should get about 40K this year. I am happy with that for my first job out of school. Malachi

CONGRATS Zennie...where? what you doing? still IT? Malachi

Okay. here goes. I go in to interview with my current employer. Of course most IT guys are the same, so even the interview was pretty fun. And one of my fellow jumpers, Trevor, recommended me. So everytime someone said how do you know Trevor, I said we skydive together on the weekends. So, this always started the "OH, really?" and the explanations. Well, after the interview, I go over to Trevor's side of the floor and talk with him about the interview. I meet his manager and start talking. Turns out his manager is thinking about jumping and just has not had the time to do it yet. He and his wife both want to tandem. So, Trevor starts telling him, that I am the best he has seen. That I pull off 'power docks' that are amazing. That is an a joke with our little group of jumpers, about my new found bootie abilities and high speed passes

Yeah I will post it, but it will take a bit of typing. I have a meeting on Active Directory services in 20 minutes. I will post it after lunch. It is pretty funny, involved dirt diving in the office, etc. And I think unlike the earlier, all it takes is a second jumper, and you will laugh like hell. Who cares if you look stupid

So what is the 182 I jump out off?

Well, I for one am going to disagree with most of what has been said. A) I have not heard good things about XP, if you want an M$ product go with 2K. 2K can run most games by now, you might lose a few frames per sec, but unless your machine is obsolete anyway, it should not hurt too much. XP driver support still really sucks. B) Hate to disagree with you dave, but I gotta. Unless you know how to admin a server and apply patches on a timely basis, linux is gonna leave you with just as many holes as windows. If you are gonna run linux you either need to be able to administer it or leave it unconnected. C) Of course if you did seperate your machine functions like Dave said then you could run linux and if anything on the server got wasted, oh well. But that does mean time to learn linux, two connections, etc. My opinion run 2000, it is very capable for a small server and pretty easy to use. Malachi

Yeah sounds good. For anyone else that wants one, there is a place in AU that sells them for AU Dollars. If the exchange rate is good, you can get them for 210 or so, and shipping is under 20 bucks. So still cheaper than most retailers, by quite a bit. I cannot remember the name, I have the link at home...I think it has extreme in there somewhere, but really dont remember. Malachi

My favorite quote from that article..LOL He next used a pig, as pigs have nervous systems close to humans. Lifted off the ground, the pig began to spin as it flew through the air at 125 mph. It arrived on board undamaged but in a disoriented state. Once it recovered, it attacked the crew. Malachi

And now breaking news....in the wake of further aerodynamic development, control surfaces have been added to wing suits, allowing them to climb, stall and land. Some argue that this has already been done, it is called a hangglider, but wing suit fanatics beg to differ. "This is totally about skydivers and controlling our bodies...and the wings attached to them of course, but mainly our bodies. Oh Yeah, and beer too," said one wing-suit flyer named Reallyanair Plane. Just how it seems to me...wing suits are just pushing toward something we already have. Malachi

I just read this whole thread and gotta say thanks for keeping me awake at work, I was trying not to laugh out loud. Now, I cannot even believe this question is here. Everyone knows about farts...they are just normal in the plane. If you think they are not try holding one on the way to altitude and see how your stomach feels. And I can vouch for David, we have both been threatened to be kicked out, but David is such a cornfed fast falling guy, he would be hard to force out. And I am not sure what you are all complaining about. I jump with David and other guys in a 182. Man, that is much more confined. But we have rating systems for hangtime and stench. It is just part of the indoctrination into skydiving tradition, just like round jumps, and beer. And working jumpers, like TMs and camera flyers are the worst, well wait....there is David too...and me I guess.

Disclaimer *** I have no skyball experience. That said, one of the camera flyers at our DZ has been playing with a ball. Now this guy is pretty dang good at flying since he flies camera a lot. But he was really unsure of the wieght, so he tethered it. Now, there seems to be an argument about not tethering things, tangling, deployment, all that. I am simply mentioning that he did that. And it saved his ass several times, as the weight was rather difficult to get right. Malachi

Well, yeah, but I work on the 15th. But this is downtown dallas, I kinda doubt I could get outside on either floor.

I work on the 15th, doable? And I have another jumper on the same floor :) But our building is actually 27 stories, maybe we could get roof acces :)

First day was good man. I come in about 45 minutes late, use the side door so Lumbergh cant see me. Then I sort space out for a bout an hour. I just stare at the desk, but it looks like I am working....etc, other random office space quotes. Anyway, first day was pretty much orientation, etc. They are just teaching me little by little, plus I don't have the rights to do a whole lot. Of course I can see that....ah..the new guy, yeah he just crashed our trading server. Anyway I think most IT guys are the same. Everyone seems pretty cool and has the IT sense of humor. Anyway, I will try and call you after 2100 tonight, since I am trying to reduce daytime minutes. You might be able to stop by when you go back to school. This week is pretty hectic with orientation and stuff, and I am not sure aobut bringing friends in, everything is pretty secure since we are certified for all the financial stuff. I can ask about it if I get a chance. The commute is not too bad. The morning drive is easy, I am clocking in 700, since I get paid overtime and I have to work 700 at least 2 weeks a month anyway. The car makes it nicer, driving 80+ listening to techno will make you up :) The drive home however is a bitch, I am still trying to find the best time to leave the building. Thanks for the congrats. Malachi

Hey Everyone, Especially those who remember me bitching about the job market, I got a job!!! And guess who recommended me...a fellow skydiver. I had already applied, but not heard anything, I then I found out a guy that I jump with works there. It did not click at the time. After I sent him my resume, I was like hey I have heard that company name before. Well within 36 hours they wanted a phone interview, within a week two personal interviews, within 10 days (and yes the day before graduation) I was hired. Anyway, skydivers rock

Hey Pammi, Dave has some good advice. But, I just went through the same thing siwht my car. And I could swear it is the type of CD. I tried with to burning programs Sony and Adaptec on one type of CD and the player only played it once out of about 10. I had pretty much given up and said oh well it is too old, when this morning, I pop in two CDs I burned a while back, BAM they work great so. So it is either the color, or like somone said earlier, the thickness. Malachi

This thread acually brings out a bit of the reason why I chose my name. Now I have not done it yet, I don't even have a ferret yet. But as I get out of school, get a good job, and my own house, I want two ferrets. And after having seen the various dogs skydiving. I want to build a little harness to take my ferret flying, hence my nick. I think it would be pretty neat. As long as I raised the ferret around wind and planes and stuff. It would have to be pretty snug, since the are pretty wiggly, but as long as he wanted to be there, I dont think there would be a problem. And they are small animals, so you would not really have a weight or control problem. Heck maybe I could take two and do a double tandem. Anyway, I think it would be pretty cute. malachi

Okay, this settles it, I have got to jump in Europe. I have been curious about those pics since I started jumping about a year ago. And now we actually have first-hand info from a pilot. Looking at those videos, man is there anything you cannot do to exit a plane in Europe? Thoe freaking rock!! And I would not mind getting near a feathered prop for video like that. Okay, Dave when are we going?

Hey Kev, I wish I was in your shoes. The keyword in your case? Experience. Everyone wants it. Yes, I know that IT is still big, and everyone is interested in network and database security. But unless you went to a hell of a school (I will sign up) you dont learn that stuff in school. You might get some basics, yeah, I can setup TCP/IP access lists, and do some 'neat' looking SQL stuff. But no way, can I say yeah I will be your DBA or Network Security Specialist. Because to get that experience you ahve to work with the stuff. And with all the layoffs lately, everyone does not have to hire entry level. They can go straight to people with experience. So, you are in luck. I am not. I would love to work under someone like you and get the experience. But I cannot find a company anywhere with the same idea. By the way I have 2 years experience in Help Desk/On-site support for desktop and LANs. And I still am not getting any bites. Merrick, thanks for the advice, my career services department doing its best, but most companies either are not hiring or just interviewing for future openings. The few that are offer ridiculously salaries (24K for a network tech in College Station) or about 75% travel, something my 'domestic supervisor' would likely disapprove of. Thanks for the feedback guys. Malachi

Dude, No offense, but.... People with jobs and 100K available to purchase houses does nothing for someone trying to find an entry to mid level position. And it does not help michele either, becuase she is in Silicon Valley. Her, me, what is the connection? IT --information technology, which is apparently taking the brunt right now. Not sure why, sinces corps. need info above all else, but the CEOs dont see what we do, so they cut back. And in my theory, why are people buying houses right now? Same reason they are buy cars...interest rates are falling through the floor. The fed is doing its part to try and get money in circulation rather than in savings, so maybe if it stays that way it will help eventually. I am glad you are doing well, and yes I was being negative. Something that most of my friends can assure you I am usually not. But after spending countless hours on jobs searching and resume building after school and work and see no responses, it gets a littel negative.

Skip, I am not crazy about Houston, but right now I am open to options. Tell me more. mrussler@stvleaze.net

Speedracer, I am with you. However one problem...apparently the consumers are not. You sound just like me 4 or 6 weeks ago. I thought, it is not that bad, there is always something. Then I started really looking...WRONG. The American economy is a not so indirect reflection of the American people. People are not buying things they used to, whether that affects your R&D or not. I am all about being positive, but unless I find something within4 weeks, I will have no job or apartement (college housing right now) and within 2 more weeks my bank accounts will be negative, and there is not much arguing with that! So yeah, fuck the terrorists, give me a job doing that for all I care. I am not even looking for a career right now, just a paycheck. If it comes down to it, I am not afraid to work, I will flip stinking burgers. But after putting in the time to get the education and certifications I have that seems pretty damn pathetic. Malachi

Well, thanks I guess

Okay, not really related to skydiving, except that I might soon be a DZ bum. I am graduating in Dec. and the job market seems to be totally flat. I guess 9/11 had more of an economic impact than I realized. I have a BS in Computer Information Systems with a 4.0 GPA and a Cisco Certified Network Associate cert. And I am getting next to no response from anyone!! What the heck are all the more general majors doing?? Guess I am just venting, but I seriously hope this gets better soon. So far in 4 weeks I will be without a job and housing, so no money to do anything let alone jump. Malachi