SkydiveNFlorida

oooo, brrrrr. I love clouds! That sounds neat, i've never tried that! Alright, please invite me to your moon wedding, k?

Why is this such a difficult concept for people to grasp? - Jim Because it doesn't seem quite right, that's why. consider being hired for a networking job, you move to avoid a commute, then a month later they tell you that they no longer need you for networking, but they have a position for you in the mailroom. Obviously, this shit doesn't happen, but that's what it says can happen with no issues. You don't want it, well, leave. That sucks! Honestly, I'm certain I won't lose my job over this, but I think this policy sucks! And, I think I should be able to post a f-ing question without being patronized/ thought to be stupid because I had to ask. Half of my department was laid off when the company changed over and all of them were given 4 months to a year of full pay depending on time of service. Now that was cool! This "employment at will" policy wasn't even in effect when I was hired, the bulletin was as of 2001. Angela.

Scott's course involves 5 jumps where you practice different maneuvers and discuss and get feedback. AFF is already a lot to keep in your head, I remember being worried i'd get out there and forget what to do. I'm glad I wasn't overloaded with performing for both the AFF instructors and Scott at the same time. Honestly, my unprofessional opinion is don't make any radical maneuvers, and listen to what they tell you on the radio. I am sure the instructors will be able to set you at ease, so just talk to them on Saturday. I bet you'll do fine, you have obvoiusly been reading up about it, and you are aware that burying a toggle for a 360+ degree turn can be a fatal mistake. That is why they have you do s turns and small turns, no 360 degree turns. It's healthy to worry, but try not to stress too bad. You have enough to remember with just what to do on the AFF dive, it is an "accellerated" program in itself, they teach you how to land safely for the course, but you should definitely take Scott's course after AFF! just my thoughts, i'm obviously not an instructor. But, I did go through AFF a little over a year ago. I also attended Scott's course early in my jumping and it is definitely a good one! Angela

to hold it? I did a few flail jumps on my own, but after going out with my boyfriend I got it on the second try. Note, however, that I still suck! Dockin's hard! Angela.

That is your opinion and you are entitled to that. I made my first 8 jumps on a Sabre 190 and did ok. I went up to Deland and they put me on a 220 or 230 zp hybrid, and I had shit landings... little/no flare/lift. I don't know if that was because it was part f111, probably had lots of jumps, or just because it was bigger. Either way, more speed and performance added up to better landings for me. jme. I am not an instructor, but it is obvious that many disagree with you or they'd all be using cheap f111 canopies on students. I'm glad that the dz I learned at (Sebastian) was a part of the current decade and has zp student canopies. Angela.

They are thinking she might get better landings. I am no expert, but i've been on a large f111 hybrid (220sf or so) once as a student and had shit landings, I went back to a 190zp and like magic, right on, no problems. Sometimes zp and speed do help a little with landings you know Angela.

if your arms are short, they are still short with two It might have more to do with strength than arm length. If you don't have a lot of upper body strength, it might be difficult for you?? I had no problem with one hand on each, but have pretty good upper body strength. Angela.

We'll see how it goes I guess. I will try not to sound like an asshole, but simply concerned that I will have a supervisory role, and why that type of work should be compensated for. As far as future management, I am not looking to stay here for even another year. I plan to quit by next August and move away to attend school full time. So, no, I really don't want to find another job at this point, either as it would just be too much effort for something I would have for less than one year, and it may conflict with a school schedule that I have to have prepared for next semester by Monday. They don't just go around firing people here, but you guys worry me. :( angela.

Wow! That's the first time i've heard that one. I love protrack for logging, it is MUCH easier to get the info you need from the protrack because it all fits on one screen, and there is no need to select each jump then return and move forward/backward select another. I used to bitch about the Neptune logging (messed up logs, difficulty with the hard to press buttons, etc), then I just decided I didn't care what it said, I was only going to log what was on the Protrack... now my life is so much easier:D Nightingale, have you jumped again as the 1st jump of the day there? I would consider the suggestion about turning it off and on between dzs of different elevations. The neptune is cool because it does that automatically, or you simply selecte "i'm no dz". I love the neptune for an alti, but if you're not flying birdman the protrack rocks for logging, imo. Angela.

Man, whatever happened to layoff packages? I have worked here for 4 years now, and the original company had kickass (like, 6 months full pay) layoff packages. WTF?! I was considering asking for an add'l 10%. What is flex time? I already get 22 days off per year and it is a large company so your pto depends directly on what time you have been here (it's in writing). Angela.

I currently work 2nd shift in IT hourly. My employer wants to change my title to include "facitilies oversight coordinator" so that they can cover their asses with all of the employees who have to frequently work late in "facilities" (mailroom) who are hourly and are not supposed to work w/o supervision. They want me to be here as a supervisor on paper, and if those people have any issues, they will come knock on my door at night. Additionally, I will now go from hourly (read, able to rec'v overtime), to salary (exempt) and with apparently little to no compensation for the change of position to supervisory. My question is, can I decline? It has NOTHING to do with what I signed on for here. It comes with no add'l compensation, and it is not a change to my position, it is a position change (title change). Does "employment at will" screw me into being forced to take part in this? I was hoping that I could decline in lieu of a salary increase, or get laid off and get compensation from the company and from unemployment. I have been employed here for 4 years. Thoughts? I will paste the employment at will form below for review, it makes it sound like i'm screwed, but i'm unsure of how they can do that! Thank you. Angela. Subject: Employment at Will Policy Number: 110 Effective Date: August 1, 2001 Previous Version Date: None Applies To: All Employees Purpose To define the organization’s policy regarding terms of employment. Policy Unless employment is by virtue of a written contract signed by an authorized Officer of the company with specific provisions regarding the terms of employment, employment with the company is at-will and may be terminated at any time, for any reason, with or without cause or notice by either the employee or the company. Completion of an introductory period does not alter the at-will provision. No policy or procedure contained in this manual, the employee handbook, forms, memorandums or other materials provided to employees shall be construed as a contract of employment. Procedure All employment contracts shall be processed through the Human Resources or Legal Department. The company retains the right to exercise all customary managerial functions including, but not limited to the following: To assign, dismiss, supervise and discipline employees; To determine and change starting times, quitting times and shifts; To transfer employees within departments or into other departments and other classifications; To determine and modify the size of and qualifications of the work force; To establish, revise or abolish its policies, practices, rules and regulations at will, as deemed necessary; To determine, set or change operational methods; To determine and change the nature, location, services rendered, quantity and continued operation of the business; and To assign or remove duties to and from employees in accordance with company needs and requirements, and to carry out all requisite administrative and management functions. Prior to any termination decision, please review and follow, if applicable, the procedures set forth in this manual and consult with your local Human Resources Representative.

Yes! But, i'm easily distracted, and a chronic procrastinator. I wish my computer would not bring up this website at times because I get no homework done while i'm screwing off reading and posting on here! Then, I can't make myself study on weekends, because that cuts into jump time. This is all going to have to change real soon, i'm going to need to dedicate at least one weekend day to studying next semester. good luck. -A

Nice!! I love white:D I ordered my rig with white, too I figure, if it gets dirty, i'll just wash it:) Congrats on the new rig!! Doesn't scotchgard prevent you from being able to wash it out? I wasn't told to scotchgard my rig, I think i'll ask RI. Mine should be here in a week or so:D Angela.

Well, if you do get training on a canopy, and do work to get to know it and gain understanding, you have more than just luck on your side:) Hopefully that is what this person will do if he does indeed intend to fly this canopy. There are people who get the training and fly higher w/l earlier on, some dzs have a fast progression with compare to others (sdc is one I believe). I have no idea what is avail to this person at their dz. Yes, I read the incident. Reports like these throw all guesses out the window. People assume that low jump jumpers will be ok on a low w/l and will hurt or kill themselves on a high w/l. Both have been proven right and wrong time and time again. There isn't a correct formula that works for everyone, and sometimes it doesn't matter what someone is on, they just aren't cut out for this. And, like I said before, i'm sure that there are a lot more people being aggressive with w/l at low #s than is realized to many. Those that make it through ok don't end up in this forum or in Parachutist, and so we don't know about them and many just assume that anything other than low w/l for a low # jumper will result in severe injury or fatatlity because that is what gets reported. Angela.

I get free checking at bank of america. The program I joined at the time simply required that I have an automatic deposity once monthly from my checking to my savings acct. There is nothing saying you can't take $$ out of savings, tho. But, I haven't, and it's helped me save up some $$:) I had shitybank, and after I sold my condo (I had a mortgage with them and had free checking), they upped my acct charge to 25$/mo. It took me about 5 months to get fed up I never float checks. I send bills out online, and many are electronic pay already. Online banking rocks, even for broke people like me:) angela.

Really? Where you you find said odds? How many people downsize aggressively and make it w/o serious injury or death? Fact is, you don't know, you only know of those who do get hurt. Therefore you cannot possibly justify your statement about what the odds are. Additionally, everyone is different and it can't be predicted whether or not this person will make a fatal/near fatal turn if he needs to avoid something, or turn into the wind last second, etc. All you can do is arm someone with knowledge, you can never be certain of how or if they'll use said knowledge. Practice flat turns up high, know how much altitude you lose, then practice them as your turn on to final. That way if you find yourself too low to do a regular turn to final, you'll know if you have the altitude to do a flat turn, or if is better to land downwind, xwind. Practice landing off the wind line just a bit (10 degrees +), and turning into the wind as you execute your flare. Make agressive turns up high and then save yourself by pulling your toggles to get you out of a dive. Be one with the canopy, focus on it, and you will get better with it. Brian's book is an excellent resource, buy it, read it, understand it! I have no idea what it is like to fly a large square loaded at 1.3 at 30 jumps, so I can't comment on that. Angela.

I just ordered a new rig from Paraconcepts in IL. I don't know if they have an online store, but they are very helpful on the phone! They gave me the best price I could find on my rig and also on my main that I purchased earlier this year. Check around, compare prices. Don't throw your $$ away, dealer prices will vary. :) Angela.

Actually, I think Deland does something for you, too. When I was up there just off student status, they talked about putting rental $$ toward gear. I'm not sure of the specifics as Deland was too far from my home for me to participate, but I know not all is lost if you do this. -A

I think it's a great idea to just put the $$ away and buy when you're ready if you can do that. How many coach jumps do you need for the 'a'? I only did 2, and only paid for 1. Angela.

I love the nipple ring cow!! Pooh is cute, too! That does look warm. I don't have to worry too much, as it's Florida and all... but lycra will still be a little cool in the plane i'm sure! -A

Thanks everyone! I got a good tip from melstarr on putting my hair in buns and fixing my headband to it. I think I might also get a prop pitchfork:D Thanks everyone!! If it works out, i'll post pix Angela.

Is this the military equiv of "I'm telling Daddy"? Rock on! Glad you found a legal soln (military packing). If I were considering something illegal, I wouldn't post it on a public forum (see above i'm telling daddy comment). Good luck! -A

Have you done it? What did you wear? What planning/prep went into it? Any pix? I'm considering it, although I only have a devil costume, and i'm not sure how i'd fix my horn headband to my head so that it'd be secure in freefall. Hmm. I don't have matching shoes, either. I could go barefoot, tho, I suppose. Also, the outfit is lycra, so i'm worried it may tear in freefall. So, share if you've done it. Any ideas about fixing a horn headband securely? And, if lycra would last thru a freefly jump (it's already a tad tight, too). I don't want to end up landing half-naked Should I just remain in a stand the whole jump? I can't stay in headdown for very long and i'm wondering if sitfly might tear it at the butt. :) -A

Screw that! I'll kick your ass for last place, lol! Me, too! Even if i'm not ready for this one, I would love to see how it goes and I hope i'll be ready for the next

Get a canopy! You will jump more if you have your own gear... guaranteed! -A