skydiver30960

BUMP! This morning, the South Korean gov't is saying there was no explosion at all, just a "peculiar" cloud that was probably natural in origin. They blame an "intelligence breakdown". If you believe that one... wanna buy some Florida wetlands? Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain... Elvisio "sheesh" Rodriguez

That's good, because they need to have SOMETHING to do during those 10-month-long winters... Elvisio "even Virginia is too far north" Rodriguez

Vulgar it is, you are correct sir. ...and the first line of the review you quoted pretty much sums up my impressions of the film as well. About as far away from "Clerks" as you can possibly get. Elvisio "still weirded out by that one" Rodriguez

I used to shave my legs when I was cycling (road and mountain) in high school and college. It usually got some weird looks, but it was worthwhile: 1.) The whole "hairy, roadrashed legs get infected easier than smooth, roadrashed legs" arguement is one that goes round and round in cycling circles. Some say it helps prevent infection, others say you're more likely to get an infection from shaving than from dirt kept in a wound by the hair. Take it or leave it, it's your call. 2.) I DO know that shaved legs are easier to deal with when it comes time to dress the inevitable roadroash, scrapes and cuts that come from road wrecks and the usual mountainbiking "booboos". 3.) Intimidation. I know I know, sounds stupid but it's true. The muscle tone shows better, and most "hard core" cyclists do it. Most cyclists will argue over #1 and #3, and most non-cyclists will LAUGH at #1 and #3, but I can say from experience that reason #2 makes shaving worthwhile. You don't have to rip out too many leg hairs with bandages and first aid tape before shaving seems pretty low-effort by comparison. Elvisio "big ring, little cog" Rodriguez

How'd they turn out? Were they way hung over? Carrying on with the "exacting revenge" idea of the thread, PLEASE tell me you did everything you could to assault their banging heads and stomachs. Stuff like: 1.) HOURS of PLF practice. In the sun. 2.) HOURS of hanging harness time. Put a bucket underneath them, just in case. What did you come up with? Elvisio "let em have it" Rodriguez

I think the answer is obvious: the DZ, and I as the instructor who is hanging his life and the life of his student under that canopy, is (are?) paying for QUALITY. I have not YET had any tandem cutaways, but have had a couple close calls and feel that extra cash is well spent. Only the best packers at our DZ are allowed to pack tandems, they go the extra mile to make sure my student and I make it down without any nasty surprises, and are (as they should be) rewarded for their extra efforts. "Take care of the people that take care of you." nuff sed Elvisio "love my packers" Rodriguez

Bytch, you ROCK! Great idea. They'll need all the help they can get, and having something to keep you busy will make the time go by SO much faster. elvisio "EVERYBODY better get ready for Ivan, he's a biggie" Rodriguez

I think it's JUST like swooping... 1.) The line between "the thrill of victory" and "agony of defeat" is razor thin and the consequences of being on the wrong side of the line are dire. But, others would say, no guts no glory no excuses. And as far as the "endangering lives on public roads stuff:" 2.) What's more fun, swooping the swoop course at the far end of the landing area, or tearing ass downwind through the main landing area, right there in front of all the super hottie tandem students and whuffos, even though it endangers you, the other jumpers, and the whuffos? Not sayin' I do it, not sayin' it's right, just sayin' that's why they do it. So, I vote both. Elvisio "not a matter of if, matter of when you'll chow" Rodriguez

No time for fun jumps, Gotta work at the DZ, Man, I need a job. Elvisio "broke" Rodriguez

My girlfriend is dating an asshole right now! Elvisio "yes I meant me" Rodriguez

Two things I would have to say to the "powers that be" 1.) No power, no water, no nothing: what the hell else is there to do besides get schnockered? 2.) Wanna see me get disorderly? Tell me I can't buy my BEER! Elvisio "feeling your pain" Rodriguez

Is this a Frances-related issue, like they're so busy dealing with other so-called "necessities" like water and bread that they don't want "to be bothered" with BEER? Is UPS up and running in Florida yet? What is your mailing address? I can UPS Blue a twelve pack to you tomorrow, and I'll send it UPS Red if you say please! Elvisio "bytch needs brew" Rodriguez

Wow, sorry. Now we know: just one more item to add to the list of necessary items to have onhand when a hurricane draws near! Elvisio "sending you beer vibes" Rodriguez

I tried this once before and it didn't stick. To try again: To answer multiple posts: Reverend Jim: You're right, maybe we could stand for a little "readjustment" in the cost of living area, maybe we're asking for too much as a working public. But also consider that Generation X is supposed to be the first generation that will not be as financially successful as their parents. This is the first time in the history of America that this has happened and it has people kinda rattled. BlindBrick: great minds think alike! I'm an engineer by schooling but am taking an EMT course right now. Phree: I have an empty former-Mart by my house and would love to turn it into something fun. Skate park comes to mind, but I'd really like to come up with something we could do that was skydiving related. I'm thinking about some sort of aircraft carrier catapault-like device that would accelerate you and your (deployed) canopy across the ground up to a good "swooping" speed, then cuts you loose so you could practice your swooping indoors and cheaper than riding the plane. Waddaya think? Elvisio "PT Barnum ain't got nothin' on me" Rodriguez

One of my college profs called WalMart "the death of western civilization." I'm not ready to go that far, but it (and the other Big Box stores) has begun to restructure American consumerism, and having a major effect on our economic structure. "Back in the day" when our parents were our age, they paid (relatively) big bucks for American made products (EVERYTHING) because there wasn't much overseas competition, and what was being made was crap. And that was how we looked at things, if it wasn't US made then it was shit. Over time though people started to realize that it wasn't so much pain to them if their foreign made products broke in half the time because they only cost half as much, and slowly we've switched to EVERYTHING bearing a "Made in Somewhere Else" sticker. Problem is, if it's made there, it isn't made here, so American production goes into the crapper. Now, people are out of jobs or forced to take jobs they don't like at lower wages. So, I see two choices and in the end they pretty much even out so it may just be moot, but WHICH WOULD YOU PREFER: 1.) Paying less for everything because it's made overseas, but having less money to spend on stuff because you're working for less because the economy is shite; OR 2.) Paying more for everyhting because it's made in the US and the US companies need to pay it's workers a decent living wage, but you have the money to spend on the stuff made in the US because you are one of the guys making that decent living wage and living in a booming economy. Sorry if I dragged this thread down... Elvisio "just bought A/C filters and wiper blades at Wallyworld" Rodriguez

Right now, and if you ask me for as far into the future as one can reasonably consider, there aren't many health care professions you could go wrong with. Reasons: 1.) More people than ever before means more people needed to take care of them; 2.) "The graying of America" i.e. the Baby Boomers are reaching/passing middle age; 3.) Americans, as a whole, just aren't taking as good a care of themselves as they used to. This is a statement loaded with opinion, but when one out of three people in the US is clinically obese (not just a little heavy, or too heavy for their height)... 4.) We're living longer than ever before, but our bodies become more and more maintenance-intensive as we push the age envelope. I'm an engineer by college education, but have started taking an EMT course because I haven't been able to find a good job since I got laid off in January (yeah, ok, so I've only really been looking for the past few months). I'm really enjoying it and hope to use it as a litmus test for working in trauma environments, which I (in my limited experience so far) really expect I'll enjoy. If I do like it as much as I have so far I'll keep on down this road toward EMT-P ALS or go back to school to be an RN or whatever. Yep, health care is where it's at. Now, bend over and try to relax (applying KY to latex gloved-fingers) this may feel a little strange... Elvisio "crash cart" Rodriguez

You motorcyclists are psycho. I LOVE going fast, but I KNOW that the ground HURTS and make sure I have my fun AS FAR AWAY from it as I can. Like, as high as the damn plane will take me! From looking at the video and the aftermath, it looks like she got off easy. I agree that about the helmet; it may not have been necessary to save her life but it kept her face from being torn up like the rest of her, for she truly is a looker. If I had a chickie like that on my bike I'd be doing everything I could to keep her there, not throw her off... Elvisio "vertical is better than horizontal, speed I mean" Rodriguez

5:0:0 No jumps, nursing sore shoulder. BUT, this leaves MUCH time for other things... thus the first number being much larger than usual Later; Elvisio "one wing sore" Rodriguez

QuoteRecently - at Beiseker, Alberta - a static-line student shit himself on jump run. Quote Man, I know I would be calling the "cut" way early. ..."CUT! Okay, get your (shit-covered) legs out and hang... keep hanging... keep hanging... (closing the door and mouthing the words through the window as the pilot vents the cabin from the other window) ...keep hanging ...keep hanging ...keep hanging.... GO! Elvisio "lapsed S/L-I rating" Rodriguez

Did she sign your logbook? Elvisio "mmmm.... sharon stone.... (drool)" Rodriguez

the crux of this argument is "survive uninjured". Break it down into the two separate parts, "survive" and "uninjured". You're more likely to hurt yourself swooping, but if you fuck up a tandem instead of just getting hurt you'll probably end up killing yourself and somebody else with you. Stephen King said it in "The Body" the movie that got turned into "Stand by Me": Go alone and you're a hero. Take somebody with you and you're dogpiss. Elvisio "taking nuggets of wisdom from Stephen King" Rodriguez

...go out of their minds crazy as hell. Aqua Teen Hunger Force Season Two DVD is in my machine right now, and I am drowning in the light images of the greatest power trio of all time. ...quartet if you want to throw in Carl. Any other ATHF fans out there? Elvisio "meatwad is a god" Rodriguez

So this morning we had a pipe bust in the kitchen. Five hours later we have a plumber/electrician on the way, ten blowers (don't get me started) and three dehumidifiers running, thanks to the water salvage company. It sounds like a windtunnel in here and I'm thinking... hm... if I pointed all the blowers in the same direction... but I digress. Anyhoo, the gf is pissed. And all I can say to her is: there's a lot of folks in FL who are going to need a lot more than dehumidifiers this weekend. That shut her up. So be safe, my hurricane-harrassed, skydiving-type friends. Remember, you are masters of the air, but water can still kick your ass, so BE AS SAFE AS YOU CAN. See you soon! Elvisio "soggy" Rodriguez edited for effect

I'm with hookitt. Although I wouldn't enjoy it, I guess watching this kind of video can be a cold bucket of water in the face to us. We enjoy our sport, and we accept the risks. I think that from time to time, I think we need to be reminded of the risks; it helps us keep our "danger-meters" properly calibrated as we make our day-to-day skydiving decisions. Do I jump in high winds? Is today the day to downsize? Am I ready for that bigway? Hey, I lost a contact on the way to the DZ, do you think it's still ok to jump? Maybe the answer is yes. Maybe the answer is no. Being fully aware (and occasionally reminded) of the gravity of our decisions may not be so bad for us once in a while. Elvisio "haven't watched yet" Rodriguez

Whenever a tandem student's family asks what color our parachute will be so they can take pictures from ridiculously far away with a disposable camera with a crappy wide angle lens, I check the rig number and tell them. But I always tell them that my FAVORITE canopy color is: "OPEN" ...the rest is just icing on the cake! Elvisio "just buy one and JUMP!" Rodriguez