Douva

I agree. If you're switching to ZP, think about adding smaller canopies. Putting a 105 lb. girl out in 14mph winds under a 210 sf ZP canopy probably isn't going to give her enough penetration on final. As for good student canopies, I think the Spectre is a great 7-cell, and you can't go wrong with the Sabre 2 for a 9-cell. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Actually, almost all drop zones put out skysurfers first. Generally, skysurfers fall slightly slower than belly flyers. Unlike wingsuit jumpers, skysurfers don't track for the duration of a jump. Their slow fall rate, combined with a vertical body orientation that catches even more of the upper winds, causes skysurfers to drift a great deal. You don't want to put skysurfers out last, without significant added separation, because they may drift over groups that exited before them. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

After having an opening so hard under a Saber 1 that it blew-out two cells in my canopy, blew-out the stitching between the harness and the back pad of my rig, and melted the sides of the reserve container with the main risers upon extraction, I switched to a Sabre 2. I haven't had a problem since. There were extenuating circumstances to that particular bad Sabre opening (unstable deployment on a beginner skysurfing board), but I just found the Sabre to be too unforgiving. Even properly packed, the Sabre would still smack me about one out of ten openings. The Sabre 2 is a dream. I suggest it to any of my students who ask for a canopy recommendation. It's really a very versatile canopy that almost anyone can enjoy jumping. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I've got a fever, and the only cure is more cowbell. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Questions of morality (right vs. wrong) should be left up to the parents, but the dissemination of facts IS the job of the schools. If they're going to teach sex education, they need to provide ALL the facts. I think a child's first introduction to the facts of sex should come from his or her parents, but parents aren't always the best equipped to provide detailed scientific data, statistics, medical advice, etc. The schools need to make sure the students have the correct information so that they can make their own informed decisions when they are a little older. As to the idiot factor in Texas, every state has its share of idiots. Some states, like Texas and California, simply have the light shined on their idiots more often than the rest of the country. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I was jumping a Vector II container and a F111 non-collapsible pilot chute. It was my second jump on a throw-out rig, and I had misrouted the bridal. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I read the first and the last posts in this thread. Surprise, surprise--It into a pro-concealed carry versus anti-concealed carry thread. Who could have seen that coming? It's late, and I don't have the energy to fight this battle again, but here are a few quotes I took off the Internet regarding the one event I think best makes the case for concealed carry. From http://www.acslpa.org/reciprocity/ethics.htm: From http://hematite.com/dragon/gunuses.html: You may go your whole life without needing a fire extinguisher. You may even live in a town where the fire department alarm hasn't rung in twenty years. But that one lazy Sunday afternoon when you and your family are getting ready to sit down for lunch, obviously not expecting any danger, and a little hot grease pops off the stove and sets the kitchen curtains on fire, you'll be damned glad that under the sink, between the detergent and the insecticide, sits that never previously utilized fire extinguisher. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

For all the flack California gets on their gun laws, I was pulled over on I-15, just north of LA, with my pistol in the car, and I didn't have a problem. The California Highway Patrol officer was already pissed at me for not pulling over right away--He didn't have a roof mounted light, and the flashing light inside his windshield didn't catch my attention right away. He approached the car from the passenger side, opened the passenger side door, and told me to step out of the car. He asked to look at my eyes and then asked if I had any marijuana or methamphetamines in the car. I said no. He asked me if I had any firearms. I told him I had a pistol locked in the back. He asked what kind (a Colt 1911 .45 ACP) and then asked, "What do you mean it's locked? Is it in a gun case?" I told him it was. He asked what kind of ammunition I had for it. I told him I had Safety Slugs. He asked if I meant "wad cutters." I said yes. He then wrote me a ticket for speeding and told me to be more observant when I'm driving. No car search. No felony conviction. No jail sentence. I'm sure there are people out there who've had experiences to the contrary, but I was pleasantly surprised with the officer's handling of the situation. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Okay, please explain how the pot/kettle expression applies here. It’s generally used to denote hypocrisy, but I’m having a hard time discerning what you think I am being hypocritical about. I don’t recall slandering any other states in my defense of Texas, so that can’t be it. Perhaps you think I, too, am being overly sensitive. I tend to find bigoted slurs against large segments of society offensive, but then again, we’ve already established that you and I have widely differing views on what constitutes “offensive.” I suggest you learn the difference between “jokes” and slander, and then focus on your own hypocrisy in which you denounce stereotyping ethnic groups but find it perfectly acceptable to stereotype states. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Tigra, I obviously had no way of knowing you have blond hair. I didn’t even realize you are a woman. So, if you seriously took offense to my analogy between stereotyping Texas and stereotyping blondes, you really are entirely too sensitive. As to your analogy between your comments and blonde jokes, it’s a false analogy. Blonde jokes are generally lighthearted and not intended to be interpreted as serious political or sociological statements. Your comments about Texas were obviously serious. You’re absolutely right that you never used the words “bigoted” or “narrow minded” in your post. You managed to create a bigoted, narrow minded post without those words. And finally, you weren’t attacked; you were rebutted. If you want to people to quit accusing you of being overly sensitive, you need to learn the difference. --Douva PS. Maybe your niece really did go to a crazy school, but it’s not indicative of most Texas schools. PPS. I still think you’re on a misguided political high horse to take offense at your other niece’s comments in front of your fiancé’s family. PPPS. I don’t recall making any disparaging remarks about Mexicans. Texas would be one hell of a hellhole without them. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

And California gave us Scientology. At least most of us are smart enough to know that a few nuts don't speak for an entire state. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

You are characterizing a large group of people based on anecdotal information from sources of questionable veracity (children). Would you like to hear some crazy stories about blondes doing really stupid stuff so that you can lump women with fair hair into one easily describable, moderately offensive category, also? I have a feeling your niece’s Harriet Tubman story might have lost a little something in the translation. I generally take anything a young child tells me with a grain of salt. Of course, if it supported my negative opinion of an entire state, I suppose I might just go ahead and accept it at face value. As to your other niece being proud that she learned to speak Spanish to communicate with her co-workers, you are entirely too sensitive if that offended you. God forbid she admit that the bus boys where she works are Hispanic. How embarrassed all of the Hispanic Americans in the room must have been to find that there are Hispanics in America earning an honest living in the food service industry! Thank God we have enlightened people like you watching out for America’s youth. Maybe you should form an organization to fight to keep the disease that is Texas out of your own community. If, for instance, a family of Texans moved in down the block, you could burn a Texas flag in their front yard to let them know they’re not welcome. --Douva Do you think maybe—just maybe—the fact that your niece grew up to be an outspoken liberal is at all discrediting to your portrayal of Texas as being overtly small-minded and bigoted? I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Legal or illegal? I wish Texas had more legal U-turns. That's one thing I like about driving in California--You can do a U-turn at just about every light. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I don't think the youth in Asia are any worse than they are in the rest of the world. Sure, they're rebellious and superficial, but that's really what youth is all about, right? I think before you start knocking the youth halfway around the world, you should take a long, hard look at the youth in your own backyard. Matthew 7:3-5 --Douva PS. You really need to work on your spelling. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Ian, please enlighten me as to what parts of Texas you've visited and for what durations of time? I would like to know from whence you speak. Also, please enlighten me as to some of the other bizarre headlines about Texas that lead you to this statement. As I've said before, it never ceases to amaze me how the truly "enlightened" among us who would never consider stereotyping a particular ethnic group or nation have absolutely no problem stereotyping the state and people of Texas. Every state has a few extremists and eccentrics in its political ranks. Texas is no different. But Texas is far from the backwater "Hicksville" many outsiders like to paint it as. Next time, rather than taking the easy road and giving into bigotry, try pursuing an intellectual dialogue about the issues. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

That's exactly my take. If I don't know anything about the candidates in a given race, I leave the decision to the people who do. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Go Michael Badnarik--representing for the third parties and the disillusioned independents!!!! I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Any time you have trouble with a screener, be sure to get the screener's name. You want to include that information in your reports to the USPA and the TSA supervisor at the offending airport. Also, did you ask the officials to reference chapter section 17.2 of version 4.0 of the Screening Checkpoint Standard Operating Procedure manual? From the USPA website: "Skydivers encountering problems with screeners should request that the screener's supervisor become involved. Skydivers should insist that the supervisor review " Chapter Section 17.2 of Version 4.0 of the Screening Checkpoint Standard Operating Procedure." Skydivers encountering unsatisfactory treatment should contact USPA at 703-836-3495 ext. 325 or e-mail us. Be ready to provide the airport, date and time of flight, airline and flight number, and names of TSA officials involved." I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Nice picture... Just curious... but what precautions did you take to make sure there would be no people/boats in the area where the ball dropped? I'm guessing they looked out the door before they jumped. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Okay, who can be the first person to identify my costume? I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Look for local gratos (caving clubs) on the Internet. Joining your local grato is probably the best way to get into caving. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

We have the threat of a major attack, and my f***ing BOB's are out of date. That's what I get for having an unreliable repack buddy. If all is still quiet come Monday, I'll give them a once over before election day. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I make it a point to see that all my fake Rolex money goes to hard working "mom and pop" street vendors, not mass marketing corporations. The online sellers just lack that personal touch. Without the face-to-face negotiating process, you don't walk away with the feeling that you got a real deal. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Okay, seriously, this is your fifteenth post since your "farewell" post. Were you the type of kid that "ran away" every time you didn't get enough attention from your parents? I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Yup. It was one I wrote nearly 8 years ago during a time of severe depression, but I kept it around since I thought it was a pretty good sonnet. I got a shitload of those as well! Fuckers. Yeah, when I was about 16, that group published a poem I'd written in 9th grade. By the time they'd agreed to publish it and started offering to sell me the book, as well as all sorts of certificates, I kind of figured out it was a scam (like the Who's Who books they try to sell to high school students by convincing their parents the kids are receiving some sort of honor). I still talked my mom into buying me a copy of the poetry book. When you start to read through it, it's pretty obvious that the requirements to get in are not terribly stringent. --Douva PS. Here's my pet photo. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.