NickDG

Whoa, 47! You so seldom her that, if ever, in today's Twinkie days! NickD

Hey Gypsy, You'll like this one . . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgzxDHCVBl8&feature=player_embedded NickD

AstroGlide, it kicks ass . . . Seriously, put a few drops of household 3n1 oil on a clean rags and pass the cables through it. Don't over do! And, if your 3-Ring system fails it's a million to one it'll be a lubrication issue . . . NickD

Tandem, the crutch of the lazy or (more likely) incompetent skydiving instructor . . . NickD

Really, there's still A&P grocery stores? I grew up next to one in Manhattan in the sexties . . . NickD

>>I'm super pumped now.

What the hell happened to the "Warning Board?" All DZs had them at one time. It meant you were pushing it, but not enough to be told to sod off. And being occasionally on the warning board was a cool badge of distinction in a otherwise rapidly deteriorating sky of meritocracy . . . NickD

When I went to A&P school back in the early eighties at Northrop University a large part of student body was middle eastern. I gotta say they were good guys just deprived of a normal eduction and a world view. So I introduced them to rock & roll, titty bars, alcohol, fast cars, and marijuana. I swear, half of them never went back home. I think I did more to stem terrorism than Bush ever did . . . NickD

I blew off Geraldo Rivera after the Al Capone Vault thing, and FOX news altogether from day one. But what's telling in this video is Abby struggling with the boat in five knot winds. I know you guys who followed her blog feel for her but if you compare it to Jessica's Blog or even Reid Stowe's (never thought I'd say that) there is a major difference in skill set. Yeah, she says she grew up on a boat, but I grew up in my Dad's Barber shop, but you wouldn't want me giving you a haircut . . . The reality TV bit doesn't bother me that much, go ahead and make a buck I say, but that was way too much boat for her, the wrong boat for the conditions, and the wrong time of year to make a Southern Ocean crossing. Even Lin Pardey, the queen of storm sailing, has said this was a mis-thought out quest. I'm not a blue water sailor by any means, but I took my Catalina 27 from San Diego to Catalina, and damn, prior to leaving I was trying to get Stan Honey on the phone for a Wx forecast, LOL . . . http://video.foxnews.com/v/4238423/geraldo-exclusive-explosive-allegations NickD

I'm not running "unmuffled" (sounds like a guy who never gets laid, LOL!) I put baffles into Nina's pipes and she's throaty sounding but not all that loud . . . NickD

AFF is designed for "first time jumpers." Ted Strong got the first patent on tandem equipment in 1987, but AFF started much earlier. Skip the tandem and just go straight to AFF Level One. Learning to skydive in tandem is like learning to drive while sitting on your father's lap when you were eight years old . . . NickD

Usually I'd agree somewhat, but according to Wiki, "the vuvuzela became popular in South Africa in the 1990s," so I hardly think that's long ago enough to be considered a "cultural" thing . . . And I think it bothers some more than others. Julia couldn't stand it while in my case I think my buzz was canceling out their buzz . . . NickD

Yup, and D(mv)-Day is tomorrow! Here's the issue. I'm not considered the "manufacturer" under California law and Nina will be registered under a "Special Construction" title. Small firms that build custom bikes like Big Bear Choppers, West Coast Choppers, or Sucker Punch Sally do have manufacturer status and their bikes get titled under their company name just like a regular stock Harley does. But becoming a manufacturer is like getting a TSO on a new rig and way out of the scope of a guy like me who builds just one bike. In fact the way it works now is CARB (the California Air Resource Board) only allows me to build one bike in my entire lifetime that doesn't conform to the same emission controls as a stock manufactured bike. Every hear a stock Harley called a 49 state bike? That's because the MOCO builds two versions of each of their bikes. One for California and another for the rest of the states in the country. And it's illegal for them to sell the 49 state version here in California as it won't conform to California's stricter emission standards. And why new Harley owners complain so much about the heat generated by the new Twin Cam Harleys. It's because the MOCO sets them up to run so lean in order to pass the emissions deal. And every one of those Harley owners always do a Stage One upgrade to their bikes almost first thing. And that involves going to aftermarket pipes and air cleaner. And that's going to make them subject to this new law. NickD

Well, I'm hoping getting Nina registered before the law passes (if it does) makes me exempt. Why I think it's a problem is they may be going by the motor. Although brand new, Nina's motor is a 1999 model year Evo and might need to have the type of pipes that motor comes with when stock. But, who knows, I hope you guys are right. NickD

Or like calling USPA, those assholes . . . NickD

"OMG, my riser cover opened in freefall!" Jumpers today, oh boy . . . NickD

On the religious front, LOL, I'm hitting all the hot buttons today . . . There's a Catholic church (St. James) down my street. I'm not really a practicing religious person but I grew up a good Catholic boy and all my primary schooling was parochial. So I thought, like Grandma's chicken soup, it couldn't hurt to have Nina blessed by a Father in the Parish. I did it with every new skydiving and B.A.S.E rig I ever owned so it's become more of a superstition now as in, "Hey, so far so good." So I wrote them an e-mail to set it up and told them I'd drop a C note in the collection box for their trouble. Of course they said no problem, just let them know when I'd like to do it. But what got me is they never miss a chance to put the fear of God into you. Here's the last line from their e-mail back to me (not to mention I think it's pretty cool God's online now.) "Nick, until you can get down here, please be as careful on your motorcycle as you can." Great, now I got the jinx on me. You gotta hand it to the Catholic Church. They really know how to sell . . . NickD

Damn . . . In California . . . Senate Bill 435 (motorcycle emissions) has been amended and is now scheduled for a hearing on June 21st. Bill would require stock exhaust on all bikes manufactured after January 1, 1983. California Senate Bill 435 (Pavley, 23rd District, D) is back. Despite repeated failure to garner support for past versions, Senator Pavley continues to unfairly target motorcycle owners. The latest version of the bill would require only stock exhaust systems on all motorcycles constructed since 1983, and mandates a $300 fine for any owner who is found to be in violation. I wrote her last time she pulled this and also this time: >>Dear Senator Pavely, You fucking ignorant liberal motherfucking cunt lesbian labia flapping bitch (and what's up with that hair, it's so yesterday)

It's s brand new motor. I can't rap on it until I break it in . . . NickD

Sorry Jerry, you aren't eligible to play as you don't reside in the "chump" category, LOL . . . Sandy, The night before Mark was killed on the sunset load he and I were riding our bicycles back across the field to the Ghetto from the DZ. And we couldn't make it twenty feet without falling down, running into each other, and laughing our asses off like the drunken sods we were. Of all the good people gone now I sometimes miss him the most . . . NickD

Allen Richter left Perris (and skydiving) in the mid-nineties. He's come back to visit a few times since then but the last time was years ago. The beard's gone and he looks completely different but good and he's healthy looking. He's been driving a big rig truck out of Washington State. NickD

I know Sandy was asking about Allen Richter and he's in the below photos. This is Perris in the early 90s. How many can you name? NickD

I didn't say anything. Just posted a link. NickD

From Sailing Anarchy: NickD

Poor Green in goal must be feeling mighty low. But at least he's not from South America, in which case his very life would be in jeopardy. One thing that bugged me was the Brit sounding announcer's take that the credit for the goal went towards the muff by Green instead of the shot taken by Dempsey. According to him it was just luck. Obviously he knows little about how good we Yanks are with using, "spin!" NickD