Gary73

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3280048;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed; There's no reason to loosen (much less unthread) your chest strap until you approach the level of proficiency of a national-competition canopy pilot. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

He showed some interest in a reserve I was selling, but the transaction never proceeded any farther than that, so no opinion either way WRT reliability as a buyer. I've sold several things outside the U.S. and have been asked to under-declare or list an item as a gift, but have declined. The issue isn't just a matter of taking a risk on the item being lost or damaged. The odds of getting caught are probably low, but tax evasion is a crime, as is falsifying government documents, including Customs forms. So: is it worth it? "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

BDashe, etc., If two companies are owned by the same people and operate using the same "business model", then it seems perfectly reasonable for the actions of one company to be associated with the other. As for hanging with outlaws, that seems equally reasonable. If you're part of a gang that robs a bank, but all you do is drive the getaway car, you're still complicit in the robbery and can expect to get some prison time if you're caught. Furthermore, if anyone dies during the robbery, then you're also guilty of felony murder, even if the victim was one of the robbers. That's the law, and it seems fair to me. As for Skyride and its sister companies, try looking at it like this: If you knew that a company had intentionally cheated you, as part of a business policy developed by the owners, would you work for those owners? Hell, no. Would you do any further business with any of their companies? Also hell, no. Now, what if that company had intentionally cheated a close family member? Your best friend? A guy you knew from work? Some stranger? A whole bunch of strangers? People draw circles around themselves and basically say "These are the people I care about.". Some people's circles are bigger than others. Those of us who hate Skyride, etc. have big circles. Those who patronize them have smaller circles. Those who work for them have still smaller circles. The owners' circles are the smallest of all, and don't include you, BTW. So what you have to ask yourself is: "How big is my circle? How many people do I care about? How many people will I stand up for, even when all that requires is to take my business elsewhere?" The choice is yours. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

"You ride with outlaws, you hang with outlaws." - Larry McMurtry - Lonesome Dove Sometimes it really is that simple. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

I guess that Skyride and company feel that they've reached their maximum ability to abuse humans and have decided to branch out and abuse the rest of the animal kingdom as well. With all the students they've put into trees, their abuse of plants is well known, so look out, bacteria: you're next! (Though at least there, Skyride will be on a level playing field!) "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

A related problem is that unless all the fields have entries selected, none of them are displayed in the actual ad. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

And now the ad has been completely removed and all I got was an e-mail indicating that: Your ad Raven 3 Reserve has expired 0000-00-00 and has been removed. To place your ad again, or to place another ad go to the link below and click on "Post an Ad". So what's going on here? "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

When posting a Classified ad, the poster is given a choice of manufacturers, models, etc. for common types of gear like canopies. That's neat, but the list is nowhere complete, and there's no option available to enter an unlisted make or model. Please either make the lists complete or allow user entry of this info (preferably the latter, as it's pretty much impossible to keep such lists up to date.) Thanks. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

I just posted an ad in the Classifieds, and when I viewed it, it came with a warning the the poster had just registered today. This gives a false impression about me and my ad. Please correct this. Thanks. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/detail_page.cgi?ID=75810;d=1 "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Income tax, because all other taxes take a larger percentage of a poor person's income. I'd make it a flat rate of maybe 30% and only allow two deductions: 1. The first $20,000 of a person's income, since anyone making less than that is barely scraping by. 2. Legitimate medical expenses (including dental and vision), since that money isn't really discretionary income. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

I checked with the Georgia Tech club. Unfortunately, only Tech students and faculty can join. I assume that location was part of the equation in applying to Tech, so I'll repeat my recommendation regarding GSU (or one of the other state schools) and starting a club there. Good luck! "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Georgia State's a good school, and close enough to maybe share rides to the dropzone with the Techies. Check with Travis - there may still be a way to join the club, since GSU is also part of the University System of Georgia. If none of that works, then definitely start a club wherever you go. Lots of help available through http://www.collegeskydiving.com/ Gary GT '75 "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

This is the second case like this that I've seen in the last year. The manufacturer didn't use the right grommet or didn't crimp it tightly enough. As a result, the grommet doesn't curve far enough around the washer to create a smoothly curved syrface. Instead, the sharp 90-degree angle at the end of the grommet is left to rub against the retaining loop. (That's on the back side of the riser, not visible in the photograph.) I had the same problem on a set of UPT risers. They charged me full price for a replacement pair, one of which was so badly made that it wouldn't even mate with the rig. They replaced those, but I had to pay to ship the defective ones back, so definitely no kudos there. This kind of damage is hard to see on a pre-jump inspection, since that area is underneath the riser. It's a good idea to check over this area occasionally while packing, and every time when doing the manufacturer-recommended riser maintenance every 30 days. Y'all do do the 30-day maintenance, right? "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

You think that's weird, try hanging around at our bonfire. I'm considered to be the normal one! No doubt a procedure developed by the same doctors who give you an IV when you're low on fluids, instead of just giving you a bottle of Gatorade. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

FAR 105.43 (c) If installed, the automatic activation device must be maintained in accordance with manufacturer instructions for that automatic activation device. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

You are correct that the rules have not changed, but some jumpers and riggers have had an incorrect understanding of the rules, so I hope to correct that. Certainly a rigger has the right to either insist on doing AAD maintenance (including battery change) or decline to pack a rig, but both the rigger and the owner should be clear on the reason. Namely, the rigger shouldn't tell the owner that the FARs require him to replace a battery when it's really just the rigger's preference. None of this changes the fact that it really is a good idea to go ahead and do any AAD maintenance that will be due during the upcoming pack cycle. But there may be circumstances under which the owner may not have the time to wait three weeks for CYPRES maintenance (e.g., reserve ride right before a trip) or may not plan to use the rig for the full 180 days (e.g., shipping out next month for a year in the desert). "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

The extension of the repack cycle to 180 days has re-opened an old debate regarding whether an AAD has to be "good" for the entire repack cycle. Some very experienced jumpers/riggers believe that it does, but the FAA and PIA have reiterated the division of responsibility: FAA (in response to a question I submitted on their website): The rigger is responsible for the condition of the reserve parachute at the time he/she repacks the reserve parachute. The Automatic Activation Device battery does not have to be good for the entire 180 days. It is the parachute owner who is responsible for maintaining the parachute in airworthy condition. The decision to complete a repack knowing that the Automatic Activation Device battery will not reach the entire 180 days needs to include the owner of the parachute so he/she knows his/her options and when the next scheduled maintenance is due on his/her parachute. PIA: http://www.pia.com/piapubs/tb/TB-252.pdf I hope this resolves any doubts that people may have. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Still $45 for sport rigs and $50 for Tandem and pilot emergency rigs. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Had all kinds of problems with the tank at my first house, then started using Rid-X and never had a problem after that. If everything seems to be fine, use half as much, half as often as they recommend and it'll stay fine. FFI: http://www.rid-x.com/faq.shtml "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

I won't claim to be an elephant specialist, but I've heard that when they have problems due to their intestinal bacteria getting out of whack, they'll eat other elephants' feces to re-stock their own. I guess they've never heard of yogurt. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking, but I wish they'd have the guts to just admit it. The current case is an eCheck, but I've also had it happen with other types of electronic transfers. Certified checks, too, which are supposed to be as good as cash. Seems to me that any service that uses electricity (which is really really fast, if I remember correctly), should take seconds, not days or weeks. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Can anyone explain to me why it is that banks and other financial institutions take so long to transfer funds? These days it's all done electronically in a few seconds, yet from the point of view of both the sender and the receiver, the money just disappears, sometimes for more than a week, with neither side being able to use or even collect interest on it. Are banks really that incompetent, or is it just a scam to get the "float" on our money? "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

We get everything from ultralights to DC-3s and military helicopters at Thomaston (Skydive Atlanta). The jets are no problem at all. In fact, larger, faster planes fly wider patterns, which provides even more separation than we get from the smaller planes. If it's any help, you used to be able to get airport usage stats from the FAA Web site, but I can't seem to find the right page any more. Good luck! "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Yeah, I got that response when I looked into starting a DZ in Jefferson, GA. Never encountered such a high concentration of intentionally ignorant people in my life. Good luck! "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

It's also a good idea to list this on the USPA Web site. It would be helpful to have a more detailed description, including all serial numbers. I do most of the rigging at Thomaston; I'll keep my eyes open for this, but the odds are against it showing up locally. Sorry. Good luck! Edited to add: BTW - who are you? If I did your last repack, I'll have the container, AAD, and reserve SNs, in case you don't have those recorded separately. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan