jfields

Has anyone else noticed that as the thread grows, the tales get more and more daring, the lists longer, and everything less believable? Justin My Homepage

That doesn't prove anything!

Hillarious! Justin My Homepage

In which case, Skreamer, you could start working on your other checklist. Justin My Homepage

The other thing to consider, Skreamer, is do you have an option anyway? Justin My Homepage

On a golf course in the middle of the night. That isn't so interesting, but the fact that some people came by to look at the stars and set up their telescope right near us added amusement. The fact that it was my parents, brother and his wife & kids was the icing on the cake. Justin My Homepage

Depends on whether or not Skreamer is chasing the donkey.

Whatever. I'm here, so that's all I care about. (Hi mom & dad!) Justin My Homepage

I bet she does. My dad is a dentist, so he won't let her have any.... Justin My Homepage

Now we don't have to wonder why Clay always has lollipops handy..... Justin My Homepage

Right! I forgot. So... I'm going to jump a VX-89. Nyah, nyah! Justin My Homepage

I'm trying to figure Skreamer's fascination with you. By any chance, are you a poodle? Justin My Homepage

About as much as people in your area love Gen. Sherman. Justin My Homepage

There are other alternatives to SETI out there for people wanting to put their computers to work. Genome@Home Folding@Home These are both run through Stanford Univ. and do computations for genetic research. I prefer that to Seti, although all are good. http://gah.stanford.edu/ Justin My Homepage

Canada, here I come! Justin My Homepage

And just why were you reading some Leonardo Di Caprio fan site/bio? I thought only teeny-bopper little girls did that. Justin My Homepage

She doesn't need the printout. She was the one "on the phone" with 3fLier. Justin My Homepage

Clay, I think they are more of a power broker and reseller than an actual generation facility. Of course, I could be wrong, since I don't work there. Hhmmm.. You better get your question answered quickly. Justin My Homepage

Amusing, Slappie. I thought Enron would have people jump off of Dynegy's roof, thereby transfering the resulting cleanup costs to their failed partner. Just an idea....

They'll work even faster with PCP pixie sticks, but the quality suffers. Justin My Homepage

9 minutes. Point made. Justin My Homepage

SpeedRacer, Isn't it kind of disturbing how you can leave a personal message for Clay in any forum on the entire website and he'll find it and reply in like 10 minutes? Justin My Homepage

Whatever, Kathy Lee..... Justin My Homepage

A lot of the demand for "coached jumps" depends on the DZ. I went all the way through 7 AFF jumps and about 30 more solo and 2-way jumps with very little knowledge about some basics. All the instructors told me I was doing fine, so I thought I was, for awhile anyway. While many of the jumpers at my home DZ are very experienced, there is a problem with the flow of information from them to the novices. Either they are busy doing their own thing and are unwilling to "lower themselves" to a simple 2 or 4-way jump that won't turn a lot of points, or they are willing but don't have the observation and communication skills to relay any valuable information to the novice. I see this somewhat as a failing of the DZ. It wasn't really until I went on a road trip to another DZ and paid for some training that I got someone who could skydive well (national champion) and had the skills to communicate to me what I was doing wrong and give realistic suggestions on ways to improve. That said, if a similar level of expertise had been available at my home DZ at the time from people wanting to help, I wouldn't have paid for the training. (Since I got my "A", some people have started filling this role. They aren't employees of the DZ, just friendly experienced jumpers willing to spend some time and jump tickets.) Nobody gave my any pressure to go to Skydive U, but it was a solution to the lack of guidance and help at my home DZ. I wouldn't tell everyone to do it, but I know that in my situation, it was worthwhile. I did 6 jumps with the instructor and learned a lot more than I had on the previous 40 or so at my home DZ. Justin My Homepage

I like the idea of coaching, but it has issues like everything else. I've done about 8 coached jumps (as the one receiving the instruction) and found them mixed. The jumps I did with Skydive U were definitely worth the money. Of the more informal coached jumps, well... it depends on the coach. One coach was basically worthless and one was pretty good. I've recently found a group that migrates around local dropzone near me helping out low-time jumpers. They don't charge. As discussed in this thread, they do it because they want to put back into the sport. They are Skydivers & Mentors. Justin My Homepage