skydived19006

So, where the hell is all this ethanol going to come from? It's already driving up the cost of grain. Are we going to convert all our farm land to growing corn/grass/what the fuck ever so we can burn our food in our vehicles? Maybe we stop importing fuel, and start importing all of our food? I know! Airplanes have a whole lot of wing surface, and we fly for the most part during the day. Solar panels on the top of the wings, and a electric motor spinning the fan blade! Talk about green! I don't believe that there is a single sole on earth who's read and understands this piece of legislation. It's stupid on top of stupid. As usual, enjoy your unintended consequences. In the end when all goes south, I'm sure it'll once again be "big business", "greedy rich people", "George Bush" etc. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

So, as I understand we’re considering placing a cap on carbon emission in this country. As a business owner I’ll somehow be issued some number of “carbon credits.” I don’t know if the Carbon Czar will be in charge of deciding how many carbon credits I get, if I have to purchase them or what. Regardless, it sounds to me like jump prices just went up. Now, let’s say my business gets enough carbon credits to burn 12,000 gallons of 100LL each year, however the hell much carbon that may be. I’ll also assume that carbon credits will come to be brokered, if GM (Government Motors) needs a few more carbon credits to expand their burgeoning business, they’ll have to purchase them from another entity. Let’s say that the carbon credit market gets fairly tight, and all the sudden my credits are worth big money. If the market dictates that the carbon credits issued to Myrtle Aviation Inc. DBA Air Capital Drop Zone are worth $500,000, the only reason I can think of for not closing down my cooperation is the chance that my carbon credits will someday be worth $600,000. Oh well, if this scheme kills skydiving in the US, we can all travel to China, or India. I’m fell all warm and fuzzy inside just knowing that such benevolent and intelligent, even omnipotent folks have risen to power, and know what’s best for us all. Utopia has to be just over the next hill! I’m so giddy, I’m about to piss myself in anticipation! Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I'll throw in a story. I wasn't the TI, but shooting vid on this one. The guy was in his 50s, out of shape, and apparently suffered from asthma. Mark got him out of the 182, on the step, and right about the time he rolled off, the guy "went to sleep" on him. He woke up at some point shortly after the canopy opened. Told Mark "Son, I just shit myself!" Writing that was enough to make me laugh about it again. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I'll give it a try, ordered one. Looks reasonable, using a gyroscope, and a lot more of a "do it anywhere" alternative to swinging a pendulum around. http://rehabworks.ksc.nasa.gov/education/protocols/basicwristelbow.php Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Any TIs here broken an arm? How long before you were back doing tandems? I broke my left radial just above the wrist, compression fracture, no displacement May 27th. The cast came off June 26th, but my wrist is still quite weak, and limited range of motion, I have a rehab routine I'm working on. No doubt age plays a factor, I'm 44. Last time I broke an arm was 1972, I don't remember the rehab issues when I was 7, but then maybe I just don't remember? Anyway, I'd planned/hoped to be back to doing working jumps by this coming weekend, but it's obvious at this point that it ain't happening. Now shooting for 7/18. No, it wasn't a skydiving injury. I went roller skating with my 7 year old son for a school trip. There just isn't much that says "safe" about that shit! Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I looked on the USPA Membership Database, and found Krisanne at D29960, and the last number assigned as of right now being D29962. The A number is now up to A55,753, so over 36,000 A licenses have been issued since I got mine (A19518) circa 1994. Where did they all go? Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Deep fried to a crisp. It's cool, just hang onto that old bacon grease, and put the whole damn package in the pan next time, totally submerged. Crisp and even every time! Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

yep, just like the lottery, "It's all 50/50, you either win or you don't." Lottery idiot interviewed on TV Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

We will never run out of oil. As supplies dwindle, the cost of production will increase, and at that point the market will force a move away from oil. I say fuck the grand kids, just like the current administration has with the multi trillion in debt it's saddling them with. They're fucked regardless of whether I drive my car or not. We should consider making learning to speak Chinese mandatory in our government schools! At least all that spending has fixed everything, it was such an emergency to get-er-done that nobody could spend the time to read the damn thing, just like this current piece of shit legislation. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I'd rather let the market decide. The market decided that we should tap our own oil reserves, but the government says "no." The market decided that nuclear is a cheap alternative to fossil fuel, but our government said "no." The market said that coal is in abundance and cheap source to generate electricity. The market said that wind is not economical, the government says otherwise (subsidies). Hell, even hydro is economical, and "green" but the government says no to that too, can't dam the river, it might affect a fish. You want me to pay $5 or $10 a gallon for gas, and you want to double my electric bill, I'd rather not. This legislation is going to fairly well kill domestic production of oil through taxation, and thereby increasing our dependence on foreign oil to 100%. Got'a increase our dependence in order to decrease our dependence. Nice logic. Arguing here is pointless anyway, maybe once Joe Public is hit with all these new taxes, he'll start thinking again while in the ballot box. Nahh, he'll still vote for the best looking beauty contestant, and the one who promises the most to him and will somehow make his life better by punishing those who are "more fortunate" or who "won the lottery of life", regardless of the reality. At least those of us earning less than $250,000 are exempt from all the new taxes. It's not a tax on me, if it's a tax on my energy, regardless if my bottom line is affected a few thousand dollars a year. Skydivers won't even complain when av gas, and jet A doubles, and their jump tickets cost another $10. It's all for our betterment. "Those who know what's best for us must rise and save us from ourselves." Neil Peart Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

fun stuff huh............ Yep, be careful what you wish for...... Problem is as I see it, what "the masses" wish for, I get too. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Maybe if we can get cap-n-trade passed, it'll drive fuel prices above $5 a gallon, maybe even to $10!! Also, if we can push unemployment to above 15%, the economy will be in such a shape that nobody will be able to afford fossil fuels anymore, and we'll have reached utopia! I can hardly contain my excitement! I live in Wichita Kansas, Cessna has all but shut down production! How damn cool is that! Just imagine all those jets that won't be flying around polluting the atmosphere. And all those former Cessna employees are now enjoying their vacations! Let's spend some more money, run up more debt, raise taxes, kill the economy, take over health care, maybe we can collapse the most evil country the earth has ever seen! Did I say utopia? Have a nice day! Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I've done it years ago. With a good student harness, it shouldn't be too uncomfortable. If it's out of a turbine, maybe deploy around 10k to shorten the canopy time a bit? Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I did one a few years ago. Nice though, it was a 105,000 cu ft balloon (big). He took us to 10k agl, which lends a level of comfort for sure! We rolled off backwards, I was probably 1000'+ into ff before I put the drogue out. Sunday morning over Talaqua OK, all the farmers were apparently at church. But figuring out how to get back to the airport is just all part of the adventure! A couple of former skydiver, now commercial balloon pilots and I have discussed offering balloon tandems. The price point would have to be $500 to $1000 to make it work. Then, there's the damn 4:00 am "lets go!" call issue. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

We (my wife) do take/give the time. For our "mom and pop DZ" time on the phone equates to one additional reason not to attempt to offer AFF. We train IAD, and tandem. From a 1-182 DZO standpoint, I "need" to bring enough new people into the sport to maintain future staff. I have no aspirations of growing into a turbine, or for that matter a 2-182 DZ. I train "too many" new skydivers, and it would just back up the manifest. Not that this has ever really been much of an issue, at least to me (some fun jumpers don't like to spend all day at the DZ to make their 3 or 5 jumps). Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

The "money argument." It's generally more about priorities. Maybe choose not to drive a $30,000 vehicle, sell your jet skies, 4 wheelers, etc. That said, the prospective student has to be at a place in life where they have both the "spare" time and money. A mommy with 5 young kids, eat'n on food stamps, and any time/money expensive hobby aren't a good fit. All that said, at that point "AFF, or SL" is moot. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

An issue that doesn’t occur to people unless you answer the phone is time. If you’re explaining one method to someone with zero knowledge, it’s a 2 to 5 minute conversation. Add a second training option and unless it’s a “Oh, we want to go attached…” conversation, it’s a 10 to 30 minute call. Now, go into a conversation on “which is better, SL, or AFF” and you’re looking at 20 min to an hour. No biggie if it’s one call a day, but even with my little one 182 DZ, it can be 20 calls a day, though the vast majority are “Oh, we want to go attached…” Sure, you can always simply tell them to go look at the web site, but you need to be careful with that. The customer feels like their spending a lot of money, and that they should be given all the time they think they need. Maybe that’s why SR concentrates on Tandem “Don’t spend time explaining options, just get the damn credit card info! Our business is making money, not skydiving!” Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Though I do tend to be quite satirical, no pun intended. I'm very tempted to go into another USPA rant, but primarily do to one finger typing (broken arm, roller skating incident) I won't. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I didn't read through the whole thread. Method is driven by economics. Also, in areas where the population is less dense, maintaining staff is an issue. I'd struggle like hell to staff for AFF, it would mean 2 or 3 Instructors being at the DZ every weekend from 8 am till 8 pm, oh, and do that 40 hr day job thing. Quality in my opinion has more to do with the quality of instruction than method. We had a student travel to Florida, train AFF, then do 10 +/- solo jumps. When he showed up at our DZ i asked to see his A card, he didn't know what I was talking about. Dollar for dollar, a SL/IAD student Will have 50+ jumps, while the AFF guy has 20. Then there's the culture. Once students at small 182 DZs complete their license, the staff and up jumpers still will jump with them! Wow! The USPA seems somewhat bent on killing SL too. If it weren't for a few on the BOD like Peek, and Mullins carrying the water for the "Mom and pop operations" (Mullins term) maintaining a small DZ would be harder yet! The USPA BOD is dominated by large DZ guys who have forgotten, or never had exposure to how a small operation works. The ISP was designed around AFF, with the "second rate" methods worked in as an after thought. Obviously all the above is my opinion, and from my perspective. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

heck... the 7 year old can probably figure it out... the question is can he teach you... Non-linear editing really isn't as hard as you'd think... if you can figure out posting on dz.com then you can figure out how to use vegas... Oh, I know that I could learn. I'm fairly savoy, I maintain my web site, etc. It's more of a time and motivation issue. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

$80 for that video. Anyone have a copy I can borrow? I have a 7 year old who likes computers. Maybe I can hold out for another 7 years? Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I'm either a Luddite, lazy. or cheep. Well, maybe all of the above. But then I only work 60 to 80 hrs a week. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Well then, how would you suggest an old school analog guy go about get'n reeducated? We're still using PC9s, Linear editing, and believe it or not 35mm film. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Ok I'll concede, that if nothing useful was gained through water boarding, then it was a waste of time. Maybe one indicator of it's effectiveness is that we only used it with three of these good fellows. That said, what I am generally hearing (maybe it's just me) from the other side of the isle is simply "no", regardless of what may have been gained. It was a biased poll, but then aren't they all? Martin Aren't all DZOs assholes by definition? (BTW I'm a DZO so it's pointing my finger at me. The Man isn't going to ban me for calling DZOs assholes is he?) Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

All right, I give up. I vote we close Gitmo, and simply shoot the rest in the field. We can't get good information out of them anyway regardless of how nice, or mean and nasty we are. I know I'm an ass hole. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ