MikeJD

Hiya. I haven't had any coaching at Netheravon, but as an experienced jumper there I highly recommend it - they run a great operation and their facilities are excellent. Suggest you post this in another forum though, since we're not talking about wind tunnels

Does it look anything like this? If so, bury it again and don't post any more - or the men in black may be turning up with their flashy things.

Over here the only thing they worry about you carrying into a movie is food that you didn't purchase in the foyer!

If there has to be a point to Bonfire polls then we're really in trouble. There's no denying that ours is a very white-dominated sport, so I'd actually be quite interested to see the results of a properly-designed poll on ethnicity. Unfortunately this poll isn't it!

You're crazy, I saw it on the TV I think they got Cameron to do some CGI shit... Who needs CGI when you can have Gary Connery in a dress?

Yeah. You could even offer to drop him off at home so he can avoid the drive back... or maybe not.

She didn't. Just between you and me...

I didn't catch all of it, but what I saw I thought was pretty amazing. And yes, it did give me some sense of national pride - which can only be a good thing in a country not known for it. I would have to agree with those who argued that much of it would have been lost on non-Brits. In fact, a lot of the historical stuff would have baffled plenty of Brits too!

Dump damage?

I would have been four, going on five. I seem to remember watching it at the time, but given how young I was and how many times that footage will have been broadcast again over the years it's probably a false memory - or it was a later moon landing that I saw. I do remember the Apollo 13 drama - we said a prayer at school for the safe return of the astronauts.

But then you don't get to see the parachute go up when they open.

Yep, what Tommy said. You're probably underestimating just how skeered you're going to be! For many people on their first balloon jump it's enough of a facer having to climb up and step off the basket, without fooling around with no damned ropes. You're guaranteed to have a blast without overcomplicating things. Not sure whether it was mentioned elsewhere, but one thing that catches people out is suddenly realising they don't know the wind direction for landing - there may be no indicators if you land a long way off the DZ. Make a note of it before you take off and pick a reference (e.g. the direction of the sun) that you'll be able to use wherever you are. Enjoy!

You = funny lady. Shah, I don't think there's any such thing as phantom pain. If your shin hurts, what you have is real pain.

Aw, I only dropped in here to do the 'picky daters' post, and you beat me to it.

Try not to wag your tail in freefall - it screws with your stability.

Let's hope he never find his way to Tail o' the Rat. "Unlike a real blog, this one is pure fantasy because it depicts skydivers as normal people. Also, it degrades ducks by portraying them as skydivers. Basically, everything in it is incorrect and would have been better explained by me. Don't ask me how I know. I just do."

I was tempted to take a swipe at him, but that'd be like barking back at a yappy chihuahua... I for one have been unmasked How did he know!? Am I the only one who thinks the troll may know full well that he's talking nonsense, for the sole purpose of pushing our buttons? I replied a couple of times. I know, you should never argue with people on the internet! But I've tried to be civil and reasoned - rather than telling him he's an idiot. Clearly a lost cause, though...

I can enjoy any skydiving scene that uses real footage, regardless of what they do in editing. Anyway, you have to cut this one some extra slack because the whole Power Rangers world is pretty cartoon-y

Remember when we thought that about DVDs? Amazing how shoddy the DVD image (and to a lesser extent the sound) seems now in comparison to Blu-Ray. I can watch my old DVD movies happily enough, but it takes me a few minutes to adjust before I stop noticing just how poor the picture quality is. Same will apply to Blu-Ray a few years from now.

I do think it'd help for you to be a bit more specific. I doubt many people will give you even a vague offer of help unless they know what it is they're going to be carrying. Also, um - I assume where they're flying from also has some bearing?

First of all, glad that you survived (albeit this was a long time ago!) and sorry that you're still unable to work. Given that your pilot chute escaped, we have to assume one of the following: it wasn't properly stowed before you climbed out; your gear was poorly maintained; it was dislodged as you were climbing out. Do you know which it was? The first two scenarios could have been prevented by you or another jumper checking your kit on the ground or in the plane before you moved to the door. But regarding pin checks, I don't think that's a DZ-level policy decision. Pins can be (and sometimes are) dislodged in the plane, which is of course why many people opt to have them checked by fellow jumpers prior to climbing out. That's difficult to police and/ or enforce, though - I think it has to be a personal decision. On the other hand, in the UK we have flightline checks. This means that everybody must be checked by another jumper, and signed off on the manifest as such, before boarding the aircraft. There are set guidelines as to what constitutes a flightline check, although I guess in reality it might vary slightly according to who's doing the checking. To me, a rig check includes all of the following: Harness sound, fully in place and not twisted, chest strap fastened and routed correctly, 3-ring and cutaway cable assembly correct, reserve handle securely attached to the cable, cutaway and reserve handles accessible and properly stowed, main pilot chute secure in the pocket with the handle accessible but no loose fabric emerging, bridle line routed correctly, pins straight and securely engaged. I also check that the jumper has a helmet, knife and calibrated altimeter (all BPA-mandated), and if he or she has an AAD and whether it's switched on. Sounds like a lot of work, but it only takes a few seconds and I'm quite sure it's saved lives. Some people (including me) prefer that their flaps are not opened again when they've only just checked their pins and put their rig on, but at least the question is asked and it's a reminder to have someone else check your pins if you haven't just done it.

Ooh, ooh, I know a poem about tortoises getting it on... ...Male tortoise, cleaving behind the hovel-wall of that dense female, Mounted and tense, spread-eagle, out-reaching out of the shell In tortoise-nakedness, Long neck, and long vulnerable limbs extruded, spread-eagle over her house-roof, And the deep, secret, all-penetrating tail curved beneath her walls, Reaching and gripping tense, more reaching anguish in uttermost tension Till suddenly, in the spasm of coition, tupping like a jerking leap, and oh! Opening its clenched face from his outstretched neck And giving that fragile yell, that scream, Super-audible, From his pink, cleft, old-man's mouth, Giving up the ghost, Or screaming in Pentecost, receiving the ghost....

I think it's rude to take your goat into the grocery store It's a guide goat. I get special dispensation.

Last watch I had, I hid that uncomfortable piece of metal up my ass for two years. Seriously, I never wear a watch. My piece partner on my FS team had small hands and asked that I leave it off so that she could guarantee a better wrist grip, so I got into the habit of taking it off whenever I was jumping - which gradually developed into the habit of never putting it on.

I buy my corn in tins. Problem solved. But other examples of bad store etiquette that get my goat (probably more than they should): - People who pick something up and then later realise that they didn't want it after all, and just deposit it on some random shelf elsewhere in the store - especially if said item is supposed to be kept in the fridge or freezer. Go and put it back where it belongs - it's not that hard. - People who accidentally knock stuff onto the floor (applies especially to browsing through clothing racks) and then just leave it there on the assumption that some lowly employee will come and pick it up on their behalf.