MikeJD

Hi, I understand the size limits for uploading profile pictures, but is there an optimum size and/ or colour set that'll help the picture retain its quality when it's displayed? I've recently uploaded a pic that's very simple, and looks nice and smooth on my Profile page and in the Profile Pictures browser - but horrible when displayed with my posts. I realise the format is smaller, yet I've seen other users' avatars that are similar but display well. I've tried lots of different sizes, including much smaller than 1000 x 1000 px, and all of these look great when viewed externally - but not on the page. Is there some form of compression at work other than just resizing the image, and if so how should I optimise for it? Thanks!

Great. Now I can lose 256GB worth of data in one go!

Popsjumper, agree with everything you said. I think we're slightly at cross purposes because by 'newer jumpers' I mean (as I failed to make clear in my post) not students, but those with relatively low experience - let's say people with 100 jumps. Load organisers and fellow canopy pilots won't make any special allowances for them, but very often I see them continuing to fly in the way I've described simply because it's all they know. You can be off student status with only a handful of canopy flights under your belt, and as you rightly say it's unrealistic to expect you to have learned much up to that point. We take care to teach people further freefall skills (not least effective tracking!) before we let them go and jump with others - but I don't remember anyone coaching me further in the fine art of sharing the sky with other people under a parachute. Since I learned originally there have been new certifications introduced in canopy handling, but these still seem to be very much focused on the individual - e.g. teaching landing accuracy, and safe high-performance landings. Given the number of accidents involving canopy collisions close to the ground, I think there's more to be done.

Some of their earliest are classics, but I guess my favourite is The Fly. I thought The Joshua Tree and The Unforgettable Fire were getting a bit pompous, and Achtung Baby was a great re-invention.

together with the Spitfire, Dairy Milk, and East17 East 17 aren't even the finest thing to come out of East 17!

I remember when it got its 'starring role' in the Falklands war, I thought of it as an old aeroplane already. That was the best part of 30 years ago. I had no idea in those days how long-lived some aircraft designs are!

There may be weekends For all you lucky people But I am working. (I hope emoticons don't count as syllables).

The problem is that when you are learning you will misjudge your approach sometimes. Sometimes you will be too low/the wind will be stronger than you thought and you will be short, but sometimes you will be higher/wind will be be less than you thought and you will be too long. Agreed, but as per my earlier post I really think newer jumpers are far more likely to be too long than too short, because nobody has given them the confidence or the proper training to fly a predictable rectangular pattern - they're not comfortable heading away from the target. By positioning themselves just downwind of the landing point and then S-turning, or spiralling, or sitting on brakes, they think they are 'playing it safe', without realising the menace they're causing to those approaching from further out. So I think it's mainly an education issue. Too often the only canopy skills that are taught are those required to get you on the ground where you want to be. Flying in traffic requires a lot more discipline and awareness.

I don't really have enough tunnel experience to comment, but Bodyflight Bedford used to have two doors and now has only one. They must have had a reason for changing the configuration, and there must be plenty of people who've flown in there a lot both before and after the change. Maybe you should try contacting Bodyflight direct - they can probably advise you.

Funnily enough the UK just lowered its threat level earlier this week from "severe" to "substantial" (I thought that's what this thread would be about). I do like your terms better though.

As a gay, retarted flunky I take exception to your post.

I think the guy's taking some flak because of this quote, which itself is probably taken out of context. We don't need an official worldwide skydiving anthem, but I'm guessing he wasn't completely serious. As for the song, it's not really to my taste but it's well produced and he's obviously put a lot of effort in. And I don't blame him at all for trying to get maximum exposure - it's a songwriter's dream to have their work reach a huge audience. He comes across as a nice guy, and credited people on here for the input they gave him. I say good luck to him.

Like this?? http://www.sirlistalot.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/furries-wrong.jpg I haven't dared open that, and I'm wondering whether it should have a NSFW label. Maybe the words 'furries' and 'wrong' are enough of a clue, though.

Have you even seen an AN-2? The plane in the video has half as many wings and twice as many engines as an AN-2! [Crazy] I think you're missing a long-running joke.

Come closer and I'll whisper it in your ear.

Shah, really sorry to hear you broke yourself so early in your jumping career. Take care to let yourself heal properly, and remember there's no need to make any decision about going back to the sport, or not, until you have.

This is also my excuse.

Nice one! Four AFF jumps in a weekend isn't bad going at all. It took me 5 weeks to complete my 8 levels. Sounds like you'll be qualified in no time if you keep it up.

Oh, the animals on our DZ (sheep and llamas) are often not penned and wander the landing area at will - so it's quite a challenge to come back with clean shoes. It does encourage stand-up landings though! The sheep are especially fond of the pea gravel in the pit. It's like one big ovine litter tray.

Wouldn't do you any good. That sucker would chase you down. I wonder if they can jump. Imagine that... that thing would take your leg off, if it can open a coconut.. Yeah, it'd take your leg off just to slow you down. Then it'd toy with you for a while.

Wouldn't do you any good. That sucker would chase you down. I wonder if they can jump. Imagine that...

Yeah, I saw the movie and interviews with her. More guts than I'll ever have, that's for sure. I don't know whether she's a jumper - she'd probably find it a little tame.

I'd say: If you want cats, get cats and they will take care of your mouse problem. But of course you have to take care of them. If you just want to catch mice, set traps. Good luck either way!

Fly free, pullup cord.

The trees or the newspapers? I do know that if you take all the trees and put them in a tree museum, you'll be able to charge people $1.50 to look at them. Some say as much as $25.