MikeJD

Haven't seen the documentary so I don't know how it was put across, but I don't see why this should surprise you so much. Being a musician is a career to many, and surely most produce songs they think will be popular and thus sell records and concert tickets. I do have a soft spot for The Eagles - just because they made music to sell, doesn't mean it's not good music. Was this from interviews with the band, or just the documentary maker's opinion?

OK, so putting this and this together - seems to me all you need to do is use your robe to line the litter box.

This is definitely one of those cultural difference things. You have to dress spooky over here.

Maybe we should have a new forum just for the younger members: 'The Creche'.

OK, I'm not going to open that link

I got stuck on question 3. I don't consider myself a big risk taker in general, but I don't see how any skydiver can call themselves risk averse.

Really? Round here it's been Christmas for months already. Drives me insane. So, in the spirit of the thread (but bending the rules just a smidgen), here's my contribution: ************************** Strolling in the glare Of an August afternoon Shop-front signs declare You cannot start too soon Festive goods appear In every major store Just one hundred shopping days What are you waiting for? Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the year. Oh what fun it is to spend For a date that's nowhere near. Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Making such a din. We have to clear the shelves before The springtime stock comes in.

Wouldn't want to commit to favourites, but three I really like: A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving: just one of the most vividly realised characters ever. Surely the only child in fiction who sounds like he's screaming when he talks! And the story is hilarious, moving, gothic and has BIG THEMES. I lost a bit of liking for Owen as he gets older, though - I think he becomes less interesting. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer - about another fascinating child character, who goes on this slightly surreal quest after his father is killed on 9/11. This really moved me too, and sometimes infuriated me because it's a bit too knowingly clever in parts. Still highly recommended. The Hunters by James Salter, because of its aviation theme (it's about about US fighter pilots during the Korean war) but also for its lean prose. I'm a big fan of understatement in writing, and I get turned off when it's overwrought (I'm thinking Robert Ludlum and Dan Brown). The Hunters is quite a short read as well - too many books make better doorstops than novels.

Apparently we're getting there. But they're phasing it in gradually.

Isn't it past your bedtime?

Pullups are too precious to leave at home - I have a hard enough time finding mine at the DZ - but they have come in handy over the years for: Emergency bootie repair on run-in. Emergency plane door securer on run-in. Emergency helmet elastic replacement on run-in. Never mind your towel - you should always know where your pullup is!

I agree. His stuff is inspired, but unfortunately you can't applaud one grafitti artist and condemn another just because you have a different view of the value of their work. Where do you draw the line?

No, but I would swap my child for an AAD, given that my Cypres isn't far from expiry. Don't worry, I don't actually have any children.

Nice shots. Looks like good weather again this year too... I was there in 2003 (gorgeous) and 2004 (nasty!)

Mm-mmm. I bet that smells great.

Sorry to hear about this, and thanks for the good advice. Don't beat yourself up, though - animal behaviour can be pretty quirky, and it's easy to make the mistake of just waiting to see if they'll get over stuff. I lost both of my cats to illness earlier this year, within a few days of each other. Afterwards I was asking myself whether the alarm bells should have rung earlier for me. You never know whether it would have made any difference, but it's natural to feel guilty. You obviously love your dog, and it's not your fault she became ill. She needs you more than ever - take good care of her!

I'm always surprised when this question comes up. For me listening to music while skydiving would be a bit like, say, reading a book while skiing.

Probably a fair profit on that, but there's not much you can do for less than £30 these days. I'd give it a go too, next time I'm there. Don't know much about the technology, though. I presume you're in freefall for the first however many feet. How far down does the deceleration begin? Or does the fan resistance keep you at a constant speed most of the way down?

But you can open them at work, if they're attachments hosted on dropzone.com. You just have to do it when nobody's looking.

Funny how everyone always thinks it's other people who are idiots. Some of us must be mistaken.

I thought they were doing pretty well with that article until I read that he was 'visibly struggling to open his lips against the force of the gust'.

'...idiot whuffos'? '...she's just a whuffo who doesnt know any better'? And you're asking if you should be upset? You know, I'm not convinced by this whole non-skydiver/ mental deficiency equation.

With that car, I wouldn't care either.

I have this weird compulsion to look in threads complaining about US fuel costs. I guess I do it just to make myself feel miserable.

'Cadillac of the skies!' We have a UK-based P-51 that flies in pretty regularly to the airfield we use for our dropzone. We also get a Spitfire coming in less frequently. The Spit's a beautiful aeroplane, of course, but the Mustang is a beast - much bigger, still beautiful and a lot more imposing. And yep, they're both Merlin-powered. I think only the early Mustangs had Allison engines. It was the combination of the advanced airframe with the Merlin engine that really made it a winner.