steve1

I made my first million working as a timber faller in Western Montana. Made my 2nd mill. working as a 4th and 6th grade teacher. I'm presently working as a school counselor. I have to remind people that I do have a master's degree. Otherwise they wouldn't have a clue how smart I really am. I plan to begin working on Licensure this fall as an L.P.C.....Master Steve1

My hornet was really opening hard for a while. I now roll the nose 4 and 4 to the center. (3 or 4 rolls each). Pulling the nose of the slider out a little also seems to help. My bag is one size too small and I have been psycho packing it to get it all in there neatly. It hasn't spanked me for a long time....Steve1

When I first read this I wanted to disagree, because I knew a lot of draftees, during the 70's, who were every bit as good a soldier as those in the regular army. Many draftees back then figured two years in the infantry was better than three years if you enlisted. Some spent less than two years on active duty back then. So many were aware that they were about to be drafted and they let it happen. Many knew they would probably go to Vietnam, but I doubt if most knew what they were getting themselves into. But after thinking about it, I have to agree that an all volunteer army would be superior to any that could be produced with a draft. I went through infantry training in 1970 at Ft. Polk, Louisiana. (Better known as "Tiger Land"). Just about all these troops were being groomed for combat in Vietnam. I'd like to say that they were all great soldiers, but this would be far from the truth. I'd bet that over half had been drafted into the infantry. Many came from gangs in big cities, many had little education, some had a choice between jail and military service, and many had little loyalty to anyone but themselves. A few were also well educated, tough, and great soldiers (but not many). To tell you the truth...I couldn't imagine going into combat with such a motley crew. Some of these soldiers you'd try to wake up for their turn at guard duty, and you literally couldn't get them up. Many would fall asleep as soon as they went on guard duty. One guy was even bragging about how he had murdered a white guy in a parking lot, and how he had got away with it. And here I was, a 19 year old white guy, fresh off the farm. I recall one day when I walked out of my baracks, and was confronted by a group of blacks who were sitting on the steps. I didn't know what to say, but mumbled something like, "Boy it sure is a nice day out!" The next thing you know two of them were threatening to beat me up because supposedly I called them "Boy". I was a lot more careful when I said "boy" after that. You had to have lived back then to understand the racial tension that was in the Military during the early 70's. Some Blacks were my best friends, while others hated my guts because my skin was the wrong color. Some trainees were required to wear their helmets any time they went outside, because someone might throw bottles at you from a second story. Does this sound like todays military. Of course not. I'd hate to see it return to those standards. If a draft is re-instated I'd bet the lower standards go right along with it. I mean, how else could it be fair. And I don't mean to be slamming Blacks. Many of our best soldiers then and now are Black. I could tell just as many stories about some of the sorry-assed white-folk I trained with. But then again, I was in the National Guard, back then, so many might consider me to be a sorry-assed draft dodger. And I'll agree the National Guard (back then) was pretty much a joke. I'd have hated to gone into combat with many of these guys too, even though it was an S.F. unit....Steve1

I almost love psycho-packing....Steve1

Rossi is now, to the best of my knowledge, owned by Taurus. Taurus is one of the companies that started out making cheap S&W copies, and has discovered the benefits of high-quality manufacturing, so an old Taurus is not on a par with the current offerings. I've had my eye on a small 22 cal. stainless revolver made by Taurus. I think it is nine shot. Anyone have in opinions on it? I would rather have a kit gun made by S&W, but these are no longer made and are expensive, when you do find a used one. Thanks,....Steve1

Saw him at ZHills recently, but I don't think he's jumping. I hate to hear that. I hope Jerry returns to the air soon. I've looked up to the great Jerry Bird since the 70's. I wonder how Ray Cottingham is doing. He's another one of my heroes. It's the shits getting old...Steve1

There's nothing wrong with flat packing, if you want to continue doing it that way. I started out packing that way. I took a very long lay off too, and another old fart showed me the flat pack first. I then went to a pro pack, mainly because everyone else seemed to pack that way. I even had one guy make a snide remark when he saw me packing up my big ole F-111 canopy with a flat pack. I later got a smaller Z-P canopy and started pro-packing. I now psycho-pack and like it best of all. Actually it's a pro-pack (almost) and you roll it up to get it in the bag....Steve1

I guess I'm a draft dodger of sorts, when it comes right down to it. I was A-1 in 1969. The draft board was filling out the papers to draft me, because I wasn't in school. I really couldn't see any sense in the War that was going on. I mean why were we there? Everyone said it was to stop Communism, but I really couldn't see how that really made sense. Each week there were plane loads of bodies being flown back to the states. And yet the politicians thought they could somehow win over there, if they only had several thousand more troops. Being young and dumb and still quite "gun-ho" I was thinking seriously of joining the Marine Corps. I didn't want to be a clerk typist, and since I had always been a hunter, I figured I wanted a job where I could shoot a rifle. I know this sounds really stupid, but back then I probably was. These were some of the thoughts going through my head. I was also unemployed, and didn't have money for school (which would have kept me from being drafted). I hunted all Fall and came within days of being drafted. I mean they were filling out the papers at the draft board. And then, my old scoutmaster who was also a Sargent Major in a Special Forces National Guard Outfit called me up. Of course he was making some cash off of this by signing me up. I had some friends signing up also, and I thought I'd look really cool wearing a Green Beret. What I didn't fully realize until I arrived at Fort Polk, Louisiana (for Basic and Infantry training) was that you would have to spend about a year in training, and this training would be no picnic. I mean nobody was stupid enough to join an outfit like that. You didn't have to be connected to sign up either. There was no waiting list at all. So, I signed up. I didn't really realize what Special Forces was back then. To tell you the truth, I didn't think I could make it through the training, because they flunked out tons of people. I was 19 and looked several years younger. I also didn't realize that a special Forces soldier was a teacher and adviser in many cases, and that you would have to learn how to teach classes in the final phase of it. You know I kind of liked the ten mile runs, night jumps, shooting weapons, etc. I had one of the fastest times in the obsticle course in our training company, and was pretty lean and mean. But the thought of actually having to teach a class scared the hell out of me. I mean I was so shy I could barely give a book report let alone teach a class in front of large group of soldiers. I even thought of quitting over this alone because I didn't think I could do it. One thing they taught us during Method of Instruction week was to be fully prepared. So I'd stay up all night trying to memorize every word I was going to say, and somehow I made it through. I think this gave me the confidence to go on to be a teacher later in life. I spent 11 1/2 months on active duty before returning home to my Guard Unit as a weapons specialist. A friend of mine spent a year and a half in training as a medic before he returned. But you know I never felt good about wearing that Beret. Many of the people I trained with were going to Nam, and many weren't coming back. I'm sure they also felt I had no right to wear it even though I went through the training. I would have gone to Vietnam if I were activated, but the chances of that back then were slim. So in that sense, I was a draft dodger....Steve1

In my mind that is a serious problem. If poor leadership is in control would you blindly follow them. I wouldn't. Let's say Adolph Hitler were elected president of the United States and told everyone we are the super race and we need to conquer the world. Would you go along with it? Or for example, if he ordered you to start killing Jews. What then? I know this is an extreme example, but it illustrates a point. I think if the United States is involved in a war that is wrong to begin with, people need to voice their opinions and stand up for what they believe in, not just follow blindly whatever the government dictates. If a person decides not to serve I also think need to pay the consequences. Not everyone who refused to serve in Vietnam was a coward. I'll admit that during the Vietnam conflict I hated most draft dodgers. I still don't like Jane Fonda much. I think she should have been tried as a traitor to her country. But at the same time, maybe some of the people who refused to be drafted into a grunt outfit during an unjust war may have had the right idea. Many who served during that time period did so by choosing an MOS where they were almost guaranteed not having to serve in combat. If you were drafted you were almost guaranteed a slot in an Army or Marine grunt outfit. As a clerk typist you were probably going to work in a safe area in air conditioned comfort, and many chose the easier route. Sure they may have served, but I'm not so sure this wasn't just another way of avoiding the draft.....Steve1

I'm not sure I'm sold on Rossi firearms. I think some of them may be a little too cheaply built. I bought my daughter a Rossi pump 22. The magazine wasn't parallel with the barrel. Looked like a manufacturing defect. I've always liked the look and feel of S&W revolvers. If I remember right Rossi revolvers look very similiar. It would be nice if you could try one out before buying. I hate a stiff trigger or one that has too much play in it. This alone would cause me to change my mind on a gun purchase. Talk to a gun smith and see if there is anyway that it could be adjusted. I've never shot a Rossi pistol so I guess I'm not much help. The S&W revolvers that I've owned were all very accurate. I would recommend spending a little more and get something you truly like. As far as triggers go, I don't mind the ones on my S&W revolvers. Maybe they could be a little ligter. I have a S&W automatic though that has a terrible trigger. You have to pull about a 1/2 inch of slack before it even engages. I should trade it off....Steve1

If we ever end up with a war as unpopular as Vietnam, I think we could very well end up with a draft again. Back then the standards were lowered tremendously to get enough people in the fox-holes. High School drop outs, people with criminal back grounds (up to a point). were accepted readily. I think I'd take pride in being in todays military. I think I might even want to be a carreer soldier today because the standards are much higher. Back in the Vietnam era the standards for military acceptance were a lot lower, and I was glad to get out. Being a soldier in Vietnam was a very dangerous deal. Your chances of dieing or being crippled were great. And after all that, you received almost zero respect when you got home. I'm glad I missed out on that conflict. Not many people wanted to volunteer back then. I think the same thing could happen in Iraq if we start losing enough people over there, and if there is no end in sight. I hope it doesn't come to that though. I think there's a lot of truth to the fact that history does repeat itself. I'm not saying Iraq is another Vietnam, but who knows if we start needing huge numbers of troops over there, I think we may very well reinstate the draft. I'll bet the standards start dropping also. And what a huge injustice this often turns out to be. As in most wars the ones who end up being cannon fodder are young people who are in need of work, or the poor who can't afford to go to college to avoid a draft.....Just my 2 cents worth....(I hope I don't piss too many people off with this one.)....Steve1

Great post Steven, I've got to get my daughter skydiving. Depression runs in our family. My brother just drank himself to death a couple months ago. That was how he coped. My daughter was just accepted to Grad School but she doesn't feel like going because she is so down all the time. What a waste. She's a straight A-student. Valedictorian of her High School senior class. Beautiful. Yet she's depressed all the time. We got her on anti-depressants, but she's still having trouble. She made a tandem a couple years ago and loved every second of it. I hate the thought of introducing her to a dangerous sport, but maybe skydiving is just what she needs....Steve1

Ron, Sorry if I said anything I shouldn't have. I know little or nothing about being an instructor. Nor do I know much about the legal aspects of running a drop zone. You made many valid points, and maybe I need to listen instead of getting my knickers in such a knot. (I love that kind of talk)....Steve1

Ron, There's no reason to get so fired up over this. Some of your statements are definitely getting others riled up, including myself. Those people who are taking or have taken anti-depressants have a some insight on this problem. Those who have suffered from depression also have a lot of knowlege in this area. All they are trying to do is educate others on what depression is all about. They can see that there are things that many do no understand about this subject. Some of your statements reflect this. Just like many of us don't understand all that is involved to being an instructor because many of us have never been there. So it's good to hear that side of things from an instructor. Some of us don't understand all the legal issues, so it's good to hear that from a lawyer. It's just like a Wuffo coming up to you and saying I see you have way over 3000 jumps. You must surely have a death wish, and you surely must have suicidal tendencies. Why else would anyone make that many jumps out of a perfectly good airplane? And I don't want to hear your opinion on this. Of course I don't believe that, because I'm a jumper too and I look up to anyone who has that many jumps. But wouldn't that tick you off if you heard that. So when I hear we need to raise a red flag whenever a person on anti-depressants wants to make a jump it really pisses me off. Maybe this isn't what you said, but this is my interpretation of things. So in other words, this doesn't have to be a mud slinging event. Maybe we need to all settle down and listen with an open mind to what the other has to say.....Steve1

[ All antidepressants, including the newer generation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibiting (SSRI) medications, such as Paxil, Prozac, Effexor, Celexa, and Zoloft, are currently disqualifying, regardless of the reason for their use. Drugs that cause no apparent side effects on the ground can create serious problems with only moderate increases in altitude. Even for general aviation pilots flying at relatively low altitudes, the changes in concentrations of atmospheric gases, including oxygen and nitrogen, in the blood can enhance the effects of seemingly innocuous drugs and result in impaired judgment, decision-making, and performance." I've made about my last 300 jumps while under the influence of zoloft. I've noticed none of these side affects. In fact I think I do a better job in terms of relative work. There is less stress and I can focus more clearly. Take it for what it's worth. This is my take on the subject....Steve1

I've got to agree with Michelle on this one. Just because someone is on an anti-depressant is not a red flag "at all" that someone is suicidal. Ant-depressants are taken for a variety of reasons including stress. I have more than one friend with a stressful job and their medical doctors prescribed a type of anti-depressant to help them cope. Psychiatrists are not the only people who can prescribe them. Anti-depressants have to be one of the most common prescription medications out there, next to cholesterol-reducing drugs. In my opinion it is a huge misconception to think that just because someone who takes anti-depressants they might be some type of nut case who needs to be screened out of our sport. I also think the FAA needs to take a different stance on this issue. In my opinion our sport is loaded with people who should be on anti-depressants and who are in need of serious therapy. Yet most are in such denial of their problem, that they'll never go for the help they need. Many often end up dead one way or another or even resort to drugs and alcohol abuse to cope. If you don't believe this, come to Lost Prairie next summer and I'll point out some of these jumpers to you. I work as a counselor, and I do have some training in the area. I'd rather jump with someone who has come to grips with the fact they have a problem with depression and they are getting the help they need. Hell, I take Zolof myself. I wonder how many other jumpers out there take an anti-depressant. I'll bet the number would be a lot larger than most people realize. And then there are the jumpers who should be taking this medication but aren't. I'll be that number would be far greater yet....Steve1

PRICE REDUCTION - FOR SALE: Lost Prairie Montana 20 acres prime wooded land adjacent to Skydiving Lost Prairie Drop Zone. Lost Prairie (Marion), Montana - Located on Highway 2 near Glacier National Park, Libby and Kalispell, Montana. There is a capped well, power and telephone availability. The land is subdivided into two 10-Acre Parcels. $75K Negotiable - Share closing costs. Email: ericber@oz.net Please see www.festivemoments.biz for more information. --Art I think this is for land next to Lost Prairie DZ. I don't think Fred wants to sell his DZ....But he might....Also check out any liability issues before you buy a D.Z. Many drop zones are being shut down here in Montana because of the high cost of insurance. On one municipal airports the airport board is even demanding insurance that is unavailable. I think they have got around that hurdle, but the club is still having trouble with them...Steve1

I have to admit I've always had a gun or two not locked up in my own house for self defense purposes. After all what good is it if it takes too long to get it out when you need it. At the same time this can be a real danger. A friend of mine used to keep a 9mm. on his head board with a round in the chamber. One day his cat nocked it over and it landed on something solid. It went off shooting my friend through the head. Yes, it killed him. I went into another guys house a while back who had guns all over his house, with a bullets in the barrel of each. He also had several kids. I guess his plan was to teach his kids never to touch his guns or they were in big trouble. This sounded a little crazy though because kids usually have friends come over who don't know gun safety and are likely to pick one up. Once when my kids were little, we were moving. I had placed my 357 in my pickup. I had to run back in the house and left my daughter unattended for a few minutes. When I came back she had the pistol out of the holster and was holding it in her lap. It was fully loaded, and it scared the hell out of me thinking about what might have happened. I swore I wouldn't let that happen again. I think we all get careless at times......Steve1

I've been teaching a gun safety class in the school I work at this week. I think it can help save lives. I'd also like school kids to go home and tell their parents to lock their guns up to make their home safer place. There's lot's of derelick parents out there that don't take gun ownership very seriously. I too grew up with lot's of guns. I was lucky because gun safety was drilled into my head since day one. A lot of kids don't know the dangers and people die or are hurt because of it. I think the NRA also teaches gun safety in schools. I think this is good.....Steve1

Fergs, I do psycho-pack and really like it. Maybe I will trash the larger bands. No sense taking chances. Thanks.....Steve1

What a great weekend! I'm still sitting jumpless here in Montana, sniff, sniff. It even started to snow last weekend. sniff... I guess I can't complain though, the turkey hunting has been good. It just doesn't compare to jumping with friends at a fun place....Steve1

One of my professors in Grad School taught part- time and worked as a Clinical Psychologist full-time. He said that in his practice, he came across a few clients that could be diagnosed as having this disorder. He said it is more common than people believe. According to him, it often stems from severe cases of abuse at a young age. He told of one woman who had been sexually and physically abused by her father when she was about nine. She took on more than one personality to help her cope. It was kind of like a fantasy world she entered into. The woman was married and had a family. She did well most of the time, but there were times when she took on other personalities. He told of one time when she brought a loaded 357 into one of her sessions with this Dr. Her plan was to end it all in his office in front of the Dr. Luckily he talked her out of it. Interesting stuff.... I'm not very knowlegeable on the subject though. I'm sure lot's of people also fake this disorder in court....Steve1

The last M-1 Garand I shot was in weapons training at Bragg. I loved shooting it. Kind of on the heavy side. I suppose you could get one accurized that might shoot better than 4 inch groups. I've always loved bolt action rifles myself. They may not have the fire power of an automatic, but usually they are a lot more accurate. I've always been partial to Remington 700's. I've heard they are about the most accurate (out of the box) rifle you can buy. Then if you fine tune it with the right reloads, glass bed the action, float the barrel, and work on the trigger, you can end up with super-accuracy. And put a quality scope on it. I've got a few Remingtons that will group close to 1/2 inch at 100 yds. with the right reloads. But then again I wouldn't mind having a Garand. I liked shooting them a lot.....Steve1

They usually bring the one up from Eloy to Lost Prairie. Maybe you can get a jump out of it there. And you don't have to worry about oil spots either. It has a nice interior. It may take a while to get to altitude though. We used to rent several different DC-3's and Twin Beechs from the Smoke Jumpers, at Missoula, (back in the 70's). I don't think they have one left now. The new turbine aircraft they have now days really spoil you in a hurry...Steve1

I was taught to use a couple of tandem rubber bands on the first two stows. The guy who taught me this had a bag lock last summer. I'm not sure, but I think it could have been caused by these larger rubber bands. I still use tandem rummber bands on the first two stows but I make sure these stows are short and will release without too much pressure. Both my rigs have fairly small bags and it's hard to get them closed up properly without the extra strength of these two rubber bands.....Steve1