jimmytavino

ok kelp... well thanks..still i find it tough to believe that the "employed" total Half of ALL citizens..... seems like that's a lot my O P was mostly off the cuff and from my own intuition, if you will...and maybe tinged with sadness and cynicism... so maybe 35% are "not working' , yet they are not even factored in... 35 % is still Seven Times the numbers given to us , by the 'experts'..... Now don't even get me started about the Productivity level of todays worker..... as compared to years past... and i refer to True productivity..... that's a whole separate topic... jmy

good question... first i look around and i mean REALLY look... i already have a general idea of where i am because i look at the ground just prior to deployment... once open i do that visual scan, then i look at each of my 3 ring locking loops to be sure that they are solid, intact, and that the locking cable(s) are where they should be... I lose the swoop cords which i wear across my palms , unclip my wing snaps at my legs, look around for any camera worthy visuals, collapse my slider, pop my brakes, head for home...the video camera gets put into standby mode,, and may or may not be re set to record before landing, depending on whether i am doing a working jump or a fun jump.. it's sometimes nice to be in record mode if my flight path for 'final' coincides with the location of the sun, and therefore will allow for a good 'shadow shot' of my landing...

so as we read, and as we are spoon fed by the media, it is reported that the 'unemployment rate' is 5 %............ well I dispute that statistic........ the true unemployment rate , should be based on this condition..... how many men And women,,,, between the ages of 21 and 62 years of age? HAVE a J. O. B. at which they spend 32 hours a week or more??? we count EVERYone... Not just those who are "collecting unemployment benefits"... I live and work in a medium sized US city... and i travel throughout the area, frequently, and I SEE certain evidence that MANY MANY able bodied adults of the age range noted above, do Not Now, or have not EVER, and likely will not in the near future, be employed.... Especially in the city, i see people doing mostly nothing,,,hanging around on sidewalks, sitting on porches, gathering in groups, to 'socialize', play cards, shoot dice, litter the neighborhood, and waste the day,, while the sidewalks and very yards of the homes which they inhabit, are littered with debris, overgrown vegetation, junk vehicles, and general garbage...I see young and old alike,, walking out of a corner store, tearing open a bag of chips or a candy bar wrapper, and tossing them on the ground, like it's the most natural thing in the world... Chain link fences, which collect this debris like a seine net,,,,gives testimony to the fact that while the offender figures,, " someone gets paid to clean the streets", the reality is that No One is cleaning the streets... there is a huge need for local crews to handle just That. but with tight budgets, and other priorities and a citizenry which finds such work,, "beneath them".... the vicious cycle continues.... i would venture to say that the rate of those who DO NOT WORK..... just HAS to be closer to 50 %.... it has to be... The various agencies who track such things, use skewered data, I M H O ..... 5 percent.. simply does not reflect what I see out there every Day... Even In suburbia, where the homes are "palaces' and there MAY be a high ticket wage earner at the helm....often a spouse or adult children have No NEED to work,,, so they don't... The well - to - do wives, of big dollar types,,,MAY contribute to the local economy at resaurants, boutiques, hair salons, and country clubs.. but If we poll every man and woman of the ages mentioned above, and ask the simple question.. "do you have a Job"?... again i state,,,, the true answer would be 50 % or MORE,, do not....regardless of their need to work, or their freedom NOT to work... plainly speaking.. It's possible that more people do not work, than Do..... Am i accurate,, or am I waaay off base... feedback is welcomed... enlighten me... or else be enlightened BY me.... jimmytavino, a working man since the age of 14.

hahaha Exactly!!!!! now that's taking "stimulus" to the next level.... let's hope your pal can still pay his rent...!!! jmy

what a fun time huh, Broke??? the poem was one written by a guy named Tim Rogers... maybe in the mid 70's.. it's The Phantom Tenth Man....... I read it I loved it. I decided to memorize it. so i could share it...with fellow skydivers... BUt I won't write it down, that's plagiarism... wanna hear it???? come to skyfest 2009!!!!!

a few more jpegs from jimmy P S J said i could be an "adopted cousin".... and i'm honored !!!

broke... weren't you the guy with whom i sat, for 20 minutes trying to firewire to your mac????? maybe not. anyway I got , i think 4 scr dives,,on vid...and 3 hoop dives.... some of them i docked on,,, (cause they were little ways, and needed to be grown to at least 8...) some i stayed outside... some built to 5 or 6 some built to 7,, some built to 8 or more ,, some only held 2 seconds, some 5 or 6. there was a solid 10 way... with a couple still out... mostly though..... Non - builds... or borderline "held 5 seconds".... now do you really wanna see the vids????? ..or.... lets just go with the L O 's interpretation, of the relative success of the dives.. capice? attached are a few shots... the second one is for Adam, (sletzer ) , who did a fine job on all the dives... thanks sangiro for the bandwidth... which allows for these pictures...to be shared... signed, the guy. pops 3935 4 stack 930 scr 6190 nscr 1817 A 3914 D 12122

very good question DougH. a certain synchronization and smoothness is needed, and not always easily learned... (though i have very little riding experience) Your point shows an understanding of just one of the many things , involved in considering motorcycle transportation. Our son,,,(22 y.o.a.) is right now trying to convince me of the neeeed!!! for him to buy a motorcycle and so this thread has been of real interest to me.. Thanks to everyone with the common sense replies,, AND thank you AggieDave for squelching that decades old scenario... of a biker wearing a rig,, which somehow deploys... sure we can envision such a thing... but that alone prevents its' happening.... a training course certainly sounds right... and good point about the need for instruction... just like with any new endeavor... in our particular case i feel the money he wants to spend on a bike, 1000 dollars will buy 200 + gallons of gas... In the car which good old mom and dad provided him, ( a chevy lumina V6 ) he'll get 25 m p gallon... so that is 5000 miles..... heck he won't drive 5000 in a YEAR..... plus the cost for the Bike,, is with the Machine DRY..... so NOW on top of it,, he has to fuel the thing, and insure it, and get a helmet, and get protective apparel, AND get rain gear,,,,cause sometime when we're driving somewhere,,, IT rains!!! hahah, and get prepared for a possible beakdown,, cause a 1,000 dollar motorcycle sound like trouble!!! to me... hahaha.. One has to think long and hard about making such a purchase and accept the reality that experience is not bestowed upon us... simply by inserting a key into a machine, and making it START.. when you hit the switch... frankly, i love him and am concerned about his well being, and maybe BECAUSE i skydive, i have the rational understanding of the need to assess the risks..... which rise substantially for those who are new to an activity... good luck to those who follow the sensible approach to learning . Carry a Guardian Angel with you, to offset the crazy and unpredictable auto drivers out there... jmy pops 3935 nscr1817 4stack 930

George Carlin has/ had a GREAT Mind.... not only to envision and perfect the hugely thought provoking and Funny bits which he performed in his shows... BUT to be able to rattle it all off for hours at a time,,,, seamlessly....

regarding jumping in winds..... most dz's will not dictate whether YOU, or ME or anyone should get on the manifest... they will only go on a HOLD,, when things get to a certain wind speed, which can vary from place to place... you are wise to pay attention, and use good judgement in this regard.. if your profile is accurate you seem to average less than 10 jumps per year.... and so a bit of extra care is certainly called for.... have fun stay safe, err on the side of caution... enjoy your visit... jmy

Well Done !!! I too remember Joe.. his ad in parachutist used to read "Joe D Reliable Gear and Rigging" or something along those lines....

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ So far the examples cited as evidence that this may not be a good idea involve people snagging the cutaway main on their feet and thereafter becoming entangled. What about simply reaching out and grabbing a piece of the main with one's hand? It would seem that it would be easy enough to let go if it became a control problem. Anyone know of any examples of such a "save?" Cheers, Jon S. Jon... i KNOW you can't be serious... and that this comment is meant as 'tongue -in-cheek'. Of course.... it's just as BAD ,,, to try to grab a cutaway main, with your hand... hell it's alot worse!!!... what are you gonna do???? LEt GO ?? of a toggle... 'c'mon..... you're just being silly... right??? I believe that you have a lot more savvy..... than to suggest such a thing... There is absolutely NO assurance of what all those lines and canopy material , might do,, while trailing from ANY part , of a descending jumper...and when it goes to shit.... it 'll go there with a vengeance... Bottom Line..... A cutaway canopy is a Bad bad thing... hell It just backfired,,,, malfunctioned, for Gods' sake....smote it's master.... required it's owner to "lose it",,,, and we wanna come around and give it a chance to 'fuck over' someone else....???? no thanks...... It's bad news, dirty stuff, and for the moment NEEDS to fall to the ground,,,, un abated... Avoid it, likes it's a disease..... until after it lands... jmy

Tim Russert a keen mind, great thinker...and FAIR moderator... I watched Meet the Press as often as i could, and always learned things... His voice and pleasant way will forever be engrained in my mind ,,, alongside the aroma of my sunday Morning bacon, and eggs... one of western New Yorks' favorite Sons... jt

you either have it or you don't... My Father used to say... " you don't work... you don't eat" Everybody wants a JOB Not everybody wants to WORK for me, it's a case of a clear conscience when i lay down to go to sleep. plus in my work,, If I don't do it,,, NO one will... jmy

what a thread.

good job grannyinthesky.....

i knew there was something about D Kucinich,,, which i liked..... jmy

if you're flying in a comfortable position,,, and the attitude of your head feels "normal".....then just adjust the base of the camera "uphill" by small increments,,, ( shims) til you're more centered... i.e. adjust the camera to the helmet attachment,,,instead of having to "lift your head" all the time. ....providing that the helmet seats itself the SAME,,,, on your head,,, all the time... jmy

right back at you James..... what a wonderful, WONDERFUL time...

. . . . . pm sent... jmy

i'd say that i am "hardlyConnected"...because that is what I WANT..... cell phone... desktop computer, email. web... that's about it. No blackberry No IM no wireless internet Still use a land line phone with answering machine...for most business related needs... Clients, prospects, and even new folks inquiring about our services, can EASILY connect with me..... without MY having to even speak with them... I DO respond and return calls, responsibly, and promptly, at which point I connect with them.... and at my covenience..... pretty primitive in terms of technology, i suppose... but it works for me...and I am never at anyone's beck and call... i use my cell phone mostly for outgoing calls, and seldom give the number to people.... (Only certain special friends)

I gotta admit that was my first thought. Blues, Dave ditto... could it be that a determination had been made that the "jump" would not be survivable.. or some other aspect of the plan was found to be faulty... and so they just "let the whole thing drift away" , willing to accept the shame of "idoicy" rather than the potential for "loss of life".. yet be unwilling to cancel..... at the twelfth hour... i DUNNO...... seems awful weird to have the damn balloon not secured.....any reason to be filling it with helium BEFORE the gondola had been attached???? ( static elec. etc ????? ) only just picked up on this story, a couple of days ago.. was sad to see it end that way.... wow... lots of coin..... lots of work. lots of nuthin'..... too bad. as for the OP yes... you are correct,,, in feeling that the sponsers are Not "getting what they bargained for"...if the loss of the envelope was due to negligence.... could be trouble for the team... jt

the thread is "quarter-twenty"... jt

i can see from your profile that you've already visted Z Hills, and you jump @ the Ranch... great... save on traveling costs, and stay away from real heat and humidity and cruise around the Mid Atlantic and new England areas... Cross keys, Long Island, Sky's the Limit,,, and then to the north, C P I , Jumptown, Pepperell, Lebanon Maine,,, (Tunnel in New Hampshire ) Fingerlakes Skydivers, Upstate NY, are all a reasonable drive. from NYC and from each other... the northeast is great in summer... and lots of other things to do and see in the areas near dz's..... If the traveling isn't an issue,, the midwest is a fine choice as well... .....break out your parachutist group member directory and a road atlas,,,, and plan away...!!! jt ps. thanx for educating the generation of the future..... enjoy your well -earned time off.....

good job. on the plane... ...now a real GUESS... white helmet... redJumpsuit piggyback rig, much like what is seen in Masters of the Sky... CREATIVE photographic angle....... farm lands of maybe southern cal. ???? Carl Boenish .????? uh oh maybe Not..... Since if it was him, he'd probably be wearing cameras,,, also.... oh well... carry on.