LuvToFly

I've seen people on student gear get relief by wearing a couple of pairs of shorts (over their long pants or sweats). It can decrease that cutting of the one-size-fits-all student leg straps quite a bit - "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

This is the key Phrase in the AD statement... "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

I think you've got it pegged right on, with just a slight variation: There is zero belief on OBL's part that the West would ever entertain any kind of talks. I believe he was so certain of this that if he had any doubts, he would have never brought it up. With that fact firmly in place the desparate plan would not work - that is - solely for sympathy from the increasingly disapproving Arab world. The peacemaker gets turned down. This is what he wants, and alludes to his desperation regarding slipping support and predator concerns. But what prompted this move? I believe that the government or individuals that are harboring him are thinking of turning him in. It's too hot for them now and I think it's actually that factor that is causing him to make these attempts at communication. He, on his own, has evaded capture for some time now. But if the folks in the know as to his whereabouts are tired of the hailstorm that keeps coming their way from the US diplomatic and military pressures, I think there is a real chance they may be ready to cough him up. This may not have been the case if OBL had anything of significant substance to show for his malicious efforts since 9/11. The facts are, though, the terrorist efforts against the US on our soil have been abysmal since 9/11 as the US has been quite effective at thwarting these enemies in this country. Those who hate the US, I believe, wanted to see better results in this regard against the US, and may be starting to see OBL as an ineffective terrorist leader, and that is good news. But hopefully, they will also be starting to appreciate the same concept that Japan's emperor quickly came to the conclusion regarding the US: it's most unwise to awaken a sleeping giant. Many enemies of the US have mistaken our internal disagreements and diversity as a sign of weakness - when in truth it's a sign of freedom. OBL made the same mistake, and so is Iran. We americans can be pretty complacent until you piss us off enough, then there is hell to pay. It would be good for those who believe otherwise to accept that this country can have an amazing resolve toward unity to kick your ass when pushed too far. To ignore that fact for the sake of blindly following your personal or idealogical agenda will risk not only your life, but the lives of many of your fellow citizens. You don't slap a lion in the mouth and believe that he won't tear you to shreds. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

The DC-3 sets the standard for fuel and oil on jumpers....if it ain't blowin' oil, it needs a tune-up. How do you think our jumpsuits keep that just-pressed look? "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

You are missing the point Rob - 1) This AD is emergency in nature. In piloting, that's something that should raise concern 2) The information is being offered through a foreign certification. That is another hop in the step to know the legitimacy of the testing 3) The issue here is wings not being able to support a load. Though one can reduce the payload, you cannot always predict wing loading because of getting into unforeseen situations like wind shear or going through a section of extreme turbulence by underestimating a frontal system's approach velocity. 4) The AD makes it clear that there are defective parts holding the wing on. Rivets that are not able to hold the load they were designed for. 5) In other instances concerning airliners where vertical stabilizers may be suspected of shearing because of bad rivets, all the planes were grounded for inspection. This is common practice, and has not been done in this case according to the data I'm looking at. If this doesn't raise concern, someone's not paying attention. Been flying for 27 years - and know a thing or two about this. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Guess it's a matter of personal preference, however a bit concerned about the AD that was issued regarding the PAC indicating some critical quality control problems. Note that the AD in the link is emergency in nature. These kind of things concern me as a pilot. Clicky "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Same here... My Dad ALWAYS got his teeth drilled, pulled, whatever without any novocaine. He thought we shouldn't need it either. I had some different ideas for him on that front... Our dentist's name was, "Dr. Feinstein." I imagine you can guess what my brothers, sister and I called him?? Dr. Frankenstein "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Agreed, that is the thing. Why is it about race at all? Since disadvantage through impoverished affects all races, with a significant part of that being white, the issue could easily be on improving standards of living for all. So why is this a race issue? It's a race issue for those in the biased media or those with a bone to pick who are determined to make it a race issue, and that's what's wrong with it. They are willing to divert focus from the real issue at hand and fall back on their own, personal race agenda. Regardless of how people start, many have overcome the setbacks of disadvantaged beginnings and have become successful. Sitting on race as an issue no longer achieves the desired result, and should be abandoned as an approach. That would make sense, and be the most productive. But bias is not about making sense, and that is what this article was filled with. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

I hope you at least had a get-away car waiting for him. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Using 2002 US census data as an example, there were 34.5 million people below the poverty level in the US. Out of those, 8.6 million were black. If impoverished is indeed a factor to destruction, how could more blacks be at risk than whites? Or, how come we never hear anything about the huge groups of disadvantaged or impoverished whites for that matter? The black community and broadcasting does itself a great "dis"service by so often making everything a race issue, and Jesse Jackson makes the same mistake. It is clearly written with these suggestive words to anger blacks, and make them feel singled out - when there could be so many that would be affected if it were only true. A supernova for instance would not care what color you were, but somehow I get the feeling that would be slanted towards a given group suffering the most from it - perhaps something like, because of certain people's color, socioeconomic status or geographic location, they will die 2 seconds before the whites in the suburbs as the world dissolves. Does anyone really care about that difference? Probably not, but guaranteed if it could be measured, someone would complain about it based on race. Or how about something like a tidal wave comes by and flips over a cruise ship. It turns upside down, and in order to get out people have to pull themselves up through a long series of stacks using just their arms. Most women have less upper body strength than men, so more women don't make it out and consequently die in the disaster. This would then be like radical feminists responding the women should be a disadvantaged group where tidal waves are concerned. and therefore, tidal waves are pro men. It's ridiculous, and would only serve to create emnity between the genders. Any group that tries to turn one against the other by using racial digs (in this case against white) is bad news for the people they are presuming to "help." It's indicative of our current state of society that it could take a color-blind scientific phenomenon and turn it into an essay for minorities. Yes, some people do live in more impoverished conditions, but there are even more disadvantaged whites below the poverty level, and in that equation, it doesn't matter that there are more whites than black in the US. To think that way would be to devalue the worth of each individual soul, which would also be racist. This type of reporting, is, at it's core not just a spin, but a subtle form of hate-speak designed to cause division and indeed usurp unity between the races. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Seems to me though, that this is the way most people find out if they really have a friend, or merely an aquaintance. Friends tend to stick around, while aquaintance can become absent pretty quick if the going get's tough. So not sure could draw any conclusions about who is a friend or not if using that criteria. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

She started figure skating as small child and continued through to teenage years. She is also a dancer. So it's not entirely surprising she did so well. But Jenner, ma' man! 55! In another 35 years, I'll be 55, and it's great to know that there's hope! (Definitely have some swamp land to sell ya' if you believe that one...) "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

It's been said before, but still works.... More time to jump! "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

I am sure that this has been thought out much more than I have, but it seems to me a movement more akin to what we ultimately do, pull out, pull in, than launch out seemed safer. You could do it without having to be in the prop wash if there was concern about students going too far on the initial out movement. Being reasonably tall, I always found I had to be a bit careful as a student in the door of the King Air I learned in - otherwise the up part of the up/door would make rig contact, and that made me a bit nervous. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

It will, give it time. You're referring to something very primal, put there for procreation purposes. It will not last forever, and cannot be depended on to sustain any relationship. That's exactly right, but remember in this case what "chemistry" means. Chemicals circulating through the brain and other body parts to bring the sexes together. It's a wonderful beginning, but will not keep you going. I have definitely experienced it, and it's almost narcotic in it's wonder. But just like any drug, it can also affect your judgment. More akin to a certain blindness, in that trance you may see nothing objectionable about your object of desire even if someone threatened you at gunpoint to do so. Enjoy the high, but watch what you're doing. Being young, you may not have the life experience to discern the impact of a situation when caught in the heat of moment. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Yeah, and besides that, "my lips hurt..... real bad..." Okay, that's completely irrelevant... "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

So much for Donald Trump, then. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

If Republicans want a winning strategy in 2008, once again efficiently taking the White House from any Democratic hopes, they should by all mean support Hillary for President. She spews forth her own brand of feminist manifesto with the grace of a bulldog, and in truth, hurts legitimate causes for women because she wears them so abrasively. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Reminds me of one of the "Headlines" that Jay Leno showed last night from an accused giving a closing statement to the jury of: "and I ask you to find me not guilty of the crimes I committed." "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

I never did a comparison between this site and other resources, but the USPA website has a search engine to check for gear by make, serial, etc. HERE is a link to a page on their site where you can jump off to search if you wish. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

No reflection on you personally, but this has to stop. The list of stolen gear is readily available from more than one source. EACH SKYDIVER needs to check the stolen gear list before agreeing to buy any piece of equipment where ID can be established (serial number, etc) Also, if you have used gear right now, it should be checked against the stolen gear lists and if it comes up, you should identify the person who sold this to you to the authorities. As long as thieves think there is a market for this, they will continue to steal. If we start checking serial number beforehand (i.e., someone has something used for sale, ask for the serial, check it on the stolen gear list before agreeing to buy) we can do a lot to shut down this activity. If it's too much of a bother, then we become enablers for the thieves, which will only make them steal more - I'm assuming that riggers packing reserves might be checking serials on gear to see if it appears on stolen gear lists. If not, it may be a good idea to do so. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Call me old-fashioned, but I just can't digest the list of stolen gear. Why in the world do people steal gear? I know some would say that people steal everything, so why not gear? But honestly, who's gonna buy that gear? No skydiver I know would ever purchase gear that there would be even the slightest chance was stolen from a fellow skydiver. Now if it's a skydiver that steals someone else's gear to have, they should be locked up after a good ass-kicking. Also, I think all DZ's should install rig-sized lockers. With theft like this, I think it would be a great idea. They could even be pay lockers - so pay for themselves over time. Who would mind paying a bit to keep their rig safe? I know I wouldn't. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

* / * / * * For me, all three of these categories of ages are negotiable "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Don't sweat.. the same thing happened more or less to a friend of mine very recently, and he ended up having someone pay him $10,000 more than the other offer was going to be. He was not pissed. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Michael Jackson is much too tall to be considered a troll... "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky