flyhi

"Without California, Florida, and Texas, I wouldn't have a show." - Jerry Springer Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

I'll kick in some XO Communications and a few shares of CONSECO if it will help. Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

In conjunction with the Treasury's policy of a state quarter for every state, here's the Arkansas one. Congrats to all involved. Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

They get paid less? Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

JetA with a hint of melons. Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

All, Thanks much for the great discussion. I always believed it was the relative wind your deploying canopy saw vice strictly the vertical component of it that would cause a hard opening. To me this was supported by the one time I remember dumping in a track and had a knot jerked in my butt. It was the hardest opening I can remember other than a nasty Sabre 190 incident that tore the canopy. For that reason, I always did what Cajones recommended; I intuitively believed that the speed of the relative wind directly affected the rate of deceleration of the canopy, regardless of the direction. Simply, the body would decelerate in the direction of the wind it felt (since this was the external component operating on the PC initially and the remainder of the canopy ultimately), realizing that over the length of the event, the wind transition from one with a large horizontal component to one with a large vertical one. From Newtonian physics I knew that F=mA where A was acceleration or the time rate of change of velocity; (delta v/delta t). Thus the two ways to reduce the force would be to either have a lower entry velocity (reduce delta v) from which to decelerate (Cajones flare) or extend the time (increase delta t) over which the deceleration occurred (Cobalt's two stage deployment). Empirically, both would result in a smaller F(orce). Again, I never considered it to be just a vertical deceleration, but rather a combined horizontal/vertical decel, which, over the length of the event, transformed from one with a large horizontal component to one which was almost totally vertical. I imagined it similar to being accelerated horizontally and then decelerated rapidly, similar to a car accident. Crush zones and airbags are all devices used to extend the length of time for the deceleration and considered lifesavers. I still do not totally buy emphasizing the vertical component to the total exclusion of the horizontal, but again, one bad dump in a track may be tainting me. Again, mahalo to all for the insight. I have found all input thought provoking. Would love to sit down over a beer with all of you to discuss. Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

Old Joke: Why can't Helen Keller drive? She's a woman. Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

What's snow? Wife is a big Rusty Wallace fan. He has got to be NASCAR's answer to the Chicago Cubs; always a good race, but never in the winner's circle. Or is that the BoSox? Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

28, not counting the stuff from the 70's. Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

What about if you did, then you didn't, now you do again? Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

The November 2002 Skydiving newspaper said that investigators believe the death at the JFTC resulted from an extremely hard opening, which may have been caused by dumping in a track. I wonder if Cobalt's two stage deployment doesn't offer two levels of safety on bigways. First, it would allow you to maximize your track and get further away from everyone else, and second it would not penalize you with a hard opening at the end. Granted these benefits would be just as applicable on any jump, but would prove much more critical on a big-way. I neither own nor jump a Cobalt at this time, but along with their other design features, I will probably take this safety aspect into consideration the next time I do buy a canopy. Any thoughts? Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

I jump with Larry Elmore, one of their pilots. He flew for TWA until the age of 60 and then hit the No Pilots Over 60 rule. On his 60th birthday, he did 60 jumps just to metaphorically thumb his nose at the FAA. Then he started working for these guys. Great person and skydiver. Recently did the SOS record thing in CA. Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

No it isn't. Three words: Little Jerry Seinfield. Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard! Everyone knows the Two TACAN Rule. Retune your TACAN twice, and you're good to go. Cheating to me is shared intimacy, and shared intimacy is secrets. If you have secrets with someone other than your Main Squeeze (MS vice SO), that's cheating. Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

It's people who dared to be creative who brought this sport to the level at which it is and will continue to elevate it into the future. People like Bill Booth and other innovators of his ilk were probably asking questions equally likely to label them a "moron" when they came up with stuff like the three-ring, the piggy-back reserve system, throw-out/pull-out PC's, and a host of other improvements that make our sport the sport which it is. And, Peabody, if you want to take a trip on the Wayback Machine, when I started jumping one DZ almost didn't let a guy jump because he moved his PC from his belly-band (Wonder what that is?) to his leg strap. It was deemed unsafe because he couldn't see it to pull. And back then every skygod knew they'd never come up with a square reserve. They were inherently unsafe. Guys asking the off-the-wall questions today may be the ones who come up with the helium-fill 48 sq ft parachute that you can load 4:1 as a student. Of course that's just ridiculous. Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

There is also a top one showing. The theory is if you hit it between them, the wire will ride up or down the nose of the helicopter until it gets cut. Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

"Carnie's are what built this country...at least the carnival part of it." H. Simpson Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

From Tony Thacker's article in Skydiving this month, that sounds like the Artistic Events (AE) judging at the nationals. Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

Gotta ask, is Bill a road worker in Wyoming? If not, what is the vest thing? Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

You getting a bonus? If so, is it worth it? And remember, in the military, sometimes bonus is two words. Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

To tandem student: "Don't worry, Fred is one of the five best...[stage whisper] wait a minute...Eric is here today [/stage whisper], one of the six best tandem master you could have." To tandem student: "Don't worry about a thing. They've never lost a student yet. Hey guys,they did find that girl last week, right?" To tandem student with religious artifact around his/her neck: "Excuse me, but when you start to pray, and you will, please throw a few, "and flyhi, too" in there. Thanks." Once on the plane, keep asking if he/she has started praying yet. If not, look quizzical and say, "Really?" Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

One or three? I like Brooks, but the bottom line is, what works for you? The nice thing about New Balance is they come in widths. Only problem I have with them is they tended to wear out too quickly. Good luck. Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

Had a cat that use to hang around that we called, "el Gato". Use to climb a tree and jump from the tree to my second story lanai. Never hit the wall or anything, so I assume he drug a paw on landing. Really good friends use to have a dog named "Meeker". Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

In the late 80's, the Army Safety Center put out a statistic that the Army (the largest user of helicopters in the world?) averaged one wire strike a week since they started flying them. One of the reasons they got wire cutters. Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

A friend at work told this non-PC joke: Q: If you are riding in a cab with Saddam Hussein, Ossama bin Ladin, and Al Sharpton and you have a gun with two bullets in it, what do you do? A: You shoot Al Sharpton twice. I thought it was incredibly insensitive and roundly berated him for it. I can't understand how people can find mirth in items like that with the current worldwide human condition in which we wallow. Was I wrong for doing so? Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.