rmsmith

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Everything posted by rmsmith

  1. rmsmith
    I wasn't joking at all. Where do you think this sport will go without attracting the kind of people with disposable income? The customers on the slopes don't seem to have a problem with the waiver printed on the back of the lift ticket; you hit a tree and get hurt...you, your insurance, or the taxpayers must pay...not the ski slope operator! The slopes attract people with money because the comforts are there, which collectively make up the ski experience; it's not just the snow on a hill.
  2. rmsmith
    The future of the sport is probably private airfields with spartan amenities due to risk to capital investment. When I go skiing, I don't need a club membership, don't need a license (from a club?), don't need a RV because I can rent a really nice room right on the slope with a hot tub, cocktail lounge, and restaurant too. These extras add to the weekend get-away experience, IMHO. They offer all this despite being open only 5-months per year!
  3. rmsmith

    is this ok?

    rmsmith replied to The111's topic in Gear and Rigging

    What you need is a vacuum chamber with a controlled leak. In a vacuum the water will turn to vapor (boiling point) at room temperature, and the vapor will be pulled out by the vacuum pump if the chamber is valved with a small leak. Now go make a million!
  4. rmsmith
    I have two of them right now, very comfortable. The Racer can be made to hold larger reserves than the main, which is my preference. I also like the reserve speedbag option too.
  5. rmsmith
    I know everything about what I'm wearing on my back before I get on the plane, and I never assume that anyone is looking out for my best interest.
  6. rmsmith
    Usually the whuffo date doesn't even have the moxie to discuss it, and they just fade away while trying to make it your fault citing some baseless issue.
  7. rmsmith
    Many problems with leg strap slippage are due to the MLW dimension being too short. If your leg straps "go-slack" when you bend over while keeping your back straight then your MLW dimension isn't long enough.
  8. rmsmith
    Many of the Port District Airports here in Washington state require a $2-million blanket indemnity for anything that might be brought against them. Last summer a teenager drowned in our local community pool, and the city was hit with a $5-million lawsuit. The city built the waterpark because the current liability atmosphere here prevented viable private investment given the small local population. The pool might open again this summer, but it will certainly cost more for that summer pass.
  9. rmsmith
    I bought a Viewsonic P225F 21-inch professional flat screen monitor last year; it's worth the expense, IMHO. It's being driven by an ATI FireGL X1 128MB DDR Dual DVI workstation video card. I have both Win2k Pro & Red Hat Enterprise WS--works great with either.
  10. rmsmith
    Don't mean to hijack this thread, Mike, but where do fit in at JumpShack? I've enjoyed dealing with John, Nancy, and Tim over the years, but haven't made contact with you yet. Thanks!
  11. rmsmith
    I suppose that means Night Vision Goggles, right? The only night vision gear in my day was a rifle scope device, and it was not worth a nickel past 100-meters either.
  12. rmsmith
    It has been many years since I've had a steel pot helmet on my head, so I have to ask: What is that thing the grunts have on front of their helmets these days?
  13. rmsmith
    Good post, TK. How about an semi annual faa medical exam since the TM is a commercial pilot?
  14. rmsmith
    The four-year programs are also meant to be a hazing gauntlet. These degree programs require that a person stay focused over four to five years and tends to shake-off those who are not really interested, which is a good thing for employers who don't want to waste time training someone who will drift away when the weather warms up. The military also does a good job in training people to stay focused on a goal. However, the difficulty with this pre-employment approach is that it offers little help to those who need immediate income.
  15. rmsmith
    The hip rings are fashion items. If you have your harness custom fitted they are not needed. Now understand that it might take several attempts to arrive at this magical fit, but once you are there you will know it.
  16. rmsmith
    Be careful out there. A couple of civilian contractors working in Iraq just exercised their life insurance policies earlier today.
  17. rmsmith
    If your child is in public school, they usually have these low cost programs for health care, but it is only for the children. IIRC you were involved in law enforcement, so you should be able to seek out one of these association based programs if you become a dues paying member. The ASCE programs I have access to cost me a $200.00 annual membership just to be eligible.
  18. rmsmith
    How about the tissue just above your ankles? Can you squeeze tightly, and leave dimpled impressions? If so, this is a sign of heart trouble, i.e., a lack of proper circulation. This could be your source of fatigue. You need to look up the free clinics in your area and get a serious check up.
  19. rmsmith
    I have a term life policy from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) that will pay regardless of the manner of death. It is designed for CE types working around the world where life is short, nasty, and brutish. It costs $110.00 per $60,000.00 per year. I have this in addition to the FEGLI 5x from the federal government. Now a health policy is a different story. For example, caring for a victim of a mechanical ambush for the rest of life could be really expensive. Hell, even CHAMPUS doesn't like picking up the tab for lingering problems. My lawyer's catastrophic health care costs her $1,100.00 per month for a family of four; typical office visits are still out of pocket expenses. The $1,100.00 policy is to avoid losing the house and 401k account if you are hit by a drunk without insurance. This is how are leaders fixed things without denying health care services to those who don't or won't pay despite risky behavior. Liberty?
  20. rmsmith
    In addition to locating a medical specialist, you should get yourself First Aid certified ASAP. Plaything needs to start doing things like cutting her food into smaller pieces to prevent choking and removing things around the house that would cause puncture injury if she fell upon them. I'd also investigate Social Security benefits too.
  21. rmsmith
    This is how bureaucrats see things: "If we're not phuck'in ya with our insurance schemes then we are assist'in ya in this here activity!"
  22. rmsmith
    I was interested in the license progression where one might have to pay for an A, B, & C prior to getting their D license. But you answered the question with the people you know simply jumping until some issue provokes them to want to become licensed. Thanks!
  23. rmsmith
    A 14-yr old with a child (usually on AFDC) can legally sign paperwork for their child to undergo an operation in a hospital. Thus, a minor can make decisions under the law.
  24. rmsmith
    When DZO teenagers are old enough to join the USPA, are they forced through the license progression scheme, or do they skip over the costs of the A, B, & C licenses?
  25. rmsmith
    The high schools in the rural area where I live have trap clubs. Two years ago, a young woman was among the top three contenders and received a trophy; her picture was front page stuff.