rmsmith

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Everything posted by rmsmith

  1. rmsmith
    I like the JumpShack Racer Elite because they have offered the larger reserve v. main for decades, and they are very comfortable due to their being flexible between the reserve and main pack tray.
  2. rmsmith
    Don't drag your canopy around on the asphalt; it can leave your canopy totally filthy. Wear your worn-out pair of gloves, not the newer ones. Have fun, and remember to smile even if you chow!
  3. rmsmith
    Stick with a up-jumper DZ like Lodi that doesn't care to become assimilated.
  4. rmsmith

    Anybody At Lodi?

    rmsmith replied to a topic in Gear and Rigging

    Since the seller is soliciting his/her merchandise they should also be willing to allow an inspection of the merchandise before the payment is processed. If either of the two parties are unwilling to divulge their full contact information right from the beginning then forget the deal. Personally, I find it offensive when someone wants me to send them expensive gear, and they are using a "handle" rather than a birth name. Good luck to you.
  5. rmsmith
    I know your problem well. Another problem is that the lighter folks also wear lighter gear, e.g., smaller canopies and containers. You'd best serve yourself with a diet change and a workout routine. I just decided to buy a road bicycle, and I will ride it every morning for one hour over a hilly route. I thought about a gym membership, but I've got more than enough density and strength. Remember, you're not only going low on that formation you're also going to go low in life too. You've already admitted the problem, which is the first step toward doing something about it. Good luck to you!
  6. rmsmith
    We are using the wrong tactics. We need to deploy what everybody really wants: DishNetwork TV, tons of Hostess HoHo's, Soda Pop, Starbucks, etc., to fatten-up these folks while watching Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, Baywatch, or better yet Dr 90210...translated of course!
  7. rmsmith
    You're making above average wages. I earn slightly less than you, and I'm supporting two kids and a stay at home mom. I've been buying dental crowns, a newer Camry for the wife, junk on wheels for me, buying a new house (40% paid off), plenty of savings, 401k plan, and no loans or credit card debt! Oh yeah, I also have two new rigs too. Of course I'm living in rural America to pull this off. You must be living large; enjoy!
  8. rmsmith
    How are 'ya supposed to hide revenue with all this information in a database?
  9. rmsmith
    Many of the Icarus products are made in Spain, and the U.S. dollar is falling in value these days, so expect prices of foreign goods to rise. I just ordered a new Safire2 through Square1 a couple of days ago, and a 50% down payment locks in the price.
  10. rmsmith
    Don't kid yourself; many Californians are paying "Interest Only" for a shot at the good life and blue skies.
  11. rmsmith
    I haven't seen the article yet, but I see it as an economic and demographic issue. Young people have a real tough time making any money these days unless they're techies, and skydiving is an extremely expensive sport. Sure, it is much safer today with powerful turbine aircraft, AADs, and the advanced materials, but all these fine things must be paid for at the end of the month. A cursory glance around the packing area today yields an abundance of aging baby boomers; in the seventies the view was still filled with baby boomers, but they were of course much younger. Today's DZOs have fewer youth in the population as customers who in turn have less disposable income -- a tough combination.
  12. rmsmith
    Many quarters in war torn countries have foxholes and tunnels beneath them for storage and E&E when things heat up; it's part and parcel to the standard of living. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was a hands-on murderer who got what he deserved, a slow painful death.
  13. rmsmith
    At least you're honest with yourself and others, which is a virtue in life as well as skydiving. I'd say that you should stick with skydivers that instill confidence and safety, and avoid those who will take you on skydives that are way over your skill level. BTW, be sure to post some pix of that custom fit Javelin!
  14. rmsmith
    You should be safe from the RE bubble there in the San Antonio, TX market as it's rated at only 7% over priced. The coastal regions are going to experience big price reductions as the ARM adjustments loom forcing a sale and causing a rapidly ballooning inventory. BTW, nice place there too!
  15. rmsmith
    Awesome! I know it's the shits, but it has to be done these days. The next hurtle will likely be that student loan. You don't want to ruin your credit rating as this will be looked at first when you are applying for a serious career position. Plan your moves, and move according to those plans. Good luck with everything!!
  16. rmsmith
    ARM or 30yr fixed?
  17. rmsmith
    This seems like it would be very challenging for the typical 8th grader in the United States today. In fact, I doubt many k12 seniors could get past that either, but I grew up in California too.
  18. rmsmith
    You are 21 right now. You should get into a junior college with the goal of transferring to a University and completing a BS degree in some IT related area. Sure, it will be hard work, but you'll meet new friends along the way, and you should have some fun too! You only have one life, and you have the advantage of living in a country of opportunity. If you think it's bad right now, try looking closely at the worn out 40 or 50 somethings without a college degree. They're easy to find (no assets, bad teeth), and if you ask 'em, they tell you where they went wrong.
  19. rmsmith
    I see news stories about consumer motor fuel, but nothing about commercial transportation yet. I would imagine that our DZO(s) will have to raise their prices this summer as rising energy costs are forcing everything to cost more. Hell, even my worn out Toyota (refused by wrecking yards) Tercel with 300k+ miles cost $27.65 to fill up the other day! Anyway, think we'll see $25 to 12,500 this year?
  20. rmsmith

    Is this the end?

    rmsmith replied to DeNReN's topic in The Bonfire

    So, are 'ya going to flip it and double 'yer money?
  21. rmsmith
    April 1st, right?
  22. rmsmith
    WILL VINTAGE DE HAVILLAND AIRPLANES RETURN? The type certificates for all of de Havilland Canada's wild animals, from the Chipmunk and Beaver to the Otter and Caribou, have been purchased by Viking Air of Sidney, British Columbia. Viking Air will decide this summer whether to put the DHC-6 Twin Otter back in production, said company President David Curtis. At the time of purchase, the type certificates were held by Bombardier. The transfer of the type certificates had first been announced a year ago when Viking took over Bombardier's service support for the seven models. The certificates include the DHC-1 Chipmunk, the DHC-2 Beaver, the DHC-3 Otter, the DHC-4 Caribou, the DHC-5 Buffalo, the 20-passenger DHC-6 Twin Otter, and the DHC-7 (Dash-7). Viking Air has had the rights for spare parts manufacturing for the Beaver and Otter since 1983, and has been a major supplier of spare parts to Bombardier for the Twin Otter and Dash-series airplanes.
  23. rmsmith
    I think it was Scott Miller (alzheimers?), but the photo was in a recent issue of Parachutist or Skydiving. It showed someone still in the belly to earth position with the d-bag just above the container. The lines are being pulled from their rubberband stows, but the risers are clearly free of the pack tray, IIRC.
  24. rmsmith
    I had to go with a larger slider on my Sabre2 (thanks Rusty) due to this exact problem. I never had this problem with the Spectre because its slider stayed put against the stops long enough for total line stretch and for my body to transition into a standing position before the canopy's inflation forced the slider downward. Scott Miller just released an article regarding body position during deployment; I noticed that one photo showed the risers unstowed and pointing toward the sky while the lines were still being unstowed from the d-bag. This is not the case with many rigs that use double flaps to stow the risers. The Sabre2's reputation for off-heading openings and the occasional slammer probably have more to do with this riser issue than construction geometry flaws, IMHO.
  25. rmsmith
    I recently saw a 20-something at Starbucks have his credit card refused, and he casually reached into his wallet and pulled out another one from a stack. No embarrassing gestures, nothing; just another day in the matrix.