tigra

Actually, John wasn't on that 10 way team. His team, TFX won the bronze in 2002, Roger's team, STL, won the gold in 1999 and 2002.

hmmmmm, Interesting.......

Completely off topic, but that made me smile since I remember how good Roger was at recruiting "volunteers"! If you were in the hangar during a weather hold, there was always a good chance he'd find you and put you to work!

OK, so he got a little roughed up by the cops who arrested him, and he got a 5 month sentence which he'll never serve as long as he never returns to Greece. Am I missing something? Maybe he'll think twice before he disrupts another sporting event. Sorry, he deserved an ass whooping just for the pure stupidity/ DISRESPECT of doing something like that at the Olympics with security at least 5 times what its been in the past. (Out of necessity to keep all the athletes from every nation safe!)

Yeah, they keep buzzing my building too. The last one sounded really low! I can't see anything though. I've got a great view of the brick wall belonging to the parking garage next door!

What I think is kind of funny is that you can look up some results on the internet or hear them on the radio long before NBC airs the events. (Mens Gymnastics, for example) but they seem to be trying to hold back some of the others. (like the Women's Gymnastics and some but not all of the swimming events.)

2 words that shouldn't belong together- baggy and spandex! Her spandex leotard is BAGGY! That is just so wrong!

Does anyone else think the Russian gymnast Svetlana Khorkina looks like a poster child for eating disorders??? OMG, she makes Mary Kate look healthy! Someone give that girl a cheeseburger!

I know you are right. I have a new kitten now, but he's an addition to my 2 adult cats. My oldest will accept a kitten grudgingly, but I know from past experience he would not accept an adult. I took in an adult stray a few years ago, and finally had to give her to my mom where she lived out her remaining years as a queen! With me and my boys, she was never happy!

I know you are right about adult cats, but there is something special about raising a kitten!

2 kittens- they can keep each other company while you are at work, and kittens are so darn cut! If they are left with their mother for at least 6-8 weeks, the mommy cat will take care of the litter box training. Its usually only the ones who were taken from their mothers too soon that have problems.

Sorry Cora, You won't find too much genuine Mexican food in New York. We need to send up tortillas and chorizo to my guy's daughter who is going to school in Queens! And when she's home, she makes her mom cook for her every day!

I downloaded a free search and destroy program and it cleans everything up for free. And it was my SO that clicked on one link too many. (He claims he wasn't visiting the sites- yeah right!)

Thanks for the update, Nick! Glad to hear everything worked out!

Well, I broke my ankle when I took his class last fall, so don't feel bad! (I took it again in June and actually "passed" this time!)

I read the whole thread. My question/ request was directed at the person who started it. An explanation for his particular invoice since clearly it is not in line with their stated prices. So, Goose, can you let us know the outcome, please? If it was a mistake or misunderstanding, OR a greedy middleman? I can't be the only one who is curious!

I saw the same headline and article on CNN.com. The story has been updated, that's all.

Actually, the power tool also saves wear and tear on your closing loop and allows you to shorten the loop and close the container tighter. (At least it did for me.....)

Please let us know what Sunrise says! That's more than I paid for my Wings container!

Michael, Its a great discussion, but I think you are getting ahead of yourself. Your first priority should be getting your leg healed, hopefully staying insured, employed and avoiding financial ruin in the process. Best of luck to you! maura

Its not a matter of being "OK" with it, IMO. OK or not, I don't think he has a choice at this point if he wants to keep his job. In a way, his boss did him a favor by being so honest and letting him know where things stood. If it were me, I'd suck it up and keep my mouth shut while I was recovering, do the best job I could do and start looking for something else when the timing was better. (I'd need the health insurance and steady income and I doubt anyone would hire me while I was hopping around on crutches!)

Well, when I first started skydiving, like many new jumpers I was extremely open (obsessed?) about it and my boss hated it! Even tried to tell me that at certain times I could not go! (in my business, the end of the month is always busy!) At that company, I honestly think if I had gotten injured while jumping, they'd have found a way to fire me-legal or not. When I left that job for a better (?) one, I decided to be a little more "low key" about it. Six months later, I was injured (broken ankle) and while I only took a week off and went back to work on crutches and pain meds (non weight bearing, too) my bosses made it pretty clear they felt I (and my injury) were a nuisance. (never mind that I could have done the same or worse playing softball, or just taking the stairs wrong!) They resented the time off for doctors appointments and PT, etc. They also made it clear that they thought I was nuts! (especially when I started jumping again) BUT, I also think the fact that I went right back to work instead of taking more time (which I probably should have) left a positive impression and possibly repaired some of the damage to my "reputation" that my skydiving injury caused. They've had other employees milk lesser injuries for way more time off than I took! To some extent, it depends on the employer and what you do. But I think you hit it with this statement. Once you are sick or injured, you become less of an asset and more of a nuisance or liability- whether its a broken leg or cancer, or anything in between! Its politically incorrect to fire someone with cancer (not that it hasn't been done) but maybe firing an injured skydiver/ base jumper is somehow more acceptable! Just my thoughts..... Good luck to you- I hope it works out! maura

Actually a baggy freefly suit is not necessarily the answer for a newer jumper who falls too fast on their belly. They tend to make them floaty and out of control. Personally, I think a loose fit (but not baggy) with a heavier material and swoop cords is a better answer. Swoop cords aren't perfect and they're no substitute for learning to fly your body, but at least they will give a more defined wing. The wrong suit can really hinder a newer jumper's progress.

I'm going to be old fashioned and make an unpopular statement. Regardless of what type of skydiving you end up doing most of the time, its important to develop some basic belly flying skills- more than what AFF will teach you. When you are flying on your belly, and properly fitting RW suit designed for your needs is important. Ask your jumpmasters what you need in a jump suit. They know whether you fall fast or slow and should be able to point you in the right direction, but I would strongly suggest an RW suit as your first suit. And yes, its nice to have a really cool looking jumpsuit, but its even better to have one that compliments your flying instead of the other way around. Good luck! maura

I'm a belly flyer, and I love Summerfest. A lot of belly flyers came for a chance to do 2 and 3 plane shots, which they've done every year since Summerfest started, but there WERE other load organizers around. One thing I love about Summerfest every year is getting to meet and jump with new people and I usually pass on the big ways in favor of smaller jumps just so I can do that! Billy Weber in particular is known for keeping his groups small, fun and low pressure. He'll even work one on one with you if he feels you need it. And he'll organize all levels. SDC has been providing his services free of charge for a month now! And he's hard to miss in the hangar! Maybe it needs to be set up a little better, that's all. Give Rook and Missy a little feedback since they are sort of new at being DZOs and organizing events like this, but they'll get there. And there really were PLENTY of belly flyers around making jumps. SDC is not strictly a free fly drop zone! Honestly, I don't even feel like I was at the same DZ this guy described! I gues its all about perception.