davadikian

Lee People aren't going to get it unless there forced to "get it". I mean for christs sake after the events of the last couple of months and the countless near misses people are still debating this???? WTF??? My wife described these events to her father who has never jumped and he could identify the problem. "270+ turns in traffic" aka "people who don't know when NOT to swoop" call it what you want! Yet we still debate... Art for what its worth I think your doing the right thing.

Call my lawyer that is processing it as a LEMON. Its a f350 and it wont tow my fat ass much less my 5th wheel. Please send hugs and vibes...

floridadiver81 if you need someone to talk to just call skinnyshrek on his cell he would be happy to talk you through the depression.

Some people feel the need to go to the gym multiple times a week to keep up with physical health, if they can't go and work-out for over a month they would feel, not physically fit and even mentally unhealthy. Other people feel they get good physical/mental health from other activities such as ti-chi, yoga, meditation, church-going etc. It is a reasonable assertion that there are a number of skydivers in our sport that feel that way about skydiving. You may feel that is out of balance but I'm sure there are things in your life that would be perceived out of balance by others. We were all a little wacky about skydiving when we first started, it usually runs its course, if it doesn't then we become a videographer/TI/AFFI/post-whore and there certainly isn't anything wrong with (some of) those either. A cult maybe, unhealthy I don't think so. And... ...as a veteran cult member you should try and go easy on one of our newer inductees, he hasn't even received his black shirt and sweat pants, new black-and-white Nike tennis shoes and purple armband.

I don't use pda's so I don't have any feedback on them, I just know their laptops have performed well for me. Ive used mine for all of the standards, video edit, pics, DZ.com... At one point I reformatted my dell (it had a lot of spyware and what-not cluttering it up, from my mis-use) and installed a fresh copy of xp and all new drivers and it has been fine since (im a little more careful now), their website was easy to use for finding all of the drivers for my model. sorry I don't have more for you.

Bought 3 refurb laptops from Dell, me (4 years ago), my mom (2 years ago), and my dad (2 years ago), all three work perfectly and have had no problems. All 3 looked like new and had no scratches or blemishes when I received them. I cant comment on their service/support, never had to call them. I will be buying another laptop in the next 6 months and will, based on my experience, buy another Dell (probably a refurb). just my experience, I guess others have had different experiences than me...

technically speaking Nuno Bettencourt is not too shabby...

Clapton Hendrix Freddie King T Bone walker SRV Ronnie Earl (check him out) Al Dimeola (a guitar players guitar player) Satriani

Lee, where did you get this idea?? Let the fines begin...

Ronnie Earl's cover of Freddie Kings "The Stumble" & T-Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday" Just to get things started...

So I guess I wasnt the only one to get a New Years DD from skinnys mum...

Jump!

Wasnt this your FINAL excuse for that one point landing you did just off of the beer line in Z-hills...

I agree! I would not mention it. When I started jumping I tried, as we all have, to get my friends to try it. Some did, most didnt, I never really thought anything of it but years later they all devulged that they felt like I was trying to talk them into joining a cult. These friends of mine (all of which Ive known since childhood) are all working business professionals (3-insurance, 1-FBI, 1-Golfcourse superint, 1-Verizon "suit", 1-Managing editor for a magazine, 1-Lawyer...). I felt like I was innocently wanting them to experience what I had experienced and loved but it was percieved as some outlandash "crazy" activity. BTW These friends of mine and I all grew up in Zephyrhills (I didnt start jumping until I grew up and left Z-hills, go figure) so they were exposed to skydiving more that the average person. I can only imagine how someone who DIDNT know me and know about skydiving would have percieved me. When I first started jumping I was told a joke at the bonfire. -How do you know there is a skydiver in the room? Just wait a couple of minutes and they'll tell you!!

I understood the context, I was simply pointing out (without going into a diatribe, but here it goes) that as our sport evolves and becomes more mainstream we get both the good things and the bad things. This guy (regardless of the reason he did it) isnt the first skydiver to steal from a skydiver and he wont be the last. I dont think there are a lot of skydivers who would do this but they are out there. If in exchange for me and my wife both jumping advanced, safe gear, on safer airplanes, I have to be more aware that there may be elements on the DZ that are less than honorable then Ill accept that trade-off. I wasnt trying to disagree, just trying to make a brief point. On a regular basis in skydiving and in life we hear "how good things used to be". You used to be able to leave you front door unlocked, but not anymore, but in the big picture we now have computers, the net, Sat TV, turbine aircraft, and the list goes on. I dont think the proper word would be sad, IMHO. -Doug edited to add, so Im clear

That and safer equipment. I wouldnt say sad. -Doug

When I was in college I had a friend I worked with that was a skydiver and I thought I wanted to learn how. He said he was going to this thing, "the World Free Fall Convention", so I took some student loan money, went to Chicagolands website and paid in full, went to to Quincy in 2000, lived in a motorhome for ten days, and came home a skydiver. Oh I almost forgot, partied like a rock star! I wouldnt trade that experience for anything.

Wait a minute, I think I know that guy Way to go Brian!

If prices were raised because the pipelines were cut then when they are fixed can we expect them to drop back down?? Gas companies didnt raise gas prices because the lines were cut, they raised prices because they are opportunistic and whenever they can they take a situation and turn it into a financial windfall for themselves they do. (just like the average looters in the streets) The gas companies are making RECORD profits and there is no end in sight. And what a coincidence the majority of the bush cabinet is made up of former oil ceo's. I'm sure your a nice guy and have your OWN perfectly just reasons for supporting bush, but to defend oil companies, you just sound foolish. They ARE responsible for using our/your world as a trash can and all in the name of making more money. Dont get me wrong I have a car, and I love avgas + jeta I know the companies are a necessary evil but when given any opportunity they DO take advantage.

I saw the same thing just north of orlando when I was driving to work, and when I got to work (I work nights) people were talking about some emails that were saying they would be closing all gas stations for 2-3 days and you should get gas before they close... I believe it was all bullshit, that being said my wife and I have the next 7 days off and we filled up just in case.

Dude youre from Canada... CO is like the deep south to you

When I was in school there was this chick Sallie Mae, she was real cool, she loaned me money to buy rigs and jumps, it was at the lowest interest rate I have ever seen and she didnt make me pay it back until I graduated. Someone in the financial aid office would be happy to introduce you to her. Tell her I said hi

Assuming it was them that made the mistake and not you...

Of course it isnt just the swoopers, but if someone is swooping we can assume or at least hope that individual is experienced and not a new skydiver just learning to land their canopy. A new skydiver is going to make mistakes and while it is dangerous in the landing pattern we hope they are learning from these mistakes and not repeating them. An experienced skydiver causing a problem for others while trying to execute a swoop is irresponsible and after all that is the point/topic of this thread, being responsible in the landing pattern. If it became commonplace for people to track up and down jump-run there would be a similar discussion to this one, "its ok to track just dont endanger others"... I encourage everyone to enjoy their skydive to the fullest, that includes flying your canopy ANYWAY you see fit, but if you start to endanger others then that is by anyones definition irresponsible.

What about when it happens -like my post 9 or so posts up from here says? Someone is already in the pattern and is about to turn on final all the while someone with a much faster canopy 500ft above him is in the middle of an aggresive 270 and touches down before the lower man. I have no problem landing downwind, crosswind, no wind, across the runway, down the street or wherever. I DO have a problem landing in oncoming traffic. Under perfect circumstances when you have time to make a last minute alternate decision as to where you want to land, what you say IS a solution, but when you have many different canopies traveling at different rates of speed and decent, all flying different landing pattern/types your answer is no solution. Dont take this as a bash on any particular DZ's way of doing things or any particular way of flying your canopy. Its just that things are changing and this sport has always evolved, and that evolution is usually driven by safety. Just my simplistic observations.