Mockingbird

Everyone's generosity and willingness to help me out is overwhelming. i guess y'all enjoy seeing other people enjoy jumping almost as much as you enjoy jumping. (Did that make sense? ) Thanks a BUNCH. Cannie Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

WALT--- Thank you for adding my name to the list. Gee, it kinda' made me feel "wanted," if ya' know what I mean. I hope to have my new skydiving "ensemble" put together before then, especially since my jumpsuit won't be back from its alteration yet. We will match great. So be sure to bring your cool jumpin' duds. I WROTE INFO@SKYFESTBOOGIE.COM (yes, I know I'm shouting) ABOUT THE COST OF RENTING A RIG FOR 3 OR 4 DAYS. I have a feeling it might make the trip nearly impossible to make. So if anyone has a rig I can borrow, please PM me. I need one with a 210 main and a Cypres-- reserve size doesn't matter as long as it's close to a 210 or larger. I'm a girl (OK, a mature female, actually) about 5'7" and about 165 lbs. [BLUE]H[GREEN]E[RED]L[PURPLE]P[BLUE]![/BLUE] Thanks! (Thanks again, W.A.) Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

OK, well, I'm a little late to the conversation, but I have to say that, having seen Walt's "ensemble" in person, I can hardly wait to put something similar together--- except that I'd like some purple camo pants, or maybe yellow... I'm having a little trouble finding some, tho'. Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Don't forget that 40 is the old age of youth! But 50 is the youth of old age. Just gotta' look at it like that, especially when you're 51. That's why I took up skydiving. My aunt told me last week at lunch that she's never seen me my hair look so shiny, my skin so beautiful (surely she was exaggerating) and my face so happy. I told her the reason for all that is skydiving! It has met a need I've had for quite a while! Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Are you talking about a pro-pack? If so, what do you mean by "turning the tail inward"? And by wrapping, are you talking about rolling? Sorry, just trying to visualize what step you're talking about. Sure want to avoid packing in a lineover! Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

YES! I got it to work. The info that said "Optional" wasn't really optional. After I answered those and clicked on GO, the video came up. •••••••••••••••••••••••••• DAVID! Wow, congratulations! That was a great Level 1 jump! Better than mine went, that's for sure. Way to go! I hope you make lots more progress tomorrow! Practice it in your head with your eyes closed, and see yourself over and over doing everything perfectly. You'll be surprised how much confidence that can give you. WooooHOOOOOOO! Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Hey! I wanna' see David flyin'! Why won't it work for me? I saw the Intro (video and audio both worked), and filled in my name, etc. and clicked on "GO" but nothing is happening. Am I doing something wrong? Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

No, I didn't. I got your PM, of course. That's not what you mean, right? Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Keep us up to date on your AFF, OK? I'll be looking for news! Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Gee, your tandem cost $300? Or did you have to pay for the whole AFF1 jump even tho' you didn't actually jump? The tunnel will help you sooo much. And you're right--- it'll also help your confidence a great deal. As for dry mouth, I found two things that help that: I breathe with my mouth closed on the way up. (You'd be surprised how much that helps! ) And, I take spray candy--the kind sweetened with fruit juice instead of refined sugar (or breath spray will work too) up with me. YUM! Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Cool! Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Thanks, John. The guy in the lime-green jumpsuit (especially) went out as Brent described... he was stable on his way out and *immediately* began flying with control. Someday I'll be that good... I hope. Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

DRAGON2 !!!!! I think I have a *new* favorite video. That's a great one! Although I didn't see a diving exit out to the side as Brent described above, it's a really educational video. I noticed that the jumpers in the video were learning to turn using their legs instead of their arms, right? I haven't learned how to do that yet. I also noticed that they held their arms at about chest level rather than letting the air push them higher. I suspect that that is so they can grip without having to move their arms? The jumpers' tracking rocked! Especially the one in the red Z1 helmet! Thanks again. Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Excellent description! Thank you! Do you still need to pull your feet in toward your butt as seems to be necessary when diving out toward the tail of the plane? Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Sure, if you don't mind uploading it, I'd like to see it. What I'm especially looking for is the body position as you go out the door-- what part is presented to the wind when you're diving straight out to the side, so that you are stable within 4 or 5 seconds. Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Thank you, Dave, I'll give them a look. I love your site. After posting last night, I thought, "I should'a just pm'd pilotdave!" Thanks. Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

I'm not disagreeing with this. I just wanted to add my thoughts. Although you are right,[ John says that] sin is transgression of God's laws, I also look at sin from a larger(?) perspective. I think of the original sin, which belonged to Satan. He was an angel who ministered closely to God (as far as we can tell from some passages in Isaiah), and who became jealous of God. He wanted to be LIKE God, and decided that this would be his goal--- to become like God, in other words, GREAT, GLORIOUS, ALMIGHTY... IN CHARGE, basically. Notice that when Satan deceived Eve and talked her into sinning, he stirred up her desire to be LIKE GOD, too. Satan told her that if she would just ignore the one command God had given her and Adam, she would become just like God, knowing everything, even good and EVIL (which hadn't even existed until Satan rebelled). So I see sin more as a principle or attitude than an action...tho' the attitude results in actions. But the attitude of sin is one of rebellion, of not wanting God to be God of one's life, but wanting yourself to be god of your life. In other words, sin is like declaring your independence from God and living in a state of independence from God. All the other stuff-- lying, hate, conceit, meanness, immorality (sexual sins), murder, etc. are just symptoms of the larger principle of sin--- namely, living independently of God and doing your own thing without regard for what God wants from you. Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Although this http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/uploads/Exit1.mpg is one of my favorite videos because it's just one exit after another (to me, the best part of skydiving!), there's not a good clear shot of a decent diving exit straight out the door without flipping over. Does anyone have a link to a video showing a dive that transitions quickly into a stable postition? Thanks. Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

"Unwilling to recognize"? Why do you say that? Similar myths don't downplay the actual events they resemble. That's comparing apples to oranges---- made-up stories to real people and events. I noticed you put Paul's name in quotation marks. Are you now gonna' say that there was no such person as Paul? How do you know what I'm willing or unwilling to study? Where does Christianity prohibit learning about religions? I'd think it would be helpful to be familiar with other religions if one wants to talk to their adherents about the freedom and forgiveness that Christ offers them in contrast to their own religion. But as far as receiving any personal benefit from the study of other religions... why try? I agree with you to a certain degree and in the case of some religions. But this truly has no bearing on whether or not I "study other religions." I'll take a leap in logic (since you can, perhaps you'll allow me to as well) and guess that you are going to hold yourself up as an example of being truly enlightened because you study all kinds of religions and have had the wisdom to separate the wheat from the chaff? Oh, well, yeah, that wouldn't be much of a leap, as you practically say as much in the next paragraph. Please tell me how you determine what "the teachings of God" are. A teaching that is "similar" to the teaching of Christ doesn't make it true. It would only be an imitation. Only one can be true. One can't have too much wisdom. But, the wisdom I want is the wisdom found in Christ. If Christ is mine (and He is) and I am Christ's (and I am), whatever spiritual wisdom I need, I have in Christ. And I discover it through my closeness and my friendship with Him... and through His words. These verses sum it up... and I'm sure you'll read them because you're not afraid of learning from all religions, even Christianity, right? 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. 26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

This statement borders on eloquence, Royd! "'The grass withers and the flowers fall away. But the word of the Lord will last forever.'" And that word is the gospel that was preached to you." (Peter to the Jewish Christians in Asia Minor) (1 Peter 1:25) Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Then what standards are normally used for determining the historical credibility? Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Paj, do you know off the top of your head how many of the original disciples of Christ were martyred because of their claims about Christ? Some were NOT martyred, right?

EVERYTHING about the NT manuscripts is superior to any other ancient work... the time span between the originals and the first copies, the number of copies (manuscripts)--- EVERYTHING. When you put all the data together, it's pretty amazing. Thanks for the actual numbers, Paj. Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Perhaps it's because mortals are involved. Human beings always complicate things. The more complex they can make something, the better it looks. Maybe they think complexity makes them look smarter. People have their pet doctrines and traditions. Unless Christ is flagrantly dishonored in some way through this, I think it can be a good thing-- different denominations focusing on different facets of truth. But when did Christians kill each other over a translation?! This is news to me. Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

I don't see the problem with this. Why do you disregard writings of his contemporaries and followers? Why is eyewitness testimony considered untrustworthy in the case of Jesus? I don't know much about this. Supposedly, Tacitus (a roman historian) wrote something about it. Josephus, a Jewish historian, for sure wrote of Pontius Pilate and Jesus, however. http://www.ucl.ac.uk/GrandLat/people/griffiths/collatin.htm http://www.bible-history.com/jesus/jesusuntitled00000472.htm This anti-Christian site makes mention of the Tacitus reference: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/anti-semitism/jesus.html I don't know about this claim, but there were early historians who did mention Jesus and Christians and persecution of Christians, etc. I can't say I've read enough mythology to even recognize all these names, but I have heard the accusation before... Do stories of these mythical dieties make the actual events of Christ's life impossible to have occurred? The Messiah's life and death were prophecied in the OT, you know. Maybe the authors of these myths got creative and used the prophetic details in their stories. Conjecture proves nothing. This is wishful thinking by "infidels" and atheists. That's actually pretty early for back then! Are you aware of this? Not so. Histories of the time DO mention Christ and the spread of Christianity. Check this history link: http://www.westarkchurchofchrist.org/library/extrabiblical.htm As I recall, Pajarito also gave you some links containing extra-biblical historical references. Did you check those out? Does any of this help answer your questions b?