okalb

Thanks Roy, I don't know what I would do without your help Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Ok, so it turns out an armadillo family is living under my house. They have dug a hole and moved in under the concrete slab. They are paying no rent and were not invited. I am trying to figure out what to do. I have spoken to exterminators who said to fill the hole and sprinkle ceyenne pepper all around so they don't come back. The problem is how do I make sure they aren't home before filling the hole. I don't want to bury anything under my house. I am not really concerned for the safety of the armadillo as much as the possible smells emanating from the hole should the creatures die under there. Anyone have any experience with this? Any suggestions? Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

I have an old friend who cut away closed end cells on his first jump. AFF level 1 he looks up, see's closed end cells, freaks out and chops it. Years later when he had 500 jumps he was still being teased about it. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

There is a pretty large hellfish contingent at z-hills as well. We have our own banner hanging above our table (that makes us all official and what not) -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

I second that. I read this a number of years ago and it will definitely open your eyes to the life and times of a very interesting character. Thompson was the first author that I ever really got into. Before reading his books I would read a book not an author. I read my first HST book and immediately read all the rest. I agree that his best work was behind him, but he will still be missed. Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

You know nothing about me and yet you make snide comments about my knowledge. I find it offensive and most would consider it a personal attack. Clearly the fact that you study aerodynamics means that you are the world's foremost expert on the subject. I eagerly await the release of your 11 cell swooping machine. Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Quite a simple concept you got there. Better tell all those 9 cell fliers to ditch their canopies for a 7 cell! If only there were nothing else going into the equation in this situation. Actually it is quite a simple concept. Thats why the velocity is based on a 7 cell not a 9 cell design and why PD is working on the z-brace which is based on a 5 cell design to cut down on the parasitic drag of the extra lines. I am not saying that airfoil design doesn't play a large part but most manufacturers have ruled out 11 cell designs because the positives do not out-weigh the negatives. There is a point where the benefits of the additional cells are not worth the additional drag. Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

From a performance standpoint one thing to consider is this: More cells = more lines More lines = more drag More drag = bad! -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Yeah I met him we tried to jump tegether a few times, but unfortunately the group I had was a little too advanced for him. Maybe next time. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Hey dude, glad to hear you are coming back to play with us. I can't get into my calendar at the moment, but I fly into tampa most Friday nights. Laura always picks me up so we can take you with us. I'll let you know when I have a better idea, but I am pretty sure we can get you. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Actually in your case I think we just felt sorry for you But seriously randy is absolutely right. He got on any jump he could at the dz. He proved himself and got on better and better stuff. Now any organizer at the dz would let him on any skydive. The other thing to remember is that you can learn a lot from the crappy skydives as well. I learn on every jump I go on. Actually I think I learn more when they don't go well because I spend a lot of my time chasing people around. Wrangling other jumpers will sure teach you to fly. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

And it doesn't hurt to make the organizer crack up laughing while he is trying to give the exit count Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

You just wanted everyone to know that you are in parachutist this month Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

I have met Van a few times but I don't really know him. He spends most of his time at Deland and I spend most of mine at z-hills. Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Out of curiosity, what's the progression? Almost everyone starts in the base. After that I usually move people to rear float then further back to rear rear. Next is first row diver behind the base, then further and further back. Obviously it varies based on skill and size and fall rate and lots of other variables. But that is the general idea. Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Hey, hey, easy now. So that's why you kept telling me "4-way looks like soooo much fun! Why don't you go do that?!" Uh oh...busted! Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

I have been an organizer at z-hills for about 4 years now, so I have a decent amount of experience with this. I can tell you right now that jump numbers mean a lot more than you think. I always find it funny that the pople who claim that jump numbers don't mean anything are usually the ones with low jump numbers. Living near the tunnel I know lots of people with very few jumps that are great flyers but that doesn't always translate to great in larger groups. There are certain things that can only be learned from experience and jumping is the only way to get that kind of experience. Also, jump numbers are all I have to go by until we jump together. I am not willing to risk everyone's jump tickets on what you tell me you can do. I have to see it for myself. As an organizer I would much rather be pleasantly surprised by how well you do on something small and fun, than pissed off when you screw up on something that you didn't belong on. My decision to let you join a group has a lot of dimensions. Jump numbers are just part of it. If I don't know you, I look at numbers but I also look at how you carry yourself. I also have to take into account who else is on the load. If it is a bunch of kick ass skydivers that are going to go up and do a kick ass jump, I am not going to risk the jump for an "unknown". If it is a relaxed groups that just wants to go have fun and doesn't mind doing something simple that is a different story. What I usually tell the low timers is this; My day usually starts off with a small group and by the end of the day we are doing 20 ways or so. Get here early and you can join us on the small stuff. As your skills get better, you will be able to stay longer and longer. If you are as good as you think then it will not take long until you are with us all day. You may even start getting invited on the sunset formation loads. Also, you can't get annoyed when I put you in a slot that you don't want to do. I have a set progression that I put all my newer jumpers through. Until you prove yourself to me in a certain slot, I am not going to let you take the next slot. You don't like it, go jump with someone else. It will all come with time. Be there early, often and don't whine. If you whine and annoy me all the time I will be less likely to want to jump with you. Hope that helps. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Happens to me every once in a while. The best thing that I have found for it is acupuncture. It really makes a huge difference. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

I'll be out tomorrow (weather permiting) but not Sunday this week. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

You should have seen Phantom's face when I walked up to the bar with his money and told him to put up a case

Ok I just saw someone withh a shirt that said "there is no place like 127.0.0.1" I have also seen the " there are 10 kinds of people in the world, those that understand binary and those that don't What stupid geek humor have you seen. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

He also almost got dragged off the hangar by his main until everyone yelled at him to cut away. He almost cut away without disconnecting his RSL as well. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

You had to see it. It was a thing of beauty. Grampa is laying on the ground flat on his back and the kid stopped just short of the packing tent.foot pointing behind him. Grampa was a good sport about the whole thing. At first I freaked cuz I didn't know it was his grandpa and I though "oh god he just plowed through and old guy and we are gonna get sued". Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Actually that is pretty funny cuz he had to get the money from his dad who was also standing there at the time. Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

I was the one that collected the beer money and trust me it was appropriate. The guy was trying to show off for his grandparents busted the beer line and knocked his granpa flat on his ass. Other than the obvious broken ankle everyone was fine and in good spirits. I teased him accordingly while waiting for the abulance and made him leave his beer money so that we could enjoy a beer on him that night. He was a good sport and gave up the $$. It was classic we all toasted his huge mistake while drinking his beer. trust me it was all in good fun and we laughed our asses off. There were plenty of DZ.commers there to witness this fine act of beer rule enforcement! You know the old saying...if you are gonna be stupid, you better be tough (and bring your beer money) -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana