FallingMarc

I rarely remember any dreams at all, but I had a very vivid skydiving dream a couple of weeks ago, and still remember it clearly... I don't know what it is about it, but I've been thinking about it a lot. I get to Archway, get geared up and manifested, then exit the King Air for a solo dive. The freefall is uneventful, and a little above 3 grand, I reach, pull the PC out, let it go, and watch it inflate and fly away, nothing attached to it. The bridle had torn off. I calmly think, "that's not right," and pull silver. My reserve opens normally, although I was unbelievably low--I pulled, watched the canopy open, then looked down and realized it was about time to flare. I don't remember waiting that long to pull the reserve, but hey, dreams are wierd that way. After landing, I went in and talked to some people, and nobody really had much to say about what could have happened. I didn't even think it was that big of a deal for some reason, oh, hey, first high speed mal, case of beer, you know, that's that. I don't know why I'm writing this here, I guess, I just wanted to know what people thought... pretty wierd waking up with that in my head, that's all... Marc 0:3:0, but the weather was so awesome, the 3 jumps so much fun, it made up for the zeros...

Landing unhurt in the second plane... I don't think that would suck, just think of the "no shit, there I was" stories you'd have! Marc

Thanks for the mental picture. I wasn't planning on throwing up tonight... Marc

Yeah, it's not like that everywhere... at my DZ there's plenty of both, and nobody seems to have a problem with the other groups. We're all skydivers... Marc

That reminds me of one of my favorite quotes, I read it in a book by Scott Adams(Dilbert)... it went something along the lines of, "Nothing is so certain as to have only one possible way of looking at it. I don't trust anyone who claims to look at anything in terms of black-and-white." Everything in the world is shades of grey... Marc

Reading all this stuff, I've got to say that I hate the idea of killing innocent civilians, but Clay's ideas are the only ones that look like they'll actually accomplish anything. These people already live in shit, ok. But if the only way we can get to the Taliban is through them, so be it. Let them rise up and help us if they so choose, all the better. If they choose not to, then, well, they have fair warning. If there's going to be war, they have to pick a side sometime. Marc a.k.a. Devil's Advocate

Congrats! Marc

Ok might as well try... a)OBL b)Clay c)Clay d)Clay e)Clay f)OBL g)OBL on just a quick glance-over... Plus I always thought the UK was socialist. Socialism and Communism are two different things... Marc

Yes, thank you, thank you to everyone who wears a uniform and stands up for the United States. You are the true patriots today. Thank you. Marc

That's damn cool, man. Gotta respect the F-16... Much respect to combat pilots too... that's gotta take way more balls than skydiving. Especially now... Marc

AIM - M555555 Yeah, it's all I use. No, it doesn't mean a damn thing. Yeah, there are six "5"s. Marc

Haha I've been doing that with my bookbag going to class for the past couple of weeks... Actually I realized yesterday that I've also been unconsciously covering my nonexistant BOC handle, on my bookbag, every time my right side brushes up against anything in a crowd. I'll be out at Archway this saturday, Anne, you gonna be there? Marc

I'm in no way suggesting we just bomb Afghanistan, or go in indiscriminately killing people there. But we DO have to find and destroy the specific group of people who did this, just as you said. That doesn't mean we even declare war on a country. Wherever Bin Laden is now, we have to get him, and his buddies. If the country he's in refuses to hand them over, we go in and get them. If the military of the country he's in tries to stop us, they're supporting his actions and we have no reason to give up there. We just have to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to get to the people that caused all this death. We cannot let this pass. Marc

http://www.geocities.com/scollins77057/index.html But when I try to go there my computer whines and complains... probably just my computer though. Marc

Hee hee hee... that's hilarious!

Would you rather sit back and say, "Mr. Bin Laden, it was very bad of you to kill those thousands of innocent people. So don't do it again, please." Yes, war is awful. But the world learned from Hitler what happens if you let atrocities like this continue on the idea that "he'll stop soon enough." Military action is the only way to get the attention of these terrorists, it's the only way they think. I'm glad we have a president with the balls to stand up to terrorism. Marc

Can I just say... yay...! After everything that's happened a little altitude will clear everybody's head, I know it will mine... Marc

It's probably part of my strong desire to look at this optomistically, but I can't see GA being grounded for an extended period of time. Of course there is the national security issue, but many, many businesses, not just drop zones, absolutely depend on VFR flight. The last thing the government wants is to put these companies out of business. And Bush & his cabinet are not likely to heavily restrict flight if it means endangering the economy in an already low period. So I'm looking forward to jumping this weekend. Marc

Archway Skydiving at Vandalia. Great place, awesome people. I'd like to check out some places like Ottawa and Hinckley sometime soon, too. And apparently Illinois Sky Sports is in Rantoul which is 20 minutes from where I live, I'd like to check it out, but Archway will always be home while I live in this area. Marc

I know turbines run more efficiently at higher altitudes to the extent that if they're flying farther than a few hundred miles, it's cheaper to climb to above a certain altitude. I'm not sure exactly how high it is. And, for shorter distances, it's cheaper to fly piston engine aircraft.

I can't see why they would be flying that low. Jets fly up at high altitudes because that's where a turbine engine is most efficient. Maybe they were descending, approaching their destination? 15,000 is pretty low for a jumbo jet to cruise... Always speculating, Marc

Waking up to the phone, my mom tells me to turn on the TV. Watching each tower collapse live, a few hundred miles away. What a senseless waste of life. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, all tens of thousands of them. Marc

::relieved, ducks out before the flame war gets too hot for him:: Marc ...can't we all just get along...

Hey... I've got about 40 jumps and all... and I remembered a sizing chart I saw somewhere... but I have no idea what you guys are talking about... Marc

I seem to remember a chart somewhere that was something along the lines of 150 lbs exit weight and under - 24', 150-200 - 26', and over 200 - 28'. That was all for hi porosity rounds. I weigh 135 and a 26' low porosity was a hard enough landing for me... hehe... Marc Damn my porno--I mean, photographic memory...