Iflyme

Ya, I think Zennie has it bang on - but what if that student in the simulate emerg had done something wrong, and was injured or killed because of it??? What if he panicked, went out the door, and never pulled? I know - too many what-if's... but what if???

Gee, Froggie - I didn't mean to inspire you -- but if can help you quit smoking - help you in any tiny way - then I am honoured! Now it IS about you!!! Please hang in there, and stay strong!!! Your life is worth it - even to me, way over here on the other side of this big continent. I have 2 little girls, and I am trying my hardest to make sure they never even THINK of trying it once. I'd be real happy for both of us, Froggie, if you can get off that horrible weed!!!

Hey, about that breathing in freefall thing - I have actually seen it reported on an NBC network show that "skydivers don't breath in freefall because their bodies absorb oxygen ..." So remember, the next time the TV crew shows up, they might broadcast ANYTHING you tell them!!!

HA HA HA HA! There you are Iflyme.....I've missed you. Haven't seen you around much lately. It's nice to see that sense of humor again. MUCH LOVE AND BLUE SKIES! Carrie Hi C-girl!!! I've been here the whole time ... haven't missed a beat ... my 2 little girls have been sick and home from school the whole week, so I've been doing more reading than posting! But you and the others are keeping me entertained! Thanks for the nice note!

It's already in effect, and has been for almost a year I think. Oh ya, you're not in Canada are you...

My memories are vague due to substance abuse... I was 18 when the 80's started. I still remember the very first time I heard Van Halen's "Eruption" - maybe that was late '79... hmmmm - I guess I only kinda remember. I was stoned.

Only 1 person at my DZ uses a pull-out. Seems that BOC is more popular here.

Hey! I quite enjoyed the 80's ... what I remember of them anyway!

Well, 'Sis, we're not gonna force ya to quit jumping - but if you ever come my way without sharing a beer, then there IS gonna be trouble!!!

I'm with AggieDave and Grogs - I'd much rather watch video of REAL skydivers (like me and you) than some dumb-ass rich guy who couldn't act his way out of a plane.

I read this answer somewhere on this website a while back and used it one day at work: someone asked me "what happens if your parachute doesn't open?", and I replied "Gee, I never thought of that..."

Zennie ... you said your addictions were self destructive - I can see that with the alcohol, but smoking pot??? What happened - did the munchies cause you to gain too much weight or something???

Just over an hour ago, a big earthquake hit the Seattle area - some reports peg it at a magnitude 7. We felt it here in Victoria, about 60 miles or so north of Seattle ... anybody in the Seattle area on-line? Frank

Well, Froggie, I can only echo what everyone else has said: thou instructor is thou leader. Pay attention, follow their advice, and stay focused... you're gonna LOVE IT. Can't wait to hear how it all goes for you, girl!

Hey, Mike, longggg time no see (well - read, anyway)... we were worried that Britain has sunk into the ocean, or that the Queen had pulled the plug on your internet access... Hey, the newbie thing is an awful stigma to be attached to, huh!

Good call, Boss. It's really not that bad being a "newbie"... (for now). I like they way everything is working here. The new features are great! I still haven't figured out how to get a pix up, though... in time!

Face it Froggie - the tobacco compaines have you right where they want you. This isn't about YOUR needs - it's about billions of dollars of profit for a few big companies. They are the one who add addictive substances to the cigarettes they sell you. They don't want you to quit! Neither does your health care provider. They make bags of money off you smokers. If you were all to quit suddenly, then there would be 80% fewer people in the hospitals. At the cost of your health, you are lining the pockets of those who happily profit from this plague on society. I hope you can quit, Froggie, before the cancer, or one of the many other smoking related illnesses catches up with you and steals your life away. Frank (who has had too many relatives die from cancer)

At my small DZ, there is the occasional pieing, and lots of "...hey!, that's beer!!!". Apart from that, it's just lotsa fun jumping, and watching the First Jump Students in the hang harness...

Pulling below 2200' feet would be low, and I don't believe there is such a thing as "pulling high". I pull at 3000', but lately I am thinking about pulling higher so I can spend more time flying my canopy!

I'm, glad you gack in the groove at work, Lisa. I had a disc that was characterized as "buldging" (jamming my sciatic nerve)... the procedure I had (in about 1992 or so) was called a "Percutaneous Discectomy" where they did the microsurgery thing - inserted a tube in my back, and using a video camera, inserted the little tools, shaved off the part of the disc that was causing the problem, vaccummed out the shavings, then withdrew the tube. I was awake the whole time, and walked out of the hospital 2 hours later. I had seen neurosurgeons who wanted to carve me up like a Thanksgiving turkey, but this procedure was the best option I found by a mile! Still get a sore back now and then, but hey! I can skydive without worry these days!!! How soon 'till you're back in the air? Frank

Gee... smoking... 50% of the people who partake in that disgusting pastime will die as a result... but let's face it - the tobacco companies have loaded their deadly product with highly addictive substances to keep you spending your jump tickets on them... your loss, their gain. As far as personal choice, if our society grants the right to kill yourself with cigarrettes, then why aren't other forms of suicide legal? Live healthy, skydive safely Frank

Well, mine is maybe 1cm long, but I've had it right down to the wood in the not too distant past.

No, but it would make you a smart kid!!! (sorry, Omri, but compared to the number of years I've been around, you still qualify as a "kid") ... would you agree, Skyhawk? Ya don't need to be boozy to be a good skydiver. As long as you respect the wildly diverse approaches to life that members of the skydiving community have, you'll fit right in!

That's an easy one, 'Sis: SUDS Frank (me and beer go together like "free" and "fall")

Skreamer, I suspect you know as much about journalism as the writer of the article knows about skydiving. A "general duties" journalist has to gather and interpert new information, often gained from an expert in a particular field the writer knows nothing about, assimilate it, then reshape it in the form of brief article. While I find any news of a skydiving fatality distressing, I don't find any glaring inaccuracies in this article. The writer characterizes Jason, who had about 25 jumps, and "intermediate". We know, of course that you are still considered a novice until you are closing in on 200 jumps. And while the writer may not have completely mastered the jargon we use, it seems to me that this is likely a pretty accurate and informative representation of what may have happened. If either of Jason's canopies had opened, he would probably not have died. Perhaps the phrase "landed head first" is melodramatic, but the writer believes that description helps the reader better understand the struggle Jason was having with his equipment. As this journalist is clearly not as informed about skydiving as those of who participate in the sport, we must draw our own conclusion about what happened to Jason, based on the details provided in the article. And, quite frankly, I appreciate Sangiro posting this and other articles about fatalities. It prompts us to pay more attention to our own safety.