Jessica

I have nothing of value to add to this discussion, but I thought I'd pipe in here and say I really appreciate Chris's posting news relevant to the sport. Does anyone doubt that this will pop up in the "Maybe you've heard" column in Skydiving magazine next month? It's not a secret. People's loyalties are making them act crazy. It's like when an incident is posted, and the subject's friends get all crazy pissed and say "it's a special situation!" No it's not. Anyway, thanks to Chris, and everyone else who helps me stay plugged into to this complex sport. Skydiving is for cool people only

Is anyone going? Is it a PARTY? Skydiving is for cool people only

Here are some musings on gear value and depreciation. In 2000, I bought a Reflex, Micro Raven, and Cypres, all three years old with just a few jumps on them, and an older PD 170 for $2,600. I recently sold the PD 170 for $300, and bought a slightly used Hornet 150 for $700. That brings the cost of my gear up to $3,000. Let's look at what it's worth now: Reflex: I probably couldn't unload it if I tried. It's a good rig, but just isn't really popular since Fliteline went out of business. I could probably get about $400 for it. Luckily, I'll probably hang onto it forever, maybe someday keeping it as a second rig. I really do like it. (And it's super easy to close the reserve container!) Micro Raven: The dash-M issues have led a lot of people to look elsewhere than Precision for their reserves. Most people that I know turn their noses up at anything but a PDR these days. Again, I really like the reserve, and will probably hang onto it for the long run. I especially like it since I've been packing reserves myself. It's a shorter canopy, and easier for me to handle than a PDR; it also has red stitching on white fabric, which makes for easier inspections. So I'm happy with it. If I were to sell it, I could probably get around $400. Hornet: This is what's led me to these musings. It's an inexpensive, yet quality ZP canopy -- but they're not being made anymore! Aerodyne Research bought PISA out, and the canopy is likely getting revamped, renamed, and repriced, effectively eliminating the Hornet from existence. I have no idea what this will do to the resale value. If I were to sell it today, I could probably get $600. Cypres: Since they have a limited service life, they depreciate every year. I don't know what this one would be worth. Maybe $500. So my $3,000 rig, after 2.5 years, is now worth $1,900? Does that sound right? I'm not looking to sell any part of my gear, so this is all just hypothetical. Does other gear depreciate in the same way? Is it like a car -- the second you "drive it off the lot" it loses a huge chunk of value? Do people consciously buy gear with resale value in mind? (I obviously don't.) Is this a realistic attitude? I've noticed a LOT of "complete rigs" for sale in the dz.com classifieds, and they're hanging out there for a long time. It may just be the time of year...a lot of the country doesn't need gear in the winter. But something tells me the market for used gear is drying up -- that most people are just buying custom rigs right off student status. If that's so, it's a big change from even 2.5 years ago, when I finished my AFF training. We all bought used gear then. Skydiving is for cool people only

THANK you. Look folks, if you want to discuss Iraq ad naseum, try hitting Google for a war-specific discussion forum. Here is one that looks active. Skydiving is for cool people only

LEAVE THAT BIRD ALONE OR SUFFER MY WRATH. Think of it as your good deed for the spring.

Bud Light is inexpensive and gets me wasted at a much slower rate than better beers, YET, still gets me wasted. Bud Light has its purpose. Miller Light is piss. Skydiving is for cool people only

Yes, I have one, and yes, I subscribe to the "pull or die" philosophy. But if there's a life after death, then why not take advantage of it? Skydiving is for cool people only

fuck:my:job Those are my weekend numbers. Skydiving is for cool people only

Hey, aren't you underage?! Skydiving is for cool people only

The huge slider on my Hornet does make for soft openings, but I can't reach it to collapse it, and it's so big it inverts and gets in my way sometimes. I'm not sure what to do. Skydiving is for cool people only

You're so hot when you put your foot down! Skydiving is for cool people only

I love it. Titles for posts weren't so damaging when dz.com was smaller, but it's just too big now for everyone to be trying to drive up his or her post numbers. Skydiving is for cool people only

I'm so tired and defeated by everything right now, all I can muster up is: You are both festering scabs on the mangy hide of life. Sorry. I know you were looking forward to something meaner. Skydiving is for cool people only

Hmm, well, maybe that's the flip side of being called un-American for wishing we hadn't attacked. Suck it up! And mainstream America's what we should all strive to emulate! Mainstream America always makes the best choices, it's clear! Skydiving is for cool people only

"...and it is good." I love girls who quote Beavis & Butthead.

Negative! May I see your research, sir?! Skydiving is for cool people only

My 10th-year reunion should be next year (ACK I'M OLD IT IS TO WEEP), and I'm all about going. I'm really curious about what happened with my classmates; I've kept in touch with a lot of them, but I graduated with 500 people. I was a quiet little mouse in high school; it should be entertaining to see people react to me now. Maybe I'll borrow Winsor's "NOBODY KNOWS I'M A LESBIAN" t-shirt. If nothing else, should be a good opportunity to drink in an interesting setting and get hit on. I can't really think of a downside to attending. Skydiving is for cool people only

That's very Clockwork Orange-esqe. Yet it strikes me as strangely appropriate; many of the viewers seem to have the impression that this is a movie, or a video game. Boom! Kill Iraqis! Baghdad's on fire, 500 points!!! As far as 24-hour news networks go, I only watch them if there's a breaking story or I need to catch up on all the world news quickly. They were never meant to be stared at for hours. And they're great in a situation where news is actually happening, even though the news might be happening slower than our afore-mentioned explosion-desiring majority might like. I'll always remember watching those Pennsylvania miners get rescued live on CNN. The entire newsroom was weeping. Skydiving is for cool people only

By Greg Miller and Bob Drogin (c) 2003, Los Angeles Times WASHINGTON — U.S. intelligence officials said they believe Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his two grown sons were in the compound hit in pre-dawn airstrikes Thursday in Baghdad, but it is not yet clear whether any of them were killed. The disclosure offered one clue to why the U.S. military continued to refrain from a full-scale attack, with Pentagon officials saying the Iraqi military appeared adrift and that it remained possible full-scale war could be avoided. Senior U.S. and military intelligence officials remained very cautious in their assessments of the developments in Iraq, and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld stressed that the military remained poised to unleash an unprecedented assault. But officials say they are benefiting from a surge of intelligence from Iraqi sources, and a key member of Congress said the information placing Saddam and his sons at the targeted site early Thursday came from people inside Iraq. That suggests dramatically improved intelligence. Officials were clearly hoping that the strike on a residential compound on the outskirts of Baghdad might have delivered a fatal blow to Saddam's regime. “We believe he was there. We believe both sons were there,” said a U.S. intelligence official. Asked whether there was any evidence that Saddam had died, the official said, “I know it's dissatisfying, but we don't know yet.” Skydiving is for cool people only

Yes, God forbid you try to improve weaknesses from within. Generalized outside criticisms are MUCH more productive. Skydiving is for cool people only

Virgins? Wouldn't they be lousy in bed? I think you'd be better off with 12 porn stars. Skydiving is for cool people only

"Cockblock"? Hee hee! Look, if the other guys aren't getting any play, it's totally wussified to blame John. Maybe they should try being more interesting or aggressive. Skydiving is for cool people only

A huge bowl of crawfish étouffée, buttered french bread, and Shiner Bock in a frozen mug. And a whole coconut cream pie for dessert. (Hey, I'm not watching my weight at this point, right?) Skydiving is for cool people only

Yay! That's where I'll be! Tent 3 is a magical fairy land! (Not in a gay way, though.) Skydiving is for cool people only

No. It's coach, instructor, instructor-examiner. Skydiving is for cool people only