NWFlyer

I checked them both out at Chicks Rock this weekend. The designs are actually quite different. The G2 has a wider field of vision and is a bit of a wider design generally (I much preferred that). And of course, the G2 has a visor that opens. I was pretty impressed with the G2 - I liked the shape of the helmet and the locking mechanism on the visor seems to be pretty bulletproof yet still easy to use, and I look forward to actually putting it on my (freakishly-large) head to check the fit once the XL and larger sizes come out at the end of the year (right now, they're only available in sizes L and smaller). "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Three years ... how'd that happen so fast? Thinking of all my friends up in the Northwest today. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

That's ... random. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Yep, I'm going to check it ... I just need to actually go into my office as the card is sitting in my desk drawer there (as is a $25 one I got for some other reason that I no longer remember). With all the joys of telecommuting I rarely find the motivation to put on grown-up clothes and schlep 27 miles to go into an office where no one that I actually work with works. But that's another story altogether... "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I think it was a Visa gift card that I got from Verizon, and I figured out how to turn that into cash - I think it's buried somewhere on the gift card site when you go to register it. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Yeah, I'm not a fan. My employer gives out Amex gift cards a "spot bonuses," though, and I earned a $500 one earlier this year. Fortunately I had my eye on a piece of furniture that priced out at $496 including tax so I was able to use most of the value of the card on a single transaction. Of course now you've got me wondering if I need to cancel out the rest of the card because of fees... "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

That's really odd. I've found gift cards to be a pain in the ass because if it's a $25 card and you're making a $28 purchase (that you'd like to top off with cash), they'll decline it unless the store has a POS system that's smart enough to accept multiple forms of payment for specific amounts. Well done. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Does this mean you might finally make it to LP again? "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I'm assuming that the OP got the photo from the web site of the place that makes the rocking pair of pants. Kurt sent the photo in and they put it on the front page (scroll down). http://betabrand.com/betalabs.html "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Nice picture ... nice muscles ... do you know if he is available (i.e. single)? O Nope, very happily and schmoopily in love. At least if their FB posts to each other are to be believed. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

If the price paid for it when it's first purchased (used) is a fair one, then it'll be likely to hold that value reasonably well. If you overpay at first ... you may take more of a hit. My own personal examples: Spectre 230, purchased with 400 jumps and a new lineset for $850. Sold 2 years later with a total of 600 jumps on it for $800. Total cost of ownership = $50 or $0.25/jump. Pilot 210, purchased with 200 jumps on it for $900. Sold 3 years later with a total of 500 jumps and a new lineset ($300) on it for $1100. Total cost of ownership = $100 or $0.33/jump. Of course, a lot depends on the demand for a particular size/style of canopy. Pilots and Spectres are very popular, and mine were in sizes that are often hard to find but desired by newbies. I was able to and willing to wait for my price. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Wow, I know that was only a couple years ago but the kids look so YOUNG!!!! "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

You're getting an MBA and have no interest in exploring the world's second largest economy/fastest-growing economy? "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

You're describing it correctly. You were doing a fun jump and they were going all 4-way geek on you. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Congrats on the finish!!!! I've really been enjoying following along this year. http://postholer.com/journal/viewJournal.php?sid=3179d51e589db8f6ac4e03b289a3ef40&entry_id=18860 "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I want to say that the Silver was a large cardboard tube wrapped in foil. Maybe painted silver. Impressive job, well made. I think they had t shirts on that had a 1 and a 2 on them. Found my photo. That was a great costume! http://www.flickr.com/photos/krisanne/290116302/in/dateposted/ Yep - I was wrong - loks like vent pipe and no t shirts - see what getting old does to your memory? You know, I think there might have been a Thing 1 and Thing 2 at that boogie, too... maybe you're mixing up the costumes. It's possible it's not so much getting old but that your memory of that particular evening might be a bit muddled from the party favors. And by that, of course, I mean you probably just ate a wee bit too much candy. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I want to say that the Silver was a large cardboard tube wrapped in foil. Maybe painted silver. Impressive job, well made. I think they had t shirts on that had a 1 and a 2 on them. Found my photo. That was a great costume! http://www.flickr.com/photos/krisanne/290116302/in/dateposted/ "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

You might also contact Valinda and John Mitchell (vskydiver and JohnMitchell are their screen names on here). They've been doing fundraisers for lupus research for several years and have set up the Leap for Lupus Foundation as part of their work. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

No one's telling you that you can't participate. They're being very up-front about what the consequences are if you do choose to participate and get hurt. Listen, I get the "insurance companies are evil" mentality. Insurance companies have done some shitty stuff to people. But trying to say that they're infringing on your personal liberties ... nope. No one's telling you what to do. It's like when Dr. Laura said she quit her radio show so she could "take her First Amendment rights back." News flash, sweetie, just because advertisers didn't like your particular exercise of your first amendment rights and chose not to do business with your network doesn't mean you lost those rights. It just means you didn't like the consequences of exercising those rights. Big difference. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Since I started jumping, I've worked for 4 different employers, been covered under 5 different health plans, with the health plans (based on the company HQ location) in 4 different states. NONE of them has excluded skydiving. All of my coverage has been "group" coverage, through my employers, not individual coverage. I've actually sought treatment under 3 of those health plans for injuries related to skydiving (all relatively minor - a concussion, and two separate shoulder injuries). I've been straight up every time and had no problems whatsoever. I dunno - maybe others are better at this, but I suck at lying. The idea of having to keep up a web of lies throughout a complex recovery and insurance navigation process just sounds like something I'd fuck up pretty quickly. I've been through that process for a fairly major injury (total cost $100K+) that wasn't skydiving related, and just keeping the TRUE facts straight through dealing with three insurance companies and a personal injury attorney was exhausting enough. I'd hate to add lies on top of that. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I wouldn't jump in the first place without insurance that covered skydiving. My health insurance does. I also made a point of seeking out a travel accident insurance policy for my trip to Belize that covered skydiving. Lying about how you received an injury is what's called insurance fraud. You might be able to get away with it if it's a minor break and you get driven in by a friend ... but when the ambulance (ground or air) takes you in, rest assured that the information about how you got injured will be readily available to the folks who are treating you at the hospital as well. Once your claim gets up into the high dollar amounts you'd better believe your insurance company will do it's homework to ensure that they only have to pay for what the policy says they'll pay for. (Also note that a lot of DZs have a standard policy - if you can't walk off the field under your own power, they're calling 911, so thinking "Oh I'll just get my friend to load me into their car for this little femur break" ... think again!) If it's excluded in your policy, it won't be covered if you don't lie. If you do lie and they find out, not only won't it be covered, you stand a good chance of losing your coverage altogether (or worse). "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Seven pups, wow! I hope you find good homes for them, but I'm betting that "condemned to life on the farm" isn't a bad life at all for a doggie. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Best and cheapest don't necessarily coincide. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

You're right. Everyone else is wrong. Mad skillz trump experience every time. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Opposite direction. Prices for just about everything have gone up in the last 5-10 years. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke