NWFlyer

That's what I have. My boyfriend got a similar one (different brand)at a local boat shop. Those are nice because they're comfortable, easy to use, and are relatively unobtrusive or likely to cause issues with your skydiving gear. "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

Mark, I have read the grand jury report. It indicates that McQueary reported a rape. It's the guys at the top of the food chain who claim that only "horsing around" was reported. Do I know who's lying and who's telling the truth? No. But there are a lot of culpable people here and this stinks from the top on down. "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 the whole point. Because a lot of people cared more about the damage to Penn State than the victims, this was allowed to go on long after it should have been reported. It might not have saved his first victims, but it damn sure could have helped prevent further victims. "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

Agree, McQueary should prrobably go, too. But he was not in the position of power that Paterno was. In that culture he probably had reasonable fear of retaliation if he went outside the chain of command. Doesn't mean he shouldn't have anyway, but you can bet that w/o Paterno's backing he would have been crucified in the court of public opinion. Should he have been more courageous? Of course. But to try to let Paterno off the hook because McQueary went to him and not the police isn't right, either. "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

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And I dislike the idea that people like Joe Paterno and Penn State officials can decide they are the law, rather than reporting the allegations to the proper authorities who can then investigate the allegations in a timely fashion. Do I know for certain that Jerry Sandusky will be found guilty in a court of law? Nope, but a grand jury sure thinks there's enough there to charge him, which is how the process should have worked years ago, not now. Our legal system gets to decide these things, not football coaches and University administrators. "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 didn't watch the debate, but I watched the video when the news stories started to break. It was pretty cringe-worthy - in a modern debate format that's pretty much "talking point vs. talking point" rather than any substantive discussion, he fumbled (multiple times) on his own talking points. This wasn't just stumbling over words (like he has before), this was not even remembering what he claims to stand for. Do I think it'll doom him? I don't know. In this day and age of style over substance, he's failing on style points, but I can also imagine this will get so much media attention that it might actually garner him sympathy because he's being "attacked" by the liberal media machine. (BTW, I didn't see the video link in the article you linked, but here's an article that contains it: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57321982-503544/rick-perry-fails-to-remember-what-agency-hed-get-rid-of-in-gop-debate/) "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

Canopy-wise, nope, not at all. I've been conservative since the beginning and I still am. I've downsized from a 230 to a 210... and stopped. Just bought a 210 to build a second rig. No intentions of going any smaller. Otherwise, though, there were probably quite a few jumps I "got away with" early in my career. Being on jumps that were probably bigger than I should've been on given my overall level of awareness. Being in canopy traffic that was busier than I was perhaps ready for. The big sky theory worked, but it doesn't mean that those were the greatest of choices. As I've matured in the sport, of course, I've become more aware of how much I don't know that I don't know, and that's helped me to build awareness and make better choices in general. "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 gotta say, ever since the whole Jerry Sandusky story broke wide on Saturday, I doubted very seriously that Paterno would get anything more than being strongly encouraged to (finally) retire. When he announced his retirement this morning, I figured that was that, they were going to let JoePa fade off into the sunset with a bit of a cloud over his head, but with no institutional censure. Even though he may not be legally culpable, morally, he should be called to account. I'm glad to see that I was proven wrong and that finally, someone in this whole mess (well, a unanimous group of someones) has acted with honor. Well done, Penn State Board of Trustees. Now comes the really hard 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

Never, ever ever ever ever will I do that. I'm all for pedestrian rights, and doing what I can to ensure that I have those rights, but never to the point of being "dead right." I've always been a pretty aware pedestrian, but since getting hit by a car (in Seattle, not the Bay Area - Seattle's actually - in general - much more pedestrian friendly), I've become hyper-aware. I have to know you see me and aren't going to move in front of me before I'll step foot in a crosswalk. Goes both ways, though, it means that I'll almost never jaywalk - that's holding up my part of the bargain. And I do this knowing that there's probably not an awful lot I could have changed about my behavior the day that I got hit (other than to not ever walk anywhere in the first place, which ain't gonna happen) that would have changed the outcome. In my case, the car that hit me ran the red light so long after the light had changed (long enough that 1) his light went red, 2) there was a 1.5 second delay till the other direction turned green and 3) a car going in the green light direction had time to pull fully into the intersection) that I was just in precisely the wrong place after red-light-runner hit car-legally-in-intersection and then spun into the crosswalk. That kind of shit happens, but it's not the typical type of car/pedestrian turf battle in a crosswalk that an aware pedestrian can help to prevent. "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

Seriously. Earlier this year I had a little spate of a bunch of shows in May and June - Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, and Lyle Lovett/John Hiatt. Fantastic shows all, but that put a dent in my wallet. Just got news that Social Distortion's playing in February down the street. Must get tix for that - had a great time seeing them a few years back in Seattle with livendive, vskydiver, and JohnMitchell (for the record if you ever need a wingman, John's a champ!). "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

Yes. But that's beside the point. If I see a driver trying to turn, I'll hae an easier time navigatign the intersection and will wave the driver to turn. Part of that is also self interest - that I had the right of way is little consolation if I am a hood ornament. Had the woman merely signaled I would have waved her through before I crossed. Oh yeah, I definitely get that part. As the "ped" in a ped vs. car accident 8 years ago, I'm all about communicating with the driver - eye contact, waves, etc. But I asked the question more along the lines of "Why the fuck did she think she had the right to yell at you when you were the one doing the right thing?" "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

Wouldn't you still have the right of way as a pedestrian crossing at the intersection? "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

With or without the watch on? What are peoples experiences at airports outside the US? Going to Nicaragua in March and it sounds like leaving will be ok but wondering about returning. In my sample size of two (Toronto and Belize City), not that different from the U.S. In Toronto I had to check my rig only because Air Canada had a carryon weight restriction of 10KG, and my rig is heavier than that. But I was allowed to take it through security myself then there was a weigh station where (after your bag was determined to be too heavy) you were given the opportunity to send it to checked baggage. The rig itself was of no interest to the screeners, though. As for Belize ... chill. Hell, they still let you leave your shoes on there. "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

Won't we all be surprised if the coroner's report comes back with a finding of death due to acute metal poisoning from foreign object in nose. "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

Careful, NWF: that's an engineering term. Shah might explode. Elvisio "null set" Rodriguez I know! And an engineering term thrown out by a >Size 8 chick who skydives AND works in IT (though to be fair, I do have liberal arts and business degrees). "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

Well, so that's what eHarmony's all about; that's their prerogative to specialize in a particular type of person who's looking for a particular type of person. You wouldn't go to J-Date and wonder where all the Gentile chicks are? Or to gay.com and wonder where all the straight girls were? Nope, you find the site or sites that cater to what you're looking for. So then the alternative is implying that you do want kids and getting five dates in and having a repeat of last night? Yeah, that sounds like a great approach. Shah, you gotta recognize that in the Venn diagram of single women, there may or may not be an intersection point that meets every single one of your criteria. And if there is, it's a pretty small sliver. But better to search within that sliver than to waste your time outside of 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

No. In this case, respect is to be earned. Your intro to me is "I'm dead due to drug overdose," you start off with no respect, and have to earn it from there. Do we know she died from a drug overdose? I've not been able to find any news story that confirms cause of death, only speculation. (if you can find one, please link). Either way, I find it sad that you seem to believe anyone you don't respect deserves to die. "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

Then you've got bigger problems. "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

Guys: don't be part of the problem spreading inaccurate info... I think this is a miserably awfully bad idea, but it is mot membership money. It's money coming from the competition fund that members donated to fund the US team. Go back to Post #20 (or dig out your Parachutist). The loan is coming from dues money precisely because of the limitations on the use of the team trust fund. "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

Your previous rigger(s) may have logged the serial numbers in their riggers' logbook. Worth a call. Good luck getting this back! "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

Sangi, thanks so much for the candid description of what you're going through right now. I think a lot of people who thought like you did have the attitude of "I'm not afraid of dying." And that's not an unnatural feeling, especially when you're younger and/or have no dependents. Even at 40, I feel like I'm not afraid of death, per se; I've lived my life well, openly, and honestly and if tomorrow's my time, I can say that I lived it with no regrets. And though I know I've got family and other loved ones who would have to grieve my death, I don't have any children or other dependents to leave behind. I don't fear death for myself, because, well, I'll be dead. What terrifies me most about this sport is exactly what you're going through - a traumatic (but ultimately non-fatal) injury that will take months or years to recover from. I've been through a trauma and recovery before (not skydiving related) and all things considered, that was a relatively "minor" trauma. But I know for sure that I don't want to go through that again, and I definitely don't want to take it up a notch. I don't wish my death on my loved ones, but I also don't wish putting them in the position of long-term (or even permanent) caregivers. I haven't eliminated all the risks of dying or traumatic injury, but I try to mitigate it as much as possible by jumping a big, conservative canopy, sitting out when conditions are marginal, and choosing my jump sites and jump partners thoughtfully. "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

Is that because of your level of license? I know the UK is different from the U.S., but I don't know the exact rules. If it were me, I suppose I'd look at that as an incentive to do whatever I needed to do (more jumps with an instructor or coach) to get cleared to jump with others. That, for me, is the major fun of skydiving. Other than night jumps and hop & pops, I can't remember the last time I did a solo jump! As for the fear factor - I don't get particularly scared anymore either, but I still maintain a high level of awareness of the dangers so that I don't get complacent about it. But my interest in the sport moved beyond "getting over a major fear" as any kind of motivator. Ultimately, it's up to you whether or not you're still into it. If you decide you're not, that's cool; it doesn't end up being for everyone. But jumping solo may be the reason that you're not having that much fun - if that's all I got to do, I'd probably have quit a long time ago, too. "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

For six people you might consider a team room on the dropzone rather than the bunkhouse. Like the bunkhouse, you'll be sleeping on bunks and using communal showers, but it will give you your own private space. There are team rooms that sleep six, and team rooms that sleep 4 - depending on how crowded you care to be, you could all pile into a 6-person or get two 4-person rooms and have a bit more room to spread out. The cost will end up being about the same per person (maybe a hair more) as the bunkhouse, but it'll allow you to spread out a bit. The team rooms have small fridges and microwaves if you want to do some cooking on your own. (Advantages to the bunkhouse are that there's a common living room area that has couches and chairs). You certainly could get by on the DZ without a car, but for that long a trip you'll probably want one, if only to be able to go into town and get snacks, drinks, etc., and to have other dining options than the Bent Prop. It's not that bad, but three weeks of it would get really old. Other than what's on the DZ, there's nothing you can walk to. As for bars, can't say I really know that many in the area, as I usually do any drinking on the dropzone when I'm there (so I don't have to drive anywhere after I've been drinking). There's a surprisingly good pizza joint in Eloy, and there are plenty of restaurants with bars in Casa Grande a few miles away. "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

Try it in a browser other than IE. "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