rasmack

Jeez some people need to relax here. It is not like it is a state secret that people sometimes go a little too close to... industrial haze. We pretty much all know when it is time to talk to someone. Probably most of us have gotten talked to at one time or the other. I know I have. I guess what I am saying is that we are probably pretty good at self-policing. Letting things slide, however, is not self-policing and you are not doing your friends a favour by doing so. I would hope that we all would know when it is time to pick up the phone and call in the grown-ups. I admit that the scenarios I have in my head for this to happen are pretty damn unlikely, but one should never underestimate the power of stupidity. Frank Zappa probably said it best: HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde...

But reversing the setup would make sure that there wasn't a problem. It would also mean fewer aborted swoops for the pocket-rocket guys. HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde...

You sir are hereby officially named a bad influence. I'll try to make it, but that involves working, not something I am good at. HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde...

From what I saw of Summerfest WFFC was more up my alley wrt to the vibe of the place. That being said, I have never ever seen any facilities even remotely approaching what they have at SDC. Maybe one should skip work early tomorrow.. and come in late the day after... HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde...

Sir... step away from that home cinema system. Put down the credit card. Where are you off to? HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde...

Not fair! I am sitting in Chicago... working! Oh well, work paid for the ticket across the Atlantic, so I suppose the WFFC will have to do. Nice meeting you, though. HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde...

Are you a hot chick? If so, I am sure we can settle this matter by means of experimentation. HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde...

To the contrary I try more and more to underplay my jump numbers (possibly because I suck). When whuffos ask me questions I take good time to answer them, although I would prefer for someone really qualified to do it. HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde...

North is bad. Got it. HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde...

Actually my question was more about personal safety. I am told that most American big cities have areas that are dangerous and that one should stay away from. I am a Danish country boy so this line of thought is rather alien to me. Thanks for the tips anyway. A Leonardo da Vinci exhibition would be very interesting.

It is airconditioned in here...

Sort of like how reading your story you were smiling and were very happy to skip the entire process and go straight to the FAA to get a jumper and a pilot in trouble. Dude. Noone got in trouble because nothing actually happened. Noone has been "turned in". Gary just used a figure of authority to give someone a stern talking to. To answer the original question: I would only turn someone in to our FAA equivalent if they were running a DZ in a way that put other people's lives in danger and they would not listen to reason from me or others. Any single ordinary jumper would be dealt with easier by just tapping a couple of instructors on the shoulder. HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde...

I am in Chicago for the week (work, not skydiving ). I do have some guide books to help me locate places of interest but none of them are willing to tell me where not to go. Apparently it is bad for business. However it is likely to be late, when I have time to go out, so if any locals could tell me where to stay away from I would greatly appreciate it. It is easier to ask you guys than to learn the hard way.

I don't know if this is the correct thread but it is the best I can find. I just wanted to say thanks to all the hard-working people that made the convention what it was. I had great fun with great people all the way. Didn't make as many jumps as I had hoped on but that will teach me to assume that the good weather will continue. It was an inspiration to see the tent people in action. When the thunder storms where at their highest the tent gods would roam the field and help out as much as they could (We kept the Hellfish tent standing!). The day after they were all over the task at hand with incredible swiftness. You guys rock! What made the convention so special was the people. Everywhere I went I was made to feel instantly welcome. Thanks to the load organizers for always being friendly and ready to give constructive feed-back after spectacular funnels. Thanks to the Hellfish in general (and Bubba in particular) for a great atmosphere. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention... Thanks for all the amazing rides. The heli, the biplane, the jet (high-speed pass! Weeeee!) and the HALO jumps were amazing. The fact that the weather kept the balloons on the ground much of the time can not be said to be the fault of the organizers. As Dustin (HF #517 IIRC) so eloquently put it: "The worst part about boogies is leaving." I'll miss you guys. Be good. HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde...

Does that mean I can just jump off over Rantoul instead of landing at O'Hare? HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde...

So far I am sitting in Copenhagen airport. I am not a particular fan of getting up at 5 am but hey, the things we do to get to jump.

Now it is. HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde...

I seem to remember 20 $... HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde...

Huh?!? It is hardly a theory. It is rather a term used in a theory. HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde...

Dear Sunshine Will I be having fun at the WFFC even though I have to work when it is over? HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde...

Going to a conference on Sao Miguel. I don't see any DZ listed here on dz.com (looked under Portugal). Anyone know if there is any opportunity to jump? HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde...

I think the definition might be a little different (and somewhat looser) when you're a country instead of a person. Edit: When you are unable to meet your financial obligations you are de facto bankrupt. I think this is the definition used. For a country to seriously start liquidating assets a major change of policy would be needed. This study (as I understand it) merely highlights the mutual incompatibility of current policies by the administration. They are of course free to change those policies and this paper is probably meant to apply pressure for exactly this to happen. HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde...

Well... the soft spot of the analysis seems to be the inclusion of "soft" obligations such as benefits people are going to be expecting from the state, but he seems to be treating them rather rigorously. However, I don't know anything about economic theory, so he could probably tell me anything... On another note: Any chance of running into you at WFFC/Summerfest? HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde...

Stumbled upon a reference to this paper in the news. It seems that one professor Kotlikoff from Boston University thinks that the US economy is very close to the definition of bankruptcy and that something drastic needs to be done to fix this. From the article: It seems that the analysis is an extrapolation of the current economy coupled with an analysis of which economic obligations the US governnent has contracted to various demographic groups. His result is that the current social and economic policies are mutually incompatible with a national bankruptcy as the ultimate consequence. Now, I don't know where to file this. Is it a bunch of right wing neo-con ramblings, or is he just a pinko-commie Bush-hating intellectual/liberal? HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde...

I thought you guys were already over there at that time... Anyway, are you landing at 8pm or hoping to exit customs at that time? HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde...