nightjumps

Yeah... but I'll bet you do "Gear Checks" a lot differently AFTER the Coach course, than you did before.

Not much different than the corporate security scan cards... but I didn't like those either. I can understand secure areas (server rooms, white rooms, etc.), but to have to use your scan card to go potty? Ridiculous.

Wow, my cousin lives there. I visited a few years ago and its a beautiful area. You're lucky to be there for the winter.

Fired for cause usually prevents one from getting unemployment (it is different in some states, but not most).

We can't do that, you have to. It begins when you pick up the phone and call a DZ to make a reservation. If you can handle a full power on stall, you can handle a skydive. Stalls are scarier.

On the attached hyperlink is a freeware application called "The Fart Machine." Install it on his computer and write a batch file so that it executes at 10, 2 & 4 or something. Or use the "Finger Prank" which changes the cursor to a middle finger flip off. http://www.thefreesite.com/Seasonal_Freebies/April_Fools/

But they do learn the discipline of detail and the knowledge of referencing manuals.

So you posted the 206th anniversary - "first?"

I agree with you on this. I have some problems with this administration's mission statement. Anyone know what it is?

I read that article three times and didn't see anything about our holding POWs from Afghanistan. Am I missing it? And, the headline is different from what Rumsfeld said. He didn't say the war was over.

While the 14th amendment applies to civilians , it does not apply to POWs. POWs are not afforded due process of law until the cessation of war activities (Section II, Article 118, Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War) http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/91.htm Former Special Forces SERE Instructor...

Too long a loop is one reason - that can cause the "3rd ring" to flip down far enough to improperly overload the loop pulling the yellow cable through the grommet. The other is - improperly routing 2 rings through one.

I'm assuming you're talking about the Category G & H dives. So you'll be doing fall rate practice, docking and tracking manuevers.

I roll and pull at the same time.

Welcome to skydiving, pup.

Yeah, but the new "Quizno's" commercial demonstrates that tits on a wolf can be useful when being raised by wolves.

Dave, I sent Simon the URL for this post. You'll probably hear from him soon. Sorry you've had this experience... I've always had good customer service experience with Icarus. Keith

Interesting, I lost a girl, but gained a rig. Send her back and you can have the rig back.

When teaching the propack, I have folks split the line groups so the left front and rear risers are on the left shoulder and the right front and rear risers are on the right shoulder. Spread the canopy out so the seam of the center cell is right down your crotch. From there, take the four right "D" lines, pull them out and turn them in to the center cell seam, then the four left "D" lines, pull them out and turn them in to the center cell seam. Then the Right "C" lines, Left "C" line etc. Continue choping the previous groups out to see the "S" folds. Will help you visualize for awhile and until you get comfortable with everything over one shoulder. Eventually, your canopy will take on a "memory" which makes it easier to see and pack.

If your reserve has a one-pin, you buy the one pin Cypres. Two pins, you buy the two pin Cypres. Cost: shop around. The Cypres I (not one pin, but model number) should run about $8-900. THe Cypres Model II (newest one and is water resistant, has some maintenance updates, etc.) is around $1100-1200. Ask your Instructors the difference between the Cypres I & II. ANd don't confuse the model with the number of reserve pins. Hope that helps.

This is my primary disappointment with the change/removal of "3 years time in the sport" to get an Instructor's rating. It is now possible for someone to get an AFF/I with six months in the sport. To me, "seasoning" still counts for something. Reading the incident reports over the years, learning from riggers, passing on of knowledge from more seasoned Instructors. A year as an AFF/JM or S/L - JM as an "apprentice" before going to the "I" course. Maybe I'm old school, but being under the guidance of a mentor for awhile before becoming an "expert" was a good plan.

I will admit to being a "Centrist" republican and I don't know which bothers me more about about Rush; His self-appointment of arrogant mouth as the spokesman for all republicans or those who listen and re-chant his daily revelations as gospel. No, I've decided. Its both.

One has to consider the AAD a handle also.

There are procedures, based on r, for making inferences about the population correlation coefficient. However, these make the implicit assumption that the two variables are jointly normally distributed. When this assumption is not justified, it's better to use the non-parametric measure of the Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient. Bottom line: Give actual values to variables.

Let me save you some research time. I too, am a former military jumper and started skydiving when things were still round. While I can understand your familiarity with rounds, as you progress in the sport you'll realize that, 1) square reserves are our friend because they will allow you more canopy control, 2) cost is comparable with a square, and 3) should you decide to sell it, resale is higher. Once you learn to fly the square main well and you've had some bad spots, you'll be glad you went with a square reserve. As for dependability, both the main and the reserve have about a 99.9997% chance of opening. The only situation I can say that one might want a round reserve is in the two canopy out scenario. But if you do as trained, you shouldn't find yourself in that situation. Finally, the civilian round reserves have a descent and weight ratio that is humbling. One of them has a 19/ft per second descent rate with 175# (of exit weight). If you thought the 35' parabolic military rounds thumped us, you're in for a real thumpin if you have to use the civilian conical round. edit: your to you're