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I R E A L L Y want to thank all for their advice and help. Believe me, I'm R E A L L Y listening and understand that there is soooooo much more to bowling than I could possibly know at this point. For now I'll be listening to my BI's and reading the BIB and just hoping to learn and stay safe. T H A N K S --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

Instead of a battery they could power it with a cold fusion generator. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

I'm new to bowling, done about 50 lines, and I'm thinking about getting my own gear. I've been using a 14 lb Brunswick, but I've read some really good things about Hammer. Is 50 lines too few to start thinking about my own stuff? New or Used? Hard or soft case? I'd also like some opinions on roto-grip. I'd never try that until I got A LOT more experience, but just for future reference. Any Thoughts? --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

I gave up skydiving in 1975 at the request of my wife. I recently took it up again with her full support. Realizing one's own mortality (considering the reality of a finite life span) or the mortality of one you love is a sobering experience, and, I believe, a good one. It allows us a moment of clarity in which we can truly appreciate our lives. Recognizing one's own mortality (a near death experience) amplifies that realization. Scuba Diver's have the same tendency to become complacent until they run our of air at 80 feet or experience other down side events. Race car drivers go through similar life assessment episodes. In each case they end up making a choice - and in each case it is the right choice, that is, whatever they feel they should do is the right choice. It is, after all their life so they get to be the judge. While you are considering your own mortality and course of action due to a life altering event, and debating the wisdom of continuing to jump, know that the scales also balance. It was the life altering event of my wife (cancer) that brought me back to skydiving. Her realization that life is indeed short and finite and one should not remove the joy another feels in an attempt to cheat the fates. I would not presume to suggest what is the best decision for you. Whatever you choose is the right choice. Happiness and inner peace comes from that realization. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

185 +-0 2 more weeks grace before heading down. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

Both --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

Quote*** (or perhaps you just got a controller who was having some fun with ya???) I heard that!!! --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

Tunnel Physics I believe that flying in the tunnel helps me with precision much more so than flying in the sky. The reference points are stationary so you have a stable point of relativity. Style (not for points but for stability) is different in tunnels - it's physics. For instance - some tunnels vary the air speed which adds an additional dynamic you won't find falling (where you are the only one changing the air speed). Tunnels are subject to the same fluid flow dynamics as water in a pipe. that is, the air flow in the center is faster in the center of the air column. That is much more pronounce in a tunnel with walls. The doors in walled tunnels also affect laminar flow. It's a fine point, but it does have an effect. Density varies with altitude in the sky but is fairly constant in the tunnel so be prepared for variations at the top and bottom of the dive that you don't experience in the tunnel. All of these differences are less noticeable to low time flyers. The Tunnel fun factor is as high for me as free falling. I don't miss the canopy flight at the tunnel cause there are other bits that compensate - like watching an expert fly without worrying about the need to save your own life. Short answer - anything that improves your ability to control your body in 3d is beneficial to one's coexistence with the universe. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

Seasons vs. Temperature and other considerations . . . What they said regarding temps at alti. Standard temperature deviation is 2 deg C per 1000 and 3.5 deg F per 1000. Also, temperature effects on piloting the canopy include density altitude. Some not much discussed, but extremes change the flight characteristics somewhat. For research check into private pilot training. Seasons affect prevailing winds and winds aloft. This is probably more detail than required at most DZ's but do contribute to spotting and ground related turbulence Personal experience indicates that spring in Florida affects predictability - clouds winds and rain which may scrub jump plans. Finally, my personal opinion is that holiday season will affect my wing loading (Thanksgiving and Christmas that is). --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

Dispite being thoroughly admonished NOT to ever use the word "cool" in public by my "children" . . . What are some other "Cool" jump plane tail numbers? --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

When I lived in Kansas someone noted I had been involved in alot of the new stuff our company did. Kinda like the Wizard of Oz - don't pay any attention to the man behind the curtain. P.S. been coast to coast to coast in your Oz - loved it, especially Alice. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

Thanks for a first hand . . . --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

I stuck my head out the door. Three miles below, the airport was passing beneath the track of the plane. After waiting for a separation interval I stepped into the atmosphere with no concern that I would navigate back to that small patch of green that was in the distance below. Upon flaring and touching down just a few meters from the intended target a feeling of accomplishment passed over and through me. A sense that I had controlled my mind, my body, my tools, and negotiated the universe around me. I laid in a prone position on the green tarp covering the red clay of eastern Alabama. Every muscle in my body was relaxed except those called upon to execute the task. I could feel the air entering my lungs, hear my heart beat. I knew the names of the muscles, tendons, and bones that would be used to accomplish the task. 600 yards down range a 6 inch black circle on an eggshell white background presented a destination for a missile I was about to launch at it three times the speed of sound. Like a sequence controlled by a computer the muscles began to tighten in a smooth and gradual sequence. The sound of the cartridge firing surprised me, as it always did. I was aware of my eyes closing, as they always did. Down range a 65 grain boat tailed hollow point projectile less than a quarter inch in diameter perforated the black circle just slightly off center. A feeling of accomplishment passed over and through me. A sense that I had controlled my mind, my body, my tools, and negotiated the universe around me. Ergo - sense of control - yes. Not of others but of myself and my environment. Oh, and I really like the BANG it makes. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

QuoteSo I put up a post in the wind tunnel forum about my PMTS induction..... This morning I get a real nasty email from someone I have never met or have never even spoken too . . . Quote ===================================== Well I just can't resist this Large egos and small minds do, from time to time, cause people to say things that are ridiculous in the extreme. What drives them to encroach upon the boundaries of absurdity is their utter lack of awareness of their own soul and lack of appreciation for the ambiance of the world around them. It may also be a result of wading in the shallow end of the gene pool with their clothes on. Regardless of the motivation or inspiration which demands their participation in random acts of literary diarrhea, we must resist the temptation to attempt to understand them. To do so would prevent us from indulging in more worthwhile contemplations. Rain aside, Friday night was the most fun I've had in the tunnel to date (and I've had a lot of fun in the tunnel). Margaret particularly appreciates being a part of this serious effort to support a cause that is very dear to her and to me. Balance your unsolicited PM from a detractor against the heartfelt gratitude of a breast cancer survivor. I hope that it will give it a better perspective. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/-/-/-/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?CategoryName=dcc_DIDigitalCameras_Cyber-shotDigitalCameras&ProductSKU=DSCT7 Anyone have any experience with the Sony Cybershot DSC-T7 It looks like a good bet for those non-pro skydive applications. The video spec suggest that with the 1GB you could get a fair 30 FPS 640x480 flick. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

Putting aside the dynamics (and physics) of the use of this little gem, what is the lowest SAS you've seen on your dive profile? What did you do that caused that result? To save a little space let's exclude wing suits. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

Hot - The Weather Not - The Weather --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

Not to mention Psyche - To a dog - you're family To a cat - you're staff --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

Yep - gonna give myself a break for a few weeks! --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

1973 - National Reactor Testing Station - Idaho 2:00 A.M. This place is so dark and so flat you can see a car's lights coming from Montana. I'm the only car on the only road. Long - bad - day and I've got a 76 mile drive to get home from teaching wiz kids how to keep from killing themselves with small subatomic particles. To save 15 seconds I just drove through the stop sign. I'm not suggesting that I was justified, right, or that the incident was in any way excusable. I just think there is a level beyond which the letter of the law is down right dumb. The policing force for this national reservation was a private contracting firm, and one of their finest pulled out from a depression in the desert with lights and sirens to run me down - I was actually going the speed limit because I hadn't had time to accelerate to the usual 90 mph for that stretch of road. It went something like this: rent-a-cop: "O.K. let's see you pilot's license" me: nothing spoken just glared and handed him my private pilot's license. rent-a-cop: "So . . . you're a wise guy" me: "No sir, I'm military, I follow orders" rent-a-cop: "I'm tired of you government types, you think you own this place." me: "We do" rent-a-cop: "well it won't do you any good today punk" me: "goodbye" I then proceded to demonstrate the relative acceleration and velocity principles as they apply to a turbo TransAm vs. a Ford Galaxy 500. The rest of the story: My C.O. was pretty pissed when I got to his office two days later. But, from him I got only a warning and driving privilages removed for 30 days - which meant I had to ride a bus to work - and sleep an extra hour in the morning. (Please don't thow me in the briar patch) --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

First, get started on obedience training - if you and the dog can't get a CD then at least you will have had a great time working together. Next, talk to a K-9 officer at your local PD or Sheriff's Office about their thoughts on civilian SAR K9's. Don't rely on that for guidence, but do listen to what they say because if you get into SAR K9 you're going to have to deal with them. Read everything you can about scent. Here's some reality bites: SAR is like a pin check - you're betting somebody's life on it. You have to be very knowledgeable - there are certifications and qualifications along the way and accomplishing them does not mean you'll ever get the opportunity to put the skill to use. You will learn more about your dog and communications skills period than you ever believed was possible. You will gain a whole new appreciation for the politics of volunteerism. If you thought being a skydiving newby was an "interesting" experience you will be "very interested" in being a SAR newby. Finally, if you are will to spend 20-30 hours a month training, understand that you have more to learn than your dog about things that have nothing to do with dogs, and are prepared to say "my dog just isn't reliable enough to bet someone's life on him/her." then you're ready to take the next step. I love dogs and love spending time with them. There are some very good people in GA and Ohio that you can hook up with to learn more. If you PM me I can point you in the right direction. BTW there are many many things you and Karma can do that will rewarding, active, and fun. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

Just another angle - I just bought a Mirage - they are 40 miles away. You live in Washington? If everything else is roughly equal you might consider what it takes to get you back in the air if you need parts after a cutaway and don't want to buy a spare parts kit. Location isn't necessarily a major sell point, but it might be a valid tie breaker. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

"One day in the life of Ivan Denisovich" When we showed this movie on my sub (back in the 16 mm days) the reels were mislabled. We played reel 3 thinking it was reel 2 - nobody noticed. Now that's a bad movie. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

I got a pair of noise cancelling earphones and it helps separate the actual and audible noise. Most of the time I can just tune it out, sometimes it gets real bad. --------------------------------------------- Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.