MarkM

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Everything posted by MarkM

  1. MarkM
    No, I jump a nice docile Hornet and haven't put on a camera yet. But I've seen it done more than once
  2. MarkM
    Tandems are way more dangerous. It's just more sport jumpers go in because they add more risk to the jumps to make it enjoyable and are likely more prone to be complacent. But then maybe "more or less dangerous" depends on the type of sport jump. If I pop some smoke, fly my wingsuit past a bunch of canopies at 2k taking some shots with my camera helmet, deploy at 1.5k and land a velo 78 in a nice long swoop every jump, then maybe that's more dangerous than doing a tandem.
  3. MarkM
    Started programming computers when I was 12 years old in the 80's. Captain of the computer team, had my first programming job at 17, etc. But didn't want a career in it because computers to me back then were suit and tie jobs. Majored in Psychology in college for a few years, til I went down to Bloomington IN to study Cognative Psychology which was taking off back then. Got introduced to the internet at that school, skipped all my classes to play with that and got kicked out off the campus. The internet boom took off and suddenly programmers were over-paid bums who could take their dogs to work. So I went back into that field and have been bouncing back and forth between programmer and systems admin ever since.
  4. MarkM
    Doesn't sound like your afraid of jumping, just afraid of jumping gear you know isn't right for you. I'm guessing that your new rig is going to have a main that you need to downsize to with some borrowed/rental rigs? If so, just rationalize it out that jumping the larger stuff is an acceptable risk to reach the goal of your own gear. Just think about that brand new, custom fit, awesome looking container and how hot you'll be in it and how comfortable it'll be. If you target on a goal, it's easier to manage bad stuff in the short term because you know it'll be gone when you hit that goal.
  5. MarkM
    I think the latest manifesting software that uses tickets actually tracks each ticket with a bar code. If you try to dupe them the software will notice it when it's used to manifest the jumper. Also lost tickets can be easily reprinted since the system knows which tickets you have and haven't used. And I know certain dropzones like ZHills will even go so far as to refund jump tickets you don't need anymore.
  6. MarkM
    Because Norman Kent was shooting and we wanted that really sweet backdrop in the photo that was 4 miles out.
  7. MarkM
    It's not really conflicting. When there are fatalities or accidents they are discussed on this forum so we can learn from them and help prevent future incidents.
  8. MarkM
    1 You always sit in first class. 2 Hearing that someone on the load is going to open high makes you super excited. 3 Words like buzzing, sharking and fly-by are a normal part of your vocabulary. 4 GPS spots on cloudy days don't do you any good. 5 You look at your alti at 3k and think that you have plenty of time to pull.
  9. MarkM
    Usually nude. Sometimes with the boxer-briefs if I'm in the mood for a little support.
  10. MarkM
    If you had ever watched Fandango, you would've learned it's all about the type of soil in the landing area.
  11. MarkM
    That's because most skydivers have ADD.
  12. MarkM
    I totally didn't understand the "do you identify yourself with" questions. Like the whole boat in the middle of the Colorado river question. Like would I ever see myself there(sure) vs do I feel like this in my life(never).
  13. MarkM
    I did something like 10 tries to get off the dope rope as well. I ended up using a swimming pool to practice pulls, because I could sort of simulate the body position and pushing off the edge of the pool while I was laying in it was a good way simulate letting go of the strut. Took me about 100 practices or more to nail it. I would never remember what I did wrong on my dummy pulls in the air. So the only way for me to get through it was to practice enough til pulling the handle correctly was a reflex.
  14. MarkM
    LOL. This also has the side benefit of illuminating your canopy so no one else will collide with you on your descent.
  15. MarkM
    It's just nice to have a canopy that will sit rock solid stable when you have issues with your opening, because you can't immediately reach your risers when you're in a wingsuit. Wingsuits already complicate things so a lot of people don't want a complex canopy.
  16. MarkM
    The Hornet also works well, it's a lot like the Pilot. As for hard openings, I've never had hard openings with my wingsuit. In fact I used to have the odd hard opening with my Hornet, but after 150 jumps with it on my wingsuit I've never had a single hard opening no matter how I pack it.
  17. MarkM
    Swapping mains and containers doesn't have to be an expense. You can buy a used 150, jump it for 100-200 jumps, sell it and then buy a new 130 and just end up paying the depreciation on the 200 jumps you made on the 150. And containers can fit more than 1 size canopy, so if you don't want to swap containers you can buy one new that'll fit both a 150 and 130. For example, my container fit my 160 I started jumping with, fits really well the 150 I still jump with and will work with the 130 I'll eventually downsize too. Swapping mains was cheap and my container will last for years yet.
  18. MarkM
    As usual from Matt, a really cool vid. This should be a faster link: http://www.tarsis.org/vids/111_Z-Flock_2.0.wmv
  19. MarkM
    He should've had someone to do the Alka Seltzer, foaming mouth, fake seizure bit with an extra to play the "stand back, I'm a doctor!" part. Doesn't Tom teach this sort of stuff in base camp? Or is that in the advanced class?
  20. MarkM
    Wow, I thought you guys did it just because it was a shitload of fun. Glad to see reasonable bail was set though. Sounds like he'll get off lightly.
  21. MarkM
    Flash should enhance your site, not define it.
  22. MarkM
    This is why you'd want to call the FAA ASAP and ask them what you want done with the gear. If they then tell you to hold it pending an investigation, then it wouldn't be theft.
  23. MarkM
    Where the hell do you land in downtown NYC during rush hour without the chance of hurting a bystander?
  24. MarkM
    I'm surprised they're not doing this in my area. A starter home in SE Florida is $300k and rising.
  25. MarkM
    I can't help but think that the environment doesn't play a role though. Otherwise, why is this more so a problem in America than in other countries?