DSE

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Everything posted by DSE

  1. Some didn't fare quite so well. There is a car under the first two trees you can see blown down. I dunno if it was totaled, but it sure was crunchatized.
  2. Was it supposed to be compressed? Hard to evaluate unless you know what it was supposed to look like. Oy. No wonder you don't like computers, you don't understand them. "Compressed." Means they're squeezed so they fit on the internet, and they're dimensionally smaller than the camera output was. But they are dimensionally accurate. Just squeezed. Some color loss. Minor detail loss, depending on the compression ratio applied. Maybe this wiill help
  3. Been waiting for someone to pull that up, Phil, thanks for the opportunity to respond to it. Taya told all of us that were in the Wingsuit Instructor's Rating group that she needed money to go to Dallas to present on my behalf, since I was not going to be there due to the Utah boogie. You donated, Rick Hough donated, etc. Then I was injured. With some help, I flew to Dallas to represent the WSI rating as I'd been told by a board member that Taya hadn't convinced the board that it was a needed rating. Was kind of a big deal at the time, since I was still in the hospital. But the WSI was very important to me, and the person that was supposed to have presented on my behalf hadn't done the job I thought she was doing. But she still was there, and did present. Had I known the motivations, I'd have figured something else out before hand. But, i didn't know. (You did) While there, I was told at the dinner table, by MaryLou, that Taya was seeking recognition for the 71 WAY RECORD. Nothing was said to me then, or even immediately after, about it becoming a USPA standard. No one knew. (well, YOU did). I was as stunned as everyone else to find it wasn't recognition for the 71 way, but rather being presented as a locked-in competition standard. Forgive my ignorance at the time. I didn't know how the Governance Manual worked, didn't know how the competition manual worked, as I never had thought about competing in skydiving. I was in Dallas, I was easily able to have JP wheel me into the Competition Committee meeting to comment on the grid, but since I didn't know it was being presented, I had no reason to go into that room. No one outside of MaryLou and Taya knew what was being presented. Again, I thought it was merely seeking USPA recognition of some kind, for the 71way. Which would be commendable. The 71 way was a terrific event. And yeah, I'm grateful Taya helped me stand up during that meeting, because if I'm gonna stand up for something I believe in, I'm gonna stand on my own two feet to do it. Just because I don't appreciate the grid doesn't mean I don't appreciate Taya's efforts in helping me get out of my wheelchair. You gonna tell me to "shut up and jump" next, Phil? I didn't see you at the board meeting on two good legs, let alone with casts on your body in a wheelchair. I don't see you offering solutions or doing anything but telling folks to shut up and jump. Or voting to keep me off the bigway because I didn't appreciate the grid. I guess it's all in what you deem important. I felt the WSI was important, so I was there. I would have felt the competition/judging aspect was important, but I didn't know it was occurring. My first letter to the USPA about the grid was on 8/21/09, right after I left Pepperell. In other words, I was opposed to it from the moment I realized what had occurred. No "selective memory" here, but rather a mind that isn't f**ked up on medications and broken bones, and unaware of what your group was hiding after that "dark and windy day at Jumptown." Strange you have courage to tell folks to "shut up and jump" when it comes to the grid, but you yourself had several criticisms of the grid, of the grid authors when you sat in my trailer and I showed you the software (that you said was a pretty good concept). (were you being untruthful?) Maybe if you, as one of those in the "dark and windy day" meeting had let some wingsuiters know what was going on...but then again, aren't you on the board of Raise The Sky? If so, I do understand the need for secrecy. It's really sad for this community that things had to reach a battle before anyone would listen to the detractors of the grid. Fortunately, we've been heard. With luck, the BOD will soon repeal the grid system. And you're welcome for me picking up your camera helmet out of the wet since you left it down on the packing mat that night.
  4. I'd recommend looking at Matt Hoover's site and Jeff Donahue's site, and of course, scottyburns.com for the best access to pictures. That's where I got most of the photos I've used in evaluating the three methods I've seen to date.
  5. It was completed as designed. Definitely something to think about.
  6. You honestly can't think of a reason that there can be variables? I can think of at least two. But I'm not a PhD
  7. DRM suggests that this is going to be a PROPRIETARY system, not an open system. If no secrets, why do I keep getting the brush off when I ask for details? They won't even tell me what tolerances they use, and when I measure them from their own diagrams they tell me I'm wrong but STILL won't tell me what they use. Seeing a demo of the software is not the same as understanding its details. And how do you propose to do a demo of the software without some kind of DRM that protects it from being stolen, copied, and passed on? Duh. There should be a penalty for practicing software coding without a license. The tolerances are variable, Professor. As I SHOWED YOU in Elsinore. Quit playing the whining victim. You saw that the tolerances are variable, and I specifically told you they're variable for a reason. So for now, quit thinking the world revolves around you. Some of us actually work, and can't spend our days satisfying your every whim and whine. you'll see a video demonstration as soon as it can be edited. Tell ya what...Put up or shut up. Pay me for one day's production work, and I'll edit it right now. My PayPal account is the same one listed as my email here on DZ.com.
  8. Because they don't care. It's all part of a chess game to create something that is for the benefit of one or two, not the group as a whole. I'm grateful that the USPA system in *this* case is working. You'll hear more on that in a few hours. This is the best aspect of the system that the Netherlands are proposing is that it's a concept, and presentation that says "there are other things being developed for wingsuiting" and having the IPC see that wingsuiting is starting to mature enough that we can begin a dialog about competition, judging, scoring, etc. But we're not there yet. I'd like to (and will) propose a wingsuit symposium at Flock n' Dock to discuss how we as a community want to achieve competition scoring and judging. From there, we might have at the least a direction that the USPA and other countries might test. In the aftermath of the past three days, the USPA has become painfully aware of the error that occurred in July. I'm very glad this issue is being discussed. There are some brilliant minds out there. Hopefully we can gather them at Flock n' Dock and have some productive discussion rather than counter productive dismissal of each other's ideas. Crystal, L, grid, point to point, elastic broomstick, whatever... a solid discussion over cases of beer are called for. I'll buy the first two cases and bring the pizza.
  9. Nope, it's only a small part of the criticism against the grid. Further, the grid presentation violated the USPA Competition Manual and Governance Manuals, if you want to go by the most strict interpretations. The grid is being criticized objectively as being an incomplete mess. As the over 50 letters to the USPA in the past 24 hours have stated. The grid promotes mediocrity in wingsuiting. The grid doesn't take any aspect of wingsuiting into account beyond flat flocks. Docking, 3d, none fo these are possible to measure in "the grid." The grid is simply not ready for primetime. Simple On a subjective level, those that have offered to help improve the grid have been met with direct hostility, threats, barred from events, nasty emails and PM's, and derision by the authors of the grid. Again, not exactly the same path other disciplines have followed. As put by two of the competition committee members early this morning, "there has been a path which other disciplines have taken to the competition arena. Wingsuiting has attempted to circumvent those paths, and now we're seeing the fallout from that attempt." [edit] To answer your constant assertion that "secrets are being held" Kallend...AFAIK no secrets are being held. Can't put the software out there without paying money for DRM, so no point in putting it out there unless you'll pay for the DRM lock. Can't show you how it works more than I did in S'nore, where it was patently obvious that you had no patience for software nor hearing how it worked. I couldn't show it to the world during the bigway, as I was told I'd be kicked off the DZ if I participated in the bigway events. Which is why I was in my trailer during all the bigway dinners, after jump activities, etc. I really wanted to show it to more people. There is no secret on my end. There is a video that I created a few days ago, once it's edited it will will be publically available. Unfortunately, time and paying work has priority. Lotsa changes in the winds, folks. Stay tuned.
  10. I've always thought women look terrific in men's briefs...
  11. The constant comparison to the Blue Angels, Thunderbirds, etc is beyond ridiculous. FWIW, there is a Blue Angel's pilot that frequents the DZ, and he's enthralled with the wingsuit, what it can do, and he's hoping to get to 200 jumps soon so he can fly one. Last weekend I talked to him about comparing the two. Between the mathematical examples and the physical examples, he had some chuckles and thought that comparing wingsuits to a deadstick 152 would be just as absurd, but more accurate. Seeing so many letters going to the national board, many of them from the biggest names in the sport, expressing their fear at the grid being accepted at a national level, is exciting, heartening, and provides hope that this community will win out. So many of us coming together with a common voice of "No FAI acceptance of the grid" is a small step towards us coming together with somewhat of a common voice saying "this is what we think we want" and perhaps we can take it a few steps further and define a judging system of grips, no grips, whatever....and eventually have something worth passing along over the years. Keep sending those letters, folks.
  12. It's new, has been applied to very few formations, ie' infantile. The behavior of the authors when discussions of improvement fit the same description. Objective? Take the two Florida State record attempts on the same day. One a 7 way. One an 8 way. Both fit criteria of the grid. One is pretty, one is not. One is ratified, the other is not. The Exec Director of USPA demanded that the 7 way be ratified after the USPA (and FAI) judge refused to ratify it. I suspect that with the emails that have landed on his desk this morning, the USPA will be forced to ratify the 8 way now too, but the truth is, Larry Bagley was ordered to ratify the 7 way record, in spite of his nearly 40 years experience as a judge and his decision to not ratify it, knowing an 8 way had also been submitted from the same day. Nothing "objective" about that. It's called "Politics" and that has been the point of the grid. Pick up the phone. Call Larry. Get the story straight from the horses mouth. Dial USPA headquarters, "Larry Bagley's office, please?" Or you could do as I did and sit across a table with a coupla Cokes between ya. Time for gridlock to end. Let's get back to wingsuit flying, not wingsuit falling.
  13. Silver chopsticks and gorgeous smiles'll do that too ya, buddy... Was fun flying with you, and you were a great student! Now...go fly your ass off, Jeffrey Livingston Seagull. C'mon back and visit soon.
  14. It's terrific that this issue has spawned a sense of cohesiveness in the wingsuit community, that we want something better/more, and that we want to have an opportunity to discuss the judging options that brilliant minds like Kallend, Jarno, Zach, FastEd, Stoney, Andreea, myself, and others have come up with. Perhaps we'll find an amalgam of ideas in these discussions. It's sad that the current system was accepted without that dialog (since we didn't know it was happening). The bigger issue right now, IMO, is stopping the camel from getting its nose under the tent at the INTERNATIONAL level. It's not about getting the FAI to accept one method over another. It's about stopping the world-wide wingsuit community from being saddled with a very infantile and flawed method. If the grid was a good idea in July, it'll still be a good idea next January during the next conference. It'll be an even better idea if we all have input to how to improve or replace it. There should be no rush, as we'll be stuck with whatever we allow to pass. For a very, very long time. The politics this damn thing have generated are absurd. For example, Larry Bagley (FAI and USPA judge) was ORDERED yesterday, to ratify a Florida State Record 7 way wingsuit formation even though there is a submitted 8 way record that occurred at the same time, also in Florida. He initially ordered a stop of all wingsuit record ratifications because he could see the community was not of a majority in accepting the grid, and he realized the grid proposal was not at all complete. His words to me yesterday were "Douglas, for 8 years we've been telling wingsuiters "No No, No," because nothing of merit had been placed before us. Yet here we discovered the answer in 45 seconds? I'm sorry, but I don't buy it." Yet he was forced by the head of USPA to ratify the smaller record because "it's pretty and the other one isn't." There alone, demonstrates the problem in the grid. it's mostly subjective. We need objective, repeatable results. We must stop the grid at the international level, which will make it easier for the USPA to repeal their error from July, 2009, and we need to have a dialog about what are willing to accept.
  15. DSE

    retardation in Tahoe

    For a second there, I thought you'd seen me in the parking lot. Where ya been, dude?
  16. 'nother idea; might be good un' for the newer camera flyers... Shot of tandem with drogue in frame, but cannot be shot on your back or sit.... Gotta be a belly shot. How steep can ya get? Or, best overall composition of student, background, and your fingers in the foreground. Or...Best on-ground posed shot of any DZ staff. Or, best candid shot of staff and/or skydivers in the area. Composition, lighting count. I'm getting a few fun PM's too. This next contest has to be really good, needs to show talent, cuz the prizes are SUPER cool. We have a very generous donor.
  17. And your ideas are closer to what makes sense than the grid. Unfortunately, your ideas aren't going to be in front of the FAI representing the USPA in about 72 hours. And more unfortunately, the USPA BOD competition committee members that have read this thread have little they can do about posts on DZ.com. This thread (and the others) amply illustrate that the discipline simply isn't ready for a judging system. Yet. But so far, this has been the most valuable discussion that's been held on the topic, at least in an online manner.
  18. Reporting from the meeting... There isn't anything to "come out" of it, as it's not a policy-making meeting. It is a meeting to continue to affect and assure the standardization of how the USPA AFF program is being taught by I/E's. There has been some discussion of the coach rating, requirements, AFFI requirements, etc. As mentioned in a previous thread, you're likely going to soon see a one-year requirement tacked on to the coach rating before being eligible to challenge the AFFI course. A lot of time has been spent on the many newer resources available, where to get them and how to use them. Time has been spent discussing teaching technique and learning techniques, verbage both literal and figurative. A lot of flow n' go, what to look for in instructor candidates, red flags with instructor candidates both on the ground and in the air. In short, what I/E's should be looking at, for, and ready to remediate. Some time has been spent discussing punitive action by the USPA. Outside of that, there isn't a lot to report. Again, it's not a policy-making meeting, but rather an informational, discussional, and directive meeting. Been a very informative two days thus far.
  19. it's a great idea, no doubt. But I don't have an un-ending supply of money for prizes, nor do I want it to be a burden. The last one was very fun, and it worked out well. I've gotten a couple of PM's, and think I've got an idea, and we'll have an awesome prize for this first one.
  20. Please send this to MaryLou? It's concise, well-thought, intelligent, and although it's not perfect either, it's "more perfect" than what we currently have going before the FAI from the USA, and better than what the USPA rushed to accept because they were told that "wingsuiters support this as evidenced by the 71 way." Thank you John, for constructive and open discussion points.
  21. With winter starting to wane a bit....I'd like to hold another contest similar to the one we did of funny tandems, won by Karen Lewis. Suggestions: =Funniest Four Way shot =Sexiest tandem student =Best frame/composition including background or foreground =Best "unusual" jump =Best artistic/abstract jump One rule is that it must be an "off the ground" shot, captured while you were in the air and the subject was in the air. The other rule is that you may not submit more than 2, so make em you're best two selections. I'll put them up anonymously and the crowd will roar in their anticipation of awesomeliciousness. Which of these seems most palatable or interesting to y'all. There will be a real prize at the end of this contest. Gimme answers and/or more ideas quickly.... Let's have some fun with this! Party on Wayne!
  22. Brett, I'm the one that called in the Attorney General in our state, because Skyride has "skydivingutah," "Utahskydiving" and several other skydiving sites in Utah when none of the three DZ's in our state accept Skyride coupons. They also advertise airports/DZ's in Sandy, Provo, and Logan, Utah where there are no DZ's of any kind. Support em' if you will; that's your choice. Fine by me. But please don't say it's just folks at The Farm creating the havoc surrounding ASC and Skyride, because that just isn't so.
  23. DSE

    Coach rating

    Yes, it would be great to have professional teachers doing the teaching, but... How many skydivers ARE professional teachers? Enough to go around? Are there enough Pro teachers willing to take on Course Director duties for us? Are thee ANY? If no, what then? How do we motivate skydivers to BECOME professional teachers to fill in the gaps? And in the end...so what? A pro teacher generates students....students that have historically disregarded what they were taught for the most part and went off on their own to re-invent the skydiving wheel or, even worse, devolve into techniques and methods that were good years ago but have been since improved. \ GREAT summation. This was a big topic of discussion at the AFF I/E Standards Course today. And your words would suggest you were in the room. Teaching methodology, how it's progressed over the past 25 years, resources, etc. were discussed. It would be a safe bet to say that the combined instructional experience in the room has taught more than 15,000 students in the past 15 years. All have agreed that inconsistencies (which "professional teachers" would likely bring to the table) are a dangerous thing. It's not PopsJumper's course, or DSE's course, nor Kallend's course. It's the USPA course and needs to be taught accordingly. No matter how "professional" their education may not be, there is a strong effort from those involved to improve what is being taught, keeping it consistent, making it more available in all forms possible (web, DVD, thumbdrive, print) and with a great interest on honing it even further based on input from the skydiving community at large. For instance, I wonder how many have looked at the tremendous improvements to the online version of the SIM?
  24. Sometimes unexpected things happen, and that's the way it is. People lose possessions which often translates to homes, not "houses." Tornados aren't common on the coasts of California. Any more than earthquakes are common in Illinois. "Warped" doesn't begin to explain your thought process.
  25. At the risk of sounding absurd, I for one, am abso-f**king-lutely amazed at how much you profess to know about a presentation that no one (including myself) has seen, about a software application of which you saw two of roughly 25 features spread out over about three minutes. I'm impressed. What makes you think the software assumes or requires a single base unit? Cuz that's how I drew it for you? As much as you would have liked, I didn't lift my skirts.... You just saw my ankles. The grid presentation to the USPA sorta glossed over a "few" problems as well, evidenced by this thread and several others. Fallacious argument; your comparisons to the Blue Angels, Red Arrows, Snowbirds, etc. To be a member of those teams requires tremendous skill and experience whereas the current grid system doesn't. Simon, you'd best be careful talking about having fun, flying sloppy slots, and what brought most of us to wingsuiting....you sound like Lurch. All you need are to toss in a salad of "clowns in a blender" and "it's a catastrophic success" and next thing you know, you'll be touring the comedy clubs with him!