DSE

Handbrake for PC works as well as any decrytor/ripper without jumping through a lot of hoops. It doesn't rip BD, and doesn't decrypt any but the most basic DVDs. They'd not be able to use GPL if they were breaking DMCA. But...there are a LOT of third-party tools that can extract the VOB file from the decryption, feed the decrypted VOB's into HB, or onto the Vegas timeline, and stitch away.

I for one, am pretty damned impressed with Pookie (and you too, Dale). Enthusiasm combined with determination make for one helluvan inspiration, especially when success is part of the story.

Vegas and Production Assistant. We output daily for iPod/podcasts, and I occasionally rip movies for my iPod. There are tools like Handbrake that do this in one step too.

Lemme try answering this differently. A-Dual layer won't help you, and will usually hurt you, due to desktop-dual layer burns and compatibility with some playback machines/software. Avoid it unless you're replicating (sending off to a place to make copies from a master) in which case you'll need to author a DDP Layer 0/Layer 1 on an HDD, DLT, or dual DVD5 with each DDP layer on a separate disc. HUGE PITA, and probably not something you're interested in doing, especially for tandem video. Here are other alternatives; A-you can burn HD material in the AVC format, on a DVD5 (the DVDs you're already using) and they'll play on a newer BD/Blu-ray player or a Playstation. It is effectively the same as a BD/Blu-ray disc. The quality (assuming source is HD) will be stunning/superior by a long way, to a standard DVD. B-You can burn to an actual BD. There is little advantage to this for tandem vids, and the cost of the blank BD is 8X the cost of a standard DVD. C-you can burn two separate DVDs. FWIW, DVD delivery in the skydiving world likely doesn't hold a life of longer than about 2 more years....keep that in the back of your mind. For tandem vids, NEVER worry about using low bitrates. Burn em' at 8Mbps, you'll be golden. Always. They're just not high motion enough, not lengthy, and there is nothing to be gained by going any other direction. If it's HD content, burn it at 16Mbps, you'll be golden. Plus, it uploads to the web. I'm hoping that the Skydive Expo people will be having me do a presentation on this in Deland, much like the one I gave at PIA. Hopefully that'll help folks break into the "new world."

MPEG is only ever "better" if the source is MPEG. DV is only ever "better" if the source is MPEG. If the destination is for Standard Definition DVD, then the target/final format MUST be MPEG video with AC3 or PCM audio. If the destination is High Definition/Blu-ray, then the render must be either high bitrate MPEG2 or mid bitrate MPEG 4/AVC (not the same as AVCHD). Without going into a whole lot of silly tech stuff, MPEG is one color space, DV is another. Some folks render a DV project to DV, and then author a DVD which converts the DV into MPEG2 for SD DVD. This tosses away another 25% of the color data if you do this. Therefore, whenever authoring a DVD, it's *always* best to render to MPEG as soon as possible, from the source footage. The *only* time you'd want to render a project to DV is when you're returning the project as a finished product back to DV tape, or for archival purposes (even then, DV is weak). Regarding MPEG "quality," a higher bitrate is better up to a point. Few DVD players can play a desktop-burned DVD that has a bitrate higher than 9Mbps. For safety margins, it's rare we burn client DVDs at bitrates higher than 7.5Mbps. Hopefully this helps a little, tho it likely brings up more questions than it answers...

I, for one, would like to see the USPA BOD man-up and grow a set and start to take punitive actions, even if they're for small infractions. The Governance Manual allows for it, and sets up specific scenarios under which they may act. But...other than a recent redaction of membership because a nutjob used bad language, what punitive action has USPA undertaken? Until they do, it's a free-for-all for attorneys. The "self-governing sport" has to start at the top. I prefer how NZ and Australia manage themselves.

We have one. Unfortunately, our representatives have attorneys too, and at some point, it becomes cheaper to settle than to defend a point. In part due to same attorneys, our representatives no longer undertake punitive actions. One guy wrote a nasty letter to the FAA, he loses his membership. An instructor fails to care for his student, he's handed a rating. It's all about the politics.

Yes. The King Air was able to land, was repaired, and has been flying skydiver loads for the last 5 years. Perhaps Sparky will chime in if you need details. I know the story, but probably can't tell it nearly as accurately as he can. He was one of two persons injured in that incident.

A few weeks ago a guy brings his rig over and asks if I think he should be "worrying at all" about it. The cable housing ferrule had broken off completely, the housing was crushed and sharp, the cutaway cable had "saw" marks in it. I'd say the odds were good that in the event of a cutaway, he'd have pulled his cutaway handle and it would have cut away from the cable. After telling him that I didn't think he should jump it, he responds with "I'm gonna jump the two tickets I've got. I should be OK." The comment about PC's is spot-on as well. It's not entirely common to see someone packing a collapsible PC that "snaps" it through the air to see if it inflates. If the kill line has stretched, the color in the window might no longer be visible but the PC will still inflate. Some don't check it, some freak if they can't see the color, others don't check either one. Look at the early posts in this thread. Some folks don't know where AAD's fire, why they fire when they do, etc. I got a PM from one of the posters in this thread asking me to "prove an AAD can kill you" because it's "only a life-saving device." I'm grateful to a rigger taking half a rainy day when I was a student, to explain all parts of my rig, making me learn to walk out my lines, disconnect my three-ring, showed me an old CYPRES and explained it, showed me where to look for wear, etc. It's very much worth it to buy lunch for a good rigger, and ask him/her to give you a solid tour of your gear. What you learn in the FJC isn't anywhere near what you eventually need to know. And what you need to know can't be taught in the FJC.

Congrats, Phil!!!! That is terrific news! Wish I'd known a tad sooner, I'd be up there to freeze with ya!

This is a King Air N32229 currently owned by Skydive Utah as referred to above. The pictured damaged occured more than a decade prior to Skydive Utah acquiring N32229 and prior to N32229 being used for any skydiving operations. This damage did not occur during a skydiving operation, but rather when the King was being used for equipment testing and a test device had a parachute wrap the tail. There is video; I do not have permission from the owner of the video to post it. I do believe it has made its way to YouTube. The photo is used with permission from Michael Owens aka "Sparky," who was in the aircraft as a Safety Officer when the incident occurred.

According to TSA in LAX, nothing with regard to changes in what is allowed has changed. I'm flying LAX to YEG (Edmonton) in a couple of days, just returned into LAX yesterday. Flying YEG to LAX the day of the incident was no different either. The only thing that TSA in YEG had to suggest was be a little earlier since Customs and security check occurs on the Canadian side.

A motorcycle helmet is a passive device. An AAD is an active device that could (and has) fail to function the way the user (mis)understands how it may function. Understanding equipment is critical. Having a backup device is a wonderful thing, but it's important to be aware that all wonderful things have some not-so-wonderful aspects to them

Couldn't help but think this is why she got as far as she did in the whole process. Watch til the end.... Sarah Palin, Sex Symbol.

It's a statement of concern when someone says they "won't jump without an AAD" because it *might* suggest they're relying on a device to save their life. If you're incapacitated, an AAD still may not save your life, as demonstrated in past incidents. An AAD may also take your life, as demonstrated in past incidents.

Last time we did a public vote, it got to be too many mails and posts to go through. Always open to new ideas though. FWIW, I've run a coupla contests like this. As bad-azz az you are Mark, I'm SURE someone has some silly pix of you. Get them to post!

Keep em' coming. The captions make em' even better. Gonna be tough for the two judges to pick one, they're already struggling.

That first one (booger) is just plain WRONG!. Poor TI, looks like he was about to get an eyeful of goo. Glad folks are having fun with the contest. Keep em' coming, gang! it's gonna be HARD to pick a winner.

Perfect speed, Lurch. Perfect speed. Be there.

which version of Quicktime?

A friend gave me a mini-block of jumps at Skydive Elsinore. Very nice indeed.

Be "there."

A couple more faves from 2009

Not roses...but when I saw your contest, I snapped three of these. Poinsettia's are fun to shoot. The Marine unit was one I took during Gary Douris' memorial about a month back.

Elsinore and Perris are two that are within very reasonable distances of both Los Angeles or San Diego, both are pretty busy for the off-season. Elsinore has much better views and landing area, Perris has a much better bar and restaurant. More hotels and casinos near Elsinore. Elsinore is known as the "hottest" DZ in the world. Lots of eye candy there. Downtown LA is about the same distance from either DZ. Plus, getting to Elsinore and Perris is very easy with several good-sized airports within a reasonable drive distance. Both have programs that will see you through to your A license. Perris has a tunnel that will help. Perris and Elsinore are about 20 mins apart, so you can't go wrong by choosing either one. Eloy is a great DZ, but it's a long way from anything to do outside of skydiving.