Mikhail

I'll raise a cold one to that.

Exactly.

Sorry, just an obscure reference.

Fucking jaggerbombs!

Happy birthday, Mad John! Enjoy Saturday!

I picked up the base MacBook last December. Got rid of the 1GB of RAM that came with the laptop and paid $100 for 4GB at Fry's (grand total of $1250). With that much memory, I can, and fairly often do, run OSX and Windows at the same time. In other words, software is not the issue. If you like the hardware (features & cost) and think you want to give OSX a try, go with a Mac.

The view from Canada is better.

I did a bit of research on reversal theory back in January.

Hello, Sean, I want to play a game. (Completely off-topic, but couldn't resist.)

Really? I have no medical background whatsoever, but I was under the impression that all these shows were full of bullshit.

Congrats! Stay safe!

When in doubt, whip it out.

2nd jumper on the 2nd load: hope they didn't hurt their shoulder. :S

While the demo and student stuff didn't bother me, I did have issues with 603.37 (2): part (b): How can hourly wind drift indicator drops be practical, especially at turbine DZs? part (d): Does this mean landing off without permission will be illegal?

I think another reason is that we want to test our own waters. Having a good idea of what you personally can manage is a nice complement to looking at what the more experienced folks are doing. Hmm, that got me thinking. There is definitely a locale factor involved. Some DZs have jumpers that generally accept higher wind conditions just like some DZs have jumpers that generally accept higher wing loadings.

"Two Are Not Better Than One" May 5, 2007 on a drop zone far-far away. First jump of the day, my 32nd total. I'm on my way to altitude for a hop-n-pop with 3 others who shall remain forever nameless. At about two grand, it dawns on me: I did not turn on the AAD. Hello! I'm contemplating riding the plane down, but decide to consult my fellow jumpers (what do I know, I'm a student with 20 jumps on solo status). Exhibiting the highest form of human intelligence, we conclude that it won't hurt to turn on the little magic black box. Let me just lean forward and ask my buddy here to go fishing down my spine. Got it? Sweet! Now let's pretend that never happened. Well, nothing does happen. I get out at 5500ft and dump right out the door as was originally planned. I catch some freaky canopy bucking and folding action in bad air 50-100ft off the ground (didn't anybody teach me to stay on the ground in gusty conditions?), land, walk into the hangar, and drop the rig off for the packer. It's time to gear up for my second jump. Going to log some freefall this time around. Bubbling over with anticipation. As for the AAD, them digital altimeters recalibrate to ground level automatically, don't they? Yeah, they do. The AAD *must* do the same! Fast forward to me burning a hole in the sky. Practicing a few freefall maneuvers; life is peachy. Wave off and throw at 4000ft. While the main is deploying, I can't help but notice that something is different, as if I'm seeing more lines than normal. The main is now open and lo and behold, there it is: my reserve, still in the freebag, swinging at full line length immediately below me. Fuck. Next thing I know, I get yanked like a ragdoll, and find my main on the horizon in front of me, and my reserve evidently behind me. The downplane is now rotating. The main lines are nicely spun up all the way up the risers, uncomfortably close to my neck. I make a futile attempt to do something about said risers, meanwhile noticing a passing thought that this could actually end badly. Finally, I look down, grab the cutaway handle with both hands, punch, and promptly manage to drop it. I swing under my beautiful yellow reserve and proceed to land off into a neighbouring field while the jettisoned gear lands in the peas (nice spot, huh). Moral of the story: know your equipment. Please. Want to jump with an AAD? RTFM. Turning the AAD on at altitude is blatantly moronic, but the lack of automatic recalibration is a finer point. Some still turn on their AADs before driving to the DZ.

Cool idea, indeed. I have all the serial numbers for my gear (even the AAD), but don't have a copy of the packing card. That reminds me photocopy the logbook some time...

Haha, nice! I shattered my Neptune against the King Air door once. I was doing a 4-way so I pulled on people's arms to see the altimeters. I did have an audible but still broke off a bit early.

I was "welcomed into the family" after graduating AFF/PFF (one instructor said something along the lines of "I think we've got another one on the hook"). I don't think I considered myself a skydiver until I got back in the air after a really fucked up incident.

Cheers, mate! Congrats on keeping your head. Cool, huh? You see what's going on, you know what you need to do, and you just do it. The training really works. Did you check your altitude before and after the cutaway? Where you still above your "decision altitude"?

Bump? Anyone?

Hey gang, I'm coming to Z-Hills this upcoming Sunday (the 17th) for a couple of days of much needed jumping. I'm looking for a ride from TPA to Z-Hills that night (flight arrives at 6pm). Please let me know if you're headed in the same direction; I'd love to share the costs. I'll try to get a ride from Phantom if this falls through. Cheers Mikhail

N/A

is that so even if you're using an SSL connection to the server? Is it still available on the local wireless then? Absolutely not. SSL encrypts the link between your browser and the web server software. P.S. SSH tunnels rule.

This is the best one... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkHm8uUuT0o&feature=related