Baksteen

Congrats, USA! and welcome to civilisation "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I don't know... I was infamous for sleeping in class EDIT: well, physics that is "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I kinda have trouble visualising what the heck they are talking about here. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Hmm... how often did you say you have skipped school so far? "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Yeah. All 110 volts of it "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

So I guess you mean Anyway... :0:0 Bad weather, early sunset and the other kind of Relative Work conspired to keep me out of the skies. On the plus side, my aunt and uncle celebrated their golden anniversary on Saturday and on Sunday my parents and me went out for dinner. Of course, all the nephews and nieces know I skydive so I got a lot of the "I so wanna do that" routine at my aunts party. I answered their questions, but also told them that shit can/will happen. Naturally I do not expect any of them to follow through on the ethanole-induced bravado, but I am open to being proved wrong. Best of all, I met Skootz last Friday. Neither of us knew anything about the other except that we're both skydivers and each others given names. Quite by accident, I had foudn the ideal place to take an American girl who has never been to the Netherlands before: A cabaret show, performed by Americans who continuously rip on their country (and mine). Of course I also introduced her to some culture in the form of bitterballen as well as how you're supposed to tip the waiting staff. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Low man landing out - I was talking about intentionals. As far as idiots go, well, have their ass chewed out by the DZO/STA/younameit will help.. If the low man are not intending/knowing they are landing downwind until 30secs before touchdown they are dangers to themselves and others. How is the first-time-off-radio student to plan for this kind of behaviour? Their skillset is at that point quite limited as might their options be if the winds are high-ish. Anyway, if a DZ has so many outs available, then an "intentional downwind-landing area" (ie swoop lane) could easily be set up, allowing others to land into the wind. And how is unexpectedly forcing such a person to land downwind in the landing area any safer? "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Once a cheat, always a cheat. What about the next affair you'll not know about? Talking to the other woman as well may work, as he might be lying to her too, but do tell your mother first. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Just in case; that was NOT the intention of my post. I wasn't talking about the OP at all (and I think she got that). I'm convinced that there are sixteen year olds out there who can safely land a parachute - especially in those countries where said people-in-a-certain-age-catagory are allowed to drive, for F's sake. I merely found it strange that such a waiver does not exist for tandem jumps AS WELL. One can drive, but not ride shotgun? Me, for instance. And the number is even real "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

BS. If I *must* make a downwind landing in high winds or other less-than-ideal conditions, my primary means of landing will be a PLF. Standing up the landing isn't important - nor are stains on my jumpsuit. Only having the ability to walk away is. If the low man decides to make a downwinder 'just for the hell of it' or because they are an idiot, hell yeah I'll be complaining. Just because of their incompetence or for their thrill I now have to expose myself to a potentially dangerous downwind landing in high winds, OR to the dangers of landing off in an unknown area. If the low man is so hell-bent on going downwind, why not make them land off? Having said all that, I am a newbie who'll sit down to see the experienced jumpers get more experienced. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Strange rule.. A sixteen year old can land a canopy on their own, but they are not deemed old enough for being a tandem passenger? "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I interpreted that as "unnecesary" risks: "Pack fast, pull low and date your rigger's wife." "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Done - but: In my country? Yours? The US? Worldwide? "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I'm not a scubadiver, but the site looks nice and comfortably familiar. May the "deep seas" (or whatever the equivalent is) forum be empty/unnecessary for a long time... "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

IRONY: Having a ferrous appearance / physical properties reminiscent of metal. HYPOCRISY: well.. a crisis is "an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty", and a "hypo" is a syringe. So "hypocrisy" probably refers to a difficult-ish situation as a result of an injection, i.e. drug abuse. How is that related to the original thread? The most dangerous substance mentioned was popcorn, or possibly beer. Yes, I'm very bored. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Level 1 ( ) Smoked A Cigarette ( ) Smoked A Cigar ( ) Kissed A Member Of The Same Sex SO FAR: 0 Level 2 (X) Are / Been In Love (X) Dumped someone (X) Been Fired (X) Been In A Fist Fight SO FAR: 4 Level 3 (X) Had A Crush On An Older Person (X) Skipped Class ( ) Slept With A Co-worker (X) Seen Someone / Something Die SO FAR: 7 Level 4 (X) Had / Have A Crush On One Of Your Myspace/Facebook Friends ( ) Been To Paris ( ) Been To Spain (X) Been On A Plane (X) Thrown Up From Drinking SO FAR:10 Level 5 (X) Eaten Sushi ( ) Been Snowboarding (Skiing doesn't count? WTF?) (X) Met Someone Through Internet (X) Been in a Mosh Pit (a once in alifetime experience, I promise you that) SO FAR: 13 Level 6 ( ) Been In An Abusive Relationship (X) Taken Pain Killers (X) Liked / Loved Someone Who You Can't Have (X) Laid On Your Back And Watched Cloud Shapes Go By ( ) Made A Snow Angel SO FAR: 16 Level 7 ( ) Had A Tea Party ( ) Flown A Kite (X) Built A Sand Castle ( ) Gone mudding (X) Played Dress Up SO FAR: 18 Level 8 (X) Jumped Into A Pile Of Leaves (X) Gone Sledding ( ) Cheated While Playing A Game (X) Been Lonely (X) Fallen Asleep At Work / School SO FAR: 22 Level 10 (X) Watched The Sun Set (X) Felt An Earthquake ( ) Killed A Snake SO FAR: 24 Level 11 (X) Been Tickled (X) Been Robbed / Vandalized (X) Been cheated on (X) Been Misunderstood SO FAR: 28 Level 12 (X) Won A Contest ( ) Been Suspended From School (X) Had Detention ( ) Been In A Car / Motorcycle Accident SO FAR: 30 Level 13 (X) Had / Have Braces (X) Eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night ( ) Danced in the moonlight SO FAR : 32 Level 14 (X) Hated The Way You Look (X) Witnessed A Crime ( ) Pole Danced (X) Questioned Your Heart ( ) Been obsessed with post-it notes SO FAR: 35 Level 15 (X) Squished Barefoot Through The Mud (X) Been Lost ( ) Been To The Opposite Side Of The World (X) Swam In The Ocean (X) Felt Like You Were Dying SO FAR: 39 Level 16 (X) Cried Yourself To Sleep (X) Played Cops And Robbers (X) Recently Colored With Crayons / Colored Pencils / Markers (X) Sang Karaoke (X) Paid For A Meal With Only Coins SO FAR: 44 Level 17 (X) Done Something You Told Yourself You Wouldn't (X) Made Prank Phone Calls (X) Laughed Until Some Kind Of Beverage Came Out Of Your Nose ( ) Kissed In The Rain (the best kisses) SO FAR: 47 Level 18 (X) Written A Letter To Saint Nicholas ( ) Watched The Sun Set/ Sun Rise With Someone You Care / Cared about (X) Blown Bubbles (X) Made A Bonfire On The Beach Or Anywhere SO FAR: 50 Level 19 (X)Crashed A Party ( ) Have Traveled More Than 5 Days With A Car Full Of People (X) Gone Rollerskating / Blading (X) Had A Wish Come True ( ) Been Humped By A Monkey (Haha!) SO FAR: 53 Level 20 ( ) Worn Pearls ( ) Jumped Off A Bridge (X) Screamed "Penis" or "Vagina" or "Dick" or "Pussy"...in public ( ) Swam With Dolphins (No, but I've scuba dived with sea lions.) SO FAR:54 Level 22 ( ) Got Your Tongue Stuck To A Pole/Freezer/ice Cube ( ) Kicked A Fish ( ) Worn The Opposite Sex's Clothes (X) Sat On A Roof Top SO FAR: 55 Level 23 (X) Screamed At The Top Of Your Lungs (X) Done / Attempted A One-Handed Cartwheel ("attempted" being the operative word.) ( ) Talked On The Phone For More Than 6 Hours (X) Recently stayed up for a while talking to someone you care about SO FAR: 58 Level 24 (X) Picked And Ate An Apple Right Off The Tree (X) Climbed A Tree (X) Had/Been In A Tree House ( ) Been scared To Watch Scary Movies Alone SO FAR: 61 Level 25 ( ) Believed In Ghosts ( ) Have/had More Then 30 Pairs Of Shoes ( ) Gone Streaking ( ) Visited Jail SO FAR: 61 Level 26 (X) Played Chicken ( ) Been Pushed into a pool with all your clothes on (X) Been Told You're Hot By A Complete Stranger ( ) Broken A Bone (X) Been Easily Amused SO FAR: 59 Level 27 ( ) Caught A Fish Then Ate It Later ( ) Got asked to make a porn video (X) Caught A Butterfly (X) Laughed So Hard You Cried ( ) Cried So Hard You Laughed SO FAR: 61 Level 28 ( ) Mooned/Flashed Someone (X) Someone Moon/Flash You (X) Cheated On A Test (X) Forgotten Someone's Name ( ) French Braided Someones Hair ( ) Gone Skinny Dipping ( ) Been Kicked Out Of Your House SO FAR: 64 Level 29 (X) Rode A Roller Coaster ( ) Went Scuba-Diving/Snorkeling (X) Had A Cavity ( ) Black-Mailed Someone ( ) Been Black-Mailed SO FAR: 66 Level 31 (X) Been Used (X) Fell Going Up The Stairs ( ) Licked A Cat (X) Bitten Someone (X) Licked Someone SO FAR: 70 Level 32 ( ) Been shot at/or at gunpoint ( ) Had sex in the rain ( ) Flattened someones tires (X) Rode in a car/truck until the gas light came on ( ) Got five dollars or less worth of gas TOTAL: 71 71?? Since when am I so damn pure? Maybe I'm just lucky with the questions they ask... "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I never read any further than "it works 100% of the time". No scientist taking themselves seriously would ever make such a claim. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

fXt t 4 U "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Want a beer to go with that popcorn? I really hope I make it home before this is deleted. The entertainment value of this thread just keeps increasing. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I can already hear the mods rattling the chain with the big fat padlock on it. But welcome to the community "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Why are men smartest when having sex? Cuz they're connected to the know-it-all machine "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Just breaking the Chain of Events...

For me (as a SL-er) it's not that I fear to open low, but just that i don't relish the prospect of having to go search for my main after having cut away a linetwist I normally could have kicked out of. If the clouds are at 2500 (minimum opening altitude), I'll sit it out. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

You'd think that. I started on ripcord (after static line) and despite the fact that I got an extensive briefing with lots of practice thows on a creeper, I almost held on to the hackey. Prior to this, when i had my pre-second reserve ride I found that I unconsciously held on to the cutaway, which cost me some valuable seconds while struggling with the cables.. (Students at my DZ are taught to chuck their release handle when performing EPs.) "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I know you said books, but I'm going with series. 1) A Song of Ice and Fire (G.R.R. Martin) - A really dark fantasy novel. The story itself isn't very fast paced, but you get to see it from the perspective of nearly every faction. The chapters are named after the person whose eyes you are currently veiwing the novel through and what i personally like a lot is that Martin adapts his writing style to the character you're experiencing. My advice, even if you don't like it at first, stick with it until "The Unexpected" has happened. You'll know what I mean... 2) Discworld I love the way Pratchett writes his books, I can really appreciate his twisted sense of humour as it kinda resembles my own. What I especially like about Discworld though, is that despite all the "typical" fantasy elements in his novels Pratchett pays a lot of attention to the 'workings' of his city and his world in general. You also see the series mature, where in the beginning the accent is placed on humour and a cheeky mirror to real life, in the later books the mood turns a lot darker and the stories become more serious - but they still have you laughing out loud at frequent intervals. 3) The Company by Robert Littel If you like spy novels (and I do) you're in for a treat. The size of the novel is daunting, the paperback edition is about as thick as a brick. But you'll find yourself simply devouring the pages. Thing is, it is very hard to say anything about the multiple storylines without spoiling the novel for you. Just pick it up and start reading... occasionally you'll be interrupted by the damn alarmclock going off, so's tyou have to go to work. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom