gemini

Although I like watching things blow up and enjoy shooting too, why don't you donate it to some one who can really use it since it "works perfectly"? I know some video guys who would love to have a 30" anything! Likewise a church or day care center/school. Sorry to go against the thread, but I'm interpreting "working perfectly" as like new! Blue skies, Jim

I've got a set on a Sabre2 that I've had for almost 5 years. No appreciable wear on the Slinks. Slider wore out though! Guess you'll end up paying one way or the other. Blue skies, Jim

After you start taking lessons, talk to your instructor. He will probably be the best one since he will know how you handle yourself, land, etc. Then with your instructors knowledge, talk to the gear store guy. Based on your instructors information, the gear store can recommend a good starter canopy and container (plus a PD Reserve & Cypres that are a given at a lot of shops), and give you a range of prices to work with. Don't get in a rush. You will get to jump different size canopies while on student status. Talk to the other jumpers and see why they bought what they did. You don't want to buy gear when you don't know much about it. look me up when you get out to Spaceland. To bad there is no easy way to get to either dz from Deer Park! I know I drove it for a year. Welcome to skydiving! Have fun and stay safe. Blue skies, Jim

This was a really great weekend. Asked to fill in on an 8-way and then a 4-way team. Asked to jump with the Deguello captain and his wife in several 4-ways and several 6-ways. Meeting and jumping with Adam from Kingsville and his girlfriend from somewhere very cold this time of year. I met them on Sat for the first time and Sunday Adam says, "Do you want to do a 3-way with us?" I said sure and he says "Thats good because I already put you on the load!" Then closed out the day with an 18-way that included friends and staff at Spaceland. Thanks Guys! Every jump was great. Blue skies, Jim

Say what? I thought this was to be a defensive, anti-ballistic missle system. Please explain. Blue skies, Jim

How many dotcommers are going to the BWC or Perris 100-ways this year? I'm in: Gemini Blue skies, Jim

Well enjoy your short-lived record. We lilly livered polecats will up the record on July 7th-9th when we meet the weekend before the Wednesday start of Skyfest ! Probably be a lot more of us old folks at Skyfest this year too! Blue skies, Jim

Actually event in a 7-11 when I was in college. Owner worked days and was a great guy who would talk you ear off as long as you stayed in the store. One day he told me he was from Ireland. I told him my mom's family was Scottish. He got this funny look on his face and said "So?" I said "well, Irish-Scottish almost the same right?" He came across the counter so damn fast I didn't have time to move! He shoved me backwards out of his store and told me "Don't you ever come back!" Hell'uva time to screw up the old geography. It was a royal pain too because the 7-11 was in my apartment complex and there was nothing else within walking distance. Blue skies, Jim

http://www.9news.com/includes/buildasx.aspx?fn=http://wm.gannett.speedera.net/wm.gannett/kusa/backup/1141263993253-03-01-06-overland-class-une.wmv&sp=http://wm.gannett.speedera.net/wm.gannett/kusa/pre-stream/bbe-att-feb06-384.wmv Listen to the actual statement. Blue skies, Jim

The guys I know who fit the 20/1000+ jumps category gave up professional jobs, went to work for the dz and got free or reduced price jumps. Then after they got really good, the got sponsors to help with equipment and travel costs and started winning competitions, getting pics in magazines, getting invited to boogies for free, etc. But they still live on noodles, pizza, etc. Blue skies, Jim

You can speculate what if's forever. I think I'll just ask the two people I know that are in the picture how they prepared for the jump, including the experience of the passenger. Blue skies, Jim

Don't know how she has put up with me after 32 yrs and doesn't mind how much time I spend at at a dz. She was only 18 when we met and I was just back from VN. Blue skies, Jim

Where you been CS? No more mud at Spacey only asphalt, concrete and bermuda grass. New bunk room, new lounge & deli (saw it tonight for the first time!). Even more changes coming for next year like increased indoor packing on first floor, team areas, etc. Blue skies, Jim

To become really successful at anything, you cannot do it part time. I have watched many of the top competitors in RW and FF since I've been in the sport and the time and devotion it takes to get to the top two spots is a full-time job. If you're doing 1000-1,500 training jumps a season plus competitions, travel, demos and coaching there is not a lot of free time to do other things. It's a job and just like any job you must show up everyday and put the time in. It would be better to get your degree first and fun jump or start with a new team and learn together as often as you can. Remember to make the education worthwhile it must become a full time job too! Then after you have your degree and you think you still want to get one of those top two medals, go for it 100%. The top teams at US Nationals since I've been in the sport have been full-time sponsored teams with a few exceptions. Long-time team Deguello members have "non-skydiving" jobs and can finish 3rd with a surpirsing 2nd every once in a while just to keep the top dogs on their toes! Blue skies, Jim

I've seen that vehicle in the parking lot, but can't remember who drives it. Blue skies, Jim

Not to hard to get away with in a crowded area, but I hate it when the elevator door opens and there's a bunch of people waiting for me to step out so they can get in. I'm the only one coming out and the bubble just burst. Blue skies, Jim

Ahh, but I already knew that and gave you the jump anyway. Since World POPS will be at Eloy this year (I think), I'll just put it on your account there. Anyone else?? Blue skies, Jim

Ok, that's two. You both get a free jump at Spaceland. Anyone else??? Blue skies, Jim

The jumpers I have known who have died or had serious accidents seem to fall into two groups. 1. Those who don't jump very much, but come out once or twice a month for 1 or 2 jumps each time. These tend to be the nice guys who I never expected to get into trouble. Conservative flyers, straight in approaches, low wing loading. 2. The aggressive jumper with less than 500 jumps who rapidly downsizes, won't listen to reason, states he is a "fast learner", and is "better than" his peers. I don't want to have a list. I try not to mentally make a list. Blue skies, Jim

Nope, but it is the Norwegian FF coach. Shhh Shari don't spoil the fun. Anyone? Anyone? Bueler? Blue skies, Jim

Skydive the Mag describes the participants as "The Ukrainian ladies 4-way and the Norwegian freefly teams unite over Eloy." By my count that is 7 jumpers, but there are eight in the photo. Jumpsuit looks familiar. Blue skies, Jim

It's hard to explain why someone wants to do a one-point skydive with a 100+ friends, but I love it. It makes for some expensive jumps though! ...but when the bug bites, you go with it. Blue skies, Jim

Gemini needs.... Someone who can keep up and keep smiling in the face of a multiple onslaught.... Jim needs... meme | serotoninrain.... Jimy needs .... needs a pinch-hitter He looks no further than Mike Lamb Sometimes I just sit and wonder If Jimy even knows who I am Now I know what it's like ... Blue skies, Jim

Periodically we try to mix up the experienced and the newbies by doing 4-way scrambles. I think Anomaly even does something similar for the freeflyers. The events are a lot of fun and allows everyone to get to know each other a little better and hopefully give them more people to jump with. It is a sad fact in the sport that most jumpers are gone after 3 to 5 years in the sport. If you don't work and jump with everyone, you're eventually going to run out of people to jump with...experienced or not. Blue skies, Jim

Firm offers Kenya dog food for its children Reuters News Service NAIROBI, Kenya - Kenya dismissed as "culturally insulting" Tuesday an offer of powdered dog food to feed starving children reportedly made by the founder of a canine biscuit company in New Zealand. "Kenyan kids are not so desperate as to eat dog food," Kenya government spokesman Alfred Mutua told Reuters in response to a front-page story in the east African country's leading daily. Kenya's Daily Nation newspaper said Christine Drummond of the Mighty Mix company in New Zealand had offered to send dog food powder to hungry children in western Kenya. The information appeared to be coming from a New Zealand newspaper, which said Drummond had been moved to make a donation of 6,000 emergency packs of dog food mixture after the daughter of a friend visited the drought-hit country. When mixed with water, the powder would provide sustainable meals, said an article posted on the web site of The Press newspaper, helping to ease a growing problem of food shortages.