gemini

That's a load of bulls**t. They just didn't want to be killed. It didn't matter if the cause was just or unjust. Very few of these guys were actually protesting the war or the US position, they were just looking out after number 1. They didn't care what happened to the rest of us. Blue skies, Jim

Here is latest seismic activity. Blue skies, Jim

What'sa matter John Lee, day job not working out? Blue skies, Jim

As far as I am concerned, safety is a given so did not need to be listed. If a DZ is known to be unsafe I would not jump there regardless of the other factors. Thanks, should have noted that in the poll. Blue skies, Jim

As far as I am concerned, safety is a given so did not need to be listed. If a DZ is known to be unsafe I would not jump there regardless of the other factors. Thanks, should have noted that in the poll. Blue skies, Jim

Please select the three most important items that would influence your decision to visit a particular DZ. For example you have a chance to visit a DZ that had a great night life, but the the jumps are $18 versus another DZ that has limited on-site facilities but jumps cost $15. Blue skies, Jim

Thanks, thought I had lost some of my rights for a second!

I apologize for using that particular acronym. I did not mean to imply that all judges or that all events are judged inconsistently. It is is interesting to find out however that there were RW judging problems as well that appear to be as serious as what happened at the artistic events. Obviously something needs to be fixed or at least clarified to minimize these problems in the future. Now back to my question, does anyone remember a national or international competition where a rejump was allowed because a cameraman either had a camera malfunction or forgot to turn a camera on? I thought the team got a zero and rejumps were not allowed. Blue skies, Jim

Heard a rumor that in one of the artistic world events a team was allowed a rejump because the camera did not work or was not turned on during a jump. Can anyone clarify why a rejump would be allowed? Blue skies, Jim

Any idea why this error message is being generated? I check log on and it is correct. Thanks, Blue skies, Jim

Hi Renee, The way I got in (after 3 years jumping and 500 jumps & a D license) was to go to 3 of Kate, Dan & Tony's big way camps; they recommended me to Roger Ponce for the Cross Keys big way; applied and got invited to the TSR by Tom Jenkins; applied to POPS world record and got invited by Carey Peck after a recommendation from Dan BC; and then applied to the big way sequentials. On these jumps I have gotten to know the plane captains who captain other events as well, as well as the big way organizers. Basically, show them you can fly the slot everytime, make sure they know your name, ask for their recommendation, and then apply, apply, apply. Good luck. Hope to see you at some of the big ways. Blues, Blue skies, Jim

Hey Bill, I was opposite Conway and Amy in another of the 6-ways and backed in with Larry Henderson docking blind to the base. It was the hardest move I've ever made too! Only reference I had was plane captain from Elsinor (180 from the base who was setting up on our grip line through the base) when I was waiting to dock and the propeller line where Larry was to dock. My problem was when I made my head switch to the base, I must have been dropping my knees because we would immediately begin moving toward the base. Several times I thought we were going to funnel, but with the help of the propeller and other jumpers in the 6-way we could stop the move and stay level. Larry asked me if I wanted to move out of the slot and of course I didn't, but I told him I would take any slot that would help us complete the damn thing. Duffy was going to try it on the 4th jump with me moving to the outer loop which is where I normally fly anyway. I think we had a great chance to complete on the 4th. In the earlier, 2nd formation I had the honor of docking with DiabloPilot. Glad he was on my left because we really had to muscle that formation into shape several times. What a great week! Blue skies, Jim

I think they are. They were training last week. A freeflyer on the plane a few minutes ago said Alaska is not 100%, but I think that is why they skipped World so he could rest, take it easy and fly without stressing the injury. Blue skies, Jim

Thanks to everyone for their comments. I have been in Perris since before the event started and have had to share the computer with everyone. I can't believe that the judges didn't see that they were being had by the French. All the events were finished and then they decide to rejudge round 2 due to a French protest that resulted in France finishing 1, 2, 3? The damn judges should have had the commen sense to rule that the perhaps the monitor was not sufficient, but since it was used to judge all rounds and competitors the results were equal and should stand. What a crock and shame on the judges for having no balls. I just hope the guys can put it behind them and get ready for nationals. I talked to Rook this weekend and he was happy to see them doing so well, but that was before the rejudge and I haven't seen him or Alaska Jon since. We did a 100+ rw jump and Alchemy freeflew in the rooms we formed. It is going to be a great picture for Parachutist. Look for it! Blues to all. Let's move on... Blue skies, Jim

No results as of 9/13 due to high winds. Blue skies, Jim

Yes, with TSR, POPS, the Sequentials some of us have a hard time getting to the East Coast Big Way events this year. See you there. Blues, Blue skies, Jim

No need to point....ya'll know who you are!!! Blue skies, Jim

Yep that was me with Anomaly. Come out and visit us when you're in Houston. Blues, Blue skies, Jim

As we discussed in an earlier thread, this bacteria is endemic to the bays and backwaters of the gulf. Usually the influx of salt water is enought to keep it in check, but with all the rain this year the salinity of the bays and backwaters is down and the bacteria is more prevalent. Don't wade or swim if you have open sores or cuts on you! Blue skies, Jim

That's Mike Fox. Glad we can help you have a great time! Blue skies, Jim

Wanted to thank Carey Peck, Kate, Dan & Tony for some of the best formation loads I have been on. I know how much work goes into planning and executing an event. It was unfortunate that more POPS jumpers couldn't be there this year. Consistent 50 ways and 94 out of 94 ain't bad either! Thanks also to Ben & Melanie for the simulated jet ride and tour with free drinks. Hope you can get the plane in the air soon. Perris was great playing "old" tunes for us and making sure we stayed out of real trouble...now if someone would turn the thermostat down and get some cooler weather for next year... Thanks to the new Bombshelter manager Jim for great food and all the personal attention during the dinner. We could have picked up our own plates! We're not that old. Thanks to Debbie for all her work to make registration and payments as painless as possible. Finally thanks to Carey and Harry for the speedstars on Sunday and the fun jumps at Elsinore. I hope everyone can make it next year. This was a class event and the record could have been built if a few more jumpers would have been there. Blue skies, Jim

Another way is to go to the Perris Big Way Camp in October. Tell Kate, Tony or Dan you want to be evaluated for the TSR. Larry Henderson and Rob Laidlaw are often there as well. Talk to them. Visit Skydive Spaceland and talk to Tom Jenkins or Jack Berke. Visit Moss Point and talk to Jim Jenkins. You need to get to know one of the captains for a recommendation. Cost of TSR was $580, cost of POPS World Record was $540, cost of Big Way Camp is roughly the same. Blue skies, Jim

FAI has ratified the following Class G (Parachuting) record : ======================================= Claim number : 9274 Sub-class G-2 (Group jumps) Performance / Team records General Category Type of record : G-2-C : Largest freeflying head-down formation Course/location : Perris, CA (USA) Performance : 42 parachutists Team : 42-way (International) Parachutists : Omar ALHEGELAN (USA), Trent ALKEK (USA), Robert BIGLEY (USA), Cathy BOUETTE (FRA), Fabio BRANDT (BRA), David BROWN (CAN), Ryan BROWNLOW (USA), Charles BRYAN (USA), Amy CHMELECKI (USA), Max COHN (USA), Greg COMPTON (USA), Steve CURTIS (USA), Eric DEREN (USA), Jon DEVORE (USA), Dave DONNELLY (USA), Wyat DREWES (USA), Chris FIALA (USA), Nathan GILBERT (USA), Stan GRAY (USA), Chris HAYES (USA), Kirby HUGHES (USA), Boel Janerus (SWE), Jason JERUSALEM (USA), Anthony LANDGREN (USA), Matthew LEWIS (USA), Matt NELSON (USA), Melissa NELSON (USA), Mike ORTIZ (USA), Sergio Ortiz (MEX), Bobby PAGE (USA), Gillian PARKER (USA), Fritz PFNUR (USA), Jonathan PINYON (USA), Jeffrey PROVENZANO (USA), John SKINNER (USA), Jacob STARCK (USA), Tim STRAUS (USA), Curt SWANSON (USA), Mike SWANSON (USA), Joseph TAYLOR (USA), Eli THOMPSON (USA), Gian Carlo TRIMARCHI (VEN). Date : 30.04.2004 Previous record : 24 parachutists (10.02.2003 - 24-way, International Team) ======================================= FAI congratulates the parachutists on their splendid achievement. Blue skies, Jim

What makes you think the "history books" are telling you the truth? Many of them were written by liberal professors who were protesting the war when they were undergrads. Do they mention the thousands of South Vietnamese that were slaughtered by the Viet Cong and NVA? 5,000 were found in Hue after the 1968 Tet Offensive. Note that an entire US advisor team was also executed. They were found with their hands tied behind their backs. Do they mention how the North Vietnamese were thinking of ending the war after 1968, but were persuaded by the US protests to hold out to see what they could get? Do they mention the Viet Minhs slaughter of all political opponents after WWII. Do they mention the North Vietnamese "sacrificing" the Viet Cong so they would not be a political force at the end of the war? Do they mention the 100,000 NVA troops killed by the Chinese after the US withdrew? I didn't think so. Blue skies, Jim

If cash is a problem, you might want to consider a wings container which is also freefly friendly. Spaceland Anomaly jumps wings and has had no problems. The wings container starts much less than the Mirage. Blue skies, Jim