gemini

Wonder what else they conveniently forgot? Wake up people. Liars never tell the complete truth about anything...it's part of the game. Unfortunately people die in this game, but they don't care. Blue skies, Jim

Ummhhh.... let's see we joined for the money? No, the adventure? No, the long periods away from family? No, ummhhh......to play with explosive toys...yes, that's it! Had nothing to do with patriotism. Actually what most of us got out of serving was seeing what living in a 3rd world country was really like...not your typical tourist view of the world. No hot water, no medical infrastructure, over crowding, poor quality of food if it was available at all, etc. It really made you appreciate what we have in the US. Our way of life is not perfect and can use improvement, but we are way ahead of most of the rest of the world. I personally don't listen to those critical of the US (and this includes the democrats) because all they do is bitch about what they think is wrong with us and never suggest a real alternative or offer a workable solution. Blue skies, Jim

It's at least 60 miles Southwest of Houston. Nice airport with concrete runway, but hwy 59 out of Houston is under construction and will be for a long time. The location didn't work for Chuck with a King Air so I doubt it will work for Phil. It's just to damn far to go with Waller at 40 miles and spacey at 30. Blue skies, Jim

Well said. Your realistic attitude towards your own abilities is a huge safety factor. I did not mean to imply that total number of jumps was an indicator of safety or probability of an accident. However, I do think in a lot of cases the frequency of the jumps plays a part in our ability to quickly respond to changes and problems. Without the realistic review of one's own skills as mentioned above however, even the frequency of jumps is questionable. Most of us know jumpers who we will not jump with. Their jump numbers don't usually come into the "jump or no jump" equation. Rather it's the jumpers attitude about safety and performance, at least in my decision process. This is a common problem in a lot of areas not just skydiving. Unfortunately, in skydiving errors caused by over confidence can be fatal. How many times have you heard other jumpers say "See that guy? He will be the next one." Usually they are confident, aggressive, downsizing rapidly , and very opinionated. Again, well said. Pammi. I just wanted to make sure that you did not quit jumping because of something I said. Based on your prior comments about this issue and others, I think you probably very safety aware prior to and during your jumps. Blue skies, Jim

Pammi: Since I made the original comment in Incidents, let me explain. The jumper involved appeared to be a very safe skydiver. He was very careful in the air/under canopy and always made fairly straight in approaches and seemed to be aware of where he was and where other jumpers were around him. He doesn't have the opportunity to jump much. And sometimes comes out after a month or two lapse and only does one jump. As a comparison, he has 102 jumps while his best friend who went through AFF with him has about 700 in less than 3 years. It is obvious that the jumper made the wrong decision to try to make it back to the dz after a long spot. The question is why did he make that decision? The sequence of events helps to understand what really happened. There was a long spot that the other three jumpers recognized during freefall or during the breakaway track. (In fact one of the jumpers stated before climb-out to watch the spot since the group in front had taken some time in the door.) The jumper involved held his track longer than the other three and had a longer than normal snivel. When his canopy opened, it snapped him 180 degrees and he was flying away from the dz at about 1500 ft while attempting to stow his slider. It was obvious at this point to the other three jumpers that the fourth was going to have to land out. He was over a large open pasture with no trees or obstacles. There was another open field between the jumper and the dz. He was a mile downwind from the landing area and at least 1/2 mile from the dz perimeter. There are very high power poles with multiple lines on the dz perimeter. Winds were approximately 10-15 mph. Jumper was loading the canopy at about 1:1.4. Based on these facts, what would your decision have been? The other three jumpers all said they would have landed off instead of trying to make it back if they had been at his altitude and loading. As I mentioned somewhere earlier, I recognized we were a long way out and tracked long enough to be clear, checked the location of the other three jumpers. waved and pulled. On deployment I immediately turned toward the dz while watching where the other jumpers were and started my run to the dz. I checked my altimeter (2000 ft), then reached up and stowed the slider, unstowed my brakes, and with my brakes over my fingers, went to rear risers. I told myself that if I had not crossed the dz perimeter by 1000 ft, I was going to immediately turn back into the wind and land in the field just South of the dz. It was very muddy, but muddy and a long walk beats the alternative anytime. I also load my canopy at 1:1.4. Back to the other jumper....He has stated he was having trouble holding rear risers and had released his brakes, but did not have them in his hands. He barely cleared the power lines and instead of taking the downwind landing attempted to turn back into the wind... after fighting to get his hands back into his toggles. He stated he tried a flat turn, but witnessess said it was almost a hook turn. Time to impact from the time he started trying to get his toggles, 3 seconds. There are mistakes all over the place and I think you can pick most of them out. My only explanation as to why he made so many wrong decisions was that he was not as current as he should have been and the wrong decisions began to compound. From trying to make it back and passing up two alternative landing areas, from committing to clear the power lines without realizing that would require a downwinder, from being at approximately 70 ft without having his brakes in his hands, to not realizing he was not doing a flat turn. The more current you are the more instinctive your decisions will be. You have a better feel of your are flying ability and recognize where your safety margins are without even thinking about it. You react to situations based on your training and experience often without concious thought faster, and you can consider more alternatives. We all think differently and have different safety margins for ourselves. Even if you have only a few jumps, by expanding your safety margins you can keep yourself out of a "created" situation that you cannot handle. You are the only person who can decide if you are ready to jump each time you are at the dz. If the winds are higher than you like, don't jump. If the spot is long, ask for a go-around. If you have a long spot, pick out suitable alternative landing areas long before you need them. And most important, don't be afraid to land off. Blue skies, Jim

Null & void? WTF are you talking about. No one is ever safe from the pie! I got my first at 400 when I thought everyone had forgotten...thanks Tammi! Blue skies, Jim

Max, Olav, Trent, Jed & Stevie are there. Only names I have heard for sure. Blue skies, Jim

Why would you trust the UN to vote fairly? Regardless of the evidence, some countries will not vote for any action that the US supports. What it boils down to is who do you believe more...the US and it's allies or Iraq and it's allies. What I suspect you will find is both sides are telling some truths, both sides are telling some lies, both sides are hiding information to protect sources, etc. Personally I believe our side more than I believe their side. Blue skies, Jim

we're proud to have the best politicians that money can buy. (Note: This might explain why George W talks the way he does.) For your delight and edification, here are some of their quips and quotes: 1. "It just makes good sense to put all your eggs in one basket." Texas Rep. Joe Salem speaking on an amendment requiring all revenues to go into the state treasury. 2. "Lemme give ya' a hypothetic." Texas Rep. Renal Rosson. 3. "Ain't nothin' in the middle of the road but yellow stripes and dead armadillos." Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower. 4. "And now, will y'all stand and be recognized?" Texas House Speaker Gib Lewis to a group of handicapped people in wheelchairs. 5. "Dallas salutes a person who can buy a piece of art, but not a person who can create one." C. Greene. 6. "No thanks, once was enough." Texas Governor Bill Clements, asked if he had been born again. 7. "Oh good. Now he'll be bi-ignorant." Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower when told that Texas Governor Bill Clements had been studying Spanish. 8. "I'd just make a little bit of money, I wouldn't make a whole lot." Texas House Speaker Gib Lewis defending himself against the charge that he would personally profit from a bill he had introduced. 9. "Well, there never was a Bible in the room." Texas Governor Bill Clements, asked about repeatedly lying about the SMU football scandal. 10. "I am filled with humidity." Texas House Speaker Gib Lewis. 11. "If ignorance ever goes to $40 a barrel, I want drillin' rights on that man's head." Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower discussing then-President George Bush's policies. 12. "If it's dangerous to talk to yourself, it's probably even dicier to listen" Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower. 13. "I move we recess to go outside and throw up." Texas House Speaker Gib Lewis during a budget hearing. 14. "This is a real competitive business." A gas station owner, when asked to explain the rapid rise in gasoline prices when Kuwait was invaded. 15. "...idiots, imbeciles, aliens, the insane and women..." Law standing in Texas until 1918 regulating who could not vote. 16. "It's the sediment of the House that we adjourn." Texas House Speaker Wayne Clayton. 17. "Let's do this in one foul sweep." Texas House Speaker Wayne Clayton. 18. "This is unparalyzed in the state's history." Texas House Speaker Gib Lewis. 19. "I want to thank each and every one of you for having extinguished yourselves this session." Texas House Speaker Gib Lewis. 20. "We'll run it up the flagpole and see who salutes that booger." Texas House Speaker Gib Lewis. 21. "There's a lot of uncertainty that's not clear in my mind." Texas House Speaker Gib Lewis. _____ and then there is wisdom: 22. "I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you." Anon. 23. "There are still places where people think that the function of the media is to provide information." Don Rottenberg. Blue skies, Jim

I'll be there for boogie and again on 10th for 40-ways! Blue skies, Jim

My gear stays at the dz in a locker in the packing room which has heat/AC. Only time it is a problem is when I hafta' go all the way out there just to pick it up for a trip to another dz. Of course if the hanger burns down, I am probably out of luck since it will probably not be covered by the dz insurance. Blue skies, Jim

Keep your eyes and ears open, and stay low. There's a free jump waiting for you at Spaceland when you get home. Blue skies, Jim

Just happened to catch the collision video the other night. Glad to hear he is still doing well and jumping. Takes a lot of courage to accomplish what he has. Blue skies, Jim

Land with the injured jumper and assist...only if it is to hold the jumpers hand and talk to him. I wouldn't want to be alone out there and hurting and I don't think anyone else would either. I have landed out several times to find the jumper is ok, just shook up. We talk and wait on a ride. Sometimes I can show them the way out of the field when it is not obvious since I've probably been there before. In addition, I've landed with a jumper who is looking for his main and freebag since I could see them and he couldn't from the ground. Blue skies, Jim

I have no problem with the innocent victims who are damaged being made whole. What I object to is the victim or relatives being unjustly enriched simply because the defendant has insurance or is a large corporation. You cited instances of employees intentionally causing harm and business mistakes, but I didn't see anything about those "victims" who intentionally set out to defraud. Staged accidents, bridgework that is broken prior to purchasing the bagel, etc. How do we deal with these people? That's who I'm after. In Texas we string them up!!! Blue skies, Jim

Does anyone else think this kinda' crap has got to end? PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. –– A couple is suing the franchisee of a McDonald's restaurant, claiming an improperly prepared bagel damaged the husband's teeth and their marriage. John and Cecelia O'Hare sued Friday for unspecified damages more than $15,000. They alleged the McDonald's, owned by Johnstone Foods Inc., was negligent and violated an "implied warranty that the food sold was reasonably fit for human consumption." They contend in the suit that John O'Hare broke teeth and bridgework on Feb. 1, 2002 when he bit into the bagel. The suit did not say what exactly was wrong with the bagel. The suit alleges the wife "lost the care, comfort, consortium and society of her husband." The couple's attorney, Tim Warner, did not return telephone messages left at his office. Tracey Johnstone, owner of Johnstone Foods, said she never before had a bagel complaint and had no idea how it could have been prepared in a way that would damage teeth. "It's a bagel," she said. Blue skies, Jim

One more.... I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your sponsoring Trent, Jed & Stevie this year. Out of all the manufacturers you guys really stepped up and gave a firm commitment. The team is excited about visiting you Wednesday or Thursday and picking up 3 of their new containers. I don't think you will be disappointed with them or their abilities. Thanks for taking a chance on some of the new guys ...Spaceland Anomoly (the Esmoodies)! Blue skies, Jim

Last night after everyone else went to bed, I was up flipping through the tv channels and caught the show about the two golden knights who collided head on while tracking some years back. It was pretty amazing to see what happened and what the survivor went on to accomplish. Did anyone else catch this? I was wondering if the guy still jumps. It showed him doing a few jumps after the accident and standing up his landings. Blue skies, Jim

He told us at Rantoul last year that he was either selling or merging his company into one of the major sports gear/clothing companies and would not be taking any new orders after Rantoul. He said he would be spending so much time with the new company he wouldn't be able to handle his normal volume of orders. Blue skies, Jim

We've really been lucky in Houston and Spaceland. One of the new jumpers is a wiz with a sewing machine and has done a fantastic job with our booties. They come back better than the originals. Some of the people want even better booties with shoe soles instead of leather. There is a local shoe shop that has done several of the jobs and they are great too. You might check with locals in your area and be surprised by the expertise you find like we were. Blue skies, Jim

damn girl, I can't keep up with you two. Is it hookie-poo or pookie-bear? I'm so confused! On wait... I'm an old guy I'm supposed to be confused. Blue skies, Jim

Everyone at Spaceland has now seen the pic and the first reaction is "holy sh%# batman!" and the second is to laugh, the third is sounds very much like Kelli's response. Go easy on the boy D, he was only joking!!! Blue skies, Jim

High Flight Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds -- and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of -- wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hovering there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew. And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God. Peace be with you all... Jim Blue skies, Jim