dterrick

...and on a semi-related note of silly humour... "None shall pass this brige but me except those who answer questions three..." Whhhaaat is your name? (dterrick, King of the Canadians) Whhaaaat is your favourite colour? (faded watermellon) Whhhaaat is the average airspeed of an unlaiden skydiver? (Canadian or American?) Uh, I dont know ...wwwuuaggghhhhhhhhh! NEEH!! Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

You're hooked, Mel... welcome to the disease. ...and no, it's not just you. I think we ALL went through that phase ... I'm still not out of it I spent most of my time staring up at our 30 story office towers in Winnipeg thinking... "yup, I'd be on final aproach..." So tell us more... Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

Oooohhh, here's one for ya then... I was among the first to own a "Pentium" laptop ... an AST P-75 with a massive 500 MB hard drive and 2 (!!) PCMCIA slots (no CD of course). Do I hear $6? Seriously, anything that can get you online and run internet and email has gotta be worth more than scrap value. My AST beast's battery is still good, runs Win 98SE and Office 97 with IE ... good enough for a road trip. I'm not sure that today's "nieces and nephews" would even consider such a computersas a GIFT . Is the world spining THAT fast now? Dave 297 and counting Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

Duck! ... and cover Things must be getting tense down yonder ... I sent my sister the DHMO website (Bay area, CA). She didn't find it funny ... and she has a science degree!! Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

Boo?!? Scary? How to lie with Statistics? Haven't seen this in a while... Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

Trick quetion? A: The Partridge family. Damn, now I'm thinkin' about all the horrible stuff I remember as a pre-teen in the 70's - including "fine Corinthian Leather" and my parents' love of Nana Mouscouri (sp?) and Neil Diamond. Then again, my neighbors had older kids and I remember the 'cool ones' letting me listen to their old Beatles RECORDS in the recroom ... Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

The first time I ever saw your face... ...you looked like Arnold on Diff'rent Strokes "..whatch yu talkin about Mr. Drummond?" C'mon, does anybody else remeber Michael as part of the "Jackson 5" as a short pudgy faced kid? Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

Sam: In Canada, the student BSR's state "on jumps where the exit delay exceeds 10 seconds, all students shall wear at least one functioning and visually accessable altimeter..." That would be that in Canada. By the time you do a 10 on IAD (s/l style) progression you likely have 4-5 jumps from 3k AGL, 2 from 4, and are into 5500 territory. I may be the odd one out but I ASKED to have an alti even while on paper pulls because I ALSO wanted to learn the accuracy circuit as soon as possible. My DZO liked that aproach (sounds like the DZ in question is quite the opposite) and the DZO promptly SHUT UP on the radio unless I was waaay off base on my aproach. Didn't happen. And, I have a provincial style and accuracy Gold medal for my efforts that I in part attribute to paying attention to an altimeter from jump #4. By the time I was into freefall delays of 10's I was counting, not alti checking because that is what I was TOLD to do. Time sense IS important and there is alti allowance in our training programs for counting error. But, once under canopy I still had the alti to judge my pattern. Once I was up to solo status, about jump 20, alti checking was routine and I was coordinating my alti checks with my manouver series. I learned alti awareness "a hard way" on my first RW jump when my coach broke off and pulled. No, we were not THAT low but it proved to me that even after dozens of jumps that external stimuli (another jumper) can throw off your (well, at least my) perception of time and space. that has only happened the once, BTW. *** On jump #20 I had a p/c in tow. We also are taught the "5 count" procedure but that is a FJC technique for IAD/SL deployments. Adhering to proper pull altitudes in your early licenses allows "enough" margin of error for the 5 count in Canada. Once under your own gear, the opening familiarity yields a startingly instant recognition of the pattern going wrong - I don't need to count past "2" to know something is amiss. Pull high(er) and enjoy the ride. Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

Welcome to the Hotel California...you can check out any time you want, but you can never leave (Nod to the Eagles) We've got your disease, Ed (Nod to Mr. A. Rose & co.). I'm only a year and a bit ahead of you in a seasonal DZ - I feel your pain. Ask me about my now-larger mortgage , and loss of whuffo-"friends". You'll be fine. Gear and your first license are major milestones, both financially and emotionally. As for cash, get on packing staff status ASAP in trade for jump tix to start. Hanging around and working on the DZ - even if you're not jumping much - you will learn TONS of stuff. The regulars will admire your deedication because it will remind them of when THEY had just started on the Quest for the Holy Skydive (Neeh!) Are you a competent Brewmaster? Skydivers LOOOOVE good beer. If your homebrew can withstand a blind tasting perhaps you can barter for jumptix? Cook? Bring your BBQ and do a big 'ol roast for "cost + a jump or 2" so long as you're not cutting into the DZO's bit - and if you are (or would) ask to work for them. Postwhore for profit? ...Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

...or a Cessna. If Cessna 1) Remove supplied key from tin. 2) Bend up tab at one end of tin lid. 3) Insert slot of key to tab of tin. 4) Twist toward non-tabbed end until tin is open 5) Say g'bye to pilot 6) Jump yee out! (yes, our C-182 is a early narrow body model. Can you say Sardines? I knew you could ) Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

Actually, Opie, I've noticed on "sunset loads" I can get 2 for 1. Our runway lights illuminate at "official sunset" and the rule is the plane needs to be rolling before the lights are on. We can then complete a standard skydive "within 30 minutes of official sunset". Under those conditions there is just a bit of sun left on the prairie and if there are low clouds far out on the horizon we are treated to a breathtaking orangy red glow. As we climb it seems the sun rises again - albeit just a bit but on the ground it becomes pitch dark FAST. The runway and hangar lights leave our bowl in twilight but I landed out (waay out) on one of those jumps and it was most deifnately NIGHT no matter what the technical definition of the jumps was. It also happened to be my century jump. 3 of the 4 on the load were owed pie (myself included). Apparently my landing out ruined the planned ambush ... but it also gave the posse time to arm while they tried to find me in the farmer's field. Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

NOT DIHYDROGEN MONOXIDE!! NOOOOOO. This morning I was accidently soaked in the stuff. My hair went limp and my skin began to wrinkle. Last night I was experimenting with only small quantities of pure di-hydrogen monoxide - I added some to a dilute formula of C2-H5-OH (created chemically by converting dihydrogen monoxide with other organic ingredients, which had been exposed to peat bog fires for many days). I drank it with no immediately apparent ill effects so I drank some more. By the next morining, I was experiencing flu-like symptoms. Others have told me they can take the stuff straight up - some brag of up to 8 glasses a day!! Crazy bastages! Dave PS: the trade name of my "experimental coctail" is Laphroaig. Be very afraid if you ever see this stuff, in a pure form it is very strong and very addictive. Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

Nadine: You are among the few of 255 views of this thread to observe that I must have been half asleep when I inferred a 10 second "stall" into dragan's post because that is not what dragon actually wrote. That said, to have the courage (and stupidity)to hold a full stall for 10 seconds under a reserve is unheard of and uncalled for. I'm surprised more people did not address that specific point. As for my comments on flare technique, inferred and not, I stand by my words. Dragon, per profile, flies an eliptical 9 cell and jumpes a smaller 7 cell F-111 reserve. Simply by the definition of aspect ratios, the control stroke of the reserve will be longer than that of the main. Being a square planform rather than eliptical, the initial toggle response will be slower and less pronounced. Finally, considering dragon's comment ... I still feel justified in saying I believe it's possible a full flare was never achieved. Reading this again, I'm also wondering (apart from circumstance) why dragan was in "fear" of finding the stall point. To me, not knowing the stall point of your canopy is much like not wanting to push too hard on the brake pedal of your car in case the wheels lock up!! Find the edge and then back up a bit. *** As for your comments about "low time jumpers giving out information" I think you'd have been wise to PM me rather than suggest I am among those who are the subject of bickering. You, Nadine, to the best of my recall are the first to do so. May you also be the last. Oh, and I think that's BEER to you for the honour. Blue Skies Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

Bah. That's a normal snowfall for us Canucks. WE make igloos, and have 23 words for snow y'know. ALL of them are preceeded by f@#$@#$# Seriously, east coast dudes, you'll survive. A couple of sanity days while the city(ies) are immobile may do everyone good. the last time that Toronto, Ontario was pelted with a similar storm the Mayor called on our Army to help them dig out (boy was THAT ever turned into a joke). I know your regular guys in green are kinda busy right now - but this might be a welcome change of pace... nobody'd shoot back

...my 'death scooter' only does 30 ... guess I need more gear. Here's the recipe... Take 1 kid's scooter, 1 chain saw motor, a handful of gears, pillow blocks, and #35 chain. Weld stuff together. Add alcohol and stupidity. Ignite. Downwind 'swoop runs' are a blast and you don't need to flare Dave PS: front brake only. Life expectancy of said brake pads - 1 tank of fuel or first crash. The Mk II version has a suspension frame and "dual cantalever brakes". I guess I'm turning into a wus! Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

Throw me out of a plane if I'm wrong , but I'm sure I heard on the a local radio station that "they" stayed together for about 2 months. Don't remember who he picked... Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

First, congrats on a successful PLF - you walked away under what sounds like a bad circumstance. What brand of reserve and loading? Who told you 10 seconds of stall for a 7 cell?!? F 111 has no flare compared to ZP. Burying the toggles for a flare is almost expected. May I offer a guess that in your attempts to clear the closed end cell you never actually stalled the canopy? 10 seconds of stall and you'd be in a standfly again! If you never stopped flight the end cell would not have had a fair chance to inflate. F-111 won't turn compared with your eliptical. Blinding flash of the obvious? If it flew like an SUV with bad tires, it likely was OK. I'm freaked that your instructor "had never seen anything like that" - but it reinforces something that has been said on the lists before - even a reserve is not perfect. Please share more of the story as you develop theories - a strange one like this is the type of Unexpected that I'd like to be able to consider in my training drills. Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

Don't know those names though I fit the age... Was and Still is Wyle E Coyote.... my early inspiritation to invent stuff and jump off of stuff came from that coyote who's really a crazy clown Dave PS: honourable mentions to the entie cast of the BB/RR hour, Yogi Bear, the Flinstones and El Kabong! Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

Murray you'ze guyz are gettin hosed!! Here in Winnipeg it's $0.799/l which I get to be $1.94/ Yankee galooon. MY little Honda gets 35 city (in 'merican that's 28 US miles to a US gallon) and 45 hwy. Happy Happy not to be driving an urban assault vee-hicle but sxcred of those who seem to aim AT me Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

Hey Viking! Don't shortchange the 88-91 Civic Si hatchback style (I have an 89). Same mechanicals... Waay more interior room. Longer wheelbase so they are far smoother on the interstates (and less twitchy). Factory moonroof rather than sunroof. Likely cheaper to insure. As for the engine swaps, skip the blower. There is no replacement for displacement. Do the Acrua 1.8 swap for a solid 170 bhp on a header and air intake and tire smoking torque (so much for cheap insurance). Or, spend 3-4 hun and put the 'teg 10.5:1 pistons in the D16 and the 'teg computer ... almost as good (don't tell your insurance guy). Top that off with the ZX gearbox cogs added to the Si final drive... Makes for a close ratio box with kiss-ass-er acceleration and little or no loss in fuel economy! (think 300 miles to a 10 gallon tank). FYI, one of our sports car club guys is/was a test mule for Mugen 10 years ago. D'ya get the impression we've developped a bunch of hot Hondas since then? Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

when they first came out they were close to six hun taxes in. Today, the newer more powerful version is about half that. TV in and out, firewire port, etc. it's all there and fairly common now. To do decent video and otherwise you;ll need BIGGG hard drive and lots of ram. I bet your friend's jittery problem has to do with not enough memory. Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

Yes it does. My latest German Style Pilsner is finally ready. This was the first (ya, I know) batch I actually fermented at the correct temperature for the Wyeast lager yeast (Dansih II, 48-65f). What a difference. Beautiful colour, proper foam, all in it tastes like it deserves to be in the green bottles in which it is bottled (Grolsch pints). Yummy. Time to cook another one so the firdge is never empty. Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

goose: I run an original ATI All in Wonder Radeon and have good success. PM me and I should be able to help. Jump vid's are tres cool Dave PS: Wyle E's sitfly is an edited screen rip using the card. Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

mph mph Mmmph mph mph mmm MMmm MMMumph mmm mmm mph mph mumph mph mph MMMMph mph (hehehe) -Kenny Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

PC in tow leading to a stuck slider (so I interpret)jump #20. Bloody cold on opening weekend here in Manitoba. I'd got to 15 sec delays the previous fall so I was busted back to IAD on currency issues. That weekend I went IAD, 5 sec, 10 sec, 15 sec, 20 sec... 2nd 20 sec things were rockin and I had lots of alti to spare after doing my 360's. I waited till 4k to pull anyway. a 5 count later I was still flat - but not very happy - Shoulder check released the burbled p/c and it snatched me upright. I watched for what seemed like another 2-3 seconds and the slider did not decend!!... Understand that the Cruiselites we have are notorious for slamming you quickly... all was still not well. Terminal round openings hurt. I watched the main drift off with a high slider and wondered WTF?!? It LOOKED like a good chute but the ground also LOOKED a bit larger than it should haveand I WAS still at close to terminal when I chopped. I was saddled at just over 2k. Closing weekend this year (also f'ing cold) I was finishing up my FAI B RW endorsement. Now, of course, I'm quite used to pulling at 2200 and I'm quite used to the 300 ft openings the Raven inflicts on me. But, a frozen hand = a missed handle. With my "extra" 100 jumps since the chop, I knew I had time to complete one more pull as trained. I did, and then went straight for my handles just like I had as a 20 jump student. The main opening was just fine this time, but I was ready to chop just the same. Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)