NovaTTT

Excellent and valid points, and I agree these actions might be grounds for barring one from USPA instructor ratings. But word-of-mouth, hearsay and/or innuendo can too easily influence a candidate's appearance to an Examiner. Furthermore, these points, especially negligence and moreso negligence resulting in injury or death, being exclusionary, should be part of the eligibility requirements. So these points shouldn't be relevant to the Examiner. Personal feelings, opinions and beliefs shouldn't be part of the Examiner's job. The examiner isn't and shouldn't be a character judge or a moral guardian. His job is to evaluate candidates based on their qualifications, skill and knowledge, not their ability to appear in Sunday School finery and impress the Blue Haired Ladies Guild. I don't know the number of jumpers who have participated in "safety meetings", or jumped after having a beer or two. I know it's a large number. BSR violations are pretty common as well. I don't personally know any jumpers who blatantly disregard BSRs, or go out of their way to make their jump riskier than it is, but how hasn't busted a cloud, for example? Show me a jumper who hasn't knowingly violalated a few or more BSRs and I'll show you a FJC student. How many skydivers have spent time in jail or prison? What if he fucked another skydiver's wife/girlfriend, or reneged on a dope deal. Maybe he's a cheap bastard who doesn't buy beer. Does any of that intrinsicly make him a less able instructor? So it therefore must become a further function of USPA to police and adjudicate skydivers (including investigating and prosecuting) for violations of matters that are extra-BSR. Again, I'm neither condoning nor endorsing BSR violations. I think the BSRs are a great living document and fully support their raison d'etre. BUT - It is not the function of USPA to Police, Prosecute and Adjudicate skydivers on non-BSR matters. They have the catch-all "Conduct Unbecoming a USPA Member" (for what that's worth!) but don't seem to use it unless they can pay the expelled member a large, undisclosed amount of $$$ and give them back their membership at Lifetime status. Anyway, think of how skydiving would be if USPA had real authority and/or refused to accept as members anyone who actually commits "Conduct Unbecoming a USPA Member". I'd rather hang myself than be a part of that. .02 Nova "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

Here we might go again. Ho Hum "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

Nova - new (post-1996) nickname TTT - old (pre-1996) nickname Put them together to cover the bases and it's been my online handle for 13+ years. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

Yeah. It's a case of This vs This "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

However I want. Because...In freshman year (1982), over Thanksgiving break, a friend and I went to central GA and picked the little bastards to earn drinking money. We worked our asses off and it's hard-on-the-back work. We were paid a lot more than we expected and had funds to buy a large supply of CC that lasted almost the entire year. After drinking the aches and pain away, I vowed that I will call pecans whatever the hell I want. I also vowed never to drink again, but that was a lie told again and another story. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

Haha! Possibly the only good role Melanie ever had. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

Fixed that. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

You're in luck, Dave. This appears to be the corporation and they may have some backstock. Send us pics when you get your new gear. (edited to get an image small enough to upload, dammit) "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

Are you on a runway or a grass strip? If a runway, is it in good condition? The 2-blade prop has longer blades and will be more likely to strike pebbles, debris, etc. and is better for maintained runways. For dirt and/or grass strips, or poorly maintained runways, the 3-blade prop would be a better choice. I don't know about performance but if it were my plane I'd not worry about passenger comfort (it's a Cessna - they're not made for jumper comfort!) but about engine hours and fuel consumption. .02 "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

Who are the Brain Police? And where are they when you need them? "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

Very sorry for your loss, Nick. Condolences for you and your family, and God's blessings for your father. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

How does that work? Bigger but smaller - what? Do you mean, bigger, like Godzilla compared to an iguana, but smaller as in attacking Podunk, KA instead of Tokyo? That's like using a flame thrower instead of a match to light a cigarette, is it? Or do you mean bigger but smaller, as in more powerful, like using a smaller but vastly more powerful atomic weapon in lieu of a 1000 lb bunker buster? Or do you mean a worse affliction on a smaller group, say an Ebola outbreak among a group of 100 vs a ringworm infection among 100k? But rather than try to understand your convolutions, I'll address this: I think you're wrong that skydivers see people associated with sLyride as "nefarious" and having "malicious intent". I think they are viewed as sleazy and underhanded, taking advantage of the ignorant, and enabling and supporting crooks. But this thread isn't about that. It's about the outrageous Gay Skydiving ad. Maybe that's what you mean by bigger but smaller. An exaggeration of a stereotype but on just a single web-page. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

Do yourself a favour and buy Poynter's "The Skydiver's Handbook". There's plenty of good, relevent information in there and it's from one of the most respected men in the business. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

How to Open a Can w/o a Can Opener I How to Open a Can w/o a Can Opener II Or - use a hammer and nail. Good luck! "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

I'm getting hungry, reading what you've written . . . and avocado/guacamole sounds great, but I sure as hell hope you're not going to try most of the items suggested by posters above!! Well, maybe we men in the group would enjoy that one suggestion. Nova "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

No worries, Gary, just checking. Make sure you leave time to get skybound! You have some good designs from which to choose. Looking forward to seeing the winning design. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

*bump* Hi, Gary. Checking on the big decision. Picked a winner? "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

*bump* Jan, whatever happened with this idea? What did you come up with and/or end up doing? "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

Edward Woodward showed his true talent in "Breaker Morant". A great film and actor. RIP "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

In the mid-90's there was a fatality in South America, Brazil, I believe, resulting from a FF birdstrike. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

Where the link/$ goes is a different matter, and debate. This is about the ad itself, not the C & B BS and what the future is for sLyride. It's obviously just another sleazy method for them to deceive and divert, but that's not the poll! "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

The funniest thing I found while perusing the Skydive AZ v Skyride verdict was this website: Gay Skydiving Personally, I couldn't and don't care less about anyone's sexuality, but this advert is nuts. It's overtly in-your-face and gratuitous and I think it's hilarious. I wonder how the people pictured feel about their image being used to this purpose? What do you think about Gay Skydiving? "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

Not so. The list is obviously incomplete, but as it stands, 69 DZs do not accept sLyride GCs, 40 do, and 3 are unknown. That indicates a significant majority of DZs (read, skydivers) do not accept sLyride. The opinions expressed herewithin this and other threads lead one to believe that sLyride (B&C, et al) are not supported by the skydiving community. To the contrary, they appear to be disliked, distrusted and viewed as villains and crooks. FWIW. Nova "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

Counter seems to work fine. Although the left hand motion is inclusive in the reach (arch, look, reach, pull!) and "reach" seems to cover it, it's not specifically referring to the left hand. "Counter" is a good term for that. You won't find a consensus, nor is there a universal term for this, so I suggest you go with "counter". I think it's a good term for it, FWIW. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

John, I believe you are correct that the pilot is required to wear a bail-out rig. The seat removed is a nicitie (sp?) that I did not enjoy. I wouldn't want to do it with both the seat and door in place. We took the door off because I hired the 172 for a day, back in '92, for $80. The pilot preferred to have the door off to protect it. I wanted it off for ease of exit. We made 11 jumps. It was not a bad day. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73