wolfriverjoe

Much of that is cultural. The Japanese don't, or at least didn't place the same value on individual life that we in the "west" do. The Emperor was God, everything and everyone belonged to him to do with as he wished. As an example, Japanese fighter planes didn't have armor for the pilot or self sealing fuel tanks. Pilots were expendable. The idea that an experienced pilot took a while to develop and was worth making an effort to keep around didn't occur to them. It cost them quite a lot towards the end of the war. By the end, the Kamikaze pilots could barely fly the planes. Most of them only had a few hours flying time. As another, individual soldiers were expected to 'die courageously and honorably' rather than surrender and submit to capture. There were very few Japanese POWs taken. As a result of that attitude, US POWs were considered 'dishonored' and subject to a lot of abuse and mistreatment. Not trying to justify it, but their culture was (and is) in many ways very alien to us. "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

Nips, Slopes, slants (those two refer to their eyes), Japs. Most have fallen into disuse because of their blatant racial overtones. There's also the issue that, to a large degree, the Japanese people were following their 'leader'. They thought they were following the Emperor and to a degree were, but it was largely the military who was in charge. As a culture, they have a history of blindly following their leaders. They believed that the Emperor was God incarnate. OTOH, the Nazi party was a group of people who took charge, seized power and led the world down a deadly and destructive path. The equivalent insult to "Nazi" for a Japanese national would be something along the lines of "Emperor Lover", "Military Lackey" or something like that. "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

That along with not replying sounds like a plan. How much self control does it take to not reply to a post that one finds less than worthy of their time? Sometimes quite a lot. "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

Well, there are some pretty blatant trolls on here. And there's a lot of behavior in this forum that isn't tolerated in the topical forums (which is good, IMO). Seeing as the primary goal of a troll is to get a rise out of someone, the best defense is to ignore them. I've been 'got' a few times, and fallen down their rabbit holes. But that's all part and parcel of posting here. There are also a couple people who are very good at knowing exactly where the line between an insult and a PA is. They seem to take great pleasure in baiting others into posting PAs and getting them 'in trouble'. One thing I would like to see is some sort of ban/restriction/deletion of the "Nuh-Uuuuuuuuuuh" posts. The one liners that have no substance, no information, nothing but "No. You are wrong and clutching at straws." They are 3 year old level contradiction, and are usually incorrect (the post they are contradicting isn't wrong). Obviously, many of the 'one liner' posts don't fall under this classification, but there are a lot that do. Many are by one particular person. Edit to add: Oh Duh. I forgot. Leave it as is. "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

I think it's as much blind hatred of Obama as it is blind worship of Trump. They tout anything Trump claims to accomplish, and then make believe it was better than what Obama did. Hatred and racism were two of the main planks in Trump's campaign platform. I do have to say that this whole summit thing is turning out to be a major win. Getting a sit down, elevating his stature, making him look powerful and successful. Getting a sitting US president to treat him as an equal is a huge win for KJU and the DPRK. "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

Of course it's obvious if you take time, sit down, think about it, go through all of the possibilities, sort through options, and on and on. If you do that up in the air, to much time passes and 'bad things' happen. Your response was ingrained and instinctive. As it should have been. Canopy was not landable, you chopped it. I wouldn't expect newer jumpers to be able to differentiate between 'fixable' toggle fires and 'unfixable' tension knots. I may or may not be able to tell the difference myself. Training can only cover so much. Training newer jumpers to chop anything they aren't sure of is as good as it's likely going to get. Analyzing and addressing 'fixable' mals is not something that can really be taught, it's far more of an 'experience' thing. And even experienced jumpers get bit by trying too long to fix something. In my case, the first couple toggle fires were controllable by rear riser (first instinct). So once the canopy wasn't turning, I was able to take a second and evaluate the situation. When I had it happen on a different canopy, one that rear risers wouldn't control, I still had the experience to recognize the canopy's behavior and say "well, rear riser isn't working, pop the toggles. If that doesn't work, get rid of the thing". It takes longer to read that sentence than it did to think it. If my first toggle fire had been on a canopy that rear input didn't work, I likely would have chopped it. Keep in mind that if you are seeing video of a jump (and a toggle fire) then, in theory, the jumper should be at least reasonably experienced. I know of at least a few jumpers who cut away a toggle fire. And I know one very experienced jumper who should have and didn't. And died trying to fix it. "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

You aren't the first woman to have trouble flaring. Read this thread: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4868856;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

I thought the Glock plate was a lot bigger than what is visible. My understanding is that removing it will destroy the lower. I could be wrong on that, though. "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

Virtually impossible. Even if the numbers are filed or ground off, the act of punching them into the surface of the metal 'pushes down' the metal below them. So even if they are 'removed', there are ways of 'bringing out' the numbers from the deformed metal below. One is Acid etching. "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

1 - I don't agree. Unless there is pretty solid proof that the sale happened after the law went into effect, it can't be proved. That might include a gunsmith receipt with a serial number on it, or maybe a pawn shop receipt, again with a serial number. But if both the buyer and seller are aware that this 'non-FFL', 'non-background-check' sale is not legal, then it's pretty unlikely that proof will exist. Hypothetically speaking, if I were in Colorado (I'm not) and wanted to sell a gun "Off the Books" (I don't), I certainly wouldn't give the buyer a correctly dated receipt. I wouldn't accept a check. And I would make sure that no other proof (gunsmith, pics, vindictive ex, ect) existed. While it would be harder for a buyer to ensure that the seller had no proof of possession after the law went into effect, I'd still be sure that I had no such proof (receipts, cancelled checks, ect) that the sale took place when it actually did. 2 - Actually, yes. A lot of gun owners do not want to see their guns in the wrong hands. Some of it is not 'out of love of mankind', it's purely self interest. They don't want the cops knocking on their door asking why a gun that they had bought new had been used in a crime. They don't want a 'bad guy with a gun' to know who they are and where they live (and that they have more guns). They don't want to go through a FFL because they don't want the paperwork with their name on it. Or they don't want to pay the cost. Or simply don't want the hassle. Selling it to a buddy from the range is a lot simpler and faster. 3 - The absolutist stance is a result of the anti-gun crowd back in the 80s & 90s. When they would compromise, the antis would simply come back and ask for more. They soon realized that the antis didn't want compromise, they wanted abolition. So they quit compromising. I agree that it's pretty ridiculous, but I understand it. I went through a similar situation with the range I'm part of. We had a 'gun hater' who bought the house across the road (a long, long time after the range was established). She lived there for over a decade before she decided she was going to shut the range down. We tried to compromise, and offered a variety of concessions. All those did was encourage her to push harder for more restrictions. So we got a good lawyer and took a 'no more' stance. We won. The range is still there. "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

They would be the 'aggrieved party' if the US unilaterally pulled out of the deal. There is a deal. It was negotiated (torturously) and agreed to by both parties. For Trump to simply say "I don't like it and won't follow it" is stupid. Really stupid. But, for someone who "wrote" the "Art of the Deal", it seems to be pretty much standard practice. He 'negotiates' a deal, then just reneges on it. He seems bound and determined to make Iran seem like the good guys. China and Russia too (although, in the case of Russia, it makes at least some sense). "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

Well, in this particular case (the CO background check law), it really isn't an "existing law" (although it is already on the books). It was passed shortly after the Aurora CO movie theater shooting. Often, in response to these sorts of incidents, laws are passed. Sometimes they address areas that would have prevented or lessened the carnage, but that doesn't happen much. More often (far, far more often) they are simply 'knee jerk' reactions following the 'do something, do anything' panic. This background check law is a good example of that. The shooter, Holmes, purchased his guns through an FFL holder. Background checks and everything. Similarly, he used a shotgun and a pistol, in addition to the military-style rifle. So calls for bans on those would not have stopped this shooting either. When proposed, this law was called 'unenforceable' by many, including a large portion of the Law Enforcement community. It's not just Derek. "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

Actually, perjury is much more complex than that. Also, perjury is a crime of which Clinton was acquitted. Care to expand on how it's 'more complex'? https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1621 And the impeachment was as much about politics as it was about 'finding of fact.' He paid a fairly large find ($90k) and had his law license suspended. "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

As was noted, you are on the ground, analyzing the situation, trying to figure out how to do better next time. That beats the hell out of not being here because you rode a mal into the ground, trying to fix it. That happens far too often. I won't second guess your decision to chop. That's something that is done very quickly, and needs to be done correctly. Regardless of whether or not it 'maybe' could have been fixed, you did the right thing. Gear can be replaced. Lives cannot. Soooo... Was it a toggle fire? Maybe. It fits. It could also have been tension knots, which may or may not have been fixable. I've had a few toggle fires. They get very 'spinny', very quickly. The ones I had on my 190 Triathlon could be countered and the spin stopped by pulling opposite rear riser. The ones I had on my 170 Sabre2 could not be stopped by rear riser. The only way to stop the spin is to pop the toggles. Standard procedure I was taught is to pop both toggles, and not to screw around trying to figure out which one it is. How to do better next time? Practice. While it's not a perfect duplicate of the situation, due to somewhat different dynamics during opening, you can still simulate it to a certain degree. Make sure you are high enough and in clear airspace, pull both toggles down to the cat's eye. Let the canopy slow down for a bit, then let one up. See how it turns. See how the spin develops. See if opposite rear riser will counter it or not. If you are renting gear, be well aware that different canopies will behave differently in a toggle fire situation. One good reason to jump the same canopy consistently. "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

Fixed it for you. Not sure how that is "fixed". Bill Clinton made false statements under oath during a deposition. That, by definition, is perjury. He ended up being cited for contempt of court for 'failing to testify truthfully'. Towards the end of this Wiki article. "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

Interesting way of saying "he lied" "Alternative Explanations" "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

Skydive Midwest in WI also offers both. Three packages available, H/C, outside or both. H/C is cheapest, both is most expensive, outside in the middle. I'm not in a position to give numbers (not staff), but I see a lot of both types of video (H/C & outside) on the plane. "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

I don't dispute in the least that the Shia clerics and their rule of Iran is as bad, if not worse, than the Shah. But they were a direct result of the Shah's rule (and oppression). What would Iran look like today if the US & UK had not orchestrated the overthrowing of Mossedegh? As I noted, it's hard to say if his democratic reforms would have happened, been effective or been able to last. I highly doubt that it would look as bad as it does today. "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

Not sure what you mean by that. The 79 revolution was driven by fundamentalist Shia. But I was referring to the coup in 53 that deposed the democratically elected prime minister and installed the Shah. Mossadegh was trying to implement real democratic reform. And he nationalized the oil industry, thinking that oil that came out of Iranian soil ought to generate income for the Iranians. That oil money was the prime reason the US & UK overthrew him. Pretty much destroying democracy in Iran from then until... Now. I can't say that the democratic reforms would have happened. Or if they happened, if they would have continued. But the coup put the Shah into power, and his brutality was a driving force for the Shia fundies and Khomeni. "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

Ok, you added quite a bit to your "Wrong" post. And you have a point. The US has done a lot right in the past. The way we took the enemies that were Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, rebuilt them from the ashes and rubble that were left (and that is not an exaggeration) and turned them into modern, free democracies is quite admirable. That doesn't change the fact that we have also done a lot to support some really evil people. The Shah of Iran, Saddam Hussein, Somoza in Nicaragua, Batista in Cuba, the list goes on and on. "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

WRONG In what way is that 'wrong'? Are you aware of the coup that installed the Shah of Iran in 53? Are you aware of the coup in Chile in 73, that resulted in the death of Allende? Are you aware of the concept of a "Banana Republic", where the US installed rather brutal dictatorships in order to make sure that US companies could make a profit? While the US makes lots of claims about 'freedom' and 'democracy', those mostly apply within it's own borders.] We (meaning the US as a whole) have done some pretty despicable shit over the years. And that doesn't include our treatment of minorities, particularly the native population and freed slaves. We have some pretty lofty ideals, and many folks have tried to live up to them, but the reality has fallen well short of those ideals. And I'm sure that Ron and a few others will take these criticisms as "looking down" or "hating" the US, which is far from the truth. I just refuse to ignore our shortcomings. Which are many. However, despite these shortcomings, we are still one of the better places in the world, for a variety of reasons. Some are because of our systems/laws/customs. Others are simply a matter of where we ended up and the resources/natural features that are here. I didn't see a choice of "We have our faults, but are better and more moral than a lot of places." "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

2 questions that would be important are: How much time do you plan on spending in the tent/what do you plan on doing in there? How much stuff will you have in the tent with you? I camp out Friday & Saturday nights at the DZ. All I do in the tent is sleep, and all I have in there with me is a backpack with my clothes and personal stuff. Jump gear stays in the hangar (it's locked & alarmed at night, everyone leaves their stuff in there - not something that is safe at all DZs). Food either stays in the car (non-perishable) or in the 'food fridge' at the DZ, again, it's something everyone does and it is ok to do so... At that DZ. So I have a little 3 man dome tent. I got it as Gander was closing, so it was cheap. Gander Mtn branded, made in China. A similar one by Coleman popped up on a search: https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000007828-Parent-Sundome-Person-Tent/dp/B01D9EQ0VQ It suits my needs. I put it up in the shade of a nearby hangar (mostly shaded anyway), have been through some pretty stiff winds (largely sheltered by the hangar I'm next to and another nearby), torrential downpours (stayed totally dry inside), and some chilly temps. Down into the 30s. I have a fairly warm sleeping bag and a spare wool (real wool) blanket. Cold as all hell getting out of bed in the morning, but nice and toasty in the bag. The tent did quite well, but it was only used 8 weekends last summer. The fabric is still in nice shape. No fading or damage that I can see. I was using three layers of foam rubber packing mat (the interlocking 1/2" thick stuff) as a sleeping pad. It was better than nothing, but not by much. Upgraded to an air mattress this year (twin sized). "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

Oh absolutely. Why do you think Trump puts so much effort into calling every criticism of him 'Fake News'? Why does he spend so much time trying to discredit the press? It's because he knows perfectly well that if the truth ever really gets told, he's toast. And, of course, the 'true believers' fall into lockstep (goosestep?) with him. Any news story they don't like becomes 'fake'. "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

IOOW (in other, other words), they didn't really look all that hard and didn't find anything. When someone who is looking hard finds something, all the Trumpettes are going to point to that and say the evidence is all made up. "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

Well, first off, I fully agree that it's good that they are talking. However, The US & ROK have been 'talking' to the DPRK since the end of the war. Very little of substance has been negotiated. To your points: 1 - This is a part of the world where symbols are very important. The concept of 'loss of face' is incredibly important. There's a story about the talks at the DMZ where the DPRK had their flag on a taller stand than the US & ROK flags. It was noticed and stopped. So the DPRK made the stand base taller, so it stood above the US & ROK flags. This was noticed and stopped. So the DPRK put a couple extra layers of felt under the base. No clue if it's true or not, but it's a good example of the mentality. Remember how important it was to the Chinese that Bush apologize for the collision between their fighter and our Elint plane, back in summer of 01? Same mentality. 2 - This is almost certain. KJU knows how to do this, he has a good handle on Trump's vulnerabilities and Trump has little or no clue about international relations (once described as "one country fucking another"). 3 - This is a good point, and one I hadn't seen before. The DPRK nuke program has somewhat stalled. They have tried bigger, fusion devices and AFAIK, haven't succeeded. Those are pretty hard. Basic fission is fairly easy and they have that. Maybe they can't go any further and know it. So why continue research? Trade it off for something. They are also finding out how hard missiles are. I've mentioned before that the US and Soviets spent a lot of time and money finding out how hard it is. Lots of very expensive missiles turned into pretty fireworks. So rather than admit that launching an H-bomb at the US mainland is an impossibility (and lose face), agree to curtail the program that isn't going anywhere anyway. Turn a failure into a success (and be able to punish the scientists and engineers who failed). "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo