WFFC

I think this is it. (Author: Gary Peek, USPA regional director and WFFC load org) ----- ~~~Michael

Not really Different shops do different programs. Check with your dive shop first. The most important thing is the thing you don't have to think about. *breathe* You have to consciencely hold your breath. You don't have to think about breathing. bottom line, it's another expensive hobby. Depending on your place of residence, you may have to travel a bit to get to a decent (salt water) diving destination. But, it kind of forces you to take vacations to very nice tropical places. they're all about the same. Each has a few things they do differently. PADI has different dive tables than everyone else. Buy a dive computer - you can get a bit 'lazy' on figuring out the tables. SSI was created by some former PADI instructors who were fed up with PADIs inability to modernize and change their instructing methods. Again, it's all about the instructors. A good one is good, a bad one can be a source of an injury later. BTW, once you start diving, join DAN and pay the little extra money for the better dive insurance. If for some reason you do screw up, you're gonna want the package that will take care of you. hearsay and speculation is cool ----- ~~~Michael

The license doesn't matter. They're all recognized. The dive shop and more importantly the instructors are what matters. I've got my SSI cards and have my signed Dive Con rating forms in a file (never sent them in). I've seen PADI, SSI, NAUI, etc. instructors fuck up and students got injured. It didn't matter. The shop I was in focused on the student and the philosophy was take care of the student and in some cases, the instructor/student ration (includes dive cons or divemasters) was 2/1. Students were always paired with a student buddy so they could learn together, but the instructor was always there just in case. Go to several dive shops, ask lots of stupid questions, take referals from friends, etc. 2 weekends (fri-sun). One for pool work, one for open water certification dives. For me it wasn't hard. It all depends on the individual. Is your learning curve a bit 'slow'? I taught a middle aged women to snorkel for a trip to the Carribbean she was going on. she didn't know how to swim and had never been in a pool. I later had her as a student and taught her to dive. There's two parts behind this 'test'. One, can you swim and how comfortable are you in the water. Remember, it's just not 'natural' to jump out of moving aircraft. I'm going to say 500$ for the pool, books, open water and basic gear (mask, snorkel, fins, booties). Spend money on the mask (if needed) and the fins. A snorkel is a glorified straw. The mask should fit you snuggly and not leak. just because the 105$ mask leaks doesn't mean the 60$ mask isn't as good. my current mask was 95$ I believe. The cheaper masks didn't fit my face. Split fins have been proven to be more efficient when moving in the water. They're a bit more money, but worth the expense. When it comes down to buying the other gear, talk to your instructors. My buddy bought the cheap reg set right out the gate. I waited a couple months and bought the primo set - Reg set, computer (nitrox compat) octopus, BC was around $1500 I think. We took each reg set down to 85' and swapped. With mine, you could not tell the difference from surface breathing to breathing at depth. My buddy's set you could tell. It was more labored at depth. Continue on and get your advanced rating and stress/rescue. Night diving (covered in advanced) is fun. Nitrox is also a good thing to get. Definately make sure to pay attention to the positives and negatives about it though. hope this helps~ ----- ~~~Michael

the official number for 2003 was 41,244. 2000 was the big year with over 63,000 jumps in 10 days. You can learn a bunch of things at the WFFC, see more vendors than anywhere else, see people you haven't seen in a year, hide from still more that you are embarassed to see again (from whatever you did last year). The WFFC is something like Woodstock. It's something that can only be experienced, but not explained. Sounds like jumping eh? Lew- I'm looking for what you're talking about on the prior sites. Will post if I find it... ----- ~~~Michael

Readme ----- ~~~Michael

In some ways it is a documentary. It offers the view of the 'author' and his finding. Granted, there are items done for dramatic effect, but it's still a documentary. BTW, you should go pick the movie back up and watch the whole thing. Then, watch the extras. Doesn't sound like you will, but you should so you can say you've seen the whole thing.

The B-52 in the movie was involved with 'Linebacker II' during the Vietnam war - The quote is a quick description of what Linebacker II was. The purpose of Linebacker II was to carpet bomb Hanoi. The plaque states that the B-52 shot down an enemy fighter during this offensive. Moore's point, I'm assuming, was to say that it also killed a bunch of others during the carpet bombing, it's intended purpose. Edit to add: PJ-Have you seen bowling for Columbine yet?

There should be courtesy extended by the press/paparazzi when it comes to public figure's offspring. Now, the line is drawn in the sand and I believe that Prince William and Harry were both off limits to the paparazzi until they reach(ed) a certain age - I don't recall but let's say 21. both of them stayed below the radar on things that they did etc. The same courtesy should be extended to the Bush girls if Daddy asks. Now, if the girls decided to put themselves in the public eye (e.g. stumping for dad) all bets are off. They entered the public eye of their own will. ----- ~~~Michael

1200 acres is kinda hard to miss. The 'main' landing area near the loading tents, etc (i.e. the short walk) is not the best place to land...Unless it's early and the only plane up is Mike and his pocket rocket. Pick an area away from the main areas and you'll be fine. There are trailers that will pick you up so it's not a big deal landing out. If you land on the spectator side, take a Sharpie with you to sign autographs for the kids. Remember, you might be a 'nobody' but to these kids, you're cooler than lunch with chocolate milk Tent 3 is the best place to be, at least for your first full day at the WFFC. The organizers will keep you under their wing and tell you the ins and outs of the WFFC. The one unwritten rule is do not open above 3k, unless early in the A.M. (read Mullins' is the only one in the air). There is a lot of traffic at times so keep your head on a swivel. ----- ~~~Michael

(Source) Two sides, but the same explanation. One side reads the plaque for the words, the other side for the ultimate actions. Sure, the plane shot down an enemy fighter, but was it's mission not to carpet bomb Hanoi? The plaque states the 'glory', Moore states the reality. He's not necessarily grasping, just reading into the words on the plaque.

I get the same from the short speech as I did from the long speech. The editing was done for time obviously, but the message, at least to me, is the same.

If you want Paul Harvey's notes on the topic, let me know. You're missing, the rest of the story... ----- ~~~Michael

Just for grins, since I hadn't ever seen the movie, but lived through Columbine that day - 65% of the people that worked for my employer at the time had kids in Columbine. Luckily, none physically injured. Not sure who originally did the 'from my cold dead hand' saying, but Heston did have a different suit on than the rest of his speech. This segment, you are correct, was not shot at the same time as his speech in CO after Columbine. Now, do the research and contact the NRA and ask them if Mr. Heston was originally scheduled to speak then or not. Keep in mind that this is a film. The 'my cold dead hand' was for artistic representation. It drives the point of the NRA and was done so in the best way possible, by their spokesman. He's probably said the same thing other places. He may have very well said it in Denver, but the snipet of video in the film was not shot there. No. Added for dramatic affect. Again, dramatic affect. Bottom line, the bank does give guns away for opening CDs, does it not? The clerk in the film clearly states that they are a licensed dealer (they may not be, but use a local dealer as a clearing house). Again, you can open a CD at said bank and get a gun, if you pass the mandatory background checks. No, dramatic affect. Moore apparently doesn't have anything in his record that would prevent him from obtaining a gun. It's easier to put the pieces together in the bank. Again, bottom line: Open a CD, pass the background check, get a gun. The bank employees clearly stated in the film that he would have to pass a background check. Titan Rocket Family described Titan II appears to have been used exclusively for ICBMs, Titan III and IV for military payloads (read spy satellites). If there were another other use for them, I was not able to quickly find one. one suit for 'cold dead hand' remark, same suit for the rest of his speech. Please relax with the deragatories. Please post transcripts. Not at all. Dramatic affect. Bottom line, open a CD, pass the background check, get a gun. Right? Michael

Mile Hi has an Otter for the summer too. The 5280' Boogie with The Pioneers of Skydiving is happening June 4-6. The King Air, TwOtter, Casa (this weekend only) will be around for your elevator needs. I believe a balloon or two too... ----- ~~~Michael

Sooo what you're telling me is that finding out how much porn my neighbor had on her puter by adding my wireless card mac to her linksys wrt54g router was a bad thing? There's a couple kids in the neighborhood that have their playstation on a wireless net too... ----- ~~~Michael

that would explain your additional 'happiness' at times... ----- ~~~Michael

here's one... "No, then it sounds like a male fantasy. Meet a French girl on the train, fuck her, and never see her again." ----- ~~~Michael

LA LA LA LA (read: too much information) Besides...I really don't want to know how you ended up with that... ----- ~~~Michael

Ahhhh pictures for us who don't frequent your home DZ...

#305 Here! ----- ~~~Michael

Another piece that gets brought up (and dropped) is the bullying. I used to live near the H.S. The 'Trenchcoat Mafia' was created by the 'social outcasts' to combat the issue on their own level. Not to do the deed they did, but to have their own group to belong to. The following had the signs and did nothing: Parents (Klebold & Harris) Jeffco Police School (teachers and administrator) Other Parents - (the ones who instilled the bullying skills in their kids) There is only so far that anyone is going to be pushed (adult or child) before they're going to snap. The warning signs are generally always there, but nothing happens until someone actually takes action. ----- ~~~Michael

you'll have your package by 10:30 tomorrow morning in CA... - FedEx tracking # - 791845949132 ----- ~~~Michael

Famosa- is he old enough yet to see that? Arano

there was a government report about a year ago that said ethanol increased maintenance on engines over the long haul. The corn farmers promptly raised a stink and the report disappeared. Ethanol is bad... edit to add this: Good - http://www.ncga.com/ethanol/main/your_car.htm Looking to see if I can find a 'reputable' link for the bad side... OK...found this one. Short read on various 'alternative' fuels. http://www.drivers.com/article/633/ ----- ~~~Michael

My son has just been recalled from 2nd Inf (Korea) to go to Iraq. My significant other's brother is currently over there.