Scoby

Well, that sorts that. Thanks!

Nobody really should be drinking and taking vicodin at the same time. He wouldn't be in much immediate danger (and the buzz is pretty nice), but acetaminphen and alcohol is an acutely hepatoxic combination. In combination with alcohol, as little as 4 grams of the stuff (8 vicodin) can kill you, much less can cause liver damage.

Well, the rental rig I've used that I liked the most had them. But I see they are not well-liked, so I think I won't get them.

Well, I'm at that time in my jumping career where I need to find a pre-second rig. I have been considering used rigs, but I've realized that I can get something cheap and cheerful new for about the same money as a lot of the used rigs advertised, and it would be great to have a perfect-fitting container with the exact colors I want. I'm thinking Wings/Hornet/Tempo. The Hornet seems to be well-liked, so I'm not worried there. Is there any reason why the Wings is so inexpensive? It seems to be about $300 less than a Javelin and much, much cheaper than the premium containers like the Mirage and Voodoo. The reviews in the gear section are generally quite positive. However, I heard someone at the DZ dismiss it as a "budget" container. Any thoughts? Also, has anyone seen or used their freestyle handle? It is a low-profile pilot chute handle. I'm trying to decide between that and a hackey. Articulation...is it worth it? Quilted back pad? Cordura or spandex BOC? What options are must have? I want to get B-12 snaps, large 3-rings... I have so much to think about. Any input would be useful. Also, I want to get a 170, but I'd like to be able to go down a size in the same container at some point in the future. Do I just mention this on the order form, or...? Sorry about the basic questions, but I haven't done this before and it's a big purchase.

Yeah, it all seems kind of cheesy. If it was, say, 1/10 the cost of jumping, I'd be all over it. Or even 1/4... But if it costs 1/2 as much as actual freefall, then forget it. I mean, when you add in the plane ride and canopy flight, jumping is like $19 for a $20 minute experience. Whereas the tunnel seems like it would be $20 for a 2 minute experience. Without the actual thrills part. I might try it once for giggles, but I can't see myself doing it much.

Oh, I didn't realize you'd already jumped. My bad. I wouldn't worry too much about sucking. As long as you aren't dangerous, you'll get the skills with practice. But get back up in the air as soon as you can!

What if you make your first jump and you find it's just not for you?

What's funny is that the show was running ads on local talk radio. I almost lost it when I heard, "This traffic report brought to you by the Puppetry of the Penis."

Are you jumpng out of planes yet? Not trying to be insensitive, just wondering.

Uhmmmm NO!!! I still haven't gone to traffic school from my last trip down I5. Man, I was just in court yesterday for a speeding ticket I got on the I5 on my way to the DZ. I paid $271, which sounds like a lot, but it could have been reckless driving, so it's ok. The poor bastard after me got a $1350 fine for 5mph more. I wish I could do traffic school, but I got a ticket driving to the DZ last year...

1. Shark (Sunday, butt possibly Saturday night at the Le Bombashelter.) 2. lummy 3. Cornholio 4. Sebazz 5. bbarnhouse 6. Scoby (one day, not sure which) 7. Michele 8. skybytch 9. hottamaly (sunday) 10. quade* 11. Deuce 12. Viking* 13. VectorBoy* 14. ltdiver (sunday)

For what it's worth, I agree with you. The one world system will be as a result of the globalization of our economic and ploitical systems. I think I said as much in one of the earlier replies. I certainly don't think that the UN in its current form will become the central world government or that any WG will be imposed from the top down. I simply expect that growing interdepenence will create a de facto unified world, that will eventually be formalized.

This is certainly true. However, if the United States of the World ever happened, it would be much less likely. I certainly think that the European Union has made it significantly less probable that Germany will invade France again. I mean, with one rather large exception, our states don't invade each other. By reducing sovreignty, pooling resources, interlinking economies, and generally increasing interdependence, a world government certainly would reduce the chances of war.

In theory, a world government would not have any external enemies, so we can scratch the Gulf War and GW2 off the list. There would still be terrorism, so a 911 scenario could still happen. I'm inclined to believe it would be less likely, however. Also, in a one world situation, there would presumably be tighter controls on weapons of mass destruction. What we really need is an alien invasion to unite us.

I think world government is going to come about in a creeping, incremental sense and not a revolution. Basically, the world government is going to happen in a way similar to the way that the countries of Europe became the European Community, then became the European Union, and will inevitably became the United States of Europe, in fact if not in name. If you told someone 50 years ago that in 2002, Germany and France would have the same currency, he would probably ask, "Who conquered who?" What is likely is that the supra-national bodies such as the WTO and World Bank will continue to gain power as the global community becomes more interweaved. Ultimately, world government is the best possible chance we have for a better future. It won't be a utopia, and it will create plenty of new problems, but it is the logical conclusion of political history and a laudable goal.

I still like the Speed channel, cos they have Formula One, World Rally, and Moto GP. I just set them to record and then watch them when I feel like it, instead of getting up at 7AM on Sunday morning to watch the Grand Prix of Wherever. Yes, they do have something personal against you.

Um, actually, I'm not sure, because my satellite receiver came with one built in. I think that standalone Tivos are kind of expensive, like $400 (20 jumps) and the service is $10 (1/2 jump) a month. It's probably cheaper just to get satellite anyway, and the quality is better.

I love Tech TV. The other day, on Tomorrow's World, they had a segment on the PD Velocity. It was definitely cool to see skydiving footage on TV that wasn't on Real TV or Maximum Exposure. I wish I got Discovery Wings, though. Anyway, the trick to dealing with the boring stuff simultaneously problem is to get a PVR like Tivo or Replay TV. Then set it to record all the shows you like. Whenever you're watching TV and it gets boring, then see what's on the disk and watch that. Or, you could always read a book...

Augh! You bastard! Your comment promted me to look at used RVs on traderonline. They are way cheaper than I figured they would be. Now I'm probably going to buy one, if only for WFFC and Burning Man next year. How much do they cost to insure?

Christ, on my last ride up, some guy was tearing ass the whole way. It was truly brutal. Everyone was trying not to breathe...

I got my license in the mail a week ago. So I'm definitely coming. I think I may come to Perris this weekend to get in a few jumps and scope the place out beforehand. Do you think renting a rig will be harder with a lot of people there? I have no intention of jumping with 11 people anytime soon, so no worries!

Is there a minimum experience level required? I know WFFC had a 50 jump minimum. I would love to come, but I don't think I can get 20 jumps in two weeks (well, I think I can, but my wallet disagrees).

My boss has designed dimmers, consoles, and incandescent fixtures and bulbs. We're going off on a very different, rather exciting, and sadly NDA-ed tangent right now. This is the one thing that is truly, truly bizarre. It's actually weirder in real life than you would imagine. The whole house is a maze of bizarre and fanciful rooms, each with a different theme. My friend actually fell asleep several times on the trip. I remember punching him to wake him up at 70mph. Definitely a harrowing experience.

1. I'm obsessed with the Home and Garden channel on TV. 2. I used to go to Japanese animation conventions until I realized I couldn't stand other anime fans. 3. I work for an eccentric multimillionaire inventor developing new lighting technology. 4. I'm working on a coffee table photo book on partying in Los Angeles. 5. My office is in the dungeon of a mansion high in the Hollywood hills. To get to my desk, one must open the secret bookcase, travel down stone stairs lit by torches, go through chains, walk past the torture devices and Heironymus Bosch paintings, and open a curtain painted with the face of Nosferatu. 6. My favorite food is plain yogurt. 7. I once went on a road trip with a narcoleptic co-driver. 8. My mother wouldn't let me ski as a kid because of my total lack of coordination. Now I snowboard, ride a sportbike, and skydive. 9. I had my thumb traumatically amputated in a freak shopping cart accident (it was reattached). 10. I nearly killed myself by hitting a tree on a sled at high speed. 11. I went on Win Ben Stein's Money, but didn't win his money. 12. My only car accident ever was on the way to the DMV to take my license test.

I second that!