Abedy

This lady certainly was selfish and rude. But in most supermarkets and grocery stores here there are bins where you can put shucks, leaves, carrot greens etc if you don't want to take these parts home. Talking about selfish people... It has become quite a nuisance here: Folks (mainly older persons who constantly complain about "good manners gone!") walk past a shelf with fruits, stop, take a few grapes of vine or a few cherries or strawberries and eat them straight away without paying. Does this also happen in the US? Another "habit" that is annoying is - again, mainly old folks! - to poke/squeeze fruits or veggies to check if they are "just ripe enough" and if the person isn't satisfied, putting the fruit/veggie they just molested back into the shelf! The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

My apartment or yours? Do I have to talk a lot or do you wanna come with me straight away? You gotta be a light switch - every time I see you you turn me on. You look like my first wife. - You're divorced? - No, still a bachelor. Do you know the difference between sex and conversation? No, well how about going to my apartment and talk about it? Can I have your telephone number? I lost mine... Of course, you might resort to sarcasm: "Ah Miss Blaine, you dance like a herd of cattle. You are a rare woman who lights up a room simply by leaving it!" (Kate & Leopold) The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

Nice one. Ironically, this won't work in German. But there's a naughty reply for boys: "stroked" Background: Here, testicles are referred to as "eggs" instead of "balls". "Eggs" in a sexual context are strictly a male thing here, nobody would refer to a woman's ova (or Oocytes) as "eggs" My students often ask me why "them 'murricans" call it "balls" as balls are spherical. I usually tell them: Yeah, that's coz the 'murrican boys can't play real football but play something they stole from the Irish, called it "'murrican footy" and try to poke phun at our football by calling it "soccer". But I take comfort in the fact that our football is very popular with 'murrican highschool and college girls The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

IRM? Indiana Railway Museum? Sorry for being ignorant, lacking cultural background, I suppose As for "failing tests even with resources at hand": I now and then allow my students to use their notes for a test - if they have them handy. -> First hurdle which sometimes about up to 1/3 won't overcome -> Second hurdle: Some of them hectically flip the pages and won't find anything because they were too lazy to either take notes or to file them away in a decent way. -> Next third of them stricken out by themselves. Another topic is dictionaries. "The fücking wörd isn't in the dictio-book!!!!!!!!eleven" In 99% of all cases it is but they aren't able to find it, quite often because their spelling abilities are so poor. Not to talk about them resorting to the first entry they find or just messing verb, adjective or noun... So yeah, it's strange folks fail the abovementioned tests but it doesn't really surprise me any more... The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

Pulling down one toggle is a good method. Once the canopy is deflated and down, walk towards it and behind it. If the wind tries to blow it up again it can't drag you - might just "swirl" around your legs. Then pull the steering line back (so that the toggle doesn't dangle.) Grab the lines in a symmetrical way and lift them gently (right hand) and allow the slider to slide down, grab the lines a little deeper (with left hand) lift them a grab them with right hand, repeat this until the slider is down to the canopy. Sometimes the slider isn't willing to slide down the lines (usually because they are "crossed" due to the canopy turning when deflating), then just shake the lines (not too vigorously) up & down until they clear. I do this with both my sports canopy and my tandem canopy. Might take a little more time but this way you collect it cleanly, can drop it in the hangar (or at the packing area) and start packing, heh heh. And heck yes, start packing on your own. Show up at the DZ on a windy/rainy day, approach an old fart or an instructor (or an old-fart instructor like me) and tell them you'd like to learn proper packing. You are a girl, so this wish shouldn't be denied. You might be close to tears when you will be told to pack the bl**dy thing the sixth time (happened to me, with a relatively new 210 PD in 2002) but after that: Beer4All and you will be able to pack, your muscle-memory etc pp will have kicked in by then As far as I made out from photos you should be a feather-weight so it might be worth a try to ask instructors around if a 190ish canopy is sufficient enough for you? Doesn't make too much a difference re your wingload and the docility of the canopy but makes quite a difference when it comes to packing, at least when doing it pro-pack style. Just an idea... The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

Huhu... students in Germany are given the questions (loads!) and their answers so they can prepare for the test. The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

It's a slightly different matter of fact in Germany. Most TIs here jump German tandem systems, most of 'em Next Tandems made by Paratec. These systems are Vector-style and most of us are used to them and the latest Next Tandems are really well designed. OK, there are also TIs jumping Sigmas and they will tell you about the nicer balance due to its drogue system but the German systems are still preferred by most TIs: You got the manufacturer close-by (at least compared to the distance to Florida), the Next systems are less expensive and, as I said before, have evolved into very comfy, reliable and durable systems. Might be a similar situation in other European countries. The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

+1 The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

Really nice one. I was instantly reminded of the Bauhaus design though the Bauhaus chairs were a little more "squarish" Your design looks modern, stylish, comfy and has this little "retro" element. I could imagine it being a well-selling piece of art-and-craftsmanship here in Europe, too. The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

Bought a Casio "Pro Trek PRW-5100-1ER" last year. I wear it all the time. It's "elegant" enough even for a formal event and really robust and practical. Don't need to take care of anything (radio-controlled, solar-powered...) only need to recalibrate altitude now and then. I especially like it has 3 hands but is precise down to the second every day. The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

Phunny pics, I liked them! And the message you convey: Kepp on learning / jumping! Good duck!

Most of all: Positive. Even after "granny almost fall out of harness" etc, all my passengers/student went away with a big smile. They will positively report about "sky diving" as their family will also do. That's the main reason I'm doing tandems: There is so much positive feedback for what I am doing. OK, you need to stick to your routines (safety first), treat your students with respect and in a nice manner etc pp. But compared to my students at vocational college the "my effort to their smile after" ratio is much better The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

I broke my right humerus and scattered my right scapula during a freefly skydiving accident (premature opening, arm caught by riser and thus broken etc) some years ago. Took me half a year to recover... since a lot of additional damage was done by the butchers at the hospital in my home town. Anyway, the positive feeling after the "revision operation" and subsequent speedy recovery was one positive aspect - you also have that advantage. I then went to my DZ, talked to a very experienced instructor about my fears (of having a skydiving related accident again). We did sort of a refreshing course (mainly EPs), briefed the jump time and again... the door opened and I was calm as I had Jupp next to me. He stayed with me and everything went fine. I was so relieved. I did 3 more jumps on this day, one even a two-way with 15+ points (with an experienced skydiver girl). Hehe! So: Look for an instructor who "radiates" experience and proficiency - this will give you a lot of confidence. The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

1st today. But was during canopy ride when we did a 360. Woohoo. I asked her, if she wanted to do another one, she wanted, of course I love my new Twin Century I must be doing something wrong Just call Paratec... clicky The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

Your jumpsuit would then look like Monica Lewinski's blue dress! Plus I'd need a nap after 3-4 jumps . . . OTOH, there are skydivers who - now and then - light a cigarette right after opening/checks/slider stow. Seen one on tape. Guy claimed "was after a rough AFF jump, needed the fag to calm", and I thought "cool f*cker" but hehe, now if I give second thought to it... The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

I usually tell my students that: - Americans use a lot of German words just like: Autobahn - Americans think you can go on it as fast as you want to (or your car/engine allows) Whilst the first one is true, the second one isn't. Most parts of our autobahns are regulated and have speed limits. IIRC only about 20% of all autobahns are without a speed limit. On these parts, most people still go at a speed of about 130 km/h to 160 km/h (80 mph to 100 mph) You gotta get used to driving that fast (part of driving school, but won't go faster than 130 km/h which is the recommended speed on the autobahn (if ya go faster and are involved in an accident you'll lose part of your insurance coverage and will be held responsible at least partly) Going at about 200 km/h (125 mph) in a middle class car is scary and dangerous, you gotta have a car that is capable of travelling that fast safely. Tried it with my Skoda Octavia one or two times, just being curious and on a Sunday morning (very looowwww traffic) wasn't much fun. The faster (on average) people go, the more a traffic jam "outta the blue" is likely, another disadvantage of "no speed limit"... So to sum it up: 80-85 mph is a speed limit which is perfectly OK to me. The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

1st today. But was during canopy ride when we did a 360. Woohoo. I asked her, if she wanted to do another one, she wanted, of course I love my new Twin Century The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

The "hilarious" referred to "might fire (in your car) on the way home. This one is a case of RTFM and always switch on your AAD in the hangar. And if it's already on, switch it off and re-switch it on then. Stick to your routine. The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

They do. I just found it hilarious that a VIGIL might fire on the way home if you forget to switch it off. And heck, I always make sure I switch my CYPRES on when I come to the DZ. If I'd ever happen (has never happened yet) to notice it's on, I'll switch it off before proceeding any further. I have my mantra regarding gear and stick to it no matter the stress or pressure. I think everyone who has an AAD should use it with a sound mind and not just think it will take care of every circumstance. But CYPRES comes close to it and in my mind is the most reliable AAD on the market. The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

Yepp, I imagine these folks musing something like this: All conspiracy work is done by the MiniResNess - the Ministry of Cypres Immaculateness. All reports about Cypres must be doubleplusgood and labelled with a pic of Big Helmut. The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

Awesome story. This girl rocks. "Just do it" that's the spirit. Don't believe blindly what doctors tell you after an accident/injury - I know what I'm talking about. But the injuries she had to deal with, wow. Physio must have been hell. The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

Congrats, impressive. I also started with rounds... but in 2001. After jump #5 (almost hit the runway after my instructor erm, didn't do his best job when spotting...) I decided to change the club; the helpless feeling dangling under that sluggish round is nothing you want to have... I can understand you The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

I opened the link before reading your entire comment and thought the same: Put it at the end of the swoop lane The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

I am not that deep into this special matter as you are but it sounds plausible to me. Much more, it makes a lot of sense. I'd rather have an AAD that is not likely or at least very highly unlikely to misfire while I am under a perfectly good canopy. OTOH, the CYPRES save list shows it works. I don't know if there had been cases where CYPRES hasn't cut the loop when it was supposed to do so, but IIRC I saw a poster that stated that CYPRES has always done its job. I usually do not take part in AAD discussions as they tend to get heated. One argument I never really understand is "Bah, but Airtec has a monopoly and thus it [insert any negative remark you like]" Even if they still had the monopoly this doesn't mean anything in respect to the quality of their product. It's the way they produce - hand-craft I dare to say after visiting their premises - and monitor their production and development that explains the reliability and subsequently superiority of the product. The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks

Directly from Wünnenberg Well, I had a look at the VIGIL handbook back when they entered the market. Not that I had ever intended on changing, I was just being curious. They state that they attend to the requirements you mention, but... I was sort of surprised to read their "workaround" for the issue of air pressure variations. It's still recommended in the VIGIL2 manual: 3.5. Start Up and Shut Down Procedures The Vigil® must imperatively be switched ON at ground level of your take-off zone (This becomes the “GROUND ZERO” reference altitude). Your Vigil® will recalibrate itself for variation of the atmospheric pressure. Attention: If after a certain time there is a great change in atmospheric pressure (more than 10 hPa), it is recommended that you shut down and restart your Vigil® to guarantee optimal precision. BTW: I admit that I have happened to forget to switch off my CYPRES on my way home. Altitude difference of -200 meters. CYPRES can handle it handled it, there's no such entry in their manual as to be read in the VIGIL2 manual: "Vigil® is the most accurate AAD on the market. It becomes operational in a zone of 150Ft/46m above or under take-off level. To avoid unexpected firing of the cutter, you must switch OFF your Vigil® before travelling in a closed vehicle (car, bus, train ...) due to possible air pressure variation. However, there is no problem travelling in an open vehicle at the drop zone altitude." The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks