smiles

interesting for sure.... I myself have been so awe inspired with BASE DEMO clip I downloaded from somewhere titled- Jeb 2003- "A year in the life." Do I have possession of footage without permission of author?? Should I feel guilty?? I am in awe watching it, cannot believe for the life of me how I obtained it ??? How could such incredible work of talent be available to all?? I would like to say thank you, thank you, thank you..... Metallica- Nothing Else Matters is absolutely the best choice of music for this footage....a work of the finest art. I would appreciate info on how to purchase it- or any DVD footage of this nature which I feel promotes BASE at the highest level possible. SMiles

I had aching shoulder last year in the spring....for months....then I tore my rotator cuff launching from inside aircraft in base- (count was ready- and left on set -and my shoulder was tweaked getting yanked out. I figure if I got the right treatment initially- the rotator cuff would not of torn- and resulted frozen shoulder would not have happened. Believe me when your rotator cuff tears it hurts like a son of a b, you know youv'e injured it for sure...doctor said to rest it for a few days in a sling with no use then start physio and slowly build up to exercise. (felt like I had a broken wing ) Could not sleep on either side...pain 24 hrs. a day, physio was good treatment- exercise was impossible and eventually movement was nil. Physio said to return to doctor. I went to arthritic specialists and was told I had a frozen shoulder. Locked---extreme pain with just tiny movement. With combo of cortizone shots (twice), physio and exercise this year it is much better. Took about 7 months without skydiving though and this summer find I cannot arch, delta, track like I used to (do not have complete movement in joint but have worked on loads of exercise building muscle in arm and stretching as- do not want to ever have this injury again. dr. knows best- take good care- get proper treatment (chiropractor was not recommended for me) ........you want your wing to work well in the future. SMiles

There is a skill to focus on you may not be thinking about........sorry this is so long..........I am trying to share with you a feeling that is hard to describe and mostly cannot be achieved unless the individuals attitude towards it is positive. Every jump you make costs money- the more jumps you have to repeat in order to work out your problem the more expensive the solution to that problem becomes. When you are in the air with people that know as little as you do, the inevitable result will be funnels, smashing docks, unintentional rodeos and unforseen collisions. The constant failure is an unwelcomed blow to your ego and enthusiasm. Also you can learn bad habbits that will be difficult to break later on and you easily become discouraged. ............Emotions The kind of things you say to yourself are an important indication of the way you feel about yourself. Emotions can become a problem in any sport. Some people tend to be too aggressive, some suppress the normal amount of aggressiveness needed. You may lack confidence, or have too much of it. .............Distance There is a distance between your level of skydiving knowledge, ability and skills- that will in time become not so far away. Try to stay enthusiastic, confident....do not let baggage get in the way of being able to feel the real joy, the exuberance that comes when you make a dive that is your best, that is better than you ever dreamed it could be. Make small acheivable goals for yourself and keep them simple. Mostly keep the spectator part of you "in the stands and behaving as an encouraging, supportive fan rather than an agent provocatuer, you'll have made that initial big move toward that much happier situation. This is hard to explain............not easy to practice but a very important goal to work on. I try to explain it over and over, some people get it fast...others do not understand. Say for instance you are learning to dance. First you memorize the steps by repeating them over and over- practise makes perfect but you are unable to let go and really dance until you know the steps so well that you are not repeating them in your brain like "tripple step, tripple step, rock step"..........instead your brain is quiet and wow! - you are actually listening to the music, feeling the beat, and moving your body to it-------not thinking once about the steps.... There is so little time on your skydive- and if you understand that ....."Thought destroys flow".......you will be so far ahead. What is ....flow???? many ask........ There is no sense of the self in the period of flow, but what is called a "merging of action and awareness." Flow is a floating action in which the individual is aware of their actions but not aware of their awareness. Thought destroys flow---during your skydive if you are thinking while leaving the aircraft about where your feet are positioned, if you have thoughts like "oh no that wasn't good", or "did everyone see that?"....your flow stops. If the second is split so that the player perceives their action from the outside....flow halts. The person in flow does not stop to evalutate the feedback. The action and reaction have become so well practiced as to be automatic.

Canadian Aerosports Inc. is building emergency rigs- a company called Pocket Parachutes is purchasing. I worked on graphics for instruction....static line & rig with handle. Round canopy in sleeve, no steering ability. Now they want more instructions made for a tandem harness (children) ?????????????????? Ya- step #1: hook up static line----buddy, http://www.vancouver-skydiving.bc.ca/emerig.html uploaded sample of instructions for static line (not anything to do with vancouver-skydiving just using their server for sample)- lrg. file, you have to scroll around instructions........ SMiles

Consistently rated as one of the top ski resorts in North America. Live in Whistler? Pemberton is where I would live (1/2 hr. drive away) Ivey Lake is gorgeous... http://www.iveylake.ca/ Log Cabins What Whistler needs is skydiving- can you visualize jumping there and how many tourists would go for tandem jumps?? Have known of several attempts with owners of tandem gear needing aircraft but no one has come across yet. My home d.z. adverts there and buses tourists down to Vancouver Skydiving for tandems. Also 2010 needs air-transport from Van. to Whistler- talk about a dream business to make the $$$$$$$$ http://www.pembertonhelicopters.com/ Open a restaurant?? No good food in Whistler? give me a break- nothing but the finest.... I am heading up for: The 3rd Annual Canadian BBQ Championships will take place at Dusty's Bar & BBQ, July 30 - August 1, 2004. This competition is the highlight of the Northwest's competitive circuit, and a qualifier event for the American Royal World Championships in Kansas City as well as the Jack Daniel's Invitational BBQ event in Lynchburg, Tennessee. This year the Grand Champion from the Canadian Championships will be flying to Jamaica to relax at an all inclusive resort in Montego Bay, and will represent Canada at the Jamaican BBQ competition! Whistler locals and others can compete in the Open Backyard BBQ Burger sponsored by BULL'S EYE BBQ SAUCE, CASI Rules Chili and the Anything Goes Appetizer open categories. The winner of the Backyard BBQ Burger competition sponsored by BULL'S EYE BBQ SAUCE will have their burger featured on the Dusty's Bar & BBQ menu for a year. http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/events/bbqchamps.asp SMiles

Hey, Snowbird... 41C--- ouch! Sat. was 37C in the hangar and cooler than outside. Smoke??? shit, I am a weeeeny. Would be great if ya all could come down here to cool off (make it for Abbotsford Otter/Ponce boogie on long weekend.) No registration, jump prices to 13000+ I think $32.00 SMiles

exactly- whine whine... Just getting home after a few good jumps though- and it is cool now to pack in the front yard. SMiles

lookin for tips on how skydivers stay cool that are accustomed to the heat....(not sweat like a pig while packing- feel like passing out while under canopy) Vancouver B.C. Canada- it is 31 degrees C and feels like 35 degrees C/ relative humidity is 36% (am I just a weeeeeny??) I could wait till 7 pm when it is usually cooled down a tad but- it hasn't been doing that these days. re: just as hot when trying to get to sleep as it is when you wake up ...tooooo hot in a.m. for coffee. SMiles

... How are you celebrating??? 5 yrs. in sport= student with 25 jumps?? appy birfday

July 23, 2004: Canadian Defence Minister Bill Graham announces $3.2-billion purchase of Sikorsky H-92, or Cyclone, the military version of the commercially available S-92. Additional $1.8 billion to be spent on servicing over 20 years. Canada's obsolescent Sea Kings will be kept flying for at least another four years as the S-92s are built to the military's specifications. Lloyd Noseworthy, general manager of Sikorsky Canada, said the company found ways to eliminate about 2,000 kilograms from the aircraft while ensuring it can take on the rigours of maritime flying. Facts about the federal government's decision Friday to replace its aging fleet of Sea King military helicopters: New helicopter: A military version of the Sikorsky S-92, which will be called the H-92 Cyclone. Manufacturer: U.S.-based Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a unit of United Technologies Corp. Cost: $1.8 billion for 28 helicopters and $3.2 billion for 20 years of service and parts. Delivery date: The first Cyclone is expected to be delivered in 2008 - the final one by early 2011. Use: The shipborne Cyclone will be used to extend the offensive reach and defensive perimeter of Canada's 12 naval frigates to about 175 km. Investments: Sikorsky has committed to partner with 170 Canadian firms and invest $4.5 billion in industrial activity - $2 billion in Ontario and $1 billion in Atlantic Canada. Competition: The twin-engine S-92 is less expensive than its chief rival, the larger, three-engine EH-101 Cormorant, built by a British-Italian consortium led AugustaWestland (formerly EH Industries). Quote: "The government of Canada firmly believes that the Sikorsky H-92 helicopter represents the right helicopter for the Canadian Forces at the best price for Canadians," - Defence Minister Bill Graham. Wow!- go Canada go!!...our Government has pissed around since 1993 and the first Cyclone is expected to be delivered in 2008 - the final one by early 2011. Meanwhile, the Sea Kings - involved in four fatal crashes that have claimed at least 10 lives over the years - will require about 30 hours of maintenance for every hour of flying time. SMiles

website for Skydive Vancouver clicky: http://www.vancouver-skydiving.bc.ca/events.html SUPER OTTER AT ABBOTSFORD SMiles (Karen)

At Tojo's: Have to order Omakase- (literally means "Chef, I'm in your hands".) Northern Lights roll (mango, avocado tempura, and asparagus rolled in paper-thin cucumber; hirame ungawa (flounder fin), toro, Spanish mackerel and Japanese sardine. SMiles

of course- I love sushi--very addictive--- Tojo's restaurant is the best in Canada- the only place I eat sushi. Hidekazu Tojo is a sushi-making legend in Vancouver, with more than 2,000 special preparations stored in his creative mind. His handsome tatami rooms and city-view dining room provide the proper setting for intimate dining, but Tojo's 10-seat sushi bar is a convivial ringside seat for watching the creation of edible art. The rainbow roll is fabulous- check out the menu at: http://www.tojos.com SMiles

--my best friend-- Tibet Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever- #1 Your Eddie would be #2, I also luv Border Collies. Tibet is a working dog, · intelligent and quick to learn · good swimmer · dependable retriever · masked "will to please" SMiles

Hey...beauty shop I want to come and shop there for sure.... Is there a website to shop for those t-shirts and suits, I live in Canada where choice is nil ? I would just hang sample of sizes...small- med.- lg. -xl on hangars-put up a nice sign that it is a "display rack for sizes" Another nice sign on wall saying "t-shirt designs"..display shirts on wall like you've got with prices large enough to see.......... then hide all shirts off shelves away from customers reach. yada yada- customer picks what size they want, what design knowing price and then has to ask for customer service to purchase shirt (less of your underpaid time is taken folding) have a great weekend SMiles

Add some more things to ponder- this list is too short and needs some skydiving things to ponder too..... 1. When one considers our world with a tiny compressed perspective- the need for acceptance, understanding and education becomes glaringly apparent. 2. If your parents are still alive and still married you are very rare- even in the U.S. and Canada. 3. If you have food to eat, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are 1 of the 25% of people in this world that have the same. 4. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation- you are better off than 500 million people in the world. 5. What goes around comes around, dance like nobody’s watching, sing like nobody’s listening, work like you don’t need the money and love like you’ve never been hurt. 6. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness…you are not among the million who will not survive this week. SMiles

Hey, I have diabetes type 1 for 39 yrs. and been skydiving for 17 yrs. I inject insulin daily to control, and have to date not had any health problems related to diabetes- eye doctors cannot tell I have the disease. I have never been hospitalized due to diabetes. I have never experienced any problems skydiving with diabetes. My diabetes is no different than others- re: some do not have illness worse than others. Diabetes can be controlled. The term "bad diabetic" confuses me. All I can think of is an alcoholic that is not in control due to drinking, or a drug addict. Re: under the affects of booze or drugs one would loose ability to "feel" symptoms of high or low blood sugars. "High blood sugars" feel absolute crappy, your thirst increases the higher they get, you vomit, urinate excessive and eventually go into a comma. There is no excuse to be there. "Low blood sugars" are also crappy. Feeling faint, numb fingers, sweaty, shaky- eventually leads to "insulin reaction"--so simple to always carry glucose tabs, and snacks/food to eat. Also no excuse to be there. It does take a few years after being diagnosed to accept the illness and learn to control. The person you are referring to "in late teens"...will learn naturally to control his illness. Freefall & canopy ride are over in a short time, eat a snack before ride to altitude, carry glucose tabs. SMiles

Have tons of aerial pics but not too much fun reducing them to file size allowance here. Awesome to see Oklahoma Skydive Centre from the air---way more green than I figured!! My d.z. is in lower mainland B.C. Canada Abbotsford Para Center (A.S.P.C.) Skydive Vancouver. Gary took airaspc1-4 Deb took airaspc5 SMiles

radio head- video killed the radio star evanescence- so close darkness- bareback aerosmith- baby please don't go metallica- nothing else matters rob d- furious angels radio head- cinamon girl velvet revolver- 1st. 4 tracks aerosmith- you gotta move coldplay- got put a smile on your face SMiles

exactly what I question- he did mention drogue cut away- at their website it shows some features. Big $$$ regardless, just hoping he has made a good decision. http://www.paratec.de/Englisch/Seiten/A_E.html SMiles

A friend has just purchased ParateC NeXt tandem rig. He commented that NeXt is the best tandem gear manufactured in the world -with better features compared to U.S. How popular is NeXt? What is the best tandem container system manufactured and why? SMiles

I watched A year in the Life (jeb2003) BASE clip- and what an incredible year - Nothing Else Matters has been in my head ever since. South Africa, Howie Falls...had to watch that over and over---anyway when France Verdon comes on- Nothing Else Matters is played.......you are so right on, sweeetass song. I have been searching to find, think it is done by London Symphony without Metallica- anyone know what CD this is??? thanx SMiles

I just purchased Contraband, the debut release from the band Velvet Revolver, I am ready to check out Slash and the rest of the Gun 'N' Roses crew (minus Axl) collaborating with recovering rock vocalist Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots fame. I have been told that Contraband's status is the best-selling copy-protected CD of all time. Slightly less publicized is the simple method for defeating the copy protection; turn off the CD AutoPlay feature on your PC. When AutoPlay is enabled on your PC, any CD containing an Autorun.inf file will automatically launch its primary purpose as soon as the CD is inserted in the drive. This is most commonly seen when you insert a software application CD, like Adobe Photoshop Elements for instance, and the CD launches a menu prompting you to install the software. For software installs, this is convenient, but a rash of spyware infestations directly related to this feature makes convenience a risk. In the case of the Contraband CD, Autorun launches a license agreement and installs something that prevents you from doing things like copying the content to your hard drive. Windows XP users have probably noticed a pop up menu asking which program should be used for a particular type of content each time a CD or DVD is inserted. The window offers the option to either perform the same action each time similar content is inserted; or to continue prompting for an action each time. To disable Autorun for a particular type of content (in this case music) select Take No Action. To access this menu when no disk is inserted, open Windows Explorer.....Right-click the CD or DVD drive you want to configure and choose Properties from the resulting menu. The dropdown list lets you configure specific actions for the following types of content: Music Files Pictures Video Files Mixed content Music CD DVD movie Blank CD For instance, if you wanted to view a photo slideshow each time a CD with pictures is inserted, select View a slideshow of the images using Windows Picture and Fax Viewer. Keep in mind, this will launch the Picture and Fax Viewer every time you insert a CD (or Compact Flash card) containing pictures, so launching a slideshow may not be a desirable action when all you want to do is transfer the files to a hard drive. In the interest of safety, selecting Take No Action for each media type is probably your safest bet, unless you are certain you can always trust the material on CDs and DVDs you insert into the drive. The one alternative providing greatest flexibility is the option to launch Windows Explorer showing the contents of the media. From Explorer, it's a simple matter to right-click a file and choose the application to open with. SMiles

Health care in Canada is financed primarily through taxation, in the form of provincial and federal personal and corporate income taxes. Some provinces use ancillary funding methods which are nominally targeted for health care, such as sales taxes, payroll levies and lottery proceeds. Two provinces (e.g., Alberta and British Columbia) utilize health care premiums. The premiums are not rated by risk in either province and prior payment of a premium is not a pre-condition for treatment, in accordance with the Canada Health Act. Canada has a predominantly publicly financed health care system. Our national health insurance program is achieved through thirteen interlocking provincial and territorial health insurance plans, linked through adherence to national principles set at the federal level. The Canada Health Act establishes criteria and conditions related to insured health care services and extended health care services that the provinces and territories must meet in order to receive the full federal cash contribution under the Canada Health and Social Transfer (CHST). The aim of the Canada Health Act is to ensure that all eligible residents of Canada have reasonable access to medically necessary insured services on a prepaid basis, without direct charges at the point of service. The federal government's role in health care includes the following: setting and administering national principles or standards for insured health care services through the Canada Health Act; providing funding assistance to provincial/territorial health care services through fiscal transfers; delivering direct health services to specific groups of Canadians including veterans, First Nations peoples living on-reserve, military personnel, the RCMP and inmates of federal prisons; fulfilling other health-related functions such as health protection, health promotion and disease prevention. The administration and delivery of health care services is the responsibility of each individual province or territory. Provinces and territories plan, finance (assisted by federal funding), and evaluate the provision of hospital care, physician services, public health and some aspects of prescription care. Canada's health care system relies extensively on primary care physicians (e.g. general practitioners) who account for about 51% of all practicing physicians in Canada. They are usually the initial contact with the formal health care system and arrange for access to most specialists, hospital admissions, diagnostic testing and prescription drug therapy. Most doctors are private practitioners who work in independent or group practices. Some doctors work in community health centres, hospital-based group practices or work in affiliation with hospital out-patient departments. Private practitioners are generally paid on a fee-for-service basis and submit their service claims directly to the provincial/territorial health insurance plan for payment. Physicians in other practice settings may also be paid on a fee-for-service basis, but are more likely to be salaried or remunerated through an alternative payment scheme. While nurses are generally employed in the hospital sector, they also provide community health care including home care and public health services. Dentists work independently of the health care system, except where in-hospital dental surgery is required. Over 95% of Canadian hospitals are operated as private non-profit entities run by community boards of trustees, voluntary organizations or provincial health authorities. Health outcomes are one of the most important indicators of a successful health care system. On that basis, Canada has one of the best health care systems. For example, the life expectancy of Canadians born in 1999 is 79.0, among the highest in the industrialized world, and the 1996 infant mortality rate of 5.6 per 1,000 live births is one of the lowest on the globe. Our publicly-funded health care system also has economic benefits since companies in Canada do not have to fully fund health benefits for their employees as in the United States. This gives Canadian businesses a competitive edge. A healthy workforce is also a productive workforce. Our health care system therefore contributes to Canada's overall productivity and prosperity. SMiles

Hey- I did vote- I didn't vote for---I voted against. Thought it was hilarious on the news when they announced that CPC stood for Canadian Progressive Conservative---not Communist Party of Canada Still waiting for results to determine whether the combination of Liberal and the NDP seats will be enough for a majority in the 308-seat House of Commons. Several seats were decided by such a close margin that they will require automatic recounts. Canada has known minority governments before and at all times Canadians expect and deserve stability and certainty----so does that mean opposition will act accordingly???????? SMiles