jimjumper

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Everything posted by jimjumper

  1. jimjumper
    Me and my family moved from the suburbs to a farm when I was about 10 (1969). Started driving the tractor almost immediately doing farm work and as transportation to friends houses. No restrictions on farm equipment on public roads. Also worked with cattle, horses, pigs that were all way bigger than me. Taught you be fearless but careful at the same time. Guns were tools but still a lot of fun at that age and most local kids my age had one or access to one. I grew up fast trying to catch up to kids that had lived on a farm all their lives.
  2. jimjumper
    I've always read mine in the past but I have no idea if USPA gets a receipt or not. However, I let my ratings lapse this year so it probably won't be a big priority now.
  3. jimjumper
    8-way "Rolling Thunder"! It's 2 4way tubes side by side with right and left arms arms linked to make an 8 way ball. Simple and damn impressive when it blows up because it can really pick up speed. Gear checks prior to exit is recommended!
  4. jimjumper
    You might have something there. I think somebody discovered how to prevent pregnancy a while ago. Quite a few kids I see are a result of the social climate their parents were raised in. A lot of people are raised with the belief that a good job, a house in the 'burbs, and 2.2 kids per family is the American dream. Throw in some hormones and bingo! When me and my wife met, one of the big things we had in common was that neither of us wanted kids. As a result we don't have to be responsible to anybody but ourselves. To quote from the movie "Oceans 12", "I want the last check I write before I die, to bounce!"
  5. jimjumper
    The military found this out a long time ago. There are members now that have sham marriages so as to get the pay and benefits of a married couple. When you start adding in pay raises and more time off due to kids the single military gets really hosed. It is much better for a lot of reasons to have family in the military and the military knows it. The Marines attempted to require that all incoming enlisted be single at one point and the Commandant of the Marine Corps got crucified for it. Look who is standing duty on Holidays and it will be all the single people.
  6. jimjumper
    Canada Mexico Philippines Japan Okinawa The picture is the Marine airfield on Ie Shima island (Okinawa). We would land about the middle of the runway, pack, and wait for the helo to pick us up for the next one. This is also the island where Ernie Pyle was killed.
  7. jimjumper
    Mexico Canada Philipines Thailand Korea Indonesia Guam Australia New Zealand Japan Okinawa (Japan) Hong Kong (China) Singapore Did most of it via the U.S. Navy travel agency!
  8. jimjumper
    We had a Moo Ray for a while after he landed in the cow field nearby.
  9. jimjumper
    In this day and age, I would think that the use of 1970's flashcards would be on the way out. Anybody use anything better? It would at least be nice to have the ability to make the gear and canopy colors those of your DZ gear. As inter-active as the world and our students are getting, holding old pictures over your students head seems pretty lame. Just a thought...
  10. jimjumper
    Bozo, for his creative skydiving antics and Ranger Rod, retired Airborne Ranger.
  11. jimjumper
    Or maybe he's channeling his dogs' thoughts..
  12. jimjumper
    What's amazing is both posts were edited for corrections 10 minutes later!
  13. jimjumper
    Jan, you're correct. I spoke off the top of my head. I guess the point I was trying to make in this conversation was that even long time USPA members tend to drop their membership when they no longer see a benefit to having it. I see the awards program as recognition by your peers of accomplishments, be they personal or as a group. Longevity awards were one of the few awards that didn't have to be applied for. Since they became an "on request" only award, they are rarely seen anymore.
  14. jimjumper
    I figure there can't be all that many current members with 50 years in USPA so I like the idea of honorary Lifetime membership. But, I'm not as big a fan if that also includes instructional rating renewals since there are administrative costs to ratings. However, I am doubtful it will ever happen. About 15(?) years ago, USPA did away with even giving out longevity certificates citing the administrative burden of keeping track of membership time. Trying to keep track of lifetime members will probably overwhelm the USPA computer database and cause a global catastrophe!
  15. jimjumper
    According to the Army Times, he hasn't been charged with anything yet. The Army is saying that the Rueters report was inaccurate.
  16. jimjumper
    Beer does taste the same but after 4 years overseas I ordered a beer at the airport and was stumped for a moment when the bartender asked "what kind?"
  17. jimjumper
    Just sent him an e-mail. Thanks for the link!
  18. jimjumper
    Still checking! Any odds on seeing it before they hold the meeting?
  19. jimjumper
    Lost a real skydiving icon. I also remember Alberta as being one of the nicest people you could ever meet. Blues Skies both of you!
  20. jimjumper
    Rich Piccarilli and Rich Brooks are both old time Lakewood jumpers that are still jumping here in California, mostly Perris. Both are on Facebook.
  21. jimjumper
    Must be some exemption's on that list for DC-3's. I remember one memorable DC-3 flight where we might of had half of that checklist complete and we still went for it. "Hey, it seemed like a good idea at the time!"
  22. jimjumper
    The release characteristics are going to be slightly different based on a variety of things. Bomb rack location. Where the bomb is on the rack, the length of the arming wires, the grip strength of the fahnstock clips (the clips that hold the arming wire in place thru the arming device of the bomb, how synchronized the bomb releases work, frozen releases, and lot of other things. I worked on the testing of using the B-52 for planting underwater mines and there were lots of issues.
  23. jimjumper
    He could move to Paris. Might protect some of the sheeple from the Islamic extremists. But the French have never been real big on self-preservation in the real world.
  24. jimjumper
    Do you want your answer printed, sent to your e-mail, or both?
  25. jimjumper
    I was thinking Blue Oyster Cult, "Don't Fear the Reaper"!