flashvortx

I'm just talking about the Post Office here bra. You really don't think our government is a little bit too big?

Gee millions of businesses and individual Americans use the USPS every day.... Funni Dat.... They seem to know why its there. Yeah but it is run by the government. Why should the government still be running it when there are plenty of businesses that already do what it does. Is it becasue the government is better at doing what the private sector can do? I don't think so. Wasn't one of the reasons the Post Office was started because it wasn't practical for public companies to provide that service at the time? Have you sent a letter via UPS or Fed EX or DHL???? How much did that cost you? All they are doing is going after the cream on the top of the shipping business.. I haven't sent a letter through other companies because the USPS does it for cheap. But guess what. It isn't cheap because the Post Office is extremely efficient at sending out mail. They've been losing money. The government shouldn't be supporting a failing company just so I can send out a letter for $.45 or whatever it is. UPS and FedEx are making money btw.

Gee millions of businesses and individual Americans use the USPS every day.... Funni Dat.... They seem to know why its there. Yeah but it is run by the government. Why should the government still be running it when there are plenty of businesses that already do what it does. Is it becasue the government is better at doing what the private sector can do? I don't think so. Wasn't one of the reasons the Post Office was started because it wasn't practical for public companies to provide that service at the time?

One of the only political ideas I've ever been somewhat excited about is Pawlenty's "if you can google it, cut it." I just like the idea. Government should be small in my opinion. I don't know why the Post Office still exists...

Have you guys had your virtual haircut? You'll need some headphones, but it's pretty cool. http://ccgi.bluerabbit.plus.com/virtualbarbershop/

I would say if you are going to be landing at an airport with skydiving operations, it could be very beneficial to check the dropzone website or call them to see where the jumpers land. Lodi, CA is probably pretty rare, but our (skydivers) pattern and landing area pretty much blocks off runway 12/30. If someone tried to land or takeoff while we were decending under canopy, it could get ugly. I think all the A/FD says is that there are parachute operations south of 8/26 and that doesn't point us out too well. I don't think we've had any problems since I've been jumping. Dropzones are generally open during daylight hours with a rare load going up for a night jump every once and a while. Anywhere from 3 to 22ish jumpers in standard skydiving planes. On a busy day at a busy dz, they could easily have two twin otters going up and down all day without a break. Bigger planes can get up in 15-20 minutes and back down in 5-10 or so. Many skydivers can get down to 3,000 feet in about 45 seconds and then be on the ground just a few minutes later. If I wanted to deploy at 13,000 feet and enjoy the view or play with my canopy, it could possibly be 15 minutes before I'm down. I've only jumped at big dropzones so this is biased towards the busy side.

He still charges $5 (for a hop n pop)

WWII was a hoax. I'm surprised you didn't already know that JB. And did you know that these pat downs are just a way for the government to find out who the small dick people are so they can kill them all and start breeding a big dick population of super-americans? Get with the program JB! I hope you put on your tinfoil hat before you log on here - THEY'RE LISTENING!

As far as size and type, your instructors will go over all of that. For cost, getting the bare minimum used gear, probably expect at least 2,500. I got my rig a little over a year ago, used for 1,700. It gets the job done so I'm hanging on to it. No AAD though. Then the sky is the limit for new stuff. Containers are around 2500, mains 2000, reserves 1500ish, jump suits are like 3-500, helmets 200-500. cypress2 1400 You gotta make sure it all coordinates though so you can look hot for all the hot chicks.

There's an absurd amount of the best coaches and instructors at Lodi all the time, especially in the summer. It will be easy to get set up with someone when you get there. Camping is sort of allowed on the DZ, couldn't hurt to call ahead of time though

haha, awesome

I made my first chopper jump at Chicks Rock last year and I think it was from about that height. We jumped at the same time so we also had to track in that amount of time. The first 5 seconds or so are the best part of the jump by far, totally worth the money. There's not a ton of time to track away if you're pulling at 3 and jumping with 2 others, but it's good enough.

If we cut back on our oil expenditures, how are we going to continue to invade middle eastern countries for the sole purpose taking their oil? It seems to me that if the most powerful nation in the world with the best military in the world wanted to take some oil from some stone age countries, we could probably have done that in 10 years. I know I'm overseas at the moment, but I seem to hear something about a "debt crisis" back in the states. If we came here with the sole purpose of taking their oil, when are we going to start taking their oil?

Are you even a skydiver?

You must be reading too much into the propoganda leading you to believe that war always and will only ever be about power and natural recources.

Tech Sergeant? Are you in the Air Force? In France???

We're in the process of building up their government and military. I've never tried to set up a government and a military, but it doesn't sound very simple. Probably going to take some time. I'm currently in southwest asia, and as calm as it is here, I would much rather be back home enjoying my summer. But there's still a job to do here, unfortunately.

If you have a nice upper wind pushing you towards the landing area, then you want to take advantage of those winds as long as possible by staying in them for as long as possible. That is when you would use your breaks, since they slow your decent. The stiffer the winds, the deeper into breaks I go. If you are downwind from the landing area, then you want to make your canopy fly as efficiently as possible, and a good way to do that is with some rear riser input. This is something you'll get a feel for. I think I pull down maybe 4 inches or so, but you'll get to a point where it feels like the canopy is penetrating the air better. I'll usually tuck my legs behind me too to cut down on a bit of drag and get myself an extra few feet. You can also make your canopy fly more efficiently by loosening your chest strap once you've done your controllability check. Doing so will plane out the canopy a little and let it fly closer the shape of an airplane wing. You may need to pull your slider down to your shoulders for it to work best, but I don't pull mine down and I do notice a difference. And don't remove then chest strap, just loosen it. Brian Germain's book "The Parachute and its Pilot" is a good read.

I think it's really funny to talk to British skydivers in my British accent while they talk to me in their American accent.

He spent most of last summer offering $10 jumps every Sunday, so I'm sure that he's not worried about retiring and I would find it hard to believe that he's ever been worried about his image. I assume the FAA found something they didn't like, but if the fines were dropped, then that has some meaning to it.

If they didn't get fined, wouldn't that mean they ultimately weren't in violation?

Move to Mexico and they'll let you right on in

I don't want to turn this into an "I hate Lodi" thread, but I don't think they have actually had to pay the FAA. As far as I know there have been proposed fines, but nothing has gone through. Right or wrong? I've been out of the loop for a month or two so I may be wrong. You won't get the frills that you'll pay for at Elsinore and Perris (which are awesome DZs), but Lodi will give you great instruction with the best gear available at the best price in the world. People come from all over to hang out for a week or two and do their AFF.

Sounds like you could use a trip out to Lodi...

I'll let you know when I get off the crapper.