Deuce

If anybody has yet to check this out: http://www.flybirdman.com/learn/ I had difficulties on my first S3 BirdMan exit from the 206, and Kevin922 pointed me at his site, and someone else pointed me at a video, and I nailed out 5 beautiful stable 206 exits over the weekend. The learning section of the FlyBirdMan site has easy rollover pictures within the descriptions. Like a lot of hardheaded people, If I can see it done, I'm pretty sure I can do it. Except that flying down the mountain ridge. I'm not up to that

I'm all trained up on the straight and level, looking forward to some coaching on backflying. See you Friday, Monkey.

I started out with mace and OC came on-line in the early 90's. I had better luck with mace (cs), and preferred it overall. I've used both types over a hundred times. Once somebody made it clear they were not going to comply I'd blind them and give them one more chance. CS is faster for a quick shock/blind, and OC is slower, but is way worse once it sets in, and lasts for the full jail transport. One thing to remember for new-penny coppers, most of your criminal element is not as sensitive to agents as nice healthy young police candidates are. Do not expect your adversary to go down like you guys did in training. As a weird example, I pulled over a 65 year old guy in a new corvette for drunk driving. This guy was really fighting his age. Dyed hair and had this shiny jelly all over his face. Turns out he had just had his face laser resurfaced. Anyhow, he won't go with the program and I season him up. He kept fighting all the way into the car, but once he was sitting, that was one miserable human. OC into open wounds is pretty cruel and unusual. Someday we'll get that phaser set to stun, and that'll be nice.

Lori, the on-camera flash is very effective in those door shots with bright backgrounds. You just leave it in shutter priority, but when you pop it up it automatically goes to 1/200. You zap off the exit shots (only work on a tailgate) and when you are ready to go, reach up and shut the flash, which resets the camera to your preferred shutter speeds and off you go into the wild blue yonder.

A lot of the folks that live nearer the Bay get together at the NutHouse on Thursdays. Careful, though, it's kinda a Stanford hangout.

Cool.

I think part of the issue is just getting used to the different chincup geometry. It's not bugging me as much as it was. I've also rearranged my camera/flash setup for less wind resistance so I don't have to push the helmet down as hard in freefall. It'll get better

http://208.179.6.7/pictures/2003_1220/105_0540.JPG When? How much? I'll be there.

Yeah, I was just teasing. I've seen it. He got a 20 x 30 from Shutterfly sent to the DZ overnight. We are all enjoying it.

You're so pretty in that picture, Sunny. Is the hat the only thing you got on? That's the Christmas spirit, lass! The lizard is sleeping. Wingsuit jumping is like eating Tokyo for the lizard. Very happy-sleepy. I'm bringing him, though. See you soon!

Lori, are all the camera fliers AFFI's? And the first time I got close to a tandem it really had my attention. The passenger is flailing around, that drogue is dancing, there's handles all the f*ck over that rig, and the passenger doesn't know the first thing about what's going on, even with the most thorough of briefings. And that burble is a freaking black hole. Get really good at RW. Some of your organizers will get to know your skill level, and they'll share their observations with the TM's. THat will move up the date when the TM says "yes".

Oh, yeah. Just stepped out. You should have seen the colors and pose I originally planned on. These really fit, nicely groomed guys (who don't watch football ) came over and got me all squared away. I need to say the word "fabulous" much more. And shriek in joy more often. I'm working on it.

My Mrs. is picking up a half hawaiin plus olives, half pepperoni, canadian bacon, and sausage. Papa Murphy's. Best deal in food. Got some nice freshly grated parmesan cheese, too. And I'm drinking wine. From a bottle and everything. Life is good.

Alvaro, on the Rawa and the Y2K composites helmets, the box is integrated with the rest of the helmet. It limits the amount you can angle the camera back. This really only applies to creaky old inflexible bastards who insist on shooting tandems on their bellys. It's really only an issue for tandem video whores like me. But maybe Sarge aspires to exactly that kind of video-whore status, so it's something to consider. The Y2K and Rawa helmets I've seen are beautifully finished. As I progress I want more and more flexibility and that's why I'm gravitating to the platform helmets. After you drill too many holes, just replace the platform.

Oh, I'll be jumping. I'll probably get about 10 more. You don't see the Birdman Suit hanging there, do you.

Cleaning out the locker today for the pack-up for Eloy and I notice all my suits have that salt residue on them from sweating through 'em during the hot months. Hmmm. Better not to offend my old friends and new, so I warshed them. For you. Feel the love.

Yeah, I like that box better than my new-generation toploading D-box from Bonehead. Doug, if you're going with a sidemount, the Optic or the Hawkeye are really nice helmets. If there's any chance you may ever want to do stills, get an Optic or the Hawkeye LT. My Hawkeye is in here somewhere, ah, screw it, I'll take a picture. Attached. I've got about 500 camera jumps on this helmet and I've never had a riser strike or come close to snagging anything. I think the chincup is extra on the Bonehead, but the helmet is probably lighter. A chincup is really a must, I think. The color is gelcoat on the Hawkeye, so if you rash it you just put some clear nailpolish on and it's good to go. Same for the carbon fiber finished boneheads. The Rawa is cool too, but you'll notice I have everything cranked up on this helmet cause I'm a stiff old bastard and I can't get my neck back as far as I'd like. The enclosed box helmets limit how far you can angle the video camera. I'm an unabashed tandem video whore, though, so that may not be a concern. LouDiamond's Rawa is sweet. The European stuff will be a fortune at the current exchange rates. Cheers.

I have a 10D too, and it just has more convenient features that make it easier to use, and it's significantly faster. My video boss just got the Rebel with the kit lens. It works fine and he got more freefall pictures than he usually takes with film. With both cameras, the on-camera flash at 1/200 produces really nice colors on the passenger, and sometimes shadow is a problem without it. Great news, though. After lording my digital images over the video concession owner at my DZ, we are now offering digital stills on CD. We already offered DVD, which sells well, but the digital stills are irresistable to the customers and they haven't left without getting both photos and video yet. We connect the camera to the TV, show the exit shot, and they are reaching for their wallet. And it's more cost effective than film, and the customer is e-mailing them as soon as they get home. Very cool.

No foolin. We called the 870 the "crowd pleaser". Hilarious. When I pulled up as second car on a stolen vehicle, I would always take the shotgun cause it was such an effective attention-getter. Plus there was always a gasp from the folks standing on the sidewalk. Clack-CLACK!

Yeah, apparently the way to tell the difference is if the hugger is smiling. Mouth gave me one at Perris and I had to carry her from the pro shop to manifest. That chick hugs like a barnacle.

No one will have a problem getting me to take their picture. The problem will be getting over retina burn from the flash. I'll be set up to print your pictures on site, or if you want (or need "$") to wait, they'll be on my shutterfly site shortly after I get home. Shutterfly.com/pro/JPKelly/Skydive Now, if you're in the witness protection program like Andrea, (I told you not to marry that Gravano guy) I'll be happy to not photograph you. Just let me know.

I got two turntables and a microphone. That's what I got.

Yes, it should be": Puh! Puh tah! Puh tah stay!

There's a historical comparison between being attacked by Japan, but putting that fight off until we defeated the Axis. Get Saddam first, cause he's has more resources to promote terrorism, then get the O-man. -Why in God's name am I posting in a political thread? Oh, crap. Yes I am aware that Japan was in the Axis. I was referring to the European folks.

Cause my groupies get worried, these are the balloon jumps I'm doing so far. Dec 26 PM Derek Steve Katie Arthur Chuck Travis Lisa (Dang, they ditched me) Dec 27 PM Kevin Nick Chris Iwan w/ Deuce video and stills of Sunny and Scooter Sunny Jason Jeremy Dec29 PM J Fields Jaime w/Deuce video-stills JP Jackson x 4 Dec 30 PM Don Rosa Karl w/ Deuce video-stills Dec 31 PM Wingsuit flocking dive…higher altitude (You’re welcome) Chuck Steve Scott Jari w/ Deuce video-stills gotta be a magazine cover in this one And thanks again Bets. Tamor Chris Billv