chuckakers

Yes - and so much for the old "no stupid questions" theory.

Nice try quadster, but Dean has made it ubundatly clear that he believes the GW tax cuts were a bad idea and that he would RAISE taxes. That was R-A-I-S-E taxes. He thinks that the government needs more money, kind of like his campaign, heh heh. i'm here all week, shows at 8 and 10

The Dean campaign announced today that it is running out of money. Just think, if Dean were already in office, he could just call for a tax hike! geez, i crack myself up

Words of wisdom from someone that actually believes the nutbags on NPR.

[reply And only one day after getting booed and jeered by hundreds Wow, hundreds.

"Have you ever landed inside the plane?" Yes, but I only had 20 jumps at the time and my accuracy wasn't very good - heh heh. Geez I crack myself up.

This is my lamadog. They are fairly rare, but make terrific pets. It's the only pet I know of that will fetch the paper, supply fur for winter coats, and spit on you if you piss him off.

from the new year's eve party

Where exactly did you fly it?

...and always watch the horizon.

John was one of - if not the THE - best tunnel rat over 15 years ago when I took my then newlywed wife to the flyaway for some newbie training. I can't even imagine how good he is now. CA

Conroe? Yikes! Not eaxactly the center of the wind tunnel universe, eh? Many years ago I crunched they numbers for a wind tunnel and we thought the best Houston location would be near (or at) Astroworld. Lots of potential customers that fit the demographic with money in their pockets budgeted for entertainment. 110 mph? Gee, I wonder if they're looking for instructors with balloon suit experience, heh, heh. Chuck

Anyone know the details of the "portable" wind tunnel being advertised on radio in the Houston market? Chuck

I know several folks who started "late". Jay Tribble started on his 50th birthday and has since been on numerous large-way records, demos, etc. Same with Jim Alkek and a few other POPS I know. Just remember we old guys don't heal as well as our younger rubber-boned counterparts, so choose your gear and activities carefully. Chuck

Hey, it's a weiner dog. The only logical name is... Frank!

Thought ya'll might get a kick outta this. It's got the scoop on Proof, Fandango, and how it all came to be. http://www.alexmusson.com/fandango/index.htm

Laughed till I cried!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chuck

Close your eyes and start packing. Ya gotta jump your packjob (you can do that with your eyes closed too, but ya don't get extra points for it). Fastest time wins. My one and only blind speed pack was 7 minutes including setting the brakes. Opening was fine. Chuck

A whuffo friend (ok, associate) told me he saw a skydiving Santa bang in pretty hard at Sharpstown Mall in Houston yesterday (Friday). Just wondering if anyone knows who it was. Winds were gusting well beyond 30 all afternoon. Maybe Santa should've tried jumping his sleigh instead! Chuck

Texan by choice. Here's to God, beer, and concealed handgun permits!!

What? No full frontal? And you call yourself a skydiver.

I can't accurately answer that one. At our ol' DZ (Skydive USA) we would hit the beer fridge, light the bonfire, send the lightweights home, head into town for some local cuisine, then party back at the fire again. Chuck

It's tough to say which is the "best" container. With the exception of an occassional problem with any particular rig, they are all quality systems. As for my personal choice, I like Rigging Innovations products (I currently jump a Voodoo). I don't choose products because of their popularity or marketing punch - as I believe many jumpers do. I buy RI products because of the company's unmatched product performance, awesome service, and attention to customer needs. Sandy and his staff have always been extremely customer oriented, focusing on the needs of their customers and always getting it right. From my original Talon (serial # 284) to my Voodoo, any concern I had was immediately addressed beyond my satisfaction. Moreover, Sandy has always taken a personal approach to searching out opinions of past and current RI owners to solicit opinion (whether novice or skyg*d) to help his team build a better product. In my opinion, that's what equipment manufacturers SHOULD do. Build it, tweek it, and tweek it some more - all based on input from those who's opinions matter. Unlike some ego driven self proclaimed manufacturing legends (insert name here), Sandy is too busy staying in touch with his customers' needs to grab the often undeserved headlines for the sake of increased publicity and resulting sales. For what it's worth, I've had 7 reserve rides ranging from horseshoes to wild, highly loaded, out of control spinners. The one constant in every one of those has been the container. Easy cutaway, minimal rig shift upon release, and always a beautiful and strong reserve p/c launch resulting in a clean reserve deployment (added thanks to Precision and PD for the reserves). For those who don't know or may not remember, RI has been responsible for many technologies we all take for granted. "Tuck Tabs" (velcroless riser covers and flap closures) were the product of the "Talon Tongue", the first main pin cover to use a tab instead of velcro. Same goes for riser covers - the first ones without velcro were employed on an RI product. Articulation rings commonly found on just about every rig were also first used on RI rigs. There's probably a few I'm forgetting, but that's because they haven't been pounded into my head through advertising dollars you guys pay for. Instead Sandy and company prefer not to flaunt their advances. They're too busy building quality rigs and keeping customers happy. Hats off to Sandy, Brenda, and the whole Rigging Innovations crew. You do it right, and we RI owners know it!! Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

we'll forgive you for being new...beer.

Don't you think the person committing the suicide has the right to allow it to be used any way he or she likes? It is, after all, that persons life. Your opinion is irrelevant.