arlo

thanks for posting the pics! like val, i too was sans camera so seeing pics of the event is really a treat for me!

you're taking one "quote" from a media group that made several mistakes in reporting yesterday BEFORE they got the facts and are using it as a basis for reasoning. alrighty then. one suggestion: don't believe everything you read.

big props to you and the rest of the jftc cameramen/videographers. we couldn't have the record without you guys, that's for sure. btw, thanks too for those local eyes of yours. KNOWING that we're 2 minutes out when we're really 2 minutes out was a luxury as far as i'm concerned. :) many thanks!! arlo

i think the official word is that the raffle ticket winners will be posted on the jftc website sometime this week. please be patient because alot of folks are still just getting home from the event. :) thx!

does your suit being on the current record help you out any, lisa? thanks again for the use of the suit and accessories. missed ya there... a

hey, i don't have the "official" winners list, but i do know of 4 prize winners. the 100% off mirage was won by dz.commer Russ P and he is pretty stoked about it. i called him to tell him about it today while in ATL waiting on my connecting flight. dz.commer MCEZMAC won a Z1 EVO open face helmet from parasport italia i'm pretty sure i called him last night from the raffle but i can't remember now. :) the Skytronic FX audible was won by vladimir Z of moscow (who bought the ticket from katzurki aka dan).shipping cost is included in the certificate value. the 50% off nitro or blade was won by pavel O from moscow too (also by a ticket sold by dan). i'll have to get names of the other folks and associated prizes later. heck, i wasn't even around when the drawing took place but when i saw the list of names, i picked a few to contact personally to let them know they won. just so you guys know - the raffle alone raised over $10K!!! ALL the prizes were donated so this was a TREMENDOUS success!! thanks so much to everyone that bought tickets for JFTC. gotta go. i'm tired and still have to unpack. what a week! a

get a komodo dragon. have you seen those things feast? wow. just keep your hands away from it's mouth. a little info on the bad mofo

(i'm a dumbass. i originally posted this in gen skydiving discussions) if anyone is going to perris on saturday or sunday and would be willing to swing by LAX first and offer a ride to a JFTC participant, lemme know today if possible. i'm sorting out the rideshare thing.... there will be some folks flying in needing a ride to the dz. most are sorted out, but there has been some redirection (american/continental) due to hurricane Rita. thanks in advance! arlo ________________________________________

if you mean the cat is too big for the cage, find a sturdy card board box and just cut holes in it. or if you have a hamper or clothes basket, try using that by zip tie-ing something over the opening. improvising is a good thing.... does this mean you're leaving?

tony, try craig's list. check out this listing: check your email...

ditto what andrea said. we learned alot after the first couple came thru last year. if you have ziploc bags, fill them with tap water and freeze them. but use the freezer bags cuz the cheap ones leaked more frequently and you'll end up with an inch of ice in the bottom. these will help keep your frozen stuff longer, but it can also be used for drinking water. if you can cook some food now and freeze it, do that. spaghetti sauce, chili, shit like that. cook it, then freeze it in individual serving sizes so if the power goes out, then you can just thaw it out and eat it if you have no heat source. have a cooler ready for use too. stuff like drinks or fruits or whatever can be kept there so you minimize the times you open your fridge. you lose soooo much cooling that way after the power's out. use containers to catch rain water and use that for toilet flushing if the water is out. use disposible (paper plates, cups, utensils) because if really is a pain trying to wash dishes without running water. buy some of those face cleanser wipe things. oh yeah, those hanging shower bags (camping thing) would be nice to have too. good luck...

did each canopy tear on the first jump of that day? were both guys competing? if so, is this a bellyflying speedstar (similar to 10-way)? were both these guys freeflying? that does seem interesting that 2 canopies were torn that day.

i would recommend also to get out the board games (scrabble, pictionary), jenga, or playing cards. if you guys are without power for more than a day or so, it will get BOOOOOOOOORING! and pre-pop some popcorn. :) in all seriousness, be safe and check in afterwards..

OMG! rick i almost fell over,dude. you made me laugh HARD! i love you guys (and miss you guys, too!).

i don't think he has a car. the inn is a loooong walk to the dz.... (looooooong = ~ 5 miles)

you are a good man to have been there so selflessly when he needed someone that cared. that speaks volumes. i am glad Randy was released peacefully and i'm sooooooo happy he doesn't have to deal with that f-ed up disease any more. godspeed randy. i wish you well... arlo ed, take care of yourself now...you did good.

is it just me or does anyone else just wanna scrub down one of those panzer opossums with a scotchbrite pad to clean 'em up a bit? walt, have you tried donning one of those halloween masks to scare the armadillo? they make ME jump really high.

call the dz (1-800-404-9399) ask for pip or judy. they have some RVs on the dz with electricity that are small and cheap to sleep in. or you can just go to walmart and buy a tent (which is even cheaper) and pass it down to the next person coming in that might need it. the bath house area has lots of hot showers. there's food on the dz and a beer/wine bar. sally and martin (www.tunnelcoach.com) have tunnel time almost every week. you can find her at the rigging loft. the both coach and sally's owns the loft at the dz. hope this helps.

Houston Food Bank in need of volunteers Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle The Houston Food Bank is seeking volunteers today and Wednesday to sort and package for distribution tons of food and personal care items for survivors of Hurricane Katrina. The threat posed by Tropical Storm Rita has heightened the need for volunteers, officials said. Volunteers are needed to work four-hour shifts at the bank that begin at 8 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. The food bank is at 3811 Eastex Freeway. Walk-ins are welcome and groups of five or more volunteers are asked to notify the Houston Food Bank in advance by calling 713-547-8609 or by e-mailing James Ainsworth at jainsworth@houstonfoodbank.org. In recent weeks, the food bank has distributed twice the amount of food it normally does, but the supply has continued to outweigh the capacity to distribute it.

i operated at a three-unit PWR plant for almost 11 yrs. i think they're great. not very efficient, though (~34% efficiency, if i remember correctly). (how's THAT for not too much detail?)

regarding that whole "Karma, will hit him, and i for hope i get to read about it" thing.... of course some people are gonna think you meant for him to get hurt or die. we sure as hell aren't gonna read about him stubbing his toe.... i would show an equal amount of compassion for your cousin as well. BTW, maybe you could reading up on diseases in general. i would guess not everyone that has, for example, multiple personality disorder take on the same personalities (i.e., not everyone will be moe, larry and curly or batman and robin). not all folks that are bipolar will reach exactly equal levels of manic episodes and depression episodes. diseases aren't cookie cutter...especially mental disorders.

oh PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE make a video!!! it's terrible to scare the poor little thing just so we can laugh, but hey, it's done with love (like with the fainting goats).

is that a "fact" as you witnessed it in rantoul?

ha! my ex bf used to call them "panzer possums" due to the (tank-like) armor they "wear"...or possum on the half-shell. i had to convince some friends of mine that armadillos really do jump up to 4 feet or so when you scare them. they're all over the place down here in FL and they were as well in SC.