PiLFy

"You been around 3 years and think you have this all firgured out." I never said that. Don't put words in my mouth. I know what I know...

"Before you shoot your mouth off get your facts straight. Mike is not on the BOD or work for USPA. You might want to apologize for you remarks. Sparky" I've no idea what MikeT's actual role within USPA is. I really don't care, TBH. He tried to defend stealing, w/a BS excuse. Don't hold your breath waiting for that apology, Sparky. It isn't coming. I'll be damned if I'll apologize to a thief, or those who cover for them...

Hi, "However, not all are bad people, some are fighting the good fight and have always had the members & skydivings best interest in mind in the things they do" I never said they are all bad. In fact, I cited one USPA rep who does a great job. "Let me ask you, do you not think there are major pressing Government regulations/changes heading our way?" I'd like to think most readers of my comment would understand my meaning. Every quarter, the NRA sends out mailers spewing the same fear-mongering visions of political doom & gloom. Every quarter, they've got their hand out again. The appearance to many NRA members (& I don't want to derail this into an NRA discussion) is a cozy relationship on the Hill w/their $uppo$ed adversarie$... Did I ever say we don't need a political arm to help protect ourselves from our own Govt.? Only someone very Naive would think that. I made the NRA scare mail remark for a reason. "Have you taken the time to write the FAA as you were asked to do by not only USPA, but in a number of posts by members like me? Have you? Care to post your remarks and prove it?" People communicate much better when you don't get in their grill. Just saying... No, I haven't written in on that. Why not? Not because I'm lazy, too preoccupied, or any other inferences you accused me of. I didn't write in because I'm still a baby in this sport. What credible weight would I bring to the debate? I know very little about FAA oversight. They'd see a member w/no links to any DZ, no instructor ratings, nothing to bear but a passion for the sport. I imagine the letter would be quickly filed to the side. That doesn't mean I wouldn't want to become more knowledgeable about these issues. It doesn't mean I wouldn't want to take a more active role. Accusing me of being a lazy, selfish sack isn't going to help anyone... "Do you even have a clue who the real enemy is and who you should be keeping an eye on?" This sport has enemies in the business & political worlds. If the agency that's supposed to be fighting for us, is stealing from us? That's a problem, no? Getting angry at me for stating views you don't like won't help anyone. You get pissed at some of USPA's crap? OK. So am I. Rather than attacking someone you don't even know. How about educating me on what I don't? You don't really expect new members to come in fully versed on these issues, do you? Someone taught me long ago. Make someone happy, & they might tell a few people. Piss someone off, & they'll tell EVERYBODY. I've only met a couple of USPA peeps so far. I've been impressed by their commitment to giving back to the sport, & paying it forward. That is not what I see coming from the USPA board meetings. I remember that thread about USPA's creating a demo team. They pushed it ahead of members' established teams, & paid for it all w/membership monies. I stayed out of that conversation because I had nothing constructive to contribute. I clearly remember the outrage of the old dawgs, though. Rightly so, I'd say. That kind of crap isn't gonna win USPA any friends. Stealing, & working against the membership negates the good work done by many of the USPA people out in the field. I may not know much about the political workings of USPA & our challenges. I do know BS when I hear it. I also know a money grab when I see it. My being pissed about that doesn't make me apethetic or lazy.

"If you have a real license, I can verify it at USPA website in a minute. If you have a signed card I have no way to be sure it's valid if I don't know the person who signed it." The USPA license will show that a card was filled out properly. If presented w/a signed A card. I'd say a quick phone call will tell you more about the jumper's abilities. Skydiving is a small world. Don't most of you Instructor guys N gals already know each other, more or less? Either by card or license, a certified instructor has aid the jumper meets the requirements. Are you saying you don't trust some of the instructors? Or, you just don't trust their penmanship? I don't have a clue? I know BS when I hear it. I know a money-grab when I see one...

I'm glad you voted against this. I've met my USPA regional rep. He's a good guy. I've seen him go above & beyond to help us newer jumpers stay safe. Garbage like this negates the hard work of people like him. This latest policy change is nothing more than a blatant money grab. MikeT's excuse is BS. If MikeT wants a fancier hotel room for the multiple free trips he gets to take for USPA? He can do what the rest of us do, & pay for them himself. Or, do they want more monies to fund their demo team against other members' teams? Policies like this don't help the sport grow. Pissing off new people just coming in, is short-sighted. USPA is fast becoming the enemy. What's next? Frequent NRA-esque scare mail, warning of dire political threats that require even MORE donations? Screw you too, USPA. You're not fooling anyone. I'll make sure & curtail higher licensing in order to offset this expense...

Yes. I think you should buy them all pizza & cigarettes, too ...

Update for anyone who considering buying this. I'm running XP, w/SP3. It should work fine according to the specs. The POS won't even install. It did manage to thoroughly screw up my PC's monitor & sound drivers, though... FU2, Sony & Newegg.

"Wow, must be a whole lot of clairvoyant MDs up in here." Yep... "so wtf do I know..." You knew enough to get a competent evaluation. You're doing fine, Tim. To the OP: The shoulder has a greater range of motion at the cost of stability. Doing the wrong exercises, or simply taking a wait & see attitude, can both do further damage. Go get checked out by an Orthopaedist.

I would say anyone but a chiro. The whole rational of chiropractic is to build a practice of ever returning lifelong clients. It's how there business model works, and it's a large part of their "training". Get a good physiotherapist and see a real doctor. FWIW, my chiropractor treated me when I needed it. Then, he wished me luck. I haven't had to see him in >two years. They're not all bad. Chiropractory has its place.

Sony is offering a $50 mail-in rebate. The offer expires on 08/20/2012. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832135304

Damnit, Jim. Come on, man?! You know better than this. A little subtlety goes a long way. Had you not been so obvious in screwing w/him. We could've drawn him in & kept it going for a while. Now, it's just gonna make it that much harder to draw him in next time ...

"if the elected body sees a need to address an issue at a cost the cost needs to be covered by the organization. If you see a cheaper solution please detail this but saying there is no problem, or there is but someone else should deal with it is not productive." I did: "Then, you can simply require everyone to fax in a copy for a gratis review, right? Problem solved..." "If you need to re-certify some of the instructors you cleared to begin with? Do so. There's no need to further penalize members for that." If there's a problem w/some instructors? The instructors themselves can pay for their own re-certifications. It would hardly cost USPA anywhere near $35 to glance at a piece of paper & verify that every I is dotted & every T crossed...

+1 (shakes head) Sparky WOW! I made >1300 posts already ?! Criusin ... Actually, almost all those jumps were made last year. I didn't start AFF right after my first jump. Not bad at all w/my work schedule. Regardless, my point stands. Negating it due to my jump numbers is decidedly lame . Mike's point still stands. He has formed his opinion based on data from the people that handle all the cards submitted plus has reviewed and signed countless cards with other instructors himself. You have offered up the fact that your 1 card was filled out properly therefore we do not have a problem. Your point never had a chance of standing. If it's not about the money, but about USPA fixing their own mistake? They can do that w/o charging members any more monies. My point stands just fine. Piss off

+1 (shakes head) Sparky WOW! I made >1300 posts already ?! Criusin ... Actually, almost all those jumps were made last year. I didn't start AFF right after my first jump. Not bad at all w/my work schedule. Regardless, my point stands. Negating it due to my jump numbers is decidedly lame .

"Many cards have been incorrectly filled out and when it comes time for moving from one DZ to another, they are not valid if they are not correct. It is not a matter of getting money, it is a matter of getting things done right." My A card was signed off by an instructor w/decades of experience. I've taken it to four different DZs, so far. All w/o a problem. It's very refreshing to know this isn't about the addition monies, Mike. Then, you can simply require everyone to fax in a copy for a gratis review, right? Problem solved... If you need to re-certify some of the instructors you cleared to begin with? Do so. There's no need to further penalize members for that.

"A problem has been that some of the A-license cards have not been filled out properly, so by submitting the card for an official license, USPA HQ will be able to verify that the card is filled out correctly or return it to the participant for the card to be completed correctly." Bullshit. The problem is that USPA isn't getting the license fees from those of us using the stamped/signed A cards filled out & authorized by USPA-certified instructors... What's the matter? All the license fees you'll get throughout the rest of our jump careers aren't enough?

I hope it all works out for you. The Pulse is the nicest opening canopy I've flown. Good Luck w/it.

James, I'm only weigh about five pounds more than you. I spent last season jumping a 190 Sabre2 or Pulse. The switch to a 170 S2 was a large one. Even if I had plenty of open fields surrounding the DZ for landing off. I wouldn't have wanted to be under a 170 at anywhere near 23 jumps... I'm not trying to preach. I view my A as only being an extended Learner's Permit. I just don't want to read about you in the Incidents forum. That Pulse can catch you by surprise quite easily. My first hundred jumps threw a few surprises at me... Could you not squeeze a 190 Pulse into your container? Rent one for a month or two. Why such a rush to downsize? I hate seeing people get hurt.

Instructors, Is it just my inexperience? Is this not WAY too soon for him to be jumping a 1.1 WLing? "Instructors (5) have told me to play safe and ill be ok." "...and to be honest. it not much different than the 188 so far." To the OP. There is a substantial performance difference between those two canopy sizes. If you can't even sense that? You're making me very nervous for you. You know the saying Shit Happens, right? What happens when you have to land off in a small backyard one day? What happens when someone cuts you off on final? "I wanted to get on it as fast and safely as I could get away with." As fast as you could get away with? Why? If you rent a 190 for another 50 jumps? Your new 170 will still be there to jump. If you don't? You might not still be in one piece to jump it. Why take such a chance?

If searching for bear spray, I'd suggest ~10,000,000 SHU OC. Just DO NOT get it on yourself. That shit burns. The stuff we got trained on (and exposed to) was 5,000,000 SHU and it takes the fun out of your day, for a while (and that's with proper washing and care). 10m would likely blind you. On the bright side. 1.5 million SHUs tastes pretty good ... http://thechillifactory.com/

Hi Matt, Do you have a copy of the MRI report? What exactly does it say? A disk is leaking or it isn't. Partially??? Do yourself a big favor, & stay on the ground until you get this sorted out. Let's hear the report. PM me if you prefer.

I never said that. I doubt anyone in this thread would advocate a Newbie trying swooping. Your post looked like a blanket statement. So long as you don't have a problem w/qualified jumpers choosing for themselves. We're agreed.

No offense intended. I'm sorry if things are that tight. Can you not borrow a couple hundred to get a decent '06? Personally, I wouldn't go up there w/anything less than a 308. Carry a .44 on your hip. I saw a Kodiak Grizzly, once. He was stuffed, w/marbles for eyes. I still almost peed myself...

People dieing attempting dumb things is not bad? Please explain. Speak for yourself, Piggie. For someone like me to try it. It would be called suicide. For those that actually have the skills? It's their choice to make. They know the risks just as well as we do.

Why in the Hell would you take the chance? $200-$300 will buy you a modern weapon. You already did some of the math in your post. I used to own a sporterized WW1 '06. It was issued in October, 1918. After fixing the front sight. I shot an 1 1/4" group @100yds w/it. W/the original battle sights on it, no less. I loved that rifle. No way I'd count on it in the situation you're describing, though. Buy a couple of good guns, & enough ammo to make them matter. Why are you relocating way out there, may I ask?