Samurai136

As a tandem instructor ,I often wonder how people have "traffic" issues with Tandems. I can understand a situation with multiple A/C turning loads. Generally, everyone gets out before tandems and opens significantly lower. How do you end up "suddenly" above a tandem on final? When I swoop, it's rarely ever in a crowded pattern. I never complain about what someone else did or feeling robbed out of a phat swoop. Life is too Short. Have fun. If someone comments I usually respond, "Yeah, I saw you. What did you see? Did you see me? No? I couldn't figure it out so I just made a safe landing and followed the pattern." Usually it's around the bonfire having a beer so things are real casual. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

Once Upon A Time... when I had about 100 jumps and obviously did not have the experience to do big-ways according to the experienced guys, I watched them put together a 30-way with a visiting Otter and Twin-Beech on our home dropzone. Average experience level was about 1200 jumps. Jump 1: They had a hard time building the formation because they had about a quarter mile plus of separation between aircraft and they took the spot about 3 miles north of the DZ. L&V Wind. Only the camera guy and a few people who realized the jump was screwed and started tracking made it back to the DZ. Jump 2: Sunset load, No wind. They get everything sorted, build the formation, track off and deploy. The problem started when the second jumper down didn't notice the landing direction set by the first jumper. He landed about 35 seconds later and went the opposite direction! Not too big of a deal until the rest of load lands. Every other jumper alternated landing direction and they all landed during the same minute in the "main" landing area which is very tight. Thanks Guys! I learned a lot! I obviously don't have the experience to do that! Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

If you do the barrel-roll improperly the roll will stall and you will rapidly find yourself in linetwists and/or falling into your canopy. Be careful.

The guy in the 4th photo, Cliff (skydiver), said it was a Red Bull Sponsered event. Cliff called the rest of us, who were in Kirksville, Mo. that weekend drinking beer, and told us he got a case of free Red Bull.

Use Bill's link and order yourself a cockring. This is assuming you've got the "have a girlfriend" angle squared away. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

I have no idea... I order in the off season so an 'extended' production period doesn't affect my sport jumping. What does PD quote for production time? If I switched over to a new Sign-on I'd have to really burn some bandwidth Post-whoring to get my numbers back.... Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

I have a Signature Series 120 also. Post those Pic's! Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

I got Rachel Stevens too... She's not even a red-head! I was expecting Laura Prepon... Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

Seriously, though, it's piece work. I'm probably making about 10$/ hour packing reserves, then figure cost of equipment, tools, etc. If you're not packing or repairing something billable, you're not making any money. If I had customer base of 255 (rigs) spaced out evenly (5 day work week) over a repack cycle I would be busy all year and make about $35,000. This would be an ideal world rigging business. I don't know 255 skydivers who want me to pack for them so rigging as a business is not a real option. I work at distribution warehouse and get paid more than $10 an hour, overtime full medical benefits, the boss is a skydiver and I made quite a bit more than $35,000 last year. Real jobs pay better. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

Back on topic... I'll be in the tunnel 18th thru 20th and hanging out at Central Fl DZ's thru the 28th or 29th. I was thinking about going to Jumpshack and PD during the week but I suppose I could make some skydives. What's going on in Z-Hills? I may need to pack my tent. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

The video guy should regularly appear with a 4-way team in the background who are never introduced to the readers for a good period of time. I'll check into it! Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

I'm pretty quiet, peaceful, and easy going and have effectively communicated that message by saying, "DAMNIT, Xname deletedX! No, Means No!" When communicating with women it's sometimes best to use a phrase they can clearly understand. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

English was a little unclear. How did he get his foot entangled with his own main canopy? Hook Knife could have also cut the entangled line (main canopy) before cutting away. Never give up! Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

Very easy. If you remember your repack date add 17 weeks and one day. Viola! Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

I've used, "Hey, what's your friend's name?" successfully. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

And you have summarized it perfectly. Men read this and think either, "Sex and food" or, "What does she want explained?" Women implicitly know what you mean by 'subject line says it all'. Guys need things spelled out. If you complain about not understanding a guy, you've already set off one of our danger sensors. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

Fried Gold! I haven't had a laugh that good a few weeks. Thanks! Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

So, uh, what happens if 'the one' calls twice and gets no response because you really were 'too busy' or were not in the moment to be open for love? That would suck. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

Liability. PD's present guidelines could be generally summed up as, "We make no guarantee's on the product. You know you are accepting a risk of death using our product. Your risk is significantly increased as your wingloading increases." The more detailed you make the 'guidelines' the more ammunition you give a lawyer to sue any manufacturer. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

The clerks at work have identified this creature as "Fluffy, Destroyer of Worlds". Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

Cold, Wind, Rain, Clouds, bad attitudes, poorly maintained aircraft, the sound of a turning prop (love/hate), kids/ spectators in the landing area, farmer McNasty, and Eddy Money. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

Yeah but it's the normal 5-10 minutes of noise. I'll hear her making all the typical "oooh,oooooh,ooooooh!" sounds for a few minutes and then he yells out, "Oh GOD I F*&^ING Love You SO MUCH!"

Ferris Bueller's Day Off. I have it on laserdisc and DVD and somehow I always get sucked in when it's on TV.

Well, if you have a convertible, I do, there are lots of options once you... take the top off. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

I train tandems to have a good succesful skydive. Part of their successful skydive is having an open parachute to land under. "The odds are higher that you will have an open parachute over your head if my hands are free. Don't grab my hands.