AtrusBatleth

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Everything posted by AtrusBatleth

  1. HU has been ingrained in my mind as Human Performance. The thought of safety guys at work using this band in their training material gives me a chuckle.
  2. I work under federal jurisdiction and have random drug tests (truly random, must go in right then). My company has not specifically emphasized it, but I have heard of others in the same industry where pot was legalized reminding their employees strongly that just because it is legal now, it is still grounds for termination. Pre-employment testing same deal. You can even fail before doing the actual test. I heard one story of a bright young college student, family of someone in the industry, and got a great internship/co-op. Passed the interview, they loved him, the job was his. Then he filled out the new hire paperwork, formality, and one of the questions asks if you have smoked pot. He answered yes. Didn't occur to him that it was a problem, it was legal and I think it was just to try it anyway, in the past. Being honest on that form cost him the job. They had to reject him. Shame. Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?
  3. In a similar vein, when it was reported that Trump had told some 7 year old on the NORAD Santa line that her belief in Santa at 7 was "marginal" (which got twisted and blown way out of proportion), it was also reported that Trump canceled his Florida Christmas plans and was staying at the white house due to the shutdown but he had continued the tradition of wishing military a merry Christmas, via video call. People were calling him a grinch and saying he should do one better and visit troops in person. Lo and behold, it was later revealed that he DID secretly visit troops in Iraq. Of course there was no retraction or acknowledgement of this by those who had hours earlier criticized his holiday plans. I dont exactly like or agree with the man, but that was one moment I was proud of our president for doing the right thing. Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?
  4. If the canopy part is so concerning to you, there's no shame in doing another tandem. After you go through the AFF first jump course and learn all about canopy checks, navigation, landing pattern, etc. One more tandem would give you a chance for more practice while still having a professional right there with you. At some point you'll have to make the leap and pilot your canopy solo, but you can transition to that goal if needed. Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?
  5. I'll echo the other suggestions to work with your DZ instructors and try some tunnel time. Specific to your scoliosis, I have a minor case (angle of curvature is not severe enough to be officially diagnosed as scoliosis but I've had back issues since childhood). However, there are things that can improve your flexibility, you just start out with a disadvantage so you'll have to work more on it than most. Some things that work for me: chiropractor, massage (especially if you can find a place that does both, get adjusted right after an hour massage), windsor pilates 20 minute workout (it's on youtube now; if my back has flared up I can hardly do it and it's an intense workout, but it strengthens my back fast; normally it's a quick easy workout to maintain my back), strength training (I use free weights and several lifts that incorporate balancing), anything that exercises your "core", etc. Find what works for you and consider hiring a physical therapist. They are trained to find the right stretches/exercises that will meet your specific needs. You can usually find ones cheaper, like $60/hr or so if you look outside of hospitals/clinics (try chiropractic centers or just word of mouth/internet search). Good luck and welcome to skydiving. I hope you can work it out. Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?
  6. AtrusBatleth

    2019

    It comes up in conversation occasionally that I have no plans to downsize, wingsuit, do high performance landings or big ways, etc. As I like to say, I am content merely jumping out of an airplane. Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?
  7. Re: Quick answer from another old fart When I started in early '64 => $5.25 Times, they are a'changin' Jerry Baumchen $5.25 in 1964 is equivalent to over $40 in 2018 dollars. I guess jump tickets have come down in price quite a bit. Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?
  8. Dropzone.com published an article earlier this year on this very subject. Previously I had seen estimates that 100 jumps per year increased your carbon footprint about 10%, but based on the numbers in this article it would be closer to 6% (based on an average carbon footprint of 21.5 metric tons, which may not be that accurate). http://www.dropzone.com/safety/General_Safety/How_Green_Is_My_Skydive_1360.html I dont think you were that far off, big picture. Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?
  9. I gotta disagree with you there. Even if someone thought they were going to love skydiving I would advise them to do a tandem first. Or at least some wind tunnel. Maybe you might be a natural, but for most people that first jump is very disorienting. There's something to be said for enjoying the experience as a spectator once before you clutter your head with dive flows, EPs, altitude checks, canopy checks, aerial navigation, landing patterns, etc. There are valid safety reasons why some programs start with a tandem or wind tunnel, it's not a scam to get more money. Sure you can start with AFF on jump 1, or static line, but it's a personal choice, equally valid. Besides, in a sport where you'll spend ~$2500 to get licensed, probably double that for a rig, and who knows how much every year on jumps, why sweat the small stuff like ~$200 for a tandem? Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?
  10. Except when you're filling out DZ waivers, every year at every freaking location. Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?
  11. Mid 30s at the time. Thought it was a fun bucket list thing someday but never got serious about it until a friend at a July 4th party (he's British btw) was talking about jumping, he loved it and had done like 5+ tandems by that point. Whole group of us were all going to jump. We live a days drive away from this group so we kept pinging him when this group was going to go, because we had to coordinate with other travel plans and such. Finally he gives us a date, a few from the group were already backing out. My wife and I make plans and then a week before we find out our frequent flyer friend is the only one left in the group and now he wants to reschedule so he can take his mom jumping. My wife and I said screw it, we're jumping even if it's just the two of us, which it was. Glad it was our first vacation we had saved up a lot of money for, otherwise I'm sure we would have pushed it off due to cost. In fact my first thought after landing was "that was amazing... once. I'm not paying that much to go again, I have a family to support." Then I heard about AFF...
  12. Pastor calls the kids up before sending them off to kids church and has some analogy he wants to tell them. He asks them what has a big furry tail, gathers nuts in the fall, climbs trees, etc. A kid finally raises his hand with a confused look on his face and says "well I know the answer is Jesus but it sure sounds like a squirrel to me." Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?
  13. Welcome. I love your quote. Your name makes more sense now.
  14. How were they allowed to disrupt inside for 20 minutes? I would be requesting the owner to throw them out. What a pain in the ass. "However, there is currently no research on whether disrupting meat eaters' meals is an effective way to encourage them take up a plant-based diet." I seriously doubt it. I dont even eat a lot of meat, but I certainly dont want jerks ruining a nice meal out and dictating what I should or shouldn't eat. I'll listen to reasonable civil discourse on the subject, but pulling an idiotic stunt like this will just result in most completely ignoring anything you have to say. Reminds me of some anti-nuclear stunt some students did throwing bars of soap at some prominent speaker. The speaker just quietly stepped back until security escorted the protesters out (with applause from the audience). I happened to step out for the bathroom or something and witnessed the students getting chewed out by what appeared to be their mentor/colleague who was telling them their stupid stunt only set back their cause, as no one in there would take them seriously after that. You catch more flies with honey. You want people to eat less meat? Start offering better choices that fulfill the taste/nutrition/convenience/cost that motivate people to choose meat in the first place. Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?
  15. Who are you referring to, the CNN host? Or is Lieu transgender or something? Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?
  16. This was interesting reading. I was in a similar situation when I was shopping: I first priced out my ideal rig all new, then started shopping around for used. I found that used rigs in the size range I was willing to tolerate were only a few hundred cheaper. Or I would have to buy international which I wasnt comfortable with. For me, it was well worth paying an extra few hundred for something custom fitted, new, exact size I wanted, lower risk of getting a lemon or being scammed, etc. But I'm in the "fat bastard" category so the selection of used rigs was not as good as others. It also depends what your long term goals are. Unlike most jumpers, I had (and still have) no plans to downsize - EVER. Thus it was much easier for me to get over the sticker shock of buying new because I plan to keep jumping the same canopy until it is no longer air worthy. At this point even if I unexpectedly lost or destroyed my main, I would replace it with the same size (maybe slightly smaller so i could change the vectran lines to Dacron). Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?
  17. Before I got my own rig, my experience was that the only rigs to rent were student rigs equipped with a student AAD or sometimes a multi-mode AAD. I.e. there were no separate "fun jumper" rental rigs. Smaller DZs I guess. And based on my lightly loaded canopy speeds of 38mph with a student activation speed of ~30mph, it should be pretty easy to fire a student rig. Obviously I have no desire to test this. And canopy traffic alone is still sufficient reason for me to avoid aggressive turning under 2000, as well as risking line twists or line breaks with not much altitude left for correction. Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?
  18. Unless you are jumping a student AAD, this is not a concern. The people who will be able to fire an expert/"normal" AAD under canopy are competition level canopy pilots under highly loaded wings doing large turns and they are well aware of the issue. Now that you mention it, I still had that caution stuck in my head from my student days. I looked up my highest recorded canopy speed at 38mph, well under the 78mph AAD activation speed even with uncertainties. I guess I've been thinking conservatively these last couple years (rather that than the other way around). The caution could still be relevant to many low jump number jumpers who are jumping rental rigs typically equipped with student AADs. Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?
  19. I know of at least one iFly tunnel rebuilt a few years ago, and another location newly built that are selling block time at $900/hr. Maybe they didn't get the memo. Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?
  20. Just to be clear, calling a poster's "source" delusional is a personal attack on that poster? I had assumed the warning was for something that had been deleted. Aside from the fact that the comment was directed at the source (although by implication Ron as well), is calling someone delusional for having some asinine belief considered a personal attack worthy of moderation?!? Have we gone off the deep end? Well I suppose that will be taken as a personal attack against everyone's mental instability. Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?
  21. They top out well over $750. One location had an old tunnel a few years ago and even with overnight specials every couple months it was about $600. Then they built a new tunnel and now it's $750 on the low end/special deals but is usually $900 or more. Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?
  22. As a low number jumper myself, I agree completely. I love the 360 (or 3600! ) turns, but on high pulls. From a safety perspective, besides the obvious concern over canopy traffic, it is possible to turn so aggressively that your AAD will fire. That's why even on high pulls or hop n pops I don't get crazy below 2000 or so. Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?
  23. I can't seem to find details on how they expect to practically achieve this goal given the intermittent nature of renewables other than "technologies not economical at the time", but reading between the lines I can only assume massive battery storage. I feel like it's a race between grid-scale economical battery storage (without creating it's own environmental crisis) and economical fusion: which one will I see in my lifetime (if any)? It's either massive battery storage or they think they might put up some new nuclear plants, perhaps why they say 100% "carbon free" vs renewable. Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?
  24. That's the more important question, IMO. Fair enough. I was only responding to the whole "weak and stupid need to be culled" mindset, which is directed at the missionary risking his life, nothing to say about whether he would have risked the tribes. Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?
  25. Why would he risk his life on the chance of sharing the gospel with those people? To borrow a phrase most of us are familiar with: For those who believe, no explanation is needed. For those who do not, no explanation is possible. Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em?