bigben

It's mine, it's the closing pin from the rig I used on my Cat 10 qualifying dive; Brit thing, you have to do a 4 point 4 way before they let you play properly with others - called FS1 now I think. Packing after the jump I realized that I was going to have to replace my pilot chute etc., and thus kept the old pin and made a necklace. Fortuitous really since it now had special meaning, didn't take it off after that. Simon, a mate of mine and Petra's boyfriend, was killed in the tsunami. I gave my pin to Petra - who incidentally is one of the most lovely people on the planet. Funnily enough, Petra's now started skydiving! -Ben

I Drank it today at the DZ. I guess that's what I was keeping it for. -Ben

I'll be driving from San Francisco in the morning if anyone wants a ride. -Ben

High: All the Love Low: JP gone

Utterly devastated. Blue skies my friend.

I keep a beer in my fridge from your 500th jump, which I think was like three years ago. -Ben

I basically get a week to do it, which doesn't sound too bad. When I signed up I thought "how hard can it be, it's all downhill right?". Apparently, there are a few significant hills in the way

That's dedication to the cause, I'm tellin' ya! probably not as altruistic as it sounds, there not going to be much good after ! -Ben

Hello everyone, I'm raising money for The Arthritis Foundation by attempting to cycle the 500 miles from San Francisco to LA. My goal is to raise just under three grand, so far, I have zero grand. During the ride you'll be able to check my actual progress on a live map, and be able to send text messages of encouragement to my bike (it'll need it, I'm a fat knacker). "Often misunderstood as a disease of the elderly, arthritis strikes without regard for age. It can bring intense pain to young adults, children and even babies. More than a quarter of a million children in the U.S. have some form of arthritis. It can start as early as infancy and will last a lifetime." You can click on this handy link to donate money (don't forget, it's tax deductible!) http://tinyurl.com/gbvpu Any and all donations are much appreciated. I'll be donating my knees for medical research after the ride. Blue skies! -Ben

Damn straight! There's like... 3 of us that actually live in the city. I don't mind the Peninsula, but I prefer my $7 cab rides! Anyone else? Hey me too! Hey skydivexxl! We bumbed into each other in R-bar in the city like 2 months ago. -Ben

I'll be there. Hopefully I'll remember how to skydive -Ben So now it looks like the weather's going to be crap, sigh, might not make it out Saturday. I'll try for Sunday, but I know full well that I'll probably get too drunk Saturday night -Ben

I'll be there. Hopefully I'll remember how to skydive -Ben

Does anyone know why the sides of the road a different in different countries? I was always told it was left in England because you could then defend yourself against other traffic with your right arm. Presumably the Romans built a lot of the roads in Europe, how come that's not the standard? -Ben

High: getting MDB's in different appservers to durably consume from the same JMS topic Low: finding a bug in the appserver which won't be fixed before GA -Ben

Man, I'm so out of the scene, I've no idea what you're talking about! Actually it was my mates Bestwick pro, I generally ride my hardtail Fisher. -Ben

Thanks! Unfortunately, that's all I've got, don't have a matching set of abs etc.. Too much vitamin G. -Ben

Oh I believe you. One woman being interviewed by one of the local news stations said, "I'm voting for Arnold because he has great vision." Based on what? In the one debate he participated in, he said absolutely nothing, and in his comercials . . . all he did was quote lines from his movies??? WTF??? Arnold's camarilla will make all the vision he needs. Just another muppet like Bush. (not to be confused with puppet, they have strings, muppets have someones hand up their arse). I'm irritated I couldn't vote. Taxation without representation is tyranny. I'm getting on a ferry and throwing coffee in the bay! -Ben P.S. Yes, I know the country I was born in lost the revolutionary war (before someone points that out, again).

Here arm here. -Ben

The series 2 DirecTV TiVo is what you want. I've got a series one, so I've not used it with the home media option so can't comment on that. Other than that, it rocks, I love it. -Ben edited to add: Have a look here http://www.americansatellite.com/

I met Pantera and Megadeath once, had a back stage passes. Was 'on stage' with Metallica too. Had long hair which eventually migrated into dreads. Ahh, those were the days, the days before corporate boy. Was never a big fan of Metallica, just liked a few tracks. Liked all of vulugar display though. -Ben

You may very well think that Wendy, I on the other hand, couldn't possibly comment -Ben

I'm my albeit limited experience, I've found that if a chick likes you, she likes you. If she thinks you're a muppet, being a skydiver isn't going to help. Basically, it's very complex and I've no idea. Although I did read an article once that said women want to sleep with men who take risks. I've been playing the lottery for weeks now and it's not working, no matter how many lottery tickets I 'accidently' drop in front of women. -Ben

Clownburner Giakrembs Divaskychick Vanillaskygirl Westcoastchica Allisonjr + More sisters Shark Eharris Mujie96 Hookitt Shotgun Marks Michele Cora lewmonst Cajones Gawain Jtval Kolla diver123 Sonnychiba Groundzero Diablopilot Freeflygoddess Thai929 Mgskyflyer JumpingKayAus Lizzieb + another cute friend! Curtismelaniej Garyc24 KawiZX900 bigben dunno if I'll make it for Saturday or just Sunday yet, but I'll be there at some point. -Ben

I had such a great time, only did 5, I wish I could have made it on Friday. Met a whole bunch of DZ.com people, it was great. Look forward to seeing the pics from Saturday night! Didn't feel as bad as I should have this morning, but was just too tired to jump. -Ben

Shit, I left it too late and now there is a crash on the lower deck of the bay bridge, traffic is baaaaccckedd up. bugger. -Ben