NSEMN8R

1 in just over 600 tandems. It was nasty. I could tell it was going to happen. I could feel him start convulsing against me. I just started to ask if he was ok when he exploded. My mouth was open. Some got in. And on my lips and face. My goggles were covered. I had a protec on and some of my hair must have been sticking out the holes on top becuase it was all wet. If I had it to do over again I think I'd go into deep brakes and maybe some of it would go straight down instead of blowing back in my face.

I'm leaving here at 4:20

Thanks for the thoughts Ian. The tower is A LOT wider at the bottom. Probably 40 ft compared to what looks like 10 ft or so at the top below the stinger. The ladder is on the NE corner and the wind is usually out of the W or SW around here so the ladder seemed like the logical place to exit. It's hard to tell from the ground, but it looks like I could probably climb around to the other side if I need to, but I guess I won't know that for sure until I get up there and look at it. The landing area is wide open. There is nothing between the object and the landing area. There are very small platforms on it by each of the dishes, but the highest one is about 250ft. I'd rather get a little higher. There is no crows nest like on the ones I've jumped before. I think I'm just going to climb up there and look at it. I'll have no problem climbing backdown if things don't look right. Thanks again, Tony

That was the plan last week. I showed up at 2am two nights in a row but there were people partying outdoors nearby both times. That's why I want to try it in the early morning next time. I figured the partyers would be sleeping.

In another thread about opening an Antenna someone said: So it got me wondering, how many should you have? The reason I ask is that I've been scoping out a 450 ft freestander right by the dz where I work. As far as I know it hasn't been jumped before. I've invited some of the experienced antenna jumpers I know, but nobody seems really interested. This place is pretty far out of the way and everyone is busy lately. I took Tom A's fjc in March. I have 27 jumps. Mostly in TF, but a couple from 3 other S's and 3 other A's, 1 B and 1 E. All of them have been with other people that know what they're doing. The antenna has a great landing area, but there is no platform to jump from. The A's I've jumped have all had platforms. Also, it's an outside climb and I haven't done that yet either, but the ladder has a cable running up it and I bought a fall arrester for it. I'm thinking I'll get my pc ready on the ladder, then just unhook and jump from right there. I was planning on doing it last weekend, but when I got out there I could hear voices and music coming from a bonfire at one of the nearby houses so I chickened out. I think I'm going to try to do it in the early AM next time. So does this sound reasonable? It seems pretty reasonable to me, but so did the B and the E I jumped and some people said I should slow down.... How many jumps did you have when you opened your first object by yourself? Also, if you were in my place, would the fact the this A is owned by the State Police have any influence on your decision to jump it? Thanks, Tony

I haven't gotten the email yet. What time did you guys in group one register?

When do we find out what group we're in?

Any locals around during Skyfest? I'm coming down there 7/13-17. Any chance I can get a jump or 2 in while I'm there?

That's funny. Ever met anyone outside of your church group? Listing the drug of choice respectively; pot, coke, all, meth, booze, all. Well Slick, your ad hominem attacks aside (and I'm not even a church goer), I firmly believe that anyone in the above-listed groups should not be allowed to use illicit drugs, as they would be putting the lives and welfare of others at risk for their own hedonistic narcissism. Ya see Skippy, irresponsibility and being a productive member of society tend to be mutually exclusive... Don't like it? Tough shit. That's the reality you live in. All the hippy feel-good dumbshit in the world won't change a damn thing. That's ridiculous. I've partied with plenty of productive members of society. Doctors, lawyers, cops, teachers... There are definitely people who get carried away with it and would be better off not smoking pot, but it seems there are also people who would be better off if they lightened up a little and burned one once in a while. Classifying everyone who enjoys smoking a little weed as a bunch of drug addited losers is as stupid as saying that all people who don't smoke are control freak dickheads who want to impose thier values on and control the personal lives of others.

How much difference is there between the frame grabs of the 3ccd cameras and the regular cameras? How big can you print them without pixelation?

The Sunpath rep that was at the CSS Easter Boogie (I think his name was Jay) said his Mom was Base 420.

This one is my favorite. It's hanging on the wall in my office. It's just a scenic shot, nobody's in it. But everytime I look at it and remember back on that day I start grinning like an idiot. Chris Bazil takes bad ass pictures.

Years ago I would have said dump her, but once you have kids it changes everything. At this point there's not much she could do that would make me want to split up. I doubt my wife would ever cheat on me. If she did I could live with it, but it would definitely be my turn.

My wife's uncle died last week at 86 years old. I never knew it, but the obituary said "He became one of the early innovators of the fledgling sport of Sky Diving, logging in many hundreds of free-falls.". He was originally from MI, but lived in AZ when he died. Not sure where else in between. Just wondered if any of the old timers here knew him?

I had the same problem so I larks headed a rubberband around the "nut" on the inside cover that I can hook to my still camera or the stroboframe.

When I ordered mine in Feb. I was told 8 weeks. It took about 13. I guess when you make a totally kick ass product (which the FF2 definitely is), you can have crappy service and people will still buy.

Nope. I've seen the doppler ball on that map and it doesn't look like this. I just got an email from someone who said they are microwave repeaters and they can fry your nuts. I think I can live with that. In fact, it may be just what I need. I have enough kids already.

Here ya go... It's a shitty frame grab but still, ya gotta love handcams.

I found a really nice freestander this weekend. 480 ft tall, sitting in the middle of a big field. It looks like the perfect object for a beginer like me, but it has these things all over it. They're about 10 ft in diameter and there are about 8 of them on it. I've asked a few experienced antenna jumpers about it. Some people said it should be ok as long as you don't get in front of it and some have said not to even get near it. Does anyone on here have experience climbing around these things? Is there a way to find out what they are or if they will mess you up (short of climbing up there and seeing if my fillings melt)? Thanks for any advice, Tony

Thanks Scott. I'm looking forward to it, but I'd like to find some a little sooner than that too.

Does anyone know of somewhere near MI that I can get some good coached jumps? Thanks,

My riggerrob glove is very well made and doesn't shake at all. I use the waycool .25 lens and I love it.

Digital or film? Do you know what camera it was?

Mine showed up today. Fits my camera and my head perfectly. Really nice helmet. Definitely worth the wait.

That would be ideal. I wonder if I can get some software for my PC to recieve faxes. It has a modem in it that's not being used. I kind of like broke's idea with the black construction paper and tape though. I could even write a nice note in white out on it and let it run all day. My ass cheek healed up just fine by the way. How's your fib? You walking yet?