sarge

Just a bizarre fluke of fate pehaps that I should fall into your post I suppose. But here I am, wondering... I set up a 30+ tandem earlier this summer, that turned out being only 23 I think when it all was done and said. Your post has a resounding familiarity that seems to echo as if only from what might seem but a shadow or a whisper of a late night breeze; obscure and *diliquescent. I have no claim of experience to know what you are feeling; or were feeling on Sunday. I have, with all honesty, never felt that way. What causes me to wonder at this moment is why or how I feel I can identify with what you describe you're feeling. Perhaps only empathy (ironic) but perhaps it goes deeper than just making the , "jump." Because our own mortality confronts many of us as we consider each jump; and it is at that moment or in those moments of final gear-check, re-playing the jump plan and always mindful of past experiences and training that run thru our mind in micro-seconds that we rarely have time time to realize the simple, but fatal truth... we are mortal or should be anyway... Most of us, that is with no disrepect to collegues, realize there are grave risks and trust in many things outside or deep within ourselves that compel us to proceed. Only your heart or desire can know if you are meant to proceed. Nobody has ever been able to measure with certainty anothers probability for success. Where some fail and surrender they never proceed. Where some refuse to fail they never survive. I don't know what to say about the seven or so people that forfieted their deposits...? But maybe it just wasn't their time? They will never get more than a light-hearted rib (if I think they could handle it) for not jumping that day. Maybe another day ? -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!! Yo! where you been!! ?? I need a kiss... -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

At the moment David Sanborne -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Bro there are worse and more unsavory experiences to endure than getting a little wet or sticky from ebracing the celebration of a monumental occasion. (that may sound a tad bit alluring if your in a heterosexual mindset) Try getting a kiss-pass from another guy in free-fall and I bet you'd opt for the pie instead!! Yes, Jim... we know where you sleep! (just kidding!! we may not want to know, unless there's video) -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Bo, This is terrible news! I feel terrible for Rodney!! Of course I will do whatever I can to help, Geez!! Dude, it really was dark out there... away from the lights anyway. Is he at his house or staying somewhere with somebody, who's going to be looking in on him? -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Ok then, maybe I'll just call him myself: do I just ask for Marc, you know the guy that did that documentary about the under-city subculture... does he have a website or e-mail? I have never been about taking food off anybodys table, but if hes the most direct route to the flick, then I'm open to seeing the $$ go in his pocket instead of all the middle-men, you know? Thanks -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Ok I was game for some 'reality' documentary, but I called blockbuster and they don't carry it. They'll order it for me for $25.00. sounds kinda interesting,,, but not enough for $25.00 - guess its another night of "Biker Boyz" -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

1 : 3 : 1 One golf-ball sized bruise on my knee, three jumps, and one case owed for the bruise I earned on my first night-jump -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

I don't have the issue in front of me, but I still am wondering about the Presidents Commentary in the USPA article about why our (USPA members) insurance is going to have to be changed (eliminated)? Why are PRO from Demos claims so high? was it like the average claim was like $50,000 or something? compared to like the average sport claim being $3,000 ? The exact numbers (if they're even representative is less important) don't matter as much as why the hell are the PRO claims to blame for our increased rates ? -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

fuck the alcohol... blow your nose, take a shot of alka-seltzer cold-n-flu and go get some sleep dude... you'll feel better in the morning -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Hey Angela, me again... Congrats on getting in on the class. Just remember, don't try to impress him!! You can't and you won't, just do your thing and be open for whatever the outcome is...

Bro, I have read this whole entire thread, I have admired the swoops of our distinguished and some accomplished fellow canopy devotee's and of course your landing sequence. I respond to you personally in this open forum. It is my feeling that this thread has been monumental in reflecting the virtues and integrity of the skydivers from our Dz.com community. (I think dz.com stands for, "dropzone community" on-line) inasmuch as we all bring to the table our own set of experiences, insights and values I believe they have been fairly and openly expressed; and without prejudice. We've spoken extensively about our hearts chosen discipline; canopy flight. Nobody dictates what direction our hearts choose to pursue. We all just do the best we can to pursue our inspiration and aspirations. It is natural and expected to encounter the nay-sayers on our journey. Do we listen or continue blindly in pursuit of or mythic destinies? To some extent I think it is important to identify those who would intend to undermine or sabatoge our goals and address them accordingly. However, even they who seem to seek to undermine us can bear news of forebodings. They must be heard as well; as unsavory as it may seem to be. I observe in #3 an insecure saddle posture that seems apparent of preoccupation with the landing component of the flight. That in itself is of little concern if the objective is a conservative stand-up landing. The trailing edges are clearly deflected by the steering line inputs early in the landing sequence; but, to accomplish that apparent objective. The trailing edges alone suggest a stage 2 flare but it is only through the continued sequence of photos that it becomes more distinguished. In #6 it appears obvious to me you have artfully brought the canopy to the equilibrium pre-stall for a stand-up no excess-speed landing. Cudos! I have no doubt you can perform this manuever as you prefer. Did you intend to land exactly on that spot? I thank you for sharing your pics Bruno and know that you are supported and not only by me. My wish for you is for you to master this canopy as you have others and continue in your progression mindfully. -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Really,,,its just thought provoking... Seriously, I am interested but more in the philosophical/political context. I couldn't remember 2lbs or 12lbs but heck, how much more math to compute a couple thousand lbs for an *ICBM. *Discalimer: High tech early warning systems and all considered, I realize they aren't a practical weapon of modern warfare anymore anyway...but... -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Well, (replying to my own post) it just brings to mind.... Why the heck are the Iranians having so much difficulty developing a long-range delivery system for their new technology - or the Koreans for that matter....? -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Sounds pretty technical to me. But Hey!! Did you hear some guy just flew a 2lb remote-control airplane from Scottland to Ireland (like a thirty-eight hr flight) with a GPS monitor etc...? Yeah, something like that and when it landed it had like .08oz of gas left in the tank??? -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

ok, so you invite the young ladies over for a b-b-Q later... after all is done and devoured you tell them that what made the meat so tasty was formerly a farm-raised brownie-fed cat. Delicious!! -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Shame on Bob Sinclair for claiming skydiving has become, "A yuppie sport." Well, then again, most yuppies I know nowadays are material-rich and money-poor anyway!! lol!! You're right though, you really are a skydiver, but you can still afford a cup of coffee, so you're doing better than more than a few guys I know!! -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

I just spent a couple days working with Scott just last week. I am an experienced canopy pilot. I'm swooping a Crossfire 2 119 (1:6) with only about 70-80 or so jumps on this wing. I had felt uncomfortable about being as aggressive on the Xf2 as I was on my former canopies... partly because I bounced like a super-ball pulling a 180 like I had hundreds of times before on other wings. I knew there was more to it than just blaming the canopy. Something was wrong with me! Anyway, I felt I was in a slump; I wasn't progressing. I talked about this with Dr. Scott and asked for his help in making a diagnosis. We went right back to the drawing-board and started from square one : a straight-in no-riser landing. He does this with everyone he says. I understood immediately the importance of this exercise and its almost silly, but, I was actually feeling pretty good about myself having successfully passed that exercise, lol!!! I've read hundreds (if not thousands) of pages of material on canopy design principles, flight characteristics, aerodynamics and piloting with an emphasis on the high performance discipline. It didn't matter with Scott. He has a well thought-out programme, and he doesn't skip steps!! Again, I immediately realized the importance of his methodology, as I sat patiently reviewing so many fundamental principles. What a wake-up call. We also worked on my hp landings a lot. In the final analysis, the good Doctor helped me to realize, in a very profound way, where I was having trouble. I was and still am on cloud nine with renewed confidence and optomism. I would suggest sending him an e-mail for an appointment. I did a one-on-one, but he does mostly groups and even if you don't catch him at DeLand... he'll be coming to a dz near you; wherever you are. -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Now enter the fall season of "too much fun and irresposibility!!" ..In one of the coolest places in the world!! Yeah, I tried too!!! Bummer... but we got connected a few times and that was great! I just got back from DeLand and only a 17hr trip but its taking me a few days to recover. I will suggest though that pee stops at re-fills have an entirely different effect on creating a more stressful/un-relaxing journey ...but then again I might be permanently traumatized having to endure 24hrs of Texas -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

I just saw THIS the other day and it made me smile and reflect about how much I have to be grateful for bro. Life is temporary, so are the ups-n-downs -for the most part... -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Well waddya expect...? Go to http//www.iteebiteetitee.com and ask the same question there,.... my guess is that NOT one pair there would give you the same moral support to buy a rig, instead of a silly set of boobies !! -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

I'm gonna call National Geographic and see if they'll sponsor you!!

I have NOT A DOUBT you will do those, and other, "undone" things... Geez!!! I think you should send those producers a wake-up call that those 20,000 pollsters don't have a clue about what they're missing out on by not living life TODAY !!!! edit to add... yeah... but did you do it without any deet!?!?!! then I'd be really impressed! -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

You guys ROCK, LOL!!!! ... but its all new to me at any rate... I haven't been around for a while -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

If they were Polling Chicagoans I'd expect the same result... "No interest in watching football..." (or at least the Bears for that matter.... -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!