TaeKwonDoDo

michaelmullins

Congratulations to Garlic City Skydiving in this hard-won fight and kudos to USPA and its Director of Government Relations Randy Ottinger.

However, I think the name of their DZ stinks :)

Mike Mullins

You should be here around the end of July...

grimmie

The USPA is VERY involved with ALL access issues. The main problem for the Airport Access Defense Fund is that skydivers don't often donate to it. Those funds are reserved for FAA Part 16 hearings. So the next time you renew your membership, buck up for the fund.

During my own 2 year access battle with the city of Oceanside, Randy Ottinger, USPA's director of government relations, went above and beyond the call of duty to assist every step of the way. What goes on behind the scenes with access issues would amaze you. The work load is incredible to battle the red tape.

Attorney Rick Durden is the USPA's go to guy for these issues. He assisted in my access issues.

DZ.com needs a "Like" button... ^^^

Completely agree with Mr. Grimm - Priceless.

A billion hours went into this from the USPA - Thank God for them and Randy O. The average skydiver has no idea how much the USPA protects the sport (often, from our own stupidity).

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Looks like you're moving too much. Why do you shoot at 1/250? Try 1/400 or 1/500, and keep your head more still.
Also you really need to clean your sensor, I'd touch up those photos before I gave them to a customer, myself.

Another tip, not sure if you already do this as you only posted a few pics, but the first 2 pics are nice shots of the TM, but you can't see the passenger, try getting in at least a bit of belly from the passenger so his/her face actually makes the shot, no-one needs shots of the TM and his/her rig, IMO.

Agreed on all points. Got a sensor cleaning kit in the mail today and will be working on that tomorrow. I also have some good pictures of the customer, but they are close up (and not at the same distance as the other "fuzzy" pictures - why I posted them).

I have the camera on 250 mainly because that's what was suggested to me by a few of the more experienced photographers at the DZ - so that's what I set mine at. "Holding still" in a 120 mph exit does present a challenge now, doesn't it? ;)

I'll do a spec or two with the camera set to 400 and see how things turn out.

Thanks for the tips and the feedback - I'm getting to do more and more of this, and want to provide good shit to the customer. This fuzzy stuff really upset me when I saw it - and don't want to see it again.

Manual focus set in the packing barn at about 5 or so feet (using AF to get the focus, then taping at that setting).

This looks like a shutter-speed issue... but I also noticed just a moment ago that the camera is in the wind in both the first shots (using a goldmember), whereas my head's breaking the wind in the other two shots.

Perplexed...

I took several pictures in free-fall the other day and had something funky ruin a pretty good shot and can't figure out what it is or why.

Here are the links on Flikr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8757850@N08/

What's odd is that these are all from the same jump. Some are crystal clear (IMG 4255, 4257) and some that should be the client's "desktop" photos were blurry (4246, 4247) and I need to understand what happened.

Camera is a Rebel 300 (original) w/EFS 18-55m set/taped to 18mm at focus. Camera set to TV: 250.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

- Jeff

I'm trying to understand what the benefits are to an airport that hosts a drop zone... I mean why hassle with skydivers if given the choice? (except for the FAA/Funding threat)...

I can think of a few...

Patronizing the airport by buying fuel from the airport and using their (if present) APs...

Do they get money for each take-off/landing of the plane?

What other things benefit the airport?

Thanks.

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Reading the SIM, I read the following:

"1. Areas used for skydiving should be unobstructed, with the following minimum radial distances to the nearest hazard:
a. solo students and A-license holders—100 meters

b. B- and C-license holders—50 meters

c. D-license holders—unlimited"

I read this as a circle with a diameter of 100 meters for A-License holders (effectively, a field minimum 600'x600').

Am I reading this correctly?

Thanks.

You've got something mixed up.

You say "diameter 100 meters", which doesn't seem right to me. Should be diameter 200 m.

But you also say 600' x 600', which is about the correct size for 200 m diameter.

I believe the correct diameter is 200 m.

Me just being upid-stay.

Meant radius of 100M (dia 200M, or ~600'x600' square).

Thanks.

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Yes, you are, but why are you striking every thing?

must have been a hidden escape character in the cut/past out of the online SIM.

And Thanks for the quick reply.

- Jeff

Reading the SIM, I read the following:

"1. Areas used for skydiving should be unobstructed, with the following minimum radial distances to the nearest hazard:
a. solo students and A-license holders—100 meters

b. B- and C-license holders—50 meters

c. D-license holders—unlimited"

I read this as a circle with a diameter of 100 meters for A-License holders (effectively, a field minimum 600'x600').

Am I reading this correctly?

Thanks.

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You left $400 worth of jump tickets lying around in your car and you just forgot about them? Seems a bit silly that you are getting angry so long after the fact. You snooze, you loose.

I never said I was angry anywhere in this thread.

As for why I didn't find the tickets: I started jumping elsewhere because of the weather at SMB is so iffy in the summer and I got tired of waiting all-day for the fog to clear when Hollister is closer to home and always clear... and SMB was mainly focusing on Tandems at the time... (still mainly is).

Others started feeding on what happened with their thoughts and opinions (including you) vs. just trying to be helpful and answering the question: Does anyone have a contact.

Which by the way, you came the closest so far.

Thanks.

I read the thread and it was pretty vague - and some guy posting his thoughts on a bulletin board on what the DZO may or may not have verbally said to him (which is how it was written), doesn't dismiss a business obligation the owner has regarding the liabilities he purchased when he bought the company (Unless there is another thread, specifically by the owner that I didn't find - which, legally, still shouldn't matter).

I am just asking if someone can PM me any information on how I can contact the new owner to discuss and get his position directly from "the man".

If someone can help me with that, I would be grateful.

Thanks,

- Jeff

While cleaning out my truck, I ran across an envelope FULL of Skydive Monterey Bay tickets (around 20 of the pink ones). They are a couple of years old (a misplaced xmas present from the spouse).

I went to SMB a couple of weeks ago to see if they would honor them and I was informed by manifest that SMB was sold to a new owner (which I knew) and the old tickets are no longer honored (which was a surprise).

Normally, when a business is bought - all of its assets AND liabilities (e.g., leases, bills, and specifically in this case, jump tickets) are assumed by the new owner. Also, when we buy tickets we're all told they are non-refundable - but there is nothing anywhere about an expiration date written (or said) anywhere...

Manifest told me to call Jess, the old owner to see if he would give me my money back (ha, ha).

So, instead of starting a thread on bashing SMB for not honoring these tickets, I would be grateful if someone could PM me a contact "who matters" for the new SMB so I can talk to them.

Thanks,

- Jeff

Must the entire hour be continuous? I was thinking about buying an hour, and splitting it over 4-5 days/sessions...

Thanks...

- Jeff

I shot some video this weekend and one of the more experienced video flyers told me that there is significant degradation as a result of taping over an previous taping - even with Digital tape...

Digital is digital, isn't it?

Thanks,

- Jeff

Any help appreciated in advance. I've been shooting video for a while and am just now getting around to figuring out how to transfer to my PC (so I can burn to DVD).

The PC105 came with a program called "Image Transfer". I hook up to my Firewire and in the "Image Transfer" "Capture Enviornment" I click on the "1394" button.... and nothing. Says "Camcorder not found".

I have my camera set to VCR... Is there additional camera settings I need to set?

Also, the "Image Mixer" came with a USB driver, but I didn't install it cause I am using 1394 - dumb question...(???). should I install it?

Any help on what's going on is greatly appreciated (I could have lived a while longer without needing to know this, but the wife just shot some tape of the kids, and now the pressure is on...)

TIA,

[OKOK... Edit added... So My wife says... "Is it connected to the camera?"

I said..."Do I look stupid? Of course it is..!!!".

Then I think for a moment, and look around the back of the computer for the other end of the firewire cable... sitting there on the floor. I'm going to go jump out of a plane now....]

- Jeff

I'm starting to think about doing a base-jump and would like some thoughts. I've got about 150 SDs.

Well, I'm going to Norway next week and I hear somewhere near Oslo there is a base "school".

Does anyone know how I can get in touch with the school? I would like to see if I can line up some training and maybe a first-jump (beer) while I am there...

TIA

- Jeff

My wife got me a Sony TVR38 and a Velocity helmet with a side-mount VC holder for christmas - the camera seems a little big (but lots of features).

Does anyone know if this camera can be used for jumping with this helmet?

TIA,

- Jeff

I went to eloy (via PHX/SWA) from SJC last week and had no almost no issues on the way there... I didn't have the rig bagged up cause it was easier to just throw it on my back and carry my and my wife's luggage... so it was obvious to everyone what I was carrying on (got a lot of weird looks though as I boarded the plane).

The TSA guy at X-RAY at SJC wanted to swab it was all (the ADD looks like a modified explosive device in the x-ray, the tech told me - but the guy had seen it before so they just swabbed it and I was on my way).

The way back was a different story though as some brand-new dumb-assed USTA "Kid" wanted to impress his boss and coworkers -

I had made it through X-Ray in PHX and most of the TSA staff was just joking along with me about my "fear of flying" and then this Kid says to me, "Whoa whoa whoa...I gotta check this out for one of those CO2 thingy's. You can't fly it on a plane if it has one of those CO2 thingy's in it. I need to inspect it again. We may have to open it too..."

What the phuck is a "CO2 thingy?"

So he sent it through X-Ray again and then had the chem checker swab it. Meanwhile I gave the Super there the USTA letter (which suprisingly enough, he had never seen before).

It all went well, but that but-head kid really pissed me off (and I think a few of his co-workers were actually laughing at him). What really scares me though is that this kid would probably let Osama walk right through while he's busting someone else's balls (out of ignorance).

Bring the letter, Bag the rig if you can.

- Jeff

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but for some irrational reason, I don't want to be on some student's slab

I'm a donor with the same stipulation... use me then burn me - just don't pickle and poke me. That is unless they get this whole cryogenics or cloning thing worked out...

One specific reason, when I worked at a college right after I graduated, they had a nursing department that had received a new cadaver...

The instructor of the class was explaining to the students (mostly female) the it was understandable for them to feel "uncomfortable" when the cover atop the cadaver was removed and if they needed to step out - to feel free and get some fresh air, and once their composure was re-gained to come back into class.

Upon saying that, he removed the cover and a girl near the front started screaming and went into absolute hysterics and ran from the room.

After they finally got her to calm down to the point where she could speak, she gasped and explained that the cadaver was a recently deceased relative...

Don't put me (or my family - #2's going for a nursing degree) in that position...

- Jeff

It's even more drastic than that -

Q: Why will women rule the world someday?
A: Because they control 1/2 the money and ALL of the P*ssy

- Jeff

Ivan - am I the first?

(And you still haven't PM'ed me about my daughter - I bought her a robe! )

- Jeff

Well, I'm (temporarily) screwed.

I'm stuck in Oslo where it get's light at 9:00 a.m. and dark at 2:00 - and no Sci-fi channel anywhere. I've been waiting for this new series for 6 Yarans - and then get sent away to the one of the older colonies for the opening week.

Hence my speedy investment in a TiVo a few Centons ago (Life will never be the same). BUT - if I get home and someone's erased these episodes, By the "Lords of Cobol"... there'll be hell to pay.

Frack.

- Jeff

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"Eww! Opa! Did you fart?"

Yup - that was me on the last Otter load... .

- Jeff

I'll make her wear the Jedi robe if you pass the background check...

- Jeff