Dagny

Don't have any answers to your hypotheticals, but let me say this. I've seen a lot of people injured and a lot of people die. The one thing that I've learned is that no one can predict injury severity or mortality potential. Sometimes you live when it doesn't seem like you should and sometimes you die when it just doesn't make sense. So, my two cents...land as best you can on every skydive and leave it at that. Here's a question for you since you're interested in the "what if" scenarios. Have you written a living will for yourself? Never a bad idea... Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Seriously, I cannot get enough of the Lutz video! I love how he's being interviewed and he's STILL clueless about what happened. Oooh, like he's a few fries short of a happy meal. Or he's a few cans short of a six-pack. Nah, he's just a couple synapses short of cognitive. Good times. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

CV is curriculum vitae. It's like a resume, but a longer more thorough summary of your educational and professional experience. Wendy has some great advice!

Super busy and being a bad friend! I'm calling you this week!

Hey, Angela! I think prestige of the school is probably one of the most important factors. The name can open doors or at least get your CV looked at a little more closely. But, I think it also depends on what your goals are for a career and what factors are most important to you. Of course, but you knew that. I'm achieving my career goal even with a relatively unknown undergrad college and so, for me, it all worked out in the end. Good grades will take you far. A good CV takes you further. But, it doesn't hurt to be a graduate of a well known program. Some programs just demand respect. You've got a nice list of choices to consider, congratulations!

This is one area that I have to disagree. There is something to be said for experience. However, I don't believe that jump numbers alone are an adequate way to determine someone's knowledge or ability to judge another's skills or canopy choice. The information or advice that you can supply from personal experience over the jumper with only a quarter of your total jumps is invaluable, but I think that the numbers aren't necessarily indicative of someone's right to give advice. Just like earning a license doesn't necessarily mean anything. I mean, some people got lucky and got their paperwork in for a D license before the requirements changed and have it with far fewer jumps than I'll need to achieve the same thing. Given that skydiving is both a physical and mental sport, I believe that experience combined with currency, licensure and certifications held, and training (through books, classes, etc) are far more important qualifiers for judging and advising. Therefore, I would value the opinion of my AFF instructor over some random D licensed fun jumper on the dz in skydiving issues. I would value the opinion of the person who sells and deals with gear for a living over someone who doesn't. Other than holding certifications and maintaining licensure and currency, what is in place to measure someone's ability to give good advice? Because I don't think jump numbers are good enough. That 400 jump skydiver that you feel you have superior judgement than may be more current than you or be more well read than you or have participated in more training (canopy control courses or otherwise) than you. It's acceptable to share what your experience has taught you, but I have to draw the line at using numbers as the prime delineator in judgement ability. As for selling gear, I have a friend who is on gear that some would consider aggressive. But, this person was given a recommendation and approval by a skydiver with the right qualifications. Do I agree with it? Not really, but I also tend towards being conservative. But the approval came from someone I also trust, so who am I to say it's right or wrong? Long story short, I'm basically saying that until the USPA publishes guidelines dictating acceptable wingloading risk for skydivers with specific levels of experience there is too much variability in what is recommended or considered appropriate for each individual. Perhaps they have approval from their dzo or an instructor or maybe they just want to buy the canopy at the screamin' good deal you're selling at knowing they won't jump it till they're ready. Or, what if you do ask tons of questions of a buyer before you give up your gear...what's to stop them from lying? Are you going to go the distance and call their DZ to confirm their information? The responsibility remains that of the individual. As for the checks and balances, I feel that these should be the responsibility of the USPA and the DZ. And, as for giving advice, I think it's important to have the right qualifications. Experience alone just doesn't cut it. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Watch out world...How old is he gonna be when you get him his first mountain bike? It's so cool having nephews and nieces! You can spoil 'em all good like and they love 'ya and life is just good. You know, they start out all cute and fuzzy and smellin' like baby shampoo and then they get bigger and talk and get personalities and that's when the real fun begins. I'm currently trying to teach my nieces all they need to know to be skydivers. My sister is thrilled. Really. Congratulations, Joe!!!! Good times begin now!

Methinks there's a fine line between humility and cabeza grande! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

I'm not sure if I feel aroused or frightened by that image.... *shutting my eyes and thinking of nekkidness next to my cookies* Yeah, seeeeeeee.....cookies and nekkid trenchcoat wearing bodies should not be mixed! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

You....have....thin mints...... That is a precious commodity outside of girl scouting fatten up the nation time. And that, my friend, makes you my new favorite friend! I just want one little cookie......okay, maybe two...or three if you aren't looking. Oh, so yum. You are smart. And EVIL AS ALL HELL since I can't get them! Diabolical mastermind. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Gotta go with the mint here, too. Maybe it's because I love those damn girl scout cookies, but mint and chocolate is one of the yummiest combinations ever! OOH, like the mint oreos....left in the fridge till they're nice and cold. YUM Great, now I'm craving cookies and milk. Is there no end to the madness? Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Self-deprecation not allowed here!!! Besides, your purple-190-stiletto-wingsuit-flying self is lookin' mighty fly in that avatar pic!

Good man. Party on! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Whoa, now that IS good news! Congrats on getting through the madness and starting the next crazy ride! My good news is that, despite my apparent inherent ability to cause chaos in my own little world, I have finished my second year of school. The boards are looming in the oh-so-near future, but I'm totally psyched because in just two short months I will be working in the hospital...seeing real patients...moving one year closer to the day I can get MY contract (and my long white coat)! I'm gettin' ready to move to Florida's west coast. I ain't got no money, but I've got a whole helluva lotta optimism. It's going to be a good year. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Yellow is hot...but a demo team that makes me crave greasy, salty McD's fries is just plain evil. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Brown hair with reddish chunky highlights is what I was going for when I bought hair color at walgreens. What I got was mostly red with reddish/blonde chunky highlights. Still cool, though. Gotta love changing your color...if you don't love it, change it. Change with the seasons. Change with your mood. Change it with your outfit. It's all good. But, for you...Since the day I met you, I have both loved and envied your awesome red hair. My vote is to stay red. But if you're really eager for a change, go brown and get some kick-ass funky highlights. (my vote is to stay red, but hey, I'm just a girl) Are you going professional color or just winging it on a box? Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

I don't have any experience building kegerators, law, but I have mucho experience indulging in the nectar of the gods that flows from its tap. Life will never be the same, whether you build or buy. Just get to it!

No one is saying that you are less safe for choosing to jump with a cypres and only if you have a cypres. You're a safety conscious new-ish jumper. I think the target audience here is the jumper who is willing to push the envelope past where it should be pushed because they have an AAD back-up device. Like for the jumper who squeezes out just a few more points...or holds that head down carve just a bit longer than they should. Or whatever the story may be that gets a jumper to take a chance that they wouldn't take without that back-up device in place. So, it seems like the emphasis is and has always been....jump if you know the risks and accept them. Be safety conscious and rely on yourself to pull at the right altitude. I don't have an AAD, so if I fall through 800, 700, 600 ft at terminal, nothing but my own two hands is going to put a reserve over my head. The only difference between that and the person who has a cypres fire for a no-pull situation is that the AAD owner probably will probably live long enough to realize that they made a stupid mistake. Either way, the point is to be responsible, make a plan, follow it, and pull at the right time. So, praetorian, I really just wanted to say, don't take everyone's opinion so personally. There's nothing wrong with having safety devices in place. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

So, I looked at the last picture...couldn't help myself! Got one question for you: You scratched, didn't you? Just a guess...it's the reason docs recommend not shoving anything inside the cast to scratch even if it's itchy. You scratch the skin and the normal bacteria of the skin which have been thriving on the dark moist environment inside the cast take up residence in your skin. No matter how it happened, keep it clean and dry! And, next time, just tell the doc to take it off for you. Looks like you're about to hack your leg off in that first pic! Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Ha! I knew it! Now....which new present do I want to get myself? Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Thanks to you and mark for the email addy! You know, I just thought about something...I've finally been in the sport long enough to have to fix one of my skydiving toys. Sweet! Someone should buy me beer. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Ahhhh....sewing. I knew there had to be something complicated involved. That's a man's job, isn't it? Well, since my rigger is a guy...I'm certain that's the case. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

I know it's just a simple ring, but since the strap that holds it is stitched closed I can't seem to figure out how to replace it. But, then...I have been lusting after a digital for a while now... Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

I have a standard hand-mount altimeter that I've owned for a little over a year now. I just noticed that the rubber ring that fits over my fingers is cracking. I definitely want to have something else in place before I jump again because I don't trust its solidarity. Other than that, everything is great with it. Does anyone know how to change out that ring? Or any other tricks for keeping the alti in place while I jump? Or do I just hang up the alti and get a digital? Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali

Obviously you've never been to New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Bunch of drunk whuffo's getting nekkid and doing lots of other unspeakable, uninhibited things after dark. Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali