jfields

Thanks for all the info and suggestions, folks!

I live in Rockville, but I work in Arlington, so both Maryland and Northern Virginia are options. I used to go to Darnstown for my rigging.

I haven't been skydiving in over five years, so I'm out of contact with local services and rigging. I'm looking to have my gear fully inspected to see if it is airworthy. I know at least the AAD is out of date and would need replacement, along with a new lineset at a minimum. It could be that I need all new gear. Anyway, I'm looking for a rigger in the area to pay to do this inspection. I would have gone with my old rigger, but he died shortly before I stopped jumping. Any suggestions, even including where to look for a listing of riggers? Thanks. Justin

He didn't say it was no longer airworthy, as far as the condition of the rig. Nor did he say there were any government directives grounding them. Just that he wasn't going to repack it any more, and there weren't likely to be any riggers in our area (Washington, D.C.) that would. So I don't know that it is a legislated end of life, as much as perhaps a practical one. If I can't get it repacked, it doesn't get me up in the air. This part of the issue is why I decided to ask the boards. Thanks for asking about the clarification. Justin

I have a Fliteline Reflex manufactured in 2000. I am the second owner of the rig. It has had all the safety mods and such done. The Catapult has been removed and all grommets checked out. The container has had relatively little use in the time i've had it. About 300 jumps or so. A rigger at a local DZ said that he was not going to repack reserves on Reflex rigs after the end of the year. He also mentioned that new riggers and such weren't even learning about them. He advised me to get a new container. I do trust him, but just wanted a double-check from the online folks here. Concur with his assessment and decision or not? Thanks! Justin

The last time I was there (couple years ago), it was a very small, family-friendly DZ. Warm and open vibe. I plan to be in Myrtle next week, and was also considering a day trip up to SCC this Saturday (6/21) or Sunday (6/22). Maybe I'll see you there. Justin

I'm sure it was great, until the zookeeper found out and chased you away. That was because of the velcro on your clothes. You're beeing way too serious, Clay. Lack of sheep, perhaps.

Argh! This thread is full of false information. Some could get you arrested. Some could land you in the hospital. 1) If you are looking for hallucinations or something, forget it. No such thing to be found from absinthe. 2) Distilling absinthe is illegal and can be fairly dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. 3) "Do it yourself" kits where you soak things in Everclear or vodka aren't absinthe whatsoever. And some of the ingredients are toxic if not handled correctly. 4) If you attempt to distill it yourself and discuss it openly on the internet, you may well end up with the DEA at your door. A number of vendors have been mentioned in this thread. Some are reputable, and some are not. Some products mentioned are good, and some are crap. If you are really interested, research it on the Internet before you do anything. Get past the "Thujone will make me trip" mentality and look at it like you would buying a bottle of really fine single-malt scotch. Any bottle of absinthe worth drinking will set you back at least $60, so it isn't cheap either. (Especially for Americans getting it into the country.) http://www.feeverte.net/ As mentioned by someone else, this site is loaded with resources and information. They aren't a vendor, so I'm not trying to push any brand or merchant. For people that do partake, ignorance and misinformation are perpetual problems that give everything a bad name. Think of it like crappy jouralism about skydiving fatalities. It puts jumpers at higher risk of having their little dz's shut down by hostile businesses and municipalities. So, be smart, be quiet, ask intelligent questions and do research before you send money to anyone, and you should be fine.

As usual, question asked and answered, both fully and humorously. I've passed the info (and a link to this thread) to the person with whom I was having the discussion. Now he'll undoubtedly see that: 1) Skydivers know a lot 2) Skydivers are whacked in the head

If you had to estimate, what is the terminal velocity of a cat? Disclaimer: Before anyone freaks out, I'm not going to throw a cat out of a plane, or suggest anyone else do it. It just came up in conversation elsewhere and I was at a loss to provide a reasonable estimate.

They also consider the cash discount a fee for using the credit card. It's the same thing, just packaged differently. If one were to call Visa/MC and complain, they'd still get their account yanked for charging a fee for CC use. The other side of it is one of consistency and integrity. What DZ doesn't have a lengthy waiver you have to sign? Some even make you watch a video explaining the waiver and stressing how it will stand up in court no matter what your family does, because you signed the contract. Then those same DZs happily sign Visa/MC merchant contracts and instantly violate their agreements. "Well, what about my profit margin?" and "Everyone else does it" are damned sad excuses. Don't like the agreements? Don't accept credit cards. If you sign the contract, honor your obligations. Whether you eat it as a cost of business or pass it on as some small ($.50) general price increase is your choice, but drop the hypocritical double-standard and act like mature business people. Not busting on you, Michael. Taking what you said a step further.

Since nobody else has come out and said it yet... Clay, just suck it up and deal! There. Recovering a few dollars a month just isn't worth it. Regular providers can give that service for peanuts, so you can't sustain any real income. And do you honestly want to get into the webhosting business as a piddly side job? Squat for money, but a healthy dose of headaches. It just isn't worth it. Either get a cheaper connection that you can easily afford yourself, or just suck up and pay for the one you really want and deal with the cost.

The other side of that is that you can look at it that all calls on a company-owned telephone must be work-related calls. Don't like the idea of something personal being recorded? Don't have personal calls. Don't like the idea of personal e-mails being read? Don't send/receive them at work. It really is pretty simple. If you don't own the telephone or computer, you have no reasonable expectation to have it be private. Depending on where you work, you may or may not be legally entitled to some privacy on your communications, but it is the prudent thing to do just not to expect it. Act accordingly and you won't find yourself having problems.

From what I read, miles. I think he took up BASE so he couldn't screw up the spot.

No sweat. I'm hosting that video forever.