LuvToFly

Best of luck, and thanks for all your work ! "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Two, with one doing a tandem - "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Do hang-gliders count? "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Eardrum rupture. Ouch, what's up with that? Like Superman32 said, (and I mentioned) the shots do take some time.. but if you are looking towards a cure rather than a band-aid, it's the only way to go. I don't believe that all Allergists are created equal however. Make sure you do a bit of research on the Allergist to get some idea of their success ratio with folks. I hunted down a practice that was reommended to me by a number of Allergy sufferers where they had good experiences. Nothing wrong with checking them out - Having said that, I do believe that desensitization shots can work for just about anyone. If they could work for me who was absolutely hyper-allergic to all manner of tree, grass and weed pollens, I would bet they could probably help you too! "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Hey there Heather! I can speak to this with some authority - Since I was six I went through several diagnosis for my pollen allergies with several different allergists. In each case, they called their nurses over for teaching purposes to show an "extreme reaction" to the allergy needle tests. I had terrible pollen allergies all my life, and then when I was an adolescent, I tried taking what they called shots at this time. But it really did nothing for me. Later, when I worked in the corporate world and had to give presentations to large groups of people at the Fortune-500 corporation I was a manager at, it was all I could do not to be sneezing mid-way through. A serious pain in the ass. Fast forward a whole bunch of years later and about 6 years ago I decided that maybe they have perfected the whole shot thing a bit better. So I embarked on a 3 year journey taking shots. Now you have to understand, in my case, my allergies to pollen were so severe that instead of the usual 1 in 10,000 parts within the serum, mine was dilluted to 1 in 100,000 parts to start - so this was going to take a long time. Now, with the exception of an occasional minor bout in really bad allergy situations (mostly high winds) I am happy to say that for the last three years I have been almost completely symptom free. This is a HUGE statement from someone that could barely function in public throughout my whole childhood due to sneezing, and horrific itching in the nose, styes in the eyes, and poison-ivy type itching in the ears and throat. (ironically I am not allergic to poison ivy). You can get cured from this. Seek out a very reputable allergist and do the shots. I had no choice because the over the counter things did not work, but if this is a signficant enough burden in your life, it's worth trying to actually get cured from this malady. In the meantime, be aware that no matter how tight you close up the house, any pets are absolutely loaded with pollen and they spread it all over the house. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

I disagree. As a new jumper, she may not be aware of a potential danger to herself as to the wingloading issue. A mentioning of that potential in any forum might be something she can then pick up with the instructor of her choice, and be better off for it. If it's never mentioned as a consideration, she will never know to ask. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

I had always been told that having a reserve that is this much smaller than your main is NOT a good idea for a new jumper. For one thing, bets are that most jumpers have never even flown a canopy of that size under any circumstances - and during an emergency is not the time to be learning to navigate a canopy which you have never piloted and cannot predict its responses. The safety risk you are concerned about is the fitting of the 170 into the 150 - whereas I think the true safety risk that is being glossed over is the reserve size and your inexperience piloting anything like that in this case. 30 SF does matter - particularly with low jump numbers. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Any results on this yet? "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Wow... $104 million for Ironman opening, 2nd largest opening for a non-sequel after Spiderman, another Marvel property. Add to that the $96 million for non-US during that time period, over 200 million for an opening. It's really cool that this was the first project that was completely financed by the new Marvel Studios. Look out Hollywood - when the comic book producers have now become the studios. This, in fact is huge news and a pivotal success. And although distribution deals for some future Marvel releases are already penned, there may come a day soon where distribution is also taken out of the hands of the major studios - certainly with advances in digitally delivered content - this would be inevitable. Outside of "independent" films, the major studios have had a bit of a stranglehold on what films get made and distributed. So it will be interesting to see what the future holds in this area. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

This sort of reminds me of a conversation that I had a couple of months ago with Handsome Dave DeWolf. I was standing next to him and I remarked, "Dave, being younger than you, I still can experience significant aches a day after skydiving... how do you do it so often when you are in your 70's" With a deadpan look, he replies, "I hurt everywhere... and all the time..." Being the eternal jokester, I was not sure how literal he meant that. But then he assured me, he was. That's one more reason why I have respect for the guy, and ANYONE who is thus senior and doing something like skydiving. To be in pain all the time, and to press on to engage in an extreme sport which is clearly more forgiving towards 20 year old bodies is an act of heroism in my view. And you definitely do hurt more as you get older, regardless of what you are doing. That means props, to POPS, SOS, and beyond - As to the survey, it reminds me of when I was a kid and they had these scales in the five and dime that also gave you a rolled up fortune. One day I got one that said, and I quote: "You like good food, and attractive people..." Conducting a survey to conclude that folks living with less income or that might be doing more physical work are living with more pain? Wow... wonder if I can roll that up and put 'er in that scale - Having said that, I often wonder about the whole pain mechanism. It seems faulty. There are times where you need to feel pain to alert you that there is something wrong or an area that needs to be protected. But after you "get" the message, exactly how much pain is really required? My view? I'd like a reboot, please. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

I'm not sure where you are coming from with your strange comments, let alone the fact that you took opportunity to go on a tirade of slanderous comments unprovoked, towards me, advising me - not to slander people My only concern is for how the sport is being portrayed. Are the facts being reported in such a way where the public is given a fair assessment of whether an incident or a death was preventable, or not? Was there training available or given to address such situations, or... ...are we ALL a bunch of wreckless, out of control idiots who, if not for mandatory government intervention, are surely set on killing ourselves and any other innocent party we happen to crash into on the ground? The public does not understand what we do, why we do it, or what the risks involved are because they are oft not given the truth about why something really happened. I'd highly recommend that you put your feelings aside about Richardson and look to the larger picture about preserving the sport. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Weren't most of those comics writen at a time when the only positive images available in comics were of caucasians? While that may be true, if one is to be true to the intent of the author's original work, there is nothing wrong with being true to the characters. Reportedly, in the Michael Crichton novel, Jurrassic Park, the brilliant kid that saved the day figuring out the computer, was not the girl, it was the little boy. People change shit for PC all the time - "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

I watched that piece on the guy above as well and I found it totally irritating because of the same concerns as other incidents. That is, there seems to be an overall absence of confessions regarding responsibility for these incidents in many cases. In the one cited above, I listened purposely - very carefully - to every word he said - and all he would say (on 2 occasions) about the incident is, "When I stepped out of the plane, the relative wind withdrew my pilot chute from it's pouch" Saying it twice, it communicates to the general public that the wind did it, and not the jumper. There was no suggestion on his part that he f'd up his pack job, or didn't do a pin check, or any of the standard safety procedures that could make such an event so very avoidable. This is very bad mojo because anything that falsely increases the public's perception that the sport is dangerous beyond our control (such as villainous wind above) increases the chances of unwanted government regulation at some point down the road. It's not a trivial matter when these very high profile shows present people that do not own up to the fact that they screwed up - "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Agreed - I like Jackson, but this politically correct crap is for the birds. All in all, a kick-ass movie though. Went with several women who swore that they were going to be bored - but they liked it just as much too! I grew up reading all manner of Marvel and DC mags, and it so rewarding when you see a movie that does one of the characters justice. The monetary success will guarantee a sequel (all the stars are signed to do 3 movies) and will also open some new doors for director Jon Favreau. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Try wearing a heavy pair of shorts, underneath a pair of pants. Sometimes such "padding" can make a difference - short of getting gear that fits right - which usually means custom-made. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

That 6000 degrees Kelvin is a little spooky though - Perhaps an asbestos frap-hat? "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Yes, what you relayed above is exactly the point. Huckabee had been petitioned 4 times to commute Dumond's sentence - which was within his power, and refused each and every time. His letter of desiring him to be released by means of going through the parole process is the answer to that denied request for commutation. It is, to say, "no, I will not give you a free pass for your crimes - you must go through the process to prove yourself worthy to rejoin society like any other criminal by being subject to the scrutiny of the parole board." Why would a person do such a thing who wanted him released from jail when a pardon would have been a click away? It's completely apparent to anyone looking unbiasedly that he was insisting that Dumond go through the parole process, where there are checks and balances in place to review all the criteria under which a decision could be rendered within the process. Huckabee had the power to circumnavigate the process - and refused to use it - wanting Dumond to be tested under the scrutiny of the parole board to rejoin society. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

And sometimes, even when you do review the aerial photo, talk to the instructors, and walk the field it's still a mind-blower. The first time I jumped at Aerohio I exited and said, "where the hell is this place.." Cornfield, in the middle of a cornfield. I didn't feel as bad when Scott Miller told me that the same thing happened to him there - "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Not even close - The convict in question re: Huckabee (Dumond) went through the parole system and all due process, with the prescribed checks and balances. Some are concerned about what Huckabee's views were, but the convict went through the established system for determination of candidacy for release. Contrasting that to the case of Willie Horton: He was released from jail for a weekend furlough - during which time he comitted crimes. This was not a person for whom it was determined he was safe to return to society by due process. As far as "sinking" don't think that's going to be the case, and there are reasons for that: The case of Dukakis's ill-fated campaign could not be compared with Huckabee on many important levels - levels from which Huckabee's support rises from: Dukakis had no particularly original agenda. But he did have lots of positions that did not agree with the voting public: - Stated that he was a "card carrying member of the ACLU" - Seen as being soft on defense - Opposed capital punishment These positions made him unpopular on a number of fronts as they weren't former positions, but current ones. Huckabee is a minister who supports capital punishment and does not have a record of being soft on crime. But he's also agressive towards corporate board-room greed and the fair tax. While one may argue whether the inherent goals could be achieved, the supporters of Huckabee believe him to be a good man with vision - whereas Dukakis was viewed as - well - a dullard. However, besides the Willie Horton issue and his positions, the main nail in Dukakis's prospects was that people did not like him. They found him somber, unconvincing and utterly unenthusiast - even about positions that he should be. They did not like his personality (am old enough to remember seeing him campaigning - so boring) One of Huckabee's greatest strengths is that he is liked by many, is seen as enthusiastic about his vision for America, and knows how to connect with the public, and that has led to a broader base of support. In truth, Huckabee is not starting from a weaker position, but a much stronger one. I do agree that people are much more fickle today than they were in '88 - so we'll have to wait and see what happens - "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

It can get quite a bit warmer OR colder... Right now, we're in the high 70's. This weekend, They are calling for high 50's... Brrrrrr! The first time I went to Eloy at this time of year I was surprised at how cold it can get. I had coaching in the morning and froze my arse off in freefall. Took me by surprise. Had to wear a coat at night - "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Douglas, I think my problem with the whole Mormon/Romney thing is two fold - 1) He has gone out of his way - way out of his way - to step forward in a speech to convince the American public that he is just a simple Christian, like all other Christians - stating that "Jesus Christ is the son of God" as positional proof of that fact. Theologically speaking, there is no one living in the entire world who believes that Jesus Christ is the son of God more than the devil. So to say that Christ is the son of God in fact says nothing about one's shared vision with rank and file Christians. 2) Speaking of devil, the devil is in the details where conventional Christianity and Mormonism are concerned. The aspects about the diety of Christ, how he got to be the son of God, who he was related to, and how God the creator got to be there are fundamentally attached to conventional Christian thinking. But the Mormon religion has different explanations on all of those fronts. This is not conventional Christianity at all - but something else. It does not make it bad - but it is not the same. My complaint with Romney is because he is playing the chameleon game - to appear like everyone else amongst evangelicals, when in fact Mormonism holds grossly different views on a number unnegotiable fronts. I'd have more respect for someone if they had a particular faith, had no problem admitting how much it really was different, and was okay with that. There is a feeling of a smoke-screen to many in all of this - The other problem with his actions is that they appear too blatently the result of political expediency. It was not until it was discovered that "God is good" for poll numbers due to Mike Huckabee's meteoric rise that he made a 180 turn on speaking (he said formerly that he saw no reason to defend his faith on more than one occasion) In the Mormon articles of faith, it clearly spells out that the Word of God is incomplete without the Book of Mormon. This is utterly incompatible with Christian view as it is understood by most believers. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

We have SO much better stories than golfers though - especially if you tell 'em: "I fell out of a plane and reached around towards my butt only to find I had a monkey-fist and almost bounced trying to get it unsnagged." Thought provoking... Far outweighs any story with the word "putter" in it

I've worn a full faced helmets for the large majority of all my jumps, and in very cold, here are a few tips.... 1) I keep my Visor open full, - then - half way open as I approach the door, waitin' to get out. Next, when when it's time to leave, visor full down. 2) As soon as I am under a sound canopy, I flip it up immediately, Yes. it gets a little chilly, but the airspeed issue is over so it's no problem for your eyes. If it gets cold you can pull it down full or even partial (depending on the helmet) again for a bit. I always have it wide open on every final approach, regardless of temperature - To do that well you'll need to get in the practice of releasing the visor with your gloves on. Even with the Winter Tacktified I have no problem opening my Z1 - which is a pretty small release mechanism. "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Congratulations! That's a big accomplishment. Any skydive that you can walk away from without being injured is a good one! "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

Here's what has worked for me: 1) I always print out and hand the TSA a full-sized color print of the Cypres X-Ray image. 2) I also tell them very early in the line - even if I am WAY back in the line - I tap anyone I see with a TSA uniform on the shoulder and tell them to tell the folks at the machine that I have a parachute coming through. In the past, I've seen TSA folks at the machine start looking up procedures after they've gotten that early notice, thereby sparing any great delays or tensions of arriving with that news two feet from the X-ray. Never had a problem (so far anyway) using that two-pronged approach - "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky