MajorDad

Moving away from the grammer lesson and back to the OP's question..... Is it time to pull up the lawn chairs with refreshments and munchies to watch the final week of follies and foolishness? Sure looks like a "Crumbling" campaign, expecially with the infighting and the critters leaving the sinking ship....... Major Dad CSPA D-579

One of my favorite DVD's. Especially over the winter..... Blue ones, Major Dad CSPA D-579

You could just come back north...... Trade the rain there for the (soon to be) snow up here!! Blue ones and till the next time, Major Dad CSPA D-579

Long suffering Oilers Fan.... Hey, they are undefeated so far this season! Major Dad CSPA D-579

The election was McCain's to lose and his side is doing a wonderful job of it. He jumped the shark when he temporarily suspended his campaign to save the US economy. He was in trouble before then but that week's follies clinched it. Landslide for Obama. Major Dad CSPA D-579

This is a hypothetical question which does not reflect the reality of the system Dropzones are operating in. As was stated earlier - open your own dropzone without using a waiver as a risk management tool if you so desire. Knock yourself out. Blue ones, Major Dad CSPA D-579

Feel free to open your own dropzone and not use a waiver. Blue ones Major Dad CSPA D-579

OMFG! My thoughts are with Janna and all the many freinds and family of Harry. Eternal Blue Ones Harry. See you in your Red Jumpsuit on the other side. Major Dad CSPA D-579

I listened to the debate on radio (no TV) and my impression was that it was a "tie". Both scored points and both took hits. Will it change the minds of the 45% who will vote Republican anyways - no. Will it change the minds of the 45% who will vote Democrat anyways - no. Personally I think the 10% who are "up for grabs" will be more influenced by the performance this week of McCain and Obama over the economic crisis - especially if McCain's actions proved to be more harmful than helpful (i.e. intejecting himself into the process without helping as he did midweek). Now for the Biden-Palin Debate. Wonder if SNL will have a preview of it on tonight? Blue Ones, Major Dad CSPA D-579

Truth. Now we know why they have been hiding her so much. The vp debate should be a crushing blow. She was a High Risk / High Reward Candidate. A friend of mine has known Palin for years (fellow Alaskan Hockey Mom) and speaks highly of her. Unfortunately, she has not demonstrated so far why she should be a 72-year old heartbeat away from the presidency. Remember Quayle? Oy vey! Blue Ones Major Dad CSPA D-579

Sounds like one of the better explanations for the foolishness that has gone on this week. On the plus side, this will probably have more people tuning into the debate tonight to see if McCain continues to implode or not. Maybe he does need Scotty to bend the laws of physics for him....... Blue Ones Major Dad CSPA D-579

Like watching a train wreck...... Major Dad CSPA D-579

RW is certainly alive at Perris. One group completed a 100 way and the other completed a 63 way. Tomorrow the groups get mixed around and we go at it again. The Bombshelter is pretty active tonight Blue ones Major Dad CSPA D-579

Absolute total scumbags. The first 2 jumps didn't look that bad. i've taken worse. Same here. What's the rest of the story...... Blue ones, Major Dad CSPA D-579

Also consider working in some training camps at locations such as Eloy and Perris where they have both tunnels and the lift. Make sure the team goals of the 4 members are compatable in terms of time/cash committments and the expectations are compatable and realistic. Blue ones and good luck! Major Dad CSPA D-579

From this and other posting's you are making you are well on your way to becoming "That Guy" who people talk about. Since your ability to take advice seems somewhat limited and you are bound and determined to do what you want anyways since obviously everyone is holding you back, here is some more advice: 1. Don't Die. 2. If you do die, die somewhere else doing something else. 3. Make sure your will is up to date prior to step 2. The better plan would be to listen to others and stay within your limits, but apparently they do not appeciate the MAD SKILZ you have to be so much betther than everyone else. BSBD Major Dad CSPA D-579

Here is the link to the Canadian Air Transport Security Page which lists Parachutes (with or without AADs) as permissible carryon. http://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/english/help_aide/faq/sporting_sport.shtml I always carry it on and have had no issues. I also dont bother pointing out it is a parachute. I just put it on the scanner and continue on. Blue Ones Major Dad CSPA D-579

Dont die. BSBD Major Dad CSPA D-579

That is correct. The similarity is a junior jumper doing something without asking for advice/guidence from someone on his DZ who knows him and his skills or doing it without proper training. The OP has indicated he intends to attend a ground launch school. Great. The hill will be there afterwards so why be in a hurry to do it without proper training and equipment? Blue Ones Major Dad CSPA D-579

If you are from Big Sky, talk to your DZO about Groundlaunching with Skydiving Gear. They buried someone last month who got in over his head doing something totally stupid. Get proper training and use the proper gear. Blue Ones Major Dad CSPA D-579

In year 5. Two friends same week, separate accidents, different Dropzones. We cried, we remembered, we laughed, we moved on. We also planted trees at the Drop Zone in their memory which are 20 feet tall now. Every year those of us who remember Merf and Nessman gather around the tree and toast absent friends. It drives home the point to be excellent to each other and look after each other as best we can. Blue ones Major Dad CSPA D-579

Bringing "Competancy" into the equation is a dangerous,slippery slope. Think how a governing party can use "competancy" to disinfranchise groups of people who are not likely to vote for them. Huge can of worms better left unopened.... Blue ones Major Dad CSPA D-579

Painting them with a pretty wide brush. There are plenty of 18 & 19 year olds who know what is going on and are mature for their age. There are plenty of 20 year olds and older who are clueless and have know idea what is happening outside of their bubble. Since there is no way to bring in "competancy" into the voting equation, the simple solution is the age requirement. As someone pointed out, since they can die for thier country at 18, shouldnt they have the right to vote for the government who is going to put them in harms way? Blue ones. Major Dad CSPA D-579

[reply (....snip) It just boils down to charging for: 1. The work 2.The liability or "exposure' 3. Or both BS, MEL It also boils down to the revenue. My rigger increased his rate for a repack when Canada went to a 180-day cycle. He is a full time skydiver/rigger with no other income outside of the sport. He upped his rate so that the revenue he made from rigging would stay approx the same as opposed to going down. He has to eat and pay bills too. Since he has saved my existence 6 time over the years (each being nice, soft, on-heading openings) it has been worth every penny! Blue ones, Major Dad CSPA D-579

Brett is on the right track. I have talked to a number of Western Canadians who were at a number of the Large Open and Women's Formations over the last few years and the feedback was less than complimentary (waste of money/time/etc). In contrast the feedback from Western Canadians who have gone to events such as P3 Big Ways has been more than positive. We all have so much money and time to spend on our past time and people will vote with their feet (and are). That being said, glad to see that Montreal has broken ground and is pouring concrete. Hope that we can show similar pictures from the Calgary Tunnel soon as well. Blue Ones Major Dad CSPA D-579