ChristianH

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Posts posted by ChristianH

  3. When I had placed an order for my 2nd jumpsuit I faxed the form over and I took the fax confirmation page as receipt that they got it.

    I asked on the form to be notified by email to confirm receipt but I wasn't too worried about it since I got the fax confirmation.

    I never received an email until a few weeks later with a UPS tracking number.

    So, I am not surprised you havent heard from Tonysuit but I wouldn't be overly concerned. If you are then your best bet would be to call.

    On a sidenote: I am very happy with the suit (I got an RW suit with every option to slow my fat ass down and it does that very well). Yes, they are expensive and they don't communicate well but I would buy from them again anytime just because the suits are top quality.

    (edited for spelling)

  6. Quote

    Quote

    If is an indoor packing area, then there is the second hand smoke issue



    In 1998, the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer released the largest ever and best formulated study on ETS. The research project ran for 10 years and in seven European countries. The study, not widely publicized, concluded that no statistically significant risk existed for nonsmokers who either lived or worked with smokers.


    Please educate yourself before you make claims about the study that distort the truth. :)
    Quote: "The study in question is a case-control study on the effects of ETS on lung cancer risk in European populations, which has been carried out over the last seven years by 12 research centres in 7 European countries under the leadership of WHO's cancer research branch -- the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

    The results of this study, which have been completely misrepresented in recent news reports, are very much in line with the results of similar studies both in Europe and elsewhere: passive smoking causes lung cancer in non-smokers.

    The study found that there was an estimated 16% increased risk of lung cancer among non-smoking spouses of smokers. For workplace exposure the estimated increase in risk was 17%.     However, due to small sample size, neither increased risk was statistically significant."

    Source - directly from the WHO itself:

    http://www.who.int/inf-pr-1998/en/pr98-29.html

    If you need clarification of what statistically significant means you can find it here:

    http://www.tobaccoscam.ucsf.edu/Secondhand/Secondhand_iih_internal_3.cfm

    About the subject at hand:

    I think the original poster handed it VERY well as did the DZO.

  7. Quote

    I have to admitt that when I hear an obvious indian accent I immediately demand to be transfered over to a US supervisor.


    I work at a call center in the US and I have an accent. I can not tell you how many times customers ask me if I am indian and its not even close!

    So if you think that you can easily recognize an indian accent or if you believe that just because someone has an accent they are not in the US or unable to help you then you need to go out more. :S

  8. Quote

    So, a pilot, those degrees and now you're studying medicine? The drugs post did make me wonder if this isn't a troll :S


    I was wondering if it was a troll but I was giving him the benefit of the doubt - up until now.

    Pilot license, degrees in finance and NOW he studies medicine with that kind of attitude and disregard for common sense? Yeah, riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. Probably top of the class too! :D

    Edited: Yep. Matt got confirmation in the other tread that that guy is a troll. I think the moderators should close this thread now. Entertainment over. :)

  10. I had the privilege of donating bone marrow for an unrelated patient last year on November 1st and 2nd.

    It just takes a little of your time and it is a wonderful, wonderful feeling!
    Sort of puts everything else into perspective.....

    I was one of those people who thought "one day" I will sign up for this (same way I was about Skydiving) but you know what?

    There is no better day than NOW for "one day"!

    Most people never get called but you never know. And even if you do not get called you will at least have the reassuring feeling that you did your part to possibly save someone elses life.

    I would do it again in a heartbeat. :)
    If anyone has any questions about the process from a donor perspective feel free to ask.

  12. Quote

    It's a pity, the way the young cock-ups disrespect the older, much more experienced people in this sport. Do I agree with everything they say? No...but I'll look to find a reason why they're saying it, rather than just dismiss it out of hand. But then again, maybe that's a sign of maturity.


    Its a pity the way some *mature* people (must be a sign of maturity to call others young cock-ups ;)) read something into your post that is not there.

    Welcome to the wonderful world of Internet forums!
    :)
    P.S. To the 2 people who wanted to have a copy of the book. Sorry, I have already sent out my copy to someone.

  13. Quote

    The reality of this sport is that it is often "one step up, two steps back." The minute you "get" one thing, there's something else to learn. And sometimes when you think you "get" something, you lose it on the next jump or ten jumps later.

    The good news is, as long as you continue to smile, have fun, and get yourself to the ground safely and without jeopardizing anyone else in the process, you've succeeded in this sport. You will always be learning. :)


    That is sooooo true.

  14. Quote

    Never in all those myriad of students did I see the energy and desire that Rita had.


    That you have not seen it doesnt mean that its not out there. You dont know me or most of the other people on these forums so saying that she has more heart than anyone else is just an assumption (based on your experience of your course which I do not doubt at all) but still an assumption nevertheless. :P

    Realizing that you are NOT made out for something and walking away from it even though you REALLY REALLY want it does take more heart than staying in.

    There comes a point where determination (which I really do admire) turns into stupidity. Realizing where that point is is a sign of maturity. She was still lucky though, she only hurt herself and no one else.

    Quote

    Theres no way on this earth that I would/could try to still that kind of enthusiasm.


    Really? :| Isnt the safety of your students THE most important part? What if the student is a risk to him-/herself and (possibly) to others? Wouldnt your responsibility as a teacher not be more important than the desire of the student to jump, no matter how enthusiastic he/she is?

    Please do not take this as me saying that you are unresponsible (I am not in a position to judge this), I am just curious.

  16. I read the book and I was very disappointed. I was hoping to find an inspiring story about someone struggling with Skydiving. Instead Rita came across as EXTREMELY self centered and opiniated (imo).

    From trying to smoke on the airplane, to calling her instructor names - every chapter made it even more of a struggle to finish it. I havent ever NOT finished a book but this one came close.

    If you want to have the book I will be happy to send it to you and get rid of it.

  20. Quote

    It is a good question but it amazes me that some tandem instructors dont let the passengers fly the canopy and explain how easy it is on your 1st tandem.


    When I did my first Tandem my Tandem Instructor let me pull the ripcord and help steer the canopy. It really felt like I was totally involved. Of course I was already hooked the second we left the plane! :)
    When I did my first AFF jump I was under radio control and guided back to the landing area. You have to be prepared of course for the radio to possibly fail but that really was no big issue. As far as steering the canopy is concerned - That really is VERY easy. The First Jump Course will be quite extensive and prepare you for that.

    There is no way to describe what it felt like to be under canopy by yourself. That is soooooooo much fun!

    To the original poster - the best advice to you from my VERY limited experience - listen to your instructors and dont be afraid to ask questions. You WILL have a blast!

    P.S. My Avatar Picture was taken during my AFF1.

  21. Quote

    I landed on a soccer field where some high school girls were having a game. They stared at me as if I was an alien. I mumbled a quick excuse and made it out of there.


    Sure you made it out of there LOL. More like all these high school girls coming over to you seeing how brave you are. You Hero......


    You sound like my wife! She said the same thing.
    ;) In my dream I was VERY embarassed because all these players and the parents were staring at me like i was crazy because I interrupted their game.

    Well at least I had a stand up landing - if only in my dream.....

  22. I once dream that I was in freefall and just sort of enjoyed the scenery when I decided that it would be a good time to look at the altimeter. I was at something like 500feet or so and I slowly reached for the pc as if I had all the time in the world (500ft? So what! ;)). The canopy opened instantly and I realized that I was not going to make it back to the DZ (in my dream it was all no big deal). I landed on a soccer field where some high school girls were having a game. They stared at me as if I was an alien. I mumbled a quick excuse and made it out of there.

    --

    At one time when my wife and I were looking at houses I joked with her that I wanted to buy a house near the DZ. In my dream we had this house with a real nice deck VERY close to the DZ. My wife was cooking and I decided that it was enough time to get a jump in before supper was ready. I walked over to the DZ, had a nice jump and landed right in my backyard. My wife came out at that instant with the frying pan in her hand and said "Was that REALLY necessary?". I woke up laughing and my wife laughed when I told her about it and said that if it was her dream she probably would have hit me over the head with the pan.

  23. Quote

    I went through the same thing and what cured me was the SMILE. My instructor say how mad I was getting at myself and this statement was what it took to cure me "I thought we were supposed to be having fun up there"...DUH. Now I never leave the plane without a BIG SMILE on my face, it relaxes you so you can do your drills. ;)


    I second that! I had to do my Level 4 twice. I was spinning so fast that I thought that I would develop enough lift to make me go up again! :)I was also told that I look like I am going to war....

    I was told to relax so many times that I got sick of hearing it but what finally did the trick for me was when another instructor was flying in front of me and he started making funny faces and sticking out his tongue at me. I burst out laughing and the funny thing is that got me rocksolid stable! Didn't have any more problems with spinning after that.

    The key really is to relax. Hang in there and you WILL get it! Don't beat yourself up over it. I know, easier said than done, but think about it - you are jumping out of a frigging airplane - if you can not laugh about that then what can you laugh about?;)

  24. Quote

    Congratualtions! How was the first solo jump??
    Jen


    That was soooo awesome! It is one step to go from a Tandem Jump to an AFF jump and then something completely different to do your first solo. No instructors and no pressure to perform. I didn't really do anything except get stable and enjoy the freefall. It was a feeling of TOTAL freedom! Some of my non-skydiving friends keep asking me what it feels like but there really is no way to describe it. You HAVE to get out there and experience it yourself. The only regret that I have now is that I haven't started sooner. But then again, I am only 32 years old so I still have a lot of time!

    I know that I still have a LOT to learn but I look forward to it.:)

  25. Hi Guys!

    I graduated from AFF yesterday and boy, was it a blast! It all started with one innocent Tandem last year and I immediately was hooked. I had to save up some money to start AFF but it is all worth it.
    The only level that I had to repeat was AFF4. I started to spin like crazy and could not get it under control. The jump after that went fine and I never had any problems with spinning again. The instructor who took me up for my graduation dive was by coincidence also the same guy who took me up for my first Tandem. That was really a nice bonus.
    My exit sucked but then again, I got stable and just performed my routines. Tracking is really really fun but I still need to stick out my legs more!
    After that jump I was so happy and I was lucky enough to be able to do my solo jump on the next load. No pressure to perform, no stress, just sheer fun and the feeling of total freedom!
    I met so many interesting people and EVERYONE is friendly and always willing to help a new jumper out. That part of the sport is almost as good as jumping itself!
    I know that I am still at the beginning of my learning but I look forward to every single step and I am smart enough to know what I don't know. To put it in the words of one instructor "You will be fine as long as you don't do anything stupid!".
    To all the other students out there who sometimes wonder if they can pull it through, you will and believe me - it is sooooooo worth it!