Flyer2Diver

: 4 : 0 Now at 28 jumps - only have packing left to get my A , then . oh yeah! _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006

If you're burning the DVD yourself (not making a copy of a hollywood disc), the resulting burned disc won't have a region restriction encoded on it - and will play in any player, even an unmodified one. (if I'm not mistaken) The other issue you bring up is compatibility with DVD+/-RW - I have two DVD players, the older one (Panasonic DVD-A100) will play only DVD-/+R, and the newer one (Sony NS700P) will play both DVD-/+R and DVD-/+RW - it has to do with the optical properties of the disc and the age/model of the player. If you want maximum chances of the disc working, burn a DVD-R or DVD+R rather than an RW. Here's a useful site with compatibility reports by type of DVD player http://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers.php Blue Skies _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006

8 for me, this past Saturday. I was jumping student rental gear, which includes packing. Had two rigs out so they could be packing while I was jumping. It was still busy enough at the school that I was waiting for packing several times. _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006

Canada is NTSC - here's a full list of the other NTSC countries: http://archive.ncsa.uiuc.edu/SCMS/training/general/details/ntsc.html Here's another good link that suggests you can just send NTSC discs to anyone and they'll work, even if the recipient is using a PAL system TV http://www.danslagle.com/mac/iMovie/tips_tricks/6017.shtml DVDs you burn at home won't have a region restriction and should play in any DVD player - region coding is typically done for copyrighted films, etc. Enjoy - Blue Skies _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006

So I jumped my ass of this past weekend (8 on Saturday w/2 student rigs!). Hopefully I'll earn my A this coming weekend if all is well (one pack & one jump to go). On Friday & Saturday the 21st and 22nd, I'll be in Houston and am looking for a place to jump. Right now I'm thinking of Skydive Houston, but am open to suggestions. Thanks everyone _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006

1:9:0 1 bad downwind landing (wind shifted after I'd committed to the approach) 8 jumps on Saturday on student gear (2 rigs - I was jumping 'em faster than they could pack 'em!) No beer this weekend, but next weekend it's "A" time! Blue Skies _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006

Good point. Actually, in my case, the jumper didn't even know about the freebie until after he'd invited me to jump. But I like the fact that they're actively encouraging more interaction between the students & experienced jumpers. Blue Skies _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006

As a low-timer - thanks! I did my first 2-way with a non-instructor this past weekend - it was great to be invited to jump with someone far more experienced. The Ranch, where I jump, has a mentor program which encourages experienced jumpers to jump with low-timers by giving them free jumps. Might be something for other DZs to adopt. Blue Skies _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006

- Doing math in my head (even simple stuff) - Playing piano _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006

If you're certified for SCUBA, check this out: http://www.seaworld.com/seaworld/fla/sp_sharks_deep_dive.aspx Sounds like fun to me. _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006

90.63 miles (at least according to MapQuest) - fortunately most of it is highway, and the traffic isn't usually that bad. _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006

: 2 : 3 2 jumps - coach & hop 'n pop, graduated from IAF program - oh YEAH!!

Correct - The specific condition that caused reactor 4 to explode isn't possible in US designs. The issue there was the "positive void coefficient" inherent in the reactor design - graphite was used to as a moderator (required to sustain the nuclear fission reaction) - and when the cooling water boiled away, it allowed the chain reaction to speed up which caused a steam explosion. In most other types of reactors, water is used as a moderator AND coolant, hence if water is lost or boils, the chain reaction slows down by itself. In addition to the technical problem with their reactor design, the soviet system was bass-ackwards and lead people to take all sorts of chances with the reactor. 3 mile island was a different kind of problem - a valve got stuck open, draining much of the cooling water, and the operators shut down the emergency cooling systems due to confusing control room instrumentation readings. I'll take the (well managed) risks of nuclear power any day of the week as opposed to the very well known environmental and political problems associated with burning fossel fuels. _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006

On my level 2 tandem, our canopy collapsed at around 30' (turbulance) and we piled it in real hard. I wasn't hurt, but it taught me the importance of judging the winds and making a sound go/no-go decision. No sense being a hero and jumping in bad winds - especially for a student with a big canopy and limited experience. Good lesson to learn with an expert pilot at the controls

Maybe I'll see you up at The Ranch this weekend - if the weather holds on Saturday, it's likely that I'll owe plenty of beer for graduating IAF. Great vibes up there, for sure! _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006

I've always loved flying. My parents were always worried about me and didn't exactly encourage me to fly, but once I had a job and made some coin, I took lessons and got my private. When asked about skydiving, I'd often say "I'd rather be flying the plane, not jumping out of it". I remember my mother telling me that she didn't approve of skydiving. Fast forward to March of this year - I was in Las Vegas learning to do aerobatics in an Extra 300, and flying an L39 jet. For me it was a realization of a dream, the closest I may ever get to flying fighters. While we were taxiing the Extra 300 back from a flight, my instructor (who I since found out used to be a skydiver for a flying circus) asked me if I'd ever tried skydiving. I said no, and he said "you'll love it". That sealed the deal - I had to try it. I was on a mission and jumped that day. I was completely hooked after the first jump, as I'm sure you all were. _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006

0:2:0 - including one jump through some rain, both only to ~10.5 (stupid clouds, er, industrial haze!) Pic from today attached _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006

Thanks Leased it before I got addicted to jumping - hope I'll be able to keep making the payments _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006

I just put XM in my car ('04 BMW 330i) - I've been really impressed so far - great sound quality and reception, and no commercials on the music channels. Perfect for the long drive to/from the DZ

I had a very minor mal on jump 10 - slider stuck up a little bit and end cell closure. Unstowed brakes then flared and it cleared immediately. No big deal, but I guess it qualifies as a mal. Blue skies _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006

Congrats! I did mine last week - you'll have a blast!!! I only hope that the winds cooperate here in the northeast so I can get some more jumps in - I'm jealous for you being in SoCal! You may want to ask the camera flyer at your DZ if you can pay extra to keep the raw DV footage. At The Ranch where I jump, training video is $35 for the service, and I pay $6 for the DV tape so I can edit it myself. Feed the addiction! _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006

That's funny - my first tandem was also after I had just done aerobatics (Extra 300L in 'Vegas). I had never planned on jumping, but my acro instructor suggested that I try it. You know the rest of the story

x/c = cross-country. I've got a private, now building x/c PIC hours to get my instrument (I'm done with most of the instrument skills stuff). Now my only problem is that I have two nice-weather-only, weekend-only hobbies - what to do?!! _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006

I had a desktop when I was in college, but would highly recommend a laptop now (I now have laptops for both my work & home computers). 1. Laptops have gotten far more capable in recent years. I can edit video on my laptop easily, and it is plenty fast enough for internet & MS office. 2. The value of the added expandability of a desktop is overrated IMHO - most people won't expand beyond adding RAM, hard disk space & peripherals (which can be added to laptops easily now, using USB2 or Firewire) - upgrading video cards, etc. is mainly for hardcore gamers - if you are one of those, a desktop is probably a better choice. Also, there is a limit to the amount of expansion you want to do - at some point, buying a new PC becomes more cost-effective than trying to pimp out an old one (which likely has a slow processor, bus, worn power supply, etc.) 3. It's very conveient to be able to take your laptop with you when you go away on breaks, home for the summer, etc. I used to lug my desktop home - which was a major PITA. 4. Laptops take up less space (and space is often at a premium) Just my .02 Blue skies _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006

Tandem progression (IAF) would be my recommendation. Just my personal opinion, but I've heard others say the same thing numerous times. I made it through all of the non-tandem levels of IAF in two days without repeating, and think having done the tandems first made it possible. Blue Skies _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006