mdrejhon

Both you and me are low jump timers, so take a grain of salt here. This is a misconception by many new jumpers like us - a Sabre 150 loaded at 150lbs doesn't behave the same as a Sabre 190 loaded at 190lbs. And a docile canopy can become more aggressive as you load it more heavily. I've learned quite a bit about this over time with talking and reading and instruction taught to me, and have plenty to learn. Expert jumpers will provide more insight, or even correct me.

Ottawa, Canada, eh? That's where I live. What's your home dropzone anyway? I go to Skydive Gananoque.

True... Many would be surprised about how many off-the-grid gay couples there are, living in houses with their partners, over 15 years together, monogamous, and just having their regular neighbourhood BBQ's. Off-the-grid as in blending into mainstream instead of blending into a specific gay community. Not visible in the gay activism or the gay community, and do not even show up at the gay bars. And more often have straight friends rather than gay friends (because they relate more to their straight white-picket-fence neighbours than to the gays in the gay community) You wouldnt' be able to tell they were gays, since they don't flaunt it like you might see in photographs of your city's pride parade. Just look at same-sex marriage in Canada. Whether you agree with the concept of same-sex marriage, it is still pretty clear there are many monogamous gay couples in Canada. A lot of "off-the-grid" gay couples showed up to get married, the couples that blend in society.

This used to be true but new models of BlackBerries have similiar flashy color screens. See the 2005-era flashy BlackBerry screens. This isn't bad because you can tone down the flashiness by using the default BlackBerry theme.

TREO devices are great devices in their own way too. I am kind of biased to BlackBerry, but I respect the Treo for what it is. There are advantages and disadvantages for each device. For example, TREO can play MP3 music while BlackBerry cannot. (However, recently, BlackBerry has caught up in lots of areas - 2005-era BlackBerries now have lots of software and bright screens and do photographs very well, and both TREO and BlackBerry can be used as a modem for a laptop assuming you're with Cingular or T-Mobile, so certain old TREO arguments are now moot). There's a nice HTML graphical web browser capable of JavaScript on a BlackBerry now too on 2005-era models on forward looking carriers. BlackBerry enthusiasts like to argue the reliability of BlackBerry, the longer battery life, the ruggedization (9 feet drops to concrete survived) which is good if you carry it around a lot inside a skydiving aircraft hangar. There is a good list of BlackBerry reasons in the Why BlackBerry? article and 2005-era BlackBerries articles. The keyboard on most models of BlackBerries are superior, except for the 7100 keypad (Although it's much better than T9 10-digit numeric keypads). Also, BlackBerry devices are true multitasking OS devices (hold ALT and hit Esc to switch between concurrently-running applications) while Palm/Treo's currently are not running a multiasking operating system yet. Palm Cobalt will definitely change this. Treo's are vastly better multimedia devices though, with MP3 and video. (However, a new BlackBerry model coming in 4Q 2005 is capable of video. no camera though, but it will play video files. Actually, it was demoed at a trade show so it's actually for real..) Although I am partial to BlackBerry, For learning more about TREO, go to www.TreoCentral.com For learning more about BlackBerry, go to www.BlackBerryForums.com I also maintain www.BerryFAQ.com.

Yes, you can now access AOL emails on a BlackBerry. It does take a few extra steps though. There are two methods: (1) AOL now finally supports SMTP and IMAP. First, make sure you use AOL's SMTP's server and configure it into your BlackBerry Web Client account, according to the instructions at BlackBerry's Website For Email Configuration. There is information about AOL SMTP and IMAP here. (2) You can use a third party program called Reqwireless GotMailViewer if you want to keep this separate from your regular BlackBerry Inbox.

True. Some people use BlackBerry improperly. One way to view it is that there are many schools of thoughts here. One can argue that the correct way to use wireless email is to use it away from the computer. You essentially use it as a notification device. You can use a BlackBerry as a voicemail device and a cellphone device too. Also, written is more easily asynchronous: (1) People read about 6 times faster than they speak. Most people can read 10 emails faster than listen to 10 voicemails. (2) Less disruption by an incoming email than incoming phone call. Phone calls cause interruptions, and leaving voicemail is more annoying than sending an email to many people. (3) You don't have to write on a BlackBerry unless you're really truly away from a computer. When you see something important on BlackBerry, just go to the computer instead and reply to the email instead (BlackBerry mirrors the email on the desktop computer). Just use it as a notification device and go to the nearest computer to do the heavy-duty replying. (4) Often, voice interferes with the environment and makes the environment more noisy. Less privacy too. This often overcomes the inconvenience of typing slowly into a BlackBerry -- i.e. people fire off an email instead. So basically in a nutshell, email will continue to exist because it's asynchronous. The speed of reading text is more than massively outweighs the delay in writing, especially when 20 short two-sentence emails is less "distracting" and "interrupting" than 5 short two-sentence voicemails. Advantages of voicemail remain. Sometimes your eyes are occupied (i.e. driving) and you can only do sound. But BlackBerries are capable of voicemails too, so that can still be taken advantages of. That's the beauty of the universalness of the unit. In fact, there are some services that takes advantage of the fastest human output (voice) and the fastest human input (reading), by converting the voicemails to text emails, through services such as DictoMail. Great stuff, reading your own voicemails without listening to them and going through them much faster. Anyway, as a BlackBerry expert and employed at a software development company that also makes third-party BlackBerry software too, I frequently hang out at BlackBerryForums and also maintain the BlackBerry FAQ. BlackBerries are definitely not for everyone, but some of these resources provide great insight to why a BlackBerry makes sense to many people. Not everyone likes to be interrupted by all those emails so the alerts are also very configurable and newer BlackBerries (OS 4.0) have finer level of control configurable email filters that allows you to get alerts only on important emails (your wife, for example!) - basically you set them to Level 1 and only turn on alerting for Level 1 priority emails. You can then instead glance at the BlackBerry every now WHEN YOU WANT and then as a "mirror of your desktop Inbox" whenever you've steped away from your computer. However, the BlackBerry CAN be abused and it can be an annoying device. It depends on how it is used and what guidelines is used. Use a device such as a BlackBerry wisely.

That's no longer true anymore. See this article: BlackBerry Myths Busted: The Modern 2005-Era BlackBerry Also, the best way to get the most reliable email is usually BlackBerry Enterprise Server, which is usually more reliable than the @blackberry.net email address. (Even so, @blackberry.net email have usually been more reliable than Treo email and Hiptop/Sidekick email -- when you _really_ have some experience with it.

I am a moderator of the Internet's largest BlackBerry discussion forum - www.BlackBerryForums.com I also maintain a really good BlackBerry FAQ at www.BerryFAQ.com including some nifty things that new modern 2005-era BlackBerries can do nowadays. (The bright screen models with themes and ringtones).

I am wondering if there's a Buddy List feature for dropzone -- for quicker PM of favourite dropzone people. Is this a Subscription feature? If so, that's another reason I may want to subscribe. Basically, there are local people (my dropzone) as well as other contacts I want to keep handy, but it's hard to keep track of all the nicknames. Is there a Buddy List feature?

Wow! 148 bounces and score of 15,400 on just my fifth attempt to play the game (I haven't played this game before). It's really easy -- just make sure you learn the rules quickly. Edit: Yellow-gray striped squares should always be avoided, they kill bounce. Prioritize bouncing on: 1. Fixate your eye permanently in the same location of the screen (ball's shadow), never staring at ball. 2. Red-white target squares, EVERY time they appear, unless you're already bouncing well beyond top edge of screen. 3. Ignore the coins and treasure, unless there's no red-white target squares and you're already bouncing very high. Then, sure, go for it especially if the square is near the center (most favourable location to loiter in) 4. Avoid yellow-gray striped squares and ESPECIALLY orange radioactive squares. If no red-white target squares, bounce in one of the four centermost squares wherever possible if your ball is bouncing high. That way, it's easier to flick to any corner if the red target square is there. 5. If no red-white target squares, remember that anything solid green or solid yellow is safe and fair game. Avoid other colors (blue, gray-yellow striped, or orange radioactive). 6. If you are bouncing very shallow, remember to fixate your eye at the ball shadow at all times. Leap at the nearest green or yellow squares as a survival instinct, and try to stay away from the corners if you have time. 7. Use an optical mouse (even a cheap $15 mouse, it has to be ball-less). You won't get high scores with an old computer mouse with the rubber ball. Even the cheap chinese made optical mice are much more accurate than the best traditional mice (which is now almost extinct in computer stores anyway).

It's easy to get more than 40 bounces after 5 minutes of pratice if you follow these instructions: Use a big window. Pay attention to the ball shadow, ball always bounces in the same location on your computer screen. Never stare at the ball. Keep your eye fixated only where the ball is about to bounce. Take advantage of all the red target squares everytime they appear (unless your ball is already bouncing off the top of the screen). Red target squares makes your ball bounces higher, don't chase after coins or treasure unless your ball is already bouncing off the top of the screen because of lots of red target squares. Avoid radioactive squares.

54 bounces and score of 8700.

If you own a BlackBerry, they make excellent reminder devices. Just select the calendar date in the future 1 week prior to deadline and add a reminder there. Takes only 10 seconds to do. Works great for appointments and anything you need to be reminded about. If you're syncing, it'll also automatically show up in Microsoft Outlook too. Works as a great PDA for me (better than PalmPilot or PocketPC) for me since the BlackBerry will automatically ring or vibrate depending on its mode and I'm carrying it all the time. Even for appointments 6 months in the future.

Thanks for the tip

I bet. It seems to be a rare event for an international Scott Miller visit especially right at home, and the dropzone is sponsoring the airfare. Ah well, I'll stand in line with a waiting list.

There's a mailing list for gay/les/bi skydivers: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/RainbowSkydivers/ At some point, they discussed a small "gay way" side thingy at WFFC this year in Rantoul. And by "gay way", they mean a skydive formation Mailing list has been quiet lately, though. Ping it if you're one of the community and want to set up a meet there. FYI, not going to WFFC this year (not enough jumps anyway). I've got my mind set on Deland for another event.

Funny you say that! (1) Used *GOOD* rigs with the sizes I want, are overpriced (in high demand). (2) I get great resale value if I buy a new container. It seems like it becomes easier to buy used as I get more experienced, because there's a glut of pro-downsizers and too few lightly-used inexpensive *GOOD* novice rigs...

Good question, i have no idea Though if the total for a new rig only comes to 3k i'll be amazed. On that off chance the rest will likey go towards a cypress. At $1K plus $100 per month, that's only $600 for 100 rentals of luxury gear rather than heavily used dropzone garb. Hmmm. Isn't it possible to coax them into letting you pay $1K and pay $100 per month, and you keep paying $1K until it reaches $3K/$4K, then your $100 per month charge would go away. You pay $1K + $100 first month, $1K + $100 second month, $1K + $50 third month ($3K milestone), $1K + $0 fourth month ($4K milestone). Basically you'd only be out $250 of ongoing fees, for the luxury of spreading your $4K payments at $1K over four months. Anyway, unfortunately, this doesn't affect me. There's no Square 1/2/3 gear store nearby. Wish there was, since this would be the perfect option for me.

Do they allow you to spend the excess on a custom painted BoneHead and a custom made Tony Suit or Bev Suit? If you end up buying a $3K rig and have some left over?

Oh, you're right. That'll be a benefit to me if some of the instructors are taking it! Will help me be more prepared for Deland in October if I go, too.

That'd work well for me! Wish I had that luxury. Three manageable downpayments I can spread out, and at the same time stop renting, perfect! (I assume you mean three separate $1333.33 payments, totalling $4000) Assuming what you say are correct and there's no other fine print, I think you should go for that downpayment program. While there is probably no dealer discount, it's still cheaper than renting 100 times and you'd get the jump numbers necessary to settle on a gear combination that keeps you happy for many years to come! The online Flash-based gear designers kinda make someone drool over new instead of used...

Almost 700 jumps on your original container. Not too shabby of a longevity by my standards. Sorta the goal I'm hoping to aim at (500-1000 jumps on first container). Though I may not be able to do two downsizes on the same container. I guess it depends. My final decision is probably coming this weekend, on my next dropzone visit. The Great Used Versus New Debate!

That's my number one choice right now (at about jump 75) if I won the lottery. I'm trying to do similiar except get the canopies used, and going Sabre1 instead of Sabre2, and a Cypres2 [err..I mean Cypres1] with a few years left. And at the same time, keep it as close to a $4000 CDN budget as possible. ($3250 USD) This is extremely difficult to do, now that RWS has increased their prices. Damn! [Edit: Cypres1.]

A few people recommended a 176R for the same reasons I did, but good point about getting familiar on a PD176R demo. Cheap insurance that I might consider when my jump numbers are high enough -- assuming I decide to go the new container route... It's also possible my jumps become 100 by the time the rig is finally pieced together... Especially if I get a mid-summer windfall. I don't want to hurt myself obviously, trying to find the balance where I can own the container for a fair bit of time, but without going through the intermediate step of getting a used container first. Having a 193R would be awkward when I downsize to 170 in the future, and especially 150 (perhaps a fluffed up 9cell airlocked that packs similiar to 170, if I found one at a bargin at my 600th jump ), so much that I might just rent to make sure my jump numbers are high enough for a 176R... Yes, wingloading is controversial, I know. I can bypass $20 CDN rentals ($16 USD) by paying $65 daily rentals ($50 USD) and paying only the $5 CDN pack fees ($4 USD), and I'm jumping accordingly (I jumped 9 times in one day because of this). Only marginally more expensive than the loss of money on buying my own used rig, jumping it only 100 times, and reselling... Still, I'm definitely keeping an eye on used rigs. But, I'm also leaning towards a PD193R especially if I rush to get a used container in early July. There is a lot of attraction in getting a top of the line Vector3 container with Skyhook and custom harness, which would net me a pretty safe rig with a relatively good resale value (Vectors 3's tend to keep their price better, it seems, especially if it's very new). According to my calculations, the price of a good fully used rig versus a new container with used canopies, is only about a 25% difference (~$3250 CDN versus ~$4250 CDN). For that extra $1000 CDN ($800 USD), I'll go the extra luxury of custom harness, custom colors, and the SkyHook insurance... Prices I calculated included the going prices of a discounted 0-jump PD reserve and a used 300ish-jump Sabre1, and a used AAD with a few years left that already had its 8-year check and new battery. Also includes dealer discount on the Vector3 order (good to have a friend who's a dealer...though it only saves a few hundred). It just means I'll have to save for longer. Live poor between paychecks.... Now, there's a lot of temptation for getting an "okay rig" for $2000-$2500 USD ($3000 CDN), but it'd be likely to be a less-freefly-friendly Vector 2 or some more inexpensive brand, but then I'm less likely to have buyer's remorse. And most of these often have expired AAD's that cost extra to update... None of the cheapie used rigs ($1500 USD / $2000 CDN) seem to attract my attention, either using canopies I really am not interested in, doesn't have AAD, isn't freefly friendly, or fits canopies too small for me....but you never know, I may see a bargain that's very appropriate for me. The used rigs that I like the most, are so close to being able to buy a new Vector3 with SkyHook RSL, I might as well buy a new container! Another thing is that I hear some of the safest and best canopy pilots have jumped their first rig a 4-figure times (1000 times) before they moved to another rig. So another good argument to buy new... Essentially finding a safe compromise and stick with it to get intimately familiar with it... This is driving me crazy...