allieram

Whoa! I hope you don't think I'm some kind of pacifist?! I was just trying to point some things out, mainly of the way I disagreed with what has already been said. I guess I didn't make that clear. Individuals can always go round and round about this view or that view. If anyone things I'm a pacifist, I'M NOT! I agree, we need to take a real close look at ourselves here. We should have been doing this for a long time, but heaven forbid that we step on somebody's toes or infringe on their so-called "rights"! (Let me clarify, I'm being sarcastic here, so don't start thinking again that I'm a pacifist.) It sure would be great if the keepers of this forum would create some type of HTML to allow us to show our remarks contain sarcasm.

I agree with you.

Man, I hadn't thought of that one. Maybe if we ask them to wear a sign they would.

Of course there are two sides to every story, that's always true. But then again, many things are viewed completely differently than another. I'll agree that if you can find the cause then a possible solution can be worked out. However, that won't work every time. I'm not saying that we all can't sit around a table, drink tea, and holding hands while singing Kum-Bye-Ya (however it is spelled); but I don't think that's really feasible right now and I don't think that Osama bin Laden would agree to it. Are we at fault for bombing Afghanistan right now? Should we invite the Taliban to a round table discussion or maybe we'll fly over there for the discussion? If we are at fault for not discussing our differences now, then why isn't Osam bin Laden at fault for not trying to reconcile our differences before committing any terrorist attacks. To use your arguement, then Osama bin Laden should have worked with us to find some kind of common ground between our differences. He didn't. I think blind hatred that is indisriminate and without limits is pure stupidity. Blind Hatred - what is that? Compare the two words. I think we have more of a reason now for what we are doing than what Osama bin Laden did to us due to his blind hatred. Sometimes, some things require action not words.

Hmm, let's see here.... Should we view this from "their point of view"? They (being Osama bin Laden) attacked us here first, killing thousands of civilians. What is their point of view? What...are we (U.S.A.) trying to spread democracy throughout the world and certain groups hate us for that and hate us for the freedoms we have and what we stand for? Nah, they hate us because we allow our women to have an education and hold a job! (Yeah, right, like that's the reason why.) What brought about the attack on the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon? What did we do to Osama bin Laden to provoke this? What did the civilians in the World Trade Centers do to provoke this? I guess for the individuals that are wanting us to see it from "their" point of view are right, we shouldn't be doing anything in response to the attacks of Sept 11. We should just be passive! I guess the individuals responsible for the attacks had every right to perform such actions and we are COMPLETELY in the wrong for what we are doing. Let's look at the incident of the Death Star now... (I see the Dark Side as the evil in the world; Osama bin Laden, etc. I don't see Pres. Bush as Lord Vader.) What was the purpose of the Death Star? Wasn't it capable of destroying whole planets? Oh, but I guess that's a good thing. Lord Vader had Princess Leia's home planet destroyed, why? Mainly to show the power of the Death Star. Oh, but I guess there's nothing wrong with that and the Empire should be able to cruise the universe doing as they please. I'm soo glad that some of ya'll have opened my eyes to view it from "their" side. I must have been wearing rose-colored glasses up to now. We, as Americans, are soo wrong for wanting freedom and the pursiut of happiness. (Massive sarcascm here. I don't really beleive that.) The big picture: America bad, everyone else good? If you (anybody) happen to think that we, as Americans, or our government is oppressive, then elect the individuals that you think would be sufficient and shares your views. If you think that no candidate is worth your while, then do what Jesse Ventura did and run yourself.

Nate, Glad you enjoyed the helicopter jump. Too bad I couldn't have returned to the boogie on Sunday. I felt pretty bad on Sunday from the partying done on Saturday. Enjoyed jumping with you on Saturday. Tom

As others have noted, it was done but they weren't wearing a birdman suit. Or, at least the one for the article that was posted in Parachutists magazine the jumpers didn't have birdman suits. This is the one where the Porter had a drogue attached to it.

Well, I rented one when I got off student status but I didn't necessarily jump it for 4 months. Sooo..... According to the parameters of your question, I've only jumped one, the used one I bought.

I agree, I don't think they are a good idea. Yea, the manufacturer states minimal training, but I doubt that everyone will get training. If they don't just hang on a wall, then how will they be secured so that only trained individuals will use them? Who's to say that I grab one (being trained) and someone else (not being trained) knocks the crap out of me and grabs it and leaps out the window. If a company/firm decides to buy them and trains their employees, then what about the visitors to the office? Should they receive training at the reception desk before entering the building or just who cares about the visitors? Everytime a firm hires a new employee, are they to train the new employee on use? Who trains the employees on use: company management? building owners? a local DZ (won't that increase the DZ's revenues)? or the emergency chute manufacturer? Who's to purchase the emergency chutes: the company/firm or the building owner? According to USPA, we as skydivers are to remain current on our jumps or receive refresher training. Will this be required for the emergency chutes? I seriously don't see this happening on a regular basis. What about any inspection requirements? Similar to our reserves? Who's to do the repacks, either after use or after every x-amount of days? (some more revenue being created for local DZs and/or riggers)

Clay's right... mmm...beer. Check this link out. The opening scene, once loaded, is great! http://www.beer.com

Looking for some advice/input here. The jumpsuit I currently have is snug fitting, made for RW. I fly fine with it, except that when jumping with others I'm falling like a rock. Some of the other jumpers put on weight vests to keep up with me, while others just can't catch me, and I'm trying my best to de-arch. This weekend, after releasing from a two way I fell dropped from the other jumper who only caught me by sit flying. I've purchased a swoop cord system to add wings to my suit, but that hasn't seem to help much. From what other jumpers are telling me, it appears I need a looser jump suit. I don't know how fast I fall now. I would like to fall slower to stay with the other jumpers and work RW. Even though I don't freefly now, one day I hope to and would possibly like to use the same jumpsuit to alleviate having to buy another (course by then maybe I should buy a freefly suit). Any recommendations? Style/Brand? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Some more good info here from Chuck. Joe, you should have enough info here to hopefully get you started and decide. Best of luck to you. Tom Carroll B-24638

That's one hell of a deal. During my deployment to the Mediterranean, we had a FAC which was a back seater for an F-18. He was a royal prick, at least up until the point that someone pointed out that he was only the back seater and not the pilot. Military jet jockies are such butt-heads, I won't argue that. The only point I was driving at was that the incident didn't happen because the pilot was a Marine, he could have been from any service. I didn't read the whole report, but hopefully the pilot received NJP and more for his stupid mistake, I did see that it was recommended for NJP. Dropping one's ordnance before clearance during training shouldn't happen. I don't really know if F-18 pilots are very good at CAS or not. You're right, they're suppose to be, especially since that's what the Marine Corps practices. Again, I'm sorry for the loss of life of your friend and the others involved.

Yea, I know that's jumping time, being wasted too. I have this thing called a wife. She sometimes limits the amount of skydiving I get to do. Skydive a weekend or two, then I have to spend time with her. I guess I can't complain, she hasn't put a stop to my skydiving (heck, her last job helped pay for me to go through AFF).

AWESOME! 20 mintues is great, a lot better than 90 minutes. The DZ I'm jumping at now is only 5 miles from my house. I can see the open canopies from my living room window. Having a close DZ is great. Have FUN!

And, like I'm sure the so called DUMBASS Marine pilot was flying around, looking for a place to drop his ordnance, saw your 2 friends and said, "Hm, look at those 2 people. Looks like a good place to drop my bombs." or "I wonder what the casualty radius is of these bombs are?" Remember back during Desert Storm, wasn't it an Air Force or Army pilot which shot and destroyed an Army Bradley fighting vehicle, full of soldiers. I'm sorry the incident occured, recently and during Desert Storm. However, there are DUMBASSES everywhere.

This is going to be a lengthy reply, so I apologize up front. I'm going to try and hit everything. First, let me say that I'm currently serving my country in the U.S. Marine Corps and have been for the past 12 years, this month. No matter which service you choose to join, each rank pays the same. An E-1 in the Army pays the same as an E-1 in the Navy, Air Force, or Marines. That's the same for every rank. Don't believe that one service pays better than another, if that were true then more people would be joining that particular service over another. Additionally, good luck trying to get anything in writing from a recruiter. Yes, it is true that a recruiter will tell you almost anything to get you to join their service. They'll promise you anything just to get you to join, and the chances of getting something in writing other than a contract stating you have to serve for the next 'x'-amount of years is almost nil. What do you want to get out of the service? They all offer a steady pay check, a place to live and eat, a wardrobe you don't seem to pay for (unless you're an officer), medical and dental services, and training for a job which could possibly transfer over to the civilian sector. Each service offers the G.I. Bill. You will have only 'x'-amount of years after getting out to use it or you will forfeit it. No matter what service you join, you will have the opportunity to take college courses while in, normally during off-duty hours. The military will pay for 75% of your higher education while serving, allowing for you to keep your G.I. Bill for further education after serving. (You may even use the G.I. Bill while in if you take college courses, I'm not sure.) Virtually every base, post, or station has satellite campuses from local universities on board. Even in the Navy, if deployed on ship, college courses are offered. (I had the opportunity to instruct one of the courses while I was aboard a Navy ship for my 6-month deployment to the Mediterranean.) If you don't take advantage of this opportunity while serving, it's your own fault. If you're married, your wife can attend the local university/college at in-state tuition rates. (My wife did that in North Carolina and she's doing it now here in California, my home state is Texas.) Check in to the education opportunities available, you probably won't regret it. Some more on the education part, if you desire and qualify, each service will provide you the opportunity to become an officer, at their expense. I'm sure there will be some replies stating you shouldn't be an officer or that officers are pieces of shit or something like that. Well, let me tell you that I once thought that. I originally enlisted in the Marine Corps, and while in the reserves I attended college. The G.I. Bill I received was incredibly less than active duty Marines; however, I still used my G.I. Bill and went college, mainly at my own expense. My father wanted me to be in the local ROTC, but I wouldn't even think about it because at the time I didn't give a shit about officers, plus the ROTC unit was an Army one and I wasn't about to degrade myself and wear any other uniform that wasn't a Marine uniform (it's a Marine pride thing). Anyway, on my own I decided to check in to being an officer, orignally I wanted to fly (which you must be an officer to do, not just have a B.S. or B.A.). Well, I'm not a pilot, but I didn't let that stop me. I attended Officer Candidate School (OCS) and upon graduating from college I was commissioned as a 2nd Lt (let me say it before anyone else does, YES, a butter bar!). Now, I'm a Captain. As an officer, you get paid more than being enlisted. I, personally, wouldn't use that as a deciding factor to become an officer, though. Mainly, I just wanted to point out to you that while in any service you will have the opportunity to broaden your horizon more and become an officer. Heck, currently I'm at a post graduate school in which the military is paying for me to get a Master's Degree (and I volunteered to attend). The school I'm at isn't limited to just the Marine Corps, all services including the Coast Guard have student officers attending - at the expense of the military. Each service has re-enlistment bonuses, for specific jobs in that service. The bonuses can be small or large, depending on the job. I, personally, don't recommend you trying to get assigned a specific job just because it has a re-enlistment bonus. You virtually aren't going to be guaranteed any particular job in any service. The Army and the Air Force may be able to promise you a specific job, but I doubt it. The needs of the military and the armed forces decide your fate. Don't go thinking that if you join the Air Force you get to be a Pararescue (their Special Force), or that you'll get to be a Navy Seal or Army Green Beret. About the only job you may be guaranteed for is if you try out for the Golden Knights first. If accepted, then you have to join the Army and serve probably a 3-year tour in the Army, but you're with the Golden Knights - jumping. Are the jobs fun in the miltary? It's basically like any job anywhere else. You have to put up with bull shit from senior ranking individuals and you sometimes have to work some hellacious hours which you'll then probably wish you hadn't join, but nothing lasts forever. How many civilian jobs allow someone to travel the world? Not many, especially for only a high school graduate. Course, you're not guaranteed to ever leave the United States either. When I was in Europe, I took some of my SCUBA equipment with me and I made dives while in France and Greece. I wasn't skydiving at the time, or I probably would have tried to jump while in Europe, too. You're not too old to enlist. The normal cut-off age is around 27 or 29, and it may be as high as the low 30s. Ask any recruiter. Is it worth my (your) time and commitment? It depends. I would say yes, others may say no. Every decision you ever make in life, even to skydive, has an opportunity cost involved. You will have to decide this for yourself, what do you want out of the service and what are you willing to give up and put up with. Do I have time to make any fun jumps? Yes and no. First, if you join remember that you have made an obligation and that obligation comes first before everything else. If you deploy somewhere, let's say to Afghanistan, don't start bitching that this isn't what you joined for and that you can't make any jumps, you volunteered to join. If you screw up and piss off your platoon sergeant or squad leader, you may find that you've had your liberty restricted to the barracks (even if you're married) for a weekend. Live with it, the weekend will end and if you don't screw up again then you'll be jumping the following weekend. At my last command is where I started jumping. I was able to go fairly regularly, the only individual that restricted me, if ever, was my wife. I was usually the only officer there, most of the other skydivers that were military, were enlisted. Almost everytime I was there they were there, both Marines and Soldiers (from Ft Bragg, some of them were Golden Knights). Now, as long as I'm not doing something with my wife or studying for my Master's, I'm jumping every weekend ('course, the DZ is only 5 miles from my house, too). As previously stated, not all recruiters will tell you the truth. I've heard some people state they joined the Marines because all the other recruiters were lying to them. The Marine Corps is the only service which has met their recruiting goals each year for the past so-many years (if anyone wants to debate this, go research it). It's not because they promise you a bunch of bennies, it's because people want to join something they are proud of: the title of being a U.S. Marine. Will the Marines treat you any better than the other services? Don't kid yourself. The Air Force takes care of their people better than the other services. If you want a "cush" job, then join the Air Force. Army posts are about like Marine bases, they suck; however, they are trying to improve them (well, the Army is usually broke/out of money well before the end of the fiscal year). As for the Navy, do you think you'll enjoy living in a giant sardine can for up to 6-months at a time? But, you may hardly ever serve on a ship. You figure out what's best for you, then decide. Talk to all the recruiters, if you're really interested, and see what they all have to offer. Keep in mind what each one says as you're talking to the next, and most importantly DON'T LET THEM PRESSURE YOU! Some will tell you anything to get you to join their service to keep you from checking another. Have I regretted my decision to join? Sometimes, but I never quit. It's not for everyone, and some get out only after 3-4 years. I'm hoping to be a "lifer" and serve at least 20 years, and heck, receiving 50 percent of my base pay each month for the rest of my life after retirement isn't bad. I've tried to be honest and up front with you. (Maybe slightly biased at times, but I am a Marine.) Don't let anything I've said here possibly discourage you. You have to decide for yourself, which I think you know that. No matter what you're doing or where you're at, you'll always think the grass if greener on the other side. Sorry for taking so long. I'm now done and I'm sure everyone is applauding. Semper Fi!

Cops are to enforce the law. Laws don't say they are to be enforced only between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Laws are to be enforced 24/7. If you think a law is stupid, then work on changing it. How many of ya'll know that in some states there is a law that states it is legal to beat your wife with a stick no bigger than the size of your thumb on the courthouse steps at noon on some particular day? Or, in one town there is a law in the books that statesd it is illegal to whitsle or make cat calls at women. Those laws are not enforced. (Good thing, too.) You may think that there is no need to stop at a stop sign or a red light at 1:30 in the morning. Like, who's really out?!? Well, if you get use to doing a rolling stop at that time, you may begin to do it more often...then one day who knows what will happen. When I get pulled over, I try to give the cop nothing but respect. In my younger years, I thought immaturely. My brother is a highway patrolman in Texas. He'll let people off more if they show a little respect and honesty/integrity. If someone starts to give him a hard time, like cocking an attitude, you're darn right he's going to give them a ticket. If you're speeding, you deserve a ticket. Don't get cocky - what will it prove...that you're an idiot? Cops that I can't stand are the huge blubber, donut eating ones. Initially, they had to be in shape to get the job, but then they just turn to shit. In college I majored in Criminal Justice. (Don't ask me why, I personally don't beleive in much justice for criminals.) Anyway, one of my instructors was a former cop and knew where every donut shop was in town. I'm in the Marine Corps, and I was in the Marines while in college, so I can say I'm in pretty good shape - better than a lot of cops. I know that I could outrun almost any cop, because his/her big, fat ass couldn't get over a two foot fence or make it 50 yards down an alley. How many sheriffs do you see that are the fattest things around. It seems that sheriffs are fatter than police officers. It almost seems that it's a prerequisite to be a lard ass to fill a position like that. So, I guess in response to the question... I respect cops until they cross the line. We should hold them accountable, or at least be able to. That brings up another story...in high school while working at Burger King in the drive-thru window, I remember one of our local cops driving thru and being drunker than a skunk, off-duty. (No, I've never seen a drunk skunk.) Now, what does that say when a police officer is drinking and driving and pulls people over for DUI/DWI when on duty. Sorry for the lengthy reply. I can't stand reading lengthy replies and here I go writing one.

Hey, I got an idea of what to do with all those pacifists - They say there is a better way without violence. We hear it from them but we don't see them "walk the walk"; heck, we don't even know what their plan is. So, let's give them the chance. They could pack their bags, and we could give them free flights to that region of the world, drop them off, say "Adios - we will be back when you have achieved peace - don't call us until you do." How long does anyone think it will take? (Sarcasm)

Rules are usually for your safety as well as someone else's. However, I don't recall their being some rule or law stating you have to open. The minimum recommended opening heights are minimum only. For safety reasons, one shouldn't open any lower. If you want total freedom, why not just not open your parachute. It's your choice...no one else is going to pull it for you. If you have an AAD, turn it off. Does this sound crude? Yes, I admit. Do I really wish you to do this? No . I do think it is a little ridiculous to complain about rules/laws put in place for our own safety. I, for one, don't see a problem with any of the rules and am glad to follow them. As for cloud cover jumping - Don't you know, it's not a cloud if you jump through it...it's industrial haze. Now, the only rule that I have seen at some DZs is where they require you to be a member of USPA. When I was going through AFF, I was told I don't have to join, but I was encourage to. I joined, of my own free will. But, I have been surprised when I go to a DZ and I hear that they won't let you jump unless you are a member of USPA (and I thought being a member wasn't mandatory).

Nevermind, Pammi. (Here I am replying to my own post.) I found the prices listed on your web page.

Pammi, I've checked out your web page, for a second time. Cool work! Roughly how much do you charge?

What to do if you happen upon a peace rally, and how to teach them why force is sometimes necessary: 1) Approach dumb rich ignorant student talking about "peace" and saying there should be, "no retaliation." 2) Engage in brief conversation, ask if military force is appropriate. 3) When he says "No," ask, "Why not?" 4) Wait until he says something to the effect of, "Because that would just cause more innocent deaths, which would be awful and we should not cause more violence." 5) When he's in mid sentence, punch him in the face as hard as you can. 6) When he gets back up to punch you, point out that it would be a mistake and contrary to his values to strike you, because that would, "be awful and he should not cause more violence." 7) Wait until he agrees that he has pledged not to commit additional violence. 8) Punch him in the face again, harder this time. Repeat steps 5 through 8 until they understand that sometimes it is necessary to punch back.

Check this site out. It will allow you to make your mouse cursor into a skydiver. Look under Sports & Leisure, then Extreme Sports. http:// www.cometzone.com

I was wondering how long it took to get rid of the newbie title. I know I have a ways to go. Here's one more to add.