johndh1

Sometimes when I hear her say things, I think, "wow, she said what a lot of us were thinking, but we were afraid of the soundbite..." and other times, I want to tell her to STFU. She's like this girl who I know would flip me nine ways in the sack and make feel like I'd had a date with Dracula, but I was terrified to take her to dinner because I know someone is going to leave the table pissed... Roll Tide Roll

I am a big fan of Yellowtail, especially the Chardonnay and Shiraz. Not a Merlot fan in anything really, because you really can't swill it (yeah, I'm that guy in "Sideways." Alice White is okay too. Nto exactly a connoisseur here, if you hadn't guessed it already. Roll Tide Roll

No way. She's disgusting. I'm even more confused as to why she makes news than I am with Paris Hilton. Roll Tide Roll

Animals love him (not you guys...I mean real animals) like Uncle Remus. I haven't seen him in over a year - does he still have that little bird that flew to him (in the Keys, I think) after it apparently got swept from home in the hurricane a few years ago? Flew straight to him, if I recall correctly, after he answered its whistle and was so at-home on his shoulder. ...unless, of course, that is another bullshit story like Tami's Herc's-leg-bitten-off-by-alligator-whose-head-is-now-on-the-bar-at-Skydive-Miami story that she tried to pull over on me that time when I first met her at Z-hills a few years ago. Roll Tide Roll

You Sank My Battleship! Good One! Roll Tide Roll

Actually, I do like the new Heini-kans lately. I have joked in the past of putting a note on the top of the cooler stating "One of these bottletops has been removed, and replaced with 50% recycled material...guess which one." But really, it doesn't happen often enough to worry. There's usually nothing left to steal by late. Roll Tide Roll

Well, the way I see it, I'm there to have fun, and a few or several beers are not worth getting bent out of shape over. We all know how sometimes ideas we have when we're already drunk wouldn't seem so bright otherwise. Besides, it's rare that there's someone I really despise around - if there were, I know you don't know me that well, but trust me, they wouldn't dare risk it. Roll Tide Roll

I don't think anyone is literally 100% one way or the other, (except for Larry Craig, because he said so!) but the thing is, if you really want this guy, you're going to have to get creative and rock his world one good time, no holds barred (or is that "no holes barred?") and you could probably have him. If you want, I might be willing to help you out with some role-playing over a long weekend, and we'll get you prepared for the task at hand, Duchess. All I require is a bottle of Jack Daniel's and a copy of the video and waiver. Roll Tide Roll

I don't know for sure, but maybe after hours-and-hours and weeks-and-weeks of practice and trial and error in all sorts of experimentation, maybe you could convince me. Roll Tide Roll

No way Matt Damon could play Billy - it would have to be either Danny Bonaduce or Ann Coulter. Johnny Fairplay would have to be given a part somewhere in the thing. Roll Tide Roll

Look at this...a thread about the trifling triteness of the Skyride thread. Roll Tide Roll

I at least make sure I have enough Heineken in the big cooler so that "maybe I won't notice" how many are missing the next day if I sleep in the tent - which by the way, is an excellent design, but not quite soundproof. I just laugh in the middle of the night when I hear stealth footsteps close in, cooler 'foop' open, glass rattling among glass & water & ice, and super-soft closing. Sometimes I say "hey, take two so you don't have to come back so soon - I'm a light sleeper" and laugh. It's all good, though. Roll Tide Roll

No. Wait for the movie. Roll Tide Roll

I don't hold Bush against Condi because if he did anything right in his Presidency, he chose her. None of his predecessors had gone so far in "diversity" in government at such a high office. Keep in mind too, that she may have some ideas of her own that she keeps to herself for now...anyone ever been in a situation like that with YOUR boss? I think she's just biding her time. I have seen so many in the black community giving opinion about this woman and basically calling her an "Uncle Tom" (more than once, literally), when everyone should be proud of her position attained. I mean, look at me: white, male, Right-leaning (but not too far) from Alabama stating I would support a black woman for President? "Fair and balanced," I'd say. Roll Tide Roll

Stop the comedians from doing things like this?! No Way. That's what "freedom" is all about. How do you stop it? Now, If one wants to do research before the meeting and find out who the person is, that's one thing, but to legislate it is another thing altogether. I personally think when the interviewed party handles with more grace and dignity, and when they don't get so bent out of shape, it actually makes me respect the politician more, and gives them more substance and a sense of humor. Hate to say it, but Al Sharpton would have done a much better job at fielding these questions than this guy. Please tell me he was just having a bad day already... Stop them? No way. Research and refuse scheduling, okay. I'm more bothered at the use of "Punk'd" on Fox News. Roll Tide Roll

Did no one get that I was being facetious when I said to the older black females that "Hate is Not a Family Value." I wasn't using it in sincerity. Come on. Read it again: After the prejudicial and chauvinistic accusation toward me (though it was mostly in jest), I had just taken a ridiculous catch-phrase used by (statistically) their opposing political party to garner votes, which was later modified and used by their (statistically) supporting political party, and handed it back to them in rhetoric regarding their seemingly homophobic remark against Condi (again, an issue within their supporting party). Guess you just had to be there. Roll Tide Roll

That's not Peter being interviewed, I think he's going to comment on it or something on Fox. That guy was mad, though. I don't know why, considering he is a Republican. Roll Tide Roll

The same thing you might get if you call and ask for Charlie, Jack, Joey, or Gruwell..."he's not in right now, but should be back shortly - is there something I can help you with in the meantime?" When in the mood for laughs, others and I used to call on speakerphone, and would ask for ourselves by name, and get that. Even got the same response for "Mr. Butts, Mr. Seymour Butts," and "Amanda Hugenkiss," etc. "You know, medium height, brown hair, really nice..." "Oh, yeah, I know them! Hey, were you calling about your first-jump? She/he told me you would be calling..." If it were a joke, it would be funny. But, I personally believe he works for them. I have my reasons. Roll Tide Roll

I don't think he will be "endorsed and controlled by the right wing Christian neo-cons" any more than I honestly think Hillary would completely cave to the left-equivalent if she were elected. It seems easy to say what you would do when pandering for a group's vote (keep in mind how royally pissed the left is that after the Congressional turnover, we are not already out of Iraq?) because it's much harder when the rubber meets the road. They are all guilty of that - hence the reason I will not ever again make abortion the commanding issue when voting for President. I like Thompson, and will vote for him if he runs. When I hear something stated about "family values," I try to not hold it against as a negative, because I know some lesbians who will tell you that they and their two children are all for "family values" too. I am not going to let someone else control the definition of the word for the sake of pandering politics. I don't like Hillary, but Obama as President literally scares the shit out of me; Edwards, I cannot watch, and I am ashamed to admit I cannot get past the Mormon thing with Romney, but I think that's something I could learn to live with. I was talking with two senior black ladies at my gym about it last week - I told them the aforementioned statement. They laughed and said that I just don't want a woman or a black for President (joking of course). I told them au contraire, because if I could personally pick the next President of the United States, it would be Condoleeza Rice. Imagine my surprise when they both said "...but I think she's a gay..." I told them Hate is Not a Family Value. Roll Tide Roll

You're right, it's just like skydiving drops - it's best that all are as aware and alert as possible of the situation to prevent high-rate perpendicular encounters, because one doesn't necessarily stop the other from occupying the same spot. The difference with the rocket/plane scenario and skydiver/plane is that it is fast from below, so no evasive action could take place in that by either party, only one is manned (except in my youtube video), and as I understand from skydiver/aircraft collision, the tin-can usually loses. Many more people know about the rockets now than before, which is a good thing for sure. I personally think the size, speed, location and altitude possibility (last I checked, the waiver was to 17,000ft) are chilling, but that's liberty I guess. Roll Tide Roll

I hate to bring this back to the top since it's really not about skydiving, but your post was excellent - jump planes radio jump run and exit, so what a good idea for the Rockettes to carry a radio or two for surrounding frequencies to announce the launch. Though in this area, there are about 6 dropzones within radio range on the same frequency too, so the announcer needs to be somewhat aviation familiar - because of the added lingo, locations, etc., to avoid confusion. Still, that is a great idea - Thanks. Roll Tide Roll

Suggestions? Don't wait on the government to do it correctly for you. Never, ever, never, nevernevernever. The military would probably have radar on the jet to detect, and would probably have been in contact with their home base instantly, but GA wouldn't always even have a flightplan or flight following to run interference if possible. I would get direct dialogue started with the CAP, the Birmingham Aero Club, and every airport within a certain radius of your launch, as well as all EAA groups in the state, if it's nothing more than an e-mail forward (they'll spread the word, trust me), that would be better than any NOTAM, the reason being when there are Poker Runs and (literally) weekly breakfast/lunch events as there are, have them forwarded with reminders of such activity, because this area has a lot of GA events, and distance can be covered pretty quickly, especially if you're in something like Jim Thompson's P51. It's may seem like overkill to alert like that, but when you consider something the size "of a telephone pole" as was in the video could easily take down any GA plane (or drifting skydiver), and it goes to 12,000ft. in just a few seconds, more is better. Let's discuss contacts in PMs, subject out of skydiving. Roll Tide Roll

I was thinking the same thing about ballooning yesterday. I'm sure the statistics are out there, but I don't know who would have them officially separating jump-planes from other GA, except someone who had an interest in the numbers - what I mean is, I doubt the FAA or NTSB makes the official stipulation. Roll Tide Roll

Let me correct some things for you: His call to the FSS (at that time, Anniston) Flight Service Station to double-check, not the FAA. IT was not to complain but to inquire as to the nature of object that day. The thing is, it is well known that the area you launch from is also a military training route. His further investigation was out of concern for a possibly distressed aircraft or pilot. He was told at that time (upon landing) by the FSS, that they knew nothing about what was going on there. Others called too, and were told the same thing the day, concerned about their own local departures. Later, upon pressing and insisting, after a while the briefer on-duty finally found it buried in FDC NOTAMS. After contacting numerous pilots, as well as CAP, and the ASC-West Pell City jump plane pilot, none had realized what was happening in the area that day, and upon later discussing it with the president of the rocket club, he simply asked that for future events, the NOTAMS be placed in more reasonable LOCAL NOTAMS attached to all local airports so that it is more readily available. As far as how close you estimate (from how far away?) he came to the round, I can't say. Nor could I estimate the distance from the engine sound - though I should add that his engine is quite powerful and loud (w/ non-muffled straight pipes pointed backward toward your toy's microphone as he flew away), and the wind-noise as you mention, seems to not be as pronounced and difficult for a mic to detect as, say "DOOR!" noise. As far as what the FAA "agreed" to when viewing the video, I cannot speculate. I can say, however, knowing the terrain from the air as I do personally, the missile certainly drifted a long way, well into the boundary of the Talladega National Forest, so I would speculate a pretty good distance from origin. I would question (don't bother to answer) exactly how far the original buried NOTAM extended in radius, and was his encounter within that radius or without (again, don't really want an answer)? By the way, he flies his own little rocket that I know personally can be heard from a long way off, both going and coming, and I am puzzled as to just how well the airspace was checked clear prior to launch from that wide open space. I would think that with his being a 30+ year current skydiver and a 30+ year professional pilot, and to have survived this long, perhaps his determination of safety-in-flight issues may trump yours, even taking into account his "curiosity getting the better of him." To reiterate, NOTAMS were in fact checked by many people that day, and no one could be found who knew of this event, except for you guys. So to answer your question, he and others checked NOTAMS then, and do now. Whether or not they find your rocket NOTAM is unknown to me. My question is, are these NOTAMS now more courteously filed for ease of acquisition by those flying from busy GA airports in the vicinity of your launches? Roll Tide Roll

I definitely knew firsthand what she was talking about in the neck/jaw strain. Guys do it all the time (even I do still occasionally not thinking), and breathing properly is something to really consider. A guy I know had to end his amateur competition days recently (at an excellent 42 years of age) because his lack of proper breathing for so long (holding his breath in heavy-lifting strain) has done so much damage to his cardiovascular system. His cardiologist is actually telling him he needs to just do low-n-slow anything from now on, not even fast jog on the treadmill or elliptical. That's great for some, but considering what this guy has been doing, it's quite a drastic change. Roll Tide Roll