Thanatos340

I still have my T/S 1000 along with the 16K Ram Pack that plugged into the back for theses who needed Tons of memory. When I upgraded to the C-64, I knew that had some real Power. 64K of memory and 2 1541 disk drives for extra storage. LOAD “MULE”,8,1 Many years later when I finally gave in and realized that the Commie was not going to make a Come Back, I gave in and bought a 386sx and spent the extra $500 to get the 20 Meg HD instead of the standard 10 meg because I planned on running a BBS and needed the extra space so I could have the biggest DL area around. I remember thinking that there is no way I will ever fill up that 20meg drive. Remember have to decide between CGA, EGA and VGA? Remember trying to Configure Expanded Memory and Extended Memory for those who could actually afford more than 1 meg of memory?

I will add a few from personal experience.. You remember having to Notch the other side of your 5 1/4" Floppies so you could use both sides of the disk in your Commodore 64 1541 Disk Drive. You have ever used a normal Tape recorder to save a program you wrote on your Timex Sinclair 1000. You were a member of many different BBS`s. You remember setting your Modem to keep redialing for hours to connect to your favorite BBS because someone else was logged on and it only had 1 connection. You remember upgrading your 300 Baud Modem to a 1200 Baud and thought that life couldn’t get any better. You knew the difference between Kermit, xmodem and zmodem and you also know which on to use when downloading a file. You remember when 640K of memory really was all anyone should ever need. You were a member of Q-Link and thought it was the coolest thing ever..

I have fought this internal (and sometimes external) battle for 11 years now. I made my first Jumps right after my daughter was born and then quit after my now Ex convinced me that I was being irresponsible. I started up again several years later and got the same lectures from the ex (She hold a PHD in Guilt) and once again gave up my dream to meet the perception of being a more responsible father. Last year I finally felt that my daughter was old enough and mature enough to discuss this with her directly. She thought I should follow my own advise and continue jumping if it was I really wanted to do (She has done a pretty good job of raising me so far, just ask her). It has still been challenging because she gets priority on weekend and feels that the DZ is quite possibly the most boring place on the planet so I don’t get to go to the DZ as often as I would like. Fortunately for me she has also reached an age where hanging out with friends is cooler than hanging out with dad so I have finally been able to get the DZ enough to finish AFF. The best advice I can give you is set an example for your child. If you really want to make something happen, Do it.

It is bad Luck to be superstitious!!

Only in Alabama.

1:2:1 One Major Hump: Graduated AFF!! Cleared for Solo!! Woo Hoo!!!

I also saw a Video where the C.E.O. of Virgin Records did the exact same thing during his training before one of his Baloon Flights. At pull time he grabs and pulls the cut away and the JM deploys his chute and the RSL opens his reserve.

Eleven years And I may finally finish AFF this weekend!! Woo Hoo!! First Jump was in 1992. Made a Couple Static Line Jumps with Rounds, Quit when my Daughter was Born. Made a few jumps here and there over the next 10 years. Finally getting around to finishing up and getting serious.

Actually it may have been a blessing in disguise.. 3 days is nowhere near enough time for that trip. It will be better go at a later date when you can spend at least 5 days there. You would have spent most of your trip traveling and really only had one day on the beach and not really got to see the real beauty of Costa Rica. Pura Vida

When I go to Costa Rica I always stay in San Jose and do day trips out into the country. I hire a Driver and Van ($80 for the day covers everything where ever I want to go) so that I dont have to deal with driving there. In Jaco you can get a Taxi to take you airport. There are some hotels in Jaco that also run shuttles. Ask around when you get there and you will find something. Zip Lines/Canopy Tours are Cables strung up over the rain Forrest (some a couple hundred feet up and over 1000 ft long) that you are attached too with a repelling harness and a pulley. You then "Zip" from platform to platform over the rainforest. A lot of fun and a great way to see the local flora and fauna. I also highly recommend trying to get out to Arenal if you can. Arenal is an active volcano that shoots smoke and sparks about once an hour. I love to spend a day in the natural hot springs at the base of the volcano knocking back Imperials (Costa Rican Beer.. Drinkable but not exactly the best) and watching the volcano. Arenal is about 3 Hours away from Jaco. If you can, do an overnight trip so you can check out the volcano at night.

Topic #1 Adanjenner - If the girl buys the BS, then she is not for you. Move on and minimize the Drama in your life and you will live a much happier life. Topic #2 Never played the "get in before the Lock" game before so I can offer nothing here. Topic #3 I go to Costa Rica at least 2 to 3 times a Year. Expect afternoon Showers everyday during the rainy season. Early Morning and late afternoon will be great. Jaco is a cool town, lots of Burn-out Surfer types hanging around. The Black sand beaches are really cool and the waves are good. If you are flying into San Jose, expect about a 3 hour drive through some really rough roads to get to Jaco. If you are renting a Car, beware that there are very few road signs in Costa Rica so it is easy to get lost. Also alot of the roads will wash out during the rainy season so be careful. Driving customs are very different in Costa Rica. Learn to use your horn. That is the way they signal everything (Read Sangrio`s India thread.. Same exact situation in Costa Rica). The Costa Rican people are some of the friendliest people on the planet and will generally treat you very well. You will get better exchange rates at your hotel than you will at the airport. The food there is OK but not great. Try to get to the Zip lines if you can, they are alot of fun.

Use a Credit card. You can generally find better interest rates with the Credit card than you can through a Finance Company and less hassle. There are quite a few cards out there that offer 6 months interest free on balance transfers, so Buy the ring on one card and then transfer the balance to a new card (with the interest Free Transfers) and pay it off in 6 months. No interest. If you already have Credit Cards and they are Maxed out, then maybe it is not the right time to take on more debt.

My Weight Fluctuates between 170 and 180. I have it narrowed down to Javelin or Infinity. Leaning heavily towards Infinity because of wait time and cost.

I am looking for opinions on Container Options. Must have`s vs nice to have`s vs Waste of Money for a First Rig. Things Like Articulated Harness Hip Rings Chest Rings Mini Risers Stainless Hardware B-12 Snaps Mini 3 Ring Other options I should consider? What makes a biggest difference and what is not really worth the extra expense? I am Charging the Rig so I dont have a set budget but I dont like spending money on stuff that I dont really need (And I would like to actually pay off the thing some day).

If a good Vet could not get it back on its Feet in 15 minutes on less, then it is overcooked.

What are the basic differences in flight characteristics between 7 Cell and 9 Cell Canopies? What advantages does on have over the over as a Main? I have read that a 7 cell will have a slightly smaller pack volume but is this at the expense of performance?

My very first Jump I had to ride the plane down. It was in 1992 and the DZ I was jumping at then was still using Rounds (Piglet 23`s). On the load was My Father and I (both on first Jumps) and our Instructor who was also Pilot in Command. Pops jumps First (IAD Deployment from 3500) and lands dead center of the runway without executing a PLF under a Round. Landed flat on his ass. From up in the plane we could see that he was not moving and started to descend only to realize that we couldn’t land with him on the runway. Finally someone on the ground helps him off the runway so we can land. He claims to be all right so we go back up for my jump. After I successfully land my jump, we get pops to the Hospital where he stayed for a while with his 3 cracked vertebrae and fractured tailbone.

I am starting to look around for a First Rig and I am looking for opinions on an ideal first rig. I am 6`1 and about 180lbs (without gear). My canopy skills are as good as can be expected for my experience level. I am more concerned with a smooth opening canopy than I am with how fast it is. My primary interest is RW. I have no interest in Freefly at the moment and do not expect that to change for sometime but I would like maximum versatility in a rig just in case I change my mind. My first thought was to go all out on a Container and buy a new one (Strongly considering Infinity because of Price and Reasonable delivery time) made for me that would barely hold a 210 and find a used 210 with the knowledge that I would downsize later to a 190. (Suggestions on which make and Model Canopy I should be looking at? Tri? Sabre? Sabre 2? Other?) What is the smallest reserve I should consider? (Tempo? Raven? Other?) What Container/Reserve/Main would you recommend if cost was not an Issue? What you recommended if cost was a BIG issue?

1. Chinese SKS (Post Ban) 2. Pre Ban Russian SKS (Folding Stock, 50 Round Clip, Hell-Fire Attachment) 3. HK USP 45 4. Remington 742 Carbine 5. 1902 S&W 38 Special 6. 50 Cal Black Powder Revolver

No Trash Talking here. Just stating my opinion on the Subject question. I am glad that many skydivers do speak out about false and/or negative advertising by DZ`s so that people new to the sport can read all opinions and make an informed opinion about which places are best for them. I have met several Skydivers from the DZ I was referring to and thought they were great people that I would like to jump with once I finally get off student status. Until then I don’t have enough experience to know if I am being misled by management or not so I choose to go elsewhere. It is all about Trust. How can you completely trust someone that is known to intentionally mislead people to make more money?? Peace.

I personally have issues with any business that intentionally makes false or misleading ads or websites to get more business. Exaggeration is one thing (that is most advertising) but lies and deception are going way too far. In a business where you are to some degree putting your life in hands of the business owner it is even more important that you feel confident that the business owners have some ethics. The DZ that is most well know for questionable business practices is located very close to me, but I choose to drive an extra hour to get to a DZ that I know is more interested in making me a better skydiver than how much money they can get out of me. As a student I simply cannot trust a DZ with questionable business practices.

I think I am definately working on a Record here.. 11 Years and counting. Started a Static Line progression 1992. Daughter was born that year and let the family talk me into putting it off. Start again in 1997. Same problem. Back at it again end of last year but not able to make it out to the dropzone regularly. Trying again this year. Hoping to atleast finish my last couple AFF Jumps this weekend.

Total 12 Different Schools Elementry 1. K-5 Same school -Columbus, GA 2. 5th Grade (mid Year) - Private School - Columbus GA (Expelled from Public Schools) 3. 6th Grade - Back in Public School (Different One) for 1 week, Then they asked me to leave again so family moved to a different county. 4. 6th Grade (Rest of the year) - Albany, GA Jr. High/Middle School 5. 7th - 1st Jr High School - Albany GA 6. 8th - Different Jr. High (Moved) - Radium Springs, GA High School 7. 9th - Start High School - Leesburg, GA 8. 9th - 2nd High School (Moved) - Fairfield, CT 9. 10th - 3rd High School - (Moved back, Too cold in Yankeeland) - Albany, GA 10. 10th (mid Year) -4th High School (Moved) - Savannah, GA 11. 12th (Mid Year) - 5th High School (Moved) - Springfield, GA College 12. 6 Years at West GA College and No damn Degree.

Even More of these: Defect: The autopilot doesn't. Action: IT DOES NOW. Defect: Seat cushion in 13F smells rotten. Action: Fresh seat cushion on order. Defect: Turn & slip indicator ball stuck in center during turns. Action: Congratulations. You just made your first coordinated turn! Defect: Whining sound heard on engine shutdown. Action: Pilot removed from aircraft. Defect: Pilot's clock inoperative. Action: Wound clock. Defect: Autopilot tends to drop a wing when fuel imbalance reaches 500 pounds. Action: Flight manual limits maximum fuel imbalance to 300 pounds. Defect: #2 ADF needle runs wild. Action: Caught and tamed #2 ADF needle. Defect: Unfamiliar noise coming from #2 engine. Action: Engine run for four hours. Noise now familiar. Defect: Noise coming from #2 engine. Sounds like man with little hammer. Action: Took little hammer away from man in #2 engine. Defect: Whining noise coming from #2 engine compartment. Action: Returned little hammer to man in #2 engine. Defect: Flight attendant cold at altitude. Action: Ground checks OK. Defect: 3 roaches in cabin. Action: 1 roach killed, 1 wounded, 1 got away. Defect: Weather radar went ape! Action: Opened radar, let out ape, cleaned up mess!

First Off: Congratulations on 35 Years of Marriage. That is no small accomplishment and you have every right to very proud of it. I am very happy that it has woked so well for you. My post was meant to be slightly humorous but I do believe that there is a good bit of truth to it. I have witnessed way too many divorces with friends getting the shaft and they did not agree to it. The Judge ordered it. Several Comedians have said it is better to go out every few years and Buy some random female a new house and give her half their money. It would be a lot easier that way. It is funny because there is some truth to it for them. I don’t understand why it makes a difference if there is a Legal contact between two people if they truly love each other. What is the Purpose of the Contract? Who is being protected by the contract? What are the Benefits of the Contract? I have been in a Committed Relationship for 7 years with the same person. We have lived together for the past 4 years. I get the why don’t you get married question constantly. I can only reply “Why should I?” We are very happy together. She has her Money and I have mine. No potential for argument there. If we did ever decide to split up, she has her stuff, I have mine. No need for Lawyers and Judges to get involved. Also my Girlfriend and I both have good Jobs and have a combined income of well over 6 figures. If we get married our Tax burden would increase over $5000 a year over what it is now. What do we get for our 5 Grand? People hate it when I bring this up because they say it should be about Love. Well I dont need a Contract to love someone unconditionally and they should not demand a legal contract to love me. We are very committed to each other but I have many issues with the institution of "Marriage". No one has ever given me a purely logical and rational reason why we should get married.