Donna

Look, I know you didn't mention my name here but you did in that e-mail you originally sent which wasn't sent to me alone but to others as well. I wrote back trying to find out more info so I could try and figure out if a virus did indeed somehow come from my computer. You never replied. I checked and rechecked and scanned and tried all I could and came up with nothing. What virus was it exactly? Are you saying it was called the Donna virus or it came from an e-mail from Donna? Can you give more details? Know what's weird? My e-mail doesn't say Donna on it anywhere, just TY. So are you saying you didn't get the virus from me or that I didn't do it on purpose? Because in the e-mail you sent you said you got it from me. Then in another post on here you called the person who gave it to you a scumbag and said they were very clever in giving it to you. That sounds like they did it on purpose. I'm very sorry that your webpage got ruined. I had thought it was a great site and enjoyed it very much. I love dogs and used to have a great dane myself. I would also love to see more women get into skydiving and applaud your efforts. Why on earth would I ever try to ruin all your work? Had I ever been mean to you? No! Just the opposite. Check google and see the replies I made to your posts. I tried being nice and I feel like I'm being unjustly slammed now. I would have just e-mailed this to you but I'm afraid to do that. Skies, D

Here is a chart from a logbook with average times based on a deployment altitude of 2500 feet. Exit Altitude / Relative Work (109 mph) / Freestyle (120 mph) 2500 / 0 / 0 3000 / 6 / 6 3500 / 10 / 9 4000 / 13 / 12 4500 / 16 / 15 5000 / 20 / 18 5500 / 23 / 21 6000 / 26 / 24 6500 / 29 / 26 7000 / 32 / 29 7500 / 35 / 32 8000 / 39 / 35 8500 / 42 / 38 9000 / 45 / 41 9500 / 48 / 43 10000 / 51 / 46 10500 / 54 / 49 11000 / 57 / 52 11500 / 61 / 55 12000 / 64 / 58 12500 / 67 / 60 13000 / 70 / 63 13500 / 73 / 66 14000 / 76 / 69 The use of freestyle was the logbooks choice, not mine. Notice it says freestyle, not freefly. Freeflyers typically go much faster than that. I do have a protrack (which I paid $240 for) and it usually gives me an average speed in the 120s while doing small rw work. I'm not sure how accurate that is. I wear it in my helmet because I use it as an audible altimeter and for more accurate readings on speed you should wear it on your leg. Or you can do what my husband does which is just put 60 seconds for a typical jump.

Ann - I'd like to know why you keep making digs at me about this. I told you I never sent you a virus on purpose and so far no one has been able to explain to me how it could have even happened. If it was true I would like to know so I know what to look for in the future. I don't understand how you can get a virus from a text only post on a newsgroup and why only one person who read that post would pick up the virus and how it could go an attack their webpage. Like I said before I had a brand new Gateway computer that I had just gotten that week. The only thing that we had installed on it was netscape, which is the browser we use and I had downloaded the latest updates to Norton antivirus. No virus was ever found here and after you said you had gotten a virus from my post I ran the antivirus scan a bunch of times. Nothing ever showed up anywhere. I have never used outlook express for mail and you were never in my address book and at that time I didn't even have an address book yet. I honestly don't understand how I could have sent you something and if it's possible I would truly like to know how it happens so I can make sure nothing like that ever happens again. Why would only one person who clicked on the post get it and no one else? I didn't even think it was possible for a text only post to contain a virus. Maybe it is and if so I am truly sorry. I had no idea. I just wish you would stop saying things about me in this roundabout way. I honestly don't know what else to do here. Skies, D

It was actually pretty good. They had some idiot talking about the line of parachutes he makes (I think it was "The Executive Chute") and saying how easy it was to use. You just clip it to something and jump off and it deploys itself and you are fine. No training needed at all. Or so he claims. He had put the rig on during the taping while on top of a building and I'm going... Come on! Jump off! Show us how safe it is! Then they had a nice section with some BASE jumpers discussing the actual dangers and how much can go wrong. The winds, the fire itself, the thermals, body position and getting caught in the lines, getting slammed back into the building you just jumped from, crashing into the surrounding buildings, no steering with this chute, landing in traffic etc. etc. Very heads up. Then they cut back to the idiot and ask him about all the problems the BASE jumpers just mentioned but he insists that it IS safe because he has tested it.... ......from a crane .........in a midwest cornfield ....... with a dummy. IMO They did a pretty good job portraying that while at first glance it sounds like a good idea that there are many problems involved and people shouldn't be running out and buying these things. Skies, D

Nice post, Skreamer. Hardly anyone at my DZ uses an RSL. I've heard quite a few people say, "As long as you have a CYPRES, you don't need an RSL." That may be true in some cases but not all and how do you know the CYPRES will work as it is suppose to? It bothers me that they say this but I'm a low-timer so why should anyone listen to me? I think it is a very individual choice and that everyone should do their homework and read all the pros and cons and then make an informed decision based on what they think is right for them. There is no right or wrong answer. There are just chances of bettering the odds for you. Even if you chose one where 90% of the time it would be the right thing to do, you could end up having an experience in the other 10%. Shit happens. It's a chance we all take. I have talked to a lot of people and read many articles and have come to the conclusion that at this point in time with my experience level and the canopy that I'm flying that an RSL is a good decision for me. I feel confident that I can perform my emergency procedures but I bet quite a few people on the CYPRES saves page and fatality reports pages did, too. Why didn't they pull silver after cutting away? In many cases we will never know the answer. My husband still has his RSL connected but keeps talking about having it taken off at his next repack. I tell him that it's his decision but to please look into both sides carefully first. I also remind him that what is best for him, may not be best for me and vise versa. Skies, D

Are they tips you can share with us on here or just stuff you have to show people? Skies, D

Just recently? Because it was only about a month ago that they sent me one and it was still plastic. Thanks for the heads up. I will write and ask them about it. Skies, D

Well I did break the mounting clip the first day I used it but that was because I used both black tie strips to attach the clip to the slats in the helmet. Because the slats were slanted the ties didn't stay down flat in the little slots on the clip. (kind of hard to explain if you haven't looked at one up close so you know what I'm talking about). To solve this I ended up only using one tie to secure the clip to the helmet. This made the protrack slide more easily into the clip. Does this make any sense? I have no trouble now reaching in and taking the protrack out or putting it back in the clip now. BTW When I broke the first the clip I e-mailed L&B about purchasing another one and they immediately mailed one out to me free of charge and even threw in some more extra batteries. Skies, D

I've used my protrack in my protec and didn't have any problems. I would definitely put it on the inside! It easily fits in the ear hole. I did use the mounting clip and threaded it through the slats in the helmet. I did have to turn the volume on high to hear it though. I also later covered the ear holes with tape to block out some noise and that seemed to help me hear it a little better. Good luck! Skies, D

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by bungee but if you are talking like an elastic tied around it I know I was told to do that when I was practicing for my first throw out (vs ripcord) deployment. I folded my pc and then put an elastic around it so every time I practiced throwing it I wouldn't have to fold it back up again. Of course I was specifically warned to never leave it like that! Glad the guy was ok!! Skies, D

Don't worry, Ben. If that's how you guys feel I'll just stay at wreck and won't bother coming here any more. Didn't know I had been typing rubbish here the past 6 months. Skies, D

Just who are you talking about Ann? If you don't know them or anything about them then why are you trashing them? I have never gotten down and dirty or attacked anyone and neither has Julie, John Kallend or Alan Binnebose, etc. Julie and I only got numbers as a joke. In fact we basically just decided to take numbers and drove Espen crazy so he finally gave them to us. It was all in fun. Most people got their numbers for being tenacious. They are not given for being mean or cruel. I'm pretty sure none of us have ever sent a virus, certainly never on purpose. I know I have NEVER sent one and I resent your implications that I did. All I ever did was be nice to you. Thanks for doing the same. TY ALF#7 Skies, D

Oh I'll definitely be at the DZ anyway. It's my second home. Plus my husband will still be jumping. We took AFF at the same time. He now has 93 jumps while I only have 41. I'm feeling a little better this morning. I decided I will do the surgery and just see how my knee feels next summer and as long as I think it's ok I'm going to jump anyway. What do doctors know?

Hey JT - I can totally relate. I was out last year from Oct 21- July 7th because of first a back injury and then a knee injury on April 1. I've been jumping since then but I really need ACL reconstruction surgury on my knee and I'm having it done Nov. 21. I originally thought I'd be out about 6 months with it but I just had a presurgical appt. today and the surgeon says no jumping for a whole year after! No way I can make that. I am so totally depressed at the moment. Skies, D

Mike - It's not that people around here aren't willing to help you learn, I just don't think too many really teach the mantis. They just aren't that experienced with it themselves. A bunch are planning on a tunnel trip this winter so I'm hoping they get into it and maybe we can all work on it next summer. That'd be fun. If not, guess I'll just have to come visit you.

I did an hour of tunnel time back in July, most of it with Eliana Rodriguez and learned the basics of flying in the mantis position. She was fabulous and I had the best time and learned so much. I was real excited to come home and try it but it just hasn't gone that way. I'm still pretty new and in the actual air I tend to just fall back into the box position. When I've mentioned learning more about doing it in the mantis position I've been told to forget about what I learned there because it's really just for people with over 600 jumps who fly 4 way competitively. I've found this discouraging. Eliana had felt it was much more efficient way to fly and that if people learned it sooner before the boxman type position became so ingrained that it would be easier. It seemed to make a lot of sense to me and I plan on keeping at it. I'd love to get down and do some more tunnel time too. It's great to be able to do long stretches of learning at a time instead of 1 minute sessions a few times a day on weekends. I think the learning curve goes way up when you do 4 two and a half minute sessions in a half hour which you can give your full concentration to. I'd be interested in hearing other more experienced RW jumpers opinions on lower timers learning the mantis. Skies, D

Hey Bill! Stop in at Jumptown in Orange, MA if you can! We'd love to have you! Skies, D

OUCH! OUCH! OUCH! OUCH! OUCH! My god... that poor guy. That sounds horribly painful! I'm cringing just thinking about it. I hope he heals completely and fast. BTW Merrick.... Congrats on being up in the air again already! Skies, D

Do you have a credit card or can you get one? Skies, D

I don't know but the one on the end is cute.

I agree, Marc. I had the same thing happen to me! I just had a few scrapes across my face from the risers but had a nice canopy without even any line twists. Skies, D

Hey Larissa and Sky! I'm sure you'll both do great. Believe in yourselves. Visualize a great jump and keep positive thoughts. Remember to smile. I'll be thinking of you both. Let us know all about it afterwards! Have fun!! Skies, D

I think I can do the thumb thing but that's about it. Skies, D

We have 3 kids. Our older two (13 & 15) have better things to do and hardly ever come with us. Our 10 year old daughter, on the other hand, comes with us almost every weekend. She loves it there and has a great time. We don't specifically say anything to her about accidents but around our house we openly talk about all the latest injuries and deaths we hear about. Our kids are very aware of the risks involved. They also know we try our best to be as safe as possible. I do worry some about her being there. Last year my husband and I were both on the same plane when it had a very bad spot and both of us landed out and were missing for some time. It was VERY scary for her to be driving around with other jumpers trying to find her parents and not knowing if they were ok. My husband only had minor injuries but I was hurt. She was pretty shook up about the experience for quite some time. I haven't been on the same plane as my husband since. We would really like to jump together soon and plan on doing so but it will be a day that she isn't with us. While I think it's fine for jumpers to bring their own kids I think we need to take the concerns and feelings of other kid's parents into consideration about bringing their kids. Our daughter had been asking if her best friend could come some day. When I brought it up one time to her friend's parents I got the distinct feeling they definitely didn't want her there. They recently lost their oldest son in a car accident and I totally respect their concerns. I explained to my daughter why I didn't want her asking for her friend to come any more. I think you are smart to not push it with your nephew. Maybe in the next year or two as your sister gets more comfortable with the idea of skydiving she will change her mind and bring your nephew out some day. Good luck! Skies, D

Guess he didn't have a CYPRES....... Skies, D