HeatherB

This is so not good. (From wwltv.com, the CBS affiliate in New Orleans): Apartment building on Wright Avenue in Terrytown has collapsed with people inside, according to Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee. Rescue crews have not been able to get to the scene as of 9:30 a.m. Karen Swensen says there is 3 feet of water downtown near the Hyatt. She reports several office windows coming out whole from buildings. Two holes ripped in Superdome roof, visible from facility floor, according to Associated Press reports. .. A LEVEE BREACH OCCURRED ALONG THE INDUSTRIAL CANAL AT TENNESSE STREET. 3 TO 8 FEET OF WATER IS EXPECTED DUE TO THE BREACH...LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO ARABI AND 9TH WARD OF NEW ORLEANS. St. Bernard Parish spokesman Larry Ingargiola says the parish's two shelters at Chalmette High and St. Bernard High are suffering major damage. He said Chalmette High shelter is losing its roof, and St. Bernard High has plenty of broken windows and glass. He estimates 300-plus refugees at the two sites. Entergy says 317,000 customers were without power as of 6 a.m. Cleco reported 40,000 without power in St. Tammany Parish. St. Bernard Parish officials say most of the parish has no power.

Ugh. A friend of mine and her family are at a hotel right by the lake. They're on the 3rd floor. I don't think she realizes what they're in for. She said it'll be hard being without electicity and water. I'm thinking she has bigger worries than that.

Bingo. Even if I didn't have the money to stay at a hotel, I'd get in the car and drive far far away. Sleeping in a car is better than staying put when it's this strong a storm. Christina: In your neighborhood they're predicting an 10 to 11 foot storm surge. Sandbags aren't going to cut it. Listen to all the warnings and get the hell out of there. A friend of mine is visiting family in New Orleans this weekend...I'm going to call her in a few minutes to make sure they've left.

You don't have any friends/family further inland? Have you at least boarded up your windows? It's a category 5 now....maybe it'll be a 4 when it hits, but that's still extraordinarily strong. The satellite image is insane: http://hurricane.accuweather.com/hurricane/storms.asp?partner=accuweather&myadc=0&ocean=atlantic&storm=Katrina&imagetype=sat

It's a Category 3 now. It loves the warm gulf water. Hopefully everyone along the LA/MS/AL coast is getting prepared.

"I'm not supposed to be in freefall." (And I really was...it was an IAD jump gone bad).

Apparently 1.4 to 1.5 at 200-something jumps is considered conservative by many people now. Interesting... Jump whatever you want. Throw away your RSL and AAD. Pull low. Get your swoop on. Go big! I'll hold your beer for ya! I don't think I care anymore.

Okay, so I knew things were going "well" but I didn't realize that were going *that* well! Congratulations! And now you can get out of Arkansas or Kansas or Oklahoma or whatever. Cool!

Nevermind. I see.

Special circumstances? What on earth? Did you get in trouble for a low-pull or something?

I'm scared. I think someone is out to get me. I had a cutaway the other day....the canopy was spinning out of control! It may have been because one brake was stowed and one wasn't, but I'm not sure. But anyhow, I pulled the cutaway handle and the RSL did its job and deployed my reserve for me. But the kicker is.....upon later inspection, the reserve cable had a huge kink in it!! What the fuck?? Someone has been fucking with my reserve ripcord!!! Were they trying to bend it so that it wouldn't pull through?? Someone must be screwing with my rig while I'm not watching it! I'm lucky to be alive. I don't trust anyone at Z-hills anymore!

Jermany: If you receive $10 in the mail from me, you know what to do with it! Mad skills! Silly, Silly Jerm.

I'm not saying Z-1's will never open in freefall (or in the tunnel), but it sure seems like Oxygen visors aren't as dependable as Z-1 visors. I like the way Oxygens fit, I just don't like the visor. If I remember correctly, Oren (in the photo) said the button had gotten pushed in and the visor didn't have anything to latch onto. I make sure I hear the button click and touch it before exiting.

Sometime during your skydiving career you may want to give full-face helmets a shot. I wear contacts and have not had any trouble with my full-face, a Z-1. Not much air gets in, so my eyes don't dry out, and my visor has always stayed put. (I've had the Z-1 for probably about the last 500-600 jumps) I still should do a ride-along in the plane one day without my contacts in...just to see how well (or not well) I can see from various altitudes. I'm pretty blind. (My contacts are -8.5 and -7.5.) I'd be hesitant to jump an Oxygen because I've seen too many Oxygen visors fly off in freefall.

My co-workers and I couldn't see it from our office in Tampa. Too hazy, I suppose. Watched it on tv instead! I still have goosebumps.

I didn't think you'd be back. It was a nice surprise.

I still feel like a low-timer myself. Lately I've only been doing 4-way. If I had more time and cash on my hands I'd come out for more "fun jumps."

Well, I can appreciate your enthusiasm. How many teams do you think will show up at Nationals this year?

Skysurfing teams at the U.S. Nationals: 2004: 4 teams 2003: 7 teams 2002: 4 teams 2001: 6 teams 2000: 8 teams Is skysurfing more popular in other countries? I can't blame the USPA for getting rid of a category in which there are so few competitors. (Unless a whole bunch of teams do compete this year). How will getting rid of the category hurt skydiving's exposure to whuffos? Whuffos don't even know there is such a thing as Nationals. The USPA isn't trying to prevent people from using skysurfing in TV ads and movies. I understand that it sucks for you, but it's hard to justify having a category in which so few people compete...

I'm glad you survived your incident with just a broken arm. 0 jumps for me this weekend. Hurricane Dennis interfered with plans. Still a good weekend though!

The panhandle might have problems but Tampa Bay, Sarasota, etc should be okay. Most of the models take it further out into the gulf and not up along the coast line. I have relatives in Mobile. They are concerned.

I'd be worried about Dennis if I lived in Mississippi. Looks like Florida is in the clear unless the forecasted paths are way off. We've had great weather this week...hopefully our plane is back in action for the weekend.

My other work computer is down for the count and all my special software is on that machine...I suppose I'll just have to do nothing all day! We can get in trouble together, Arlo. Are they only doing 2 jumps a day? Is that standard for this meet?

Agreed....just like I don't need to hire Airspeed to show me how to do 4-way. I'm nowhere near that level. If an AFF student has video of their jumps, I suppose they could show a new tunnel coach their videos. Would that help at all? Do most students get video?

I know you had a winky face after that and everything, but I just want to mention that Sally is a fantastic coach and a world champ, as well as an AFF instructor. And she doesn't charge much when compared to other coaches. Her fee is very reasonable. I haven't flown with her in a while but it's always a huge learning experience. She makes it fun too. Lots of different drills and she'll push you outside your comfort zone. I'd recommend her to anyone, whether they're AFF students or have thousands of jumps.