skydiverkeith

I won't waste my time with a rational response about the differences between theory and practical application. I'm aware of this site's policy on personal attacks, but you sir, are a fucking moron. I hope you die after your airway is blocked by a pea that's, in theory, too small to suffocate you... Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Hey, I wanna play the semantics game, too! The instant you step out of the door of an aircraft in flight while wearing (and/or strapped to a TI wearing) a parachute, and that includes a S/L rig, you're most certainly a skydiver (or if it's a military S/L jump, you're a parachute jumper). While you're out of the plane and in the air, participating in a skydive, you are in the act of skydivING; thus you are, at that moment, a skydivER. To my mind, in the skydiving/parachute jumping context, getting past the fear of death enough to exit a plane in flight is the threshhold. Okay, me next in the semantics game! Tandem passengers aren't , they are connected to the container... Blue skies, Keith Medlock

I feel the same way when a skydiver calls themselves a pilot. They aren't flying the damn plane.... But seriously, it's nothing to get worked up about. Some things aren't worth the worry, ya know? I'm a wingsuit pilot. I AM the aircraft... Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Hi SR If you have the time read the incident report about about the 100 jump guy who knew he was ready to jump a wingsuit. One DZ in Fl told him no he needeed a minimum of 200 jumps to jump a WS (Chuck Blue you the man). The guy went to a DZ down the road where he knew some people and he got to make 2 wingsuit jumps. Read the incident report to find out why he never jumped again How do I find this incident report? Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Fuck the SIM. Just use common sense and stay withinin your comfort level/level of risk tolerance. According to the SIM, you also don't need instruction before jumping a wingsuit if you have 500 jumps, and any size canopy/wingloading is also okay. Jumping with a camera is a bad idea no matter how many jumps you have, but then again, so is skydiving and marriage... Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Destroy the children to save the relationship... Blue skies, Keith Medlock

+ 1 I tried to get my tubes tied at 22 years old and my gyno said no way, that I will probably change my mind. I sure did, but when we tried it didn't happen. I then scheduled it last spring and then backed out. How many gynos did you see? It's a case by case decision. One might turn you down, but another will not. Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Mine was done when I was 26 and cost $25 with insurance. Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Definitions are not static. They change with context. And even if you don't believe that, skydiving, as I described it in my previous post is a need by definition, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/need This is really good informaton. Having insurance is certainly a much better idea than not. 80 jumps a year is a hobby. That's what - 1-2 weekends a month? I believe that's about the typical number for active USPA jumpers. (my single year high was probably 70, though the last major year was cut in half by a major out of sport injury) If you get hurt without insurance in the US model, you have two big problems. 1) if you're in the tiny category that can afford to pay $50,000, you still have the problem of having to negotiate discounts for the phony "rack rate" for hospital services. The insurance companies may pay 20-50% of that value. 2) for the vast majority who can't pay out, you're not going to be getting modern orthopedic care. Broke your leg? Here, sit in this cast for the next several months and let it bind again! 20 years ago when that was still a common answer, my mom did 8 months in the cast after a classic tib/fib boot break. With surgery, she would have been walking about close to normal in 8 weeks. The atrophy from 8 months lead to perm issues with the ankle. Then there's physical therapy. This is not outlandishly expensive - in San Francisco you could go twice a week paying cash for just over $1000/month. Not cheap, and well worth it, but a fair insurance plan would give you 18 visits. A great one, like my current, will grant based on doctor's indicated need. I probably have 50 visits this year. so if you're in the cast for 6+ months, and then you can't swing any (or much) PT, you'll end up with a healed bone, but substantial loss in strength and agility and with time this gets very difficult to restore. What's 40% of your athletic potential worth? Disability insurance is another really valuable benefit to have from work. It's not easy to get as an individual. If it's a short term (< year) issue, your state may have one you pay into that covers you reasonably well, keep the rent paid, etc. But this could be a long period where you can't earn any income. My accident took me out for 13 weeks. Blue skies, Keith Medlock

That's okay, as long as you respect me as a skydiver the next time you see me at a boogie.

Ony if they are battered. Nothing better than battered women and children. Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Well sure, but then I would have to take a Femotidine too because of my indigestion these days. Blue skies, Keith Medlock

You don't regret it? That's really young to be making a decision with such permanent consequences. A persons views could change at least a few times on this. When I was 19 I didn't want kids wither, but fast-forward 10 years & I see things differently now. It doesn't have to be now - but I do look forward to being a dad.

I'm just amazed someone didn't spell "moot", "mute" Blue skies, Keith Medlock

And am sooooo happy I'm fixed. I also know a lot of other people who are thrilled I'm not going to reproduce! Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Errr.... I never claimed I couldn't afford insurance. Quite the opposite. And yes, I pay ALL of my own medical, dental, and vision bills out of pocket. I began my career in the medical field and know how bad it is, and don't advocate or condone ANYONE seeking medical care and not taking care of the bill. And before I hear any BS from someone else, yes, I could afford the bill for a catastrophic injury were that to ever happen (within reason, I don't have $1000000 dollars.) Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Definitions are not static. They change with context. And even if you don't believe that, skydiving, as I described it in my previous post is a need by definition, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/need Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Its not that simple. You're making a blanket statement. Just because it works that way for you, and is your opinion, philosophy, or whatever, doesn't make that true for everyone. For myself, taking care of a certain amount of "wants" IS a "need" I have to have food, water, and shelter. But recreation is also essential to my health and happiness. If I have to choose between health/happiness or the remote possibility or Debt accrual, the former takes priority. Life is too short. I do my best to protect myself. I've been without insurance for over a year now and have always found a way to afford my jumps. It's just a matter of your priorities. That's literally true. However, I wasn't speaking in a literal sense. Yep, and I've made several jumps with you. Of course, but we're talking quality of life here. Before I happened upon skydiving, I was bouncing from thing to thing looking for something to fill the hole inside me and never really being happy. Skydiving changed that for me and gave me a reason to go to work and live. I'm sure I'm not the only one who came about skydiving this way, whether they will admit it or not. As I said, having a certain amount of "wants" IS a "need". Blue skies, Keith Medlock

My point is, the decision is whether or not to get insurance. Skydiving has nothing to do with it. And not driving is safer than driving... And skydiving is not just a hobby for some of us... Don't argue semantics with me. I'll lose every time! Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Just jump without it. Who gives a shit. I suppose you might as well not drive either so you can't have a car accident. And don't drink alcohol either because it lowers your inhibitions and you might do something stupid and get hurt. Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Skydiver! Blue skies, Keith Medlock

No, in retrospect it was not a good choice. After the responses I've gotten, no I don't plan on repeating the flyby simply out of respect for other skydivers; although I think it could still be fun for the tm/student at a safer, yet still viewable/hearable distance. I'm very aware that my level of acceptable risk is well above that of some other skydivers and don't want to ignorantly expose others to dangers I may create for myself. Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Weren't you asking for very basic flight advice just 2 weeks ago? Yep, and it would still be appreciated... Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Until the canopy pilot decides to make a sudden turn because outs were neither considered nor discussed... If a sudden turn fucks me, then I was too close to begin with and flying with zero reserve... Blue skies, Keith Medlock

How many wingsuit jumps do you have? 32 Dude - nice you had fun and everything worked out ok but please get more experience before doing such stuff. I have about 400 wingsuit jumps and I just start thinking about getting some coaching about flying close to canopies. That might be be "German safety nazi"-style, but sorry - yours sounds like "western cowboy" style. Learn to fly steady with other wingsuits and maybe jump from a balloon with other balloons in the air to get the feeling for speed differences. But please get far more experience and proper coaching. If the tandem pilot has no experience in wingsuit flying he is in my eyes not the one who is able to tell you if it is OK. I've heard tandem masters who were asked if a WS flyer would be allowed to do a flyby and just asked back "Are you able to?" They often have no idea how difficult it is. Sorry, and so you, as it seems! Flybys are REALLY easy... Blue skies, Keith Medlock