KevinP

Agreed. There is no substitution. As a matter of fact, the knock-offs are pretty heinous. He owes you Oreos and, IMO, he should buy two packs. Punitive damages and all that. Sincerely, Kevin

I used to eat whatever the heck I wanted. Then I hit 40. Decided (on my own) to start eating "better." Reduce the processed foods and incorporate more fresh stuff. Then I was diagnosed with diverticulosis. Now I watch what I eat because I prefer not to have surgery for the advanced condition of diverticulitis. More fiber, less seeds/nuts. I do feel better though. Sincerely, Kevin

What's a student? Effective the 18th, ME!! :happydance: Seriously, though? I am a leader in the Army. Have been for a few years. But I always make myself available to new ideas and guidance, even from my soldiers. I'm pretty sure that will transfer to my skydiving, regardless of how many jumps I have. Sincerely, Kevin

You bet I will. On Friday, I'll do two tandems and a coached solo. Then I will do two more solos Saturday or Monday. I'll definitely post up my experience. Hopefully, I'll have a video or two to put up too.

No, not The Gathering (for you Highlander fans), my skydiving!! I just joined USPA (well, submitted my "order" to join) and will start the ASP at Skydive Phoenix in Maricopa AZ on Friday (the 18th). I AM STOKED!!!!!!!!!!! Sincerely, Kevin

I see. And I totally agree. When I read what you wrote, I envisioned someone who really should get a refresher fluffing their logbook to save whatever trouble and money it would take. But when you put it in the terms of 1000+, that kinda makes it different. Haha Sincerely, Kevin

That's pretty pathetic. At least in my opinion. Sincerely, Kevin

haha! That would not be me, Bro! I have way too much to lose. Thanks for a description of what happened. Did you have to cut away? It didn't look like the canopy was going to cooperate. Then the falling helmet (first time I have seen that perspective). Cool video. I hope to have some of my own soon to put up. I'm starting the ASP later this month. Sincerely, Kevin

Sorry. 4:20. It looks like a line goes from the left set of risers through the right side of the slider and back to the left of the canopy. What happened there? I don't know where I got 2:20 from. Sincerely, Kevin

Hahaha, well, if you find me one day, remind me and I will pay up. Sincerely, Kevin

Hmm. Good point. All I got for it was a certificate. But anyone could produce one of those. Not a big deal. It's only one. Sincerely, Kevin

Thanks for the input. I guess I already have an entry for the logbook. I did a tandem March of last year. :) That's 1!!

Thank you. I very much like watching skydiving videos. :) That one still smells new! Question: At 2:20, there is a still of the malfunction from earlier in the vid. What's going on there? Having basically no experience, I also have no idea. Thanks! Sincerely, Kevin

It seems that the "ASP" is a popular substitute for the AFF. Do those tandem jumps taken as part of that program count toward your jump totals? Thanks. Sincerely, Kevin

There is something on his wrist, but it could just be a brace. But, could someone hold on to a harness during the opening sequence? I don't know because the 18 Army SL and 1 Tandem I have done probably isn't an accurate comparison. Whatever the case, he's pretty hardcore. EDIT: Because the post reads like a five-year old wrote it, but I am not going to expend the mental energy it would take to fix it. Sincerely, Kevin

this link says it's a guy called greg gasson. it also indicates that it was made, or used, in the "good stuff"-video. all the footage seems to be gone from youtube, but with my limited knowledge, it might be eloy? for all i know the cool shots with the skydivers in the car on that movie were shot there, so chances are good this was also done there.. maybe!? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7LNMwGNmLk GOT HIM Sincerely, Kevin

Haha. Hadn't made it that far yet. Thanks. Sincerely, Kevin

Okay, there is a guy in there. Long hair, jeans and barefooted, climbing back into his harness. I saw a picture of that dude. Does anyone know where that video is located? Sincerely, Kevin

Okay. Cool. I read and re-read it. I saw the "about" referring to the first 10 seconds, then noticed the lack of "about" when referring to every 5.5 after. I just needed some clarification. Thanks! Sincerely, Kevin

Hi all, I started seriously reading the SIM today and found this: d. Use of the altimeter in freefall: (1) Skydivers freefall about 1,000 feet in the first ten seconds and 1,000 feet every 5.5 seconds thereafter. My question is, isn't this variable? I sorta understand terminal velocity (I comprehend the words when I read the definition, in other words), but there are the things about people wearing weight belts and others wearing certain suits to match the fall rate of another jumper. And isn't falling in a head-down position faster than a belly-to-earth orientation? I'm not nit-picking, I'm just curious. I want to KNOW the material, not just "get" it. Thanks! Kevin Sincerely, Kevin

I have read it and watched it, as well as refreshing myself on the 4th Amendment. It's my opinion that they were both contributory. I can see where the BPA abused his position and authority, but I can also see where the "upstanding" driver made it worse than it could have been. I go through BPA CPs weekly. When I approach, I have my window all the way down and my military ID at arms length out of the window in a presentation position. I have never even been slowed down. Maybe next time, I'll try to play cool with my window down only a couple of inches and see what happens. I suppose I'll have to get them tinted first. I want to duplicate the conditions as closely as I can. Sincerely, Kevin

That was awesome! It took a lot to set that up, but over three hours?? Fuuunny! Sincerely, Kevin

I agree with that completely, but I have to ask what constitutional law or right was violated when the dude in the video was asked to step out of his car. While I don't know what happened afterward, if he wasn't detained or searched, I don't see any violation at all. Cops do it frequently, don't they? I was stopped once for going to slow and the cop gave me a field sobriety test. I was totally sober (turns out the car was on it's way out and didn't want to finish the hill with any gusto). Perhaps the car the "military officer" was driving matched the description of one reported stolen. You get out, provide proof of ownership with a valid ID and you are on your way. We could "what if" this thing to death. Still, based on the ten or so minutes I saw on the video that was presented, it is my opinion that he was trying to incite for the camera. And look, here I am getting wrapped around the axle about it. Sincerely, Kevin

Don't misunderstand me. I certainly don't think I am better than anyone. Quite the contrary. I serve my country with humility and consider it an honor. And I have put my life on the line several times, and will several times more if need be, in service to the Constitution and as a result am intimately familiar with it. I am not suggesting that anyone within our borders "meekly 'comply.'" But where is the line? If that same "military officer" were driving down the highway and a state trooper activated his lights behind him, should he not stop? That's compliance. What's the difference between stopping for a SHP Officer and exiting the vehicle for a BP Agent? I am actually more upset with the individual. If it were Joe Public, then I wouldn't have cared. But the individual in the the video claims to be in the military. That being the case, I hold him to a higher standard. He should be more compliant and far more professional than he showed himself to be. And I quoted the movie, not because I agreed with the character's motivations or methods, but because I do feel that "We the People" are far too easily offended by those entrusted with our safety. EDITED: B/C I had a misspelling and I hate that. Sincerely, Kevin

At the risk of stirring up a hornet's nest, I'll speak my mind. As a soldier, when I deploy, I expect, no, I demand a certain reaction to my authority. If I tell Joe Iraqi to step back and he doesn't, he is probably going to be staring down the barrel of my M4 VERY shortly after he refuses. Why am I like this? My LIFE depends on it. And the lives of the soldiers to my right and left. Now, how does that apply to a United States person legally traveling from one location to another inside of the borders of the US? It's easy, at least to me. I put my life on the line when I deploy. Border Patrol agents put their lives on the line EVERY day they go to work, as seen in the recent example of Agent Brian Terry. How do they increase their chances of going home safe? Their hands are held tighter than a deployed soldier. They have to act according to their own organization's guidelines. Whether CPT America in the video was a random stop or if they had suspicion, he acted inappropriately. The easiest and quickest way to get away from a situation like that is to comply. So it takes five minutes. Who CARES! It's an OLD movie, but I think Jack Nicholson's character COL Jessup (in A Few Good Men) said it best: "I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to. " Sincerely, Kevin