Namowal

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Posts posted by Namowal

  1. Quote

    Is TLC really the acronym for the phrase 'The Learning Channel'? I find it hard to believe if they're running shows like this.

    From the comments :

    Quote

    Dad, age 40. Mom, age 32. Oldest daughter, 17. Learning time! Mom was 15 when said daughter was born, and Dad was 23. We can assume that this means a 22 year-old man was "making love" with a 14 year old. 'MURICA!



    I guess there is something that can be learnt from this kind of TV-programming.


    That show would have come in handy in my student days when I was spooked by the door:
    Replace the green light with a screening of that and I'd be out that door so fast...:o
    My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons.

  2. Quote

    [
    Very often, the more you try to compare yourself with others, the more destructive it can be because you keep saying to yourself: "why the fuck am I not good as them? I've put X amount of work and effort and I'm still not half as good as them!" (which wrongly leads to self-blame)

    And it makes it harder to enjoy the process of getting better because you constantly put more pressure on yourself.



    Good point. Sometimes it's like part of my brain is a bratty five-year-old, throwing a fit because other people are better than me (with less time and practice) and that's not fair. Waah.

    I need to remember that this attitude is about as helpful now as it was when I was in preschool. Nothing good will come of it.
    My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons.

  4. Quote


    And for god's sake learn how to flare.
    I know, it's easy to say.
    There are all sorts of possible things to try: Spend a weekend at the DZ watching people land (especially those at similar wing loadings to you). Find someone who can watch & video your landings. Even take along a student radio and get flare assistance from the ground. Get some help. There has to be some identifiable reason or trend to your bad landings.

    While falling over or thumping in a little can happen, actually hitting hard enough to not be fully healed by the next weekend is really bad. Are you reaching out for the landing? Is it a matter of tripping on landing? Bad perception of distance & speed? Doing a good multistage flare? (which can sort of still apply even at pretty low wing loadings) Are the landings really that bad that you should be feet together and ready to roll every time, just in case? PLF's can absorb some pretty bad landings.



    Good questions. The poor landings really annoy me because I've tried so hard to do everything right. I took the DZ canopy course (where luckily or unluckily I happened to land ok when I was being taped!) I dedicate part of my canopy time to practice flares and exercises. Yet I'm still doing some plow jobs.>:([:/]
    That being said, here's some things I've noticed:

    1. I land fine if there's a breeze. Bad landings happen when there's no wind. Even if I flare when I'm supposed to, I'm still going rather fast and tend to fall forward (or sideways, if I time the PLF correctly). More than one coach suggested that the canopy I'm renting may be too big- it's a 210 and I don't weigh that much. They think too much forward speed may be a problem and say I should try a 190. I realize this is a departure from the usual "Don't downsize until you've mastered your current size" advice.

    2. Some of my earlier bad landings were compounded by flaring too high. I'm getting better at not doing this.

    3.My worst landing (the one that started the problem) was when I told myself "This time you're not going to flare so soon! I don't care how close the ground looks." Guess who flared too low and banged up her leg? D'oh!

    If I don't get my landing act together soon, I'm coughing up some money to get them taped and critiqued, as you suggested.
    My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons.

  5. Several weeks back I banged up my knee and ankle in a sloppy landing. Nothing serious- mind you, just some swelling, bruising, stiffness. No pain that Advil can't tackle. Nothing's broken or sprained.

    However, ever since it happened- I'm seeing a pattern. By the end of the week, said leg is still a bit sensitive but more or less normal. Then I go to the DZ, have a klutzy landing (I usually have at least one), and I'm back with a fat knee, fat ankle, and a cranky limpy leg.

    Part of me thinks "You're just making it worse. Take some time off and let it heal."
    The other part of me thinks "So? You can stand on it. You can walk. Fellow jumpers have smashed their bones to pieces and you're worried about this? Wimp! Get out there and jump!"

    So should I stop whining and get myself back to the DZ? Or cool it for a week or two, just to be safe?
    My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons.

  7. Quote

    Quote

    Quote

    True homosexuality is not a 'choice'. Real homosexuals are born that way.


    Chuck



    Interesting comment. How would a person know if they were a "true" homosexual or not?

    Is it just a matter of who a person is sexually attracted to?



    That's how I understand it. Just the same way as heterosexuals are attracted to members of the opposite sex.


    Chuck



    Or left handers are "wired" to use their left hands. In either case I find it hard to believe that any one chooses to use their left hand (or be attracted to their own gender) just for the heck of it.

    To play devil's advicate, one could argue that "being born that way" doesn't automatically make any behavior okay. If my neighbor was somehow born to be inclined to strangle people, I'd have a problem with him (or her.) But if they want to date or marry someone the same gender as themselves, it doesn't bother me.
    My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons.

  8. I've hit the ground under canopy like that more than once...
    :$

    Quote

    Having done the exact same thing years ago, without all the flips though, I winced when he hit. Then I couldn't help but laugh... especially when they flashed the scores... Perfect 0.0s across the board! :D

    http://network.yardbarker.com/olympics/article_external/backyard/unfortunately_named_german_diver_stephan_feck_executed_the_worst_dive_of_these_olympics/11397145?refmod=backyard&refsrc=medaldetector

    ETA: If the video turns to static and says its private, click on the small link in the statement below depending on where you live and you'll see the video


    My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons.

  9. I've noticed skydiving videos with music tend to have "Does this rock or what!?" style soundtracks. Are there any examples of ones with more unusual music (Classical? Novelty? Showtunes? 1920s Jazz etc.?) Specifically, ones with unusual soundtracks where the odd music actually compliments what's going on in the video?

    I realize this is a matter of opinion.
    My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons.

  10. Quote

    Sounds like your still makin progress! Thats great! Congrats on the good jump!!



    I'm not progressing as fast as I'd like to, but it's still exciting when I'm able to do something I couldn't do before! :)

    Quote

    I love how those that are already relaxed tell those (of us) who can't just have a hard time being able just to "relax". Silly laid-back people.



    I suspect my brain has super-sized amygdalae. [:/] Dumb ol' amygdalae.
    Quote

    Now for my unsolicited advice. Try laying on your tummy (no chance of "falling" out) and experiment with"peeking" out (if OK with the PTB). BTW this isn't a "just relax" comment. It will help you get comfortable with the open door beyond the "I'm approaching the door with the express purpose of going through it". Believe it or not, it won't suck you out!



    Well, I am slowly getting desensitized to sitting by the door as I've found myself sitting near it lately. I'm still not crazy about the "on the floor just inches away from it" seat, but at least there's fresh air and a view. :)
    My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons.

  11. Quote

    I like Harness Hickeys.

    I just call 'em RSBs (Random Skydiving Bruises). Sometimes I know exactly where they came from, other times it's a complete mystery. You know it's been a fun weekend when you do the inventory when you get home. :D



    I get the Random Skydiving Bruises too. Lately I've been getting funny black 'n' blue stripes along the side of my foot. I've seen similar stripes on sprained ankles- but I this ankle isn't sprained: I never twisted it, it doesn't hurt, and it's fully functional. Go figure.
    On the flip side, I've taken a few spills where I thought "Youch, that's gonna leave a mark." Yet no bruises developed.
    My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons.

  14. Quote

    1. Knowing the entire SIM sounds admirable.... But may not be a good idea. Much of the back of the SIM is irrelevant for someone with 65 jumps.

    If I had to chose between you (@65 jumps) spending time to learn how to fly a predictable pattern, separate traffic in the pattern, track straight and far, use flat turns, and manage emergency procedures OR learn about wing suits, high altitude jumps, camera jumps, and demo jumps.....there is no contest!

    Mastering the essential stuff is is a much better investment of time for you than filling your head with esoterica at this point.

    2. The act of creating your own quiz is far more helpful for learning than simply taking someone else's quiz.

    3. Flash cards are a wonderful thing. I made lots of them to learn skydiving stuff as I progressed through my licenses and ratings. At various times I used both 3x5 index cards and electronic flash cards on my smart phone.



    Thanks, GLIDEANGLE and DSE!
    My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons.

  15. A few weeks ago I put a post here asking if there was an online quiz to help prepare me for the B-licence quiz. Some replies reminded me that it would be wise to study the SIM in its entirety (and beyond licence quiz time,) to make sure I was as safe and knowledgeable as possible.
    With that in mind, are there any reliable quizzes (or lists of questions you should be able to answer) based on the SIM in its entirety? Not to cram for a specific quiz, but to test that I know the manual thoroughly?

    Or is it time for me to make a box of flash cards?
    My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons.

  16. Quote

    Dirty dishes left in the sink. The dishwasher is right there next to the sink, take the extra 10 seconds and put the dishes in there!



    That drives me nuts too. I'm not the world's best housekeeper, but dirty dishes in the sink is just nasty.

    Edited to add:
    Maybe it's because I'm older, but am I the only one who finds instant messages very annoying?
    For example (my interpretation in brackets):
    Quote


    u there? [Hey! Let me interrupt you! Notice you're not important enough to warrant a "you"...]

    So and so is typing...     [Now that I've distracted you, please stop what you're working on and wait for what I have to say...]

    So and so has stopped typing. [Ha ha! I interrupted you and made you wait. Sucker!]



    I have no problem with emails, facebook messages, phone messages etc... but the "stop what you're doing and watch me type" nature of instant messages drive me crazy.
    My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons.

  17. Quote

    Quote


    I just call 'em RSBs (Random Skydiving Bruises). Sometimes I know exactly where they came from, other times it's a complete mystery. You know it's been a fun weekend when you do the inventory when you get home. :D

    On rainy weekends when I can't jump, I just stick a dirty sock in my mouth, light a $100 dollar bill on fire and throw myself down the stairs a few times. It's just like I spent a day at the DZ.:)

    Good one!
    My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons.

  22. Quote

    Quote


    Well, if I want to get cute the next time I bring beer, I know what kind to look for! B|



    If you ever visit Germany, tell me in advance and I'll drop by and serve you a sixpack of Duckstein B| (and jump with you if there's any chance...:))


    Thanks! B|
    My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons.

  25. Quote

    Had one last night, wow! Duckstein! (Pronounced "dook-shtayn" with a short u in the first syllable, as to be heard here or simply go here and watch the embedded video in the bottom-right corner.)
    It's a beer for the the connoisseur, pricy but tasty. And also something for the eye to enjoy, look at the bottle B|
    Might be hard to find in the US, but it belongs to the Carlsberg Group (respective link), so who knows... Found this link.
    Aussies - at least in WA - may enjoy something similar, looks a little different (bottle, coat of arms etc), but the "Dunkel" should be close though it is not matured on beechwood, as far as I see it.



    Quote

    have duck add beer

    http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1480/30365

    http://www.redduckbeer.com.au/

    http://www.blackduckbrewery.com.au/

    http://www.dogandduck.com.au/



    Well, if I want to get cute the next time I bring beer, I know what kind to look for! B|
    My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons.