tbrown

Everyone should know the ramifications of loaning a rig. I used to loan my rig out all the time to friends for one reason or another. Then one day I loaned it out to this kid who was a sometimes jump pilot of ours. I thought he was more intelligent, but soon found out otherwise. First, the kid did a lazy flick with the PC, which went over his back and collapsed (this is what he told me afterward...). Then he pulled the 3-ring handle. The PC cleared and deployed the main, which kept right on going, into the lake. The kid also kept right on going, straight down. Then he couldn't find the reserve handle. This was 1979, so guess what, no AAD.... He finally did find it and sat in under the round reserve about 100 ft over the marshes on the edge of the lake. He was a slimy muddy mess, as was my entire rig. Had to pay my rigger to clean everything. But worst of all was the SICKENING feeling that I was about to watch somebody bounce in my rig. It was one of the worst feelings I've ever had in my life, and I wasn't even thinking about the rig, I was feeling responsible for somebody's impending death that was unfolding right before my eyes. You don't ever want to go there, believe me. There can still be legitimate reasons to lend someone a rig. I'm grateful to friends who've lent me a rig so I could get straight back up in the air after a cutaway. Or to try a really cool canopy of theirs. So I won't say don't do it, but don't make a habit of it. And be sure you really know the person you're lending it to. And make sure the Cypres is armed. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I'm voting against the recall, but might just vote for Mary Carrie. If the politicians are going to fuck us anyway, it might as well be somebody we can enjoy! Besides, the Italians elected a porn starlet, Ilona Staller (aka La Cicciolina) to Parliament and they didn't go any crazier than usual... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

thats the port holes in the ribs..." "See.. they all have those holes"!!! ...I felt pretty stupid the rest of the day!!jason Not as stupid as one guy back in the seventies. Crossports were a new development and some people would do it themselves with a hot knife. The way I heard it, this guy cut a lovely set of crossports in the top surface of his Unit canopy. Completely destroyed it. He wasn't even a student either... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

First paycheck today, I'm spending it on jumping Or else why bother ? Hit the road early Jump all day, swimm in the pool Can't get much better Must buy a helmet And a good altimeter Stuff I can afford Then I'll need a rig That will be a ballbuster But some things matter It will just good Throwing my ass out the door With my friends again Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Until he became the Reich, er Homeland Security unter fuhrer, Assholecroft's biggest accomplishment was losing a Senate race - to a dead man. That's right folks, the people of Missouri were so impressed with Senator Assholecroft's record as their US Senator that they elected a dead man to replace him. It's a fact, so don't give me any of that "liberal" horseshit either... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Also Pogs, My Little Pony, and Teddy Ruxpin. New Kids on the Block and for some strange reason all your parents' favorite rock stars were big fat graying guys like David Crosby and Jerry Garcia. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Fresh from AFF! Texas Blondie has 12 jumps! Congratulations! Another flyer And she writes a mean haiku Welcome to the flock Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Last year my wife and I helped nurse her mother through dying of a smoking induced mouth and throat cancer. First, half of her tongue was removed surgically. Then part of her right jaw. The last four months of her life she never ate with her mouth again, she poured a nutrient directly into her stomach through a hole in her side. The tumors in her mouth swelled her face up until she resembled a chimpanzee. Then a tumor grew on her throat to about the size and shape of a fist. It finally literally strangled her, over a period of about a week. Through the wonderful help of hospice nurses we were able to keep her comfortably doped up. I will tell you that none of her grandkids who saw her are ever likely to smoke now. Smoking does cause cancer and it's ugly, frightening, and smells awful. It's one version of reality that we have the choice of not taking. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Just last weekend after a 4 way. We had a nice breakoff at 4 grand, I just wasn't paying as close attention as I should've, when I looked down again I KNEW I was definitely closing on 2 grand. I usually toss it around 28'ish and have a pretty good idea of what the ground looks like from there. This wasn't horrific, but it was big and getting bigger. Of course I was jumping a Spectre, which means I had time to work on a crossword puzzle while it snivelled (what's seven letters for "dumb ass" ?)... Checked my Alti III and went "oh shit" when I saw I was below 2. Opened clear around 1600 ft, naturally I was clear out over the freeway. Barely made it back to airport property, got a ride from the pickup truck for lost souls (many thanks). I'm sure I tossed it by 2 grand, so I was textbook legal (gotta D license), but 2 grand don't cut the mustard anymore with today's canopies - if indeed it ever did. I feel sufficiently chastened, it won't happen again for a long time, but truth is every skydiver will go low once in a while. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I'd follow the program and be a couch potato for a month before starting the light excercise. Go easy on the recovery and take all the time you need to work your way back. But doctors can be just as big dumb ass whuffos as anybody else. They're just plain prejudiced against anything that confronts them with their own dreary lives. I'd suggest calling your drop zone and trying to get the names of some skydiving doctors you could talk to. They might be a little twitchy about giving you advice, especially if you're not their patient (liability, malpractice, etc.), but if you ask them for a really general overview and tell them you're being a good boy and not rushing things, they might be more forthcoming with you. Or you might want to consult a sports physician, even signing on as a patient and explaining that you want to work your way back into jumping. It shouldn't be any more dangerous than mountain biking, kayaking, climbing, or skiing from a sport doc's point of view, they should be more open minded. The final decision will be yours of course, but anyone telling you your jumping days "are over" is just being a chickenshit. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

This is a good thread to bring up some suggestions for courtesy in dealing with these things, as they do happen. Huge egos are a big problem in our sport, I think we all know that. There are too many of us who cannot admit we may be partly at fault because we "know" we're always "right". As much as I love people in this sport, God knows we have some really obnoxious people whose social skills were neglected back in Kindergarden. From your description of the near miss, I'd say this is one of the things that can happen. You were in a situation where you'd just opened, were having a problem and trying to get your canopy under control. If things hadn't cleared up, you'd have probably chopped. At opening time we MUST assume that there can be somebody like you with a control problem. It's simply out of order to assume you deliberately cut anyone off. If someone cuts us off just after opening, we'd damn well better assume they're NOT in control and that the responsibility for evasive action is ours - because it is! It's easy for me to sit here online and tell you that if it were me I'd have asked you' "gee, what happened up there on opening ?". I'm pretty laid back myself and not into blaming people. I'd have just been glad to have avoided a collision and would've understood your story. But unfortunately we're dealing with too many people with touch-hole egos and I don't know if that's ever going to change. You were right to refuse to speak to the guy and if you needed to should probably talk to the S&TA about it, especially if you think the guy's a hazard himself. Hope that's an "atta girl" stroke for you... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

It flew good. I had to ride the risers a bit to make it back to the peas (to finish the tandem video), so I didnt get to fly it much, but it was good. So didja get the chop/reserve on video ? Your student gets a really exciting bonus on his copy then, "this is the cameraman, he had to use his reserve". Way cool. And congrats on preserving yourself. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Which also brings us to what to carry in your pockets underneath your jumpsuit. I leave wallet, keys & cash on the ground. I do carry my driver's license and medical insurance card in a pocket, just in case something happens. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Those guys were THE BEST of their generation. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Noice camel toe ! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

She was a cute little girl. Now, she's a ho! You say that like it's a bad thing... Britney's still way too hung up about herself and would be a pain in the ass on a date, but she sure does look good. Christina Aguilera on the opther hand is experimenting with the pregnant teen dropout/expelled student look these days. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

And make sure he's old, fat, ugly AND made up like a clown - a big red nose and whiteface would help. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

You know what's wrong with this thread? Its frigg'n AUGUST! Yeah it's August, but the way I cope with days that are a little too hot is by whistling Xmas carols. "Winter Wonderland" and Sleighride Together With You" are two favorites and they help me feel cooler in the hot sun. Try it sometime... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

San Diego to Yosemite and back for one jump in 1980, also upstate NY to Z-Hills and back for the 1977 Easter Boogie. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I'm trying out the wrist mounted Alti III's these days, but on breakoff from RW I really MISS having that good old Alti II on my chest strap. Don't like having to look for something like a wristwatch in a track, with the old chest mount I only had to look down for a moment. Anybody remember the days when people used to mount their II's on old beer cans ??? Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Had a one week fling with one. Then I married a first jump student. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

GRATEFUL DEAD, also The Dead, which is the new post-Jerry version of the band. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Looks like his kids might've packed it, after they "forgot" for a couple hours AND rolled the lawnmower over it a couple time... "Oh God, dad's gonna KILL us! Better just pack it, he'll think it blew up and owe beer!". But all in all, another live skydiver with a cutaway tail of derring-do. Well done! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Gewurztrauma. Hey, WTF ever happened to der Fliegendewolf anyway ?? Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

This is scary shit here in California. There could be a State Commission to Investigate Blonde Jokes. The penalties could be severe. Gray Davis might even go for it, just to get the blonde vote, there are so damn many of them. Oops, I'm blonde (even if a graying "dirty" variety - yuh I'm a "dirty blone" alright...). Drunk too... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !