tbrown

As the song says, "leave the hat on". Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Skydive my ass off for free. Guess I'd be the "mystery flake", all these people would be wondering why they felt like somebody was taking grips on them, "you felt it too ?". Anything for a free skydive, especially a bunch of 'em ! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Impeachment if for "high crimes and misdemeanors" according to the Constitooshin'. It's been done only twice, almost three times, but Nixon resigned when he realized the jig was up. Without getting embroiled in Watergate all over again, the House was ready to vote for impeachment and the Senate looked like it had the 2/3 majority to convict, so Dick split. The other two impeachments were both brought about by Republican congresses that were considered "radical" in their day, and both were far more political. Andrew Johnson was a Democrat and the Republican House leaders were pissed off that he'd dared to fire War Sec'y Stanton. Johnson survived his trial by a single vote from a brave Republican seator from Kentucky (?) whose career was destroyed on the spot. Bubba Bill was of course impeached for lying about late night hummers in the Oval Office. Considering that the escort business in DC would collapse without the US Congress, I'd tend to think the charges were of a political nature, and of course Bubba walked. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

he's a GREAT boyfriend And I'm sure he is, The devil made me do it, Too funny not to You will both have fun Oh to be young and in love And skydiving too ! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

It will never happen. Impeachment is an act of Congress and this Congress only impeaches for blowjobs. Not that W couldn't use one... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

If you've got nothing out, you don't have time for anything but the silver. My recurrency instructor this year taught me to pull the cutaway if ANYTHING has deployed, such as a pilot chute, a horsehoe, etc, in order to minimize chances of an entanglement or double deployment. But if nothing's out, your reserve is good to go as is and the ground is only getting bigger. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Being in my later forties, I've noticed I don't have the flexibility to just look over my back like I used to. I've been experimenting with barrel rolls on solo tracking dives and some small 2 & 3 ways, when I can already see where the other people are tracking off to. As I get better at it, which is perfecting it to a really quick snap roll, I'd probably like to work it into my clearing routine before I flare, wave, and throw. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

USPA has been making a really good effort. The only problem is that in the real world, USPA can't say to TSA's face "you assholes are screwing up, nobody's reading this stuff, and look what the hell your goons did to this lady's two rigs (or whatever)". That's not playing by the rules, which is the limitation USPA has to work under. If they don't play by the rules (smooch, smooch), they're labelled by the Feds as anything from "rude" to "irresponsible". The Feds have always given us the Sunday sermon about "communicating", and enunciating clearly. It's like when some dipshit shreds your bank account and their manager tells you to "calm down". As long as they don't punish and make examples of some of these apes, nothing will happen. "Yo, do you realize this is a parachute ? This is in your training manual ? do you realize your stupidity could kill this lady ? You're suspended/fired !" that's what it will take. And it's NOT gonna happen because the Feds will never admit to a mistake, not even if it kills one of us. Sorry folks, but we've got to take care of ourselves. That's just the way it is. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

566:6 (1974-'80), 3 were cutaways, 3 were handles that blew away on old gear, so I couldn't find them. (2003) 11:0 Gear is much better, so is my attitude, I'm not the crazy a-hole I was back then. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I always do my own packing. Once paid a packer to help me bag a brand new canopy, the slippery ZP fabric was f#@*ing impossible and I was going to miss a 10 min. call without help. This same packer had quite a lucrative day yesterday, packing for a 4 way team & their cameraman. They were making something like 10 jumps and wanted to go straight to debrief, so they just budgeted packing fees into their training budget. I can see that as a legitimate reason. At $6 a pack X 5 rigs X 10 jumps, my friend probably had a good day, even if he only got part of the $. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Some boyfriend you've got, Goes jumping and leaves you home ? Make him pay for sex! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Let's also not forget that Mitch McConnell has systematically fought to block campaign financing reform year after year, he's concerned about the First Amendment rights of the rich to outspend the other 95% of us in an election campaign. A few court rulings throwing these suits out, with maybe one ruling at an Appeals Court level would set enough of a precedent to put the lid on these suits without having to legislate. But legislation is also a cheap way for rats like McConnell to keep their picture in the papers. Bottom line is lawyers won't sue if they can't smell a payday. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Old enough to know better, I suppose. Don't know how old Jim Wallace, but he's no kid and the guy totally rocks ! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Another Friday, No money for skydiving, Need a friggin' job! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Thats not fair!!! I never had one to sell. Actually I take the GreyHound Bus to the DZ. I don't even own a car. No car payment + No car insurance + No gas money + No parking money = Lots of Jump Tickets! Sounds like me back in the seventies. Rent a locker at the DZ, sell the sports car, get a nice rig, buy a beater car if you have to. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

When I was 18 I sold my stereo to my little brother to pay for my first jump course. Of course in college my roomate had a better stereo anyway and when I went home for summer break my old stereo was still available to use, so I got a good deal. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I'm about 6'4" myself, more like 218 lbs and 47 yrs old. Also looking for a first rig and jumping demo rentals 'til then. Have been reading up on lots of stuff too. Some of the safety threads and articles here suggest that main & reserve should be close to each other in size. I don't really see why you'd need a reserve larger than a PD235, but you can Ravens at 249 ft that will fit in the same container. I'm thinking I'll probably go for a brand new reserve, but would consider a rigger inspected reserve no more than 5 yrs old if it had no more than one deployment (heck, the thing would've worked once, that's nice to know). I'd be willing to buy a used rig with no velcro if it was a good fit. On the other hand with a new rig, you can have it built to YOUR measurements. Bill Booth designs his Vectors & Microns so that you can safely go one size down on your main canopy, so you have some room for downsizing. I've been using a Spectre 230 and love it. It blows the doors off anything we had twenty years ago, is simple to pack and has great openings. Nice landings too. I'm in no hurry for a pocket rocket, I want soft openings, a fun ride back, and a soft landing, so I can pack up and do it again. I will probably try a 210 size Spectre and Sabre2 before putting my money down - but there is no disgrace in a 200+ canopy that gives you a good ride & landing. And please do get the Cypres. I promised the wife I'd never jump without one. I don't rely on it, but it's nice knowing it's there. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

it's goooooooooood. So's griiiiits. Haven't been south in way too long and do love their cookin' !! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Starobrno. It's a Czech pilsner available at Trader Joe's. Similar to Pilsner Urquell, though drier and not quite as good (nothing is, IMHO). Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

It isn't fear, it's the arrogance of power. This might sound like ass kissing, but they might want to try talking to papa sr. He's made a couple dives with the Golden Knights and his grandaughters have both made tandems. Maybe George Sr. can tell the SS to knock it the fuck off. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I've noticed that there are some DZ's where people just don't seem to have the hang of a proper track. Saw a 50+ attempt that had the most scarifying head down delta breakoff, people basically dove past deploying canopies until the sky had thinned out enough for them to dump. I wanted to speak up about it, but this was during my years out of the sport and I didn't feel I had any credibility with these people. A good track is a rush. If you're doing it right you should feel like you've been shot out of a cannon, it makes you want to scream like a rebel. The sheer pleasure, if not the enhanced safety, should make working on one's track worthwile. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Sort of depends on whether he gets a bleeding injury, doesn't it ? If he does, he's in trouble. If not, what's the BFD ? Listening to doctors is a real two edged sword. You should, in a perfect world, be able to trust and rely on your doctor and work with your doctor for the sake of your health. But a lot of doctors are just opinionated and prejudiced pricks like anyone else, except they went to med school, have a license to practice, and an attitude the size of their boat. Plenty of doctors don't think anyone should skydive under any circumstances and would lock us on the psych ward if they could. Your friend's an adult. If you really think he's making a mistake, go ahead and tell him - once. And then tell him you respect his righht to choose. Then drop it. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

My, my, what a strange coinkidink, my, my... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

THE DEAD (formerly The Grateful Dead) have finally announced 3 west coast shows for their summer tour, which has so far stayed way too far to the east. They will play 9/18 (Thurs) at the Verizon Amphitheater in Irvine, 9/19 (Fri) at the Shoreline Amphitheater in the Bay Area, and 9/21 (Sun) at The Gorge in George comma WA. Tickets are already available by mail order. Here in So. Cal a Thurs night show shouldn't even interfere with a good vibes weekend at the DZ. Check it out at www.dead.net, clicking into "New...West Coast Dates". See you in Irvine! "If you get confused, listen to the music play ! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

One of our favorite things to do in "thee olde dayes" was to have one of us go lie down flat & stable in the parking lot with thheir rig on. The rest of us would come on the double with a wheelbarrow and a shovel, saying things like, "godammit, that's the second time this week". Impressed the whuffs and worked even better on the FJC's. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !