topdocker

Actually, I trim the bush. Then I saw logs..... top Jump more, post less!

I will now interpret your user name entirely different than I used to. I have a Stihl 270 (I think, without going into the garage to check) with a 20" bar. Love it. Only wish they made a chain that would last longer on oak.... If you're going to be up in a tree on a ladder or something with a chainsaw, for fucks sake wear a safety harness! It's easier and safer to bring the tree down to my level! top Jump more, post less!

Tunnel time. top Jump more, post less!

I agree 100%. Every "logical" argument I've seen is so obviously flawed I'm surprised apparently smart people can bring themselves to put it in writing. It all boils down to "we've always done it that way". So give us a logical reason not to require them. If you want change, then give valid reasons for that change. top PS And I can't believe I wasted my 500th post discussing this again. Jump more, post less!

Wow, you must have been a really good boy! I really know how to sit on Santa's lap! top Jump more, post less!

A tandem gift certificate. top Jump more, post less!

Since you don't need a D to get on that late sunset load in the first place, how does the D night jump requirement help? For a long time I didn't want to make night jumps, though I eventually did make them. But as long as I didn't want to, nobody was going to make me do one from the late sunset load either. Now, I suppose we could have taken off an hour early, and managed to be climbing for two hours, and so it was night by the time we were on jump run. But in that case, I'd stay with the plane. My point being that nobody forces anybody to do these things. Am I missing something here? Maybe... One doesn't use their Emergency Procedures on every jump, but they practice them just in case. So a little training, "just in case," is most always good. Learning something in a controlled manner usually beats learning about it spontaneously. Why is being trained for a contingency such a bad thing? Nobody forces anybody to do anything in this sport, including participate in this sport. But the people attracted to skydiving are those that tend to push their limits. And by being trained in night jumps, people can determine on their own if they want to take on the added risk of jumping near sunset or stay with the aircraft (or not even manifest). That is making an educated decision. One also does not have to wait until they are working on a D license to do those night jumps. I barely was A qualified when I did one. We could just have a rule that all skydiving cannot begin until one hour after legal sunrise and must cease by one hour prior to legal sunset. That would ensure that people didn't have marginal conditions with respect to lighting. Instead, we opt to educate skydivers on the advantages and disadvantages of jumping at night and leave it up to the DZ, pilot in command, and the jumper. This has been argued to death in other threads, at a number of USPA BOD meetings, and around the DZ campfire. It was asked that a logical reason be given, and that has been done. top Jump more, post less!

And why not. THAT is the real issue. The logic USPA uses to justify night jump requirements at all is severely flawed. Regardless of how you feel about the requirement, the logic of the reasoning is flawed...stupidly flawed. [sarcasm] Oh, I know...not enough of them will admit to making a mistake and have the balls, or lack thereof as the case may be, in correcting it. [/sarcasm] If they want to keep the night jump requirement, at least have them come up with some logical reason for it. I have balls, but that has nothing to do with this requirement. Logical reason for keeping it: skydivers being who they are tend to push the limits of safety. One of those limits is the division between day and night. Many jumpers have left the ground for a "sunset load" only to find out they are on a "near night jump," with their dark goggles, no illumination, and at a boogie. By having some training and experience in that environment previously, jumpers have a better chance of knowing what they are doing and make better decisions whether to proceed or not. The safety rules and requirements should be written in red ink, to remind everyone of the blood of those we lost before we learned. Personal reason for keeping requirement: I like them. top Jump more, post less!

Husqvarna 455, 20" bar. Got it for Christmas!!! top Jump more, post less!

When I saw thie title to this thread, I thought my friends dog had passed away! His name is Grommet. Glad to see he's okay and you got your information. top Jump more, post less!

I had that nearly, only the first main was partially cut away.... Treat it like any horseshoe malfunction and try and remove what is still attached. Deploy the second main or at least get the pack open by pulling the bridle, not just throwing it out. If all else fails, deploy the reserve into the mess, but at least the main canopy itself is further away! Not a great answer. That's why the independent risers are a better system. top Jump more, post less!

Suck up! top Jump more, post less!

Jumpers are free to open at higher altitudes themselves. Just because USPA sets a minimum altitude does not mean you need to be at it every time. Jumpers are free to set their AAD's to open at higher altitudes themselves. If you have a higher personal hard deck, then altering your activation altitude is up to you. Personal opening altitudes for the most part have been moving up on their own. Most high performance canopy pilots do open higher, giving them more time to deal with the more wicked possibilities. I think in general, people recognize the need to open a little higher. Changing the BSR still won't change people's reaction times and altitude awareness. top Jump more, post less!

BEER! top Jump more, post less!

Shhh, Nataly. Don't speak the truth. That's not what he wants to hear! top Jump more, post less!

Not a big fan of it either. But it was the best system we had available at the time. We used to have rigs wth attachment points for extra D rings, but not any more. Then we had the issue of being direct deployed out of the plane, like an IAD student. top Jump more, post less!

Bumper stickers available in the lobby as you leave, folks. Obviously, he's no one's Plan A either..... top Jump more, post less!

usually this is an implied statement. "if you don't agree with me, then you are closed-minded." i usually reply, "yes, that is why i considered your position long ago and decided it was incorrect." "If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong." top Jump more, post less!

Feel free! God watches out for idiots and puppydogs. Since I don't yip much, I know what category I fall into. top Jump more, post less!

Happy birthday, Robby! Lots of us have released green balloons in your memory. In my mind, the sky was filed with green balloons. top Jump more, post less!

I can answer that! I had a normal flight of the canopy to be cutaway, but when I went to release it, only one side released (seperate cutaway handles on each side, right side misrouted). Big whipping, spinning mal, cutaway second canopy, hoping to clear both canopies as the cutaway canopy risers attached to the main risers. As I pulled the cutaway handle the first canopy released and I went back into freefall. Opened reserve with all the lines from the second main all over me, and the risers hit me in the face. I never had a chance to deploy and remove the second main, so its bag was still in the tray with all the lines unstowed. The scariest part was that the spinning had moved the cutaway handle around and behind/under my right armpit, so I had to use my left hand to cutaway. The reserve handle was just above my belly button and easily removed with my right hand. It's shocking how much stretch will be induced into your gear with all that torque. Nothing was where I left it. Any intentional cutaway, no matter how well thought out and planned still poses additional risks. Sit on the ground with the gear and see how many different ways you can screw the pooch. top Jump more, post less!

No, we would prefer you stay away from the goats. The electric fence is not to keep the goats in, but to keep the skydivers out! top Jump more, post less!

Yes, but they say you get uglier! top Jump more, post less!

Bring beer. Bring extra money. top Jump more, post less!

Listen a lot more, talk a lot less. top Jump more, post less!