BillPaine

Climate change is increasing cases of malaria in Kenya, various viral diseases in Australia's outback, and tropical dengue fever in the U.S. "Widespread appearance of dengue in the continental United States is a real possibility," write Anthony Fauci and David Morens in a commentary in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Climate change and poor efforts to control mosquito populations are contributors to the potential problem; in addition, write the authors, "The combined effects of global urbanization and increasing air travel are expected to make dengue a growing international health problem for the foreseeable future." "We have met the enemy...and he is us." Pogo www.mondo-fiasco.com

But I wonder if the significant cost is the only reason for this equipment not being used extensively. "We have met the enemy...and he is us." Pogo www.mondo-fiasco.com

G'day Dave. That's what I'm taking about! Do you know if any of the Picton guys are using this system at the moment? "We have met the enemy...and he is us." Pogo www.mondo-fiasco.com

I'd like to find out if anyone is developing freefall communication systems mounted in full-face helmets. For example, in a perfect world a four-way team should be able to talk to each other in free-fall. Similarly, the ability for jump masters to be able to talk directly to their AFF students in free-fall for their first few stages would certainly be an improvement on the usual hand signals. As regards the obvious problem of wind noise, devices are already available in aviation that cancel out background noise. Can anyone bring me up to date on this. Thanks. "We have met the enemy...and he is us." Pogo www.mondo-fiasco.com

"Some things" getting better does mean things are "generally" getting better. Make yourself a list of "bad things" verses "good things" that our species does and be realistic. And all the while we're spreading across this planet like a disease. Things are NOT getting better. "We have met the enemy...and he is us." Pogo www.mondo-fiasco.com

"As far as I can tell, things are generally improving all the time." Open your eyes. Countless wars, rampant disease and starvation, economic inequality, political corruption, trashing of the Environment to name but a few. We are disappearing up our own arse my friend. "We have met the enemy...and he is us." Pogo www.mondo-fiasco.com

May I also recommend "The End of Faith" by Sam Harris. Another excellent read for those of us who favour rationality over contrived myth. "We have met the enemy...and he is us." Pogo www.mondo-fiasco.com

Regardless of evidence (or lack thereof) for either Evolution or creationism, we are supposed to be making intelligent choices here. I choose to support the theory that is the most rational and reasonable. As such, I can not possibly support mythical inventions contrived out of ignorance of the workings of the natural world as a way to explain our presence in this world. As Richard Dawkins said: "I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world." "We have met the enemy...and he is us." Pogo www.mondo-fiasco.com

Recommended reading for all participants of this thread: "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins "The End of Faith" by Sam Harris. And here are a few quotes for your perusal: "Men are not the dreams of gods. Rather, gods are the dreams of men." (Carl Sagan) "Gods are fragile things. They may be killed by a whiff of science or a dose of common sense." (Chapman Cohen) "I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world." (Richard Dawkins) "Blind faith requires no vision." (Flacco) "Where knowledge ends, religion begins." (Benjamin Disraeli) "A man's ethical behaviour should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death." (Albert Einstein) "We have met the enemy...and he is us." Pogo www.mondo-fiasco.com

Recommended reading for all participants of this thread: "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins "The End of Faith" by Sam Harris. And here are a few quotes for your perusal: "Men are not the dreams of gods. Rather, gods are the dreams of men." (Carl Sagan) "Gods are fragile things. They may be killed by a whiff of science or a dose of common sense." (Chapman Cohen) "I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world." (Richard Dawkins) "Blind faith requires no vision." (Flacco) "Where knowledge ends, religion begins." (Benjamin Disraeli) "A man's ethical behaviour should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death." (Albert Einstein) "We have met the enemy...and he is us." Pogo www.mondo-fiasco.com

I've just checked it out on the ParaGear website. I suppose my only concern would be how easy it would be to remove these friction locks in a hurry in the event of a water landing (for example). My DZ is close to a number of large lakes (not that I expect to land in them but shit happens). I think I'll get a couple regardless and see how they go. Thanks for the info. "We have met the enemy...and he is us." Pogo www.mondo-fiasco.com

Yep. Sure do. But I must confess that I'm not entirely comfortable with the concept of having to use a bungee in the first place. It strikes me as cheap and nasty solution to a basic design flaw in the harness. I know this system has been in place for some time but I'd like to know if there are any harnesses out there that don't require bits of elastic to keep the leg straps correctly located in free-flight. Similarly, I've been surprised to learn that leg strap slippage is not as uncommon as I first thought. Surely it's not unreasonable to expect the buckles to firmly grip the leg straps and hold them in place regardless of what position I'm flying in. "We have met the enemy...and he is us." Pogo www.mondo-fiasco.com

Call me old fashioned, but in a sport where the only thing standing between me and the grave is that rig on my back, I treat my equipment like a deity. I don't tolerate ANYTHING that may compromise its integrity. If there is ANY possibility that moisture can interfere with the process of getting a fully-inflated canopy over your head then don't jump it. Dry it out, re-pack it and live to jump another day. Is winning a swooping competition THAT important? "We have met the enemy...and he is us." Pogo www.mondo-fiasco.com

Sorry guys. I've obviously got it wrong. I've just spoken with the manufacturer and the buckles are indeed forged...not cast. My mistake. "We have met the enemy...and he is us." Pogo www.mondo-fiasco.com

It was actually the manufacturer who replaced the buckles for me at the weekend. "We have met the enemy...and he is us." Pogo www.mondo-fiasco.com