Creative Reviews discussion
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Unveiling "Splittersworld"
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Well you are brave for trying it. I won't do it. I'd probably pass out after I peed my pants. ;)
lol, I was so NOT brave!The first time, you go tandem (attached). My instructor was a little 100lb woman who called me every name in the book when I froze in the door. She questioned my character, my heritage, and my manhood. She shamed me into stepping out into sky.
I was scared to death until the chute opened. Then, it was beautiful. You just float along. We landed with all of the impact of stepping off a curb.
The second jump was not so wonderful. I kinda crashed and burned into the ground lol. I walked away, but it hurt. I jammed my shoulder, knocked the wind out of myself, and dislocated a finger.
I don't mind being 5000 feet air, upside down, in an open cockpit when I can but I won't jump again unless the plane is on fire lol.
Splitter
Well, as exciting as all those video clips were, I'm really happy I wasn't in those planes. And so glad you love to live, Splitter. The world would be that much less an interesting place without you!
C.S. Splitter wrote: "Some fun and hair raising flying videos posted if anyone is interested: http://splittersworld.blogspot.com/The first one is ESPECIALLY amazing.
Splitter"
Liked the flying scenes, Splitter. That Super-Grub with the tundra tyres was something, but pictures aren't as good as the real thing, are they?
Phil
Thank you Vared :)Phil - True! Some of the best bush pilots are in Australia too. They fly anything and land anywhere.
Splitter
C.S. Splitter wrote: "Thank you Vared :)Phil - True! Some of the best bush pilots are in Australia too. They fly anything and land anywhere.
Splitter"
That's what I liked about flying gliders -- you can land in some very "interesting" places, and doing an aerotow retrieve in the middle of the bush can be even more so. Wish I had some movies of a few of them.
Phil
C.S. Splitter wrote: "I am unveiling my blog which started back in March when I was about half way finished with my first book. Now it's out and the reviews are coming in.Followers welcomed!
Have you ever wondere..."
Hey C.S, I'm going to check out your blog, sounds interesting. Always enjoy checking out fellow authors blogs, feel free to check my website and book out let me know what you think.
http://jbienvenue.webs.com/
Take care.
Hey Justin,I love the format of your blog. I also admire anyone who can write poetry. I've tried and they all turn out like limericks :).
Splitter
Thanks. Yeah, I've been writing poetry for a while now. Just started writing in different styles..its not easy! lol.
C.S. Splitter wrote: "Hey Justin,I love the format of your blog. I also admire anyone who can write poetry. I've tried and they all turn out like limericks :).
Splitter"
Why doesn't that surprise me?
:)
But I bet they're really amusing limericks, Jenn.Come on Splitter, post a couple for us!
Vered wrote: "But I bet they're really amusing limericks, Jenn.Come on Splitter, post a couple for us!"
I bet they are too dirty
Oh... hadn't thought of that... just assumed they'd be funny... bring it on, baby...
Under the Creative Reviews Act of 2011, items such as the aforementioned limericks may not be posted. Amy signed the bill into law on April 3rd, 2011. Punishment under the act can include bad reviews and I have a new book coming out lol.
Splitter
Splitter,I hope you don't mind, but I saw the link and I checked out your blog. I love it. Specifically the last YouTube video with the plane that's taxiing about 5 miles per hour and topples nose-first into the runway. Everybody in the background is gasping except for one kid who is laughing his #*$! off. Classic!
Rich
Thanks Rich, that's why I put them out there lol. That Valdez competition is where all the bush pilots get together and show off their skills with short take offs and landings. They need those skills to work in some of the remote locations that don't have any strips.
That guy was landing and hit his brakes too hard. They all teeter on those front wheels but he tottered lol.
What they can do with a plane is just silly good. I'll post one more favorite later today, it's hilarious.
Splitter
Splitter,I agree with you. Some of the things on those videos seem to defy physics.
I think it was the first video, the plane seemed to be hovering a couple feet above the ground for a moment or two. I always thought an airplane needed air flowing over the wings to generate lift (Harrier jets aside). I'm sure the truth is that the pilot had the plane at the absolute minimum speed to keep it in the air.
Anyway, good stuff.
Rich
Plane geek alert, see below lol.Yes, Rich, the wings DO need airflow to maintain lift. The things is, they don't care where it comes from. I don't have sound on this computer, but if I remember correctly, you can hear wind whistling in the microphone of the camera.
So, he was landing into a head wind that was probably whipping over that hill at a good pace. So although he might have been doing 10 knots when he landed, the wind over the wings was maybe 30 knots. The wings thought they were doing 40 knots total.
The above is just an example. I'm not sure what that plane's real stall speed numbers are because it is heavily modified. You can see extra flaps being used as it lands. It also has a VERY powerful engine for it's weight, probably a turbine. Those big tundra tires add weight and drag, but they also minimize roll too. That plane is built to fly low and slow.
You'll notice that while sitting still prior to take off, he guns the engine and the tail starts "flying" before he moves an inch. That was from the prop wash. It's a balancing act because the plane wants to tip forward onto the prop, but it minimizes the distance needed for take off.
You can also notice that he retracts flaps before he starts his takeoff roll. Once he hits his take off speed, he quickly lowers the flaps and leaps into the air. The flaps provide extra lift, but also drag so he minimized drag when building speed and then employed them for lift when he was at speed.
Lots of skill there and more than a little danger.
Yeah, total plane geek here :).
Splitter
Truly funny and amazing video now posted. http://splittersworld.blogspot.com/That guy has the life expectancy of a gerbil.
Splitter
C.S. Splitter wrote: "Under the Creative Reviews Act of 2011, items such as the aforementioned limericks may not be posted. Amy signed the bill into law on April 3rd, 2011. Punishment under the act can include bad r..."
I am a moderator I don't remeber signing this Act??? lmao
C.S. Splitter wrote: "Plane geek alert, see below lol.Yes, Rich, the wings DO need airflow to maintain lift. The things is, they don't care where it comes from. I don't have sound on this computer, but if I remember..."
I was once at a gliding camp in western New South Wales. Late afternoon, a 35-knot wind was blowing straight up the runway, and over the hangar near the end. The tug pilot, after his last retrieve of the day in a Super Grub, found the air over the hangar rising enough to give him lift. He throttled back to idle, pulled full flap and just sat there enjoying it for at least five minutes, motionless, until he finally pulled on power and continued on to make a normal landing. Only time I've seen a plane hover for so long.
Awesome!
C.S. Splitter wrote: "Truly funny and amazing video now posted. http://splittersworld.blogspot.com/That guy has the life expectancy of a gerbil.
Splitter"
Splitter, just got a chance to look at the new video. another great one. My money's on the gerbil.
In all seriousness, that's some great flying -being able to rock side to side and drag the tip of the wing on the ground and all.
Also on your blog comments about men not reading/reviewing books - I'm with you on that one 115%. In fact I have Sportcenter on right now while I'm typing this.
I could watch that all day long (oh wait- I do watch that all day long).
Rich
ROFL, I know! I'll watch highlights from sports I hate lol.Splitter
This is another thread (along with the chicken thread)that I'm one day going to blatantly copy and publish and make the world LOL and pay me lots for my plagerised material...
Vered, as long as they go to my blog, follow it, and buy my books, be my guest lol. Justin, I'll post more if I find interesting vids.
Phil, I wish you'd had a video camera! That sounds amazing!
Splitter
A new blog post at http://splittersworld.blogspot.comAND a new GoodReads group:
http://splittersworld.blogspot.com
That's right! Now you can ask Tom for answers to your toughest questions. If you know Tom, and even if you don't yet (hey! where have you been? lol), you know that his answers will be, um, unique.
Splitter
Tiny gremlins crept in and renovated Splittersworld. Check it out: http://splittersworld.blogspot.comSplitter
C.S. Splitter wrote: "Tiny gremlins crept in and renovated Splittersworld. Check it out: http://splittersworld.blogspot.comSplitter"
HAWT
Your blog looks really great Splitter. I can tell you put a lot of time and care into it. And i really enjoyed your latest post. thanks for sharing it.
I just received a WONDERFUL surprise in my inbox. Dafeenah over at http://www.indiedesignz.com/blog sent me a couple ideas for cover designs. Drop by Splittersworld and VOTE on your favorite. http://splittersworld.blogspot.comShe does some AMAZING work so check out her website too. Her rates are more than reasonable and she has been a PLEASURE to work with.
I seriously cannot decide between the two styles. HELP!
Splitter
Both great, but if I HAVE TO choose... the first one. I like the clean lines, uncluttered look.
WOW! you have been busy Splitter!! New blog and new covers! Congratulations! You must be so excited!!! I left a comment and my vote! Oh and i forgot to add, my husband likes "The Reluctant" best as well. :)
Splitter,I like the upgrades to your blog. It looks great. I also voted for the cover art. I'm impressed with both but only allowing myself a 1 second look at each and then deciding which one I like, I choose "The Willing" cover art.
I checked out "The Willing" sample. It sounds like a good read. I don't typically read from the genre, but the story seems like it has some good action with a funny edge to it. If I get some time I'll try to check out "The Reluctant" so I start from the beginning.
Lastly, thanks for the lead on the cover art design. I think I'll check out indiedesinz. The cover art for my book sucks and I could use a total redesign. I can't spend too much more on my book or my wife will cut... eh, well... you know what I'm saying.
Thank you, peeps. I shall continue to call you all my "Happy Few" ;).Hey, Rich, if you PM me your email addy I'll send you a 100% coupon for The Reluctant.
Dafeenah has been a great person to work with.
Splitter
Splitter,Thanks for the offer, but I've got some money in my Smashwords account and I saw it was only $0.99 so I should be able to swing that.
Rich
lol, oops....I was going to make that price announcement tomorrow. I have several big announcements coming (ok, big for me at least).Splitter
Well, Splitter, you might as well spill all the beans now! And let us know what the final verdict is on the cover art. They're both good, so either way, you'll be fine.
Can't wait to hear the announcements!!!!
Hola! Voted. I went for cover 1 because the little font at the top looks similar to the the secondary font where cover 2 has a totally different one which makes you conscious that there are too many different fonts on it. Don't mind which of the title fonts you use but suggest the same one for the rest of the text on the cover or itmakes it too busy and distracts from the picture.
IMHO, anyhow!!
Liking the new blog though!
JAC
They're gonna be cool though....
JAC
Thanks everybody!We are still a few days away from making a decision and doing a cover reveal. It's an important decision because I want the style, the theme, to be mimicked in every book in the series. I think covers in a series should have some commonality.
Splitter
i agree Splitter. They all need to be recognozable on their own as part of a series...
I felt that same way when I stood in the side door to jump out of a perfectly good airplane the first time. I did it twice but I'll not do it again.
They say skydiving is the most fun you can have with your clothes on. I'm not sure I agree after having done it. Don't get me wrong, it was fun just not something that called to me after I did it.
Splitter