SkyDaemon

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/08/0826_050826_grandcanyon.html might be a lot of fun... find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

I spent the day reflecting on the losses one endures, and as a friend said to me on the phone "Friendship knows no limits". I miss them both... -=Raistlin find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

Although, so is DZ.com, and two aren't necessarily connected. There are BASE jumpers who don't participate in internet chat forums and continue to enjoy the sport, the camraderie, and what the sport means to them, in absence of the internet. find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

The line would be an obvious answer. -=Raistlin find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

Faber, It figures, I leave Portland and suddendly the kids go crazy and get all the objects burned. Hopefully they'll keep their object burning confined to the south... -=Raistlin find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

We're not -that- bad... ;-) We just have rather 'advanced' objects. -=Raistlin find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

Sooner than later, Jaap and I will be opening up and tearing up the scene up north ;-) -=Raistlin find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

They're disjointed and unorganized to say the least... although well meaning. Congratulations Dan! Welcome to the club! I wish you the best during your BASE career in Oregon. -=Raistlin find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

Go Katie! Yahoo! -=Raistlin (and Lj!) find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

I've seen someone jump that bridge and strike the canyon wall. Said jumper was very lucky to be able to walk away. -=Raistlin find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

I knew of some in the Canadian Cascades... find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

If anyone knows how to get ahold of Steve can you please pass on his contact information. PM or raistlin AT encrypeverything.com find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

No thanks, I'm watching my figure I prefer the boquet of pinot noir Is this my color? I have to get these books back to the library We shouldn't try to fix that ourselves, we should call a professional parle vous francias? find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

It's always good to have a -few- undrunk brain cells... ;-) find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

DrunkMonkey, Is there any particular reason, you're attacking Narcimund? -=Raistlin find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

I can see that :-) It seems primed with a lot of people on edge, ready to leap onto a soap box, and continue all sorts of ongoing battles about a variety of issues. Although I could see how this forum could quickly become a major time sink. -=Raistlin find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

This is my second post in the Speakers Corner. Wow! This place is intense. What attracts you to posting here? -=Raistlin find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

What do you think? find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

You never need a reason not to jump but... if you're going to jump you probably have a reason. Kudos for making the right choice. -=Raistlin find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

That's a very mature and reasonable approach to both BASE and parenthood. I wish you well in both. -=Raistlin find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

-=Raistlin find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

Since you've been BASE jumping, how many funerals for BASE jumpers have you: heard of? attended? hosted? spoken at? Skydiving is not BASE jumping, it's not a matter of taking the results of a statistic regarding skydiving, adding a random delta and then considering the matter closed. The BASE fatality list is very clear that it is -not- necessarily an authoritative source for the current death count in the sport, and it certainly doesn't mention all those who are forever injured due to the sport. You haven't done or seen some of the BASE jumps I have, if you truly believe this. If you want to argue this on the principle that "parents have just as much right to live full and complete lives as non-parents", it speaks more to the opinions about the responsibilities of parenthood than it does to your understanding of the risks of BASE. Do you really believe this? Have you never told others that BASE is a very unforgiving, high risk activity that has a high injury and fatality rate? Do you paint BASE with the same brush you do tennis, cycling,synchronized swimming, football, track, and hockey? If so, it is certainly your perogative to do so, however you'll respectfully understand that others may see things differently. I'm curious if you have experience with parents who indulge in their own high risk activities which have resulted in their own self-destruction. Whether it be alcohol, dangerous driving habits, drug use, sports, fights, etc. Do you have any experience with children being raised by a single parent who is also nursing a (self inflicted) damaged spouse? Parenting, like BASE, is a very personal experience, and your decisions are yours and I have little interest in changing them, although I'd like to understand them. I assume that your point of view is more complex than: because taken to it's logical conclusion (which, granted, is never a reasonable approach to any discussion, but since you've already thrown the switch towards me, I'll throw it back towards you, and maybe it will land in the middle.) a parent who indulge in -all- risks exposes their children to all possible results of such dangers, with riskier and riskier activities until the law of probability wins, and the participant(/parent) lays in a broken wreck. Where does this leave the children? Likely with a single parent saying something to the effect of: "Little Johnny your other parent is dead/can't talk/walk/think because taking risks was very important to him/her, and he/she was okay with the fact that it's -you- who must pay the price.". There's a fine line between taking calculated risks and being just plain stupid. Falling on the wrong side of that line paints a very clear and unalterable picture to a child. (and often other jumpers) -=Raistlin (edited to imply gender nuetrality) find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

The answer to this really depends. Are we talking parents of 30+ year olds or 15- year olds. 30+ year old (should) be on their own, but 15-... no way... at least not without lots of life insurance (which really isn't enough, but it at least points for good intentions (what's a 5yo going to do with a bunch of life insurance payoff?)) I, personally, won't mentor would-be jumpers who have kids. It's one thing to make an agreement with your spouse or partner who is (hopefully) of age, and able to be independent if something should happen to you (permanent injury probably being the worst, of course death is the obvious fear.). Two adults who enter an agreement together are able to calculate what the potential consequences of a worst case situation are, and then make plans to adapt to them. However, children aren't given that choice. Children are wholely dependent on their parents (up to a certain age) and they -can't- survive independently. They are operating with the faith that their parents will do their utmost to stick around and be there for them. While, BASE is a potential risk and is not -certain- bad results, it definitely increases the liklihood that a parent will be unable to provide for their family. (injuries can mean job loss, hospitalization, death). Having children is a responsibility that involves more than simply paying to keep them alive. It involves real parenting. Anything you do which intentionally puts you in a position where you might lose that ability should only be done so with the agreement of all the team members. If your spouse agrees that he/she will be comfortable, you have -one- member of your family's approval... now ask each child: "I want to go risk my life, and I may die, and you won't have me as a parent anymore. Your life would change dramatically...". Although no matter what their answer is, you'll know that they aren't old/aware enough to understand the scope of what's happening. It's selfish in the Randian sense (YAY!) but it's also selfish in the non-Randian sense... I'm curious what your own thoughts on the matter are. Can you state them? If you can't I'll remind you of Goethe's thoughts "If you don't have the words, you don't have the thought." -=Raistlin find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

Ahhh got it. -=Raistlin find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;

eh? -=Raistlin find / -name jumpers -print; cat jumpers $USER > manifest; cd /dev/airplane; more altitude; make jump; cd /pub; more beer;