DexterBase

My girlfriend and I are wondering if it's possible to tye dye blue on yellow fabric without making the fabric green. The goal is to get yellow with blue with defined edges, no green at all. Is this possible? Is there a way to do it?

WTF!!!??? What the heck are fartners? Please tell me where they are on my rig because I never even knew I had them. Obviously since I was unaware of their existance, they've never been checked. Help!

Actually, I was part of the personal security detachment for the assistant division commander. From time to time, the division commander (The man in charge of the entire 1st Marine Division) would use our jump team to escort him to various high level meetings between Iraqi officials and american commanders. So, I would say my view of the "bigger picture" over there was much more clear than the average warrior in country. When you hang around with Generals on a daily basis, you're privy to a lot of information about the situation, tactics being used and their effect. Just by the fact that you're on the jump means you sit in on many classified and secret briefs that pertain to the operational situation in the country. This is necessary to give us the best chance of getting him from point A to point B alive. I won't discuss any of that information online or elsewhere though so don't ask. Hell, we escorted the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, and on one occasion, the secretary of the Navy. In addition to that, my platoon was tasked with counter mortar patrols around the base which kept us outside the wire in Iraqi neighborhoods on a daily basis. I got a chance to interact with the Iraqis very regularly. We would often have crowds of children following our patrols around (not always good from a tactical standpoint) and we would see small children run from their parents feet up to us to get a small piece of candy. We had a translator assigned to our platoon that was formerly an officer in the Iraqi army. His bed was right next to mine. We talked at length about the situation in Iraq and how the people felt about it. Be actually became good friends. I think his opinions should mean something and be pretty un-biased toward the US. I would say that I have a good idea about what I'm talking about. Can anybody else here say they have this first hand experience rather than just reading what's on the internet? Oh yeah, I got to have it out with insurgents from time to time as well. In fact, I was awarded the Bronze Star for my actions in a firefight on April 9th, 2004. Remember that day? I sure as hell do. I've seen all sides of this conflict.

Where do you get the information to quantify this statement?

The negative view is all you're going to hear. I have been on the ground in Iraq in cities like Fallujah, Ramadi, Haditha, Hit, Mahmudiyah, and other various concentrations of anti-American feelings (and higher rates of ambush and use of IED's to blow up coalition vehicles) and talked with Iraqis. If you allow yourself to believe that all Iraqis hate the US for being there then your perception will allow you to condemn the actions of the coalition there. Every time I watch the news or read a paper, I see many negative stories about the conflict in Iraq. It's all the news cares to report these days when it's cool to be against the war. What the news doesn't show you is all the happy citizens of Iraq who know we're there to help and they truly appreciate us risking all we risk to be there. Why? Because they don't protest or demonstrate. You won't see any pro-us demonstrations in Iraq because 1.) it's too dangerous, and 2.) the ones who are happy about the US helping (the greater majority) are going about their lives and trying to make things better for themselves now that they have that opportunity. I've sat down and was offered tea by an Iraqi family as I was on a combat patrol that took us literally through their backyard. I've talked to military aged Iraqi men who wanted to know how to join the Marines. I've been warned by Iraqi citizens to be careful in certain parts of the street ahead because there were mujihadeen fighters waiting for us. None of these actions correspond with a people that hate us there. What will make headlines everyday around the world, a handshake among friends of different nations, a smile exchanged with two parents as we patrol past their children playing in the yard, or an ambush on a US supply convoy that kills three US troops? If all you hear and see is stories about the US taking casualties then your perception will become your reality. Edit: typos

Um, just look at my profile. It's all there. I have nothing to hide at all. Yes I was busted but it was nowhere near you and I certainly didn't burn the object. Any more questions? Edit: Oh yeah, Katie (Kmonster) and I (Chad/DexterBASE) are from Seattle.

I've made a bunch of BASE jumps and skydives with a side mounted L bracket. I've never had any issues with it. I've always deployed stable though. However, have one unstable deployment where the camera is in line with where the riser needs to go and you can kiss that sucker goodbye. You're also effectively bolting a lever to the side of your head that can transmit quite a bit of force to your neck on a slider down opening. Something to think about.

Wrong. Define delay. I think of "delay" as the time between your feet leaving the object and the moment you release the pilot chute, not the time until pins pop, your container opens, you hit linestretch, or you're under canopy. If you jump and toss the pilot chute after half a second, you took a half second delay. If the PC hesitates for five seconds you still only took a half second delay.

I DID jump ElCap with one other person and got busted. We didn't get charged with conspiracy. Maybe if we hadn't jumped we would have been charged with conspiracy since they'd want us to get in trouble for something. So what's the worse of the two? If conspiracy is a felony, you're better off jumping. Seems funny if conspiracy to commit a misdameanor equals a felony. Edit:typo

Walk around doing practice touches even when they're not wearing rigs? Transition from boxman to a track while walking down supermarket aisles (while making a whooshing air sound)? Stop at the top of stairs and assess conditions before going down (while doing practice touches)? Or maybe that's just me. Do I win?

Is there a site for those boots? Crispi's... sounds like a good boot for antennas and power towers.

As you hand the ranger at the gate your $20 they hand you back a receipt. With the receipt is a pamphlet of information about the park. Listed in this pamphlet, is a list of activities that are prohibited in in Yosemite. Nowhere on this list will you see BASE jumping, paragliding, or parachuting.

I'm fairly amused that you all condemn the actions of the US in Iraq. You sit there in the relative safety of your home or office and type away on your computer about how President Bush is running our country into the ground. You sit there and second guess the decisions of the leaders of the world and make statements that mean nothing. You have absolutely no idea what any of this means. You know nothing of what it takes to run a country. Not everything in this world is black and white, in fact hardly anything is. You don't know what it's like to weigh the price of decisions that will affect the entire world. You don't understand that there is compromise that needs to occur. Not everything going on behind the scenes is pretty and clear-cut. You think you're smarter than President Bush. Clearly you're not. The fact that you're not in power provides me with 50% of the evidence I need. The other half is provided by the fact that you're posting all of your opinions here, where they mean next to nothing. You know nothing of sacrifice. You easily dismiss the pain, hard work, and suffering of all our armed forces who are currently serving in areas of conflict. These men and women are doing a job that you're unwilling to do yourself. They signed up in an all-volunteer military to do a job and protect a cause that they believe in. They're out there right now engaged with the enemy and willing to do whatever it takes to protect our way of life. Any one of these individuals would willingly give their life to protect yours, even if you're not an American. You all sit there behing the wall and criticize the decisions made by men under extreme pressure and danger. You judge decisions that have to be made without all the facts. You get to sit back in safety long after the explosions, gunfire, and cries of pain have faded, leisurely picking apart conversations and reports. You sit there and make a mockery of a decision that was made by someone who was willing to put themselves on the line, yet you're unwilling to risk yourselves. In the end, it's all about freedom of speech. It's your right to complain and hate the leaders of the world. It's your right to bitch and complain about US policy. It's your right to protest. Just know this: Talk is cheap but there are people that don't sit on fences. There are men of action standing by. Anytime someone in this world needs our help we'll be there. Anytime someone tries to oppress the human rights of a country, there will be someone there to stand up for them. And anytime someone takes up arms against an American, there will be someone there like me, ready to throw down and do whatever it takes. I don't sit on fences. Some people actually stand up for what they believe in. What have you done to make this world a better place?

I'm going to order a Dainese D-Raptor helmet. It's fullface, carbon fiber, and weighs 950 grams which, I believe, is lighter than the ProTec Ace. Dainese makes stuff for impact protection and this particular model is a mountain biking helmet. It costs about $250, which is about $61 cheaper than an Oxygn A3 which offers little protection for impacts. The D-Raptor covers the whole back of your head also, where the A3 stops above the occipital bone. I'll let you all know what I think of it after I've jumped it and rammed into some stuff around the house a bit.

Nice, I was wondering when someone was going to point this out. I'm just getting off work but hopefully I'll be able to post more on this topic later.

I've got all the stuff to build the SL setups. Just send me a PM with the lengths you want and I'll throw a few together for you. I've been using them a lot and they work great. I'm building them out of 900 pound dacron. Tampax??? Seatac!!!!! Crazy Dane...

I think in ten years, a 46" Pilot chute will be considered the "Big One." The trend seems to show that more jumpers are using pilot chute sizes that were considered (just a few years ago) inappropriate for short delays. Who knows?

Hey we used to put a couple bottles of Boones in the freezer and they'd turn into slushies. hehe... good fun. Right now I like the Columbia Crest, Grand Estates Merlot. Washington wine. The Washington wines are really coming into their own and gaining more respect in the wine community.

I have a Yardage Pro Scout. I basicaly went into the sporting goods store with a fistfull of cash and I was leaving with a laser rangefinder, simple as that. They had three models, the Yardage Pro Sport, the Yardage Pro Scout, and some other primitave optical version that you had to hand focus. The Sport version wasn't very confidence inspiring and it felt like if I rolled in a landing while carrying it, I would probably destroy it. Realistically, a bad landing will probably destroy any model, the sport just felt less durable. I went with the Scout even though it was more expensive. I played with them both in the store and they both worked just fine, I just liked the Scout more so I bought it. Let me tell you though, if you buy one, you'll wonder how you ever survived without one. You'll probably get in your car and drive around just looking for things to laser. (I mean... I didn't...(((looks around))) but.... well.... okay I did...) I laser everything now. Sometimes I'm quite surprised what I find. Just get one, it's an extremely useful tool for the BASE jumper.

I prefer the 42 on anything over 300 feet because it's a lighter PC. When you throw a pilot chute out to the side, the added inertia of a heavier PC will take more time and airspeed to overcome and inflate. I prefer the 42 for anything over 300 feet but once I'm under 300 feet, I use the 46" PC in a handheld configuration. Remember, my personal hard deck for going stowed is 300 feet. I've gone stowed plenty of times just over 300 feet with a 42 and I'm very comfortable with it. Step under 300 feet though and the 46 goes on and the PC goes into my hand. There's nothing wrong with using a 46 for this same 300+ foot jump, I just don't think you'll gain anything over the 42 at this airspeed. Go out to a friendly object and do a bunch of go and throws with a 46, then do a bunch with a 42. Decide for yourself. Remember, all of my opinions are exactly that, opinions. I do what I feel comfortable with. I'm offering this information because we're discussing this topic. In no way do I recommend you take your 42" PC and go stowed from 300 feet. There are many things that need to be done after the canopy opens and just physically getting the parachute open over your head is just the start of the dangers of a BASE jump. I feel comfortable that the height my canopy will be open above the ground after taking a one second delay (stowed) from 300 feet will give me the time I need to land the parachute with some degree of safety. Based on your individual experience, opening 300 feet above the ground may give you the same degree of confidence. Others are more comfortable exiting and opening much lower than I am. To each his own in this sport. Remember, no information on this forum is going to keep you alive unless you have the experience to make it work, and have the patience to gradually up the ante.

If I was buying a canopy to be used below 500 feet 90% of the time, I would certainly be buying a vented canopy. The Flik isn't the only vented BASE canopy on the market, nor is it the best IMO. Each vented canopy will have certain flight characteristics that you will like, or love. (My personal preference is the BlackJack by Consolidated Rigging) None of the new generation of vented canopies will do anything you'll really dislike as long as you have the canopy set up properly. My questions to you: 1. What is your BASE jumping experience (you said this will be your first BASE canopy) and how many experienced BASE jumpers do you have jumping with you? The reason I ask is that you'll need a BASE jumper, experienced with vented canopies, to watch your openings to make sure you're not having any deployment issues. 2. Are you a rigger? Will you be able to move your brake settings to dial in your openings? Advice: Don't pick a BASE canopy based on a video of one deployment each.

It's probably going to get you to linestretch at the same time. The 46 will pressurize faster but will have less drag than the 48. The PC will pressurize faster and pop the pins, but get the canopy to linestretch slower than the 48. The 48 has more drag. It will pressurize and pop the pins slightly slower but once it's pressurized it will take the canopy from the packtray to linestretch faster than the 46. So, the 46 will start doing the work earlier than the 48 (probably) but in the end, at this delay range, the result is probably going to be nearly identicle. From the outside, it's going to be hard to tell the difference. What will be easy to notice, will be the jumper with the 48 opening really low because he stowed a PC that was too large and it hesitated for a second before pressurizing and popping the pins. He could have just went stowed with a 46 and reduced the chances of a hesitation. If it was 300 feet to impact, he could have used a 42" PC and taken a 1.5 to 2 second delay and been just fine.

PM sent

Agreed. Someone can either ask a question and get help, or keep jumping and not gain knowledge. Ideally, a new jumper will hang out with a more experienced BASE jumper who can't stop talking about BASE gear and techniques. I talk and think about BASE all day. If you want to share ideas, come hang out with me.

Where was this event held? I'm not into wrestling, just pointing out that most celebrities never venture outside Kuwait when doing these shows. The ones that do stay in the big bases like BIAP, TQ, Al Asad, or the Green Zone. It would be nice if they'd make trips to smaller, hotter locations like camp Fallujah, FOB Ar Ramadi, or other FOB's where the population is more in need of being cheered up. Of course, you'd have to get the celebrities to accept a little risk... well, okay, a significant amount of risk.