DSE

One helluva burble there, Tony. Nice pic

If you'd read the story or the blog, it explains why I'm not wearing a helmet (or my own rig, or altimeter) in that photo. Fortunately...I don't have a helmet sponsor who I need to keep happy.

The "red triangles" product is the StroboFrame, and for lightweight cameras, it's a pretty good product. Over here, Arca-Swiss is horribly expensive, and the RRS stuff (mostly) fits with Arca-Swiss. The 394 is cast metal vs RRS machined metal, but the concept/size/look is very similar. I don't know why Bogen doesn't go after that market. they're going after the higher end film market now with their new high-end CF tripods that hold heavier gear. it would make sense, IMO, for them to go after the higher/mid level market that RRS owns. RRS is a very small company based out of Joe's Garage. Seriously.

It's unfortunate that Bogen hasn't given RRS a run for their money with the 394 system, as it's somewhat similar in design, and if Bogen jumped on that bandwagon, competition would likely force the price of the RRS product down.

I'd look at the new Skysystems mount, were I you...

You don't think this speaks loudly for less-than-rational judgement?

how about using the SEARCH Function, and reading the STICKY that says "read before posting?"

I have several of the Bogen mounts/plates. Not realy good for what you're wanting to do, and they're snagpoints, no doubt. Cheap...hard to lay the catch down on a flat surface and maintain integrity, but they *do* work. I'd be looking at a Schumacher or other sort of camera mount were I you

would you buy a used car without checking under the hood or the spare even if it had an ASE certification on it? I'd sure want to see the reserve (although I'd prefer to not ride it to view it) and I'd pay for a repack if I didn't buy the rig. But that's all I'd be willing to do. If you really pushed me, I might give you 10.00 for the main and reserve ride value. I'd rather buy you a couple beers and call it even?

Sure! http://www.fletch.com/rentalsonysrw1.html You'll need two of these, one for each Iconix head. you could probably build this system for a little under 250K with all the support...

Which switch? A simple contact switch from Radio Shack is common, or are you looking for something more esoteric?

No, there are not. There is a guy with a 182 in Shiprock...maybe you could talk him into taking you. Gould's have a Twin Otter that is just sitting, over in Monument Valley...maybe you could talk them into it? Albuquerque is the closes you'll get, I'm afraid. You're almost closer to Moab than Albuquerque. Four Corners by air is stunning, especially over the San Juan river. BTW, this is a "Places to Jump" topic, methinks...

I plead ignorance to most of the math surrounding this stuff, I'm a right-brainer. I agree with, and entirely embrace compensation tied to performance. But...when performance went to shit, how much reduction did any CEO, manager, director, VP, or any other "higher up" of which you speak, make on their contracted compensation? To read stories of quarter-billion $$ salaries is grotesque. If you took the salaries of the top 100 earners on Wall Street over the past year (I'm not talking earners based on performance, just gross salaries), I'd bet it could sure cover a huge hunk of the proposed bailout value, yeah?

Came back to a parking lot tonight to find my Chevy Avalanche had been siphoned to where it wouldn't even start. I have a cheap locking gas cap. Obviously it didn't help. Truck was parked under bright lights in a parking lot next to the police station of all places. There has to be a quality gas cap that someone has experience with? I'm just grateful they didn't drill my gas tank.

If the OP's profile is any indication, this DZ is Lodi. I'd find this a little hard to believe that the pilot wouldn't do a 90 or 180, as I've jumped there a few times (granted, always as a WX) but had no problem with the pilot being willing to work with a longer or 90 on jump run. Maybe take into account the very limited experience of a couple of the respondents to the OP as well. If nothing else, do you think you might be overreacting to say the DZ doesn't care about safety? The OP has 101 jumps. That's hardly "experienced." Since you're in Oz, I'll recount the experience of my first jump at Nagambie, Australia, where the pilot hit the green light a tad early. The locals knew he had a habit of doing so, but given that I was taking my newbie daughter out the door (she had around 100 jumps), and given that I could see the DZ when I opened the door, we ended up in a *very* bad spot. Nagambie is surrounded by water on three sides, powerlines all over the place. Yet I don't think they're a dangerous dropzone; quite the opposite. The pilot apologized, the DZO gave us two free jump tix, well and above "expected" response. See this thread on spotting, GPS, and looking out the door before getting out of the A/C. IMO, one of the problems of GPS-based spotting is that skydivers either never learn to spot, or they get complacent. Until this year, our DZ never had a GPS, and in a backwards way, I'm glad for it. Coincidentally, we had a new pilot flying relief the other day, he sorta knew the GPS (his first load with us) and put people out too far east, and too far south. Two folks landed off. It happens

http://www.s131567196.onlinehome.us/products/micro.asp Ask and all that stuff...

Just to clarify, Vimeo is not "HD Channel." It's YouTube capable of displaying HD video. Great place. We have several video bits up there already.

Money, resources, etc... not to mention the expensive tribal film and access permits to shoot in that area (that aren't going to happen in 30 days).

Sorry...he was *my* hero first, so maybe you can be his second hero-worshipper. Scott seems to always make those around him smile and feel great, doesn't he? Congrats on the fun jump, and looking forward to seeing you at events down the road!

I *might* be wrong,but I'm almost positive that the Hypoxic connector is custom-manufacturered and has its own die. I know Sony does not make one.

That is a gorgeous car, John. hope you can find a way to repair or fabricate. when I was a kid I dreamed of having a TC or TD classic like yours.

You can't talk to others? Maybe it's an age thing. Oh wait!!! i'm older than you.

Amen to your Pinnacle comments...wow. They're horrible at all ends. Sony Vegas Movie Studio Adobe Premiere Edition Both very good and low cost.

OK...so this is the first I've heard of this. The reporter called me under the guise of wanting to do a story about tandems (she had just done one), and we got talking about the wingsuit she saw me wearing. Had I known it was a story about me...i'd have had a different approach to her questions. how on earth did you find this?? [edit] This is the story I thought I was being interviewed for.... Video in the above linked story shot by Josh Venning.

Man...I'd love to drive with you. Unfortunately I'm heading to the Great White in between events. 'f I can get out of it, count me in as shotgun. Monkeyboy can back-seat drive.