RhondaLea

So by this measure, base in a controlled environment has a fatality rate of 1 in 7800 jumps vs. the skydiving rate of 1 in 65,000 jumps. But I think the overall mortality rate gets skewed by doing the numbers this way. I think USPA puts out a "per jump" fatality rate because it looks a whole lot less grim than a "per participant" fatality rate. I don't think that following skydiving's lead is good practice, although that seems to be the way it's going...in more ways than one. I know this really wasn't your point, Nick. Sorry. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

It was a thoughtless post. I understand your point, but it was still a thoughtless post. You have always seemed to me to be more caring and thoughtful, so it makes no sense to me. Instead of being defensive about the unhappy reaction to your words, how about you just give some consideration to how those of us in the prospective hit zone might feel about what you said and about how you would feel if someone said the same about Texas. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I don't know if I would've been so harsh, but people die here too during hurricanes. And it screws up our day-to-day lives and it costs us money and... ...everything that happened to individuals in LA happens to individuals here. I could live the rest of my life without living through another 'cane. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I think you should PM Bill Booth with this question. Really. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Quotesurely we can come up with a bit more, positive way to attract politicians? Quote rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Behaviorally speaking, Asperger's also resembles some of the personality disorders. Aspies are hardwired for lack of empathy, but their reaction to being confronted with their failure to empathize is not the same as that of a sociopath, narcissist or schizoid. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

He lucked out. He carefully "packed" three. He got two. And one of them required the help of a rubber band. What does that tell ya? No one knows what causes a lineover. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I'll give you 3 tries to pack a line over and if you can I'll pay for the repack. Sparky I'll see your 3 and raise you double. No one knows how to pack a line over. It's a sucker bet. rl So how exactly would one go about packing this particular mal? No one knows. It's been tried, without success. Line overs are a mystery. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Steven, A little patience goes a long way. This isn't like chatting. Sometimes a person's post will sit for several days before someone answers; other times, a thread will take off and a lot of people will post at once. But not everyone here has time to sit in front of the computer all day responding to posts. I understand the need for interaction, but sometimes it's better to concentrate on making your own posts the very best they can be so that others find them interesting and informative, and therefore feel compelled to respond. Have you ever read any Temple Grandin? rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I'll give you 3 tries to pack a line over and if you can I'll pay for the repack. Sparky I'll see your 3 and raise you double. No one knows how to pack a line over. It's a sucker bet. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

You're going to find that many skydivers have high scores. I score in the thirties. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I'd just like to make note of the fact that there are more than a few Aspie skydivers. One of them is a national and (I think) world champion. It's becoming a more and more common condition. Autism itself is thought by at least one researcher to be an example of the "extreme male brain." This may not be so, but there is interesting data to support the idea. If all of you are interested, here's a test to determine where you fall on the autism spectrum: Test You'll have to hand-score it, because the scoring link no longer works. Alternate version of test that may still be self-scoring. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I can't argue with your interpretation of legal realities. you know the law far better than I. the courts have provided little benefit. Because the courts haven't been used to the best advantage. I'm thinking we must sue the shit out of NPS. Jon Dragen has already died once, and another dead icon isn't really something I would wish for, even if it is politically expedient. Just as an aside, Jon pulled me out of the water one year. I'm sorry I'll not see his laughing face again. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Because it is extremely dangerous, and it has an inordinately high rate of serious injuries and fatalities. Bridge Day is a lot of fun, and jumping there is relatively safer than other base jumps, but both serious injury and death have occurred there too. The danger of the bridge is that it makes base jumping seem easy. It isn't. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I'm talking about NRGB generally. But I think everything I've said applies to any federally-owned land. If the feds are not involved, then it's a state matter and state laws apply. The push and pull between the two entities is all about politics and who knows whom right up until someone brings a lawsuit. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

That's a pretty sweeping statement. While it's true in this context because the NPS owns the land, I think if we had a privately or state owned landing area the federal government would have no say about jumping activities whatsoever. Yay 10th amendment! Thoughts? NPS owning the land is the only context and, in fact, the entirety of the issue. If we had privately owned land, then we'd be dealing only with the state as to bridge access on a state-owned highway. (There was a time that this was the case, which is the only reason base continues at BD--we've been grandfathered, which legitimizes issuance of the permit in spite of the reg.) Unfortunately, the latter case no longer applies, and we are stuck with NPS, and they are federal, and the landing area is federal land. Therefore, the governor of West Virginia has only posture, not standing, and if he is allowed the posturing, it is only at the pleasure of NPS. This does not mean that the governor lacks the political clout to bring pressure to bear and that NPS will not be persuaded to yield to him. Happens all the time in all manner of state vs. federal conflict. But in a strictly legalistic sense, NPS has the force of law behind them, and the governor does not. So it's all about political wherewithal, and who feels the need to please whom at any given time. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Federal always trumps state...unless courtesy is involved. Never underestimate the power of courtesy, but do not mistake it for power on the part of the recipient of that courtesy. The NPS did not "bow to the will" of the Governor of the State of West Virginia. The NPS made a decision not to embarrass the Governor, even though he overstepped his authority when he unilaterally extended the jump window without first consulting with NPS. If you believe this is enough, run with it. I've already stated my opinion of the rewrite of the regs, no need to repeat, and I'm very grateful for the congressman's interest, but I don't really believe that one congressman is going to win the day. We'll see. Given the choice, I hope you're right and I'm wrong. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Well... "Nugget" is defined as "a solid lump of a precious metal (especially gold)." And a "golden nugget" is taken to mean, figuratively, "that which is precious." Further, an informal synonym for "nugget" is "hunk." (I did say, did I not, how handsome he is? Especially his eyes.) I can play with words all night, Nick. You know that. So now that I've probably embarrassed him so much that he'll never speak to me again... ...you tell me. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Nope. Russel is the nugget of the year. Smart, handsome, funny as hell... Just for the chance to meet him, it was worth the trip. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

In this case the bikers were not hilarious, and there was other than "some funny stuff" happening at their party house located on a pig farm where Robert Pickton (owner of property) was supplying the "so called ladies" for the parties. To find out on the news a few months after I attended the party there- (2002) that Robert Pickton had been arrested (now facing 27 counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Vancouver prostitutes--B.C. Canada) was appauling. Wild parties on this pig farm at the Hell's Angels party house included the prostitute drug addicted victims, but in the most unimaginable and grotesque manner. In total 31 separate traces of DNA have been found on Pickton's property. The victims were vulnerable women working in the sex-trade in Vancouver's seedy Downtown Eastside area. So- the victims were picked up by Robert Pickton to supply the bikers parties, supplied with drugs in exchange for biker entertainment..... Ya sure...as long as everyone's enjoying themselves no problem???? SMiles Once again, this is not about sex, but about power and control. If everyone could ever get a grip on this, abusive behavior would come to an end. But instead of distinguishing cases, we cut slack where none is due, and we focus our outrage on minutiae instead. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Let's call it what it is, a cold war. And although the basis of their apparent strength is rotten from the inside (i.e., the reg), they're still going to win if the base community continues to try to make nice with them while they continue to methodically undercut every effort to gain and retain legitimacy. Today it's bureaucratic creep; tomorrow it's stricter penalties for infractions of their illegitimate rules. In plain English (this is for you, Faber), trying to work with NPS hasn't worked so far, so why does anyone expect it to work at some indeterminate time in the future? rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Phil Bird is the Oral Biology Laboratory Manager and a Senior Professional Officer in the School of Dentistry at the University of Queensland. You had to ask. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Very good point! But damn its just such a nice object its a shame to travel so far and spend the money to only get 1 or 2 jumps. At least 3 would have been nice. You should have packed faster. The exit point went nearly dead with still a half hour of jumping time to go. Edited to add: Donk was dead on in his comment. If you want to make a bunch of jumps, go to Twin Falls. BD is not about quantity. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

If only the question was regarding Thomas Kerler. Blues, Dave Makes me wonder, though, whatever happened to Thomas Kerler. Huh? rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Well, fuck you, bitch!!! :-) Blues, Dave (ascii just seemed so much more appropriate) I love you, Dave. Still and always. Makes me wonder, though, whatever happened to Charles Thomas. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb