JamesNahikian

I've put my life in the hands of Kate for half a decade or more by purchasing gear from her shop. It's one of the best places to find information on our sport, and I haven't met a skydiving person yet who doesn't think Kate and her associates are _The Bomb_. Way to go on the big way, people. You're World Champions in all respects. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

On that note, my personal "scary" was the experience of another formation belly flyer tracking off-course through my main, taking out my deploying line groups with his helmet. Fortunately, the event contributed to my freeflying migration once I decided to continue with this sport. 300-way planar formations are a tremendous achievement; large interactive spherical formations will lead to even greater achievements, assuming anti-gravity belts don't appear anytime soon. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

As they completed early perhaps they'll need to barter fuel for beer. A nice problem to have. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

LONDON (Reuters) - A British vicar reduced young children to tears and stunned their parents when he said Santa Claus and his reindeer would burn to a crisp while delivering presents at supersonic speed. Stand-in vicar Lee Rayfield shattered the illusions of dozens of kids when he joked in his carol service sermon that Santa and his reindeer would burn up doing 3,000 times the speed of sound as they delivered gifts to 91.8 million homes. Newspapers said many children at the school service at St Mary's Church in Maidenhead, west of London, were distraught when Rayfield pointed out that it was logically impossible for one man and his sleigh to deliver 378 million presents in just 31 hours. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

And why is beer, let alone really good beer, not on your list? D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

A Mi-8 helicopter with shrapnel holes. Amazing lift and air conditioning combined. Throw in US$6 jumps, a seasoned Russian pilot, Russian skydivers plus Georgian sparkling wine and you have what I plan to be flying in next summer together with some friends. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Current belly record + no serious injuries = 100% success. Way to go! D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

It's my custom to demo reserve canopies throughout each season in most conditions and including sizes smaller than my personal reserve size. Not infrequently I get a "dude, what happened" or "why in ____'s name did you buy a main canopy that's solid (a) white, (b) yellow, (c) orange etc etc. -- it looks like a ____ reserve." But I have never intentionally jumped my personal reserve canopies. No valid reason to risk the extra wear and tear that I can think of. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Proferred injury quantifiers are irrelevant from a practical viewpoint. Nobody can predict who will cut you off on landing. Even you can't sense whether you will be less than 100% on any given day. Study this sport, go at your own pace and always be willing to take a time-out. Tilt the odds in your favor, and remember that life itself is a terminal condition. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Got a few of those and working on another. I tend to consider education in terms of wishful thinking versus buyer's remorse. Doesn't make you a better person but if you're willing to sacrifice can add depth and understanding. Your chips. Play them well. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Chop and pull and you should be fine. Investigate reserve problems as an extra measure and carry a hook knife. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Begak seems a familiar character. I believe he last appeared at Kolumna when I jumped there in celebration of Moscow's 855th anniversary. A regular Steve Fossett-type. Feeding a hot air balloon in the Antarctic is no small challenge. I am wishing them good luck and godspeed. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

If you dismiss such talk as archaic notions or off jokes then vote accordingly. That hasn't been my impression, and I believe it's an important consideration for national director, especially during a crucial term such as this one. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Winsor Naugler: . . . I can't imagine why any other jumper wouldn't vote for him. ______________________________________________ Winsor's past invocation of "afro-engineering" and similar epithets troubles me and I chose not to vote for him. I urge all jumpers to search Winsor's postings to the rec.skydiving newsgroup and reach their own determination as to his suitability as a public representative of our purportedly inclusive sport. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

A snake without apologies. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

I'm big-boned for sure. Happen to use a discarded weather balloon for my reserve pilot chute. Hasn't been an issue thus far, though the image-consciousness thing may move me to acquire a personal tandem rig -- to be sleek-like. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Personal decision tree: if my main canopy isn't landable then I chop it. A problem with the reserve? That's another thread. My approach has worked since 1994 and I'm sticking to it. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

FWIW I've never eaten a krispy Kreme. but I confess to Big Mac. My S.O. really ran Antarctica twice. (heck, I'm not contemplating doing it and I jump off of stuff.) Plus, she's a "Fellow" of the American Bar Association (my country's national representative body of attorneys). She graduated college at age 18--most people here do this at 22--and law school at 21--most people here do this from age 25-7 (she graduated from Harvard University Law School, which is a preeminent legal institution here. not bad for a janitor's kid; I'm a public school kid, though, my mom was only a cleaning lady) Dying to tell you my Suomi College story but it's probably best to relate in person. Someday we'll connect, I'm sure. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Someday, remind me to tell you my Suomi College story. FWIW, I phartlek 30+ miles/week and swim another 3 on top of holding a responsible position and going to school, both full-time. I do this on less than 7 hour sleep/day, including weekends. Yes, my lactic acid threshhold is not-so-good. But I've finished more than 20 marathons and nearly an equal number of lesser races. Even done the brutal Jungfrau in your neck of the woods. (plus, I feel I should get vicarious credit for being associated with my significant other -- she's been written up for having completed ~250 marathons in each of the 50 states, plus DC, and on all 7 continents including twice on Antarctica). Lazy? Yes! Cocktail-swilling? Yes! Low-impact parachuting? Heck Yes! For me, the Segway thing is a matter of practicality and if it's not likely to cost me opportunities, a matter of citizenship. If I can rely less on air-polluting cabs and cattle rides on El trains then I may buy a Segway. I'm looking at it now. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

You're on to me. I'd actually wanted a Segway so I could eat chow and practice turning points on my way to work. Mostly a Veg, though, so the Big Mac thing is off. Otherwise seems you have my number. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Not a matter of laziness but of time and cost. I live in a dense urban area and spend a lot of time scurrying about by cab and by train. Walking takes too long. If a Segway gets me where I need to go in a timeframe comparable to a taxi or the El, and it's affordable, then it may make sense to buy one. Thanks to those of you who responded. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

A sock, size XL. Well actually, two of them. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

23,500 for me, at Hinckley. Three others from 22,000 to 23,500. Nice view but probably not worth the risk or money. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Was your impression that it would penetrate into a 15 kt headwind with a rider and cargo? I'm seriously considering buying one if the price goes down. I live and work downtown. In my situation it could replace taxis and El trains 60% of the year, but it would need to handle big wind. D. James Nahikian

If these become affordable would you consider buying one? D. James Nahikian CHICAGO