JamesNahikian

I represent Switzerland's government and many of its engineering and science undertakings in North America. I also jump in Switzerland and run Jungfrau. My closest personal friend and law colleague is Swiss, he also is a Swiss novelist see http://www.acfrieden.com and http://www.amazon.com, our birthdays are 2 days apart and we are lifelong friends. We are both trained marksmen. Many of my other true friends are Swiss. My vote is entirely positive, surprise! Switzerland's greatest strength is its people, even when they choose to expatriate themselves however briefly. You may be uncontented at this moment, Swiss citizenry is good for the world but places extra burdens on the individual. Take a break, spend some time in Ottawa or Chicago Illinois. I believe eventually you'll choose return to a country with amazing people. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Search this topic in past posts here and on other skydiving resources, if you haven’t done so already, and discuss the issue with trusted jumpers at your local dropzones. Call resources like Paraconcepts, Paragear, RW and SquareOne, and then decide for yourself whether it’s worthwhile gaming with a knife, since the tool is only as effective as your preparation for using it. The scenario you described is reason alone to carry a metal hook knife IMHO. Premature reserve deployments in the door do happen occasionally, as off- balance jumpers tend to grab whatever they can reach and jump craft airflows tend to follow a path from the exit door through the elevators. The foreseeable result is you could be entangled with empennage and the pilot unable to land on a grass strip, so the best way to avoid tie-dying the tarmac with your body parts is what. Rely on pilot/passenger heroics? I personally prefer to trust my practiced skills with a small metal hook knife that only weighs a few ounces and can double as a bottle opener in a pinch. Significant effect if you have one when you need it, negligible penalty at most other times. You may wish to consider the fact that John LeBlanc told me recently a hook knife can make short work of Slinks on reserve risers. Also consider replacing “empennage” with “previously unnoticed jumpers and their equipment entangling my immediate universe under canopy at 1,400 ft” or “some obstacle I landed on” such as a juiced power line that you didn’t see until it was too late and you’re hanging there waiting to be fried by a whipsawing live wire or you’re submerged in a body of moving water with your swollen chest strap jamming the buckle and the canopy has changed roles to your anchor. Why be hook-knifeless and un-practiced under these circumstances? I like to consider what this guy did with his hook knife and the impact that reaction had on his future prospects: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=225767#225767. My personal choice is I tend to carry at least one metal hook knife from Paraconcepts, Paragear, RW or SquareOne (exceptions apply) -- check it out and C’Ya. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Sort of. In the early 90's I received my initial sport training and then jumped a few times at a small Cessna dz in another state, good folks. The training at this place was run by a colorful gentleman who explicated on AAD functionality, stating simply "if you're havin' a bad day, the device will blow'd the reserve off your back and if that fails, why then I guess you really _are_ havin' a bad day, ha, ha ...." Suffice it to say I am a person who requires a bit more technical depth of understanding in regards to survival equipment I am carrying. A couple of years later I started fresh with the rigorous AFP program at the old Skydive Chicago facility. While I am fortunate to occasionally jump at various other dz's around the world, I consider Skydive Chicago my home dz even though it wasn't my first one. And FWIW, the Cessna dz I refer to is still going strong apparently, incident-free more than ten years after I made my first jumps there. I'm not knocking it. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

FWIW, I met a good bunch on Saturday and thought my prompts might elicit names. They were visiting from Tecumseh, at least I think it was that, on their way out west for BASE. I’ll see them at Summerfest, said they’d return for the world class “facilities” (which were practically sterile btw). I appreciated the industry people sharing their knowledge with us. In particular John LeBlanc spent at least half an hour jawing with me about canopy design and the Katana. Didn’t make it out on Sunday, my loss. I got stuck indoors spectating at the gorgeous weather, at least it was so in the city. But it’s early. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO p.s. missed seeing the Sunny One.

I can only say that plumbing impresses some people more than others and I hope to see them on the freefly mats once they finish their BASE training. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Skydive Tecumseh. Enjoy Hollywood, Kids. 3-2-1 C'ya. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

We know that already. And it isn't 'cheap' but 'sheep', am I correct in thinking that? D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

QuoteS-word A sorry habbit. ______________________________________ Sam Gamgee. A sorry hobbit. Profound, isn't it. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

You _can't_ shoot them. No personal attacks. None. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

QuoteHey John, how about you start a thread and list the people you do like #1 - Sir Isaac Newton D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Give yourself some credit. Those shots were taken under the influence of poteen and while hoofing a parade route in serious wind. Extreme photography if there ever was such a thing. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

***I'm starting to get back into photography....so I was playing with the camera to see what sort of results I would get. *** You have an excellent camera eye and should leap back into photography with both feet, we really enjoyed your pics. Careful posting 'crimes' in a public space though. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Develop a similar resource. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

I've jumped at Kolomna Aerograd and it's the shizzle. Not many locals can speak english. However, there's a talented freeflying orthopoedic surgeon who goes by the handle "Crazy Doc" and he is fluent in the english language and a good guy also. Plus, he roots for the Chicago Cubs baseball team (he did residency here). Crazy Doc and others will ensure that language is only a phantom barrier for you. PM me if you want more information, I'm investigating whether business will permit me to visit Kolomna this summer. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

QuoteUhh, is that some kind of veiled threat? Sure sounds like it. H-u-m-o-r. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

QuoteWell, dear...I guess this gives us time for a LONG midnight carriage ride, huh? Come to Chicago. We'll give you a long carriage ride. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Naw, that's what profiles are for, so you can figure out if the person is saying something worthwhile. Quote I guess ya have to cling to something. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Poor dear. Heal fast Sunshine! D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Your struggles have been reduced to a musical composition: http://valis.cs.uiuc.edu/%7Esariel/misc/funny/longestpath.mp3. A further reduction of the lyrics: http://valis.cs.uiuc.edu/%7Esariel/misc/funny/#longest-path. Who would have thought Turing inspired musicians? D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

I attended the sneak American viewing of a low budget Russian film,

Do they know how to make great bobootie is what I wanna know. Well, not entirely. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Chris, do the and mitigate the pain? I thought not. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

She ran off with your Wallabie? Or are you suggesting something more sinister? D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

True confession, I was Hooker No. 2 for nearly eight years of rugby union play. Dirtied myself with rucks, mauls and scrummages, so I'm just another hooker, too. Having been a total scrumbag is not a bad thing, go easy on Turtlespeed if he's a rugger. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Lighten up, Francis. -- Sgt. Hulka D. James Nahikian CHICAGO